The Last in Love

[Ms Southworth]

Awesome update about Margaret playing Scrabble with her grandparents! 10 out of 10 points!

LOL ... Margaret already has dreams of becoming a full-time rancher??? Now, that says a lot about her relationship with her dad! I chuckled when Margaret said: "I’ll try them again later.” She's not a quitter, that's for sure!

Sweet and also funny conversation between granddaughter and grandparents in the Southfork kitchen!

• “I’m just not used to a greenhorn out-riding me!”
• “Well, Grandpa, I’m still a novice, but next time, I’ll try not to make you look bad.”
• “Well, that’s okay. I mean, I’ve been out of practice, and you’ve practically lived on a horse these past few weeks.” :cooler:
• “You know, she takes after her daddy. He’s always been the best horseman around here.”
• “See? It runs in the family.”
• “There’s no denying you ... ... You have too much of both of your parents in you—which is a good thing.”

I love that they've grown so close in such a short time!

Please update soon!

 

[Ray&Donna]

August 7, 1998

A couple of days later, the time had come for Donna to arrive home. Margaret was still at Southfork, which was perfect since Ray had already made plans for the day. He entered at the airport and waited in the terminal for her to depart the plane. He finally saw her, and she smiled at him as she met his gaze. They embraced and looked into each other’s eyes.

“I missed you so much,” she said. “I can’t get used to sleeping alone.”

He traced the outline of her face with his index finger. “There aren’t any words to describe how I felt without you.” They lingered on the next kiss before leaving the airport. Ray held Donna’s hand as he drove back to her house. He wanted to welcome her home properly. At last, they were in the driveway. Donna noticed Ray seemed kind of anxious, but said nothing. She smiled to herself as he led her up the walk and inside.

Once they were in her bedroom, he took the lead. He unzipped her dress and began to kiss her neck.

“I haven’t had time to unpack yet,” she quipped.

Ray paused, but only briefly. “You don’t need any clothes for what we’re getting ready to do.”

“Very true. But what will I tell Margaret if she asks what I’ve been doing all afternoon?”

“Tell her you went bareback riding with me.”

“I’d call you a pervert, but I want you too much right now. Hurry up and get out of those jeans.”

He followed Donna’s orders and got back on the bed, where he finished undressing her. She guided him inside of her and they started to move together. Donna could tell he was ready to explode so she slowed him down. She kissed the skin on his sun-darkened shoulder as he quickened his pace. Soon they climaxed together; exhausted, they each needed a moment to catch their breath. After a few minutes, Donna rolled over, kissed Ray on the chest, and went to put on her robe. As she went into the bathroom, Ray crawled out of the bed and put on his jeans. He pulled something out of his pocket, sat on the edge of the bed, and waited for Donna to come back out. After a few minutes, she reemerged and smiled when she saw him.

He smiled back at her, a look of hope in his eyes. “Donna? Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Of course,” she replied.

“Come sit on the bed next to me.”

She smiled at him again as she sat down in front of him, and it sent a chill up his spine. “Okay,” she said.

“Listen, these past two months have been the happiest of my life. I never thought I’d be as happy again as I was when we first got married. But being with you and Margaret, I know that I could never forgive myself if we weren’t together again as a family.” He couldn’t believe he was able to express his feelings in so many words, but now that had it made complete sense.

“It’s been really great for me, too. I’m so happy that I pinch myself every day to make sure I’m not dreaming or something.” As she looked into Ray’s eyes, she knew that she would never leave him again. He finally showed her what had been in his pocket: a diamond ring.

“Donna?”

“Yes?”

“Will you marry me?”

She only had to think about it for a second. “Absolutely. Yes, Ray, yes. I love you. I always have and I always will.” He slid the ring on her finger, and they kissed for what seemed like an eternity. “We could celebrate again, but I don’t want Margaret to think we’ve abandoned her. Give me a minute to get dressed. I want us to tell her the good news together.”

“Okay.” Ray smiled to himself, happier than he’d ever been and elated that they were going to be together. If it hadn’t just happened, he never could’ve believed it.

