The clock struck a second time.

The woman pulled away from J.R.

A third time…

She began to step back.

A fourth…and then a fifth…

The masked woman that had entranced J.R. all night turned and ran.

A sixth strike of the clock chimed.

J.R., not wanting to lose her again, followed her.

The seventh and eighth strikes sounded.

J.R. arrived, breathless to where the woman had disappeared. She was standing, breathing deeply, against a dark corner of Southfork.

A ninth strike…

J.R. motioned for her to take off her mask. He wanted to know what she looked like more than anything. It was almost as if he had known her before.

A tenth strike.

An owl called out from a distant tree somewhere on the ranch. The woman hesitated and J.R. was again afraid that she may try to run.

The eleventh strike of the clock…

The mysterious woman reached for her mask and began to remove it.

And the twelfth and final strike, signifying that midnight had arrived. It was the bewitching hour.

She removed the mask, revealing her face.

"Oh my God!" said J.R., in a trembling voice. "It…it can't be. You…you're dead!"

The woman stood silently. The clock had stopped and the unintelligible banter of the crowd blended into the background with the night sounds. J.R. heard a scream in the distance that sounded like Pam, but he thought nothing of it. "Kristin, h…how? You…the balcony…and the pool."

Kristin turned her face away. It was older, but there was no mistaking who it was. It was Kristin Shepperd.

She finally spoke with a dry voice. "Hello J.R., but I'm not Kristin Shepperd."

J.R. stopped. "Well, if you're not Kristin, then who the hell are you?"

"My name is Kaitlin…Kaitlin Ryan."

"But you look just like Kristin."

"There's a reason for that…"

Kaitlin was interrupted by a scream from behind.

"Kaitlin! No!" It was Patricia Shepperd. "Please, don't."

J.R. turned from Patricia to Kaitlin, confused. "Patricia, what the hell is going on?" J.R. turned back to Kaitlin but she had disappeared and the mist continued to thicken.

Jack Ewing arrived at his and his wife's high-rise apartment about half an hour behind his wife. He was determined to find her and settle the argument they had had at the Ewing Masquerade Ball. Upon reaching their floor, Jack was surprised to see the front door of the unit slightly open. He entered the apartment and heard voices coming from the bedroom.

My God, Jack thought to himself, she couldn't be in there with another man, could she?

Jack made his way quietly toward the bedroom door and could then hear the voices from the other room.

"You didn't really think that I was just going to walk away and let you do me like that, did you Abby? You miserable BITCH!"

"Cutter, please, you're obviously upset, but we can work this out."

"Oh, I plan to work it out, MRS. JACK EWING! I'm going to kill you and then it'll all be worked out for both of us!"

Jack had heard enough. He busted into the room and jumped at Cutter Marcus who was standing over Abby with his gun at her head. The two men struggled for a good while until Cutter lost his grip on the gun. Abby, ever prudent, lunged for the gun and picked it up.

"JACK! JACK, NO! Get out of the way!"

Jack and Cutter continued to fight for only a moment more. Jack, being the much bigger and stronger of the two, delivered a blow to Cutter that knocked him out cold.

"Well, so much for the pretty boy." Jack wiped his hands and approached Abby who was frozen with the gun still pointed at Cutter.

"Give me the gun, Abby. It's over now. We'll let the police handle it from here."

It took Abby several minutes to get over the shock of all that had happened to her, but when she finally did she was so very glad that Jack, the man she truly loved, was there next to her. She grabbed on to him and held on for dear life. "Oh, Jack. I've been so terrible to you."

"Shhh, shhh, it's okay, baby. It's okay."

Jenna was obviously dead, hanging from the staircase railings. Bobby turned Pam away from the scene. "Pam, please go back out to the patio. Let me walk you out there; maybe we can find Christopher to sit with you while Ray and I stay here and call the authorities." He put his arm around her trembling body and led her back to the patio and then came back to the foyer. Ray seemed to be too stunned at the site of his wife's dead body to show much emotion. Gary and Val entered the room, startled by what they had walked in on.

"Oh my God!" screamed Val.

"What…" stuttered Gary.

Finally, J.R. entered. "What the hell?"

"Jenna is dead JR," Bobby said. "Marcia Lewis found some evidence from the Oil Baron that showed Pam wasn't the one who tried to kill you; Jenna was. Apparently Jenna was trying to frame Pamela for it, but a videotape from the passageway shows that Jenna was the one who set that fire. We have a copy of the surveillance tape if you don't believe me."

