Lucy woke up and instantly noticed that Dean was not beside her.

She lay quite for a few moments listening to the sounds of the ranch waking up. She felt content the first time in a long time. She was happy to be living at Southfork and was enthusiastic to be getting more involved in the running of the ranch that would one day be hers. She felt almost like she was walking in the footsteps of her grandma and, as she was getting older, she was becoming more grateful to her heritage that was being bestowed to her. She felt it gave her a purpose and a place she belonged and these were things that she had searched for her whole life. As it often did her mind began to wander to thoughts of her husband. She was so in love with Dean that the mere thought of him put her smile on her face, they had found love through such pain. Loosing his stepbrother and John Ross's death had brought them together and the love they now shared Lucy felt was even more special because of the circumstances. Gradually became aware of the presence of another person in the room and as she rolled over she saw Dean sat across the room, he was already fully clothed and was staring intently at her.

"Good morning." Dean said.

"Hi there, you should have woke me."

"I was watching you sleep, you seemed to peaceful to wake. Sweet dreams?"

"Almost as sweet as the reality of waking up next to you. So why are you dressed and up so early."

"I decided to take a walk around the ranch and get to know my surroundings a little. Hell most of the places I lived with my mother and sister could have fit in this room and even when she remarried and Phillip and his dad moved in we still lived somewhere as small as the living room. Anyways I've always been a city boy so I guess I should try and get acquainted with this old ranch. It wouldn't do now for me to be getting lost, after all I am the master to the lady of the manor!"

Lucy laughed, "don't you let my grandma hear you talking like that. I may have 90% of this place coming to me, but I have insisted that I don't' get anything officially until after grandmas death and that's a long way off believe me. So until then you'll have to settle to being the master in the bedroom only."

Dean nodded and gave a sexy wink, " I guess I will have to wait then to have my own coat of arms designed then."

Lucy through a cushion at Dean.

"Honey stop it, it creeps me out even talking about it. I don't care how much power and money I will have, I don't even want to think about grandma not being here."

Dean gave Lucy an apologetic smile then stood up to leave.

"I will catch you in a while when I get back, okay?"

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you? I can jump in the shower and be ready in no time."

"No it's fine, I'll be back before you know it."

Dean walked out of the room and down the corridor as he past by Ellie's room, he paused momentarily and then continued down the hall.

Inside her room Ellie was preparing for her day.

She was going to the energy conference today to support Donna. It would be the first time that she had been out publicly since John Ross's death and she was feeling very apprehensive about it. The phone rang and Ellie answered it.

"Ellie, it's Mavis."

"Mavis, hi how are you?"

"I am fine I'm just calling to check that we are going to see you today at the conference."

"You certainly will, I am looking forward to seeing you and Punk so much, it's been too long."

"I know what you are saying. After this last trip I have told Punk that my travelling days are over, I want to be home from now on. I feel like I am loosing touch with what's going on in my own life not to mention that of my friends and family. Can you believe that I missed by eldest sisters 80th birthday and then.."

"Now Mavis before you start I won't to hear another word about the funeral. I understand that you didn't hear about the.."

Ellie paused unable to speak the words out loud. Mavis interrupted to alleviate the difficulty of the situation.

"I know Ellie, and I thank you for your understanding, but my home is here in Texas with my friends and family. Now we are back you can be damn sure that Punk and I will be no strangers at Southfork."

Ellie felt emotion well up inside of her, Punk and Mavis and Jock and herself had spent the good part of 40 years as tight as any two couples could be and even after she had remarried to Clayton, Mavis and Punk had always been important in her life. Over the last few years their lives had taken them onto different paths and it had been a month, well since Jocks funeral since she had spoken or enjoyed the company of her two beloved friends; Mavis's words were just what she needed to hear.

"So we will meet you for lunch at the Oil Barons before and then go to the conference from there?"

"That'll be fine."

"I have to warn you that man of mine has a bee in his bonnet about these politicians stepping in and meddling with the Oil business, I think he will have a few words to say to Donna. You wouldn't think it almost 10 years since he sold up would you."

Ellie laughed. "I can hear Jock now, and I can just imagine what he would be saying. You know Mavis just hearing you talk about Punk makes Jock feel all the closer to me. It's so lovely to talk to you, you are a real tonic tell Punk I am really look forward to seeing you both this afternoon, and so he has got to be on his best behaviour"

Mavis laughed, " I will do Ellie. We'll see you later, love to you."

As the phone went dead, Ellie put down the receiver and was just beginning to finish off getting ready when the ringing began again.

Sue Elle sat at the edge of her bed, she had just finished writing in her diary as she put down the book and contemplated the words she had just wrote.

