Superhero-Stephanie Tanner

our very first show again...

"What's going on here?" I asked my nurse, Jamie, as I walked into a patient room.

"Jayson Turner, 13 months old, presents with a low grade ear infection." The nurse recited off of the chart.

"Hi, Miss Turner, I'm Dr. Charlotte Hale." I shook the mother's hand. "Let's get this little guy checked out, okay?"

XXX

"Thank you so much, Dr. Hale." The mother shook my hand again after I had evaluated and treated her son.

"It's all in the job, Miss Turner." I responded, a smile on my face.

"Hey, I know this is a long shot, but I was wondering if I could take you out for a drink after work?"

I looked her up and down for a moment before responding. "Tempting, but I already have plans."

XXX

"You ready?" I asked my younger brother, Steve, as we stood outside the famous Tanner house. It had been decades since either of us had been inside it, especially for me, considering I had just relocated to San Francisco after almost 30 years.

"Yeah." I rang the doorbell and DJ let us in.

"Charlie, Steve, so good to see you both." I gave her a bottle of wine and she hugged me in response. I looked at the awkward tension between the two.

"While you two ignore the awkward tension between you two, I'm gonna go talk to Steph. Where is she?" I asked, looking at the older Tanner sibling for guidance.

She sighed. "In the kitchen."

"Good to see you, DJ."

XXX

I strutted into the kitchen, looking eagerly for Stephanie. "Stephanie frickin' Tanner."

"Charlie?"

"The one and only." I opened my arms up for a hug and, as expected, she jumped right into my arms, allowing me to twirl her around. I set her down and looked her up and down for a moment. "You look incredible!"

"Oh, so do you! Does everyone else know you're here?"

"Just you and DJ. I snuck back here quickly when she told me you were here."

"Well, let's go tell everybody else." She dragged me through the kitchen and into the living room. "Hey, guys, look who's here!" Everybody erupted in 'heys' and 'welcome backs' and Max jumped on me quickly.

"Hi, Aunt Charlie."

"Hey, Max." I set him down next to his older brother. "Hey, Jackson." I gave him a high five.

"Hey." He cut right to the chase. "Where are the gifts?"

"Jackson, that's rude." His mother called from across the room.

"It's a fair question." Max sided with his brother. "Aunt Charlie gives the best gifts whenever she comes to town."

"Don't worry, DJ, it's okay." I assured her. "Now, I couldn't bring it all in, but Max, there may or may not be a new T. rex lego set in my car. And, Jackson, I'm pretty sure you'll find some games and an XBox 1S."
"Awesome!" Both boys erupted in thank you's.

"I'll unlock the car, you guys go get it." They didn't hesitate to sprint out the front door. "Don't worry, DJ, I'll watch them." I assured the worried mother before she could say anything. I walked outside to the front porch, watching the kids stare at their presents in my trunk in awe.

"Hey." I heard Stephanie's voice behind me.

"Hey." I responded softly.

"So, you sticking around?"