The clock chimed, three times. It reminded her of the time she spent in the sanitarium away from her family. When she thought about it, there wasn't much that did not remind her of that time. Pam looked around the room. Soon, she would be the lady of the house. She thought about the time she first came to Southfork and felt so out of place. Bobby now owned Southfork and when they were married, so would she. It was the time of night that a mind could wander anywhere and Pam's mind did. She thought about Cliff and his situation with Lucy and what kinds of problems it would cause if Cliff moved into Southfork. Cliff living at Southfork she thought. Who would have ever dreamed.

Christopher sat at the window in the darkened cabin. The two had left the airport in an attempt to find a place to sleep and they had found Brock's Cabin Rentals. All of the hotels in the area had been filled by others like themselves, who had been unable to go anywhere due to the storm. They had almost given up hope when the obscure, rustic looking sign had directed them to Brock's. The flames from the fireplace danced, creating patterns of orange light on the walls and outside, the snow fell in lazy drifts—nothing compared to the monster storm that had raged outside earlier.

Christopher turned around when he heard Karen waking up. She rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed. "Good morning," she said.

"Hey Sweetie," said Christopher kissing her. "The storm has finally slacked off…nothing but a few flurries now. I think we should be able to get a flight back to Dallas today.

"I hope so. I've never been so ready to be back at Southfork. This snow is about to get to me."

"Don't hold your breath," said Christopher, "I heard that Dallas had snow and ice in the forecast for Christmas."

"Oh Great. All we need is a white Christmas after all of this snow."

"I'm going to go over to the office and check us out. The sooner we get to the airport, the better."

Pamela had still been sitting in the living room when the rest of the Ewings gathered for breakfast. It was Christmas Eve, something she hadn't realized until just now. After Bobby, J.R., , Lucas, Lucy, John Ross, and Pamela Rebecca took their seats, Pamela got up and joined them.

"So Uncle Bobby," said John Ross, "who's coming for the Christmas party tonight?"

"Oh, probably just the family and a few close friends."

"Bobby," said Pam sipping her coffee, "I'd like to invite Phyllis. She's always been a good friend to us both and I want to include her."

"I won't argue with that," smiled Bobby, "why don't you call her after breakfast?"

"I will."

Pamela Rebecca spoke up, "Aunt Pam, I just wanted to make sure it was okay to invite my Mom."

"Of course it is Pamela Rebecca," said Pam.

Lucy stopped eating for a moment and then spoke up. "Nothing like a little family to spend Christmas with…especially Auntie Afton."

"Lucy," said J.R., "that is enough out of you. I don't know why you and Afton can't get along."

"Now J.R.," said Lucy in a mockingly stern voice, "and this is coming from you? Didn't you hold more than a few grudges against people in your lifetime?"

Pamela Rebecca would have to have a talk with the resident blonde bitch as soon as breakfast was over. She and her mother may not have had the closest relationship over the past few months, but she was tired of the way Lucy constantly put her down.

"Good morning everyone." Ellie and Clayton walked into the dining room hand in hand. "Well, we're all here, except Sue Ellen, anyone know where she is?"

"She went out for a walk earlier Grandma." John Ross said. He planned on having a talk with his mother later, she had been too quiet since her return from France.

"Well, I just want to remind everyone my words from last night, I want this to be a Christmas full of joy, happiness and peace."

"We heard you last night mama, you have nothing to worry about from good ole J.R here. I will be on my best behavior."

"I'm sure you will son. Pamela Rebecca? Lucy? Can I get the same promise from the two of you?"

"Of course Grandma."

"Yes Miss Ellie." Pamela Rebecca would be fine, when Ellie was around at least.

"Good, well, I am skipping breakfast this morning, I have a lot to do, I think I will start with the stuffing."

J.R smiled at the thought of his mama's stuffing. "I love your stuffing mama, the best part of the meal."

"Well, I had better get to work, we have a party tonight, and I want us all to be ready."

Several hours had passed and Pamela Rebecca still had not had the opportunity to talk with Lucy. She would make a point to confront her at the party tonight…that way, if she gave her any trouble, she would have a glass of eggnog or something handy.

Jane was busy tidying up Southfork for the party and Pamela Rebecca had become annoyed by her constant dusting off of the television as she tried to watch. "Could you please stop that?" she snapped.

"Stop what?" asked a baffled Jane.

"Dusting the damned television when I'm watching it."

"I'm sorry Miss Cooper," said Jane moving out of her way.

"And that's Mrs. Ewing," snapped back Pamela Rebecca.

"Yes Ma'am," said Jane still looking baffled. She moved into the next room with her feather duster.

