Hello, everyone! This is probably going to be the final chapter (it depends on what the readers want), but honestly, I think this is a good way to end the story.

***NOTE: Stephanie is bisexual (I'll help avoid confusion later)

Disclaimer: I own nothing

WARNINGS: BULLYING, VERY BRIEF MENTION OF ABUSE, SUICIDE

"I HATE YOU!"

"I HATE YOU MORE!"

"REAL ORIGINAL, DJ! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST TRUST ME?"

"I DO TRUST YOU, STEPH! YOU'RE THE ONE THAT WENT OFF ON ME!"

"YOU DON'T TRUST ME AT ALL! IF YOU DID, YOU'D TELL ME WHAT YOU WERE DOING ALL THE TIME! I WAKE UP, YOU'VE ALREADY LEFT! I GO TO BED, YOU'RE STILL GONE! I NEVER SEE YOU ANYMORE, AND I SPEND MOST NIGHTS WONDERING IF YOU'D GOTTEN HOME SAFE!"

"STEPHANIE, I PROMISE I WILL TELL YOU, JUST NOT NOW!"

"I WISH YOU WEREN'T MY SISTER!"

"I WISH YOU WEREN'T MY GIRLFRIEND!"

"I WISH YOU'D NEVER BEEN BORN!" Stephanie screamed before shoving DJ out of their room and locking the door.

DJ let out a loud sob, but Stephanie didn't open the door. She didn't even respond. DJ sniffled before her footsteps faded down the steps.

Stephanie wasn't one to get so angry, but her girlfriend was such a hypocrite. She was the one to tell Stephanie that no secrets was rule one of relationships, and then, she turned around and stopped telling Stephanie everything. Not just one thing. Everything. Stephanie barely knew DJ anymore.

DJ was always gone. Stephanie woke up in the morning, and her eldest sister was gone; she went to bed at night, and DJ was gone. Stephanie saw her at lunch if it was a weekend, but during the school week, she didn't see DJ for more than five minutes. DJ would crawl into bed around eleven o'clock or midnight, and she'd drift off before Stephanie could even say a word.

What if she was seeing someone else?

Stephanie sighed. Everything would've been better if DJ had never been born.

The middle sister, emotionally exhausted after the fight with her girlfriend, fell into a deep slumber.

"Stephanie!"

Stephanie yawned and sat up in her bed at her father's shout from downstairs.

"Coming!" she called.

Stephanie stood up and froze when she caught sight of herself in the mirror.

No way.

Her reflection couldn't possibly lie, and her reflection was telling her that she was five years old.

"Stephanie, get dressed! You're going to be late for your first day of school!" Danny called.

First day of school? But Stephanie stayed home on the first day of Kindergarten; DJ had convinced their father to allow her to do so.

Stephanie threw on a scarlet dress and straightened her collar before grabbing her backpack and descending the stairs.

Her father was standing in the living room with his video camera; Jesse was cradling one year old Michelle in his arms; and Joey was watching Stephanie come downstairs with a smile on his face.

"Where's DJ?" Stephanie asked.

Danny frowned. "Who?'

"DJ? My sister? My girlfriend?" Stephanie asked.

Joey scoffed. "Your girlfriend? First of all, you only have one sister, Michelle. Second of all, your sister can't be your girlfriend. It's just… not right."

"What?" Stephanie asked, flatly.

"Incest," Jesse clarified. "Disgusting. Who would want to date a sibling?"

What was going on?

"I'll be right back," Stephanie yelped before racing up the steps.

"Be quick, or you'll be late!" Joey called after her.

Stephanie sprinted into her room and leaned against the door.

"What is going on?" she murmured.

"You're in an alternate universe."

Stephanie cried out at the sudden voice and looked up to see… herself?

The girl standing across from her looked exactly like her with the same blonde curls, chubby cheeks, and blue eyes. They were even wearing the same outfit. The only difference was that this girl didn't look like she knew what happiness meant; her eyes were dull, and she wore no smile.

"What?" Stephanie demanded. "Who are you?"

"I'm you. From this world. You're in an alternate universe. You wished that DJ had never been born; you got your wish. DJ was a miscarriage," the other Stephanie explained.

Stephanie shook her head. "No way."

"I will warn you. Life is very different without DJ. Dad, Uncle Jesse, and Joey are very different," the other her warned. "You will see how much DJ has done for you because trust me, a world without DJ is a world you don't want to live in. Go, and you'll see what I mean."

"But wait. Why are Dad and the others saying loving a sibling is gross?" Stephanie said.