 

[Ray&Donna]

I loved the part about Margaret being Ray and Donna's common interest! She was a product of their love, right? You know, I've sometimes wondered how Ray and Donna's marriage on "Dallas" would have worked out, if they had had a child (or children) much earlier on! I'd like to think that it would have brought them closer together, but then again ... children can be a strain on a relationship! I'd also like to think that Donna - with Ray's help - would have pursued a political career and found a balance between family and work.

DALLAS is so weird in regards to children--the show has this feeling of a multi-generational saga, and yet only two children who were born during the course of its run actually became long-term characters. There were multiple miscarriages, an abortion, and later pregnancies (i.e., post-Dream) resulted in babies who were quickly spirited off the show. Imagine TNT's DALLAS if it actually revolved around the Ewing grandchildren: John Ross and Christopher not only have to contend with each other, but politically savvy/ambitious/intelligent Margaret, bitter Lucas, and Lucy as the most ruthless of them all.

Outstanding update about Ray and Donna ... ... both being sleepless in Dallas and Washington, respectively!
10 out of 10 points! HOMERUN!!! Great job on the writing!

Again, I must emphasize some of the unforgettable parts that really sticks out in my mind:

• "It wasn’t lost on her how, having lived here twice, she always found her way back to Texas—and Ray."
• "There was someone she needed to call this evening."
• “Donna? Donna, I'm about to go crazy here without you.” :fantastic:
• “Good. I'm starting to get antsy.” :wink@
• “Do you remember that place where I touched you?” ... ... "Think about that tonight before you go to bed. It should be enough to last you at least another 24 hours."

Keep up the great work! I can't wait for the great reunion the day after "tomorrow" (in the fanfic)!

I hope it met your expectations And I don't actually know where the place was that she touched him--I leave that up to the readers' imaginations

 

[Ms Southworth]

DALLAS is so weird in regards to children--the show has this feeling of a multi-generational saga, and yet only two children who were born during the course of its run actually became long-term characters. There were multiple miscarriages, an abortion, and later pregnancies (i.e., post-Dream) resulted in babies who were quickly spirited off the show.

Great points!

Imagine TNT's DALLAS if it actually revolved around the Ewing grandchildren: John Ross and Christopher not only have to contend with each other, but politically savvy/ambitious/intelligent Margaret, bitter Lucas, and Lucy as the most ruthless of them all.

Yes! And even more so if there had been more grandchildren!

I hope it met your expectations

You hope??? Didn't I use the word "outstanding" about that particular update???

And I don't actually know where the place was that she touched him--I leave that up to the readers' imaginations

I loved how you left it up to the readers' imagination what the "magic" spot was!!! The fact that Ray and Donna knew what the other was referring to said it all! This is when sex and true love gel (to use Mr. Elton John's famous lyrics)!

 

[Ms Southworth]

The homecoming update was ... ... amazing ... ... outstanding ... ... beautiful ... ... well-written ... ... sweet ... ... romantic ... and most of all ... surprising!!!

:fantastic::fantastic::fantastic:

Wonderful homecoming scene from the airport! Sweet and tender scene about a couple most definitely in love!

Honestly, I hadn't guessed what Ray had up his sleeve when I read that he seemed kind of anxious! I thought that he might have spread rose leaves all over the king size bed and perhaps had arranged for chilled champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries to be waiting for them! But a marriage proposal totally surprised me ... ... which is not a bad thing! I was thrilled to be completely off here!!! Anyway, I'll address the "question" a bit later!

Cute dialogue when they first made it to the bedroom:

• “I haven’t had time to unpack yet”
• “You don’t need any clothes for what we’re getting ready to do.”

LOL ... ... Ray's bluntness just cracks me up: “Tell [our daughter] you went bareback riding with me.”

Beautiful intro to Ray's marriage proposal:
“Listen, these past two months have been the happiest of my life. I never thought I’d be as happy again as I was when we first got married. But being with you and Margaret, I know that I could never forgive myself if we weren’t together again as a family.”

