Again, this if Full House, and it shows just how well one can do a fic that conveys lots of emotion. Bad things don't have to be invented, because often there are things int he series itself thaat can be used to your benefit. Note how the characters' feelings are conveyed, in a real life situation that also may well have happened. See, even wills can be interesting in stories. MISSING HER Fiveyearold Stephanie Tanner looked at the paper on her dad's desk. "Will," she said out loud. "Gee, Daddy's got a paper with the same name as my one classmate." Stephanie was in Kindergarten at Frasier Street Elementary School. She held up the paper as her dad walked into the room with her lunch box. "Daddy, what's this?" "Oh, that's my will." Her dad, Danny Tanner, looked up for a second, then sat at the desk and beckoned Stephanie to sit on his lap, knowing she'd wonder what a will was. She did. "Honey, when Mommy died a few months ago, she had a piece of paper that said I was to have all the stuff she owned. And, I had one saying she got everything I had. But now, I have to make a new one. I don't plan to die for a loooong time," he assured her. Stephanie felt very relieved. "But, I need to have one, just in case. And, I have to make a very tough decision with this will." "What's that, Daddy?" Stephanie asked. "Well, of course, since Mommy died, I'm raising you girls. But, I have to decide if I were to die young, who would take care of you girls." "How about Mr. Rogers? I like his neighborhood." "Well, I was thinking you'd prefer to stay in your own home." Danny said with a smile. He knew the concept wasn't totally real to her; hence the comment about Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. She doesn't want to think about losing me now as a possibility, he pondered. "That's easy, then. Uncle Jesse and Joey can do it," Stephanie said. Since her dad had told her he wasn't planning on dying, she wasn't that worried. Besides, the answer seemed obvious. Her dad's brotherinlaw, which was Pam's younger brother Jesse, and Danny's best friend Joey had moved in to help Danny raise his girls, fiveyearold Stephanie, tenyearold D.J., and oneyearold Michelle. Danny chuckled warmly. Since they were helping Danny, he figured they replaced Pam in Stephanie's mind. But, it wasn't that simple. While he wouldn't get into the issues of who took care of the property  his mom up in Washington state and Jesse's parents here in San Francisco would be the best handlers of his finances until the girls were able  one person or a man and woman would be the technical guardian. He tried to explain this on Stephanie's level. "Well, honey, remember how I had to sign papers in case you got sick or hurt at school, for the doctors?" She nodded. "Well, I have to choose one person, or a man and woman, to make choices like that. And, that's a tough decision. It could be your grandparents, it could be Uncle Jesse, or it could be Joey. But, don't worry, I'm determined this will will have a name on it by this afternoon, so the lawyer can type it up." He kissed her on the forehead. "Any questions?" She hummed. "I don't think so." It was rather confusing in her mind, and she needed time to settle what exactly was happening before she could really know for sure what else to ask. "Okay, it's about time for school. Tell your sister to hurry up, we're running a little late." Danny smiled wistfully as Stephanie ran upstairs, then glanced at the paper. He wondered what Pam, would have done. Stephanie skipped merrily into her classroom. She was excited to see so many happy faces. The fun of school usually helped her keep her mind off missing her mother. She had only died a half year ago. One familiar face, however, wasn't there  the quiet girl who always seemed to hang around Stephanie. "Mrs. Payton, where's Allie?" she asked after raising her hand. "Her mom called, she's sick today." "Oh, no," Stephanie moaned. Allie was lots of fun to have around, because she'd been far more nervous than Stephanie about Kindergarten. She was starting to break out of her shyness, but Allie still liked to hang around Stephanie a lot. Stephanie was so used to Kindergarten that she was talking up a storm by now, as she did at home. So, Allie never really had to say much when with Stephanie. "Well, all your other friends are here. And, you'll appreciate having her around all the more when she gets back," Mrs. Payton offered with a smile, hoping to encourage Stephanie. Stephanie hoped her teacher was right. However, not having her friend there made her think a while as the class gathered for snack time. Who would she eat with? Will walked up to her table and sat next to her. She thought