"Karen, there's something I need to tell you."

Karen switched off the blow dryer and gave her husband her undivided attention. "What is it?"

"I'm not sure how you'll take this, but I'm hoping you'll be happy for me. Melissa invited me over to her apartment a couple of nights ago. Pamela Rebecca was there."

"Pamela Rebecca at Melissa's apartment? Don't tell me those two are friends now..."

Christopher shook his head and joined Karen on the bed. "No, nothing like that. Far from it. Melissa found something out. Something that Pamela Rebecca was doing and she told me about it." Christopher took Karen's silence as a sign to continue. "Last year when I found out Megan wasn't my daughter...it was all a trick by Pamela Rebecca."

"What?"

"She altered the paternity test results to make it look like I couldn't possibly be the father. Apparently she wanted to use Megan to get John Ross back."

"Well she almost did! He almost married her."

"Yeah. Megan was mine all along...and Pamela Rebecca pulled that stunt..." Christopher stopped short, his eyes searching hers for a reaction.

"I don't know what to say." Karen's blank look changed to a smile. "Except that I'm happy that she's yours..."

"What?" Christopher was surprised.

"I know how much you love Megan. You've never stopped loving her; even after you found out she supposedly wasn't yours. And… you've supported me non-stop through my situation with Austin and now I want to do the same thing for you."

"I love you Karen...you know that?"

"Yeah. I think you've pretty much delivered that point home over the past few weeks...and I love you too."

A period of silence followed.

"What are you going to do next? About Megan I mean?"

Christopher licked his lip and leaned forward. "I called my lawyer and he says I've got a good chance of getting sole custody."

"So you are going that route..."

"You'd better believe it. Pamela Rebecca doesn't deserve to be a part of Megan's life. Not after the way she used her to manipulate us all."

The Barnes Residence

Pamela Rebecca wasn't at all gung-ho about going to the annual Ewing Barbecue, but she thought that it would be her chance to try and smooth things over with the paternity issue. John Ross had believed that Melissa lied about her schemes just to get back at him and that delighted Pamela Rebecca. If she could somehow make Christopher believe that...

At any rate, that was her newest goal. Charla, Megan's nanny, would be keeping Megan while Pamela Rebecca was at the barbecue. Christopher had made no attempts to take Megan away from her yet, but she suspected he would and thought it better to leave her at home today.

"Hey, ready to go?"

Pamela Rebecca nodded to Eric. "Yeah, I'll be right out."

Melissa's Apartment

"What are you doing here?" Melissa held the door in between her and John Ross, defensively.

"I came to get the rest of my things. Is that a crime?"

"Just hurry up. Oh yeah...I'm glad you stopped by." Melissa stepped out of the way and let him into the apartment. "You know how you didn't believe that Pamela Rebecca pulled the paternity stunt?"

"And I still don't. You made that up, Melissa...every bit of it."

"Despite what you think, I would never hurt you like that, even though you've hurt me. Melissa walked over to her desk and pulled out a hand-held tape recorder and pushed the play button. The tape of her conversation with Christopher and Pamela Rebecca began to play and John Ross listened as Pamela Rebecca's confession was caught on tape...

“I'm sorry Christopher…I didn't mean for this to go on for so long…”

“Like hell you didn't! I would have never known the truth if it weren't for Melissa! Megan would have grown up with John Ross as her father, when in reality, it was me all along. You don't deserve custody of Megan. You're incapable of being a loving mother. So you might as well go ahead and kiss Megan goodbye, because you're about to lose her.”

“You don't mean that…”

“Oh, I do. I mean it.”

The apartment door slammed and Melissa and Pamela Rebecca continued the conversation. "You'll pay for this Melissa...you've ruined my life."

"Like you ruined Christopher's?"

"I did what I had to do. John Ross doesn't believe this and that's good enough for me. Megan may not be his daughter, but as long as he believes she is, I still have a chance with him."

"Tell him the truth Pamela Rebecca. Show that you have one ounce of decency left in you. Tell John Ross that I'm right. Tell him that Megan is Christopher's."

"Never."

Melissa turned back around just in time to see the door slam.

Southfork Ranch

“Cally,” Miss Ellie said, holding her hands out towards her former daughter-in-law to welcome her. “I'm so glad that you came.”

“Hey grandma! Where's the chili?” Justin barreled past his grandmother, making a beeline for the tables filled with food.

“I wouldn't have missed it for the world,” Cally replied with a smile.

“I'm so sorry, about everything. About everything that…you know, happened.”

“I'm sorry that it happened. We all loved Clayton very much.”

“But with you in jail. You must have thought I doubted you.”

“I reckon I wasn't doing much of anything but thinking while I was there.”

“I'm truly sorry. I don't know what else I can say.”

“It hurt at first,” Cally looked away a bit when she talked. For some reason, she felt ashamed, although she knew Miss Ellie was feeling much worse than she was. “But I knew what you were going through. I mean, I didn't. I don't….I can't imagine. But I knew that things were probably confusing.” She sighed and smiled. “I guess I don't know what I'm trying to say.”

“Could you say you forgive me?” Ellie sneaked in a smile.

“Of course,” Cally smiled back. The two women embraced. They stayed that way for a moment, Ellie patted Cally on the back.

