Previously On DALLAS:
------------James called Jimmy with the news that Debra Lynn had given birth to a baby girl, born on Christmas Eve, and thus they were naming the child Eve Beaumont.
------------John Ross and Krystina left with Little John after the Ewings' Christmas to spend part of the holidays in Denver with Krystina's family, and to meet Elena for her first supervised visit with Little John Ross IV.
-----------Harris and Jenna spent a lonely Christmas.
-----------Christopher invited Heather and Michael to Southfork for Christmas dinner, but he was unprepared when he overheard Heather telling Lucas that Michael is Lucas's son.
Southfork.....
Heather looks at him, crying. "Yes. Yes, damn it. Is that what you wanted to hear, Lucas? Michael is your son!"
As Heather speaks these words, she and Lucas were unaware that Michael and Christopher are standing on the back porch and heard every word. She looks over Lucas's shoulder and sees Christopher and her son.
"Oh my God," she cries. "Michael....."
Lucas turns around and sees them. The little boy is in tears, and Christopher looks at his younger brother
"Michael," Heather says, hurrying over to her little son, who is clearly confused and upset by what he just heard.
Without saying a word to his mother, the little boy runs back into the house.
"Michael, wait," Heather says, brushing past Christopher and going into the house after her son.
Lucas starts after them, but Christopher steps in front of his brother, blocking Lucas's way into the house. "Did I actually just hear what I thought I heard?" Christopher asks. "YOU'RE Michael's father? How is that even possible? And how the hell do you know Heather?"
Southfork....
"Yeah, Chris. It's true."
"But how? I had no idea you even knew Heather."
"Heather will take care of Michael," Christopher says, putting his hand on Lucas's chest to hold him back. "Right now, little brother, I need an explanation about all this. How do you and Heather even know each other?"
Lucas lets out a deep sigh. "After I moved to Texarkana with Mom and Ray back in early 2008, I started working at this horse ranch outside of town. Heather was working there, too, and it was there that we met. I fell in love with her, and soon, we started dating. Our relationship lasted a few months."
"So what happened?" Christopher asks.
"One day, Heather came to see me at the ranch, after she'd quit her job. She told me was breaking things off with me. She told me that she was married, and she wanted to work things out with this guy, Bo, who'd been her high school sweetheart. I was so hurt."
"So, you had no idea about Bo?"
"No, none. Heather never said a word about being married. I never saw her again after that day........at least not until the Oil Baron's Ball."
"So why the hell didn't you say anything then?"
"When you told me about the Heather you'd been involved with.........I never made the connection. I never in a million years dreamed that it could be the same Heather. Then when I saw her at the Oil Baron's Ball, and i saw that the two of you knew one another.....it hit me. I remembered you telling me that your Heather had a little boy. Then tonight, when I saw Michael.........Chris, I knew. I took one look at that little boy, and I knew he was my son. I just needed Heather to confirm it."
Christopher shakes his head, unable to process this latest shock. "I don't believe this," he says. "I just don't even know what to say to this. After the Oil Baron's, how come you didn't say anything to me about Heather?"
"I didn't know what to say," replies Lucas. "I sure never expected Heather to show up here tonight with Michael."
Christopher brushes past Lucas and walks off the porch.
"Chris, where are you going?"
"I gotta take a walk. I need to clear my head." Christopher walks away from the house as Lucas watches
Meanwhile....
"Tweedlebug," she says, taking a seat beside him on the sofa.
The boy looks up at his mother, tears in his eyes. "Is it true, Mommy? What you said? Christopher's brother is my daddy?"
"Oh, my sweet baby. I didn't mean for you to hear that."
"It's true?"
"Yeah, baby. It's true. I'm so sorry, sweetheart."
Michael lowers his head. Lucas comes to the door. "Heather," he says. "Is he okay?"
"Lucas, please, just leave us alone," Heather says. She takes Michael by the hand and they stand from their seats. "I think it's best that we go home."
"Heather, please........don't go. We have to talk some more."
