It has been a few weeks now since Stephanie Tanner ran into Charles at the market. The two are forming an undeniable friendship. Although, no one told Stephanie how hard it would be to befriend someone who had a past like Charles'. This friendship may be harder than either originally thought.
I love chocolate - I don't know, I do like most of fuller house. I guess if there is one thing it's that I kind of always had hope that Danny and Vicky would get back together someday. But I'm still holding out hope for DJ and Steve. I may add a little bit about them into one of my stories at some point. I'm not sure. I haven't given a lot of thought about bringing Joey back yet. The next question will be answered later in this chapter.
Everyone! - I want to thank everyone who has read, sent in comments, and supported me throughout this story. I never plan anything when I write so I'm thankful for your patience as I've come up with ideas and put them on paper. I love receiving feedback and I wasn't sure how this story would be taken at first, but I'm glad for the feedback I've received. I haven't began FP yet, but I hope to do so soon. I hope you all bare with me through the next story and in the future. I also have stories written for Percy Jackson (the books of course), Criminal Minds, Harry Potter, and NCIS: Los Angeles. So take a look and let me know what you think!
All rights go to the creators of Full House and Fuller House.
Chapter Four
Stephanie Tanner woke up a few days later feeling incredibly anxious.
Today was the day. Today, Stephanie and Charles are going to drive to the local prison and see Charles' father – the father that he hasn't seen since he was eleven years old and was pushed down the stairs. At least this time his father will be behind bars, and there won't any stairs nearby.
Climbing onto the main floor seemed to relax Stephanie slightly. The sooner they could get this done the sooner Stephanie could get Charles away from his formerly abusive father. Kimmie and Ramona were both in the kitchen table having breakfast when Stephanie walked in. DJ, Jackson, Max, and Tommy were nowhere to be seen.
"Hey," Stephanie glanced around the kitchen. "Where's everyone else?"
"They're having that mother-sons day, remember?" Ramona reminded Stephanie.
She nodded. DJ had lately been having a very premature case of empty-nest syndrome. So she decided that she and the boys would spend this entire weekend together. Max was excited, Jackson was bummed (he had plans with Ramona originally), and Tommy just didn't know any different.
Standing up, Ramona picked up her cell phone and walked toward the back door. "Bye mom. I'm going to the mall with Lola."
"Alright, but remember Stephanie has her date today so if you need a ride then call me or Lola's parents," Kimmie added quickly which Ramona nodded to before leaving.
"It's not a date, Kimmie," Stephanie argued with her. "We're going to the San Francisco prison."
"Really?" Kimmie said confused. "That sounds like a regular date night for my parents."
In that moment, and like many times before, Stephanie was very thankful that she was never forced to endure meeting Kimmie's parents. DJ had in the past and claimed that there is a reason Kimmie is as colorful as she is. Most of the time though Stephanie can barely handle one Gibbler let alone four (counting Ramona).
"Well your parents also met in the carnival," Stephanie jibed. "Not at the carnival, in the carnival."
"It was not the carnival. It was the circus," Kimmie corrected. "There's a difference."
Not bothering to answer, Stephanie just gave a slight shake of her head.
"And anyway you and lover boy have been 'hanging out' for weeks now. Just ask the guy out already before someone else does," Kimmie advised.
"It's not like that," Stephanie disagreed. "We're just friends."
"Sure." Kimmie's tone was laced with disbelief. Stephanie stared at her friend confused. "What's with that sure?"
Taking a moment to notice her friend's confusion, Kimmie sighed at her obliviousness. Stephanie was usually really good with guys, but for some reason she was blind when it came to Charles.
"Come on, Goldilocks. You can't seriously say that you don't see it," Kimmie commented.
"Can't see what?" Stephanie was genuinely confused at this point.
Kimmie sent her a look. "The way that guy looks at you. He looks at you like you're the chocolate to his strawberries. You're the peanut butter to his jelly. The meatballs to his marinara. The ointment to his toe fungus."
Stephanie's face scrunched in disgust. "Now I'm officially grossed out," she paused, "and a little hungry." Picking up an apple out of the fruit dish on the counter, she took a bite, and turned back to Kimmie to continue listening to her rant.
"You seriously haven't noticed? You're not blind!"
Rolling her eyes in between bites, Stephanie eventually finished chewing and said, "There's nothing to notice."
Before any arguing could be continued, her phone beeped signaling a new text message. Glancing at it, Stephanie ignored the smile that crossed her face. "Charles is here. I'll see you later."
"Hey, say hi to my uncle, Big Al, when you're there," Kimmie yelled after her. "He just got out of solitary confinement so he should be allowed visitors again."
Stephanie shut the door behind her quickly. She may not know what the next few hours will hold. She may not know what will happen between her and Charles in the future. One thing is certain, though, she is never going to visit Big Al.
Traffic wasn't too bad, so the two got there within plenty of time. The ride was filled with awkward silence. Charles was clearly stressed and, even more clearly, did not want to talk about what was to come. Stephanie wanted to comfort her friend, but she also didn't want to push him to talk. He hasn't seen his father in almost twenty years. It is sure to bring back some bad memories for him – memories he would more than likely rather forget.
Eventually they pulled into the parking lot. With the engine turned off the two waited. No words were needed. Stephanie's message to Charles was clear: take as much time as you need.
Charles was clearly nervous. His hands were gripping the steering wheel for dear life. Beads of sweat were beginning to form on his forehead, and his brown eyes were filled with anxiety. Stephanie's heart broke for him.
