(I do not in any way shape or for own any of the characters from BloSC. Pixar does.)

Author's notes: I didn't finish You Are Who You Were, and probably never will. I lost motivation on that one because I didn't enjoy it really myself. But I have picked up on this one and plan to write a few after this one. I'm more motivated for this story.

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Past Secrets

Chapter 1: First Date

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It was a beautiful winter's night on Capital Planet. The snow was falling lightly to the frozen ground on the mid February night, making the snow covered city glisten and shine with the twinkle of fresh white, glistening snow, covering it like a peaceful blanket. It made Capital City and Alliance Plaza look like some sort of winter wonderland tucked gently into the belly of a shaken up snow globe. Nobody would have ever guessed that this city had arguing politicians or threats made by Zurg upon it's head.

The night's air was still and hush, with a bite of frost floating upon a slight breeze. Conditions were absolutely perfect for a romantic stroll on the town with that special someone. And that was just what Buzz Lightyear and Alexis Morgans planned to do.

They had been putting off a date for a long time now, almost a year and a half now since the first time they're eyes locked on LegoEgo, since the first time she spoke to him, telling him that he should move his Star Cruiser if he knew what was good for him. That spunk was what he liked. Tonight was the night they got a chance to meet out of a work setting. No Star Command, no museum, no LegoEgo, no missions, no evil. Just two souls getting to become even closer.

It had been an awkward one and a half years for them. They were a couple and loved one another with all their heart and soul, but they hardly saw each other, and when they did it was rarely if ever out of work. Buzz would come visit her on his lunch break and her on her's. Some times they would meet at Cosmo's and have lunch or dinner, and talk on the phone for hours when they had the time, Buzz was a bit of a motor mouth when it came right down to it, but nothing fancy or exciting, or formal. But yet their relationship had survived all the restrictions of a work driven life style, and now it was going to go one step further into what was considered "normal."

"Lightyear for two?" a host called out through the sea of people in the crowded restaurant, "Lightyear for two."

"Over here Mario," Buzz called out through the crowd, raising a hand to be seen out of the throng of people. His other hand was holding Lex's tightly in his grasp, dragging her along through the crowded lobby. They finally made it to stand before the podium and waited for Mario to show them to their table.

"Ahh! There you are!" Mario greeted them warmly with his deep Italian accent. He picked up two menus from the side of the podium and peeled back the red velvet curtain that lead to the main dinning area, "Please, follow me." the host made his way through to lead the two onwards.

Buzz held back the curtain for his lady and bowed, "After you ma'lady he smiled courteously ,showing off his pearly white teeth in that big smiling mouth of his.

"Well thank you kind sir," Lex giggled at his formalities as she walked by to follow the host.

Lightyear's senses tingled as she walked by and he got a smell of a lock of hair that brushed under his nose. He dared not stay holding the curtains any longer. He wanted to give into instinct and lean her back for a kiss, but the Captain was shy and did no such thing in public, he knew he had to keep his manors or risk embarrassment. He walked to her side and offered her his arm witch she gladly took in hers. Wrapping her's around the Ranger's thick muscular forearm tightly.

Their host, Mario, lead them through the dinning room, winding past tables draped in the finest linen the galaxy had to offer. Beings of all races, species, size and shape were seated at the tables chatting, eating, enjoying themselves, the atmosphere and their company.

The atmosphere at the Alpha Centauri was perfect. Soft sensuous music played in the background. The tables were set by candle light, tapestries lined the walls along with other pricy decorations. And a big fire place was lit to warm the room and the heart. The lights were dimmed and it was very relaxing, or not depending on the person.

The Alpha Centauri not only was the fanciest restaurant, but also the most expensive. Common folk were rarely, if ever, seen in the place, this included Space Rangers and archaeologists. But no price was too high for Buzz when it came to doing things right. It would take him a while to pay off his credit card bill on the pay role of a Space Ranger, but it didn't matter to him one bit. He would buy her the whole moon if she wanted it.

"Here is your table sir," the host bowed to them motioning his arms in the direction of the booth. It was a big round table draped in the finest red silk table cloth. A candle melting in the top of an old wine bottle lit it in a warm orange glow. A semi-circle red veinal booth seat encompassed it. "The finest table in the house for the two love birds," he smiled tenderly at the couple.

