Dallas, Texas

April 1978

The news came as no surprise to Jock. With the way Bobby and Pamela had been acting, it was only natural she'd find herself expecting. What did surprise him, though, was the quick ending to Pamela's hope for the future.

What had also surprised him was how JR and Sue Ellen reacted. JR was understandably antsy about the development, but he never thought his son would actually take steps to make sure it didn't come to pass. Sue Ellen's response was even more surprising. She was polite, but her eyes gave away her true feelings, disappointment. She didn't want Pamela having a Ewing baby, but the real question on his mind was whether she wanted another Ewing baby herself.

If she did, he could help make it happen, this time with a better plan. But if she didn't, then there was a problem. As upset as Pamela was now, she'd been happy before. He doubted she and Bobby were ready to give up on the idea of future happiness just yet.

"Pam's lost the baby."

Things had gone from bad to worse. Sue Ellen hadn't seen Pam as a threat until JR had pointed out the competition between them. When the news of Pam's pregnancy broke, it had been devastating. Now, with the opposite being true, she just felt selfish. She didn't want Pam giving Jock and Miss Ellie a grandson, she wanted to be the only one to do that. But she didn't want it at the expense of Bobby and Pam's happiness.

She'd barely had time to adjust to the idea of Pam being with child before she suddenly wasn't, and now she was struggling to accept they were back to square one again.

It hadn't been deliberate, it just happened. But in the clear light of a new day, JR didn't feel nearly as bad about it as he had at the time.

Sue Ellen was growing closer to John Ross with each passing day. He suspected, and hoped, that soon she'd start feeling broody again, wanting to be a mother for a second time and return to being a proper wife.

Of course, she'd have to return to their bedroom first, but he was already working on that.

May 1978

"He's precious, Sue Ellen. You're very lucky."

Sitting out on the balcony with a blanket spread for the baby to stretch out, Sue Ellen smiled at Pamela's compliment.

"I know."

Every day, it became easier for her to see that she hadn't lost her identity by giving JR a son. Part of that was thanks to Pamela's efforts to talk to her woman to woman, rather than simply as JR's wife or John Ross' mother.

She wouldn't say it to JR, but she didn't dislike Bobby's wife nearly as much as he did. In fact, if he hadn't planted the ridiculous idea of a competition to have the biggest family, the thought wouldn't have crossed her mind.

"Bobby tells me you and JR waited a long time for little John."

"We did. It didn't happen for us like it did for you and Bobby."

Not wanting to spoil the pleasant day, she kept things vague.

"I hope it'll happen for us again."

"It will. What happened to you was an accident. Trust me, there's comfort in knowing it happened so quickly and naturally."

"What do you mean?"

Pam looked puzzled, which was a mild relief. If Bobby didn't know the specifics of her and JR's struggles, then likely no one else at Southfork did either, even in such close quarters.

"JR and I didn't wait seven years into our marriage by choice."

"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't realise."

"No one but JR and I know the details, but we're glad it happened, and I'm confident it'll happen for you too."

"Thank you."

Pamela squeezed her hand, a particularly personal gesture of friendship and gratitude. It felt good. With someone to talk to and the lovely weather, Sue Ellen could actually feel her mood lifting.

Sue Ellen had moved back into the shared bedroom with JR. He didn't know how, when, or why, but he was pleased it had happened without him needing to intervene.

He wasn't the only one who noticed either. Miss Ellie had remarked on the change in a relieved tone.

From what Jock could tell, they hadn't consummated their reunion yet, but the closed door and whispered voices suggested it wouldn't be long now.

His wife was getting friendly with Pamela Barnes, which didn't sit well with him, but she was also warming up to him again, something he liked a lot. Despite his efforts, which, admittedly, hadn't been many, nothing had managed to get her back into their bedroom. Then, one day last week, he'd come home to find her half of the closet full again, her cosmetics back on the vanity, and her robe hanging on the bathroom door. She'd made the decision to come back to him for reasons he couldn't understand, but he wasn't going to argue, he'd gotten what he wanted.

Letting her set the pace hadn't immediately restored their intimate relations, but after a bit of romance, it had finally happened. He'd waited over two months for more than a kiss from her. He hadn't gone without for those two months, but his wife was special, and he hoped he'd made her feel special too.

There was little hope that their time together would result in a brother or sister for John Ross, but they had time.