Playing nice had really gotten to Pamela Rebecca lately, but she knew she had to do it in order to keep John Ross…and Southfork, the Ewing name, and the Ewing money.

John Ross found his mother standing alone near the pool. "It's a little cold to be standing outside don't you think mother."

"John Ross, how are you doing this morning?"

"I'm fine mom, I am a little worried about you though."

"I know, I have been a little out of it since I returned."

"Anything I can help with?"

"You have helped. It is wonderful to see you so happy. Megan is wonderful. I am so glad I returned to meet her."

"You sound like you almost didn't."

"Well, your right. John Ross, I need to tell you something. Right after Christmas I am heading back to France."

"For how long?"

"I'm not sure. There are some things going on there with Dusty. Things I can't really get into right now, but….I need to get back."

"But Mom, this is your home, I was hoping you would stick around for awhile. Things have been a little crazy for me, especially with Megan being born, I was really counting on your support."

"John Ross, you always have my support. But…Southfork is not really feeling like my home these day's. I am not sure where I fit in here. I just think I need to straighten a few things out. But, I promise I will not be gone for long, nothing could keep me away from you and Megan for too long. I have the feeling you are going to need me."

"I do need you, but you are talking about something else aren't you?"

"John Ross, lets not spoil the day, ok."

"You think Pamela Rebecca is going to cause me trouble don't you? Everyone seems to think that."

"As I said, there will be time when I return to talk about this. You have obviously decided to give it a shot with her. Regardless of what I think, she is Megan's mother, so I respect that."

"Jingle Bell Rock" played in the background and the guests mingled in the living room beneath the Christmas decorations. Pam took a glass of eggnog off of the tray that Jane carried around the room and then joined Bobby in the corner of the room.

"I don't suppose Christopher and Karen are going to make it," she said sadly.

"I wouldn't count them out yet. They know you want them here and I know they want to be here," said Bobby, reassuring her.

As if waiting for a cue, the front door opened and Christopher and Karen entered, snow blowing in behind them. "Christopher," said Pam walking over to where he stood, "I'm so glad you got back." She gave her son a kiss as he and Karen took off their snow-covered coats.

"We're glad to be back," laughed Christopher, giving Karen a knowing glance.

"Yes we are," smiled Karen, removing her gloves, "we had to move Heaven…and not to mention snow, to get here."

Karen excused herself from the conversation and went up to her room to change clothes. She was glad to be back to where she considered her home. Karen heard a cry from across the hall and realized it must be John Ross' daughter. "What would she be doing at Southfork?" Karen said to herself. She finished dressing and entered the nursery where she saw Megan Eleanor crying in her crib.

"Oh, have they just forgotten about you?" she said, picking up the baby. Karen rocked Megan until she stopped crying.

"What do you think you're doing?" Karen turned around as Pamela Rebecca walked in the room. She all but snatched Megan away from Karen.

"I was just holding her, she was crying," said Karen.

"That's what Ana is for. If she's not here then I'll take care of Megan. The last thing she needs if your evil influence."

"Wait…wait a minute," spoke Karen, putting her finger to her mouth, "what are you doing here and who is Ana?"

"Ana is Megan's nanny and I happen to live here."

"Oh great! I can't believe this. You are living at Southfork. How did you manage to pull that off? What kind of scheme did you pull this time?"

Pamela Rebecca shifted Megan to her other arm and produced her hand and engagement ring. "John Ross is going to marry me. We love each other."

"You're delusional. Look…we're both going to be living here at Southfork. This is a big place so please try to stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours," reasoned Karen.

"Fine with me. Now get out of this nursery. I don't want to see you back in here again."

Without saying anything else, Karen left Pamela and Megan alone and went back downstairs where she ran into none other than John Ross. "Hey Karen."

"Hello John Ross," said Karen irritated.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"I know you better than that. Something is wrong."

"Fine. What the hell is Pamela Rebecca doing here at Southfork?"

"We're getting married."

"Have you forgotten what all she has done to you and me?"

"That doesn't matter now. I've forgiven her and she has changed. How does this concern you anyway?" asked John Ross curtly, "You're married to Christopher now."

"If you think Pamela Rebecca has changed, then you're in for a rude awakening. Excuse me." Karen left John Ross standing by himself and rejoined the rest of the party.

Jane showed Phyllis and a girl near John Ross' age into the living room. "Janice?" said John Ross.

"Hi John Ross. Merry Christmas."

"What are you doing here?" he asked in a puzzled tone.

"My Mom was invited and I came with her."

"Your Mom?"

"Yes John Ross," smiled Phyllis, "Janice is my daughter."

"I…I had no idea."

