Fan Fiction - Written by Doug Fowler - Television Universe

It was soon time for Stephanie's and DJ's dance classes. The girls enjoyed their Thursday lessons during the summer as a break from the routine of playing all day. They met Monica, a lady with long, flowing, auburn hair.
"The normal dance instructor will be out for a couple weeks, I'll be filling in. I'm Monica," came the angel with an Irish accent.
Normally a search and rescue angel, Monica was on her way to becoming a helps angel. She couldn't handle entire assignments on her own, but with Tess, a dark skinned angel with curly hair, monitoring her here, and Andrew, a handsome, brown-haired one performing a good deal of the work, this was something she could handle. Provided, of course, that she not try to sing. Monica's dancing skills were good, but her singing demonstrated why the Bible spoke only of making a "joyful noise" unto the Lord.
Pam shook hands, introducing her daughters. "Hi, I'm Pam Tanner, and this is Stephanie and DJ." They shook hands. "Have you worked in dance long?"
"I guess you could say I've been dancing on the clouds for a long time," Monica noted.
Stephanie wrinkled her nose. "Why don't you fall through when you do it?"
Pam uttered a delighted giggle. "That's just a saying, dear. It means she's very graceful."
"You must be great, then. That's the way I want to be," DJ proclaimed.
Pam explained "My darling DJ always wants to be the best. I have the three most beautiful daughters in the world." She led Monica over to a bassinet, where Michelle slept. "That's Michelle."
The baby grinned broadly even though she was sleeping. Monica grinned back. It was true, the angel considered, sometimes the broad smile of a baby during sleep meant they were seeing angels. "Oh, she's adorable."
"And I'm the bestest big sister in the world," exclaimed DJ.
Stephanie piped up "And so am I."

Andrew and Jesse met in a law office Friday. Andrew played Monica's husband here, and would deal with the hardest issues of thsi case. This was his assignment, and he had a very interesting character to assist. The man in front of him, Pam's brother Jesse Katsopolis, had a very unusual request for this angel turned paralegal.
"You want to legally change your name to Elvis Presley?" came Andrew's incredulous query. Tess had told him Jesse was a huge Elvis fan, but this was much more unusual than he could have imagined.
Jesse leaned forward. "Is there something wrong with that?"
Andrew tried to explain. "Well, normally name changes are fine, but...it's really too famous a name to use, no matter how much you respect the man..."
"Hey, when it comes to music, he's the king. In fact, I might just move to Graceland after my name change."
Andrew knew Jesse could get by with a stagey last name, and that he had his own singing career. Hence, he decided to try the extreme of what Jesse suggested. "You might just want to become Elvis if you're that serious. Except he's dead," noted the angel. That drawback, plus Jesse's singing career, should keep him from doing that, he posited.
He was right. "Hey, Andrew, I've got my own music to think about. I can't actually be Elvis."
Andrew grinned. "Exactly. So, why take his name?" He knew why; there was something missing in this man's heart. Something only God could fill; and would, in His own time. Until that more perfect plan was revealed - and Andrew didn't quite know what it was yet - he had to keep Jesse from going too far. "Look, take a different last name, one that's more stagey, for a while. That's what I'd recommend."
Still stuck on Elvis, Jesse shook his head. "Yeah, but Jesse Presley just doesn't sound right."