I swear ... I had no idea that Ray was getting ready to pop the big question, so the penny didn't drop for me until I read the word "diamond ring"! I was thrilled to find out that Donna didn't leave Ray hanging for longer than a split second before she accepted! I wonder if Margaret will pass out when she is told that her parents are not only back together, but also all ready to walk down the aisle!!!

Beautiful ending to this update! I'm so happy for the two of them!

Please update soon! And you better make sure that we're invited to the wedding and all! :wink@

 

[Ray&Donna]

August 7, 1998

A bit of reality set in on the drive home—for Donna, anyway. Ray was on cloud nine, and since they left Donna’s house, he hadn’t stopped smiling. When she was married to Ray before, she didn’t care about their differences or what anyone else thought. But now there was someone else to think about, someone who was eleven years old. Of course, Donna had no qualms about saying yes to Ray—she knew she’d made the right decision. She knew that Margaret loved her father, but she had never seen them as a married couple. She didn’t know how this was going to work, or how she would react. She did know that all of this thinking was getting her nowhere, so she decided to just go ahead and vent her feelings to Ray.

“What do you think she’ll say?”

Ray knew instantly what Donna was referring to—they were officially on the same wavelength. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m pretty sure she’ll be okay with it. If nothing else, it means she gets to live on the ranch.”

Donna smiled at him. “That’s true enough. I was just wondering if this would come as a shock.”

“I think she knew how I felt about you already. She asked me one day and I told her as much,” Ray reasoned.

Donna winked at him. “She really is too smart for us. Well, I guess I feel better about it now.”

“You’ll see. She’s going to be just as happy as we are about the whole thing.” He looked over and gave her that same reassuring smile that only he could.

“I hope so.” Donna smiled at Ray and they held hands all the way to Southfork. As they pulled in the drive, they could see Miss Ellie sitting on the patio with Margaret, enjoying the early afternoon sun.

“Hey Mama! Guess what? I missed you,” Margaret said.

Donna walked over to her. “I missed you, too, honey. But the good news is that I’m finished, and I won’t have to leave you again for awhile.”

Ray looked lovingly at mother and daughter. “I hope she wasn’t any trouble for you, Miss Ellie.”

Miss Ellie smiled at him. “She was no trouble at all. I’d love to have her here again anytime.”

Margaret went back to hug her. “I’ll see you again soon, Grandma.”

“Okay, dear. I’ll come over and see you next week right before you start school.” Margaret walked toward her parents. Miss Ellie noticed something different about them, but couldn’t quite put her finger on it. “Donna, could I speak to you in private for a moment?”

“Of course, Miss Ellie. Ray, you and Margaret get in the truck. I’ll be there in a minute.” When they were out of earshot, Miss Ellie gently grabbed Donna’s left hand.

“I noticed that someone is wearing a ring on an important finger.”

Donna blushed slightly. “Miss Ellie, no one was supposed to notice. That’s my fault.”

“Well, that’s okay. I’m very happy for the both of you.”

“Thank you. We’re going to tell Margaret this evening.”

“I know she will be very happy with the news. She’s very excited to be here and to have the two of you together.”

“I think I realize that now. I’ll talk to you later, Miss Ellie.”

“Good luck, Donna. Call and let me know how it goes.”

“I will. Goodbye, Miss Ellie.”

“Bye-bye.”

With that, Donna walked back to her family—it feels good to call them my family, she thought—and they headed toward Ray’s ranch.

 

[Ms Southworth]

Amazing update for the 19th time (or something like that)!!! 10 out of 10 points from me! :vote:

Cute that Ray told Donna that their daughter had already picked up on the love signs! They really do have a smart daughter!

I loved that Miss Ellie was able to pick up on that something was different! :wink@

Very sweet talk between Miss Ellie and Donna:

• “I noticed that someone is wearing a ring on an important finger.”
• “Miss Ellie, no one was supposed to notice. That’s my fault.”
• “Well, that’s okay. I’m very happy for the both of you.”
• “Thank you. We’re going to tell Margaret this evening.”
• “I know she will be very happy with the news. She’s very excited to be here and to have the two of you together.”

