Survivors.

Authors note: Thank you so much for the reviews they really mean a lot! Please, please, please continue to tell me how you like the story. :) Hope you enjoy, I worked really hard on this chapter.

Roxy's POV.

I frantically run as fast as my legs will allow towards the doorway leading into the Butterfly Room. Hearing Big Baby's footsteps coming up behind me, I quickly turn him to him and beg him to open the door. He looks a bit concerned, but ends up doing it anyways. The moment he does, I bolt in and dash under a large chair, ignoring the many greetings I receive upon entering the room. The same chair Lotso sleeps in every night. I come down here when I don't feel like interacting with the children, and right now is definably one of those times.

No, the Butterfly Room is not filled with little monsters...in fact, that is the exact reason why we stay in here, versus the Caterpillar room where Lotso has just sent the poor unfortunate newbies. It's so we won't have to deal with the screeching, unruly, undisciplined, incompetent little brats in the Caterpillar Room. I stop to shudder at the thought of our old days, back before Lotso ruled the day care, when each group had to take a turn in the horrid Caterpillar Room...

It had been a long, hard day of torture in the dreadful Caterpillar Room and Big Baby was sobbing once again. Surprise, surprise... Crying was the only thing he would ever seem to do after the incident with Daisy. Since Lotso was usually the only one who could calm him down and now refused to do so, the task was left to Chuckles and I... Well, more like only Chuckles. I was never really good at that kind of thing... Since Lotso's replacement, Chuckles had also taken on the role of becoming Big Baby's new caretaker. Of course, he didn't want the role at first, only because he felt it was rightfully Lotso's, but the bear insisted, and by insisted I mean practically forced.

It was an odd change, to say the vary least. It didn't feel right...no, not because Chuckles was a bad caretaker, he was quit the opposite actually. It was because it was just another painful reminder of what, of who we had lost. Speaking of which...

"We deserve more respect than this..." Lotso muttered bitterly from beside me, and then winced as he noticed a small tear on his side. I took the time to examine his injury. It wasn't anything major, but I could tell it was only adding to his already heavy emotional baggage. I had never seen Lotso so depressed for so long. His usually cheerful demeanor had long since vanished, leaving only emptiness behind.

"Does it hurt?" I asked, almost fearing the answer. Lotso reluctantly looked up at me with glazed over eyes, but never got the chance to reply.

"I'm vary sorry dear, but this is the way things work here at Sunnyside. Each group must endure at least one month in the Caterpillar Room...and then they get to return here to the Butterfly Room where it's safe for the second month." Explained a kindly voiced Strawberry Shortcake doll who liked to be called Shortie.

"It gives the other toys a long time to recuperate before going back for another month. Besides, our staff here at Sunnyside will always be here to fix you up after a harsh playtime." Shortie smiled sweetly despite Lotso's glare. But it was more of a sickly sweet, in my opinion.

"Well...that does seem fair. I guess..." Chuckles timidly spoke up and agreed with her, though I'm pretty sure he instantly regretted it.

"Fair? A whole dang month? We could all be broke by then! Then what, huh?" Lotso snapped; I could almost feel the heat rising to his voice.

"I'll tell ya what.. We die! We die a horrendous, treacherous death either by the little monsters themselves, or the garbage truck. That's what." I turned to Shortie, my eyes now burning with fire. "Sorry short cake, but I don't feel like dying any time soon."

"Dying? Wait minute, calm down Daisy...who said anything about dying?" Chuckles was beginning to panic as his eyes flashed back and forth from Lotso, Shortie, and myself. Even Big Baby looked nervous from his place, hiding behind Lotso.

"No one dear, I-" Shortie began before I cut her off.

"Yeah, not yet. You and I both know that staying in that room for a whole month would be suicide. Or otherwise...murder." My eyes were locked with hers. I wanted this punk to know that I wasn't afraid of her, or any one of her little goons for that matter.

"No toy should ever be put through that horror."

"That is just how things are done here at Sunnyside..." There was an edge to the dolls voice that would send chills down anyone's spine.

"Whatever. But just know this...if you mess with me Short cakes, your playing with fire." I storm passed the others, passed the stupid doll, and out the door. I could feel Lotso's eyes boring into my back, though he had decided to stay where he was and argue with Shortie. Apparently she was the one who got to make all the decisions around Sunnyside, much to Lotso's dismay. He hated the idea of a ruler higher than himself, and frankly I wasn't too fond of the idea either. Especially when that ruler just so happened to be a creepy Strawberry Shortcake doll with a missing eye.

