Joey ventured into the kitchen after lunch that Saturday. "I took Steph and Isabelle over to Allie's for a play date. They were anxious to take a few of Isabelle's animals for a road test."

"Great, thanks Joey," Danny said with a slight grin. "Becky, I really appreciate you being here to help us. You're sure we're doing the right thing?"

"Oh, it's no problem. And, yes, I think so." Becky folded her arms. "It was kind of a shock to me when Jesse told me about it last night; but, I guess it shows he likes me, if he's willing to be that open and honest," she said nervously, still trying to convince herself of that. In the back of her mind, she considered how this knowledge would affect her handling - and Danny's handling - of the auction of dates with area bachelors for charity that was coming up in about a week. She decided it wouldn't matter. Jesse had been fascinating to her before, and she felt attracted to him, in a way. She'd disliked that wild image at first, and would have had even more reason to dislike it now. But, his honesty and forthrightness about what he'd done, how he felt, and how he'd changed in the last couple years, let alone since he was seventeen, had made her even more certain she'd be bidding on him.

D.J. jogged downstairs in her soccer uniform. "Okay, it's almost time for someone to take me to practice. Who's the lucky driver?" D.J. joked."Boy, I'm getting as corny as you, Dad.".

"Whoa, whoa, wait. First, I want you to sit down," Jesse said. "'Cause, there's something we think you ought to know about Isabelle's birth parents."

"Sure, what is it?" D.J. asked. She looked curiously at him as she sat between Jesse and Danny, with a sweatshirt folded on her lap. Becky and Joey sat in opposite chairs next to the couch

"Honey…" Danny struggled for the right words to say. He was glad Pam had been the one to talk about the birds and the bees with D.J. a couple years earlier. "You know how, sometimes, teenagers do dumb things?"

"Yeah, like for instance, I knew this one kid in school, all he ever listened to was Barry Manilow and stuff like that. Can you imagine wasting your high school years listening to elevator music?" Jesse asked nervously.

D.J. giggled and grinned broadly. "I know you, Uncle Jesse; something tells me this isn't about Barry Manilow."

"Deej, sometimes, teenagers do things that change their lives forever, no matter what they do afterwards," Danny said. "It's like, well, you know, sometimes, they get to feeling…and then…how should I put this?"

"Now I know why Mom had that talk with me, instead of you," D.J. said with a laugh. "Why don't you just come right out and say it?"

"Say what?" Danny said, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, you mean you know…?" Jesse began, motioning with his hand to encourage her.

"Guys, I'm not a little girl," D.J. said, half laughing and half scolding them for their protectiveness. "I know there's teens who get pregnant in school. And, there will always be what-8fs, even if they don't keep the baby. The only real protection is to not do it till you're married. I remember Mom emphasizing that a couple times when we talked about that, before she died. Even before Isabelle's Aunt Lena told me the birth mom was in high school, I kind of had a hunch. So, Isabelle's birth parents were a couple of young teens. You don't have to protect me from hearing that," D.J. said as she rose.

"Oh, thank goodness," Jesse said as he got up to leave.

"Jess…" Becky said warningly. She could sense he thought he was off the hook, so she stood and grabbed his arm. "Let's tell her the truth."

"Okay, I guess you're right, Becky." Jesse shuffled his feet a moment, and remained silent.

D.J. continued, knowing just how her dad and the others operated - with much overprotectiveness at times. She knew they needed to hear her admit what she'd thought for a long while. "I'm not going to be like one of those wild kids when I get into junior high and high school. I promise. I want to be like Mom was."

"That's good to know, Deej. I'm really proud of you. Unfortunately…" Jesse sighed heavily. "Well, I used to do it in my younger days."

"You did?!" D.J. was stunned. She knew he rode a motorcycle and led a fast lifestyle when he was younger, but had never realized this part about him.

"Yeah, I did. And I just wanted to admit that; boy, I feel better…" He saw Becky's face as he turned, so he turned back to face D.J.. Even now, he was starting to feel like he'd do anything for Becky. She really made feel different than any women ever had.

