Dallas, Texas

November 1978

Sue Ellen hadn't left his side for days after his return home, and JR had no complaints about that. He'd spent their time apart terrified he'd never see her or John Ross again, and now that they were reunited, he was making the most of it.

He would have liked to spend more time with her, but duty called. His trip to Washington, D.C. couldn't be postponed any longer if he wanted to catch his associates before they left for Thanksgiving. That's why he found himself back on an airplane much sooner than he'd liked, this time commercial, as the Ewing jet was still out of service.

Staring out the window, he reflected on what his homecoming had brought. After the hugs and tears of relief came the confessions. First, his: he admitted he'd feared leaving John Ross behind, too young to remember him, and leaving Sue Ellen behind, too young to remain widowed. He'd worried he'd never see them again to tell them how much he loved them. Then came her confession, blowing his out of the water: she had reconsidered the size of their family. For the first time, she felt something beyond relief about her past actions, and the thought of never having another of his children made her want to cry.

But wanting something in a time of crisis wasn't reason enough to make a hasty decision. Now that he was home safe, there was time to discuss it. The fact that they were on the same page was a good sign, but they needed to wait until the right moment, when her mother and sister had come and gone, when John Ross was a bit older, and when he was sure she wasn't teetering on the edge of another depression. Only then would it be a good time to consider another baby. Until then, he wasn't sure it was the best decision for their family, no matter how much he wanted it himself. He'd made the mistake of rushing things before, and he wasn't about to do it again.


"Jock Ewing."

When he answered the phone, he didn't expect the voice on the other end, especially after having only made the inquiry an hour earlier.

"Mrs Ewing has just been in to collect her repeat prescription."

"And?"

"She picked up both medications."

This time, his contact seemed more engaged and better attuned to the kind of information he needed. He trusted that the pharmacy professional on his payroll was reliable and truthful.

"Thank you."

Hanging up, Jock mulled over what that meant, for him, for Sue Ellen, and for their son, little John. He'd overheard a conversation between JR and Sue Ellen after JR's return. Sue Ellen wanted a sibling for John Ross, but JR wasn't so sure. But what Sue Ellen wanted, Sue Ellen would get, he'd make sure of it. He just needed to figure out how and when.


"I knew you'd like that. Just like your daddy."

Scooping the pumpkin pie filling away from the crust, Jock spoke to little John as he spooned the dessert into his mouth. Enjoying her own slice, the comment flew straight over Sue Ellen's head, but not JR's. His chuckle and quick correction followed.

"If he were just like his daddy, it'd be pecan pie on that spoon."

"Just like his granddaddy then."

Grinning, Jock's response earned light laughter from everyone at the table, though for some reason, it made her pause. Jock was very attentive to John Ross, and while it was sweet, it sometimes felt a little too sweet. She knew how he'd looked at her in the past, how he'd touched her while she was carrying John Ross, and how much time he'd spent alone with them. It wasn't a stretch to think he enjoyed seeing himself as little John's daddy, even if he wasn't.

"Maybe it skips a generation."

Lucy's quip earned a few more laughs, and before she knew it, the conversation had moved on, away from her son and his dessert preferences.


December 1978

He had no time for Bobby's old friend. Guzzler was all talk and no action, though why no one else seemed to see that was beyond him.

That's why he found himself standing in the nursery, watching his son sleep, while the sound of laughter floated up the stairs. John Ross looked so peaceful, blissfully unaware of the politics of life. JR would teach his boy all about that when he was a bit older, but for now, he'd let him enjoy his innocence.

Watching John Ross's tiny chest rise and fall with each breath, he didn't hear the footsteps behind him until Sue Ellen's hand gently rubbed his back.

"Isn't he amazing?"

"He is," JR agreed, shifting his gaze from their son to her.

"A little bit of me, a little bit of you, and we got him."

Sue Ellen smiled, pointing first at herself, then at him, and finally down at their greatest achievement. Her eyes locked on his as she turned her gaze back to him.

He nodded, his eyes sweeping over her. She looked fantastic, and she was all his.

"Want to practice making another one?"

Sue Ellen laughed out loud, amused by his suggestion. But her laughter faded when he leaned down and kissed her, then, she was all his.