Lightyear blushed rose red in the cheeks at the remark. The captain still was quit shy and coy when it came to romance, women, and both in public. He found it awkward to show affection in front of others. He still had no idea what possessed him to kiss her so fiery that first night on LegoEgo, he sure would have never done that if he knew what was going on, something just, just over powered him, he ignored his brain and listened to some sort of primal instinct inside his heart. But he had no regrets about it, none what so ever.

Mario walked off yelling something in Italian to a waiter. Lex began to sit down when Buzz grabbed her by the arm and stopped her. She looked at him confused and irritated. Would this man not let her sit down? These shoes were killing her feet and she was starving, what was his problem!? She loved him but sometimes Buzz could be irrational.

"Surely you are familiar with the customs?" Buzz asked with a sly grin.

"Well, no what?" she asked. Lex thought he was making a scene out of nothing. What sort of ceremonies were to be preformed at a place like this? She thought they were civilized beings, not of ancient times were weird table rituals were preformed before eating. Maybe he was exhibiting some cultural thing, something from his Earthen heritage. Maybe you had to sneeze before sitting or some other sort of goofy thing, toss a pinch of salt over your shoulder for good luck and catch some lucky charms.

"The man must help his lady to be seated. It's only polite," he smiled like a boy scout. Lex blushed sheepishly this time. She thought he was crazy, and sometimes that wasn't far from the truth, but he was just being a gentleman. She took his arm and allowed him to lower her to her seat at the table and then took his own seat opposite her.

"Sorry," she blushed, "I'm just not used to this dating thing," she said. Buzz closed his eyes and nodded his head smiling to say 'it's OK no big deal'.

"Ah! Bonjorno!" A tall skinny waiter with a rather large long moustache greeted them at their table neighborly, "I am Luigi and I will be a your waiter this eva-ning!" he took out his pad of paper and pen and waited patiently for them to look over the menu, "What can Luigi get-a you two tonight eh? May I suggest a bottle of a fine wine? Made from the finest grapeses from Capital Planet vineyards."

"No, thanks," Buzz said, "I don't drink any sort of alcohol. Star Command policy."

"Me neither," Lex answered politely, "Can we have some soda?"

"Luigi can't believe-a what my ears are sayings! You come-a into my restaurant and order soda!? I suggest-a to you fine wine and you says, 'Luigi! We no want wine! We only want-a the soda!'" the waiter went off into a tirade about their order.

"Luigi,"Buzz tried to get the man's attention nicely the first time but the little man kept going on and on and on about it, throwing his arms in the air wildly as he spoke barely missing smacking Buzz in the nose a few times. Buzz had to kick it up a notch, "LUIGI!!" Buzz screamed and got the man to quiet, "Just get the lady a soda, OK." the Ranger sighed.

"Sure," Luigi shrugged putting on a smile now, "You want-a a soda? Luigi bring-a yous a soda," the waiter rambled on, "Now what can Luigi bring you two for tonight eh? We have the finest angel hair pasta with spicy a meat-a balls. What yous like?"

"Buzz looked at Lex, "Pizza OK with you?" he asked before placing the order with the waiter.

Lex nodded in agreement, "Sure I love pizza."

"Ok then Luigi, one large pizza with cheese sausage and mushrooms," he ordered and handed back the menus.

This order also was not kosher with Luigi, "You come-a into here and order soda and pizza?! Why you order soda and pizza? This is not-a Pizza Planet!"

"Then don't put things on your menu you don't want people to order Luigi," Buzz was getting irate and spoke between clenched teeth too hold himself back from yelling along with the waiter. He just wanted a nice relaxing dinner with his girl, but instead he had to argue with the temperamental waiter.

"Fine! I will bring-a you a pizza and soda," he threw his hands up in the air and then mumbled something in Italian. He leaned over to Lex's ear, "Why you hang-a out with this fellow eh?" he asked pointing to Buzz with his pen. The girl tittered at the question while Buzz's eyes flew open and his mouth dropped. Oh no he didn't! Luigi walked off mumbling to himself half in English and half in Italian.

"I hang out with this fellow because, I love him," Lex smiled across the table at the still shocked man. He then closed his jaw and beamed at her answer. But Lex had to add in a little comment to that, "In a hard headed stubborn kind of way."

Buzz sat back and snorted at that, "Hard headed? Stubborn? Me?" he asked her accusing ly, "This coming from the most hardheaded gal I know. You're such a hypocritic he said with a sideways smile.

Lex put on a cheesy and mocking smile, "I know!"