Jesse finally continued. "Oh, yeah, there's something else. Well, see, when I was seventeen, Isabelle's mother and I, we'd been goin' out for a while, and we wanted to have one last big night before school started, 'cause we went to different high schools. And, well, that's when it happened."

"What?!"

"Yeah. I'm Isabelle's father."

"What?! Uncle Jesse, I can't believe this! I was ready for just about anything but this!"

"Hey, I know the feeling, when Darth Vader said he was Luke Skywalker's father it really threw me," Joey joked to try and lighten the mood.

It didn't help. "Uncle Jesse, I just…how could you just abandon her like that?"

"Deej, let him explain," Becky cautioned.

"We didn't abandon her; Isabelle's mom came to me when she was about five months along, and I was shocked; I didn't even know it had happened. I ran to your mom right away. I figured she could help."

Danny explained. "Pam knew this really nice couple that couldn't have children. We were young enough, we wanted one of our own again in a while, and that's when we had Steph. We'd planned on at least 3 of our own around four to five years apart, and then, if Pam hadn't had any more after Michelle, we might have thought about adopting in a few years. But, we'd been friends with them for about five years at the time. And, it was the perfect situation to put Isabelle into, they were a great couple, the best parents…" He trailed off, sad to think of them being gone.

"Yeah, Deej, it's not as bad as you think," Jesse said.

"Not as bad as I think?! I don't believe this! Stephanie and Harry understood more about commitment in their little 'wedding' yesterday than you seemed to!" D.J. exclaimed.

"At least Harry did till he remembered his mom's meatloaf," Joey noted.

"And the fact you went around with other girls, too? Didn't Grandma or Grandpa or Mom ever tell you about any diseases and things you could get? I know Mom mentioned those to me." She got a little misty-eyed, thinking of her mom, and the loving example she'd set. It hurt so much to hear that Jesse had acted the way he had. "Around my tenth birthday, when Mom and I had this long talk, we talked about theimportance of being together of family, of just..." she wasn't sure how to put it into words."

"Aw, Deej, I know what you're saying. When I hear that from you, I could swear it was your mo. It sounds like the exact kind of thing she said back then."

"Well, why didn't you listen to her?" D.J. finally snapped.

Danny could tell D.J. was quite upset. "Deej, you have to think of the good things your Uncle Jesse's done in the last few years."

"Yeah, kid, I mean, I've given you guitar lessons, helped you with homework and science projects and stuff, I've caught ferrets and other varmints around here."

"And, Jesse's loved it, too," Joey mentioned.

"That's right, bein' here, it's opened up parts of my heart I never knew were there. Now I know why your mom was always braggin' on you girls when we'd talk, and why she was so happy with her decisions in life. 'Cause she really did have fun, and I do, too."

Danny could tell D.J.'s demeanor had softened, and put an arm around her, hoping that the men had helped her realize how wonderful Jesse was now. "So, see, Uncle Jesse really is a great uncle now."

"Sure. That stuff's way back in the past, right?" Joey asked.

"Well, you're right…" she hedged. "But, I'm still mad!" She stormed up to her room, unsure of how to handle her conflict, or why she was struggling to forgive him.

Becky held up a hand as Danny began to follow. "Let me try to talk to her. I think this is one of those times for a woman to woman talk."

She strode up the stairs and knocked lightly on D.J.'s door, which she hadn't closed. "Can I come in?"

"Sure, Becky." D.J. was grateful for someone to talk to, even though she'd run off. For her, her pillow person just wasn't the same as Mr. Bear was for Stephanie. "Did he tell you?" she asked as Becky sat up beside her on the bed.

"Yeah, last night. I couldn't believe it, either. I mean, my dad lived kind of a wild life before he got married; he was actually on the rodeo circuit."

"Wow, you mean he roped cattle and tried to ride bulls and everything?"

"Yep. Just like you see on TV."

"So, did he ever do anything like Uncle Jesse before or after?"

"Well, certainly not after. Mom probably would have put him in the past tense if he did," Becky joked. "But, while he never did before he met my mom, if he had, it would have been tough. But, she would have forgiven him. Because when you love, you forgive."

"I know. And, I'd like to forgive Uncle Jesse, but…I don't know what it is that's really bothering me…" She sighed.