That Saturday, Tess walked backstage with Joey Gladstone and Danny. This was something Monica could handle, but Tess didn't want her overstretching herself. Also, she didn't want Monica making any mistakes, since Tess had now been told what was to happen, and had designed a plan to meet the needs of those involved. Monica would stay behind in the angelic realm and observe while her superior did this little piece.
Joey asked Danny Tanner "You wanna hear my latest routine?"
"Sure, let's hear it," came the sportscaster and father of three.
"I'd like to hear it, too." Danny and Tess could sense great frustration in his voice.
"You're on in fifteen minutes," Tess told them.
Joey thanked her and complained that he didn't know what to do. "I think the most important thing is to appear all natural," Danny remarked.
"You kidding? I could get arrested for that!"
Tess chuckled. This man was funnier than he thought. He was just trying too hard. "Is there a problem, perhaps I can help."
"He's having a mental block," Danny told her. "Well, more like the whole town, actually."
The angel turned to Joey. "Well, perhaps you can picture the person who enjoys you the most sitting in the audience."
The comedian answered quickly. "Oh, yeah; that'd be his wife Pam. She's home with the kids right now."
"Well, if you envision her, what do you see," Tess asked him.
Joey thought a moment. "With Michelle teething right now, I envision her with about twenty teething rings in her various pockets, causing everything else to spill out. And yet, still maintaining that great smile." That's what keeps me going sometimes, a big smile.
"Well, see, you have something, then. You came up with a funny idea, and then you thought of the one thing that showed you your routine will be a success. Her smile."
After another moment, Joey had to admit that wasn't a guarantee. "She giggles even when I'm bombing. Even after last night, when they gave me a new nickname."
"What nickname is that?"
"Hiroshima Gladstone," came the tired voice.
Tess snickered. "Don't worry, Joey, you do have great talent. Though you may not know it, God has given you a wonderful gift."
"I should look under the Christmas tree in Danny's attic, I must have missed a present."

Pam, Danny, and the girls stood in the living room Tuesday. DJ held Michelle, but Stephanie insisted on having a turn at carrying the baby. She was almost five and a half, after all. "You're a little small to be carrying her yet, swwetheart," Danny told her.
Pam took Michelle, who cooed at her. Pam cooed back. "Oh, Danny, I think if she's reeeeal careful, she can do it." She walked over to Stephanie. "Here you go, hold on very tight."
She kept a hand on the infant until she could tell her middle daughter held her securely. Stephanie began to bounce with excitement; it was one of the first times she'd carried Michelle. Her mom was a little more willing to trust her than her dad, who tended to be a bit overprotective. Pam still required someone else be there to watch, of course, even if that someone was only DJ.
"Don't bounce her too much," came the mother.
"Why not?" Just as she said this, Michelle spit up on Stephanie. The little girl scrunched up her nose like a raisin. "Ewww, gross."
DJ tried to lighten the mood to keep her younger sister happy. "It could be worse, yesterday she thought I was a toilet."
Danny jokingly corrected her. "No she didn't, hon; she doesn't know what a toilet is yet. She thought you were a diaper." DJ made a face.
"Oh, whatever it is," spoke Pam, brighening everyone's mood, "it's just like with you two girls. We put up with all that, because it's a joy to watch you grow."
DJ chuckled. "Mom's right. You only have one baby throwing up on you, I've had two."
Pam giggled even hardre now. "That's the spirit, DJ." Her husband remarked that it was so important to smile. "That's right, smiles are something you've got to give away."
She and Danny hugged and kissed.
"I have the shopping list all ready. You leave in a couple hours?"
Danny nodded. "I know you'll be back well before then. If not, I have a list of sitters. Coded, alphabetized, and ranked, with serial numbers."
The anxious five-year-old instatnly thought of breakfast. "What's a serial number, I want a serial number, Daddy." She didn't know what it was, but it sounded good.
Pam grinned and told the girl "yours can be Froot Loops 1000."
"It's actually just a number to identify you." DJ turned to Pam. "But I like your idea better, Mom."
Pam hugged Stephanie after the girl gave Michelle to DJ. "So long, honey, I'll be back. I love you."
"I love you too, Mommy."
Pam next picked up Michelle and hugged her. "So long, Michelle, I love you. Mommy'll be back."
Danny took her. "She loves you too, hon."
Pam next hugged DJ. "I love you, I'll be back."
"I love you too, Mom." She took Michelle.
Danny promised the girls would be good.
"It's hard, with school out, but I'm sure you'll find a way ti entertain them," Pam reassured him.
The father and husband chose to admit "sometimes I feel like I'd be lost without you."
"Yeah, but you know what? You've got a leg up on everyone." She threw herself into his arms, and they embraced as she spoke. " Cause you've got the best hugs in the world."
"You're right. And a great big hug means more than anything sometimes. I love you."
"I love you too."
They kissed, and Pam walked toward the door.
"Did you hear what Stephanie said last night, right after we sang "On Top of Spaghetti"? She said she knew what Heaven was like. She said it was a great big hug that lasts forever!"
Danny grinned broadly. "That's beautiful. See you later."

