Bo had been given to Molly when she was three months old, the first thing that was truly Molly's, not something she was meant to outgrow like her rattles or one of Andy's toys she could chew on for a few minutes. Bo was in Molly's very first memories, and the porcelain doll took her role as guardian very seriously.
Before the move, all the toys worked together as one unit. Molly and Bo hadn't been with them long, but once they were there the toys couldn't picture the house without them. As crowded as the room became, each addition was welcomed. But when it was announced that Andy and Molly would be getting separate rooms in the new house, it meant authority had to be distributed. With the exception of Woody and Buzz's less than perfect introduction, the move went on without any issues and the toys were excited to have a bigger space.
"Now, normally when Andy goes back to school, we schedule the morning meeting about ten or so minutes after he gets on the bus," explained Woody as he lead Bo between mountains of unpacked boxes. The family had taken a break from unpacking, escaping to the movies for a few hours and the toys were eager to explore their new surroundings. "But last school year, mom was still pregnant so we didn't really factor Molly in. Mom might keep Molly in her room to play after she wakes up or take her downstairs, the pattern still hasn't been established so scheduling the meeting might be difficult. You know, with Andy-."
"We could always just wing it," said Bo sweetly, as he took her hand to guide her over a collection of loose scarves. As much as Bo adored spending time with the cowboy, she found it hard to get his mind off work. But she also found it incredibly endearing.
"Wing it?" said Woody with laugh, half humoring her, half in true disbelief. "Impromptu meetings are fine every now and then, for like emergencies or special events, but if they're not set then toys miss vital information, next thing you know R.C. is missing his controller because no one attended the seminar about mom's new spring cleaning method."
"Well if Molly's room has a different schedule, maybe I can just lead those meetings when it works best for us?"
"Us?"
"Molly's toys," said Bo simply, pointing to the the box labeled as such. "She's only going to get more as she grows up, and there will be times when we can't make it for your meetings, no matter how much we want to." She said the last part in teasing tone she reserved just for him, as though suggesting she was only speaking for herself.
"Well, I guess," said Woody, clearing his throat. He couldn't dispute her logic, but he secretly enjoyed Bo seeing him run the meetings. He knew Andy would be including Bo in his playtime less, since she'd have a more permanent place in Molly's room. But separate meetings meant seeing less of her, and that notion held no appeal for him. "But, ya know, we could just have them a little later if we need to."
"Hmm," hummed Bo, looking around Andy's room knowing Woody had moved several boxes to where he thought they should be, trying to recreate the old room as much as possible, set in his ways. She smiled as he continued to ramble, listing times with two minutes of each other that could work for all the toys and their individual daily activities. "How long does it take you to plan these meetings?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, usually the night before," said Woody, flustered. "Ya know, depending on the time of year, each week is different, ya know? I find having a general layout and theme really helps get key points across and reduce any unnecessary chatter..."
"So since Molly and Andy go to bed relatively early, maybe we could get together and compare notes?" said Bo, fluttering her eyes playfully.
"C-compare notes?"
"Well of course," she continued. "If we're having two meetings, we want to make sure we're on the same page, giving out the same schedule and all that. Looks like we'll be spending a lot more time together, sheriff."
"I, uh, I guess so," he cleared his throat, attempting to remain composed as she sauntered ahead of him. "I can, uh , give you some pointers on uh-."
"Public speaking?" she cut him off, using her crook to pull him beside her, stopping him from running into a pile of board games. "I'd like that."
He laughed, somewhat embarrassed and gave her a timid smile. She leaned on her staff and returned his smile, reaching up to adjust his hat. "What do you think, sheriff? Do I have what it takes to lead a room?"
"I can't think of anyone I trust more," he said.
When Bo left, Molly had plenty of other toys, mostly Barbies and stuffed animals but even then she was proving to outgrow them faster than Andy, her attention turning to music and spending time with her friends. Even with playtime slowly decreasing, the toys needed a leader, guidance. But Woody just couldn't bring himself to enter Molly's room. The spot where she once stood haunted him, and each time he was forced to see it, his heart broke again. So someone else needed to step up and make sure Molly's toys were looked after. That's what Bo would've wanted.