"Lucas, there's nothin' more to say. Come on, Tweedlebug." Holding Michael's hand, Heather walks past Lucas. As they start to leave by the front door, Michael stops and turns back to look at Lucas just as Bobby and Ann walk into the foyer.
"Michael," Lucas calls to the boy.
"Goodbye, Lucas," Heather says.
"Heather, you're leavin' so soon?" Bobby asks.
"Yes, Mr. Ewing. Thank you for havin' us." Without another word, Heather and Michael leave.
Lucas rushes to the front door to go after them, but changes his mind. He leans against the door, tears in his eyes.
"Lucas, what was all that about?" Bobby asks. "Where's Christopher?"
"Christopher went for a walk."
"What was the matter with Heather?" Ann asks.
"I guess it was me," Lucas replies.
"You?" Bobby asks as Charlie walks into the foyer.
"Hey, what's going on? Where did Christopher get off to?" Charlie asks.
"No idea," Ann says.
Lucas sighs. "Christopher went for a walk, because he was upset. He overheard something that upset him."
"Somethin' to do with you and Heather?" Ann asks.
"Yes," Lucas says. "Okay, you guys are gonna find this out soon enough, so I may as well go ahead and tell you. Heather and I knew each other. We met while we were both working at a horse ranch outside Texarkana almost eight years ago."
"I remember, it was not long after Ray bought that little ranch on the Texas-Arkansas border," Charlie says.
"That's right. Heather and I were lovers, and..........her little boy, Michael.........he's my son."
The mouths of all three - Bobby, Ann, and Charlie - drop open in shock upon hearing Lucas's confession.
"What?" Bobby asks. "Michael McCabe........is YOUR son?"
"Yes."
"Have you known this all along?" Charlie asks.
"No. I had no idea until tonight," says Lucas. "I haven't seen Heather since the summer of 2008, when she ended our relationship. We had been seeing each other for months, but she never told me she was married. The day she broke up with me, she told me about her husband, Bo. That was the last time I saw her until the night of the Oil Baron's Ball. And when she showed up here tonight with Michael, I took one look at him, and I knew. And Heather confirmed it."
"Dear God," says Charlie. "I can see it now. That little boy is almost the spitting image of you when you were that age."
"Bobby, are you alright?" Ann asks, putting her hand on her husband's shoulder.
"I'm fine, I just........I'm just trying to let all this sink in. All that time Heather worked here. And when Bo kidnapped Michael, Christopher and I took her to find him. And all that time I had no clue whatsoever that that little boy is my grandson. I have a grandson."
"I think I'm gonna go find Christopher," Charlie says. She looks at Lucas, then turns and walks out.
A few moments later....
"Some Christmas surprise, huh?" Christopher asks.
"Yeah, it is. But my question is.......why does that seem to upset you so much? You and Heather ended your relationship a long time ago, right?"
"Yeah, we did."
"Then why does it seem to bother you that she and Lucas had a fling a long time ago. before she ever even met you?"
"And now he turns out to be your nephew."
"Yeah, exactly. I just don't know how to react to that."
"And neither do I," Charlie says. "I didn't know what to think when your ex-girlfriend showed up here for Christmas dinner. I was bothered by it. Jealous. I saw how you looked at her, and I saw you with that little boy. And now........now it looks as if Heather McCabe is gonna be a part of our lives for a long time to come since she and Lucas now share a child."
Christopher puts his hands gently on her face. "Charlie, you have NOTHING to worry about as far as me and Heather are concerned. That ended a long time ago. I invited her here because I felt sorry for her, and I didn't want her and Michael spending Christmas alone. That's all."
"She's a lot younger than I am," Charlie says sadly. "And prettier."
"No. Charlie, to me, you're BEAUTIFUL. So don't ever doubt that."
Fighting back tears, Charlie puts her arms around Christopher and embraces him. "Will you please just hold me, Christopher? Just hold me."
Christopher returns Charlie's embrace and holds her tightly.
Southfork......the next morning
"Thanks, honey," he says.