Andrew sighed deeply. Tess appeared behind him. "I know it's difficult, but these things happen all the time," she told him.
"I know." He lowered his head. "It just seems like such a shame, they've got such a loving home right now, it's just so wonderful."
Tess told him that's what God wanted him to see. "It helps you empathize better. That's what we need to help Monica see; I knew she could never handle this part."
"It takes a special kind to be an angel of death. I'm just glad the Lord put His faith in me." He sighed as he watched a drunk driver smash into Pam's car. "But it's still hard to take." He looked up, and asked for strength and wisdom.
Pam studdenly found herself standing in the midst of a bog. She couldn't figure out what had happened. One moment, she'd been driving along the road, then for an instant she thought something had impacted her car. She remembered no pain, no movement, nothing. She was just suddenly here.
An ambulance crew was working on her lifeless body behind her. Andrew glowed amidst the sound of doves chirping to her right.
"My, what was that?" Pam swivelled, stunned at the beautiful sounds all around her. "Who...what...?" She couldn't understand, but she felt neither fear, nor pain, nor sorrow when she noticed her body being frantically rushed away.
Andrew explained. "I'm an angel. Sent by God to bring you home."
"Home? But...my family, my children..."
Andrew could understand the need for empathy at times like this. She was certainly not ready to die, but this was her time. "God has a more perfect plan. It's hard to understand sometimes, I know."
"But it's already so perfect, I just had the most beautiful day yesterday with my girls, and this morning was so lovely..."
She began to cry. Andrew wiped away her tears. They were not in Heaven yet, so there were still tears. It was moments like this that explained why the Bible said that the Lord would "wipe away every tear." Once one got to Heaven, there was no need for tears, but even though the sting of death was gone, concern for those left behind sometimes led to tears that must be wiped away.
"It's okay, Pam. God's sending more angels to help. In fact, once I take you before the throne of Grace, I have to get back to help, too."
A little more comfortable, Pam began to consider the things left undone in her life. So many people would need her who now couldn't rely on her. But, she knew the Lord was faithful.
"Will you...will you make sure Danny's okay, he's going to be so heartbroken. And my girls, oh, they'll miss me so much. And my brother Jesse, he's rebelling again. And Joey, oh, he's having such troubles with his career. And...oh, there are so many who need me."
Andrew grinned. He tried to make her understand what sometimes couldn't be understood until one was at the loving feet of the Almighty. "You might not have been able to help every one. But God has a plan to bring everything together for good." She seemed ready now, so Andrew took her hand. "Come on. I wanna take you up to get that big hug from God Almighty." He and she disappeared into eternity, as the angel considered how perfect that quote sounded. "As You say, Father, from the mouths of babes sometimes come gems."