Jessie stepped in, no questions asked. She was often part of Molly's playtime, tea parties and such, and had a good rapport going with the dolls. She had Woody's same flair for speaking and leadership, though there was less drama than Andy's room and creating an itinerary proved less stress. She knew what it was like to have a girl like Molly so she knew what questions the room had and what they needed to hear. She always assured Woody things were fine, and when the conversation turned to Bo, which it often did, she knew to omit that section in her recap.
Buzz took over the daily meetings in Andy's room. Woody didn't ask him to, he didn't need to. Despite the immense presence Bo had in Andy's room, the daily goings-on went on fine without her. The toys put on a brave face for Woody, but the cowboy let the occasion weigh heavily on his heart.
Woody returned to his old self soon enough, the knowledge that Andy relied on him propelled him forward. He picked up where he left off almost seamlessly. He went from isolation back to his to his old self almost over night. The difference was he has started the folder on Andy's computer, and although she was out of sight, he knew she was safe. And he knew she'd want the same for him.
He needed to keep his promise to her. He needed to keep them safe.
Now, as Woody felt the box being picked up but the delivery man, his mind was racing a mile a second. There was no way Buzz and Jessie had really Bo, right? Not without telling him? Had she really been so close by this whole time that he could get to her with expedited shipping? Would she be upset that it had taken him so long to find her? Did she want to be found? In the back of his mind, he knew the answers because he knew Bo. But he had been let down before, breaking his own heart in vain.
Jessie watched in amusement as Buzz dodged and weaved through imaginary traps as they made their way into the store. It was dusty and quiet but very large and the pair didn't even know where to start looking. As Buzz pointed his laser at every shadow, Jessie looked on the rows of shelves for any trace of Bo, but all she found were collections of plates and clocks.
"There must be someone we can ask for help…" she murmured.
"No need, Admiral," assured Buzz as he jumped behind a shelf of books. "Any life forms here are most likely working for Zurg and would lead us astray. I'm confident we're heading in the right direction."
"Are you two lost?" came a voice from above them. Jessie and Buzz looked around, Buzz's laser at the ready of course, but did not see the source.
"Hello?" called Jessie, slightly alarmed.
"Are you two lost?" the voice repeated, its source becoming no clearer.
"Show yourself!" demanded Buzz, stepping in front of Jessie.
"You must be lost," decided the voice, sounding like it was coming closer. "I can help you find your place."
The store had an aggressive silence that even when slightly altered was deafening. So when the speaker came closer, their steps seemed to echo. They seemed to descend a staircase the pair could not see,still unable to pinpoint their location. Then from the shadows behind them, the voice spoke again.
"Is someone coming for you?" it asked, meek and sweet.
"Stand back, it could be a trap!" said Buzz, standing between the voice and Jessie who placed her hand gently on his shoulder and gave him a look to step aside. She slowly walked in front of him and held her hand out as a sign of friendship.
"We're actually looking for someone," said Jessie. "Are you lost?"
"No," it said. "I've been here awhile."
"Oh," said Jessie, the sadness of the comment was not lost on her. "Maybe you could help us find who we're looking for?"
Silence.
"Allow me, Admiral," said Buzz, lowering his laser. "My name is Buzz Lightyear, I am a space ranger, first in my class. My colleague and I are here to end Zurg's tyrannical rule, rest assured we are here to keep you safe, civilian. Please come into the light, lest we attract any guards' attention by staying idle too long."
"You're plastic."
"P-pardon?"
The voice finally made itself known and stepped into the dull light to reveal herself. She was small, barely past Jessie's knee, with a round face that was occupied mostly by her big brown eyes. Jessie could tell by the shine reflecting off her tan face that she was made of porcelain, her hair an abundance of painted black curls. She wore a white, poofy dress decorated with intricate swirls of gold glitter that matched the halo atop her head. On her back was a small set of angel wings. Her face was somehow sad and hopeful as she gazed upward to the strangers.
