I prefer the aesthetics of the movie over the cartoon, they're way cooler!

New scenes! Enjoy XD

Back in Starfleet, Commander Nebula grew concerned. The reason being is the closest to a son he ever had: that stubborn Ranger, Buzz Lightyear.

As for why, he's concerned that Buzz still hasn't left his office. That youngster never stays there a second longer than he has to. Buzzs' secretary reports that he's been in there all day. Buzz has long since handed in what needed to, so why..?

At some point, Nebula paid him a visit. After knocking, Nebula simply opened the door and stopped in his tracks.

Buzz was asleep at the desk with a stack of folders and papers next to him. Quietly making his way inside, he settled Buzz into a more comfortable position.

Nodding to himself, he looked at the mess on the desk.

And spotted something so bizarre, Nebula actually became worried.

There was a pair of toys on his desk with a receipt from 'Al's Toybarn'. A very old Cowboy doll and Buzz's own merch via an action figure. Buzz never gets his own merch! He claims if he starts, the so-called 'fame' will get to his head eventually.

So, why?

Next to the toys was a printed photo.

Carefully, Nebula got a better view without disturbing Buzz.

Taken from a civilian camera most likely, was an impressive photo of Buzz staring at a man in a trenchcoat and hat at a toy stand. Another young man between them. The picture captured Buzz staring in awe of the man next to him (causing Nebula to grin, ooh~! Is that a blush he sees?) as the man held a -

Wait.

Looking between the photo and the toys, bewildered. They were the same toys in the photo.

Taking a step back, there were other photos of random people. Including that outlaw Nebula tasked him to catch. She got away, surprisingly.

From the looks of it, Buzz was investigating these people. But why? There was no open case he was aware of.

Sighing, Nebula shut off the computer and gently shook Buzz's shoulder. Time for the young man to sleep in an actual bed.

~/~

Back at Slink's Bar and Motel. As the night wore on, the former toys basically vented all the years in Andy's care.

Eventually, they migrated to one of the large, round, booths lining both sides of the room. All the stories of what they did behind the scenes with the family unaware. The former-toys spent the time grabbing random toys around the dancefloor and introduced them to Andy.

All the friends and enemies they made. All the adventures they went through. Andy even cackled at Spanish-Buzz! (Andy vowed to find that song to play to an unsuspecting Buzz.) They even brought the toys to the table to play out what happened over the table. When not holding themselves-as-toys, they grabbed other toys to continue the narrative.

Andy was all smiles and laughed freely.

They missed this. Even though they were all grown up, they didn't give a damn. They really needed this.

Andy easily snatched Buzz and Woody and manipulated the toys as he used to growing up.

Then grew flushed as the actual Woody was next to him with that fond smile, lost in his own memories.

As the hour grew late, Andy started to nod off until he eventually felt a heavy coat cover him and an arm pulling him gently to their side. Blinking up at Woody, who had his other arm draped over the top of the seat and hat back on his head, he smiled and closed his eyes.

Woody smiled fondly at the young man and pulled him closer. Eventually even the sheriff nodded off.

As the duo slept, the others gradually quieted and helped Slink close down the bar. Jessie couldn't help herself in taking a photo of the two.

~/~

Later, Andy jolted awake inside of a small ship with Slink at the wheel. Feeling a hand on his head, he looked next to him to see Woody smiling, then yawned.

"Thanks for the ride, Slink. Sorry for falling asleep on ya." The sheriff apologized.

"Uh, yeah, thank you for the ride." Andy rubbed his neck sheepishly.

"It's no problem, Andy. Though I do apologize for having to look in your wallet to figure out where you lived..." As he dug in his pants pocket and tossed said wallet back at the boy. Andy laughed a little.

Silence followed for a few minutes as Andy looked curiously around.

Earlier he refrained from looking around without getting stared at. But, now he can actually look around without getting mocked.

There were a surprising amount of differences between what he's seen and the old show. If anything, it resembles the style of the movie more. It was dark, lit by the buttons on the console and from the windows. Speaking of- They were in hyperspace currently.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to this." Andy trailed. This wasn't a silly cartoon rocket. This was the real deal.

The elder men chuckled. Woody stood up, stretched and tugged Andy up to stand. Grinning, Woody pulled a startled Andy to the chair next to Slink and gently pushed on his shoulders until Andy sat down. Slink spent the rest of the ride showing Andy how an actual Rocket ship works with Woody pitching in now and then. Woody was mostly quiet, content to simply watch Andy.

Slink kept Andy's focus on him while he noticed Woody was overwhelmed by the evening's events.