Finally, I had found a secluded area away from everyone else, underneath a chair in the Butterfly Room despite Short cake's strict orders of staying in the Caterpillar Room until our month was up. It wasn't long before I heard footsteps behind me. My first reaction was to prepare myself for an attack, that is until I finally recognized the sound of old familiar clown shoes.

"Chuckles...don't do that! Good grief, You scared the living crap otta' me."

"I'm so sorry honey, I was just a little worried about ya'll..." He quickly explained in a voice of genuine concern. At this moment, I instantly regretted how harsh my own words had come out. I sighed and ran a hand through my jet black hair. A million thoughts were running through my mind and I was trying to learn how, exactly, to handle them.

"No, I'm the one who should be sorry... Sorry Chuckles, I'm just...a little on edge..I guess.."

His gaze fell a little.

"I don't blame you for comin' in here ta escape... Your quit lucky that no one saw ya."

"So are you." A curious thought entered my mind.

"How did you manage to escape?"

A frightened look entered his eyes and I could tell he had started to tremble.

"I-I-I.. Lo-Lotso... I've never seen em' so upset over anythin'!" He exclaimed, and from the fear in his eyes I could have sworn he'd seen a ghost.

"He-He was yellin' so loud that even Big Baby ran away from em'..."

"At Shortie, I'm guessing?" I could automatically feel the anger returning to my voice. Chuckles frantically nodded.

"Ha, good! Serves her right, the little..."

"Bu-But then somethin' happened..." He continued, hugging himself close. Did I just hear a whimper come out of a clowns mouth?

"What? What is it, Chuckles? Tell me."

"I-I-I..it was too terrible, too terrible..." He kept repeating the words over and over again while covering his eyes in terror.

"Snap out of it!" Not knowing what else to do, I grabbed his shoulders and began shaking him. When that didn't work, I lightly slapped him across the face.

"Chuckles, cut it out! Now keep it down, or we are going to get caught..." Finally, I clasped my hand over his mouth to prevent the action from coming into existence. Our problems were bad enough already.

"Lights out, men... We'll deal with the others tomorrow." We heard Shortie's milky voice saying from outside, though it was somehow different than before. More sinister, as if she could finally take her guard down. Not that there was much of one to begin with in my opinion.

"And the bear?" Another voice asked. This one was male and sounded much like a rugged biker.

"He won't be making any trouble for us tonight... Now get to bed. We have a long and eventful day ahead of us." Chuckles gulped at this and began to shake violently while I held my hand tightly over his mouth.

There was the sound of several voices all talking at once until finally everything went black. Soon I wasn't even able to see my own hand in front of my face.

"Shhhh!" I shushed Chuckles after he had made out a tiny whimper.

"Now, I'm going to take my hand off of your mouth, and your going to promise not to yell, scream, or do anything that is going to get us killed. Okay?"I whispered to him as quietly as possible. When he nodded, I honored my word and carefully removed my hand from his mouth. My eyes were finally beginning to adjust to the dark atmosphere and I could finally make out a faint figure of Chuckles from the light of the moon shining in from the window.

"What are we going to do? If they catch us in here in the mornin', we're dead!" Chuckles panicked the moment his mouth was released, his tone a little too loud for comfort.

"Shhh! Lower your voice..."

"Sorry... Oh, Daisy, I don't wanna die... Never in my years did I ever think it would end like this!"

"It's not going to end."

"How? If they find us here in the mornin' we're dead!"

"They're not going to find us..."

"How? How, Daisy? Tell me..." Clearly, it would take lot more to convince him than a few simple words.

"Because we're getting otta here tonight that's how!"

At the harsh tone of my voice, Chuckles covered his face and took a few frightful steps back. I understood he was scared, but I needed him to calm himself and pay attention or my plan would never work.

"Ho-Ho-How?"

"I'm about to tell you if you'd just grab a hold of yourself."

"Bu-But Daisy...I'm already doing that." Indeed, he was hugging himself even tighter than before. I decided to ignore that comment even though at any other given moment it would have probably made me laugh.

"Okay, we'll wait until everyone's asleep, and then sneak passed the guards."

"Bu-But what if we get caught?"

"Just do as I say and we won't have that problem."

"But how can you be so sure?"

I took one good look at Chuckle's terrified face and instantly knew this had to work. Somehow...I would find a way to make it work.

