Full House Sisters

"I'm get married," D.J. said on the phone, calling from Italy.

"Not to Steve again?" Danny queried.

"No, no father. To Ryan Plutarch."

'Wait! Who's Ryan Plutarch?"

"Oh, he's an Italian, and his great-grandfather was a duke. He's a much better man than Steve was."

D.J. and Steve had married when they both were twenty-two, but he fell in love with a sprite lass of eighteen five years later. He couldn't resist her charms, and after she went to Virginia to visit a relative there, he kept seeing her in his cheese toast. Four days later he arrived on her aunt's plantation-style home, and he proposed to her. Being still married to D.J., he could not wed his paramour until he had obtained a divorce. A letter arrived in the mail demanding that such a procedure be taken, and D.J. was overcome with rage and jealousy. But, as a true lover, she let him go. As far as she knew, he was happy with his Amber still.

Ryan had entered her life only three days before they got engaged. It was not love at first sight, but they knew they were perfect for each other when they had discussed their experiences and philosophy. Both were anti-Bush, and Ryan gave a harangue on all the man's vices. He also had two sisters, Jane and Maria. The former was British-born—his mother had married a Welshman before his own father, and Jane was their child. Maria was a lot like Stephanie; she had a mind not controlled by society, and was very fond of children.

D.J. was a screenwriter for ABC Network, working on a new series called Privacy Walkway. Most of the action would be set in Italy, so she had traveled there to study the landscape, find the names of cafes, etc. Ryan liked women in the television business, and he was well on his way to becoming a producer. His father had likewise been a host of a TV show, Quiz Morning, which was quite popular with the Italians, though he thought Wake Up San Francisco! sounded better.

In three days, Ryan had showed her all there was to see in Italy. And on the night of April 5, 2007, they rode out in a gondola together at Venice. Never did two lovers enjoy the experience more. Then, as they were rowing back toward shore, Ryan pulled a ring case out of his pocket, opened it, and asked D.J. to marry him. She was speechless for a moment, then said, "Yes! Yes, Ryan, I accept!"

This was her first opportunity to call her father since she met Ryan, and suddenly she was announcing a bethrothal? Something seemed very fishy about this. "D.J., you've only just met the guy. Vicky and I waited quite a long time before we got married."

"And you'll shortened your happiness. Dad, have you ever read Bernard Jorkin's novel, The Christening? The main character, Charlotte Gutain, is in love with Derrick Eyck, and he loves her, but they do not get married until they're over eighty. You don't want that to happen to me, do you?"

"No, D.J. I don't ask you to wait that long, but it's still too soon."

"Soon or not, I love Ryan Plutarch, and nothing you can possibly say will dissuade me from marrying him!" Then she hung up the phone.

Danny was not able to be at his best during the shooting forWake Up, San Francisco! the following day. He looked very sickly and pale. If D.J. had seen him, she might've renounced any desire to marry Ryan, for it was a sight that could draw tears from the most stoic of men.

And that day, Michelle returned from college, to Danny's surprise. "The school year isn't over, is it?"

"I'm not finishing up, Dad. I hate Biology and I don't know why I ever chose it as a major. I'm through with it."

"Now wait just a minute! How are you going to pay for all the loans you took out?"

"Magic, I guess. Look, I'm no better than a Joey Gladstone. I think I'm going to go watch some cartoons…I haven't seen Pinky and the Brain in ten years, it seems."

Joey just walked into the room when she said this. "Michelle, don't be hard on yourself. I'm just a slapstick comedian, and you're a Tanner. Hah! A tanner! Get it!"

"That's not funny," Michelle said. She walked solemnly up the stairs.

"And Pinky and the Brain has not been airing for years," Joey called after her. "But it'll be back on this October."

"Joey."

"Danny, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"

"There's a time to be serious and a time to make jokes. Now is one of the former."

"Okay."

"I really don't know what to do. D.J.'s getting married to an Italian, and Michelle's quitting school. I can't influence them to chance their minds. I have a gut feeling that something very bad is going to happen."

"Look on the bright side: Stephanie's doing well."

"No; she's not. She wanted to be a novelist, and all she's done was become a fourth-grade teacher in Montana."

"Well, you know art doesn't pay."

"Neither does teaching. I have no idea how much longer she'll be able to remain there."

"You worry too much, Danny. Go out and enjoy yourself." He had no idea that those would be the last words he would ever say to his friend.

Danny got for a drive in his red convertible, and went to the Golden Gate Bridge. He rode across it once and then back. Vicky was on his mind, too. Why hadn't he ever married her? He could not remember. Life seemed so pointless—everything was falling apart, his hair was coming out. Of course, he was not obsessed with his hair like Jesse. Nevertheless, he felt ashamed.

He got out of the car and took a stroll. How would Michelle pay her loans? What was she thinking of quitting for? Did she not realize the debt she'd be in for the rest of her life? And D.J…she'd be sure to regret the decision to marry Ryan. He had to be some sort of Don Juan—the second her back was turned, he'd go after some other lass, just as Steve had done. Drat that Steve! Think goodness he was in Florida, or Danny would've strangled him for allowing his daughter to throw her life away. If he could borrow John Titor's time machine and find a…

But no more thoughts ran through Danny's mind, nor would they ever again. For at that precise moment, a sniper randomly shot through the crowd thirteen times, and one of his victims was this selfsame Danny Tanner, who had brought so much joy to the homes of morning television viewers, and even more happiness to his own family.

Three days later, Wake Up, San Francisco! had a special where they showed pictures and funny moments throughout Danny's career with them, in honor of the man. Becky was in tears and could barely speak. So a young woman who was about her age when she started, delivered a eulogy that was well-received. Now it was up to the Tanner family to find ways to cope with the loss of that father.