Ray had done some looking around the foyer in the time his brothers were talking and came across an envelope lying on the stairs. In the envelope he found a neatly folded piece of paper; he instantly recognized the writing as that of Jenna. "Bobby, JR, it looks like I found a note here from Jenna." He began to read the note aloud.

My dearest Bobby,

You should know that I have loved you all my life. These past few months since we survived that plane crash, my feelings for you have just gotten all the stronger. Then that damn Pamela came back into your life again and ruined everything for us!! I thought I was finally going to have you for the rest of my life, but you showed that you still love her and not me. It wasn't enough that I spent Ray's money to have her kept away from you for those eleven years, with some of Katherine Wentworth's money, too. Then Katherine had an attack of conscience and betrayed me. Yes, I was the one responsible, not JR. I am only sorry her ADOPTED son found her! She never even gave you what I did, which is a natural son. My hatred for her just kept growing and growing until I devised another scheme that I thought would have gotten her away from you for good, and maybe even to death row in prison if it had worked. I overheard you and Pam talking to that lawyer this evening, and then I knew I had been found out. Yes, I set that fire on the Oil Baron. It was well known that Pam hated JR and would want him dead, so it seemed easy to set that fire in his state room and then say I had seen her near the room before the fire was discovered. How the hell those two people got in that state room by accident I don't know, but I thought that it was kind of a silver lining, since Pam could be convicted of two murders and not just one. As you can see, I decided I would rather die than go to prison for that bitch. Please tell Charlie I am sorry, and Ray too. I trust that you will take care of Lucas; having him around may help rub salt in Pam's lack of a natural child wound; it will be my going away present to her. I love you Bobby; I go to my grave loving you.

Jenna

Lucy stood at the bottom of the staircase staring at a lifeless Afton Cooper Barnes. Lucy shook the woman, but still no movement, Lucy ran to the top of the basement stairs and began screaming at the top of her lungs.

There was a flurry of activity as the two ambulances arrived at Southfork. Two different groups of medics were asking questions, one pair wanted the hanging woman, the other wanted the woman at the bottom of the stairs. When the confusion finally subsided, on ambulance was heading toward Dallas Memorial, the other to the morgue.

Charlie Wade sat on the floor next to the telephone stand. She was holding the phone in one hand and wiping the tears from her eyes with the other. She couldn't speak, although she could hear Ray on the other end of the phone, but everything seemed so unreal. Charlie finally was able to bring the phone back up to her mouth.

"R....Ray, I'll..." She stopped for a minute to catch her breath "I'll get the next flight to Dallas." Charlie hung up the phone and continued to lay next to the phone stand, crying.

After being treated by the emergency room doctors, Afton Cooper was taken to recovery. She would be ok, but, the baby she was carrying would not. The fall had put an end to the life of her still unborn son.

Doctor Gee walked towards the waiting room and asked to speak to Afton's husband. Cliff, who had disappeared before midnight struck at the party, was nowhere to be seen. Lucy and Mitch who were together in the waiting room, walked towards the doctor and explained who they were.

Well Mr. Cooper, your sister will be fine, she suffered a minor concussion, but she should not have any long lasting side effects, but she did lose the baby.

"The baby?" Mitch was visibly confused.

"Yes Mitch, Afton was pregnant, I can't believe she never told you." Lucy was still in shock, she hated Afton, but was disturbed about her role in Afton's current predicament.

"She never said a word."

"Well Mr. Cooper, your sister was only a few weeks pregnant, the baby just was not developed enough to handle the strain the fall put on her."

A few weeks!….Lucy's mind began to race…..A few weeks, the baby was not Cliff's after all, that would put conception about the time of the Oil Baron's Ball, so…Cliff could not possibly be the father. The father was more than likely…good ole J.R…..Lucy's guilt turned to hatred. That bitch, trying to screw up her relationship with Cliff, by passing off the J.R's baby as Cliff's.

"Can I see my sister?"

"Of course Mr. Cooper, follow me."

Mitch began to follow the doctor, but turned to look at his wife, "Lucy, you coming?"

"I will be there in a minute, first I have to make a call."

Two Weeks later:

Lucy had been trying to reach Cliff for a couple of weeks. He had not called, did not answer his phone, and did not answer when she went to visit. Lucy had no idea what the hell was going on. The last time she spoke to Cliff, they were flirting at the Halloween bash. "What the hell was going on?" Cliff had not contacted her since that night, and too her knowledge, he had not gone to see Afton either. Lucy Ewing Cooper was beginning to worry.