"I know it's hard...okay, really hard...and it looks hopeless. Hey, shh, listen to me... your just going to have to trust me. Okay?"

I tried to act strong, I tried to act like I knew exactly what I was doing so that Chuckle's would stop freaking out, and just go with it. I held out my hand to him and gave a little smirk just to top it off.

"So, you in?"

Hesitantly, nervously, the frightened clown cautiously took my hand.

"Then let's do this thing." I smiled a little before leading the way, only to be gently pulled back by Chuckles. I turned to him, exasperated.

"What is it now?"

"Wait...wha-what about Lotso and Big Baby? We can't just them here...who knows what these monsters have done. What if They're..."

I put up a free hand to stop him.

"I'm sure they're both fine. We'll..grab them on the way out." Truth be told, at this point I had mixed feelings about Lotso.. Still, I wasn't about to leave him, nor Big Baby for dead. The mere thought horrified me.

"Promise?"

"Of course I promise, Chuckles.. We're not just gonna leave them for dead. What kind of a girl do you think I am?"

"A strong one. Thank you, Daisy...your vary brave. I-I wouldn't have had the courage to do this alone, and I feel horrible about it..."

He looked at his shoes, his head hung in shame. I bit my lip, hard. How on earth was I supposed to tell him that I wasn't brave? I was just as scared as he was, and I had no idea how we were going to make it out alive. I had no clue if my plan would work or if Big Baby and Lotso would make it out okay. I didn't even know if they were still alive or not after Lotso had to open his big mouth and continue the argument with Shortie. Why, Lotso? Why did you do it? Even though I would never admit it out loud at the time, I, too, was more than worried for their safety. Even if I did have the courage to admit my true feelings, the only thing it would have accomplished would have been upsetting Chuckles even more so than before.

So, I did the next best thing... I lied. Like our former owner's parents must of done to comfort their sobbing little girl after she had realized she had lost her favorite toys, like I had done to comfort a heart broken friend, and like I would do once again, to pretend I was the girl I wanted to be...to pretend I was strong enough to deal with this.

"Don't feel that way Chuckles...your just as strong as I am, maybe stronger. We're going to survive this because we're survivors."

I squeezed his hand a little and quietly led the way. This time though, there would be no turning back.

By the time I realize that I'm back in reality, nightfall is already upon us. All of the kids at the daycare had gone home hours ago, and once again I have managed to miss playtime by passing the time away in my mind. Which is a heck of a lot easier a task in the Butterfly Room versus the Caterpillar one. I suddenly shiver as a cool breeze seems to come from nowhere in particular. Chuckles... I've always wondered what truly happened to him. Where is he now, and wherever that is...is he happy? The thought sends an instant chill down my spine and I rap my arms around myself for comfort, much like Chuckles had the night of our escape plan.

"Missed another playtime, huh?"

I nearly jump out of my skin at the sudden sound of Lotso's voice. He is peering down to my level, lifting up a flab of fabric that clings to the chair's outer design. I leap up quickly, only to whack my head against the ceiling of the chair. "Ow! Darn it..." I curse under my breath, putting a hand up to sooth my aching head.

"Ugh...Lotso, please don't scare me like that." I hug my knees close to my chest. I'm not exactly ready to be interrupted just yet, but that has never stopped Lotso before.

"So, who are you always hidin' from in here?" He asks, almost looking a bit hurt as he continues.

"I hope it ain't from me..." I bite my limp, unsure of whether or not to feel sympathy towards the bear or fear. Making Lotso feel rejected is a one way ticket to the Caterpillar Room, and I'm pretty sure I would be of no exception. Of course, I've never really done anything that bad to find out, but still... I don't plan on taking any chances.

"No, trust me, it's not from you..." I force a small smile. Immediately, I clime out and stand up, brushing some of the dust off of my outfit. I'm hoping Lotso will just drop the subject, instead of making a big deal out of it like always.

"Well then, who are you hiding from?" He presses like I knew he would, not completely convinced, though he looks concerned. Anymore, there's really no telling with Lotso's emotions if your in the clear or not and it's incredibly confusing.

I avert my gaze elsewhere, unable to look Lotso in the eye and tell him my darkest secrets. Some of which, I've never told anyone and I'm not entirely sure if I ever plan too.

"Well...I..." With my slight hesitation, I instantly know this looks bad, but at the current moment my mind is too tangled to think of the right words to say. Luckily, I don't have too when Ken walks up and cuts me off.