Becky said she thought she understood. "Deej, I think your problem is that you're at the age when young people start forming their first moral outlooks. It's the first time they clearly say in their minds they think this is right, or this is wrong, independent of what their parents think. Sure, you follow your peers sometimes. And, especially with your situation, you probably feel an extra desire to be like your mom. But, in the back of your mind, it's you making those choices as to what to follow, what to believe, and so on. And for the first time, you learned someone you really look up to didn't just have a little problem like your dad - and I think we both know his are linked to missing your mom." DJ nodded. "But that someone didn't follow that moral outlook that you're developing partly because of them."

"So you're saying I'm in a moral dilemma?" Becky nodded. "Boy, I'd heard about those, but I never thought I'd have my first one before I left elementary school."

"Welcome to the adult world, Deej." D.J. grinned broadly at Becky's comment. "And just remember, it's important to have an internal moral code. I think you've got a great one, from how we've talked and from all your dad's told me. But, even when someone you love goes against that moral code, you still have to love that person."

"You're right, Becky.. I know I'm forgiven and I should forgive. It's just… How did you feel when Uncle Jesse told you?"

Becky thought about how to put this. "Well, it surprised me, but I guess my own internal code said it was possible, just because of how I was raised, not liking that type of person growing up. But, I could tell your Uncle Jesse was a really nice guy who'd changed his ways, too. And, while I don't like his attitude at times, and all that Elvis talk is just crazy…" She giggled, and leaned closer while whispering, "Don't tell anyone. But, I really kind of like him."

D.J. smiled knowingly. "I promise, Becky." She thought about it a second. "I can see where part of the problem is just my expectations. I know nobody's perfect, and I should forgive him. I'm probably twice as hard on myself."

"It's easy to get like tha."

"I think, too, about how Isabelle wouldn't have had to suffer through losing both parents if Uncle Jesse had just been her dad from the start. She's already crawled into my bed with a nightmare a couple times that I think came from losing her parents." She laughed, thinking of what Kimmy had said. "No, it's not Molly's nightmare from 'Annie.' I'm sure Mom and Dad would have let him and Isabelle move in here, if the mom didn't want t9 raise her." After a pregnant pause, she asked, "What happened to the mom?"

"She just moved away and got on with life, I guess. Though she'll probably always wonder about what might have been, about whether maybe she could have taken care of her after all."

"Yeah. Uncle Jesse at least heard about Isabelle from time to time. And, I guess, too, it's like I tell Michelle, when I have to time her out, since Dad doesn't. I may not like what she does at the time, but I do still love her." She sighed and rose. "It's so confusing sometimes," she reasoned now that she was calmer.

"Growing up is confusing. Come on, why don't I take you to soccer practice, you can think about it there. It's on my way to where I'm going, anyway." D.J. and Becky left.

D.J. was trying to assist Kimmy in a soccer drill a short time later. "Kimmy, I've told you before, you can't let that opponent distract you. You have to keep focused on the ball, even if they mention a sale or boys or something," she explained. "We're going to have to work on this, I can tell."

"Hey, fine by me. Oh, there's an open net." Kimmy kicked the ball, and shanked it out of bounds. "I get to do that again, because that's a foul ball, right? No, wait, that's baseball, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is," D.J. said.

Suddenly, she heard a guitar playing, and soft, gentle singing. "Hold on," D.J. said as she walked across the field toward the music.

"…I've got a wondrous new heart, that I wish you could see. 'Cause it tears me apart. When the past blinds your eyes to how I really care…."

D.J. was amazed at the music. She listened as Jesse sang about being sorry, about being different from the man he had been so long ago, and about how he wanted to have a clean slate.

"Wow, that's amazing," D.J. sat on the bench next to Jesse. Several other girls had also gathered to hear him, and D.J. asked them to go back and play so she could talk with Jesse for a moment.

Once the girls left, she asked, "How long did it take you to write that?"