Danny read from a list of cleaning chores while Stephanie and DJ played outside. "Okay," he muttered to himself, "Michelle's down for another nap, and the girls are outside. I've got thirty minutes in which I can..."
The phone interrupted him. He answered it on the second ring. "Hello, Tanner residence." The next words sent him into shock. Accident? Pam? "What?" Hospital? Dead...could it be? How could it? How could it be? "WHAT?!?! Are...are you sure...?" He suddenly broke down in huge sobs. "No, it can't be, it can't be..." Seconds later, he hung up the phone, walked to the kitchen table, collapsed in a chair, and began wailing.
DJ was next door at her friend Kimmy Gibbler's. Stephanie, however, thought she heard crying. It sounded different than Michelle's, so she rushed inside. "What's wrong?"
Danny didn't want her to have to call anyone. Nor did he want to have to tell her right away. He thought about asking her to take Michelle and go over to the Gibblers. However, he felt she should know something, somehow.
Before he could decide what to do, the phone rang. Stephanie took it hesitantly. It was Pam and Jesse's mother, Irene. "Hi, Grandma...you'll be right over, both of you? And you're calling Granny Tanner up in Washington? Why are you crying...yes, Daddy's here. What is it?" The girl began weeping quickly. She was terrified not knowing the truth. She turned to her dad. "Daddy, why is everyone crying, we're usually so happy."
"Dear..." He sat Stephanie on his lap and hugged her, holding on for dear life. He was scared, too, scared of losing anyone else. "Sweetheart...I'm afriad...your mother is dead." They cried on each other's shoulders for several moments. Stephanie ran upstairs as Danny called DJ and asked her to come home so he could tell her something. The oldest girl, ten, ran home when she heard her dad's teary voice. They cried for several minutes as well, as Stephanie rejoined them, clutching her favorite animal, a stuffed bear with a detective's outfit known as Mr. Bear. The Katsopolis' arrived a couple minutes later, and Danny and Nick Katsopolis went to the hospital.

The next few hours whirled like a tornado. The trip to the hospital, the funeral home, the appearance of Danny's mother. Danny could hardly stand to leave the body. Pam needed to be prepared for the funeral, though, so he reluctantly agreed. As he walked out of the funeral home, despite the presence of Pam's parents and younger brother, he felt alone in the world. Grandma Tanner was watching the girls.
That night, he sat in his room and wept. He picked up Pam's diary. "Yes," Tess whispered from the angelic realm, "Pam would want you to finish it. To write the final chapter on her wonderful life." He started to pick up a pen, then couldn't. Not now. Maybe tomorrow.
He heard the older two crying with his mother. He went into Stephanie's room and wept with them for a while, but knew he had to remain strong. How could he lead if he wasn't? How could he lead anyway, he wondered.

Danny, Jesse, and Joey sat down by the casket, in stunned silence the next day. Nick Katsopolis walked in. "They're saying Friday for the funeral...so some relatives from Greece can fly here."
Danny nodded. His head was empty, his life barren. Pam had meant the world to him.
He continued to sit by the casket as Jesse and Joey left. It was the Katsopolis' turn with the girls. Danny's mom sat with him for several minutes. "It's going to help the girls if they return to a normal schedule," she told him.
"Yeah, Mom, I know," came the whisper. He knew he had to get on with raising them. But, he coudln't see how.
"I know they have dance tomorrow, they both say they want to go."
Tess was cleaning the funeral home and entered the room. She smiled at Danny, and put a hand on his shoulder. "I know it's hard. If there's any further way we can be of service..." she trailed off.
Danny nodded. "Yeah...thanks. Mom, do you think you could take them, I...have some things I need to do."
"You'll pick them up?"
Danny wasn't sure. "Well, do you think you could do that too? I mean... There's just so much to think about. And yet, I feel like I just can't move." He began to weep again.
Tess pulled a chair over and sat with him. She was glad Monica wasn't handling this part. Sometimes the auburn-haired angel was too blunt. Still, she could understand, she wasn't a helps angel yet, after all. She knew Monica could be a wonderful worker, given time.
"You know," came Tess' soothing voice, "the key to getting moving again is sometimes just making the decision."
"Yeah, I know." He sighed.
"Your girls need you, too. They need to see their father isn't lost, as well. As much as you may feel lost, you're not," she said warmly.
"I know, Mom's already said she'll stay a couple months and help. I'll go tomorrow, but..." Tess smiled and left. She could tell he'd resolved to at least move away from the casket the next day. She just hoped he could do so before then.
Danny sat there for a couple more hours. Finally, with the home near closing, they had to drag him away from Pam's body. Heartbroken, he went back home to a meal from his mother. "Daddy, you made it," squealed a relieved Stephanie as she ran to him clutching Mr. Bear. Danny hugged both.
As they embraced, DJ came out and hugged him, too. "Grandma said you had a lot to do today."
"Yeah, yeah, I did." Like sit in front of the casket all day. How could he go on? He knew where she was, but he couldn't shake the feeling he would always miss her. The life that counted right now was this life, and there wouldn't be a moment that went by where he didn't. In Heaven, where time would be no more, they would laugh, and dance, and be together, but until time passed away, he would miss her. She would be in his heart forever.
He promised his girls he would take them to dance class the next day, and pick them up. He had a lot to do in the meantime. After putting them to bed, he made sure they were asleep, then went into the couple's bedroom. He opened a drawer, and glanced at all their important papers. He couldn't sort through it. He was usually very organized, but not now. He simply grabbed a laundry bag and threw everything that was in their bureau into it. He swept everything off the dresser into it. He was glad he was doing this now. He never could do it after the funeral.
He saw the diary again. The voice told him once more to put some closure on things. He opened it and began writing. He told bits and pieces about the accident, but not much. He couldn't stand to. Mostly, he wrote to the diary about how much he would miss her. He didn't write about Heaven. Truth be told, he was scared. Scared that if he thought of Heaven too much, he might want to go there with her now. And, he knew he had to stay and take care of the girls.
He did mention that, writing of the need to go on, and of the difficulty in doing that. He knew something had to happen, but he didn't know what.

