Melissa wrapped the bathrobe around her and began to comb out her tangled hair. John Ross joined her on the bed and kissed her lovingly. “John Ross?”

“Yeah?”

Melissa was quiet. She wasn't even sure why she had called his name—maybe to be sure that he was still there…and hadn't abandoned her. “Happy Valentine's Day. Sorry I was so cold to you earlier. I was just worried.”

“Worried? About what?”

“Nothing.”

“Melissa? What's wrong? You seem so down.”

“Valentine's Day isn't one of my favorite holidays.”

“Why not?”

“My life has been full of losers who use me and then drop me like yesterday's trash when they've had their fill. They could sweet talk and really give the gifts, but I could tell that there was no love to back them up.”

“Whoa. Do you think that's what I'm doing? Using you?” John Ross pulled her closer. “Because I would never hurt you like that. Honestly, Valentine's Day has never been one of my favorite holidays either. But guess what?”

“What?”

“This year I have the most beautiful, smartest, most sensational woman that ever walked God's earth. Not to mention the fact that she really knows how to use handcuffs…”

Melissa smiled. She was beginning to feel better. “The person I'm spending Valentine's Day with isn't all that bad himself.”

John Ross kissed her again, only this time, longer. “I promise…I'll never hurt you. The truth is, I've never felt this kind of love for anyone else I've ever known. Now that you know that…I have a little gift for you.”

“A gift? I hope it's not chocolate—I'm allergic, remember?”

“Yeah yeah, I remember. Follow me out into the living room. And you know…I'm not even sure if you'll even like this kind of thing, but whatever the case, I want you to think of this as a symbol of our love.”

“Mmm, sounds romantic.”

“Don't say anything until you see them.”

“Them?”

“Yeah, them.” John Ross took her hand and led her into the apartment's living area.

“What's under the sheet?”

“Why don't you go pull it off—I want a good view of your face when you see this. Like I said…I don't know if you'll even like it, but just remember what I told you.”

Melissa nodded and slowly removed the cover from the hidden object. It was a large cage and inside it, were two red and green birds. “Parakeets?”

John Ross laughed. “No, no, no. Love birds.”

Melissa snickered and kissed him again. “Love birds on Valentine's Day. That would have to be the corniest…but also the best gift anyone ever gave me.”

“So you like them?”

“Are you kidding? They're adorable! And look how they're sitting huddled up next to each other like that—they're so cute. What are their names?”

“I thought I'd leave that up to you. I never was that good at names.”

Melissa kneeled down in front of the cage. “Which one is the female?”

“Umm, the one on the left I think.”

“Look at her red chest…it's so bright. We have to call her Scarlett.”

“Scarlett. Hmm. So what does that make the other one…Rhett?”

“Well he's definitely no Ashley. Rhett and Scarlett—I guess it's kinda cheesy, but I love it.” Melissa noticed that John Ross was looking at her with amusement.

“What is it?”

“You wouldn't know that a few minutes ago, you were depressed. Let's keep it that way.”

Melissa smiled and nodded. “I don't think that'll be a problem…oh no, John Ross, we're supposed to be getting ready for the wedding today.”

“Wedding? What wedding? There's no wedding today because we're sleeping in for a while, before I have to take care of some other business. But, for now…” John Ross moved his hands to her neck and pushed back her robe. It fell to the floor and after moving back to the bedroom, they made love.

Ewing Oil

Cally pushed open the door to Ewing Oil with all her force. She knew herself too well, because everything that she had told Sue Ellen the night before was now true. It had finally sunk in that Justin was staying with her, but something had sunk in too: exactly what J.R. had done to her. Cally was going to strangle him for making her think that there was something wrong with her. To think that she questioned her own sanity! He was going to get his, she swore to herself.

She breezed right past Sly, so fast that J.R.'s secretary looked up in time to see Cally slam the door behind her as she went into J.R.'s office.

J.R. turned around in his chair when he heard the door slam. His reaction was apathetic.

Cally flew over to his desk in a frenzy and slapped him clear across the face. “I hate you! You son of a bitch I hate you!”

