Yay! This story is finally finished! *collapses* I think this ending is all right and ends the story well. Let me know what you think!

Also want to give a shout out to Michael C. Ryan for all the support, reviews, and love for this story. I dedicate it to you cause you deserve it!

Hope you enjoy. Reviews would be lovely and greatly appreciated. Thanks to everyone who has (favored and alerted as well)!

Decisions, Decisions

The sun had just dipped below the horizon, crowning half the sky in a gentle light and prepared the other side for a gradual sleep. The heat rolled off from the desert floor, disappearing into the air and swept away by a cool, twilight breeze, the atmosphere providing optimal comfort. Everything quieted to a hush and offered a contenting tranquility.

Jessie sighed to herself as she sat on the railing of the back porch to Pride Ranch, leaning her head against a pole and swinging her legs. She stared out to the dimming light, watching a silhouetted cowboy pet his horse between the ears before offering a carrot. Bullseye had followed Woody around the entire day since they returned, not once letting the sheriff out of his sight. The cowgirl couldn't help but find it amusing, watching them since before the sun set.

Admittedly, she still felt a bit doubtful of what she saw. For days, she had to imagine Woody's form, his mere presence, from only her memories due to his 'absence.' Seeing him physically with her own eyes, though, she thought she would never be able to do that again. Even during the past day, while jailing her uncle and the outlaws, she almost believed she was hallucinating and had to talk, touch, or hug him a few times to make sure of reality. She wound up staring and watching him for long periods, to see if he would or would not disappear. Luckily, he hadn't gone anywhere yet.

A sweet smell filled her nose, disrupting her somber thoughts and directing her toward wonderful ones. The aromas of sweet potatoes, roasted turkey, and honey-glazed carrots made her taste buds ache; oh, did Bo know how to cook a great dinner. The shepherdess had put so much heart and soul into everything she did that day, milking the cows and doing the chores. The delicate paleness of her face glowed as a smile attached itself to her lips. Woody's return had enlightened her entirely and left her with no reservations about whether or not he was really there. The two spent almost the entire day together, Bo making sure she hugged and kissed her husband whenever she got the chance. The sheriff doted on her, realizing how much she missed him and he her and wished to reassure and apologize as much as he could. He made sure she knew he would never leave her again.

"It's a beautiful night."

Before Jessie could turn toward the new voice, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind and embraced her. Beaming, the cowgirl leaned back against the man behind her and rested her head on his shoulder. She snuggled against him before opening her emerald eyes to meet his azure ones.

"Howdy." Jessie chuckled slightly.

"Hey." Buzz answered and tightened his grip tenderly.

A comfortable silence fell between them. They stared out to the fields before them, watching as the last dregs of sunlight bent over the roundness of the earth beyond. Woody guided Bullseye into the horse stalls for the night and made his way to the front of the ranch, offering a little wave to the couple and receiving one in turn. Soon enough, the world went dark, the only light coming from the kitchen windows and the small lamp hanging from the back door.

"I'm so glad things are back to normal." Jessie finally sighed, closing her eyes briefly.

"If things were normal to begin with." Buzz humored her while resting his head on hers.

"Hum, you gotta point there." The cowgirl laughed. "Well, in that case, I'm glad Woody's back. I'm so glad I could jump off a cactus."

"Me too, well, sort of." Her fiancé agreed. "I missed my best friend."

"Even though he's joked about your height today?" Jessie reminded.

"…Well, maybe I missed only parts of him."

The two laughed for a long while, so grateful for having the chance to do so again. All the stress and tension they experienced for the past month escaped with their laughter, finally enabling them to relax truly. It took them a while to collect themselves and the elation that stayed with them afterward felt blissful. Again, they enjoyed the peace of normality and with each other.

"I…um…" Buzz began to say, stuttering slightly as he clenched his hands against the cowgirl's waist. "I h-have to tell you something."

Turning her head, Jessie caught his gaze again and offered a concerned look.

"About what?"