"Few minutes. Bit longer for the melody." He put the guitar beside him. "Deej, I-I just don't know what to say. I know you're upset, and you have a right to be, about how I went around with women, how I just let the mom give Isabelle up for adoption. But, Deej, that song, those words, they're really what's in my heart. It's like I told your grandpa when I left the family business, my heart's in music. And, when I feel something really touching my heart, I really can whip out a song about it in no time. 'Cause, I really do care. It's hard for me to say sometimes; but it's easy for me to sing it."

"Thanks, Uncle Jesse. I know, I may have overreacted a little, too. I'm sorry. But, I just want to be able to see you as this great, upstanding person. And, it hurt to find out that my uncle, who I want to respect, was like that."

"I know it hurts; Deej. I meant what I said earlier, when we were arguing. The things you were saying, I coulda sworn you were your mom. Even the comment about commitment - yours, not Joey's meatloaf one," he made sure to say. "And, I did listen to her, though it took a long time." He looked to make sure nobody else could hear; he hated baring his soul, but he felt it was necessary after what had happened. "And, one of the things that hurts most is that your mom's not here to see those good things we've done, the stuff we talked about earlier today. She's in the best place there can be, I know, and maybe she gets to watch, I don't know. I do know it's tough, just like it's gotta be tough for you to not have her watching you on this team of…" Jesse glanced and suddenly noticed the blank sidelines. "Whoa, your team's so bad the coach walked out?"

D.J. managed to chuckle. "Actually, he got moved to the afternoon shift where he works. But, he had threatened to," she joked. As they laughed together for a moment, D.J. explained. "The league said I could, since it was short notice. So, I figured I'd try to be Charlie Brown for a while."

"Which one of them's Lucy?"

"Actually, we've got a few of those."

"Looks like it. Do you want a coach? 'Cause I'd be willing to coach your team."

"Really? Do you know much about soccer?" D.J. asked expectantly.

"Well, yeah, you can't use your hands, and you run up and down the field and try to get it in the goal with your feet." A ball bounced off his head. "Ow. Or your head." He turned to the girl who had kicked the ball as she retrieved it and said, "Watch the hair, huh?" Turning back to D.J., he asked, "So, do you forgive me?"

"Sure, Uncle Jesse, I forgive you." They hugged. "You really are a whole lot different than the Uncle Jesse who used to go around like the Fonz. I remember you'd just ride in once a year or so on your motorcycle and give us gifts. But, this Uncle Jesse is much more fun."

"Thanks. And, to tell you the truth, if it had been a few years later, or there wasn't such a nice family available to adopt right away, well…we mighta moved in with your mom and dad."

As he started to rise, D.J. said, "Freeze. Before you get up and leave, are there any others?"

"Any other kids? Nope, her mom's the only one I ever got pregnant. And, well…if this hadn't happened, I guess I was hoping by the time she was 18, if she ever wanted to come look me up, well, by that time I'd have moved out and you'd never have to know; you'd only know they were friends of yours. But, now you know. And, hopefully you can help me when it comes time to tell her. 'Cause, she'll have to know, now that she's family, that's why we told you."

"I'll help, Uncle Jesse. By then, she'll know how great you are at helping out. Any other secrets you're hiding?"

"You'll accept I've changed if I tell you?" She promised. "Well, the week of my graduation, I faked being sick for a whole week, just like I told you last year," he said. He felt much better about revealing this after having told Becky; since it had come out in this way. Had he and Becky gone for a while and then he'd revealed the truth about Isabelle, he would have kept this last revelation a secret. But, now, it was coming out in the same way it had with Becky.

Jesse continued. "Truth is, I didn't drive down and pick up my diploma and then do something dumb to lose it. I just went to my fifth year reunion because those were my buddies in the high school band and stuff." D.J. seemed to sense what was coming next. "I never graduated. I'm a credit shy; I just walked out of school one day in English and never went back."

"Even more like the Fonz, huh?"

"Yeah. You gonna make me go back now?" Jesse asked, only half joking. "I'm really too busy right now with my music and this advertising gig, trying to make a career out of that. But, I almost wouldn't mind it if you did. 'Cause the one person who had it all figured out… it was your mom. And she took it to her grave, always having it to hold over me to keep me from getting in worse trouble."

"It figures. She seemed to know everything I was going to do before I did it."

