Andy had been home several months now, and the monitors were being phased out. During the day, I would go and visit Andy, and then, if I had the time, I would meet Bo in the closet. We'd sit and talk awhile, and then I'd climb back up the shelf, something I'd become insanely good at.

This evening was a quiet one: Andy and his parents were gone and so were the monitors. Finally! I scrambled to tell Bo.

Tenderly, I called her name while I slid open the closet doors.

No answer.

"Bo?" I tried again, a bit louder this time.

Her blue staff was around my neck in an instant. I was pulled into the shadows of the closet's center.

I tripped over something and fell. Gasping, I looked around at everything.

"Bo Peep?"

Her lips silenced mine. I tried to back away, but her staff caught my pull-string. Stupid thing is always in the way!

The kiss continued as her fingers traced the white loop on my back. Her staff was dropped to the ground, and I was afraid it would shatter. Thankfully, it seemed to be made of plastic.

She let go of me and retrieved her staff.

"Were you gonna kiss me back, Sheriff?"

"Wha-what? You just...! But I... maybe?"

"Let's sit outside."

"Umm... okay."

I honestly wasn't sure of what just transpired. Bo walked as casually as ever, keeping me clueless.

We sat down on the carpet and studied Andy's empty crib.

"What was that all about, Bo?" I asked after a looming silence.

"I like you, Sheriff."

"But you... I thought you were a lady! All proper and..."

"I certainly am." She raised her chin to accentuate her argument.

"Then shouldn't you of waited for me to kiss you?"

"I was waiting." She informed me, brushing her now-messy hair to the side, "You were taking too long!"

Just then, the doorknob rattled.

"See you tomorrow, Woody." She dashed back to the closet and inched the door shut. I did my series of flips to the top shelf.

It was Mom, holding a grinning Andy and a paper bag. She set Andy in his crib and placed the bag on the floor. Kneeling, she took two items out of it. Dad came in as well.

"Putting Andy to bed already?" he asked, stooping beside his wife.

"Yep, and setting up his new toys."

"The one I picked out?"

"Of course." She told him and removed a toy dog from the bag. He had a head, four feet and a tail, but his body was built entirely of springs. The dog was displayed on the shelf below me.

The next and last item taken from the bag was a bright pink pig, the same color as Bo's dress, almost. He was placed on Andy's dresser, across from the window and crib.

"You got our son a bank?" Dad asked, amused, "He's six months old!"

"Never too early to start saving for college." Mom explained. She reached into her pocket and found a few stray pennies. They were dropped into the pig, making little clinking noises as they fell.

The parents tucked Andy into his bed, and stood watching until they were sure he was asleep. They tiptoed out of the room and shut off the lights.

A cough rang from the shelf underneath me. The bank shook his head, making the pennies clang inside him.

Wait... they're alive too? He's not a toy, he's a bank! And the other one doesn't have a body!

I decided to investigate. Holding onto my hat, I looked below my shelf. The dog looked at me and wagged his tail.

"Hi!" he said, excited for some unknown reason.

"Umm... hello." I decided to be cordial, "I'm Woody."

"Hi Woody!"

"What's your name... partner?" I tipped my hat. Unsuccessfully.

It landed on the shelf next to the dog.

"I got it!"

Everything this guy said, he sounded genuinely thrilled about. It would probably annoy me if it persisted another day. Or for however long these toys would be staying with me… us.

Bo! She needed to see this at once.

I flipped down on the shelf next to the springy dog. My hat was on his head, and he was ready to toss it my way.

"Here you go, Woody." He dropped it in front of me and smiled.

I slapped it back on my head. He didn't seem so bad.

"I think I missed your name…"

"I don't have one yet… you should name me, Woody."

"That's my name." …And my first lame attempt at a joke. The dog loved it.

I looked him over. There was a sticker wrapped around his springs, labeled "Slinky."

If my card said my name, then that must've been his.

"Slinky." I told him, "That's what your tag says."

"Sounds good to me, Woody!"

"I have someone for you to meet, Slinky."

He smiled at me, tongue and tail wagging in sync.

"Her name is Bo... I think you'll like her."

"What about the pig?" Slinky asked me in a too-loud whisper, "I haven't met him."

The pig in question glared our way.

"Can you climb down the shelf with me, Slinky?"

"Hold on to my tail."

I wasn't sure if this was a 'yes' or 'no.'

"Come on, Woody. Grab my tail. We'll get down faster that way."

I did as he told me.

"Ready?"

Even though I was totally confused, I nodded. Very slowly.

"Here we go."

Slinky backed his legs off of the shelf, and the spring stretched until I could reach the floor.

"Now let go." Slinky called.

I did so, and the springs retreated. Slinky then stretched himself down and joined me.

"Are you in charge here, Woody?" the dog asked me as we approached the closet.

"I guess so... I haven't been here long."

"Me either."

Obviously.

Suddenly, I saw something falling beside me.

The pig. He jumped to the ground and silenced the pennies as he landed.

"Name's Hamm..." he told me, extending a short arm. I shook his... hand. Whatever you wanna call it.

"I'm... Sheriff Woody."

"Do I have to call you 'Sheriff'?"

"No, I guess not."

"He's in charge here!" Slinky threw in for no good reason. Hamm glared again. It seemed to be his favorite expression.

"How long have you been here, Woody?" Hamm asked.

"Since before Andy was born. Almost a year, I think."

"All by yourself?" Slinky joined in.

"No, Slinky. Remember? I told you about Bo."

He nodded. Hamm nodded. I led them to the closet and we worked together to open the door...