I'm back with another one-shot! I'm still in the process of researching details for the last chapter of the main Jessie's Journey fic, but when I finally get it done and posted, you'll understand why it's been taking me so long. In the meantime, this one came about thanks to a 1903 ad I saw online, for General Electric's Christmas tree lights. Sometimes all it takes is one little spark of inspiration to get your mind going - and it's been nice to just write something quick and fun. I wanted to get this posted before the Christmas season was completely behind us!

I've created a Tales of Roundup Ranch section on my Jessie's Journey Pinterest board (under username yodelincowgirl). There are a few pins on it for this chapter, with images that will help illustrate the story, so be sure to take a look!

Toy Story still isn't mine. If it was, we'd have more than just one still from the new Lightyear movie - but hey, isn't it great to have something new in the works? Enjoy, and don't forget to fave and follow so you don't miss out on future adventures!

December 1903

Christmas was in the air as the Lightyear family strolled leisurely down State Street, admiring the festive displays that filled storefront windows to lure shoppers inside with their affirmations of perfect holiday gifts. When the trio came upon a dry goods store known as The Fair, something caught Buzz's eye, and he paused.

"What didja find?" Jessie asked, while a curious Memo stood on tiptoe next to his father, peering through the glass.

Buzz's gaze remained transfixed. "Electric light festoons for Christmas trees. I had read Edison was coming out with a home outfit this year."

Jessie smirked at the childlike wonder in her husband's eyes. "C'mon, let's go in; you can check 'em out. I wouldn't mind not havin' to worry about the candles for a change."

Buzz opened the shop door for his family and they entered, Memo immediately pulling his mother's hand in the direction of the toys. She tightened her grip on the impatient four-year-old, then turned to her husband. "Why don'tcha go find the lights, and I'll take him to pick out presents for his cousins?"

The couple went their separate ways, but it wasn't long before Jessie noticed Buzz heading toward her, a wrapped parcel in his hand and broad grin on his face. She smiled. "So, didja get 'em?"

"Yeah, enough to decorate a good-sized tree," he answered proudly.

"That's good." Jessie looked down as Memo tugged at her skirt. "I think that's what you want, bud; let's see if there's a fun game for Bea instead," she laughed and set down the little tin automobile her son had held up to her, then again addressed her husband. "How much were they?"

"Heh," Buzz let out a nervous chuckle, "around twelve dollars."

Jessie's eyes widened and her voice raised in shock. "TWELVE DOLLARS?!"

"Shhhhh!" he held out his hand to silence his wife, glancing around the store in the hope that no one had heard her outburst.

"Sweet mother of Abraham Lincoln, Buzz! What in tarnation were ya thinkin'? We still have Christmas shoppin' to do!"

"It's fine, Jessie," he soothed, eager to change the subject. "Did you find any good presents?"

"We were startin' to," she shifted her grasp on the storybook and boxed tea set she was holding, "but can we afford to buy anythin' else now?"

"Of course we can. Here, let me." He took her selections from her, wanting to be helpful in light of the upset he'd inadvertently caused. "Let's finish what we came to town for."

Presents were chosen for the Pride children, to supplement those that had already been purchased for other friends and relations, and the family stopped by the Pioneer Meat Market next door to order their turkey for Christmas dinner as well. The Lightyears' drive home was a rather quiet and tense one, however - the adults' silence broken only by the occasional random exclamations of Memo's excitement for Christmas. Jessie continued to stew over the price of the new lights, and as they neared their ranch, her husband bravely broached the subject, in an attempt to smooth things over.

"They'll last for years, you know, and with no more expense. We'll save what we would have been spending on candles for the tree."

"A box or two'a candles don't cost twelve dollars," Jessie muttered.

A few more moments of silence passed before he dared speak again. "And then there's safety. You said yourself that you wouldn't mind not worrying about the risks with candles. Think of how much more fun it'll be for Memo, when he's not constantly being reminded to be careful. And we won't have to scold Ranger for always drinking out of the water bucket."