of her dad's paper. "Hey, my daddy had a paper on his desk with your name on it." "Maybe it was named after him," spoke Harry, a boy with Japanese parents, seated on the other side of Stephanie. "I'm named after my great uncle. I learned that over Thanksgiving." "Could be. But, why would it be named after him?" she asked, pointing to Will. Will asked what the paper said, and Stephanie explained. "It says who gets Daddy's stuff and who takes care of us if he dies." "My mommy and daddy are taking care of a baby like that," Abby explained as she opened her milk. "They say we're a foster family." "But, your name's not Foster," Stephanie said. "That just means we take care of strangers' kids," Abby explained. Stephanie became more worried as the boys at the table spoke. "Why is it called that?" Will asked. "Maybe the first guy to do it was named Foster," Harry suggested. "Oh, no, and we don't even know anyone named Foster," Stephanie mourned. "Maybe it doesn't mean that. I'll ask the teacher." Will got up to ask the teacher. "Maybe not." Stephanie slumped in her seat. "I hope Daddy figures out what to do." Meanwhile, back at the Tanner residence, Danny was ready to go in to work at his sports reporting job. Before he left for the TV station, he helped Jesse take care of Michelle. While Jesse got out the baby food, Danny set Michelle up in her high chair and placed her bib on her. He also spoke about his impending decision. "Hey, man, that's great you're getting that will done now. You remember Papouli? His brother died a few years ago, at age eighty. He hadn't had his will redone in almost sixty years." Jesse closed the refrigerator door. "Papouli was shocked to learn he was now supposed to raise his fiftyeightyearold nephew." "I know. I could hardly even look at any of our paperwork at first. I just dumped everything from our desk into a huge bag, then I took a great big bag down and plopped it on the attorney's desk. Then I had to go back when I realized I'd given him the laundry by mistake." He opened the jar Jesse handed him, and started to feed Michelle. "But, you know, Jess, speaking of raising kids, when I think about how you helped pull us all together that week, and how you've helped since you moved in here, I've got to say, you are one special guy. I'd feel very comfortable with you raising my girls. I'm really proud of you." He noticed Jesse's odd look. "Sorry, it's just the dad in me coming out." "Oh, no, it's not that, man," Jesse said, referring to how Danny said he was proud of him. "It's just...I love helping out here, but there's so much else I want to do with my life before I settle down. I mean, I've been happy these past four months, but we're talking seventeen years with Michelle here." "Don't worry, she'll be feeding herself by then," Danny joked. Sensing that hadn't helped Jesse, he said, "Hey, look, if you don't want to be the guardian, that's fine. I understand. You're twentyfour, Joey and I are thirty. It's just that now that the two of you are more mature, I think one of you two should be the guardian. Sure, your dad and mom are only in their middle fifties, but I just think I'd like someone younger and an environment where the couple isn't arguing so much. I love them, man, you know that. I was just thinking one of you two would be best, and you could both stay here. But, if you don't..." At that moment, Joey came in the door making airplane noises. First, he sounded like an engine, and spread his arms while running through the living room. "What in the world..." Jesse said as he opened the kitchen door. He found Joey buzzing through making noises like a plane dive bombing something. Danny gave Joey a very stunned look. Michelle placed her fingers in her mouth while giving Joey a look that seemed to cry out, "This is nuts." "Hey, as long as you're gonna make airplane sounds, go help Danny feed Michelle," Jesse commanded. Joey stopped suddenly, then stood in the middle of the kitchen and announced excitedly: "I can fly, I can fly!" "Have mercy, now I know this clown's off his rocker. He really thinks he's Peter Pan," Jesse declared. Joey laughed as he walked over to Jesse. "That's a good one, Jesse. I'll have to remember it for my next comedy act. Seriously, I got all my hours logged in after a couple years, and now I am certified to fly any single engine or twin engine plane. Cessnas, crop dusters, you name it. This is something I've always longed to do, soar into the air like an eagle. Whooosh!" he said, making a swooping motion with his hand. "Doesn't that excite you?" "All I know is two things. One, I am never getting in a plane with you," Jesse said, pointing at Joey. He then walked toward