"You are welcome. You didn't sleep much last night, did you? I could feel you tossin' and turnin' all night."
"I'm sorry. No, I didn't sleep much at all. I can't get over the fact that I have a grandson. An adorable, blonde haired little grandson who's almost 7-years-old."
"That was quite a shock last night."
"Yes it was," Bobby says. "And I got the feelin' that it didn't come as welcome news to Christopher."
"You think he might still have feelin's for Heather?" Ann asks.
"Well, he and Heather's relationship did end rather abruptly and I think there was some unfinished business there. He did seem bothered by Heather's past relationship with Lucas. I just hope this duttin' cause any problems between Christopher and Lucas. Those two have been gettin' close, I'd hate to see anything come between them now. And, I'm also worried about Charlie, if there are unresolved feelings between Christopher and Heather."
Gary walks into the kitchen at that moment. "Good morning, you two," he says cheerfully.
"Coffee smells good," says Gary.
"Help yourself," Ann says. "There's some pancakes on the counter, too."
"Thanks."
"Val still asleep?" Bobby asks.
"Yeah, she was so exhausted last night after the flight from California, and all the excitement with everybody here, I didn't wanna wake her."
Ann gets up from her seat and walks over to Gary. "Have a seat. I think Bobby could use a talk with his big brother."
"Okay," Gary says curiously as Ann leaves the kitchen. Gary walks over and takes a seat beside his brother. "So what's up? I could tell somethin' was goin' on last night."
"Oh yeah," Bobby says. "We had a little.......issue......come up last night."
"You wanna talk about it?" Gary asks.
Bobby sighs. "Well, you remember the young lady who came to dinner last night with the little boy?"
"Yeah, uh.......Heather, wasn't it? She use to be involved with Christopher, if I remember right?"
"Yep, that's her," says Bobby. "Well, it turns out that, several years ago, Heather had a relationship with my OTHER son."
"Yeah. And, last night, Lucas found out that HE is the father of Heather's little boy."
"What? Oh, wow."
"That cute little guy is my grandson, Gary," Bobby says. "I'm still tryin' to wrap my head around that."
"Well, I guess I should say congratulations, Grandpa," Gary says jokingly.
Bobby smiles. "Thank you. My concern right now is that this revelation could drive a wedge between Christopher and Lucas. I think Christopher still has some feelings for Heather."
"If that's the case, it could create some problems."
"Yeah, it sure could," Bobby says sadly. "Not only between my sons, but also for Charlie."
"Never a dull moment in this family, is there?" Gary asks.
"No," Bobby replies. "Unfortunately, there isn't."
An apartment in Dallas......later
"Hi," he says.
"Christopher. Please, come in."
"Thanks." Christopher walks into the apartment and looks around. Heather closes the door.
"I'm really surprised to see her today," Heather says. "I'm sorry about last night. About leaving the way I did."
"It's fine, I understand. Heather, my brother told me a little bit about what happened between the two of you."
"Christopher, when you and I met, I had no idea that Lucas Krebbs was your brother. There's no way I could've known, it would've been too wild a coincidence."
"Lucas said you met when you both worked at a ranch near Texarkana," Christopher says.
"No, not at first," replies Heather. "Lucas was so niave and innocent. He was like a little boy who'd been sheltered from the world."
"That's not surprising, considering his mother," Christopher says.
"After a while, a few months, Lucas did start askin' questions about why I could never see him in the evenings or on weekends. Then, Bo got offered a job workin' a circuit in Amarillo, and we had to move. That's when I broke things off with Lucas, toward the end of that summer. And wouldn't ya know it? Right after I saw Lucas for the last time, I found out I was carryin' Michael. After we moved to Amarillo, Bo was home more, and became much more attentive. I wanted my marriage to work. So, I never told him about my affair with Lucas. Bo thought Michael was his son. But, I knew I was further along in my pregnancy than Bo thought I was. You pretty much know the rest already........Bo got hurt, he turned to pain killers and got addicted, and we separated after we both ended up workin' at Southfork."