"Hey, Lotso..it's cool if Barbie stays with us in the Butterfly Room...right?" He looks nervous. At once, my face turns beat red as my mind now focuses on Ken and our little incident earlier in the Caterpillar Room. His absolutely obnoxious attitude infuriates me, the way he thinks he can just go through girls like they're cloths, it's appalling and disgusting.

"Ya know, most people with a brain usually break up with their girlfriends before they get a new one. Unless of course, you don't have a brain. Oh, I forgot...you don't."I say the words through gritted teeth before Lotso can say anything to halt my bitter poison.

"Relax, Roxy...sh-she's just a friend. Right Lotso?" Ken looks at our leader hopefully. Oh no... No, really? Did he just try the innocent act, as if I don't know the one he's falling all over is Barnie? Yes, yes he did because I almost forgot, he's a guy. Guess it never changes, even in the toy world.

Lotso raises an eyebrow as even he can tell how painfully obvious this looks, even for Ken.

"Look, Ken I'm not a preschool toy, I wasn't freshly out of the factory just yesterday." I say keeping my tone calm, yet stern.

"Roxy..."

I put up a hand to silence him.

"I don't want to hear it Ken...your not even worth my time."

I casually walk pass him, up to Barbie. She looks confused.. A devious grin suddenly spreads across my face. I've always loved the thrill of sweet revenge, maybe a little too much. It's clear this Barbie doll has underestimated just who she is dealing with.

"I'd watch out if I were you, Barbie... he's a real heat breaker. And his cloths are tacky too, no style sense whatsoever." I shake my head, never taking my eyes off Ken's face. I can tell he is humiliated already. Piece of cake.

"But you know... Sadly, replacements don't last forever. Soon he'll get bored with you too...and then he'll toss you out like a piece of...clothing." I begin to circle her, most likely creeping her out. The look on her face is priceless when I place a hand on her scarf. At the last moment however, I turn to Ken and grab his shirt.

"Ugh, Lotso! Help me out here...please? Don't you see what she's doing? " Ken cries behind to Lotso as if he is a small child telling on his sibling for doing something wrong. At this point, some of the anger besides to subside at the pure comedy of it all, though I don't let it show.

Lotso puts up his paws in surrender. He laughs a little, even he finds it comical. "I'm afraid I'm staying out of this one Kenneth..." Most likely a good choice on his part.

"What's the matter, Ken? Can't fight your own battles from a girl? Well, you are just a girls toy after all... It shows." I laugh a little as I walk up behind him and begin caressing his neck.

"I am not a girls toy!" He protests lamely. He looks at Barbie, who has now crossed her arms and is looking at him skeptically. "I'm not!"

"Well, it sure looks that way to me." She snaps. Finally, a Barbie with somewhat of a brain.

"Okay, Roxy...this isn't funny anymore...heh. She's such a kidder!" He whispers the last part nervously to Barbie, a pleading look on his face.

"Okay, okay...we'll miss our nightly poker game Roxy...remember?" He eyes me, wondering if I will mention any of our dirty little secrets to his beloved little Barbie. I consider this for a moment or so. Meh, why not..

"Right...the game where we-" Ken quickly runs to cover my mouth. I am this close to clamping my sculpted teeth down on his pretty little girls hand, when he decides to speak.

"I'll do anything, Roxy, please? I'll do all your work for you for however long you want just please don't mention anything to her? Please? Let me win her over...please? Come on, ya can't blame a guy for wanting to play the field a little..."

He begs into my ear using a hushed whisper. That's it... First I slap his hands away from my mouth, and then I slap him across the face as hard as I possibly can, the anger returning even stronger than before.

"You can't just think it's okay to treat girls like that Ken, we are not just a style that you can throw out the window whenever you please."

"Ow!" Ken places a hand to sooth his burning cheek.

"And I never said you were! Each and every girl is special, I get that Roxy..."

I stare at him, wondering if he will stop being a moron on his own before I have to slap him again.

He sighs. "Fine...I'm sorry... It just...wasn't working on for us. I-"

"Oh, I know that. It never was. We never should have even dated."

"I wouldn't say that..."

"I would. Go ahead, go after your little eye candy. But your going to have to do everything and anything I say, and I mean that Ken." I take a few intimidating steps towards him.

"Fine, fine!" I watch him run off like a giddy school girl.

"So...how about a closer look at that dream house?" He holds out an arm to Barbie, before I finally cannot stand to watch anymore and turn away.