Bobby Ewing relished in the silence and privacy that he enjoyed perhaps for the first time since Halloween. The big house was mostly empty, though he had no idea where everyone had gotten off to, save Christopher, Karen, Pam and Valene. Valene and Pam had gone into Dallas for a 'girls' afternoon together. The two women had taken a real liking to one another and that pleased Bobby. Bobby had received a call the day after Halloween from Christopher in Las Vegas. Christopher had told him that he and Karen would be taking a little road trip and might not be back for a few months. Bobby had informed Christopher of what had happened to Jenna, as Christopher and Karen left immediately before and hadn't known.

He descended the staircase and entered the living room, which was also quiet. As he poured himself a bourbon, he heard the voice of a teenaged boy behind him, calling his name.

"Uncle Bobby? Can I talk to you for a minute?" In the doorway stood Bobby, Gary and Val's son.

"Well, sure son. Come on in here. Ahh, would you like a drink?"

Little Bobby's eyes widened as he exclaimed, "sure!"

"Non-alcoholic only, young man. Your mother and Aunt Pam would never forgive me if I let you get drunk."

At the same time in downtown Dallas, at The Store:

"Oh, Val, thanks so much for suggesting this. I've had an absolutely wonderful time today." Pam and Val were making their way toward the exit and were both carrying obscene amounts of bags with them.

"The pleasure is all mine, Pam. You know, I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be shopping in downtown Dallas with another Southfork woman." Val laughs. "This is a wonderful feeling, you know?"

"Oh, I think I understand, Valene. Don't forget that that God- awful Jenna Wade kept me from Southfork for 11 years, myself. I know what it's like to dream about things."

"Speaking of dreams, Pam, a long, long time ago… over ten years ago, in fact, I had a dream that Bobby had died. It seemed so real at the time that I decided to take it as a sign and that's when I named my son Bobby, after Bobby."

Back at Southfork, simultaneously:

"Uncle Bobby, I just wanted you to know that it's been such an honor to get to spend some time with you here at Southfork. I've dreamed of meeting the uncle that I was named after my entire life."

Big Bobby smiled a proud smile. "Well, you're Daddy and me were always close when we were boys and I'm proud that my name will live on with his son."

On the Central Expressway, Pam and Val were driving back toward Southfork. Pam had just spent the last 15 minutes or so explaining to Valene the terrible dream that she had back in 1985. "And so, when I woke up, there was Bobby in the shower saying good morning to me."

Val had an eerie look on her face as Pam finished her tale. "God, Pam that is so creepy. My dream had so many similar elements to yours, but it mostly focused on Bobby's death and the struggle that Gary went through to deal with it. Maybe the two are connected, somehow."

Pam just smiled at Val and said, "well, stranger things have happened Val."

At that moment, back on the ranch:

Little Bobby had been being reviled with stories about Big Bobby and Gary when they were boys. "Uncle Bobby, will you take me out to the pond and show me the treehouse that Grandpa Jock built for you?"

"Son, I'd love to. Maybe you'll find it as soothing a place to go and be alone as I did. There's just one condition on this. You can't tell Betsy about it. No girls allowed!"

The two enjoyed a laugh and then set out together to explore the vast expanse that was Southfork.

Afton Cooper lay in her hospital bed watching 'Another World.' She was due to be released tomorrow, but had no idea what she was being released to. The shock of losing the baby had finally past, and now she was trying to figure out how to make the best of the situation. She still might be able to use this, at least for the sympathy angle. The doctor had confirmed that the baby had to be J.R's. Afton was feeling a bit lonely. She knew she had made some enemies of late, but she had expected at least a few visitors. She had only one, Mitch, he had come every day, some days a more than once. She loved her brother, but he was no substitute for who she really wanted to visit. Cliff had not shown, neither had J.R. But the worst insult was that Pamela Rebecca had neither called or visited. That daughter of hers was getting an earful when she finally got the hell out of this hospital.

Afton had almost fallen off to sleep when she heard a tap at the her hospital room door, "Damn Mitch, I asked him not to visit during prime soap watching!"

"Afton, may I come in?"

Afton looked up to see Roy Ralston standing in the doorway.

"Of course Mr. Ralston, come in."

Roy Ralston headed towards Afton's bed, his hands clutching a huge bunch of flowers.

"How are you feeling Afton?"

"I have been better."

"I am sure you have. I just wanted to drop by and tell you how sorry I am about you and your baby."

"Well, I appreciate that."