"Heather, I don't know what to say. I'm just........."
"I know. How do you think I felt when I saw Lucas at that Oil Baron's Ball that night and you introduced him as your brother. I couldn't believe it."
Heather and Christopher's conversation is interrupted when her doorbell rings. She sighs deeply, then walks over and opens the door to find Lucas there.
"Lucas, what on earth are you doin' here?"
"Can I come in, Heather?"
"Yeah."
Lucas walks into the apartment carrying a wrapped gift and she closes the door. "I brought a Christmas gift for Michael," Lucas says. He is surprised when he sees his brother there. "Chris, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see Heather. I wanted to hear her side of this whole thing."
Before either of the three can say anything else, the door to Michael's bedroom opens and the little boy walks out.
"Oh, sweety, I thought you were playin' with your toys," Heather says.
"You said we were going to the park."
"Hey, Michael," Lucas says. "How's it goin', buddy?"
Michael just looks at him. "Christopher," he says.
"What's up, little man?" Christopher asks.
"Nothing."
Lucas walks over to the little boy. "I brought you a present. A Christmas present."
"I don't want it," Michael says.
"Michael......"
"No," the boy says adamantly, then walks back into his bedroom, closing the door.
Lucas is deeply hurt by the boy's rejection of his gift.
"I'm sorry, Lucas," Heather says. "This whole thing has come as a real shock to him. He practically worshiped Bo."
Christopher and Heather exchange looks of worry.
Southfork......that night
"Warm night for December," Bobby says.
"Yeah, I guess."
"You wanna talk about it, son?"
"Talk about what?" Christopher asks.
"About this whole situation with Lucas and Heather........and you."
"There's really nothing to talk about."
"Isn't there? Christopher, I can see that this whole thing is really upsetting you. Finding out that Lucas is Michael's father. And I guess my big question is.......why? Why is it bothering you so much? Your relationship with Heather ended quite some time ago, and you're with Charlie now."
Meanwhile, as Bobby and Christopher chat on the patio, Charlie's car pulls up and comes to a stop in
"Charlie, hello," Ann says. "Come in."
"Hi, Ann."
"I suppose you're here to see Christopher."
"Yes I am."
"Yes, Alex and I had supper a little while ago. I'm gonna go see Christopher."
"Alright."
Back on the patio, Bobby and Christopher continue their talk.
"Christopher, is it possible that you still have feelings for Heather McCabe?" Bobby asks his son. "I mean your relationship with her did end rather suddenly. Maybe things were left unresolved between you."
"Then what is?" Bobby asks.
"This might sounds petty, but, I can't help but feel like this whole thing is so damned unfair."
"What do you mean, son? What's unfair?"
"You know how much I've always wanted to be a father," Christopher says. "I thought I was gonna get that chance when Pamela was pregnant. I would have if it hadn't been for that son of a bitch Cliff Barnes. A man I once loved and looked up to as my uncle took that away from me. He took my babies away from me. And John Ross........he gets blessed with two sons, one of them he has with Charlie and the other one with Elena, two women I've loved. And when I met Heather......I bonded with Michael, Dad. I mean I REALLY bonded with that little guy......."
"I came to love Michael, very quickly," Christopher continues. "But then, I saw Heather and Bo with Michael. I saw them as a family, and I did the noble thing and let them go. Again, I lost my chance to be a father. And now, I find out that Heather's son.....belongs to my BROTHER. It's just not fair, Dad. John Ross has two sons, and now Lucas finds out that he has a kid with a woman I once loved. But is it ever gonna be MY turn? I think I would make a damned good father, but, is it just not meant to be for me to be one?"