J.R. grabbed hold of one of her arms and pushed her away. Cally retreated and made her way to the other side of his desk. “I know everything that you did J.R. and I ain't going to take it!”

“Get out of here,” J.R. demanded. It was bad enough that he had to retract that custody suit. Now he had to deal with her ravings.

“Sue Ellen told me everything! I know how you paid that woman to make me think I was going crazy!”

J.R. cursed his ex-wife. Wives. “I don't need to pay anyone to make you crazy. You're doing a damn good job of that yourself.”

“Shut up! This ain't over J.R.! This ain't over by a longshot. I'm sick of you pulling all the strings around here. You were actually going to take Justin away from me? I can't believe you!”

“Cally, get the hell out of here. Go back to the farm. I'm sure those hick brothers of yours will be glad to see that their sister's as crazy as they are.” He put his head back into his reading.

“Don't you ignore me! I'm not finished with you yet!”

“You're damn right you're finished, because if you don't get your butt outta here in about two seconds I'm calling security and pressing charges for trespassing. Now leave. You've got no business here.”

Cally took a deep breath and made her way over to the door. This was not the way to handle things. J.R. was going to pay, but she was going to make him suffer. Her logic took hold. It would not help to be in police custody with what she had planned. She turned towards him when she reached the door. “I'm not going anywhere, and I ain't through with you. Watch out.”

She stormed out, still fuming, but satisfied in knowing that she'd get her revenge. She had too, or she thought she really might go insane.

J.R. sighed and put down the file he was reading. He needed to get out of the office for a while. It was tough for him to call the lawyer that morning and request that the suit get dropped, and to further admit that Cally was a decent mother who was just stressed and all the reports that he indicated to the contrary were exaggerated. It was all Sue Ellen. Why did she have to stick her nose into everything? First she got involved in his deal with Gary, and now this….

He was too angry to even think. He just needed to go back to Southfork, and grab some lunch. The drive would do him good. He grabbed his hat and headed towards the outer office.

“Sly, I'm going home for a few hours. Take messages. I'll be back later,” he said as he walked by his secretary's desk.

“Oh, J.R. wait a second…” Sly said, grabbing a message she had just taken. It was pretty important, so she did not want J.R. to leave without giving it to him.

She caught up with J.R. as he was standing in the hallway waiting for the elevator. She gave him the message, and J.R. quickly scanned it.

“I'll call him later,” he said quickly. Sly knew her boss well: something was troubling him.

The ding of the elevator indicated that it had arrived. The doors opened, and Todd leaped out so quickly that neither J.R. nor Sly could anticipate the right hook that he hit J.R. with.

“You son of a bitch!” Todd screamed as J.R. fell back.

“Oh My God!” Sly said, leaning down to see if J.R. was OK.

“Sly, call security,” J.R. managed to mouth, still holding his jaw.

“That was a precursor,” Todd said. His face was red with fury. Sly was frozen.

J.R. still clutched his jaw. “What the hell is wrong with you Foster?”

“Don't you dare play stupid with me. I'm sick of your little games J.R. You just better be careful. You better be real careful.” Todd turned around and walked into the elevator, which was still waiting. “Watch your back.” The doors closed.

“Are you okay?” Sly asked. She helped J.R. to his feet.

“Is everyone crazy?” J.R. asked.

The Barnes Residence

As Afton Cooper, soon to be Afton Cooper Barnes, said her I Do, everything else in the world faded away. Neil Lancaster was the farthest thing from her mind.

Cliff hastily said his I Do and before Afton realized what was happening, she was being kissed.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. And Mrs. Cliff Barnes.”

Pam clapped, but for the moment, her mind was on Christopher, who was standing next to her. She could tell he wanted a drink. Now, Bobby was gone and she had to help Christopher with his problems, while raising Grace. Could she do that? Was she strong enough?

“Damn it Bobby Ewing…how could you do this to me? Your family needs you…how could you just leave us?”

The Clifford Group

“Mrs. Ewing, your son is here.” Kelly buzzed over the intercom.

John Ross was about the only person that Sue Ellen was glad to see. “Send him in Kelly,” she buzzed back.