"Hey there," said Jessie sweetly, getting down to her level. "Why ain't you just the sweetest thing. What's your name, little lady?"
"Seraphina," she said, clasping her hands together. "But you can call me Sera, if you want." Her voice shook slightly, the same way Bonnie's did when she was trying not to cry.
"Well that's beautiful," said Jessie, staying where she was not wanting to frighten Sera away. "Do you know this place pretty well? We're looking for a friend we haven't seen in a long time, Bo Peep? Maybe you know her?"
Sera's eyes got wider somehow. "Bo Peep?" she said, almost afraid. "Um… yes? But I um… don't think I should…" she slowly backed away to return to her shadow.
"No, please!" said Jessie, getting up to go after her. She stepped hesitantly into the shadows,but saw no trace of the porcelain girl. She looked around and ran towards a small noise on her left but as she ran ahead she found herself at a dead end, the side of shelf blocking her. "Darn it! Please come back!" she pleaded. "I promise, we're not scary, right Buzz?" The space ranger did not reply. Jessie looked behind her and saw that he had not followed her in her chase. "Buzz?" she called again to no response. "Buzz!"
"Mission log: stardate unknown," spoke Buzz into his wrist as he walked, unaware that he had wandered away from Jessie. "I have somehow been separated from the Admiral on Zurg's strange planet, roped into a dangerous rescue mission. I have not been given any coordinates or directions, but I feel confident in leading the mission to success. I am currently looking for a mode of transportation, in case a sudden departure becomes necessary. I'm sure the admiral is well, while I find her presence unnecessary, I did enjoy her company. Her red hair resembled the craters of Gloren 7 and her eyes- wait no, that's not essential data how do I delete that?"
Buzz furiously pressed the button on his wrist, not realizing it was simply paper or that the communicator sticker was not there. As he fumbled with the buttons, he neglected his surroundings. His guard down, he wasn't aware he was being watched. He pressed the button on his chest, and the unexpected sound of his own voice slightly startled him. "What kind of-."
To infinity and beyond!
"How is that… what is-?"
The more he pressed, the more warped and slow the voice became. His buttons draining his battery quicker than usual.
"Tha-that's me in there!" he chuckled, his words slurring. "What? Is that my conscience or something? Woah!" he took a small step forward and stumbled over his own feet. He regained his composure and felt as though the room was spinning around him. He tried to find his balance, but ended up spinning around until he fell on the floor, landing square on his back. He was barely able to keep his eyes open, staring at the ceiling as it went back and forth between the dark wood it actually was and the starry night sky his mind conjured up.
"Who turned off the gravity?" he whispered sleepily as he fought to keep his eyes open. But his lack of energy combined with how dizzy he was quickly becoming proved this to be a battle he could not win and he surrendered. As soon as his eyes closed, the figure watching him stood over him and dragged him out of plain sight and into the shadows as he began to snore.
"Buzz! Buzz!" called Jessie as she walked into the unknown alone. She searched desperately for the space toy's familiar glow or the faint sound of his voice, but she was offered neither. In his current state, her mind flew to the worst possible scenario. Her mind couldn't decide the right order to do things. Should she find Sera and ask her to show her where Bo was and then have her help her find Buzz? Or just focus on finding Buzz before she found Bo? She suddenly had so many people to find and so little time.
"C'mon Jessie, focus!" she said to herself. "What would Woody do? Probably complain, but after that…?" her eyes ventured upward, of course! If she could get to the top of the shelf, she could have a better view of the whole store! Surely she'd see something that could help her from there, and if not she'd at least have an understanding of the layout. "Perfect!" she smiled, straightening her hat as she ran to begin climbing.
She hopped strategically from shelf to shelf, careful not to kick anything delicate resting on them, lest she draw unwanted attention to herself. She was about halfway to the top, when a voice caught her off guard just before she placed her hand. "What are you doing?" "
"Woah!" exclaimed Jessie, catching herself. She dangled for a moment but quickly pulled herself back up. "Sera? Is that you?"