"You look enchanting tonight," Buzz told her changing the subject, "That dress is very becoming," he looked at her with fixed stare of a fool fallen head over heels. His fantasizing head propped up on an arm resting on elbow upon the table top. "It brings out your eyes." it was a beautiful gown. A long flowing grey almost silver bottom with red down the sides, a golden medallion belt, witch she uncovered from a dig site, hung loosely around her waist. The top was a silvery grey, and a purple and red corset tied on her mid section. A gold medallion of a sun and moon in the middle. The sleeves started just bellow her shoulders and widened into big bell sleeves in a grey and purple pattern. The tops of the sleeves and piece around her neck were decorated in gold and silver, a pattern trimmed it all on top.

"This old thing?" Lex looked at her dress. "It's not the greatest. I don't even like dresses." she stuck her tongue out, "But I figured dusty blue jeans and a T-shirt wasn't acceptable."

"Well I don't care what you say, you look phenomenal in it." Buzz commented.

"And you too look very," she paused on what to say. He hadn't worn his Ranger uniform, but also wasn't wearing a tux, a suit, a sport coat, or any sort of dinner wear like the rest of the men in the place. Instead he wore his Star Command dress uniform that was made for when an off duty officer was strolling in public. Green trousers with knee high black boots that had been freshly polished. His belt was tight on his waist with the Star Command golden logo belt buckle holding it together. He had a plain black collared shirt on with the matching green Star Command flight jacket over it. It was adorned with a Star Command badge over the left side of his wide chest, and three purple rings around the sleeves showing his ranking.

"Very Star Command issued," she finally commented.

Buzz blushed embarrassed. She was right. It wasn't the best, and too stiff at that. Just another reminder of how attached to his work he was.

"Well it's really the nicest outfit I own," he defended, "When I get home it's just blue jeans and t-shirts. I never ever go out anywhere nice enough to own anything formal. It just isn't my style." he had a good point. With his work he had no time for anything fancy, not that Buzz enjoyed fancy things or even getting dressed up, and being single even furthered his reason. He never went on a date on his own. XR had input his name and stats into a computer dating program service once under the Captain's nose. He wasn't too thrilled to find it out either when he got a reply in his e-mail, but he went along just that once for fear of hurting the girl's feelings, only came to find out that the woman he was matched up with had been on hundreds before and had no sentimental heedfulness to weather or not he liked her or not. He was forced to have dinner with Gravitinia, but she HAD forced him, and the safety of the Galactic Alliance was at stake. And XR had pushed him into that too with his un-proof read fake and forged love letter to her just to get the two out of jail. There was Ozma, the Karn scientist. He did like her, sometimes, he denied it when they asked him if they were a couple, but she didn't like him. Ozma played the Captain like a bad hand at a poker game to get what she wanted for her Karn beasts, and if things didn't go her way Buzz got and ear full and a cold shoulder. After a while Lightyear learned that she only loved herself and her evil critters, just using him for personal gain. The last time was Bonnie Leption, the daughter of the mad scientist VonMadman. The girl practically threw herself on him and made him very very uncomfortable. He had no feelings towards her that way since he still thought of her as a little girl who used to hang around the station with her father when she was 5 and he was just out of the academy. He found her way too young, not even half his age, and way too pushy. But Mira had forced him to take her out once after the girl had been heartbroken when he had told her no. Lightyear had no luck with the opposite gender and therefore considered his wardrobe.

"That's OK Buzz," Lex smiled, "You still look very handsome and diplomatic. Besides, this dressing up thing really isn't my style either. I borrowed this outfit from a friend," they both laughed at themselves. Two people sitting in a place they felt out of place in trying to be like all the rest. Neither one cared for this formal mumbo jumbo thing much and could care less if they ever did this sort of thing again. They admitted they loved the date part, it was lovely but they agreed next time to have dinner at Pizza Planet, or McDonald's because they both missed getting toys in their meals.

After they had eaten their pizza the two stayed long into the night at the restaurant just talking about anything and everything. Buzz was entertaining with the stories of his many adventures or sometimes misadventures as they were, being turned into a blob, flying into a black hole that would become a sun, and meeting his elder self from the future. Lex listened intently to the tales of heroism, entranced by his words and deeds. The excitement, the danger, it had her sitting on the edge of her seat, hanging on his every word.

"Then Zurg got this crazy idea to create evil kid clones of me and Team Lightyear." he continued to spin the tale. Lex laughed at the thought of a little Buzz. She just couldn't imagine the grown up man who sat now before her ever being a child. He had his childish moments, there was still a part of him that liked being a kid at heart, but still it was a hard concept to swallow. But he was human and so there was a point in time he was just a little child and not a Space Ranger.