"Can you believe him?" I ask Lotso, my fists clenched in anger. Lotso shrugs.

"I hate to say I told ya so..."

"Then, don't...please." I add the last part as an afterthought as I remember who I'm talking too.

"Come on Roxy, he's a Ken doll... Besides, there's a hundred million dummies just like him and they only want one thing... A barbie." He says with a laugh, as if it is common knowledge that I should have known all along. Of course...it is, which is why I feel so stupid.

"Okay, you don't have to make me feel anymore stupid than I already do."

If toys could actually form moisture, I would be fighting back tears. I don't know why, exactly..it's not like I allowed myself to actually grow attached to Ken. Maybe it's because I wish I could... I turn away so Lotso can no longer see my face.

"Hey...is everything alright? You don't really seem...you...today." Lotso says, concern returning to his tone. I try not to let myself by into it.

I take a deep breath, trying to force the emotion out of my tone.

"I'm fine...trust me. Ya know...maybe I just need a little night air...to ya know...clear my head." Suddenly I just want to get away. I run a hand through my hair and begin headings towards the door, that is until something grabs my arm.

"Wait..." For a moment or so, I swear I catch a glimpse of the old Lotso staring back at me just as venerable and gentle as before.

"Big Baby is comin' along." And just like that, it vanishes and I realize with dread that I'm still stuck in reality. I scoff at him, yanking my arm back to my side. I cannot believe he still has the nerve to send a babysitter with me, as if he thinks I'll try to escape or something.

"Look Lotso, we've been over this. I'm not going to try and escape..." I roll my eyes and walk passed him, towards the slightly cranked open doorway.

"Good, because if you do..." Lotso's friendly smile disappeared, taking on a much more serious expression.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah...doom and despair will follow, I get it!"

It actually insults me how stupid Lotso must think I am. With that stupid monkey watching I wouldn't have much of a chance at escaping even if I wanted too. Not that I did... I would have no reason too, now except, perhaps, to find out the truth about what happened to Chuckles... I quickly stop myself. No...Chuckles is most likely...He's... Somehow, I can't bring myself to even think of the unspeakable. I stop for a moment as Big Baby peers down at me.

"Ya know, Lotso...would you like to come for a change?" I ask, mainly because I find Big Baby a little creepy. I at least know, for the most part, what to expect from Lotso, how to stay on his good side, how to react to his outbursts. Big Baby, seeing as how he can't speak, is a lot harder to read. You see, Lotso is not the only one who changed once upon a time in a cold lonely daycare. Of course.. It took Big Baby a little more time, but the process wasn't a pleasant one to watch, to say the least.

Lotso looks hesitant at first, eying his leg and pondering my offer. Of course, he is thinking about his limp. I'm not quit sure if it's painful for him at times, or just a nuisance. I doubt he would speak of it either way. I can imagine he feels at least somewhat embarrassed.. I mean, the toys here at the repair shop had tried several times to fix it in the past, (after being ordered too) the tear was just too bad.

"Oh, Roxy I don't know..." I'm not sure why he's being so difficult. It's just a walk, for goodness sake and he should know I wouldn't dare try to leave with him around even if I were planning too. He walks around the daycare just fine with his cane all the time. Usually it's just for long distances that he uses the truck, or whenever he's not feeling well. I've almost gotten ran over plenty of times when I had decided to walk on my own instead of riding along with him...by accident of course...or at least, I hope.

"Come on, Lotso...please?" I walk over to him nonetheless, and make an attempt at huge, cute puppy dog eyes. Another thing that's rarely ever worked for me.

"Alright, I guess a walk ain't gonna do no harm. Lead the way..."

Guess this is one of those rare times.

Authors note: I chose a Strawberry Shortcake doll to be the former leader of Sunnyside daycare because they are one of the toys that actually did come out around the 80's, around the same time Lotso did in the film, so I thought she would make an interesting former ruler. I know I've read stories where the former rulers are perceived to be nice, but I just thought I'd change it up a bit, explore what may have happened if the former ruler wasn't so nice either. I mean, surely Lotso wasn't the only one... Also, As you will notice, this story is not completely movie accurate. A few things about the plot line may be altered and changed to better fit the story. Besides, if Roxy were really in TS3, it would change things quit a bit anyways. I hope that made sense... Also, I hope I did an okay job writing for Chuckles. We don't really get to see much of his character in the film, so he was kind of a challenge to write for.