"I contacted Commander Nebula a while ago." He informed. "I wanted to tell him we solved the mystery about the android and took care of the criminal behind it. He seemed impressed with how we protected the universe outside of Star Command and overjoyed that Woody was still alive." He paused for a second, looking away to the blackness of night. "He also told me I'm still a Space Ranger captain."

Jessie pulled out of her fiancé's embrace to twist around and face him squarely, an eyebrow raised.

"How is that possible?" She questioned, a hint of excitement in her voice.

"You know Commander Nebula. He hates doing paperwork*. Apparently, he never signed off on my resignment documents and thus never 'fired' me." Buzz shrugged. "Either that, or he put it aside to see if I would come back eventually."

"That's great!" Jessie cheered, wrapping her arms around his neck and embracing him. "It'll be like ya never left!"

"It's just…" The ranger pulled away, "I'm still not sure if I want to go back, though."

"Why?" The cowgirl questioned.

Buzz sighed heavily and glanced at Jessie's face, observing her features and silently extolling them. Gently, he placed his hands on her shoulders and finally looked her straight in the eye.

"You don't want to become a space ranger again, right?"

The cowgirl appeared bewildered for a second before understanding clouded her certainty. Yet, the look her fiancé gave her insured her he already knew her answer.

"No, I don't." She finally admitted, fixing her eyes on the porch. "It's…it's just not who I am, who I want to be. I want to be a deputy sheriff again, with Woody. Space…just isn't for me and neither is being a space ranger. I'm sorry, Buzz."

"It's not your fault at all! Don't apologize." The ranger cupped her chin so he could see those dazzling, emerald irises again. "I want you to be whatever you want to be. I'm just…worried about what will happen to us if I do go back to being a space ranger. I don't want us to grow apart…or worse."

Jessie opened her mouth, but closed it again. She hated facing this issue again and again, always wishing they had better options than the ones they had. Putting Buzz in such a position, making him choose between her or his desired career always made her feel awful and selfish. Every time, one of them had to sacrifice the life they wanted for the other. Why couldn't they figure out how to combine the two?

Then an idea popped into her head.

"Well, with Woody back, we can be much more flexible with how we live." Jessie started, pushing herself off the banister and onto her feet. "I'll have a job and not have to worry about the ranch or protection. We could buy a house in town and live there. We'll be able to pay for it and you'll come home when your work finishes, like a typical husband."

"Are you sure that will work?" Buzz remained skeptical. "I don't want to leave you alone for too long."

"Psh, please." The cowgirl brushed off the worry with a wave of her hand. "I can handle you being away for a few hours or days. Besides, I'll be working too, so I will be busy."

The ranger still held his doubts, nearly provoking Jessie to roll her eyes. She still couldn't get over how much of a worrywart he was whenever things involved her.

"How about we practice that routine here at the ranch before we get ahead of ourselves. Hm?" He suggested with a hopeful smile.

"Oh all right, Mr. Safety Britches." Jessie shook her head but grinned, arms snaking around his neck so she could pull him into a gentle kiss.

"Captain Safety Britches to you, miss." Buzz murmured once they pulled away.

Jessie laughed and embraced him again, soon feeling her feet lift off the ground as her fiancé spun her around. He put her down again to join her mirth, taking a moment to calm down. They stayed in each other's arms.

"Speaking of husband, by the way," Buzz began in Jessie's ear. "When are we having our real wedding?"

The cowgirl pulled out of his arms slowly, revealing a comical surprised, scared, and bewildered expression. She glanced up with wide eyes.

"Uhhh…"

"Dinner's ready!" Bo called from the kitchen.

"Phew, saved by the bell!" Jessie sighed with relief. "We'll discuss that later!"

She quickly ran inside, leaving a baffled Buzz behind. He eventually shook his head and wandered inside himself, wondering if they would ever be able to decide a date. It didn't really matter, though. They had all the time in the world.

*1 - In Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Commander Nebula's hate for paperwork is a recurring theme for him.