"What a brat!" Buzz gripped remembering Zzub, "First of all they took my name and turned it backwards! Oh yea very original! Phft! Lame-Os!" Buzz criticized, " He was annoying and rude on top of that! That kid needed a spanking!" he paused a second and grinned with pride and egotism, stroking his chin. "But I will give Zurg credit for capturing perfectly my handsome good looks." he then put a finger to his lips and made an innocent face.

Lex laughed, his pride was just too much sometimes. Buzz laughed along with her, he knew they were laughing at him but he didn't care, he knew his mannerisms and actions were rather comical.

"Haha! I would like to see a little Buzz Lightyear," Lex smiled trying to imagine there ever really existed such a thing, "I bet your parents found you delightfully troublesome and an innocent child." she started to laugh even more again trying to see a Buzz Lightyear mini me getting into all sorts of childish mischief, and smiling afterwards with childish imp innocents. But she stopped her joviality when she noticed this time she was the only one laughing. She looked up at the Ranger who's smile and grin was wiped clean and replaced by a solemn frown. His eyes lost the sapphire sparkle of happiness and took on a dull blue of sadness. Was it something she said? Lex didn't mean to hurt his feelings. With concern for her love Lex reached a hand across the table and stroked the top of his bigger, rougher hand lovingly. "What's wrong Buzz? Was it something I said? I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or insult you. I'm sorry I didn't mean to.." she stopped when Buzz moved his lips to speak.

"No Lex, you didn't insult me, or hurt my feelings," he began softly looking away from her and off to the side, his peaceful blue eyes seemed to be fixated far off into space and thought, as if he was looking for something out there that had been lost for ages.

The girl watched him squinting her eyes and pursing her lips. Trying to find the answer on his face, but it was blank, as blank as the sands of the Dune Sea.

"Then what's wrong Buzz?" she asked him again. She wanted to know, to help him this time. He had always been there to help her and now she wanted to return the favor. She smoothed the back of his hand again, "What's wrong?"

This time the Captain met her gaze. He saw kindness and understanding, love and concern. And that he opened his heart to her, "I, I, never, never knew my parents." the talk about a little Buzz Lightyear with his parents had triggered an emotional response from the brave Ranger. He very rarely if ever brought up or told anyone about it. He even hated remembering the fact that he had lost his parents 24 years ago.

"Oh, Buzz," Lex turned her head a bit sorry to have brought forth these thoughts and feelings from him. "I'm sorry, I, I didn't know. Were you adopted?" she knew she shouldn't pressure and question him like this, but she thought maybe if he had someone to confide in, to talk to, the pressure wouldn't be so badly weighing on his shoulders. And she was just nosey.

"Well," he paused, "You could say so, I guess. My Nana took me in afterwards," Buzz did feel comfortable opening up to her. And it did make him feel better to talk his feelings out with someone instead of keeping them inside to eat away at his conscious. He took her hand now and kept it in his own, smoothing over the back of her hand with his thumb. Just the touch of her skin made him feel comfortable enough to begin his story, "I was only a few months old. Just barely knee high to a grasshopper. When it happened." Lex leaned over to hear the tale, and was remembering her own fatherless life.

"They left me with the baby sitter while they went out somewhere. They made it to wherever it was I don't even remember, but they didn't make it home. They were hit, in an accident, they didn't survive. I was then raised by my Nana Lightyear. She took care of me and raised me until I was old enough to join the academy." a tear rolled slowly down his cheek. "Sorry I must look like an emotional fool," he wiped his cheek on his sleeve. The Ranger hated to cry, hated every part of it. He was the defender of the universe, and he was slowly weakening! And weakness in front of a woman! He should be brave and stable, not like this. He was always taught by his Nana to be brave. Always felt that as a man he should never be like this, that this showed weakness, but he couldn't help it. Was he becoming weak?

"Buzz, it's OK to shed a tear now and again. You're only human, nothing more and nothing less," Lex comforted him and slid a hand down his cheek to warm his heart. He did feel a bit better. Now it was her turn to share a story of personal experiences with him. "I too never knew my Father," she slid back into her seat. Buzz cocked his head concerned now, ready to listen. "One day, before I was born, he left. Just up and walked out on my mother. I never knew him, and we never knew what happened to him after that."

Buzz now felt that he was no longer alone in the world with his troubles. That someone else, dear to his heart, felt the same pain. He didn't want her to feel any pain at all, but at least there were together.