Danny and said, "Two, where do I sign that paper that makes me guardian if you die?" "Jess, I thought you were implying you didn't want the job." "That was before this nut came in here making airplane noises all through the house. Look, I don't mind having Joey here to help while I make a living. But, as far as making decisions for the girls' health, he'll try to make appointments to see Dr. Seuss if they get sick." "Oh, come on, Jess, you know Joey's more responsible than that." "Yeah? How many parents to you know who sleep in ScoobyDoo pajamas?" Danny kissed Michelle goodbye and said "I love you," then walked over to the other men. "Look, I've got to get back to the station. I promised Stephanie to have a decision by this afternoon, and technically dinnertime is still afternoon. So, work this out amongst yourselves, because I would like to know what to say so I can drop this will off at the lawyer's tomorrow morning." Meanwhile, discussion in Kindergarten had turned to Thanksgiving dinners as lunchtime neared. Stephanie was in an allday Kindergarten program, and normally she could handle that very well. She could already read, after all, for one thing. However, as talk turned from how D.J. had tried to pull the meal together to what so many moms had done, Stephanie began to feel a little lonely. It wasn't bad at first. But, a couple other times, she'd just been able to start rambling to Allie about what her mom used to do. Allie was so nice and quiet. Stephanie figured she just listened well, like her "best friend," a stuffed bear Pam had given her named Mr. Bear. And, the experience with Stephanie was helping to make Allie into a very good listener. However, good listener or just really shy, Allie was helpful at times like this. And, she wasn't here. As Stephanie sat thinking, she kept getting sadder and sadder. Without anyone to really talk to, she soon began whimpering. Mrs. Payton noticed quickly. She knew children grieved differently than adults; it was more likely they would just start grieving at what to adults seemed random times. Though she figured she knew what the problem was, she went over to Stephanie and asked tenderly, "What's wrong, Stephanie?" "I miss my Mommy," she sobbed. Though she tried to wipe away tears, they came faster than the tissues most Kindergartners had could stop them. Mrs. Payton smiled warmly while sighing inwardly. She was glad so many of Stephanie's friends gathered around her. They all knew that Stephanie's mother had died in a tragic accident from Mrs. Payton and others telling them. But, like them, the teacher wanted to help, but couldn't. Sometimes, it was impossible to know what to say. At those times, it was often better to just be like Allie, and listen. But, sometimes, the child dissolved into tears like this. Mrs. Payton suddenly had an idea. She rose quickly and wrote a note on a scrap of paper. She handed it to one of the children, and gave him directions to the cafeteria. D.J. Tanner was standing in line with her best friend, Kimmy Gibbler. "At least we get to eat together," she said to Kimmy. She still wished they were back in the same classroom, too. Suddenly, she noticed a Kindergarten student looking around in awe. He was one of those who was only there for half a day. And, he was very impressed. "You eat here?" he said to D.J.. "Well, sort of," Kimmy interjected. "In the same way that they call this food.'" "Can I help you?" D.J. asked the child. "I'm s'posed to find a teacher and have her get D.J. Tanner." He handed her the note. D.J. sighed and looked downcast. She walked over to a cafeteria worker, and handed her the note. The child followed D.J. like a puppy dog. "I need to go to Mrs. Payton's class. My little sister needs me." "Certainly, D.J.," the worker said. Once D.J. reached the classroom, she ran to Stephanie. Stephanie was being comforted by the teacher and a couple students, but was obviously crying rather hard. "It's okay, Steph. I'm right here," she said. D.J. instantly hugged her, and offered to take her out in the hall to sit for a few minutes. She tried hard not to become emotional herself inside the classroom. Once they were outside, D.J. sat on the floor and cuddled with Stephanie. She said, "I came from lunch as soon as I heard. I know, it's so hard sometimes." Stephanie simply curled up in D.J.'s lap and allowed her sister to hold her. Stephanie's tears finally stopped for the most part as she felt her sister's warm embrace. She sniffled a few times, then looked up at D.J. with a tearstained face and tearfully said, "I'm sorry you're missing your lunch." "That's okay," D.J. said mournfully. "We're both missing something far more important."