Later, after dropping off Andy, Slink and Woody were quiet on the ship. Looking over, Slink saw a trembling smile grace Woody's face.

"Slink?"

"Yeah, Woody?"

"W-was this a dream?"

"Oh?"

"Andy. He's here! We're... We're here. We're not toys anymore, but people! I mean, I'm an actual sheriff now! And- AND! Andy-" He sucked in a breath. "I... I got to talk to him. An actual two-sided conversation..."

"You did-"

"He didn't hold me in his hand with me limp. Instead!... Instead I-I-I got to hold HIM in my arms! Not hands! No! An actual hug. He- he... I was... I was tall enough that he felt snug under my chin. Holding him for a change..." He trailed off in wonder, choking back happy tears.

Slink smiled. Woody's been dreaming of this for years. Woody and Buzz were Andy's favorite toys since he was a kid. Andy told those two everything. If they weren't toys, those two would have been Andy's best friends.

~/~

Slink could still remember the phone plan to get college-bound Andy to play with them again. Slink had a clear view of Woody's conflicted face while holding Andy's phone. How DESPERATELY Woody wanted to talk to him. But as a toy... He couldn't.

~/~

Until this evening. A smile graced Slinks face as he thought of earlier. Of FINALLY talking to the boy they watched grow up. They all did. While watching the stars in front of the ship, he reached out to grab Woody's shoulder in silent support. Woody reached up to grip his hand while the other arm covered his eyes as he finally cried, letting it out after all these years, with a happy laugh or two thrown in.

~/~

A few days later...

Andy spent the last few days reorienting himself with his life here. Actually sitting down to look at all photographs and anything else he got his hands on. He learned that all his friends from school are the same, but about half were aliens. His journal entries and yearbooks and names were the same. Just some events happened off-world.

He groaned when he realized that everyone is going to start to wonder what's up when he remembers things differently or not recognize his friends, etc.

Late at night, he held his phone- Comm in his hand. That silent phone call. It was Woody. He was even wrapped around the phone when he found it in his toy chest! Andy groaned and dragged a hand down his face.

After figuring out how to work it, he found several new contacts there. He could only roll his eyes with a smile. It was Jessie, wasn't it?

Then he had a random conversation with his mom that morning when she asked when he was going to Starfleet Academy. At his confused look, which he only got away with because his mom wasn't even awake without her coffee (she was just starting as she held it fresh off the pot, in her hands.)

Apparently, he was eligible to join Starfleet academy to become a Ranger. He was going to apply there and three other colleges, which his portfolios for were already done (which lifted a huge weight off his shoulders for one less thing to do).

After her coffee, Molly suggested they go to the diner for breakfast since it's been forever!

Grudgingly, their mom agreed since she needed to go food shopping anyway and there wasn't much left for breakfast or lunch

Woody: Look, over there in that house is a kid who thinks you are the greatest, and it's not because you're a Space Ranger, pal, it's because you're a toy. You are his toy!

Diner

Buzz and the gang sat in their usual booth, menus in hand. Buzz and Mira sat together with Booster and XR on the opposite side.

Mira was lost in thought over what Nebula told her about Buzz. She doesn't know about a case like that either. And really? Since when did Buzz get his own merch?

As the doorbell went off, Mira looked up to see the new arrivals. A family she didn't recognize.

"Mira?" Booster asked before turning to see what she was looking at. Buzz, too zoned in the menu, jerked at the question. Looked up...

And dropped the menu.

The group, even more alert, turned back to the new arrivals. It was Andy with his mom and sister.

"Who are they? I don't recognize them as regulars." Mira wondered.

"Buzz? Do you know them?" Booster asked the still dazed Ranger.

Buzz could only stare. So, it wasn't a dream. What happened at the festival. Andy is here. That means so is Woody. But... Andy doesn't remember him. Right? He didn't seem to at the festival.

The group became worried when Buzz continued to stare in a daze. The family went to a table and sat down. Buzz noticed that Andy chose to sit inside of the booth facing him and Mira. But he didn't notice them yet.

"Buzz?" Mira questioned, now worried.

"Hm?" He answered, distracted. "Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, who are they Buzz?" XR grew curious.

Sighing, Buzz tried to come up with something other than: I've known Andy since he was 9 and I was a toy.

"His name is Andy."

"Andy?" Booster questioned.

"Andy Davis. I knew him years ago as a kid and have seen him in passing throughout my career. I remember how much he loved his toys and even had one of me and a... Cowboy named Woody." Now to find an excuse to why the family won't recognize him as a person, not a toy... "They won't remember me due to one of Zurgs old plots."