Andrew worked as a paralegal in a law office. The next morning, Jesse walked into the office and sat. He looked like a carbon copy of Elvis Presley.
"Hey, I've decided to take your advice, maybe I do wanna be Elvis," he remarked casually. His voice even sounded like Elvis'.
Andrew could tell the man had some serious trouble dealing with his grief. However, he knew addressing that right away could cause further problems. "You sure do look like him," was all he would say.
"Thank ya, thank ya, thank ya very much."
At this moment, Danny walked in, sobbing and carrying his laundry bag of stuff. He'd managed to drop the girls off without crying, but just barely.
He sat the bag on top of the plethora of papers piled on Andrew's desk. "I know I'm early. But I need you to go through this, I can't look at it anymore."
Andrew pulled out a 1986 World Series ticket. He knew Danny could be helped with a small joke. "Bill Buckner's error hurt you that much?"
Danny managed a slight grin, which pleased Andrew. "No, that just fell in there. It's not important. The rest is...Pam's." He began to sniffle.
Jesse slightly stunned Andrew by referring to himself in the third person. "That's his wife, Jesse's sister. She died two days ago."
Before Andrew could say anything, he decided to let Danny speak. Jesse needed to be reminded of those around who still loved him. He was clearly trying very hard to suppress his grief, out of some macho attempt not to cry.
Danny shook his head. "I just know I'm never gonna feel like it after the funeral. That's all our bank books, insurance papers, everything. I'll pay whatever fees there are, but I don't even want to hear about what's going on." Andrew nodded. This was common with widows and wodowers. "Just make me out a will that leaves... "
Danny finally noticed Jesse's strange attire, and looked at him oddly. Andrew hoped Danny would make some sort of comment about it.
"Yes?" came the Elvis voice.
"What is this, I don't wanna let Elvis be the guardian of my daughters," proclaimed Danny. He had thought Jesse could make a good dad, but if he was going to act like this, he didn't want to take the chance.
Andrew chose to interject, so Danny could better grasp what Jesse was doing. "It's hard for all of us to deal with, I know."
"I sat by the casket all day yesterday, they had to pull me away. I've cried so much, but yet I know I have to be strong for the girls," came their father.
Andrew was glad to hear this. He knew from Tess' report that Danny was humble enough to admit his mistakes. Because of this, he might be useful in helping Jesse turn around.
The angel spoke. "You have to let them see you dealing with grief, though. Because they're grieving just as much, and they don't know what to do." Andrew hoped Jesse got the message. To ensure he did, Andrew glanced Jesse's way and spoke to Danny. "Would you want them to think he's normal?"
Danny sighed, managing a slight grin. "No, I guess not. It's hard to imagine a preteen Elvis impersonater."