"I s'pose," she sighed. "But I still ain't comfortable with how much they cost."

"It'll be worth it, florecita," he smiled softly. "You'll see."

When the family returned home from the Lightyear hacienda on Christmas Eve, Buzz was just as full of anticipation as his young son, who was being hastened upstairs to bed so Santa Claus could make his long-awaited appearance. As Jessie stood in the parlor doorway, Buzz bade the exuberant little boy goodnight.

"Night night, Daddy!" Memo flung his arms around his kneeling father. "Santa's coming tonight!"

"Yes, he is," Buzz chuckled, returning the embrace and planting a kiss on the top of Memo's tousled red curls. "And I have to stay downstairs, just in case he needs any help. You be a good boy for your Mama, and go right to sleep."

"Okay!" In a flash, the child flew past his mother, who cast an amused smirk in the direction of her husband before following up the stairs with Ranger at her heels.

Jessie arrived back downstairs an hour later, with the box of Christmas tree decorations she had retrieved from the attic, and found Buzz sitting on the floor, surrounded by strings of lights. "How's it goin'?"

"I think I've got the three strands connected," he set down the instruction pamphlet that had come with the kit, "and I put on both the white and red lamps like you wanted." Then he stood, holding the end with a ceramic and brass plug on it. "I just need to get this screwed into the chandelier, if you'll help."

She held the light strands while Buzz carefully climbed on a stool to twist the plug into the lamp socket. He had already removed the lightbulb closest to the tree while his wife had been upstairs, so it didn't take long before the lights were aglow in all their electric splendor - small, round, incandescent bulbs shining in alternating colors.

"I'll admit, they're awful pretty," Jessie remarked, as Buzz stepped down from the stool and cast his wife a sideways smirk. The couple worked together to encircle the stately fir Buzz had placed in its stand the day prior, and when they were finished they stood back to admire their handiwork. Satisfied, Jessie turned away from the tree to retrieve their tinsel garland and ornaments. She was distracted from the task by her husband's raised voice.

"Blast!"

Jessie spun around to see Buzz staring at the tree, most specifically the lowest strand that was no longer lit. Her brow furrowed. "What happened? They were fine a minute ago."

"I don't know." He picked up the instructions from where he had left them on the floor, scrutinizing them before moving back to the tree to address the problem.

"Well, I'm gonna go get Memo's gifts while ya figure it out." Jessie disappeared back up the stairs; however when she returned, her husband had made no more progress with the uncooperative strand than before she had left. She set aside the white tissue paper-wrapped parcels, tied in colorful ribbons, and puzzled as she looked at the half-lighted tree. "Still no luck?" Buzz shook his head, and she sighed. "I gotta get his stuff from Santa. I'll be right back."

Again, she found her husband unsuccessful at solving the mystery, and now visibly flustered. "I just can't get this one strand to light up," he groaned, as he stooped and fiddled with the bulbs, his hair hanging unkempt against his forehead "I've checked every single lamp, and still nothing."

Jessie laid the bundle of toys next to the wrapped presents. "We hafta get these workin' so we can put up the rest of the decorations; it's past midnight. Lemme see."

Buzz threw up his hands in defeat. "I've tried everything, but go ahead."

Jessie approached the tree and ran her fingers along the fabric-covered cording that connected the lights. She twisted each miniature bulb in its socket on the faulty strand, confirming that they were indeed secure. She then reached around to the junction box, and took hold of the pronged end of the prior strand. With a push and a click, the troublesome lights again came to life.

Buzz gawked, astonished, at his wife's accomplishment. "What did you do?"

"It musta come undone while we were drapin' it on the branches. Didn't ya check the connection?"

"Nooo," he confessed awkwardly, "I just figured it had worked before..."

"So did the lamps," she laughed. "C'mon, let's get the rest'a this done before it's Christmas mornin', and our bud is up before we've had any sleep!"

