Here's the next chapter everyone! Hope you enjoy! Sorry for the wait, Harry Potter had us a bit distracted!

Disclaimer: If we owned Pixar, then Mr. Potato head would like his sons more than he does.


"Ha! Beaten again!" cheered Trixie.

The three dinosaurs had not even seen Woody leave their side as they hooked up the games console and began to play. Rex, who had been flanking Trixie for the entire game, was somewhat happy to see her win. He didn't feel so insignificant, knowing Victor couldn't beat her either.

"Aw man!" Victor complained good naturedly. "You beat my high score too!"

"Naturally," Trixie grinned.

Rex took another glance at her. She radiated happiness at being top dog – or should that be top dinosaur? – at the game. He noticed how her happiness made her seem really pretty. Was that how she looked every time she beat him too? He didn't ever remember noticing.

"Okay!" Victor called from halfway up a shelf. "I got one you can't beat me on, T-girl!"

"Bring it on!" Trixie enthused, looking at Rex.

"I'm whipping his butt! And it's even more fun than when I beat you!" She laughed, as Rex returned her emotion with a small awkward smile.


"Are you my Poppa?" Mary asked, looking up at the cowboy doll as he led her along.

Woody had noticed some time ago that the light outside the window was beginning to fade. He had taken Mary's hand to keep her next to him, and for some strange reason it was a huge comfort to have her nearby. From her other hand, the little sheep she kept with her toddled along too, making a daisy chain effect between the three of them.

"Poppa?" Woody asked, glancing down at her now, a bit confused at what she was asking.

"Yeah. Are you my Poppa?" Mary repeated.

"No, I'm Woody," he said, stopping for a moment to bend down to the little girl doll, tickling her, causing the young girl to giggle.

"I know you're Woody. You're the sheriff. But are you my Poppa too?"

"What do you mean by Poppa, Mary?" Woody asked, and she gestured dramatically, flinging the ribbon leash about in the air.

"Are you my Poppa, My Daddy?"

"Oh!" Woody exclaimed, and didn't say anything. Mary gave a big sigh and dropped her gaze wistfully, her head tipping to the side as she looked away.

"You're not my Poppa, are you?

Woody rushed to reassure her.

"Well, I suppose I could be your 'Poppa', if you wanted," he began, remembering his conversation with Bo from all that time ago.

Mary jumped up and down.

"Oh yes please Mr Sheriff sir, I'd like a Poppa. I bet you'd be a good Poppa! I never had a fambily 'afore!" she lisped, and he found himself smiling at how cute she looked. She suddenly looked downcast again, and he placed a thumb under her chin, bringing her face up.

"Well, you can be a part of ours. Mine." Woody offered, and her eyes shone once more.

"Weally?" She lisped, and he smiled at her, pinching her cheek.

"We-I mean, really. I'll be Dad-I mean, Poppa, and Jessie there can be your auntie...and I suppose that would make Buzz your unc-" He broke off as Mary tugged at his shirt sleeve.

"What about Momma?" she asked.

Woody hesitated, and Mary stared unblinking, waiting for the answer to pass his lips.

"Well, there was -is-someone." He started and Mary smiled widely.

"Momma's at home waiting for Poppa to return?"

Woody coughed into his fist.

"Not exactly."

"I don't unnerstand." Mary said, her fingers still holding Woody's sleeve.

"Momma...well, she's not with me, I mean- she's not with Poppa anymore."

"She's not? Where is she?" Mary's eyes widened. "Did you not loves Momma anymore?"

"No,no," Woody soothed. "I loved your Momma –Bo - an awful lot."

"Then why'd she go 'way?"

Woody sighed, getting to his feet and taking the little child doll's hand in his.

"It's a long story, Mary. I'll tell you when you're older. Come on."


"C'mon Rex! You gotta do better than that!" Trixie laughed, watching Rex get overtaken on the racing game they were playing. They were playing a twosome with Victor watching.

"I'm trying," Rex yelled, attempting to steer around a corner and getting stuck in a hedge. Trixie, meanwhile, had go karted to victory, with a squeal of delight. Rex tossed the controller aside as the blue dinosaur danced, giggling.

"Wow, you boys can't beat me on anything!" She smirked, then glanced up, catching sight of the reddening sky outside the window. "Wow, it's getting late. We should be heading back with the others."

Rex stood up to go almost instantly, but Victor turned from where he was slotting a video game CD back into its case.

"Go?" He questioned.

"Yeah. It was lovely meeting you at last, but I – we – have to get home." Trixie said apologetically.

"Oh, you can't do that." Victor said, brandishing a games box. "We haven't played this game yet."

"Maybe I can thrash you on it another time," Trixie suggested.

"How about now?" Victor said.

Trixie took a step back as Victor came towards her, Rex standing off to the side of where they were.

"Now." The brown dinosaur repeated. His tone was half demanding, half whiny.

Trixie glanced at Rex, and wondered why she'd done such a thing. She shook her head.

"Victor, don't be silly. We've been here quite a while. Joel is going to be home soon, and so will Bonnie. We have to split up and go home." Her voice was firmer, but Victor was not understanding.

"Just stay a little longer," He wheedled, almost pleading, and Trixie shifted uncomfortably. To her surprise, Rex stepped forward.

"You know-" The green dinosaur began hesitantly, "We really should be going. I don't like the dark."

"Who's talking to you, alligator breath?" Victor snapped, and Rex's eyes grew huge like saucers. So he really did have the stench of a beast, like Trixie had told him previously? A thought suddenly crossed his mind. A beast, was he?

He turned his roaming attention back to Victor, who was still cajoling Trixie to play more videogames, and cleared his throat.

"E-excuse m-me? Victor?" He asked more bravely than he felt.

"What now?" Victor answered his gaze on Trixie, his tone cool but irritated.

"I have something to s-say," Rex stumbled over his words, stalling for some kind of time to figure out what to do.

"Just say it, already," Victor sneered, lurching forward and grabbing at Trixie's frontal horn.

For some unknown reason, the sight of the smaller dinosaur laying hands on Trixie made Rex see red for the first time in his life.


They had just gotten to the window when the loud noise from across Joel's room made them all look around.

Woody let go of Mary's hand as he stared across at the three dinosaurs on the shelf opposite the window ledge – one brown dinosaur lying on its side; one little blue dinosaur staring in awe; and one large green dinosaur looking angry and bewildered at the same time.

"Wowzers," Jessie murmured from nearby Woody. "I didn't know Rex had it in him."

"I guess he just needed some motivation." Buzz stated, indicating Trixie.

Jessie giggled.

"I hope some toy out there would stick up for me too, if I was being picked on." She didn't see Buzz's cheeks tint pink at her words, but then, neither did Woody. He was busy looking around the area.

For when he'd glanced down to retake Mary's hand, the little girl had vanished. As his eyes continued to roam the area in search of her, he caught sight of Violet, Mary's sheep. The fluffy woolball was bleating sadly as it trotted down the sill, it's purple leash trailing behind it limply.

Without a second thought for his own safety, nor the fact they should really be getting home before dark, Woody dashed after the sheep.

Bo would never have forgiven him if he hadn't.


Well, what do you all think? Good, bad? I hope you liked it! The next chapter will come soon; Diane Clifford has already sent me the first part of it!