Ch. 12

Talk

"Oh hey guys, what are you still doing here?" Babe asked, knowing that at least 3 hours have passed since Babe and Lucky went on their date.

"Hi, I'm Lucky Spencer." Lucky said to JR, holding out his hand.

JR looked at the hand like it was a disease and then shook it roughly, "JR Chandler."

"Chandler, I know a Skye Chandler. Is she you're sister?"

"Half," Babe filled in.

"Yeah, she is my adoptive half sister. How is she?" JR asked.

Lucky nodded, "She is pretty good."

JR nodded, and they stood their, not knowing what to say.

"Babe, can I talk to you for a minute?" Bianca asked, looking at Babe.

"Um, yeah sure." Babe turned to Lucky, "I had a really great time. We'll have to do it again."

"Count on it." Lucky said.

They hugged and Bianca turned and looked at JR whose eyes were turned towards the ground so he wouldn't see.

Lucky then said bye to Bianca and JR and got in his car.

"You want to talk inside?" Babe asked, and Bianca nodded.

They both looked at JR, "I'm going."

"I'll be over tomorrow, to see Little A." Babe said.

JR nodded and Bianca opened the door and walked inside. Babe went to follow her but JR stopped her.

"Thank you. For my gift. Where did you find it?" JR asked.

"At the back of a desk drawer." Babe said

JR nodded, and looked down.

"I had it framed to remind you that all the hurt Di did you, it will go away. But Dixie's love... it'll last forever, real and true. And right now she is smiling down on you from heaven, loving you."

JR didn't know what to say, he just stared at the woman before him, knowing he never loved her more than he did right now.

"Goodbye JR." Babe said, and walked inside and shut the door.

JR stared at the door for a few moments, and the headed back towards his car for a long and lonely drive home.

Inside, Babe was taking her coat and shoes off.

"So I'm guessing you want to know the details of what happened tonight?" Babe asked.

"Yeah, but that's not all I wanted to talk to you about. But I want to hear the details right now; I'll get to the rest later." Bianca told her.

"OK, well, it was so much fun. I didn't know salsa dancing could be so fun. At first I felt like a total dork because I didn't know how to dance, but then Lucky and a few other people showed me how and by the middle of the date I had it down! Bianca it was so great." Babe smiled, grabbing a pair of PJ pants and a tank top.

"It sounds like it. Did you get a kiss from him?" Bianca wondered.

Babe shook her head and went into the bathroom to change but left the door open so she could change into more comfortable clothes but at the same time still talk to Bianca.

"No. I'm just not ready for that. And he didn't even pressure me. He was a perfect gentleman, and so funny!" Babe walked out of the bathroom and hung up her dress.

"How many times did you think about JR tonight?" Bianca asked, and Babe stopped hanging up her dress.

"A couple..." Babe lied, and when Bianca gave her a look, Babe said, "OK, most of the night. But it doesn't mean I didn't have fun with Lucky, I really did."

"I know you did Babe, but, are you sure you really want to give up JR?" Bianca asked.

Babe paused, and when Bianca raised her eyebrows waiting for an answer, "Oh I thought that was a trick question. Yes. After what he did, sleeping with Kendall," Babe grabbed her dress again and hung it up.

"Not to bring up the past Babe but you also slept with his brother, and that was when you were married." Bianca said quietly.

"I know, and believe me I regret it, but I just thought we were past all that. No games, no tricks, no schemes." Babe said, placing her shoes in the bottom of the closet, "I guess not."

"Babe, if I can say something, I know JR still loves you. And I know that he really, really regrets sleeping with Kendall. He did it because he was so jealous and hurt at the thought of you and Jamie back together. And I'm not saying what he did was right or justified, but everyone makes mistakes. You did, JR did, and the only way you can get past all of it is to forgive him."

"I want to Bianca, but as soon as I do it leaves my heart open for another attack. And how do I know that even after I forgive him, we will get together and live happily ever after? I mean, no one knows those things, but JR's and my chances are half of everyone else's because we have already been down that road and it didn't work, so why would it work a second time?"

"But if you want to think of it like that, then maybe since you have already been down that road, it could be easier because you have already made the worst mistakes that you could make, so all that would be left were the little mistakes that aren't bad at all."

"I... I just don't know if I'm ready for something like that again." Babe sighed, rubbing her forehead.

"You have all the time in the world to think about it, so give it time. Do what you want Babe, not what anyone else wants."

Babe stared in her mirror, looking for an answer that wasn't there.

-----

Jamie walked into the Chandler mansion and walked into the living room, and poured himself a glass of scotch.

"That bad, huh?" JR asked, referring to his chances of getting Babe back.

"No, I'm just thirsty. And it's not that bad at all." Jamie said, taking a drink.

"Really, what happened?" JR sat up on the couch.

"They danced, and drank a little, and talked, but that's it. No kissing, nothing. Unless something happened when he dropped her off." Jamie said.

"No, nothing did." JR told him, standing up.

"How do you know?"

"I was there. There was a hug, and now there will probably be a third date."

"Well, they looked like that had fun." Jamie said quietly.

JR nodded, and paced back and forth, "I talked to Bianca, and I got her on board. She said she was just going to talk to Babe, not convince her or do anything like that."

"Well, talking is good enough. Babe listens to Bianca. She could be just the person we need." Jamie said hopefully.

"That's what I thought." JR said.

"Well, I'm gonna get going. Do you want to me go undercover on their next date, if there is one?" Jamie asked.

JR said, "If you don't mind. Or if you don't have any plans."

"Nah, it's alright. Anyway, I feel kinda cool spying and very sneaky. It's very James Bond."

JR chucked, "Yeah whatever. Bye Jamie."

"See ya." Jamie said and walked out the door.