It was a lonely day for JR. He had to face with the truth that Sue Ellen won't come in any minute to argue with him because he has only Ewing Oil in mind. But on this day he would have nothing against it. Bobby and Pam were on vacation and Miss Ellie moved to Clayton to his ranch as she couldn't stand his behave towards Sue Ellen anymore.
In the evening JR prepared some cookies and milk for John Ross as he tried to calm him down. He was such a sensitive boy and JR knew he has to be there for him more than ever.

" John Ross? Would you allow me to come in?" asked JR softly as he knocked on his door. John Ross didn't answer as JR entered his room.

" I made you something to eat. You hadn't eat anything the whole day"

John Ross was sitting there on his bed in his stripped pajamas with a bowed head.

"I'm not hungry. Please leave me alone daddy!"

" I know you miss your mother but she isn't here with us right now. But I promise you we both will have a great time with a lot of fun together!" Said JR with a smile as he put John Ross's dinner on his table.

He looked at the cookies that his father lovingly prepared for him but then he looked up to JR and said in a weepy tone

" Mommy always made sandwiches for me and gave me a goodnight kiss as she brought it in my room. "

JR didn't know what to do. It was their first night without her but they both miss her already too much. He had to promise his son that everything will be alright even if he knew it will never be the same without his wonderful Sue Ellen at Southfork.

" I know my son. Would you like to speak with your mommy?" Asked JR as he stood there in the door to go down to the living room to call Sue Ellen in Atlanta since she left her address there for him on a chit.

" Oh yes! I have to tell her that my train was much faster than the new one that Christopher became from Uncle Bobby!" said little John Ross excited but with a yawn.

R went down with a smile and couldn't wait to call Sue Ellen as he knew how happy his son would be to hear her voice. He called her number but it wasn't Sue Ellen who picked up.

" Yes" ?

JR's heart stopped. He had to expect something like that but at this moment the voice hit him more than he thought.

" Mrs. Pearce? Is that you? I would like to speak with my wife if you don't mind!"

After a half minute of silence Nicholas finally answered " Good evening Mr. Ewing. I'm sorry but Sue Ellen doesn't have time to speak with you right now. She is combing her hair in the bedroom. We're going out to dinner tonight!" answered Nicholas proudly.

JR had to calm down his inside. If it would be not enough to endure that his love isn't coming back to him anymore, a new man will already take his place. He was too much hurt to be able to continue a longer conversation with him.

" I wish you both a good evening and tell Sue Ellen she should call us as soon as she has time. Tell her John Ross is very excited to speak with his mother."

" Of course I will. Oh, I have to go. Sue Ellen is yelling to me that I should help her to close her dress. Good night. " Nicholas hung up the phone and JR was sitting on the couch alone with his thoughts.

" To close her dress… if you ever dare to touch my dear I …I.." while he tried to suppress the imagination what Nicholas and Sue Ellen could do during this night he suddenly realized that John Ross is waiting for him alone in his room. He went back to him and as he opened the door he saw his son falling asleep. He quietly went to his bed and gently covered him as he caressed his head. He took the teddy that Sue Ellen left there for him and slowly placed it in his arms. " Mommy loves you my son. You should never forget that! What would I do to hold her close in my arms again, even for a minute. She's my everything my son but it was too late for our love! I didn't treat her like she has to be treated and I can't take her present happiness away. She deserves something better than I was." He stayed to sitting there in the dark for a while in silence while he was in thoughts by Sue Ellen….

In the same time in Atlanta….

" Who have you spoken Nicholas?" Asked Sue Ellen who was reading a few documents in the living room. She was tried from the day but Nicholas necessarily wanted her to read some of the documents he was working on during her stay in New York.

" It was JR. He called to ask if you arrived safe here in Atlanta."

" And why you didn't call me to the phone?" Sue Ellen was surprised why Nicholas did that. He knew how much she looked forward to speak with her son.

" I wanted but they were in hurry. They went out if I understand it right"

She was silent for a moment but then she asked curious " They went out? Really? Only my son and JR?

Nicholas went back and forth before he answered with a serious facial expression " I don't think so, he sounded quiet excited and you know what that usually means…"

Sue Ellen couldn't believe it. Although she knew that JR let her to follow her own way it was inconceivable for her that he would go out with someone else that soon. She still loved him but she tried to push these feelings away for some reasons since she was with him in New York.
Nicholas saw how much the happenings hurt Sue Ellen as he sat next to her. He took her hand and whispered quietly in her ear " Everything will be alright Sue Ellen. I'm here for you!" He turned her head to him as his lips softly touched hers. Nicholas was a great company to her and she admired his work that he did for Valentine's lingerie but her heart made her clear she shouldn't do anything what she probably regrets the next morning. She pulled herself away from him as she stood up nervously.

" Stop Nicholas. We shouldn't do that. I like you very much but not in that way."

Nicholas looked at her like he couldn't understand why she refuses his closeness.

" Why not Sue Ellen? You are free. You can do anything you want and JR will never stay in your way anymore. Let's have us some wonderful time"

Sue Ellen stayed there like frozen and couldn't believe Nicholas said that to her. She was never a woman how could made love to a man she wasn't in love with and her truly deepest feelings still belonged to JR and at this moment she felt she would go back to him right now and promise a new and better life together . But she didn't do it. JR gave her so many times the feeling she doesn't deserve to be his wife and she knew he has to do something for her, something that she would know at that moment that only that man could do that for a woman who loves it with truly heart to forgive him one day.
She asked Nicholas to leave her apartment although she felt an indescribable desire to feel a man's warm touch again on her trembling body that night.
The days passed and JR and Sue Ellen didn't hear anything from each other. John Ross went to Miss Ellie and Clayton for the Christmas holidays and JR was all alone at Soutfork. They didn't call each other but had written letters that they never sent because each of them waited for a one from the other.

New Year's Eve was especially hard for JR. Shortly before midnight he took a glass Bourbon and sat outside to the pool. A mild wind went through the Ranch as JR closed his eyes. It seemed to him as he could feel Sue Ellen's presence around. He remembered all the little million things he loves so much on her even if he argued with her so often. He knew she never notice it but he loved to observe her when she was laughing. It was a laugh that melted everyone's heart who heard it. She was the nicest and most cheerful lady he ever met in his whole life but he had to face with the truth that he didn't made her laugh for a long time. The magic from her wonderful laugh was more and more silently over the years because of his behave and now he knew she's in the arms from an another man. His glass suddenly fell on the floor as some tears flowed down his face. It was midnight as he looked at his watch but didn't want to get up. He sat there until dawn looking at the pool's water and being by Sue Ellen.

Sue Ellen couldn't sleep for a second. She put on her bathrobe and went to her balcony. She looked at the expanse as she thought of JR. What is he doing? Who is with him?
She spent New Year's Eve alone in his apartment and even refused Nicholas with her although they were together so often the last time. It was only business between them except one night as Sue Ellen needed someone to be with her. She doesn't regret the togetherness with him but promised herself it was the only time. She wasn't even sure if she would ever find someone again who makes her feel that good like JR made her when they made love. It was a special feeling she felt every time she was with him that she knew she will hardly find again with someone else.

A few days later JR became a call that he had an urgent meeting in New York with one of his partners for Ewing Oil that he couldn't cancel. He prepared himself for a few day stay in New York and went over there to meet him in The Plaza Hotel for a dinner.