"You can't be on a shelf!" exclaimed Sera, running over to her. "Shelves are reserved! If they see you up here, we both could get in big trouble!"
"Trouble with who?" asked Jessie, confused. Sera frantically grabbed her hand and led her to the end of the shelf where she lead her down quickly, jumping from shelf to shelf with effortless grace.
"You have to stay down here," said Sera, "The shelves aren't safe."
"Why aren't the shelves safe?" asked Jessie, bending down awkwardly as the angel pulled her forward, struggling to walk at the lowered level. She pulled back to free her hand and faced the doll who began to pace back and forth.
"I don't know how you got in here without her seeing you," said Sera, nervously. "She has the donations monitored and inspected and then decides where they go. She's gonna be mad when she finds out that you snuck in here."
"We weren't donated," said Jessie, still confused. "Buzz and I shipped ourselves here to save our friend."
"Oh no, oh no and you know Bo Peep," said Sera, falling deeper into fear. "This just keeps getting worse! And I'm talking to you! What if she finds out I'm talking to you? I need to go!"
She zoomed away, her small glass feet clicking on the she sped away, she knocked a pile of books behind her creating a divide between her and Jessie in hopes of preventing her from being followed. It was almost like she was doing figure eights, running patterns that only made sense to her.
"Oh no you don't!" said Jessie running after her. "You're not getting away this time!" Jessie kept her eyes locked on the angel, not allowing her strategies to have her leave her sight. She turned just as quickly, her eyes adjusting to the kept moving even when she lost sight, realizing this was like a maze but if she just kept moving she'd find a new path. If she couldn't catch Sera she'd at least be somewhere different.
"What are you doing?" came Sera's voice from beside her. "You need to leave! Please!"
"I'm not leaving without my friends," said Jessie, determined. "If you can help me find them, I'll be able to leave sooner."
Sera let out a high pitched squeak, which Jessie assumed was her version of a scream, and threw her head into her hands. She stomped her tiny feet in frustration and muttered something to herself, far too quick and high for Jessie to understand. "Fine," she whispered at last, scrunching her face as much as she could in a pout as she crossed her arms. Jessie couldn't help but chuckle, reminded of Bonnie throwing tantrums over such silly things. "Don't laugh at me!"
"I'm sorry," said Jessie, covering her mouth with her hand. "It's just that, you're so cute!"
"I am not cute I am furious," she squeaked, her voice wavering. "You're gonna get me in a ton of trouble! Then I'll never get on a shelf!"
"I thought the shelves were dangerous," said Jessie, following the angel as she spoke.
"Only if you don't belong!" answered Sera, throwing her hands in air. She looked back at Jessie and quickly put her arms down, somewhat embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to lose my temper. That was very un-angelic of me."
"Don't worry about it," laughed Jessie. "I really do appreciate your help. It's almost like you're my guardian angel."
"Thank you for your words but I'm a Christmas angel, let's not get them confused," said Sera seriously. Even with her tone, Jessie couldn't help but smile at her energy.
"My apologies," said the cowgirl, though the angel's pout did not leave her face. She was clearly not thrilled about doing something she did not want to do. "So how long have you been here?" asked Jessie, trying to start conversation.
"I've lost count," sighed the porcelain girl. "Hold on I have a calendar somewhere..." she turned sharply to her left, but before Jessie could follow or see where she went she returned somehow from the right, a paper in hand. She handed it to Jessie and continued her trek forward. "I was wrapped in this when my box came here, so probably since then."
Jessie looked at the paper in her hand, dusty and yellowed. It was a photo of a cozy brick house covered in snow, beneath it read: December, 1977.
"This is over 40 years old," said Jessie delicately.
"I guess," Sera said, her voice low as though she was distraught that the information had disappointed Jessie. "But, with all that time I know where everything is."
"So where are we now?"
"The lost and found," said Sera, stopping in front of a skinny door, the dark blue paint chipped and the wood scratched. "Nothing valuable ever comes here, and nothing that comes here ever has someone come to find it. So this is the only place she's safe."
"Who?"
"Bo Peep."