She shook her head clear, "But that doesn't matter now, I don't care," she said scornfully about her father. Lex resented him for what he did. She still felt sad about it, but somewhere deep down she hoped she would never meet the man, she didn't need him. "What matters now is that we have each other. And together we'll never be alone."

Buzz felt his spirits lift once more into the clouds. She was right. Although it pained him, he should not dwell on the past. He should not forget them, but he should also not forget that now he was alone no longer.

He tilted his wrist to look at his watch, "Holy rockets! It's almost midnight!" the two had been sitting there for hours! But the hours seemed like short short minutes but every minute they spent together was precious.

Lex put a hand to her mouth to yawn, "I'm getting a bit tired."

"Not tired of me I hope," he smiled playfully as he raised his hand to signal the waiter to bring the bill.

"Of you? Never!"

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The two left the restaurant and Buzz drove her to her house. All the way laughing and talking on the ride there. They really did enjoy each other's company, too bad they couldn't stay together all day, but the night had to come to an end sometime.

Lightyear set his hot rod down in the street in front of her house. He got out and opened her car door for her.

"Thanks but I can open doors you know," Lex smiled at him.

"I know, I know! But it's manors and customs thing again." he gave her his arm once more to embrace and walked his lady to the door. The snow was still falling gently from the night sky, almost like magical pixie dust sparkling in the moon's light as it floated gently down. The already 5 inches of snow crunched under their feet as they walked up the sidewalk. They stopped at the front door and Lex turned to Buzz.

"I had a wonderful time Buzz," Lex thanked him.

"Well every time with you is wonderful," he tossed back a witty remark. It caught Lex off guard and made her blush this time around. "What are you doing tomorrow?" Lex did have another day off to waste, maybe she would spend it with him. It would be nice to have her on patrol. Someone to talk to that didn't give him lip or annoy him.

"I'm going to go visit my Mother."

"Oh," Buzz said disappointed. Then he lit up and had an idea, "I'll come with you then, that is if you don't mind. I don't want to butt in."

"I don't mind at all, it's about time Mom met my boyfriend, but I think Commander Nebula would mind. Don't you have work?" she leered at him suspiciously.

"Well ya, but I can ditch just this once." Buzz must be in love, nothing could ever make him ditch his duties, this was more like XR talking instead of the pride of Star Command who always followed the rules, for the most part.

Lex gasped fakely, "THE Buzz Lightyear skip work!? I'm shocked! No no, wait, I'm honored that I am the one thing that could get Mr. Lightyear to miss work.," she snickered. "Do I get a trophy?"

"I don't think they give awards for that, just demerits, but I already looked at the roster for tomorrow, we got speed trap duty. Boringest job in the Gamma Quadrant. I won't be missing anything important." He wanted more then anything to get out of this assignment, he didn't want to be locked up in a small cockpit all day listening to the complaints of three whinny rookies. He knew as soon as he told them what was going to be going on that day the complaining would start.

"Do you really want to come just so you can be with me, or do you just want to get out of a boring assignment?" she smiled and crossed her arms over his chest waiting for an response.

"I want to spend time with you, of course," he smiled innocently at her hoping she would let him tag along. The excuse was mostly true. He didn't know about meeting the 'in-laws', he had always heard horror stories about that, but it had to beat playing traffic cop.

"Alright, I'll meet you on the Orion Beltway then, witch billboard will you be parked behind?" she agreed to take him along. Besides the puppy dog face he was giving her looked pitiful.

"The one advertising for toothpaste," Buzz informed her where the speed trap would be set up this time.

"Alright then, meet ya there around 9 AM," she set the time.

"Alright," he stood there looking into her eyes for a moment when he realized they were still standing outside, "Oh gosh, sorry, it's cold out here and we need to rest up for tomorrow. Well, good night, Lex." he lingered a few seconds hoping she would not forget the most important custom, the good night kiss. But he wouldn't steal it himself, there could be people watching. It was better to take the long way around.

"Good night, Buzz," she closed her eyes and craned her neck upwards to steal a good night kiss from his lips, "Sweet dreams." She didn't forget. As Buzz stood on her front porch off in dream land Lex let herself in and closed her door to get ready for the night. It was a few minutes before the Ranger could sputter out words.

"You, too," he muttered like a drunkard. And with his head filled with dreams and kisses he staggered off to his vehicle to go home. There was a long road of arguing with rookies ahead. He needed to be on his toes, and he needed to stock up on Aspirin.

To Be Continued..........