They laughed together. "Yeah, she was like that, wasn't she? Remind me to tell you the story sometime how she figured it out and actually drove me to school the last day even though I was faking being sick, and then she cornered me."

"Tell you what, Uncle Jesse. You have been a great uncle the last couple years. As long as you promise to tell the others about not graduating - and I'll bet that story is really something - I'll understand if you don't go back right away. I need to, anyway; one moral dilemma a day is enough at my age." D.J. made sure to add, "But, even if you don't, I'll still love you. You'll still be special to me."

"Thanks, Deej." They rose and walked toward the field, only to see several girls walking the ball upfield and holding their compacts. "What's goin' on here?"

One of the girls explained. "Kimmy thought if we just walked slowly enough while dribbling the ball with our feet, the sun would flash off our mirrors in the other team's eyes and we could get by them. She's having us try to see if it works."

"You really do need help with this team, don't you?"

"Truth is, I'm going to be forever grateful you're taking over," D.J. said with the same warm, caring smile Jesse was used to seeing from her. She clapped her hands and said, "Attention players, I want you to meet our new coach, my Uncle Jesse."

A week later, as the middle girls were preparing for bed, a blue Care Bear with a moon and stars on it spoke with Mr. Bear in the younger girls' bedroom. The bear, which Isabelle's parents had bought for her sixth birthday and which was named Sky, turned to Mr. Bear and spoke in a slightly astonished voice. "It's amazing; the last few weeks, I've become more awake, alert, all the things I usually am at night."

"I know," Mr. Bear said proudly. "When you start to adapt, when you adopt the personality your owner needs you to have, when you can respond to any concerns, at any time, that is when you go from being a comfort object to being a treasured friend."

"Did you do that when Stephaine's mother died?"

"Oh, yes. It was a rough road. I didn't think I'd ever be capable the first day or two. But, quickly, I achieved that magical state that is at the same time the most incredible aspiration and the most forboding challenge that any stuffed animal could ever have."

The animals were given the signal to freeze by one of Michelle's animals. A moment later, Danny carried a sleepy Michelle into the room and put her to bed. Stephanie and Isabelle collected their animals, and joined Danny in singing a couple short songs to Michelle. They hadn't been sure how to include Michelle in this "ceremony," but they decided this was the easiest way.

Then, Joey walked with them over to the room Isabelle shared with D.J. while Danny read to Michelle; Jesse and Becky were still on the date Becky had won in the celebrity auction.

Joey made a horn noise before announcing, "This is the moment you have all been waiting for. Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, we present to you the valedictorian of Mr. Bear's Institute for Advanced Comfort Objects, Sky!"

D.J. smiled as Joey imitated Sky making a short speech to the gathered people and animals. "You sure do have a way with kids."

"And now, we have the swearing in ceremony," Stephanie said. She took one of the books from her own bookshelf - a Peanuts one, considering how alive Snoopy always seemed - and sat Mr. Bear next to Sky on Isabelle's bed. Each had a hand on the book. "Do you, Sky, promise to uphold all the duties of a stuffed friend, to boldly go with Isabelle wherever she may need, to always be alive and able to help with any problem, and to continue learning so you can help Isabelle through whatever problems she might have forever?"

Isabelle giggled and impersonated Sky. "I do."

"In that case, by the power given to me by God and by the governor of California, I now say you are real."

"And now, the ceremonial milk and cookie. Also known as a bedtime snack," Joey said.

Jesse entered as the household members minus Michelle were downstairs munching on cookies and drinking milk. "Uncle Jesse, you're just in time for the milk and cookie ceremony for Sky."

"Uh, Steph, you know, if might be a nice idea to ask how his date went."

"Okay, Daddy. How was your date? You're just in time for the milk and cookie ceremony."

"Oh, it was fabulous. Becky really is a wonderful woman. And, I guess there's part of me that thinks, maybe she's the one." Jesse pulled up a chair and sat, wishing Pam could be there to hear him say that. "There's something about her that's different than I've ever felt about a woman."

Danny seemed to sense what he was feeling. "I'm sure Pam's watching from up there, Jess."