It was a so easy to picture BBG and SH acting out this scene on the Southfork patio! Great job on the writing!

Beautiful ending to yet another amazing update: "With that, Donna walked back to her family—it feels good to call them my family, she thought—and they headed toward Ray’s ranch."

I can't wait to see what happens next! Please update soon!

 

[Ray&Donna]

That Evening

Ray and Donna thought it best to wait until after supper to tell Margaret the good news. Ray was nervous about waiting; Donna tried to calm him down by rubbing his leg with her foot all during the meal, but stopped when she noticed him begin to sweat. Finally they had finished eating, and Donna decided it was time to give Margaret the good news.

“Margaret, honey, your daddy and I have something to tell you. Let’s go sit in the den.”

“Okay, mama.” She left her chair and walked across the foyer to the den. Donna smiled at a very nervous Ray. She decided to hold his hand and guide him into the room where their daughter was waiting. They sat down so that they were facing Margaret. Ray figured since Donna had done most of the talking up till now, it was his turn.

“Honey, we have something important to tell you. When I saw you and your mother at the airport, I knew that my life was about to undergo a change. I never stopped loving your mother, and I wanted more than anything for us to be a family. Spending this time with you two this summer made that even more clear for me. I waited for your mother to come around, and I saw that she felt the same way. I’ve decided that I can’t lose her again, and I’ve asked her to marry me.”

Donna smiled at him as he finished and continued to hold his hand. “And I said yes.”

Margaret’s face was a mixture of amusement and confusion. “So does this mean I’ll get to live here at the ranch full time?”

Ray and Donna could only stare at her. Finally, Donna managed to get something out.

“Yes…yes it does.”

“Then I can’t wait.” She ran over to hug her parents. All they could do as they hugged her was smile at each other in bewilderment.

That Night

They lay in bed together that night and talked about being a couple again, planning for the future but mostly focused on the present. They were both a bit bemused by Margaret’s reaction.

“She took it well, but I’m not sure if she was hiding something,” Donna said.

Ray smiled at her as he brushed the hair off her face. He maneuvered around to kiss her. “I think she was too happy to react much. She’s old enough to know what it means for us to be together.”

“You think so? It just seemed kind of muted, that’s all.”

“She’s seen us together all summer. She doesn’t need any reaction. Besides, she just wants to be able to ride Tumbleweed every day.”

Donna slid her arm down his back and felt him quiver. “And I want to be able to do this every day.” They kissed again, and came together once more…

 

[Ray&Donna]

August 8, 1998

Donna was already downstairs the next morning when Miss Ellie called and asked if she would take her shopping. Ray was still asleep—probably exhausted from last night, she thought—and she smiled as she watched him while she dressed. The sunlight filtered though the blinds and streaked across his face. She kissed him on the cheek, left a note beside the bed, and closed the door behind her. She walked down the hall to Margaret’s room. Donna smiled to herself when she saw that Margaret was sleeping in the same position that Ray was, right down to the arm slung over her head on the pillow. She gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead before going downstairs. She figured Ray and Margaret would spend the day together, and as she drove over to Southfork, she reflected on how lucky she truly was. Miss Ellie was already sitting on the terrace, waiting for her when she arrived.

“Good morning, Miss Ellie.”

“Good morning, Donna. Are you ready to go look for a dress?”

Donna was taken aback. “A dress?”

“Yes. You’re going to need a wedding dress.”

“I know, but I really don’t need anything too fancy,” Donna reasoned.

“That’s alright. Just pick out something you’d like, and I’ll pay for it.”

Donna looked at her. “Miss Ellie, I can’t let you do that.”

“You don’t have to let me. I want to do it. Now let’s go—as the men would say, we’re burning daylight.”

They got in the truck and drove toward Dallas. After visiting a few shops, Donna found a dress she thought looked suitable, and Miss Ellie seemed to agree. “Of course, we’ll have to bring you back for alterations, but you’ll look beautiful.”

“Miss Ellie, can I ask you something?”

“Yes, of course. You can ask me anything.”