The other her shrugged. "They'll always love you, even if you love your sister, but since you don't have DJ to love-"

"They never had to worry about the idea of incest," Stephanie realized.

The other her nodded. "You'd better go. Dad will be up here any minute to get you."

Stephanie nodded and turned to walk downstairs.

"Ready to go, Steph?" Danny asked as he folded up Michelle's stroller to put in the car

"Do I have to go, Dad?" Stephanie asked. "Why can't I stay home?"

"You have to get your education somewhere. Now, go get in the car. I'll be there in a minute," Danny told her, pointing to the door and leaving no room for argument.

Stephanie nodded and left the house.

…

"I have to be at work early, and your uncle and Joey have places to be," Danny told her as they stood in the doorway of Kindergarten. "I'm going to drop Michelle off with a baby sitter today."

"But Dad, won't you stay with me? At least until I get used to it?" Stephanie asked.

Danny shrugged. "Sorry, Steph, I have a big interview today. I'll see you after school."

As soon as Danny had walked through the gate, hands pushed Stephanie into the mud, and Stephanie looked up to see three fifth graders sneering down at her.

"Hey, weirdo," one of them smirked.

"Let me go," Stephanie growled, trying to stand up, but she slipped in the mud and fell to the earth again.

"Klutz!" one of them yelled.

Feet were flying; fists were pounding; laughs and yells and insults echoed in her ears.

"Stop!" Stephanie screamed, but that only encouraged them further.

This hadn't happened the first time, so why was it happening now?

Suddenly, everything stopped. The children froze; the wind stopped blowing; voices fell silent.

"It's happening because DJ isn't here," a voice replied, and Stephanie glanced up, seeing her other self gazing back at her.

"What?" Stephanie asked, spitting out some blood.

"These fifth graders are the meanest of the mean. They pick on Kindergarteners, first graders. They'd pick on babies if given the chance. On the first day of school, when you were home, DJ saw them beating up a Kindergartener, and she told them you were in Kindergarten, and if they went near another Kindergartener, she'd blacken their eyes and crack their ribs. They never went near you or the Kindergarten classroom again. Now, it's time to unfreeze," the other her told her. She really did look like she felt bad for this.

"What? No!" Stephanie cried, desperately.

Too late. The other Stephanie snapped her fingers, and Stephanie was back in her world of pain, both physical and emotional.

…

The day was over. Stephanie rode the school bus home, and when she arrived, she found Jesse writing a song on the couch and Joey watching Ogie Bear with Michelle.

"Hey, Steph, how was school?" Jesse called, not looking up from his work.

"Awful," Stephanie replied.

"First days of school always are," Jesse sighed before continuing to scratch his pen against the paper.

Stephanie turned to her other self, who had appeared at her side.

"Without DJ, Danny didn't have as much to worry about, parenting wise. Michelle's a baby, so she keeps him pretty busy, but he only has one other daughter. He was dealing with grief, parenthood, and his job; I guess he just thought you could take care of yourself. He does love you; they all do, but after your mom's death, you didn't have DJ to turn to for help. You locked yourself inside and buried your emotions. At some point, they started thinking you were independent and you really didn't need any help," the other her explained.

"Wow," Stephanie murmured.

"Wow, indeed," the other her agreed.

"I don't know about you, but I'm going to bed. I've had a rough day," Stephanie muttered before climbing the stairs.

Stephanie dropped her bag beside her bedroom door and collapsed into bed without even taking off her clothes.

Six seconds later, she was asleep.

Stephanie woke up one year older.

Stephanie yawned, sitting up on the mattress. "How long is this going to go on?"

The other her shrugged. "There will be seven scenes total. If you've learned your lesson by the end, you can go back to your world. If not, you stay in this one. Forever."

Stephanie sighed. "Super," she mumbled, sarcastically.

…

Stephanie was bouncing off the walls. She'd gotten into the ice cream and chugged a two liter bottle of soda, not to mention the cookie jar she'd stolen from. Stephanie Tanner was experiencing one of the best sugar highs ever.

Until she pushed the new tough version of Joey too far.

Joey yelled for her to stop running and to calm down, but she didn't listen. After several minutes of playing this 'Joey-gives-orders-and-Stephanie-doesn't-listen' game, Joey Gladstone lost his temper.

Joey turned red in the face with rage, and crimson washed over his vision. He was at the end of his rope.

He grabbed Stephanie around the waist and threw her over his knee, swatting her bottom, repeatedly.

Stephanie screamed and kicked and punched, but Stephanie was only six, and she was not experiencing the unnatural rage and strength DJ had when this happened… when DJ still existed, I guess.