"Everyone who comes to the ceremonial table gets a glass of milk and two cookies," Joey said as he got up, poured Jesse a glass of milk, and sat it and two cookies in front of Jesse. "One for you, and one for a special friend to eat."

"Where does he get this stuff?" Jesse wondered aloud toward Danny.

"I don't know, Uncle Jesse. He just says it's in the rules somewhere," Isabelle explained.

Jesse grinned as he remembered his own favorite animal when little, Doggie Katsopolis. He'd once told Joey that he'd been just like him - and then he turned four. But, silly as they sounded, he knew such things were very important to small children. He just wished he could have had the chance to share them with Isabelle before now. Just as with the other girls - especially Michelle - he was realizing there were parts of him that needed that.

"Hey, Danny, why don't you put Steph to bed, I'll put Isabelle to bed."

"Sure, Jess."

After another few minutes, Jesse gave Isabelle a horsey ride upstairs, and tucked her into bed in the spot where Stephanie had slept till a few weeks before. While Danny tucked Steph in in Michelle's room, Jesse gently stroked Isabelle's hair and lovingly said, "You sure got a great family here."

"Yeah. I love it here."

"I do too, kid. You know, sometimes people just live their lives, thinking if they make a mistake they'll just be more careful next time, and as long as someone's there to bail them out, they never realize maybe part of it really was supposed to work out for their own good," he rambled..

Isabelle merely scrunched up her face and asked, "What does that mean?"

"Well, I guess it's something you'll understand later. Truth is, when I get with Michelle, alone, sometimes I spill my guts to her. And, maybe I'm doing that a little now, too."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Look, I don't know if you ever thought about your birth parents; you know, the ones who had you before you were adopted." She shrugged; she had never really given that much thought. "Well, I just want you to know, you don't ever have to think of yourself as an accident. You may not have been planned by them. But, God had a plan. And, that plan was for you to be a very special part of lots of peoples' lives now. And, if they didn't want to be part of that plan, well, I think He has a way of making things work out anyway. I always say everything happens for a reason. And, sometimes we just have to wait a long time to see what that reason is. Capiche?"

"Okay, but…what does 'capiche' mean?"

Jesse laughed softly. "That's kind of a tough guy way of saying 'okay.' It comes from a movie. I just like saying that instead of 'okay' sometimes."

"Oh. Capiche, then," she said. She hadn't really understood him that much, except to know that she was planned in God's eyes, something her parents had already taught her. And, that was what was important to her.

After they hugged and he gave her a kiss on the forehead, he tiptoed out of the room. He turned and gazed back, amazed at how that plan had worked. He now had the chance to be a part of his daughter's life. Indeed, maybe this was the original plan - had the right parents not been available, and had he been just a little more willing, what he'd said was probably true. He and Isabelle could well have moved in with Danny and Pam. He knew they'd have been cool about it; though Pam might have blown a gasket on him if he'd pulled some of his Dr. Dare stunts while living there and trying to support his daughter.

But now? Now that he was starting to see how good a family life could be, still doing his music, but behaving responsibly, the opportunity he thought he'd surrendered had returned. Amazingly, now that he was learning what he was probably supposed to learn way back then, he didn't just have a chance to become a great family man for Danny's girls. Even though Isabelle now was really just his niece - and he had no right to challenge Danny and confuse things, he'd had his chance and he knew it - he really did have a second chance.

"Good night, sweetheart," he whispered as he turned off the light.

A/N: I don't know if I'll ever continue this, the main story that was written is done but it could have more chapters. It would pretty much get to be book Universe by the time Isabelle would be told however, so there really isn't a whole lot that needs done. However, I did want to put this up and let people know that is the reason why his Sam Series isn't here anymore.

I still have my stories from it up, though. And who knows, there could be an alternate version in this universe. A little redistricting, and she could theoretically still end up in Fraser Street Elementary. There's just a small thing that causes them to buy a home in that district and not the Lime Street Elementary one in the Book Universe after all.

Oh, I wrote "I Finally Did It, Sis" about how Pam found out about Jesse faking his graduation after this story so now I refer to it in this remake. I hope you enjoy reading that one.