“Would you be my matron of honor?”

Miss Ellie smiled softly. “Why Donna, I’m very touched. But I assumed you’d ask Margaret to do that.”

“Well, I thought about that, but Ray said he was going to ask Clayton to be his best man, and I had already thought about asking you. It just seemed to make sense.”

“I’d be honored to do it. If you don’t mind my asking, how did Margaret take the news?”

“Well, to be honest, she didn’t have much of a reaction to it. She seemed more excited than anything to be able to live at the ranch full-time. She hugged us, but she didn’t jump for joy.”

“Well, I’m sure she’s fine with it.”

“Ray said beforehand that she knew how we felt about each other, so maybe she wasn’t surprised.”

“I think she’ll be very happy for you all to be together as a family. And I will be happy to see it, too.”

“I have to tell you, Miss Ellie, that I’m really happy. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy before. I never saw things turning out this way, but I’m so glad they did.”

Miss Ellie hugged her. “Donna, when you flew off to Washington all those years ago, Ray was devastated. He never really recovered from losing you, because even though he didn’t always show it, you were the center of his world. You made him whole.”

Donna felt herself start to cry. “Miss Ellie, you don’t know what that means to me. I never meant to hurt him, and I know he never meant to hurt me. This time it’s going to work, and all of that has been forgotten.” She wiped off her cheek. “I have to thank you again. It’s been great to have you here to help with Margaret, and now this wedding.”

“I’ve enjoyed it too. Now dry those tears so we can go to lunch.”

Donna smiled. “Okay,” she replied “but this time, I’ll pay.”

 

[Ms Southworth]

Another amazing scene from the brick house! :up:

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard the term “supper” used, but I love it! It’s been my experience that the term is more often used by people from the South! But am I way off here? Anyway, since you’re from Kentucky and this fanfic is centered in Texas, the term fits just perfectly!

Interesting that Ray was the one who was nervous about telling Margaret the good news! I would have thought that it would be the other way around!

I’m quite convinced that Donna rubbing Ray’s leg under the table got him thinking about something completely different (and that might not be the best way to go with their daughter present)!

Short and swift ... ... straight to the point ... ... no need to beat around the bush ... ... Ray cut right to the chase and spilled his guts about his feelings for Donna! “Honey, we have something important to tell you. When I saw you and your mother at the airport, I knew that my life was about to undergo a change. I never stopped loving your mother, and I wanted more than anything for us to be a family. Spending this time with you two this summer made that even more clear for me. I waited for your mother to come around, and I saw that she felt the same way. I’ve decided that I can’t lose her again, and I’ve asked her to marry me.” I guess that Ray couldn’t have been all that nervous after all?

I loved Margaret’s reaction to her parents’ news! Amused, confused and seemingly only worried about her future living arrangements!

Beautiful bedtime scene from Ray’s bedroom! :wink@

I agree with Ray (when they discussed Margaret’s reaction): “She’s seen us together all summer. She doesn’t need any reaction. Besides, she just wants to be able to ride Tumbleweed every day.”

I’m so happy for Ray and Donna! I’m thrilled that everything is working out for them and their daughter! And I’m glad that they’ll be able to do “you know what” every day! A nice added bonus would be for them to have another child or two down the line!

I can’t wait for the next update! Things are so exciting right now!

 

[Ray&Donna]

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard the term “supper” used, but I love it! It’s been my experience that the term is more often used by people from the South! But am I way off here? Anyway, since you’re from Kentucky and this fanfic is centered in Texas, the term fits just perfectly!

No, you are correct--my father barely uses the term "lunch" because the nomenclature amongst older people for that was "dinner", leading to much confusion throughout my growing up years; in school we always went to lunch in the middle of the day! "Supper" would undoubtedly be more accurate for the Krebbs, but since the show always referred to dinner at Southfork I tend to go back and forth with my terminology.