“I'm so glad that you're back. I know it's been a rough few months, but I'm so happy you're here. You and Justin.”

Cally squeezed Ellie a little tighter, perhaps out of guilt. How was she going to tell her that they were leaving?

Southfork Ranch

The barbecue was in full swing and Pamela Rebecca danced with her brother while they talked. "God, I can't believe your luck. He thinks Melissa is just lying to him?" Eric was surprised that John Ross would think Pamela Rebecca innocent in this.

"Yes. That just goes to show that John Ross does love me and it's only a matter of time before we step back up to the altar...and this time, we will get married."

Eric had his doubts, but he didn't want to rain on his sister's parade. "For your sake, I hope you're right."

They danced to the Texas swing music for several more minutes before either of them spoke again.

"Speak of the devil..."

"What?"

Eric looked across the crowd. "There's John Ross now."

Pamela Rebecca dropped Eric's hand and turned around to see John Ross walking toward her. "John Ross! Hey!"

John Ross stared at her as the anger bubbled up inside of him and he thought back to their conversation at last year's barbecue...

"Pamela Rebecca, I don't love you anymore, in fact, I despise your very existence. I want you off of Southfork right now."

"What? You can't do that to me. This is my home!"

"Not anymore. There is absolutely no reason for you and I to continue this relationship. Megan isn't my daughter."

"If you think I'm leaving then you've got another thought coming!" Pamela Rebecca snapped.

"Pamela, let's not let this get ugly," Melissa said, stepping in.

"You just stay the hell out of this!" Pamela Rebecca snarled, getting desperate.

"Pamela Rebecca. Go." John Ross' voice was commanding.

He made a motion with his hand and two security guards showed up behind him. "Come with us Miss Cooper," one of them said.

"I'll leave on my own, but I'll be back. I'll be back to get my daughter. I'll also be back to get you John Ross-and you Melissa. You two haven't seen the last of me. You're both going to hurt-- maybe before this day is even over. I will be back."

"No I'm not. Pamela Rebecca, you are...I can't even find a word to describe you right now. Sickening. You are sickening. You let me believe for almost a year that Megan was my daughter, when all along, you knew she was Christopher's! You disgust me."

Pamela Rebecca was taken aback. "John Ross, Melissa was behind that. She lied just to hurt you. She's jealous of us!"

"God! Can't you EVER stop lying? Melissa played a tape of your conversation! You confessed on the tape! And you were STILL going to let me believe that Megan was mine!"

"A tape? Hell, she's a police officer. She has the resources to fake stuff like that..."

"STOP IT! You and I are through. I hate you Pamela Rebecca. We will NEVER even be friends again, let alone be in any kind of a relationship and as far as I'm concerned, I hope I NEVER see you again, so get the hell out of my sight. Better yet, why don't you just get the hell off Southfork."

Pamela Rebecca was crying. "Please. Please hear me out."

"NO! Dammit, I have heard enough from you! You've fed me lies since we met and I'm not listening to this anymore!"

The surrounding crowd had stopped dancing and everyone was staring at John Ross and Pamela Rebecca. "I love you John Ross."

"Well I think I've made my feelings for you crystal clear!"

Pamela Rebecca had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming out. Finally, she fought her way through the crowd and ran back to her car.

Southfork Ranch, a half-hour later

Karen put down her brush when she heard the knock at the door. "Come in." She was surprised when John Ross was standing inside her room, instead of Christopher.

"John Ross?"

"Hey Karen. How are you?"

Karen smiled. "I'm great. Thanks for asking. What's up?"

John Ross temporarily forgot what he wanted to ask her; her beauty entranced him. Memories of the day he brought her back to Southfork came flooding back to him.

"Welcome home John Ross!" Sue Ellen embraced her son tightly.

"Well John Ross, hi Son!" J.R. exclaimed.

"Hey, Mom and Dad. This is Karen, my fiance."

"How do you do Karen?" Sue Ellen said with a smile.

"I'm fine Mrs. Ewing."

"Now, I'll have none of that. Just call me Sue Ellen."

"Well John Ross," J.R. said, "It looks like you've found yourself a good wife."

"I know Dad, she is wonderful." Karen took John Ross' hand and blushed.

"You know, I have a great idea," Sue Ellen said suddenly.

"What's that Mom?"

"Why don't we revive our little tradition of having the Ewing Barbecue? It's been so long since the last one."

"Sue Ellen!" J.R. exclaimed, "that's the best idea I've heard all week."

"That is a great idea, we'll show Karen how the Ewings have fun." John Ross leaned over and kissed Karen.

"That sounds like fun," Karen said shyly, "I can't wait."

"I...I was just wondering where Christopher was. I need to talk to him about something important."

"Oh...he went to take care of some business, but he'll be back any minute now, hopefully. He may be outside now. John Ross...are you okay?"

John Ross smiled. "Yeah...I'm okay now that I know what I know. Thanks. I'll go check again." He walked back out into the hall, but soon stepped back inside Karen's bedroom. "And Karen..."

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad everything's working out for you, with Austin and all. I was really worried about you, but I'm glad Christopher was there for you."

"Thanks." Karen and John Ross exchanged a smile and then he left.

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