She was leaving Dallas at the end of the week and had just written a list of the reasons as to why. Ever since talking to Donna after Lucy's wedding she had been mulling over the offer that Donna had made her. Helping run the Volunteers Environmental program in Washington was something she felt would be not only worthwhile but also a constructive thing to do. Sue Ellen knew that the life style that she had enjoyed was down to in the most part the Oil Business and after looking at some of the studies that Donna had given her, she felt that this could be her way of amending some of the wrongs that had been bequeathed on the world around her by the Oil business. She had already set the wheels in motion to stand down as the chairperson at West Star and sell her shares. It would be an exciting challenge to get involved in the politics of the issue and also battling again the oil companies, yet this time with selfless motives was something that Sue Ellen knew she could handle and enjoy.

However it was not the position she was moving to or even the change of city that was a problem, after all she had moved to England and survived the cultural chaos, it was something else that was troubling her. She knew that a fresh start was what she needed, to concentrate on something new would keep her mind occupied and hopefully stop the many hours she was finding herself thinking of John Ross and also of taking a drink. This was going to help her recovery, yet there was a little voice inside her head that kept on repeating the same word over and over….JR.

Donna and Ray sipped their coffee in silence.

Since the day of the wedding Donna had tried to keep their times alone to a minimum as she was still trying to make up her mind as to what she would do next. With Sue Ellen eager to take over as the chairperson to the environmental program, once today was over with then she had no real need to go back to Washington. But if she was to stay she had to be sure that this time it would work with Ray. The years had certainly made Ray a milder man then he was and if she was honest their main bone of contention had always been her career. However over the last year or so Donna had felt herself changing, she was no longer as committed or as desperate to achieve the things that a decade ago had seemed so important. She was satisfied with what she had accomplished and was now quite happy to pass on the book and go quietly into the night. Donna smiled at the thought of herself as an old lady sat on the porch with a book and a blanket. Ray noticed Donna's smile and broke the silence.

"Share the joke?"

"I was just thinking how funny it was that in age every time you think you have matured and that you know all there is to know, life throws something at you and all of sudden you realise how naïve you were before."

"And this is funny because?"

"Well I have just been picturing the faces of some of my Washington friends when I tell them that I am retiring to Texas to sit on the veranda and read books and take in the sunset."

Ray took a second to digest the meaning of what Donna was saying and then he spoke quietly.

"So you are staying"

" I am, that's if you will have me."

Without a word Ray took Donna into his arms and held her tightly.

" You won't regret this, I swear to God this time it will work, it will be for ever."

"You better believe it cowboy, cos if it aint you will have me chasing after you all over Texas."

The couple embraced again and kissed passionately.

"Now don't you be getting me all hot and bothered I have a big day ahead of me and then when it is over I will be all yours."

"I will hold you to that."

Donna stood up to go and get ready.

"By the way if Margaret doesn't get back soon then you will have to go and find her as I want you both with me for support today."

"Where did she say she was going?"

"For a walk, she took a magazine so she is probably sat under a tree engrossed in the latest chapter of the Britney/Justin saga."

Ray looked confused and Donna laughed and then left the room.

"Mrs Ewing like I keep saying to you this is a serious issue we really need to discuss where your son is and where you were the night of Miss Smithfield's murder."

"And I have told you, my son is on a vacation and not in reach and as far as my whereabouts on the evening that that women was murdered I was probably home alone."

Bret had been trying to get Pam to open up for over half an hour and was totally exasperated. Suddenly Becky walked in the room and interrupted the conversation.

"Hi, just to let you know I am going to the hospital, will you be coming later?

"Yes honey I will follow you down, I shouldn't be too long now."

As Becky left Bret decided to give it one more shot.

"Look the deal is this you have been charged with obstructing justice which in it's self is a serious crime, and seems that the tape of your son was found in your house then our defence is very shaky there. Now the DA's are saying that not only was Miss Smithfield's suicide note fake and that the gun shot wound was not self imposed it would seem now that the gun that was found at the crime scene wasn't a match with the bullet. Mrs Ewing this WAS murder and I am afraid that at this time you are the only suspect that the police are chasing. We need to start building a defence."

"But I am innocent surely by having a lawyer trying to build a defence for me, this would make me look guilty?"

"No more then having your son flee the country."

"Mr Foster, I have nothing further to say to you regarding this matter, I think it is time you left."

As the two glared at each other there was a knock at the door. Pam stood up and walked out of the room, answering the door she found a lady and several policemen greeting her.

"Mrs Pamela Ewing?"

"Yes."

"We have a warrant here to search the premises."