Bobby walked to where the three were standing. "Phyllis, glad you could make it…and Janice, I haven't seen you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper! Phyllis, you have raised yourself a nice daughter there."

"Thank you Bobby."

"Uncle Bobby, you know Janice?" asked John Ross.

"Of course. It's hard not to know her when her mother was my secretary for over ten years."

"This is funny," laughed John Ross, "this is really funny. Janice is my secretary and I had no idea that she was your daughter Phyllis."

"What can I say?" smiled Phyllis, I guess stenography just runs in the family."

The four laughed before John Ross spoke again. "I didn't know you were married."

"I'm not. I've been divorced for some time now."

"Well! Now that this is all cleared up, why don't you come join the party," said John Ross. He took Janice and showed her into the dining room for something to drink. Pamela Rebecca watched from the far corner of the room.

Ray and Donna found the perfect tree. They were out in the woods, a few hundred yards from the cabin. The only sounds that could be heard were their footsteps in the snow. It was quiet, peaceful and perfect.

"It's a little Charlie Brown like, don't you think?" Donna laughed out loud, Ray had spent the last 15 minutes trying to chop down the tree which could not have been more than 3 feet high."

"Donna, you giving me a hard time about my tree?"

"Ray, the tree is wonderful."

"This place is wonderful Donna, there is nowhere else I would rather be."

"I feel the same way Ray." Donna and Ray embraced beside the small tree, still not quite separated from it's roots. "I love you Ray Krebbs, you know that don't you?"

"I love you too Donna."

She drove as fast as she could without risking a wreck and even swerved off the road a few times. Southfork was only a few miles away and she intended to get there in time to make her grand entrance.

Patricia Sheperd beat on the door of the room she had been kept in for the last twenty-four hours. "Somebody get me out of here! I'm not crazy, I don't belong here! Please!"

A nurse opened the door and entered the room. "I'm sorry Mrs. Sheperd. I can't let you out, only your doctor or your daughter can."

"You don't understand! My daughter is the one that belongs here, she's a lunatic. If I don't get out then she is going to ruin a lot of lives."

The nurse, whose nametag said Ellen, took out a small pill and put it in Patricia's tea. Sorry lady. Your daughter is making me a very rich woman to keep you confused. As long as you're getting this pill, then the doctors won't have any reason to let you out.

The party was in full swing. All the Ewings were in the living room, along with many of their friends. Afton was making full use of her new position as relative to the Ewings, walking around the living room, acting as hostess, as if she owned the place.

"She is getting on my last nerve!"

"Lucy, just hold it together, maybe soon we can make a quick get away to your room?"

"Cliff, it's Christmas eve, you are in one of the guestrooms, I think it might be best if you slept there tonight. Grandma would have a fit if she found you with me."

"Well ok, but can we at least find some mistletoe?"

"There is some right over there."

Lucy and Cliff walked under the mistletoe and quickly kissed, not unnoticed by Afton.

"Pamela Rebecca, you have a minute?"

"Sure mom."

"I want to introduce you to my new assistant, and friend Sly Lovegren."

"Hello Sly, nice to meet you."

"You too Pamela, I peeked into the nursery earlier, your daughter is beautiful."

"Thank you."

Afton became a little impatient. "Enough chit chat ladies, the three of us have a mission."

"A mission mom?"

"Yes, a mission, and she is a short blond thing ruining my life."

Sly looked at Afton puzzled. "You mean Lucy?"

"Yes Lucy, are you stupid, haven't you been paying attention.

"Afton I am sorry, but I did not know it was so important to you."

"It sure the hell is! You don't think you got your job because of you wonderful typing skills do you? The three of us together are going to make her life a living hell. Consider us a coven, and we are about to begin a spell which will with throw that little troll into an hole she will never get out of."

Pamela Rebecca and Sly exchanged confused expressions.

"I hate her too mom, but you think you might be just a tad obsessed about this whole thing?"

"Pamela do you not know all the things she has done, and if you are not careful she will screw up your life as well."

The three turned in unison at the sound of laughter, Lucy's laughter, Cliff again had pulled her under the mistletoe and again they kissed.

Afton glared with hatred and contempt. "Lucy Ewing, 1999 is not going to be your year."

Kaitlin got out of the car and stood outside of Southfork, more than a little nervous about going in. If her plan was to work, then she would have to go through with it. She pulled open the door and walked into the room. Slowly, people began to stop what they were doing and stare.

"Oh my God." Sue Ellen braced herself on a chair to keep herself standing. "Kristin?"

Upon hearing the name, Christopher stopped what he was doing and turned to her.

"Hello Sue Ellen, it's been a long time." Kaitlin turned to Christopher. "Christopher…my son…"

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