Taylor had never been so scared in her life. She locked eyes with John Ross from across the room, noticing how Vicente's gaze kept resting on her. Her chest pounded and she felt like she was about to hyperventilate at any time. She saw that her fiance desperately wanted to come to her side, but she wouldn't risk him being hurt. The split lip he was sporting was enough to make her chest hurt. Vicente walked over to her, smirking. His hand rested on her shoulder, Taylor immediately tensing as she tried not to puke. "My darling Taylor, you've certainly become less of a spitfire since I last saw you." At eight months pregnant, she was becoming more controlled, less hot headed. Not that she would ever let the greedy Venezulean know that. Standing up, she glared at him heatedly. "You apparently haven't." Turning on her heel, she walked over to John Ross, slipping her hand into his as she sat beside him. Being eight months pregnant and in this situation was not a great combination. A pain shot through her side, and she pressed a hand to her stomach as she winced. John Ross turned to her, his face a mask of worry. "Taylor, are you alright?" She went to answer, but another white-hot pain ripped through her stomach. A faint popping sensation registered, then a flood of warm liquid trickled down her leg. Her eyes went wide, her head snapping up.
"I'm in labor!"
The Venezuelans looked shocked, unsure how to handle this. On one hand, they very well couldn't let their captive go, but they couldn't let a pregnant woman deliver a baby on the floor. Gesturing to one of his men, Vincente gave a sharp nod. "Take her and John Ross to the car, deliver them to the hospital. We'll keep the rest of them here as insurance." The henchman was hesitant. "But boss, what if they call the police?" The leader whirled around. "You stupid idiot! She's about to give birth! And besides, they won't do anything to risk the lives of the rest of their family. Take them and go." John Ross took Taylor's arm, helping her up off the couch. "Come on, babe, it's alright." They slowly made it outside, the couple getting in the backseat as the Venezuelan got in the driver's seat. Taylor started to cry, leaning on John Ross's shoulder and burying her face in his shoulder. Pain coursed through her, and she clenched her fist, praying this would soon be over.
All of it.
The Venezuelans were wrong. John Ross called 911 as soon as they got in the hospital. The police were immediately dispatched to Southfork, while Taylor was wheeled back into the maternity ward. She was a composed woman, and she refused to let anyone in the delivery room, even him. She was adamant that she not be seen so undone and powerless. So he waited, pacing the floor of the private waiting room (being a Ewing had its perks) for what felt like an eternity, when in reality it was only four hours. His worry broke when the police ushered Bobby, Ann, Sue Ellen, Christopher, and Elena into the waiting room, John Ross immediately hugging his momma. "Mama, thank God." Sue Ellen stepped back, looking at her son. "It's okay, son. We're safe. It's over. How's Taylor?" He pressed his hand to his eyes, wiping away the tears. "She's alright, pushing our baby out right now." At that moment, the doctor walked through the door, a happy smile on her face. "Mr. Ewing?" John Ross whirled around, the doctor nodding at his questioning look.
"Congratulations, Mr. Ewing. Mrs. Ewing just delivered your son."
Tears immediately filled his eyes, a grin breaking out across his face. He turned to his family, all of them smiling back, even Chris and Elena. They were all happy for him, no matter how much he had done wrong. He was still family. The doctor gestured toward the delivery room, John Ross hurrying to follow him to his fiancee and newborn son. Inside the room, Taylor lay in the bed, holding a blue bundle in her arms. She looked up when she heard John Ross softly call her name, smiling beautifully. "Isn't he precious? He has your blue eyes." He stepped closer, looking down at his son. He had the Ewing blue eyes, looking up at his father. Taylor smiled at John Ross. "What about a name? He needs a name." John Ross had barely opened his mouth before Taylor answered her own question. "What about John Ross Ewing IV? The fourth man in a line of oil kings." John Ross smiled a little harder. "It's perfect. We'll call him Ross." Taylor laughed. "I think we're running out of ways to use John Ross as a name." The redhead shifted a little. "Do you want to take him out to see your family? The doctor said he was okay to be held a little." John Ross let her pass the baby into his arms, gently taking him out the door and into the midst of his family.
Just as he got out the door, his family swarmed him, all of them saying how cute the baby was and how much he looked like John Ross. Sue Ellen looked at her son, seeing the happiness etched in his face. How she only wished J.R. could be here to see this. "What's his name, darling?" John Ross looked up, a devilish smirk crossing his face. "John Ross Ewing IV. Ross for short." Everyone congratulated him, and he just sat there holding his son until eventually it was just him. Everyone else had left, letting him enjoy time with his son. Taylor had managed to get up, slowly making her way out to sit beside him in the private room. "He's perfect, Taylor. I've never felt so much love for anybody in my life." The redhead smiled, her eyes going up when she heard the door open. No one else was supposed to be here, but her jaw dropped when J.R. walked in. "Hope I ain't late to the party. Where's my grandson?" John Ross's head jerked up, a grin nearly breaking his face. "Daddy!" J.R. sat down beside his son, putting an arm around his shoulders. "Son, I'm proud of you. Becoming a father, finding a beautiful lady to put up with you, getting control of Ewing Energies. And now we've got a fourth little guy in line. Let me hold him. What's his name?" John Ross handed over Ross to his grandfather, J.R.'s face softening at the sight of the baby boy. "Daddy, say hello to John Ross Ewing IV. Ross for short." J.R. smiled. "Another J.R., huh? Little man, you're going to be the next leader of the oil world. I love you, little guy. And I can already tell you're going to be a better man than me and your daddy both." John Ross and Taylor were struck by the way J.R. was acting. It was such a change from his normal cold exterior, to see him looking at his grandson with so much love. Taylor could have sworn she saw tears in the old man's eyes. J.R. looked up at her, reaching over to take her hand while still holding Ross. "Taylor, darling, I don't think I've told you this, but I've loved you like a daughter since John Ross first introduced me to you. You're beautiful, you're smart, and I think you've got the makings of the next queen to stand beside my son when he takes over this empire. I'm proud of both of you." The redhead smiled a teary smile, squeezing J.R.'s hand before leaning over to hug him. "Thank you, J.R. You mean the world to me, and I'm a lucky woman to have you for a future father-in-law."
The doctor broke up the moment, telling Taylor she needed to get back in bed. The redhead kissed John Ross, hugging J.R. and kissing his cheek as well before she disappeared back into her room. J.R. sat looking at his grandson, then his eyes moved to John Ross. "Son, I want you to promise me that you'll teach this little boy everything I've taught you. Make him into a man. And don't you let my brother or Christopher get their hands anywhere near my grandson. Ross is the future of the Ewings, and I can already tell he's going to be the crown jewel." John Ross looked his father dead in the eyes. "I promise, Daddy." J.R. smirked.
"Good. I love you, son."
John Ross was momentarily shocked, then smirked too.
"I love you too, Daddy."