***


Ray woke a short time later to find Donna gone, but he smiled as he read her note on the nightstand. After finally rolling out of bed, he decided to take Margaret out of for a horseback ride. He thought it might be the only way to see what her true feelings were about what she’d heard last night. He woke her up so she could help him fix breakfast—she was just as stubborn as ever—before they made their way to the stables. Unfortunately, Ray wasn’t very good with words this morning, so they were already on the other side of the ranch by the time he got around to asking. Of course, he made small talk first.

“So partner, are you ready for school next week?”

Margaret looked around at him. “I think so. I just hope the other kids like me.”

“Trust me, they will. You’re beautiful and smart, just like your mother.”

“You’re biased, Daddy.”

He laughed. “I guess I am, but who could blame me? You also have a beautiful set of eyes that people won’t be able to stop staring at.”

“That’s funny—everyone says that I have your eyes.”

Ray laughed again. “Well, I’m not one to complement myself, am I?”

“No, I guess not.”

Ray paused. “So what did you think of the news we told you last night?”

“Oh, that?” She paused. “I was happy. I knew that you loved mama, and that she still loved you. She’s been a different person since we moved out here, especially when you’re around. I just didn’t want to get my hopes up in case something went wrong.”

Ray smiled with relief. “Honey, I can promise you that nothing is going to happen. Your mama and I are going to remarry, and we’re going to all live here where you can ride your horse anytime you like—except when it snows.”

“Daddy, it doesn’t snow in Texas.”

“That’s what you think.”

With that out of the way, Ray decided they should head for home. Once they got back to the stables, he told Margaret she could go in the house and wait for him. He wasn’t surprised when he came in a few minutes later to find her asleep on the couch. He sat down in his chair, and before he realized it, he had fallen asleep, too.

 

[Ms Southworth]

No, you are correct--my father barely uses the term "lunch" because the nomenclature amongst older people for that was "dinner", leading to much confusion throughout my growing up years; in school we always went to lunch in the middle of the day! "Supper" would undoubtedly be more accurate for the Krebbs, but since the show always referred to dinner at Southfork I tend to go back and forth with my terminology.

No worries!

Actually, I love the fact that different generations use different words for the same things!

 

[Ms Southworth]

Great outdoor day between father and daughter! I love family moments like these!

LOL ... ... “He woke her up so she could help him fix breakfast!” ... ... Is Ray getting lazy or what?

Such a sweet conversation between Ray and Margaret! Nice way for Ray to work up the courage to ask his daughter what he really wanted to know! :wink@

• “So partner, are you ready for school next week?”
• “I think so. I just hope the other kids like me.”
• “Trust me, they will. You’re beautiful and smart, just like your mother.” :fantastic:
• “You’re biased, Daddy.”

Perfect answer from Margaret when Ray asked what she thought about the wedding news of last night! “Oh, that? I was happy. I knew that you loved mama, and that she still loved you. She’s been a different person since we moved out here, especially when you’re around. I just didn’t want to get my hopes up in case something went wrong.”

Cute talk about snow in Texas! And I’m sure that you (@Ray&Donna) already are well aware that some parts of Texas do get snow! Wouldn’t it be great, if Ray could take his daughter tobagganing? I think that they’d both have a blast! :cooler:
Sweet how daughter and father both ended up taking a nap!

Hoping for another update soon!

 

[Ray&Donna]

Cute talk about snow in Texas! And I’m sure that you (@Ray&Donna) already are well aware that some parts of Texas do get snow! Wouldn’t it be great, if Ray could take his daughter tobagganing? I think that they’d both have a blast! :cooler:
Sweet how daughter and father both ended up taking a nap!

This is a nice "shout-out" to the brisk weather of the miniseries: the only time we ever saw a cold Southfork until TNT's misbegotten revival. Of course the oppressive heat really works in the series' favor, especially in the early years when Jock was still alive.

***

Ray woke up when he felt the soft touch of Donna’s lips on his. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. She smiled at him.

“You were out like a light,” she said.

“I guess I was.” He laughed a little. “How long have you been back?”

“Not too long,” she replied.

He smiled at her as he looked around. “Where’s the kid?” he asked.

“Up at Southfork. She wanted to have dinner with Clayton and Miss Ellie.”