Christmas dawned on Roundup Ranch, and an excited Memo rushed downstairs to see what treasures awaited him beneath the tree. The little boy gazed starry-eyed at the magical lights his Daddy turned on with the flip of a switch, and when all their presents had been opened, Jessie made breakfast and began the preparations for the family feast she was hosting later in the day. Before long, the neighboring Prides' arrival was announced by its ensuing commotion.

"Okay, I want to see these newfangled lights you got," declared Woody, as he and the children headed straight for the parlor, where Buzz was keeping an eye on Memo while Jessie cooked.

"They look like stars!" Penny gasped in admiration. Her siblings oohed, ahhed, and nodded their agreement, before joining their cousin to investigate his new toys.

Woody sat down on a chair and bent over to scratch Ranger behind the ears. "I suppose they suit you, but we won't be giving up candles anytime soon."

"Speak for yourself," Bo interjected, as she came into the room to retrieve the youngsters' outerwear. "The idea of not having to keep a pail of water on hand, or keep these three from getting too close to the tree, sounds mighty appealing."

"Pa? You gonna side with them, too?" Woody said to his father, who had seated himself on the sofa next to Buzz.

"Don't involve me in this debate, son; I'm just here for dinner," the elder Pride chuckled. "But," he leaned in to his son-in-law, speaking low, "I'd say those lights look quite nice."

As the day progressed, Estrellita and Zechariah also joined the festivities. And later that night, as everyone gathered around the tree, all - including a begrudging Woody - complimented Buzz on his most modern addition to their Christmas decorations. After gifts had been exchanged, relatives had returned home, and a very tired but happy Memo had been tucked into bed, Buzz and Jessie sat snuggled together on the sofa, savoring the last, lingering moments of the holiday.

Buzz gently lifted his arm from where it rested around Jessie's shoulder, and kissed her on the forehead before rising to standing. He took his handkerchief from his pocket, folding it and placing it over the hot lightbulbs on the overhead chandelier one by one, loosening them until they turned off while leaving the light strand plugged into its socket. He then did the same with the sconces on the wall, until the only illumination in the room came from the electrified tree, its metallic tinsel rope glittering in the glow of the tiny bulbs.

"Whatcha doin'?"

"You'll see." He stepped over to the phonograph and reached for a cylinder, positioning it on the mechanism. With a few cranks, the soft notes of La Paloma floated out from the flared horn. "Care to dance, florecita?"

Buzz held out his hand; Jessie giggled, but willingly took it as he drew her into his arms. The couple moved slowly across the floor in time with the music.

The cylinder stopped; and while Buzz removed La Paloma and set it aside, Jessie rested her head on his shoulder. "I reckon these lights are pretty romantic, 'specially the red bulbs," she added teasingly, recalling the dresses she'd worn on some of their most memorable occasions. "We couldn't be dancin' around the tree if it had candles on it."

"I told you they'd be worth it." Buzz turned to face her, and their lips met in a long, slow kiss. When they pulled apart, he grinned. "Should I put on another song?"

"You betcha."

The pair danced in the fairyland of their parlor late into the night. When they finally switched off the lights and headed upstairs, Jessie thought to herself, maybe twelve dollars wasn't so much after all.

HISTORICAL NOTES: Edison/General Electric was the first to introduce a home kit of electric light strands for Christmas trees, in 1903 - before this, only the wealthy could afford electric-lit trees, as they had to be custom-wired. $12 might not seem like much today, but adjusting for inflation, it would be around $350 in today's dollars. Lightbulbs were referred to as lamps. These lights were revolutionary, because before this, Christmas trees were lit with candles, which required a lot of caution to avoid fire. The Fair was an actual dry goods store in Redlands - their ad from the early 1900s lists toys among their wide range of merchandise - and the Pioneer Meat Market was in fact next door. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, trees were often decorated on Christmas Eve, the decorations being part of the gifts brought by Santa. Early electricity in houses usually consisted mostly of fixed lighting, like wall sconces and chandeliers, which is why there is no wall plug for the Christmas tree lights. 'La Paloma' is a popular Spanish song that was sold as phonograph recordings as early as the 1890s.