Leaning over, Stephanie placed her hand over his. The comfort seemed to work because his hands loosened, the sweat dissipated, and the anxiety in his eyes, was still present, but slightly less so. Charles turned his head and met her eyes.
She offered him a small smile which he returned.
"I'm ready," Charles whispered. Stephanie nodded at his statement and slowly climbed out of the car with a still-slightly reluctant Charles following behind her.
Entering the jail was something Stephanie hadn't experienced ever before. No one in her family had ever been in jail and she never had anyone to visit until now. It was cold. That was probably the best way of describing it. The brick walls and cement floors left little comfort. The security guards were intimidating and didn't help to lower Stephanie's anxiety level as she and Charles signed in. The closer they got the visiting area the higher Stephanie's nerves rose, and before she had any chance to prepare herself the door was opened and they were inside.
The room was small. It was filled with only a handful of tables and a prisoner and a few visitors sat at almost each of them, except for one. One table stood out because one prisoner sat in wait. Stephanie knew. She hadn't even met the guy yet and she already knew who he was.
She took the time to study him as they walked toward the table. His hair was a lighter brown and he held a lighter skin tone then Charles. From pictures she had seen of Charles' mother it was clear that he indeed resembled her, except for the eyes. The prisoner in front of her had the same chocolate brown eyes as the man beside her. While Charles' shined bright with happiness, and humor, and a love for life, his dad's eyes were dark and clouded by a mixture of depression, resentment, and hatred. It was clear that his eyes hadn't shown the emotions his son felt for a long time.
He looked up at them as they stepped in front of the table. His eyes were calculating and judgmental as he took in the sight of them. "Hello dad," Charles said awkwardly.
The man's eyes narrowed at his son. Without saying a word, he gestured for the two of them to sit down. They did so stiffly.
"Stephanie this is my father, John. Dad, this is my friend Stephanie," Charles introduced the two.
Stephanie shifted uncomfortable as John's eyes raked over her. Without a moment of hesitation, Stephanie's hand clutched Charles' underneath the table. His hand opened allowing the two to lace their fingers together. The action seemed to comfort them both.
"What do you do, Charles?" John asked getting right to the point.
"I'm a counselor," Charles told him. "I help students deal with problems at home. I help them with all kinds of problems: depression, alcoholic parents . . . even abuse."
John's eyes hardened at those words. He scoffed at his son. "You honestly believe that is a man's profession, huh? You sit around and talk about your feelings all day. That is not a man's job."
Watching Charles carefully, Stephanie began to notice the change in his features. All worry and anxiety flew from his eyes and were replaced with annoyance and frustration. His jaw was clenched and he attempted to hold his temper, and his hand clutched Stephanie's tightly.
"I help students so they don't have to feel what I did every single day," Charles stressed.
"Worthless. Weak. A disappointment. That's what you were as a child and I can see now that nothing has changed." John's words seemed to cut deep into Charles. "I invited you here today to see if my actions worked in any way. I was expecting to see a man, but you're not a man. You are still a weak, worthless boy."
"If anyone is weak and worthless in this room then it's you." The two men looked at Stephanie with shock.
If it were possible, John's eyes hardened even more at Stephanie. He clearly did not like hearing her speak out. "You've apparently failed to teach your girl how to keep her mouth shut," John noted with resent.
Stephanie raised an eyebrow at his words. Charles continued to watch her with a mixture of shock and fascination. There was a small smile on his face.
"Many of have tried, and many have failed," Stephanie jibed. "Either way though it's true. You are the weak one. You were the one who hit a defenseless kid. Why? Because it made you feel good about yourself. It felt good to know that you could beat an eleven year old and win?"
John shook his head and sent her an ego laced smirk. "What would you know about any of this anyway? Huh, Missy? You are not involved in the business between me and the worthless piece of –"
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am involved," Stephanie interrupted him. "I am as involved today as I was twenty years ago." She leaned forward in her seat. "Who do you think called the cops?"
John's eyes filled with pure hatred at her words.
Stephanie leaned back in her chair and continued, "That's right." She smiled at the fallen smirk. "Only about an hour before you put Charles into the hospital he told me everything. It was a good thing too. Or else I may never have known what truly happened that night. As soon as my teacher told me that Charles fell down the stairs the next day, I knew. So I told my uncle and we called child services."
"You had no right –"
"Of course I had a right," Stephanie argued. "He was my friend, and you hurt him. But now look at where we are. Charles is a nice, caring, and good man while you are nothing but filth that will remain locked up for the rest of your days." Stephanie stood up and placed her hands of the table. Standing over him, she sent a smirk that rivaled his former one. "Oh, and never call me Missy."
Without another word, without even checking to see if Charles was behind her, Stephanie left the room. She needed to get out of that room. She needed to get out of the jail. She could feel the walls closing in around her as if threatening to trap her there.
Only as she was signing out did she notice Charles running to catch up with her. She released a relieved breath. She waited for him to sign out and they happily made their way outside. The walk to the car was silent. Only a few steps away from the car, Stephanie was suddenly forced around by a set of hands. She had no chance to let out her surprise. Her back was suddenly nudged against the window of the passenger seat because a pair of lips quickly met hers.
The kiss was a surprise for both of them. When they separated Charles' eyes were filled with nerves and fear once again, only this time it was the good kind. "You were amazing," he whispered. His lips ticked hers as he talked.
No words were needed after that. Their lips met once again only there was no hesitation in this kiss. It was passionate and filled with sense of urgency.
Depending on the amount of inspiration I'm hit with I hope to begin writing Falling for the Past soon. So keep an eye out and I will try and keep you updated.