"Son, I wish I could answer that," says Bobby. "I do know and understand your frustration. Not long after your mother and I were married, she found out she was pregnant. Unfortunately, she had an accident and lost the baby. A year later, she was pregnant again, but the same thing happened. She was riding her horse one day, still very early in her pregnancy and a snake spooked the horse. She was thrown and had another miscarriage. We didn't understand why this kept happenin' to us when we both wanted a child so much. And, Pam's second miscarriage happened not long after John Ross was born. I remember bein' really jealous of my brother because he and his wife had been blessed with this beautiful new baby boy that neither of them seemed to want at first. This was especially hard on your mother after she found out she might not be able to carry a baby to full term. We even went to an adoption agency, but they told us it would be quite a wait before we'd be able to adopt a baby. That desperate need and longing to have a child took its toll on Pam. But, eventually, we got our miracle, and that miracle, son, was you. Don't give up, because I believe that one day, you are gonna get the chance to be a father. And you're gonna make a damned good one."
Meanwhile, Charlie turns and walks away. She quietly makes her way back through the house and leaves by the front door.
"Thanks, Dad, I really appreciate it," Christopher says.
"Son, I think before things go much further, you're gonna need to sort out your feelings for Heather, and for Charlie. Because if you don't, someone is bound to get hurt, and after all she's been through, I'd hate for that someone to be Charlie."
"Dad, I love Charlie. I'd never hurt her for anything."
"Not intentionally," Bobby says. But you know as well as I do that, sometimes we end up hurting people we love without meaning to. Just be careful."
"I will," Christopher says quietly.
Bobby looks at his watch. "Well, it's almost time for It's A Wonderful Life. I'm gonna go watch it with Ann, Gary, and Val. You comin'?"
"I'll be in soon. I just wanna sit out here and do some more thinking."
Bobby smiles as he places a hand on his son's shoulder. "Okay," he says, then turns and walks into the house. As he heads down the hall to the living room, he is met by Ann.
"Is everything alright?" Ann asks.
"Yeah, I was just having a heart to heart with Christopher."
"Is Charlie out there with him now?"
"Yeah. She came by to see Christopher and I told her he was on the patio. I thought she went out there. Bobby, is anything wrong?"
"I dunno," he replies. "But I sure hope not."
Justin and Amanda's home....the next morning
"Good mornin'," he says, looking at her.
"Hmmmm.......good morning. What time is it?"
Justin looks over at the clock on the bedside table. "Almost eight o'clock."
"I could lay here all day in your arms," Amanda says.
"I wish we could. But, My Mama's prob'ly got breakfast ready."
Amanda looks up at him. "I had a dream last night."
"Good or bad?"
"It was good. REALLY good. I dreamed about our wedding."
Justin smiles. "Now that IS a nice dream. Which reminds me, darlin', we really should be settin' a date."
"Any date in particular you have in mind?"
"No, but, I want it to be soon," Justin replies. "I can hardly wait to make you Mrs. Ewing.......again."
"I love you, Justin. And this was the best Christmas ever, because of you."
"And you definitely made this my best Christmas." Justin kisses her, then sits up in bed. "I guess we'd best be gettin' up. I gotta get out and check on the livestock."
"I know."
Justin kisses Amanda again, then gets out of bed and puts on his boxers. Amanda lays back in bed, looks at him, a smile on her face from ear to ear.
"What are you smilin' at?" He asks.
"I just can't get over how sexy you are, and how lucky I am. I never thought I'd find this kind of happiness."
"Well, my beautiful love," Justin says. "Get use to it. Because nothin' is gonna ruin our happiness. I promise. 2016 is gonna be the best year ever, for both of us."
Meanwhile.......
"Well, we're almost there," the older man says in a thick southern accent. "I didn't think I'd ever set foot in this town again."
"And just why are we comin' back here again after all these years?" The younger man asks. "You always said you'd never come back to Dallas again."
"Talkin' about Amanda?"
The older man looks at him. "Who else? I think it's time I got to know my daughter, and you got to know your sister again. Especially now that she's hooked up with that Ewing clan."
"What makes you think she'll give you the time of day? Hell, she prob'ly don't even remember you."
"Well then, Jeremy, I'm just gon have to make that little girl remember her daddy.......and her brother," the older man says as he continues to drive on toward Dallas.
Charlie's Home....
"Hey," he says, kissing her.
"Hi, Christopher."
