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Bonnie and Blaze were watching movies and playing board games in the basement, where they would eventually be going to sleep, giving the toys free rein of Bonnie’s room. They used the time to have something resembling a wedding reception. Lily found a playlist online and cued up a slow, schmaltzy 70s song for the first dance, which Jessie had her skip immediately. The next was too fast, the one after that too techno (with no offense meant to Lily). The next five were skipped so quickly that no one could parse what they were or what was wrong with them. Nor did anyone recognize the old, midtempo country song Jessie got so excited about, but they didn’t comment.
By the lyrics, Buzz was pretty sure this wasn’t a love song at all. Still, he was content to let her take him by the arm and dance across the floor, deftly avoiding the piles of clothes and books scattered around them. His only goal had been to marry her; if she was happy opening the dance floor with what sounded to be a murder ballad, that was more than fine by him.
And if she wanted to end that first dance by hiding both their faces behind her hat and kissing him, she may well have read his mind.
The girls were most likely asleep a few hours later, as were most of Bonnie’s toys. Otherwise they had broken off into smaller groups to play cards or try to explain to Forky the nuances of Bonnie’s play – who was and who wasn’t married, related, evil…
From what Jessie could hear, Buzz wasn’t getting through to him. She stepped out of the closet and sauntered toward them.
“So you’re not actually my son.”
“Correct.”
“But you’re Scottish. That part’s true.”
“No, it’s not.”
“But you and Jessie –”
“Yes.”
“But why’s that real but not the other stuff?”
“Forky, you do know Rex didn’t really die at your wedding…?”
“Oh, phew.”
“...Right. See, Bonnie is a very melodramatic child.”
“So we’re acting?”
“Precisely.”
“But the wedding part is real.”
“Well, technically –”
Jessie put a hand on his shoulder. “Technically,” she said, “It’s still our wedding day, and he’s off duty.”
“Okay,” said Forky, starting to waddle off. “Enjoy real-marriage!”
Jessie smirked at Buzz’s exasperated sigh, then moved her hand down to his and nodded toward the closet door. “Bo’s on the radio. Come say hi.”
Bullseye was sitting patiently by the walkie-talkie, and wagged his tail when he saw them come in. Jessie crouched down to scratch his chin while Buzz clicked the call button.
“Go for Deputy Lightyear,” he said.
Bo’s voice crackled over the speaker. “You don’t think that’s a conflict of interest now?”
He clicked the button again. “Negative. We –”
“Suits my interests just fine, Bo,” Jessie called out.
His eyes widened for just a second. “What she said.”
Bo laughed through her reply. “You sly dog. I used to have to prod you with my cane just so you’d talk to ‘er!”
That got Bullseye laughing too.
“Appreciate the contribution, ma’am.”
“If I knew what you had planned, I’d’a stuck around to see it all play out.”
“You can have Woody brief you on the details.”
“Believe me, I will.”
There was some crosstalk on the other end, and Woody’s voice came through next.
“Listen, we’re about to head out of range,” he said. “But thanks for letting us see the main event.”
Bullseye trailed behind Jessie as she went up to press the button. “Wouldn’a been right without you two.”
“Hey, I’m proud of you guys.”
“I’m proud of us too, Woodrow.”
“How dare you,” he said flatly. “Alright, call ya next time we’re in town.”
“Go save some folks,” said Jessie with a smug grin. “Over and out.” She switched off the walkie and put it back in its box.
“That’s an impressive signal,” said Buzz.
She turned around to face him. “Hon, there’s one more thing.”
“Is something wrong?”
“What? No.” She reached out and put both her hands around one of his. “No, everything’s – Bullseye, give us a minute.”
Bullseye walked out and pushed the closet door shut with his snout on the other side.
Buzz opened his mouth to speak, but Jessie saw Bullseye’s silhouette seated on the floor just outside and called, “Little farther.”
Bullseye huffed, but obliged and ambled out of sight.
“Bonnie didn’t do half bad with those vows,” she said. “But I’ve got somethin’ to add.”
He looked at her curiously, and for a moment she froze. She understood now how he felt all those years in Andy’s room, any time she would stand a little closer or talk a little sweeter to him. That threshold for not knowing how to act or what to say had long since moved, but it hadn’t disappeared yet. Maybe it never would. She kept one hand in his while the other stroked her braid nervously.
“When I ask you for somethin’, you never take that lightly.”
He followed her gaze as she looked down at the star sticker he was still wearing.
“And if I don’t ask,” she went on, “it’s not because I think you can’t, or you won’t. Sometimes it’s just me being stubborn, but mostly I’ve never had to ask you to show up when I need’ja. You just…did.”
He furrowed his brow as if he’d never considered it before. There was a good chance he really hadn’t.
“Guess I got used to that.” She took her hand out of her hair and touched his cheek. “But don’t you ever think I didn’t notice.”
She heard something thud on the floor just outside, followed by a grunt from Bullseye and hoofsteps trotting away. She sighed and turned to investigate. “What is he –”
She stopped when she felt Buzz squeeze her hand and pull her almost imperceptibly back. She looked behind her and saw him formulating something in his head before he finally spoke.
“I wanted to say before…I should have said before,” he began. “I know today could have gone much worse. But there is no world where I stay here without you.”
She stared at him and tried in vain to understand how she got so lucky.
“Whatever happens,” he continued, “with Bonnie, Lily, anything. Wherever you end up, I’m going with you. I’m here for as long as you’ll have me.”
Her breath hitched, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you so much it ain’t funny,” she muttered next to his ear. She pulled back, but kept her hands on his shoulders, which he reciprocated. She let out a deep breath.
“Alright,” she said. “I now pronounce us ‘still married.’ You may kiss your wife.”
She lifted him off the ground from his middle, and he took her up on the suggestion.