At the end of dance class neared, Monica noticed Stephanie crying on Rachel's shoulder, a girl about the same age. Tess appeared in the angelic realm, visible only to her underling.
"Are you sure I shoulnd't go to help?" came Monica's query.
"Angel baby, often it's best if people do the work. We just want to help, not do everything."
Rachel spoke as she hugged her. "It's gonna be okay, Stephanie."
Thank you, Rachel," spoke Monica, "for providing her with such a loving shoulder to cry on."
"Shoulder? My whole side's gonna be soaked," Rachel said matter of factly.
Danny arrived from viewing the gravesite to pick the girls up and take them home. His mom was watching Michelle. He picked up Stephanie and cuddled her. "Unnh, hey, Steph, how'd it go?"
Monica answered for her. "She cried quite a bit. Still, I think it was good to get her here, and back to a normal routine."
"Yeah, that's what my mom said. Where's DJ?"
"In the back with friends. She seems like she's trying to hold in her tears," Monica noted, attempting to be subtle like Tess had told her. She sincerely hoped Danny got the hint.
"I think that's normal at her age," came the confused voice. "Isnt it?" He shook his head. "Or is it? Oh, I feel so lost now." Monica told him she knew it was hard.
Danny told her his friend Joey was sitting in the car. DJ walked out and got a hug from Danny after he put Stephanie down. "Come on, let's go home."
"Dad, I don't like it there anymore," DJ admitted.
"It doesn't feel the same without Mom, does it?"
DJ shook her head and sighed. "No. It's too lonesome. I don't ever want to go back again."
"Well, come on, let's try it, anyway." He would have said that Pam would want them to, but he was afraid if he mentioned her name, he'd start to cry once more.
Monica spoke softly. "Don't worry, dear, this too shall pass." Turning to Danny, she explained "that's normal, for her to think that. She does need to express her grief, but it could be a lot worse."
Danny found room to grin slightly. "Yeah, she could be trying to be an Elvis clone." Inside, he wondered if there was hope for Jesse. No, he told himself, first I have to take care of my girls. He can wait, he's a grown man.

Danny and Joey sat in the kitchen the evening after the funeral. The girls were in bed. "Thanks for cancelling your act and coming to stay with me," the dad told Joey.
Joey, too, was depressed. "Hey, that's okay, my acts have been flops lately, anyway. I think I'm ready to quit show business."
"Come on, Joey, just because people call you Hiroshima, and they make those funny whistling sounds when you show up?"
They're not funny whistling sounds," Joey insisted. "They go like this." He made a perfect impression of a bomb falling and exploding with much force.
To Joey's delight, Danny chuckled. "Thanks, Joey. That's about the first time I've laughed since Pam died."
"And probably the first time you've said her name without crying," added his friend.
Danny agreed. Stephanie walked into the kitchen clutching Mr. Bear, and sat on Danny's lap. "What is it, hon?"
"I miss Mommy," whined the five-year-old.
"We all do, sweetheart," Joey told her.
Stephanie made a big frown. "I didn't like that today when they put her in that hole. Mommy's not a plant."
Danny hugged her tightly. "That wasn't your Mommy's body anymore, her soul went up to Heaven, and she got a new body." He sighed. He was happy to be able to say that without weeping. And, he hadn't thought of how nice it would be to join her. Maybe he could get through this.
Joey impersonated Popeye. "That's right, me girl, now she's as good as new. And she won't never wear out, neither." Stephanie laughed, though her lips couldn't quite manage a smile.
"See, you made someone laugh," encouraged Danny.
Joey wished he could cheer DJ up like that. "Maybe I can, but...it's just so hard without Pam. Her smiles always brightened my day."
Stephanie gave a half smile. She loved helping people, and always loved to smile normally, because she was usually so excited about things. However, she had to admit "that's the best I can do right now."
"Thanks, that still helps," Joey replied.