His smile broadened. “So we’re alone?”

“That we are.” She looked at him. “So how’s your appetite?”

He smirked at her. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I know what you’re asking about, but I was going to fix you something to eat.”

“Come here, you.” She laughed as he pulled her into his lap and began to kiss her again.

She unbuttoned his shirt and began to run her hands over his chest.

“Easy, easy,” he said. “At least let me get you upstairs first.” He gathered her in his arms and began to march up the stairs.

“Practicing for the future?” she asked playfully.

“I guess I am.” He placed her on the bed and closed the door behind him.

He crawled alongside her on the bed, and they began to kiss again. She finished removing his shirt and kissed him softly on the chest. They began to undress each other, until finally there were no barriers between them. He positioned himself on top of her, and they both felt the surge of electricity as their skin touched. She placed her arms around him as he slipped inside of her. She pressed her body against his as he began to glide in and out. He began to kiss her neck, wanting to remember the taste of her skin, to remember her and this moment forever. As she pressed her fingertips into his skin, he could feel himself becoming more and more breathless.
He slowed long enough to roll over so that she would be on top of him, and from there she began to take the lead. She kissed his chin and the side of his face before moving toward his mouth. She quickened her movements as Ray moved his palms over the small of her back. At last he felt himself explode inside of her, and she arched her back as she felt her own climax. Rather than pulling apart, he pulled her closer as they began to kiss again. He had no desire to let her go—not now, not ever.

 

[Ms Southworth]

This is a nice "shout-out" to the brisk weather of the miniseries: the only time we ever saw a cold Southfork until TNT's misbegotten revival. Of course the oppressive heat really works in the series' favor, especially in the early years when Jock was still alive.

You’re absolutely right!

Yet I liked that we got a peak at real Texas weather too on “Dallas”! :wink@ Wish that they included various weather aspects of life in the Lone Star State a bit more: vicious storms, flooding, etc.

 

[Ms Southworth]

Amazing update! Definitely 10 out of 10 points from me! Very hot, steamy, and erotic scene! Awesome writing skills on your part! I imagine that there’s a lot of you in the way that you write Ray, so any lady of yours is without a doubt a very lucky (and satisfied) woman! :wink@

I especially loved this part of their conversation:

• “Where’s the kid?”
• “Up at Southfork. She wanted to have dinner with Clayton and Miss Ellie.”
• “So we’re alone?”
• “That we are. So how’s your appetite?”
• “What do you mean?”
• “Well, I know what you’re asking about, but I was going to fix you something to eat.”
• “Come here, you.”

I loved everything about their lovemaking! Truly beautiful just like it should be! It’s about making your better half feel like he/she is #1 and thus focus on their needs and desires instead of your own! :wink@ Great writing and imagination skills!

I’ll be looking forward to many more updates!

 

[Karin Schill]

Finally I'm all caught up on this story!
I really enjoyed how Ray & Donna graviated back to each other.
Going to a cattle auction is not what I would consider a romantic date but it totally works for Donna and Ray. It fits with their characters and the things they used to do way back when.

It's great to see them so happy again and that Margaret is happy about their engagement too and has been able to connect with her grandparents. I think it's sweet how they've all grown so close and I enjoy what Miss Ellie and Clayton brings to this story.

But I think if memory serves me right Donna has recently become a widow and yet that is never touched upon in this story. There is no sense of conflict arising from this and neither Donna nor Margaret seem to miss him much. They're just content picking up the pieces with Ray like if the time with the Senator meant nothing at all to them!
So that is a bit odd IMHO. Not that I mind all that much, it's just that if this was real life that would probably have been an issue. But since this is TV stuff that doesn't fit with the plot can easily be forgotten about. Almost like in Pam's dream when she stopped mourning Bobby the moment Mark Graison arose from the dead...

Oh well I look forward to find out what happens next in this story and how you will wrap it up. I expect that we will get a happy ending.

Moreover I can tell that this is one of your earlier stories as your writing skills have been perfected since you wrote this and the difference becomes obvious when you move from this story to the recent "The Cowboy and the Lady"...