Stephanie was so embarrassed. For those of you that have ever been spanked, I'm sure you know the raw embarrassing she felt when Joey spanked her.

After twenty or so swats, Joey let Stephanie up, and Stephanie sobbed before running to her room to get away from the friend of her family.

Joey didn't even look remorseful.

Stephanie belly flopped onto her bed and buried her face in her pillow, crying until she had no more tears left in her body.

As soon as she calmed down enough to think, she realized that everything would be okay. Joey would be up here any moment to apologize.

"You so sure about that?" A voice asked from behind her.

Stephanie rolled over, rubbing the tears off of her cheeks with her knuckles, and she looked at the other her, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. The other her looked sympathetic, but she also looked like she was about to deliver a dose of bad news.

"Yeah," Stephanie murmured. "He apologized last time."

"Because DJ pointed out his mistakes," the other her said. "DJ made him see what he did wrong. Since she isn't here, he doesn't think he did anything wrong by spanking you."

"But he did," Stephanie mumbled.

"What did he do wrong? You weren't listening," the other her pointed out, but something in her eyes told Stephanie she already knew the answer.

"After spanking a child, you're supposed to talk to them," Stephanie began. "Tell them what they did wrong, that you still love them, and… that they don't hate them."

"And Joey didn't do that, making you feel…" the other her trailed off, allowing a Stephanie to fill in the blank at the end.

"Unloved," Stephanie murmured in realization before snorting. "I feel like I'm in a therapist's office."

The other her laughed. "You're not entirely wrong. After all, this is to teach you what you did wrong and how to fix it. This just looks a little deeper and figures out why you did this and not just what you did."

Stephanie frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well, this is kind of a… scavenger hunt. We go through these events and then, we compare what happened and how you feel to the time when DJ existed. For example, when DJ existed, you were spanked and she protected you. You felt safe, and since Joey apologized, you felt loved and you forgave him. In this world, you and Joey… your relationship is never the same because you feel like he hates you since he never talked to you about tonight," the other her explained, wisely.

Stephanie nodded. "I get it."

The other her smiled. "Good. Now, go to sleep. It's almost time for the next event."

Stephanie nodded and drifted off, but not before one more thought coursed through her mind:

She wanted DJ back.

Stephanie didn't wake up in her bed. She woke up in a car… which was in the kitchen!

Oh, no. Not this.

"There's a car in the kitchen!" Michelle shouted, which wasn't really necessary.

Stephanie slowly climbed out of the car, and she stood beside the open driver's side door as footsteps approached.

In the original time line, DJ had taken the blame, but since DJ didn't exist…

Oh, crap. She was screwed.

The kitchen door burst open, and her father, uncle, and Joey stood in the doorway. Their faces were pale as snow for the first few moments, but then, they became red with anger. Michelle remained ghost-white, though.

"Stephanie Tanner," Danny said, flatly. "What happened here?"

Stephanie stared at the tile. "I drove the car into the kitchen?"

It sounded more like a question than a statement.

"Why?" Jesse asked, smiling a false grin.

"It was an accident. I must've bumped the stick thing and put it into drive. Then, I… put on the pedal to pretend I was driving, and then, I really was," Stephanie mumbled, unsure of how to describe the event.

"To your room. I will be taking every penny out of your allowance until this is payed for," Danny yelled. "You are on lock down for a month. At least. Now, go-"

"Dad-"

"Go!" Danny ordered.

Stephanie ran for her room, sobbing until her chest ached.

She wanted DJ back.

The fourth event wasn't the worst, but it was annoying.

Since DJ didn't exist, no one got revenge on Michelle for the shadow game. Stephanie could never pull off a set up like that; DJ was clever and devious and mischievous and loyal. No wonder Stephanie loved her.

"Leave me alone, Michelle!" Stephanie yelled.

"Leave me alone, Michelle!" Michelle repeated.

"You're annoying!" Stephanie growled.

"You're annoying!" Michelle reiterated.

"Oh my gosh, I want DJ back." Stephanie cried.

"Oh my gosh, I want Dee- wait. Who's DJ?" Michelle wondered.

Stephanie groaned and slammed the door, leaving a very confused Michelle standing in the hallway.

"Who's DJ?" the younger called.

She was surprised when Stephanie opened the door.

"DJ is the most amazing person in the entire world," Stephanie said. "She's smart, funny, cute, loyal, and she loves me more than our parents do. Every time I'm around her, I feel safe, and even if it's ten below, I feel warm. She is everything to me; she is my world. Without her, my life isn't worth living!"