He walks into the house and Charlie closes the door. "I tried calling earlier, but it went straight to voicemail."
"Yeah, I turned my phone off. I didn't wanna be disturbed." Charlie turns away from him.
"Why? Charlie, what's wrong with you?" Christopher asks.
She turns back to face him. "I'd rather not talk about it."
"Charlie, come on. What happened? You were fine when we talked late yesterday."
"You came over to Southfork?" Asks a confused Christopher.
"Yes."
"When? I had no idea."
"I know," says Charlie. "When I got there, Ann said that you were on the patio, so I started out, and I heard you and Bobby talking."
"You......you heard us?"
"Yes. I heard what you said about how much you want kids of your own."
"Charlie......"
"Christopher, you and I both know that I might not be able to give you that one thing that you want so badly."
"I agree with what you said. It's not fair. John Ross has two sons and now Lucas has Michael. And I know you would make a wonderful father. Unfortunately, I can't give you that."
"Charlie, until you have some tests done, you won't know whether or not you can get pregnant. Why not just have the tests done?"
"And what if the tests prove that I can't have anymore children?" Charlie asks. "Or that I wouldn't be able to carry a baby to full term? Or if it was too risky? Or what if because of my age and the chemo, we found out later that any child I was carrying would be born with some severe birth defect? What then, Christopher?"
"Then we cross that bridge when we come to it," he replies. "Charlie, I've fallen in love with you. It really doesn't matter to me whether or not you can have anymore kids, as long as you and I are together."
"Christopher, those are beautiful words. But we both know they aren't true."
"Yes, they are! What do I have to do to convince you that it doesn't matter to me? Charlie, we can always adopt if it came to that."
"Yes. Yes, we could," Charlie says. "But Christopher we both know how much you want your OWN child. Your own flesh and blood."
"Charlie, I could love an adopted child just as much as my own biological child."
"I don't doubt that one bit. But Christopher, you have this need in you. Bobby and Pam loved you just as if you had been born from their bodies. But neither of them were adopted. Christopher, I honestly think this need in you to have your own child comes from the fact that you yourself were adopted. You need to feel a connection to another person. A BLOOD connection. And I don't think those feelings are ever going away until you have a child of your own. And, I don't think I could give you that, Christopher, even if some tests show that I can have a child, at my age, I'm not sure I want to. I'll be 44-years-old in a few months. If I had a child in the next year, I'd be in my 60s by the time that child graduated from high school."
"Charlie, what are you saying?"
Charlie sighs deeply as she fights back tears. "I'm saying that.........we shouldn't see each other anymore."
"What? Charlie, no........."
"You need someone younger. Someone who can give you children, and a family. The family that you deserve."
"This is crazy, Charlie," Christopher argues. "It's you that I love. It's you that I WANT. Your age doesn't matter to me."
"Maybe not now. But what about in a few years? And what about Heather?"
"Heather? What the hell does Heather have to do with anything?"
"She has EVERYTHING to do with it. I saw the way you looked at her. I saw the way you looked at that little boy, wishing he was yours. Wishing that he and Heather were the family you wanted so much to have. And you probably would have been had she not gone back to her ex-husband. It's very plain to see that your feelings for her were left unresolved. So I can't see you anymore."
Christopher walks over and puts his hands on her shoulders. "Charlie, I'm not gonna let you do this. I'm not gonna let you throw away what we have.....something that's real.......over some mistaken notion that I'm still in love with Heather McCabe and that I can't live without having children of my own. Charlie, I love you. I LOVE you." By now, Christopher has tears in his eyes.
"I know," Charlie says in tears. "I know you love me, Christopher, and I love you, too. But sometimes, love just isn't enough to keep a relationship together. I'd rather end this now, than for us to get even more involved than we already are, and something happen down the road to break us apart. That would hurt much worse than this hurts now."
"Charlie......"
"Christopher, please...........please just go," Charlie says.
Without saying another word, a distraught Christopher turns and walks out of the house without looking back at her. After he leaves, Charlie walks over and touches the door, then breaks down in tears.