"Afton, are you up to discussing a little business?"

"Business?"

"Well, if you recall, when we last spoke I was trying to talk you into hosting my new television talk show."

"That is right Mr. Ralston, I almost forgot."

"Please call me Roy."

"Ok, Roy."

"Well, I was serious, I just wanted to let you know, that as soon as you are up to it, I want to meet about it, I am very excited about the prospect of Miss Afton Cooper as the host of Dallas Dish."

"Dallas Dish."

"Catchy, isn't it? Are you still interested?"

"More than ever…..Roy."

Pam walked into the living room to find J.R. watching television. For one, brief second, she actually felt a tinge of pity for him. He had been right. J.R. Ewing was not responsible for her kidnapping and being held in a sanitarium for almost twelve years--Jenna's suicide note had cleared that up. It had been her sister, Katherine and Jenna all along.

"Hi J.R.," said Pam, taking a seat next to him on the couch. J.R. was surprised.

"Hello Pam," said J.R.

"J.R., I know there's been a lot of friction between us during the many years that I've been affiliated with your family and I'm sorry about all of that."

"Pam, that was for the most part, my fault. I didn't ever give you a chance. I let my feelings and hatred for your daddy get in my way. I'm sorry as well."

"J.R., the thing I'm most sorry for is how I blamed you for my kidnapping when it was really Jenna and Katherine. I wanted to ruin you and I shouldn't have said all of those things in front of Miss Ellie and the family. I...I just wish I could remember exactly what happened during those years I was away."

"You'll remember Pamela. First thing tomorrow morning, I'm going to hire a detective to track Katherine down. You or Bobby will never be truly safe as long as that madwoman is running loose in this world."

Pam smiled. "I think it's time we ended this fued once and for all. We've got enough to worry about without this petty fued getting in the way. Our sons have been so close until just lately. I hope they can repair the damage that's been done and be close once again.

"It's high time this fued ended, once and for all," said J.R., "and to show my support, I'm going to throw a huge wedding party at the Oil Baron's for you and Bobby. When are you two going to tie the knot?"

"Well, I'm not sure yet J.R.," laughed Pam, "but the sooner, the better. But really, don't go through all that trouble for us."

"Oh no, no trouble. We'll fly Mama and Clayton, James, Little Jimmy, and Debra Lynn, Christopher and Karen, Gary, Valene, and half of Knots Landing to Dallas. This is gonna be the biggest wedding Southfork has ever scene, aside from that of Sue Ellen and myself," J.R. laughed.

Soon, Pamela and J.R. were all but rolling on the floor laughing. Bobby walked in the room, his mouth gaping as he watched Pam and J.R., two people who he thought would have been enemies to the end.

"Am I interrupting something," asked Bobby.

"Bob! Glad you're here. Pam and I were just talking about your wedding."

"Really? And that's what's so funny?" Bobby was clearly baffled.

Pam stood and hugged Bobby. "Bobby, the Barnes-Ewing Fued is over."

A smile broke out on Bobby's face. "Pam? J.R.? How did this happen?"

"Sit down Bob and we'll tell you," said J.R.

Donna woke up next to Ray. "Oh God, she thought, where the hell do I go from here.

Ray turned to look at Donna, the only woman he had ever really loved. "Good morning!"

Donna rose and began to dress.

"Ray, what the hell have we done! Your wife just died a couple of weeks ago, how could we have been so insensitive?" "Donna relax, my marriage to Jenna was over a long time ago. I feel horrible about what happened, but after the plane crash, I knew that Jenna's heart would always belong to Bobby."

"I know but Ray, think about how this would look?"

"To who? Donna, we were meant to be together. I have never opened up to anyone like I do to you. We have been by each other's side since the Halloween Ball. We belong together, we fit."

"Well, you are forgetting just one thing. I am still married!"

"Well, you seem to have forgotten that as well."

"Ray, I am sorry, this has been like a hazy dream, the Ball, Jenna's death, but waking up beside you this morning jolted me back to reality."

"Sleeping with me jolted you, well, thanks a bunch."

"Ray, you know what I mean, that last couple of weeks have been wonderful, but it is time to face reality."

"I thought our love was real."

"Ray please."

"Never mind Donna, just head on home to the Senator, I should have guessed that this is where it was going to end."

"Ray just stop right there! I love you, I love you like I have love no other man. But I need to return home, at least for a little while."

"To be with the Senator!"

"Yes….to be with the Senator….so…that I can be with you."

"What, what are you talking about Donna."