Stephanie slammed the door, and she leaned against it, sobbing.

She wanted DJ back more than she'd ever wanted Mom back. That was how much Stephanie loved DJ.

The fifth event was nothing because without DJ, the event couldn't take place.

June 21st passed without mishap. Stephanie's ring finger remained bare, and her lips went untouched by those of who would've been her unofficial wife.

The sixth time around, nothing seemed out of the ordinary for a while.

Then, Uncle Jesse pulled her aside.

"Steph," he whispered, kneeling down to her height.

She immediately knew something was wrong. Jesse's gaze was filled with more sympathy than she'd ever seen.

"Your friend Charles," Jesse inhaled, deeply, "died this morning."

Stephanie's world fell out from underneath her.

How could he be dead? What did DJ have anything to do with Charles?

"How?" she choked.

"His father… killed him," Jesse murmured. "Steph, I'm so sorry."

The puzzle pieces clicked together.

Stephanie had never told DJ about Charles and his father and the abuse. Therefore, DJ had never reported it.

"What happens to Charles if we don't?"

Stephanie finally knew the answer.

The final round.

"You're such a wuss!" Gia laughed, shoving Stephanie against the bathroom wall.

Stephanie pushed at her, failing her arms and yelling for help, but no one came.

Gia chuckled at Stephanie's attempts at escape as she lit a cigarette and pressed it against Stephanie's collar bone.

Stacie clamped a hand over Stephanie's mouth, muffling her scream.

"Dad!" Stephanie sobbed. "Uncle Jesse! DJ!"

"They won't save you," Debbie sneered. "You shouldn't have told that teacher. Keep in mind, my dad's on the school board."

They slammed Stephanie against the wall and left the bathroom, chuckling as Stephanie cried.

It's over, Stephanie thought as she opened her eyes.

"Deej-" Stephanie stopped.

"What?" she murmured.

She was standing in a cemetery, surrounding by head stones, and directly ahead of her, a funeral was taking place.

Her other self appeared beside her, dressed in a white gown.

"What is this?" Stephanie demanded. "You said there would be seven events, and then, if I learned my lesson, I could go home! I've learned my lesson; I want DJ back!"

Her other self gazed at her in pity and sadness. "There's one more thing I have to show you. This will show you just how truly empty your life is without DJ. After this, you get her back. Never take her for granted."

Stephanie nodded, and her other self lead her through the crowd of people.

Stephanie spotted her dad, Uncle Jesse, and Joey bawling, even though she's never seen her dad or uncle cry. Michelle was sobbing, and she was on her knees, as though her emotions were making her body so weak, her legs couldn't hold her weight. Aunt Becky was trying to explain something to a confused Nicky and Alex, but she was having a hard time doing so through her tears.

Stephanie's grandparents were present, and they, too, were crying. Gia, Stacie, and Debbie were at the edge of the crowd, and they looked so guilty, Stephanie couldn't help but feel bad for them.

None of them seemed to notice her, and Stephanie assumed this was some kind of magic the other her had performed.

The other her gestured to the casket, and Stephanie took three hesitant steps forward, and she stopped at the side of the casket, her eyes fixed on the body inside.

Stephanie's own pale face stared back at her.

"What?" Stephanie murmured.

The dead Stephanie was dressed in a white gown with a blanket strewn over her waist. Her hair was brushed and fanned around her head; her eyes were closed, and her lips and skin were drained of all color.

"You killed yourself," the other her explained.

"Why?" Stephanie asked, although she already knew the answer.

"You said so yourself: a life without DJ is a life not worth living," the other her replied. "You didn't know DJ in this world, but you always felt like something was missing.

"Without DJ, you had no shoulder to cry on. She wasn't there for so many things. She didn't comfort after Mom's death. She didn't protect you from those boys on the playground in Kindergarten. She didn't make Joey realize his mistakes. She didn't take the blame for the car; by the way, that incident caused a rift between you and Dad. She didn't make Michelle stop the shadow game, and that game caused you to get so mad at Michelle, you didn't talk to her for months. Another rift was created. She obviously couldn't marry you. She didn't convince you to report the abuse occurring in Charles's home, resulting in Charles's death. She didn't defend you against Gia.

"Eventually, it all became too much. You rarely spoke to your dad; Michelle barely said a word to you; Uncle Jesse was busy with Nicky and Alex; you and Aunt Becky were never close; you and Joey… don't even get me started; you were being bullied; you even had an abusive boyfriend at one point. A girlfriend you had cheated on you. I can go on and on. DJ wasn't there to protect you.