"Zurg?!" They whisper-shouted when Buzz quickly shushed them.

"Back on my home planet, we were neighbors. Before leaving the academy, I used to babysit him and his then baby sister. Andy had a cowboy doll at the time named Woody. He was Andy's favorite toy. "

Woody- "You're a cool toy. As a matter of fact, you're too cool. I mean - what chance does a toy like me have against a Buzz Lightyear action figure. Why would Andy ever wanna play me, when he's got you? I'm the one that should be strapped to that rocket."

Guilt hit Buzz a little. Looking back, he really did take all of Andy's focus from Woody. All the attention. It was little wonder Woody hated him at the start. Even though they talked about it (and fought. A lot.) They did make up and became friends. The thought brought a small smile to his face.

"So, what happened?" Mira asked, smiling. Mentally picturing the young man as a boy playing with a Buzz action figure and a cowboy doll. She found it adorable.

"Zurg found out about them and tried to use them against me."

Once again, he had to get them to quiet down. But Mira noticed that Andy suddenly looked up in their direction. Eyes widening. Recognition?

"Zurg kidnapped them and held them hostage with an unknown type of ray gun. Due to my just starting out, it took longer than usual and quite a few blunders before I finally got to them." It wasn't a lie. Buzz admitted to himself that he was pretty bad and naive starting out...

"It turns out to be a type of mind control ray. One of his earlier ones. After the battle, I tried to make it so they didn't remember the last few hours with Zurg."

"Yeah... Good idea." Mira conceded, grimacing a little.

"Indeed. But instead, it wiped the last few years from them."

The group went quiet from that.

"So I took my toy of me and made it seem like we were strangers so Zurg wouldn't go after them again." Buzz grew quiet at that.

"Buzz..." Booster was shocked and sad for his friend.

"It worked out I guess. And since I started to advance my career at that point, I was never home. So we really did become strangers after a while. But I did my best to still be there for him when I was." He finished.

For Buzz, it was too good a cover. For he realized, it really could have happened here.

Mira looked up to Andy, who was talking to his mom, but still glancing at them now and then. Why? Is it because Buzz is a celebrity? Or did Andy start remembering? Or did he keep a few memories or never forgot to begin with?

Buzz looked really torn up about it.

"Molly!" A woman shouted.

Startled, the group looked up only to see the sister stand next to their table holding a small book.

Andy got up and raced to her side.

"Excuse me? Are you Mira?" She asked.

Blinking in a daze. "Uh, y-yes. I am."

Molly smiled excitedly. "Can I have your autograph?"

Meanwhile, Buzz kept staring at Andy, who was staring at Buzz.

"Oh! Of course sweetie." Molly squealed quietly and passed Mira her sketchbook. She brought it to draw the passing ships.

"And who might I make this out to?"

"I'm Molly! And this is my brother Andy!"

Andy shyly waved. "Hello."

Mira elbowed Buzz and snapped him out of it. "Oh! Uh, hello. It's nice to meet you too. Weren't you also at the festival last week?"

"I was actually. It was a temp job until school starts." Andy shrugged.

"Just visiting for breakfast..." Molly started but was quickly zoned out by everyone else only to watch as Andy stood awkwardly and appeared to be deep in thought for a moment before taking on a look of subtle determination. Buzz blinked at the change.

Finishing her autograph, "Would you guys like to sign it too?" Mira asked the table.

"Sure!" Booster excitedly.

"I'm game. Pass it over." XR reached out to grab it as she handed it to him.

"Hey, um, Buzz? Can I ask a weird question?" Andy asked, nervous.

"Oh?"

"-School for?" Mira's question caught Buzz off guard. Andy too, apparently.

"What?"

"Molly said you're going to college soon. What are you going to school for?"

"Uhh..."

In truth, Andy had NO IDEA what some of those degrees were. He vaguely thinks one is for (maybe) building ships, the other for child education, and the other is some kind of scientific field that is WAY too advanced for him. Although, he admits that it might be too advanced for him, but the Andy raised here might have thought it easy or something.

"They sort of vary. I haven't really decided yet." He rubs the back of his head embarrassed.

"He was also thinking of trying for Starfleet." Molly continued in a whisper with a smirk, then sneakily looked back at mom and continued to whisper. "But mom doesn't know about that."

"Molly!"

She just snickered while the group chuckled. But Buzz just got this wide-eyed look, unsure what to think. Molly just grinned and continued.