A few seconds later, John Ross entered her office smiling. “Hey Mom,”

“John Ross! What a nice surprise,” Sue Ellen quietly smiled.

“I hadn't talked to you in a while and you know I'm living just up the street, with Melissa, so I just wanted to drop in and say hi. How's it going?”

“Just busy, that's all.”

John Ross knew his mother too well. “What's really going on? You look kind of down.”

Sue Ellen smiled. It was sweet of John Ross to care. She took a deep breath. “Just a lot of different things. Nothing you need to worry about. Thanks though.”

“Work troubles?” John Ross took a seat across from her. “Can't have to do with dad. I just heard that he dropped the custody suit for Justin. I bet Cally's psyched.”

“Your father is always a problem,” Sue Ellen quickly replied. John Ross could tell that there was another layer to that statement.

“Did he do something?”

“He's always done something.”

“I thought you'd be happy with the custody suit dropped.”

“I am happy. I am.” Sue Ellen looked down at her paperwork.

“Did he do something to you?” Now John Ross was getting a little concerned. His father's machinations affecting him was one thing. When his mother was involved, John Ross got on the defensive.

“It's what he did to Cally. AARGH!” Sue Ellen leaned back in her chair. She didn't want to even think about J.R., but letting out some steam was cathartic.

“I know, but Grandma told me that Cally was acting sort of strange. Even Clayton said something. I mean, I'm glad he dropped the suit and everything, but from everything I've heard Cally's been acting really weird.” John Ross looked at the wall for a minute. “Gosh, I haven't talked to her in a really long time.” Cally meant a lot to John Ross. He remembered how kind she always was to him as a child, especially when James came to Southfork. J.R. seemed to get so “preoccupied” with his new son that John Ross was often left in the wayside. It still hurt to think about that.

“There was nothing wrong with Cally. True to your father's style, he was behind it all.” Sue Ellen quickly realized that perhaps she shouldn't have said anything. She hadn't thought before she spoke---she'd hardly thought at all the last day---but it wasn't fair to John Ross to get him involved. What happened was between Cally and J.R.

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. You know, he just sticks his head everywhere and causes trouble,” Sue Ellen gesticulated and then crossed her arms.

“I know when you're lying.”

“I'm not lying.”

“What did he do?” Now John Ross was demanding information. He could tell that Sue Ellen was keeping something. There was that discomfort in her eyes, a strange mixture of sadness and confusion that she always tried to keep from John Ross. He wished she realized that she didn't need to do that anymore. He was an adult—she could talk to him. “Mom, I want you to tell me what happened. If something's happening, you don't have to be strong for me. I'm a big boy now.”

“John Ross, please. It's nothing.”

“Then why are you trying to hide something? I know you, so don't deny it.”

Sue Ellen looked at her son. He was so handsome, and so determined. And he looked so much like his father. He was like J.R.: there was a fire in his eyes, a determination. Except it was noble. She paused, but finally spoke. “He paid someone to make Cally think that she was going crazy so he could get Justin.”

“WHAT?” John Ross nearly screamed.

“Please, John Ross, the whole situation has been fixed. He's dropped the custody case and he is going to leave Cally alone. The whole thing has been worked out. Cally's happy, J.R. has accepted it…..it's just been laid to rest.”

“Like hell it has!” John Ross got up, and then stopped mid-stride to the door. “He can't do this! I'm going to talk to him.”

“Please, sweetie, don't. It's just going to get him mad, and he'll lash out more. I shouldn't have told you. I don't want an all out war breaking out between you.”

“You're not changing any feelings that I already had.” John Ross threw his head back a little. “Ugh! He thinks he's so high and mighty in that friggin office!”

Then, it came to him. He knew what he should do. It was so simple. “Mom, how long are you going to be here?”

Sue Ellen was taken aback by the sudden change in conversation. “Umm, well I should be here for most of the day. I might go back to Southfork for a little while, but if I do, it won't be for long.”

“I'll be back later today. I have something for you.” With that, he walked out. Sue Ellen couldn't even ask what it was.

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