"You downed some sleeping pills and vodka, went to the garage, and took a nap in the car. Dad didn't find you until he was heading to work the next morning. By then, you were long gone.

"Do you see my point now? Without DJ, you're nothing, and if DJ didn't have you, she'd be nothing. You aren't anything without each other. You're two halves of the same whole. It's like having one side of a broken heart without the other. It's just sad."

Stephanie sighed and nodded. "When can I go home?"

The other her smiled. "Right… now."

The other her tapped Stephanie's forehead, and the ground fell out from underneath her.

The world was spinning, like a never ending vortex that Stephanie was spiraling down into.

Stephanie saw her life flash before her eyes.

Her first kiss with DJ…

Telling their family…

DJ convincing Dad not to send her to school on the first day of Kindergarten…

DJ screaming at Joey for daring to lay a hand on Stephanie…

Joey apologizing…

Driving the car into the kitchen…

DJ taking the blame…

DJ's revenge on Michelle for pestering Stephanie with the shadow game…

Their wedding…

Telling DJ about Charles…

Her reporting the abuse…

Gia, Stacie, and Debbie attacking her, forcing her to smoke cigarettes…

DJ telling Stephanie about what she did to Gia and the other girls…

"I WISH YOU'D NEVER BEEN BORN!"

Always… always… always… always

At last, Stephanie opened her eyes, and she was lying in her bed.

Stephanie sat up, and she glanced around the room.

DJ's books, DJ's clothes, DJ's… everything.

Stephanie tossed the blankets off of her, and she bolted for the stairs.

Stephanie took the steps two at a time, and she skidded into the living room.

No one.

The middle Tanner child threw open the door to the kitchen and found her father, Uncle Jesse, and DJ staring at her. Stephanie could only imagine how she looked: drenched in sweat, wild eyed, breathing hard.

She didn't care.

Stephanie tackled DJ in a hug and sobbed into her shoulder.

"Stephanie, what's wrong?" DJ asked, her voice loud and filled with concern.

"I had the most awful dream," Stephanie explained. "You-You'd never been born, and Joey hated me, and Dad wouldn't talk to me, and-and-and-"

"Stephanie," DJ stated, sternly, placing her hands on Stephanie's shoulders. "You're hyperventilating. I'm fine; I'm here. Let's go upstairs, and we can talk, okay?"

Stephanie, a lump in her throat, nodded.

"Stephanie, do you need me-" Danny began.

"I've got it, Dad," DJ assured him.

Danny nodded. He was worried about his second daughter, but he knew that DJ would handle this situation better than he ever could.

DJ lead Stephanie to their room, and she sat her younger sister on the bed.

"Now, Stephanie, do you want to tell me what happened?" DJ asked.

Stephanie launched into an explanation about the alternate universe, detailing how different the world was without DJ, before finally ending with the suicide.

"DJ, I know I said I wished you'd never been born, but now that I know what that life would be like, I don't ever want you to leave me. Promise me!" Stephanie yelled, hysterically.

"I promise, Stephanie," DJ whispered. "I know you didn't mean it. I didn't mean it when I said I wished you weren't my girlfriend. If you weren't in my life, my life wouldn't be worth living."

Stephanie sniffled and nodded. "Mine neither."

"Now, as for the fight, I need to explain what I've been doing," DJ sighed.

"Deej, you don't have to," Stephanie said.

"No, I do," DJ said. "Stephanie, I got a job, and I've been working so much because I wanted to get you something."

Stephanie frowned. "DJ, you didn't have to-"

"I did," DJ corrected, pulling an object from her pocket and showing it to Stephanie.

It was a bracelet, about an inch wide, and there was a small lid on top that opened (it reminded Stephanie of a compact mirror), almost like a locket. Inside was a picture of Stephanie and DJ on their wedding day.

DJ closed the lid, and Stephanie almost started crying.

Engraved on top of the lid was a single word, but it meant more to Stephanie than the world:

Always

"Stephanie, I love you more than anything," DJ murmured.

"Always?" Stephanie sniffled.

"Always," DJ promised.

How'd you like the story?

This chapter is kind of unrealistic because if DJ had never been born, everything would be different. Pam may not have died. Jesse and Joey may not have moved in. Becky and Jesse may have never meant. I can go on and on.

Anyway, the butterfly affect could've changed everything, but we were on a limited amount of time, so...

All reviews are fantastic; constructive criticism is appreciated; all flames will be ignored and reported if necessary.

Bye bye, my dear readers! Thanks for sticking with the story!