"I am trying to tell you that I love you, but I am needed back in Washington….for now, but I will be back, to Dallas, to you, before you know it."

"Yeah sure."

"Ray, I love you, are you deaf? Just give me a little while to tie up some lose ends, and I promise I will be back….do you trust me, do you trust that?"

Ray stared at the woman, the woman he fell in love with so many years ago. "Yes Donna, I trust you."

"Good."

Ray Krebbs and Donna Krebbs Dowling kissed for the last time….for a while anyway.

Sue Ellen parked her car in the parking lot of Chez Pierre, a posh restaurant that she didn't go to very often, because she didn't like the food and she hated the name. 'Chez Pierre' is such an annoying name, like something out of a movie. She walked in and told the maitre'd that she had a reservation under Farlow and she was immediately seated in the back in front of Dusty, who wanted to come here.

"Hi Sue Ellen, I'm glad you could make it." Dusty said, pulling out her chair.

"Of course, what's up darlin'?"

"Why don't we order first? I'm starving." Dusty motioned for the waiter.

After the two ordered, Sue Ellen spoke up again.

"So, what'd you wanna talk about?" Sue Ellen said, hoping for an answer.

Dusty smiled, "Sue Ellen, what would you say if I told you we were going to Venice?"

"I'd say 'Great, let's go!'"

"Sue Ellen," Dusty paused for dramatic effect, "we're going to Venice!"

Sue Ellen smiled, she'd been everywhere else in the world except for Venice, which was the one place she had always wanted to go. It was supposed to be so romantic there, she'd always wanted to take a gondola ride through the waterways of Venice with Dusty by her side hugging her tightly.

"When? What brought this on? I mean, don't get me wrong, I AM excited."

"I don't know, I just want to get away. Get away from JR and everyone else for a bit. I want to be alone with the woman I love without intrusions." Dusty reached across the table and took Sue Ellen's hands, looking into her eyes.

"So, when are we going?"

"Tonight, and I don't want you to tell anyone, let's just go. Spur of the moment! I've already made reservations and booked a flight."

Sue Ellen smiled, she was truly happy. Dusty was the only man who had made her feel this way in a long time. "OK Dusty, Italy sounds wonderful!"

The two leaned forward and kissed as the waiter brought their salads.

Gary had just seen Valene and the twins off at the airport. They were on their way to Knots Landing for the Thanksgiving holiday and Gary would join them later, but first he had a few things to say to Abby. He secretly hoped that Jack would be there as well when he stopped by because he was itching for a rumble with his cousin.

When Gary arrived at the apartment, Abby answered with a surprised look. "Well, you're about the last person I'd expect at my door, Gary."

"Is Jack here with you, Abby?"

"No. He left for California several days ago. I'm going to join him there for the holiday. Why do you ask, Gary?"

Pushing his way into the apartment and helping himself to a seat, Gary replied. "Because Abby, I have a few things that I'd like to say to the two of you, but you'll have to do."

"Well, why don't you have a seat and tell me what's on your mind, Gary." Abby rolled her eyes and joined Gary in the seating area of her living room. "I suppose that this has something to do with Ewing Oil. But, if this is another of your sadly lacking plans to trick me into giving the company back, then forget it."

"Yes, it has to do with Ewing Oil, but it has more to do with you, Abby. What the hell has happened to you? I mean, when we were first married, I thought you were the most wonderful girl in the whole world."

Abby sighed. "That was a long time ago, Gary."

"Yes, but not so long ago that you could be a completely different person. What is it that makes you need to take and take and take? What are you looking for that you can't find? I know it isn't money or power. You've got more of that than anyone could ever need."

"I'll be the judge of that!"

"Obviously you're not doing a very good job of that, Abby!" Gary stood and talked down to her. "You're doing things that hurt people you love, or have loved! You married my cousin just so you could take Ewing Oil from me after I had finally earned my family's trust! WHY, ABBY?"

Abby jumped to her feet and walked straight to the door. "What do you know, Gary? You divorced me! I happen to love Jack and if he was here…"

Gary walked over and met her at the door. "If he was here, we'd probably all regret it..."

The ex-husband and wife stood staring into one another's eyes, each waiting for the other to speak. Gary finally broke the silence.

"There's still a chance for you to get what you're really looking for. Oh, Abby, God help me, but I still care what happens to you. If you really love Jack, then focus on that and on Brian and Olivia. Your children have always wanted you there for them. Good luck." With that Gary left and a tear formed in the corner of Abby's eye.

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