 

[Mrs Bobby James Ewing]

Happy Holidays Ray&Donna. I am so happy that Ray and Donna are finally reunited with their daughter Margaret in your story.

 

[Ray&Donna]

Southfork

Having finished off a pot of Miss Ellie’s famous chili, the three of them were now sitting around the kitchen table, thinking of some way to wind down—and wait for the food to settle.

“Anything in particular you’d like to do?” Miss Ellie asked. Margaret studied on it for a moment.

Clayton piped up. “No board games, please.”

Margaret looked over at him. “Grandpa, are familiar with the term ‘sore loser’?”

He glanced at her with amusement. “How about we just watch television?” he suggested.

“I don’t think so,” Margaret replied. “There’s probably nothing on anyway.”

Miss Ellie redirected the conversation. “Someone is going back to school soon.”

Margaret looked at her pensively. “I’m still kind of nervous about it.”

“I know you are—but you’ll soon see that you have nothing to be nervous about.”

Margaret smiled at her. “I have an idea—do you have any cards?”

“I think so.” Miss Ellie left the kitchen and quickly returned. “I found a deck in the den. It’s been a few days since they’ve been used—and these poker chips look ancient.” She handed them over to Margaret and took her place at the table.

“Okay,” she said, “so how would you feel about a game of poker?”

Clayton laughed. “That’s an awfully big game for someone so young.”

“You’re not scared are you, Grandpa?”

“Of course not; I’m just unsure of how much you know about this game.”

“Well, I’m not exactly loaded with money, so we’re not going to use any. We’ll keep track with the chips, though.”

She split the deck in half. Clayton was astonished as she began to shuffle the cards and deal them like a professional. “Oh, I forgot to tell you something.” She paused. “My late stepfather, Andrew Dowling, was one of the best poker players in the whole Senate.”

Clayton looked over at Miss Ellie. “I don’t know how I get myself into these things. I’m telling you Ellie, she’s a shark.”

Miss Ellie smiled at him. “Well, I wouldn’t say that—but I would say that she has a bright future.” She deliberated on something for a moment. “Deal me in.”

Margaret glanced at her hand. “Lucky for you, we’re not using real money.”

“Lucky for whom?” Clayton smiled. “I’ve got more money than you.”

“But you don’t know how to spend it.”

“What would suggest I do with it, young lady?”

“Well, give more of it to me.” She winked at him. “But then, by the time we’re finished here, you may need to use it as hush money.”

Miss Ellie laughed. “She’s got you over a barrel there, Clayton.”

“I guess she does. Well, there’s always Christmas, and your next birthday.”

“I have to wait, don’t I?”

Miss Ellie smiled. “Yes, you do. But it’ll be here before you know it.”

“Will you be here for Christmas?”

“Well, I’m not sure. Your grandpa and I will have to talk it over.”

“Okay—well, let’s get back to the game—that way, if Grandpa loses, he’ll have an excuse for not buying me anything.”

“Hey!” Clayton feigned upset. “I thought we weren’t using real money?”

“We’re not.” Margaret smiled at him mischievously.

“She’s definitely keeping you on your toes,” Miss Ellie assured.

“Yes,” he replied, “But after she’s through with me, I may not have a leg to stand on!”

 

[Ray&Donna]

But I think if memory serves me right Donna has recently become a widow and yet that is never touched upon in this story. There is no sense of conflict arising from this and neither Donna nor Margaret seem to miss him much. They're just content picking up the pieces with Ray like if the time with the Senator meant nothing at all to them!
So that is a bit odd IMHO. Not that I mind all that much, it's just that if this was real life that would probably have been an issue. But since this is TV stuff that doesn't fit with the plot can easily be forgotten about. Almost like in Pam's dream when she stopped mourning Bobby the moment Mark Graison arose from the dead...

DALLAS as a whole never seemed to get much into mourning; aside from Jock's death and its profound effect upon each member of the family, the show seemed to move on pretty quickly. Even Bobby's death was mostly done and dusted after the two-part season opener.