Young Love

[melinda]

ch 1

Val was sixteen, with her whole life ahead of her. For the first time in her short life, she was happy, completely happy. She'd met the man who she easily could envision spending her whole life with. If Gary Ewing wasn't the man of her dreams, she didn't know who was.

He wasn't perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. But he was perfect for her, and that was all that mattered, right? He was handsome-hell, he was gorgeous- but he had a big heart and she knew on that hot Texas night that that heart belonged to her. As they lay on a blanket on the ground, his arms wrapped around her, she felt like her life had finally begun. And on so many levels, it had.

There is something about first love that time nor money nor tribulation could ever replace. When you fall in love for the first time, it is almost as if nothing else matters. When you wake up in the morning your heart beats fast, hoping this will be the day he calls, or even better, the day you get to see his smile again. The best part is knowing that that smile upon his face was caused by simply the sight of you, and you can't help but burst into a giant grin, knowing your heart feels the same way he does.

There was no doubt in Val's mind this was love. She knew what it was the first time she laid eyes upon Gary, and fortunately for her he felt the same way. Underneath the Texas stars as they held hands, Val knew she wanted to make this moment last forever.

“Is this really happening, Gary?” she asked in that slow Texas accent of hers.

“What do you mean?” he smiled as he gazed upon his love.

“Us. It seems too good to be true. I mean, I have everything I've ever wanted right here with you, and it seems almost too much to ask that this lasts forever.”

“Don't worry about us, Valene. I promise you this- as long as there's breath in me I'll love you forever.”

“Oh, Gary. You're perfect, so very perfect.”

“Not to hear my family talk, you wouldn't think so,” Gary chuckled as he pulled Val even closer to him.

“You never much talk about them. What are they like?”

“Vultures. In my family it's the survival of the fittest, and to hear them talk, I'm somewhere at the bottom of the food chain.”

“Surely your mama doesn't feel that way?”

He smiled. “No, my mama doesn't feel that way. She loves me, I know she does. She's always taking a real special interest in me. If only my daddy felt the same...”

“Oh, Gary, surely your daddy loves you.”

“Oh, Val. You're so young, so innocent. You don't understand my people. We're of different stock, the Ewings are. I'm afraid my daddy has certain expectations of people, and when they don't live up to those expectations, then all hell's bound to break loose.”

“Your own daddy though! Why if he sees half the man I do, I know he'd be proud of you.”

“If you only knew. That's why I love you so much, Val. You're so young, so trusting. You see the best in people. I guess that's why I need a girl like you in my life.”

She broke out into a huge grin. “You need me?”

“More importantly, I love you.”

“Oh, Gary. Promise me it will be like this. Just you and me forever.”

“I promise you this- I will love you with everything I have. I need you, Val.”

And within a matter of hours, little did they know how their lives would change, forever.

TBc

[Sanda]

Melinda, great start to your new Gary and Val story. I can't wait to read more of your new Gary and Val story. I hope you update this awesome story again really soon.

[jessie]

Wonderful start to your great story, I am so happy to see you are writing for Knots Landing. I can't wait to see what will happen next. You should post your knots landing one shot on FF.net not enough people write for this show. I was happy to see you writing again.

[melinda]

ch 2

It was only about two months later that Val got the news that would change her life forever. She was going to be a mother- and the thought scared her to death.
How would Gary react, she wondered. They hadn't been together too long, and they were both so young. She'd met him when she was fifteen and within a matter of months this happened! She'd always dreamed of finding someone like him, and the thought of losing him scared her even more than the prospect of having a baby did.
Ordinarily this would be a happy day for her. But being so young, unwed and a mother was a lot to put on any sixteen year old girl. There was no telling what Gary's reaction would be. He claimed to love her, but was he willing to take on such responsibility at his age?
She couldn't focus on anything at school. She didn't want to be a burden to Gary or to her family, so studying seemed the least of her worries. Her whole life was going to change and she had no idea what the future held.
Somehow she made it through the day and went upstairs to her bedroom, where she began to cry. This was all too much, too soon.
It was getting hard to breathe, so she decided to go outside to sit on her front porch.
Much to her surprise, her mother was outside waiting for her.
“Sit down, child,” Lilimae smiled as she made way for her daughter on the front porch swing.
“Mama,” Val sighed. “I'm no child.”
“Why, Val. You're only sixteen. Not that that matters. No matter how old you are, you'll always be my baby,” Lilimae took ahold of her daughter's hand.
Val said nothing. Instead of returning the affection, she started to cry, surprising her mother.
“What's wrong, honey? I talked to your teachers today; they told me you weren't hearing a thing any of them said to you. Is it that Ewing boy?”
Just hearing the mention of Gary's name caused Val to smile, ever so briefly. But it was long enough for her mother to take notice.
“Has he hurt you? Has he been unkind to you in some way?”
“No, Mama. Gary's wonderful. I just...I just have been doing some thinking, that's all.”
“Are you busy planning a wedding in that young mind of yours?”
Val laughed. “Mama!”
“I was young once too. I've been in love during my lifetime. I know you think you've found the one, but Valene, you're so young. You have your whole life ahead of you. You can be anyone you want to be...”
Val pulled away from her mother.
“What is it, darling? Have I said something to upset you?”
Val looked away, trying to find the right words to tell her mother what had really been on her mind all day. “Mama, there's something I need to tell you.”
“What is it...I hope you know you can tell me anything.”
“I...I...Gary and I are...”
“Gary and I are what,” came a familiar voice. It was Gary himself, standing right in front of the both of them on the porch.
“Mama, I'm having a baby!” Val blurted out, then ran off into the field, leaving a bewildered Gary and Lilimae to wonder what in the world was going on.
tbc

[jessie]

Great update I can't wait to hear how Gary and her Mom will react to the news. I really love this story, and it is nice to see you writing for Knots Landing. I hope you update again soon.

[Sanda]

Great update Melinda. I can't wait to find out how Gary and Lilimae are going to react to the news that Valene is pregnant. I am happy to see that you are writng for Knots Landing now. I hope you update this awesome story again really soon.