"Did you know that you're his hero, Buzz! He wanted to-!" Andy put his hand on her mouth to silence her in vain.

"Ok! Maybe we should leave them be. Sorry for bothering you." Andy all but dragged her back to the table.

Hero...?

As the family got ready to leave, Buzz quickly paid his bill and ran to catch up to them. As he neared, Buzz slowed to a walk and composed himself as his friends watched from the door.

"Hey, Andy?" Buzz rubbed his head nervously.

Andy stopped next to their car/ship and looked back at the Ranger.

"You had a question for me earlier?"

"Uh, yeah. Um, you'd probably think I'm weird though."

"Try me."

"Ok, uh…" Andy turned fully to face Buzz. "Do you-? Do you remember me?"

"..What?"

"See, I knew-"

"Wait!" Buzz gently grabbed his arm. Andy looked up shyly. "What did you say?"

"Do you… remember me?"

"Andy?" His mom shouted from the ramp. "What's the holdup?"

"Nothing ma'am!" Buzz shouted back. To Andy. "Of course I remember you. I remember everything." Buzz smiled.

Andy looked relieved. Quickly, he dug his pockets to write with and wrote his comm number.

"Here! For if you want to talk or anything."

Gently closing his hand with the note, Buzz smiled. "I'd like that. Now, go. We'll talk later." Buzz gently shooed the boy back to the ship.

On the ramp, Andy and Molly waved goodbye excitedly.

Buzz waved back as they took off.

~/~

After the 'Diner Incident', Mira was more than curious about Andy.

In all the time she's known Buzz, he's never talked about anything related to family or friends outside his fellow Rangers. So hearing a story about something so personal about people who have NO connection to Zurg or the Space Rangers...

So, here she is trying to find his application in the computer records. She remembered his sister, Molly, mentioned he was trying for Star Command. With the application, she can, hopefully, find out more about him. So far, no such luck.

Maybe if she tried his office?

Calmly making her way to Buzz's -almost never used- office. She entered the code (he kept forgetting it, so she took to memorizing it for him) and walked in.

Looking around, it looked bare of any personal touches. Sitting at the desk chair and waiting for the computer to boot up and log in, she casually looked around not expecting to find anything.

Opening a random drawer, she found off-world newspaper printouts. Mostly just photos of some sheriff's recent promotion. But there was a sticky note on top: "Woody?"

Woody.

Why would this guy mean anything to him?

A past assignment? No, the printed photo looks recent- printed yesterday?!

"Hmmm... What are you up to Buzz" She mumbled to herself. Is this what Nebula was talking about?

Looking at the Sheriff's full name under the photo and looking him up on the computer, she set to work. Well, she didn't have to look far, he didn't even clear his history! Internally groaning at her partner, yet silently thanking him, she pulled up the last history.

The tab on "Woody" was about his recent promotion, as well as the accident with his former fiancé. Then there were tabs of seemingly unrelated people with notes Buzz made on each of them. A couple ("the Potato Heads") whose husband owned several bank chains. A middle class man named Sam Slink who owned a bar and motel (Another note: "Slinky?"). A wanted poster of a woman who called herself Bazooka Jane ("Jessie"). A screenshot of three LGM's, she didn't know how he identified them since they all look alike. Let alone WHY those three... And the list seems ongoing.

And then...

Jackpot!

Andy Davis.

She clicked the tab and pulled up his most recent photo from a festival of some kind.

Wait-

Going back to the photo of the Sheriff from his promotion. She looked carefully at the photo.

There!

In the background was Andy. They were both at the festival.

A connection?

Mira sat there for over an hour and the only connection she could find (even with his notes) was that Andy just happened to be working there when they stopped by the stand.

She DID however come across a later photo at the same stand, but Buzz was there. Buzz on one side of the photo, the sheriff on the other. Both holding toys. She saw Buzz holding an action figure of himself, while the sheriff held a cowboy doll. Andy stood in the middle.

Interesting. Now she's getting somewhere.

But, wait...

Buzz mentioned Andy used to have that same action figure and a cowboy doll when he was a kid. Looking up Al's Toybarn and the merchandise, she found the Buzz doll. But it just hit the markets that month! And several photos of that same cowboy doll and a few others on glass cases. Recently restored. Collectors items, apparently.

In the photo, Buzz is looking at the sheriff, with said man facing towards the stand away from the camera.

What is she missing here?!

She changed her focus to Andy.

According to the story, Andy shouldn't remember Buzz. So why does it look like three good friends reuniting? This was taken before the diner a few days ago.

She groaned in frustration as nothing made sense!