I do not own Trolls.
Chapter One.
"Branch, guess what I signed us up for!" Poppy beamed excitedly as she practically bounced into the living room of Branch's bunker. He sighed, knowing full well that it probably involved glitter. He tried to hold in his groan as he smiled at her, not wanting to ruin her joyful moment.
"What are we doing then?" He probed while giving her a cheeky grin. He knew it probably involved singing or scrapbooking, which was the soul of most of her surprises.
"Babysitting!" Branch almost choked on his coffee at that. He gawped at her, feeling a bit shocked. Branch wasn't exactly the most paternal Troll going, he struggled to cope with those small beasts of burden. They were uncontrollable, annoying and always covered in glitter. It was everything he hated in one. He tried to fake smile but failed miserably.
"Poppy, you know I'm no good with kids," Branch tried to reason as he stood up, feeling anxious.
"You'll be fine. He's only one and he's no hassle really," Branch didn't believe her for one second.
"Since when was one of those little monsters not hassle?"
"Branch, give over. You'll be fine. He's just a baby," Branch raised an eyebrow at her. He was only just gaining his bearing with adults, let alone adding a child into the mix. The thought of those conniving, mischievous, happy creatures sent shivers down his spine. Then, to his horror, he heard the doorbell go. He stared at Poppy in fear.
"You didn't…" He gaped at her. He couldn't believe it. She'd invited the demon to arrive only moments after telling him! It meant he had no adjustment period. He'd not even had time to hide his collection of ornaments or his books! He needed to hide his sharp objects and he especially needed to hide his traps. Even he knew a child shouldn't be near those things.
During his panic he didn't even notice Poppy returning with the devil until it was thrusted into his hands. Branch held the child out at arm's length. He stared at it.
"Poppy!" He shouted out in angst. She'd vanished into the kitchen, leaving him alone with this baby.
"He's called Dex. Just be kind to him and he'll love you," She shouted to him.
"You aren't as horrible as I thought…" He tried to think positively until the baby drooled onto him. Branch wanted nothing more than to throw the baby onto the sofa and disinfect his arm, but he held his cool, knowing he needed to do this for Poppy. Even if it was only to impress her.
"So, Dex, beside drooling what else do you like to do?" Branch asked him. Dex looked at Branch oddly, obviously not understanding him. Dex let out a small hiccup. Branch half smiled, starting to think that maybe he was wrong about children. That was until Dex pulled a face and began screaming, tears quickly rolling down his cheeks.
"Poppy!" Branch shouted urgently. Poppy rushed in, taking the child where she cuddled him close, easily soothing him as she placed the teat of the bottle into his mouth. The child guzzled happily while Branch disappeared into the kitchen where he scrubbed at his arm in the sink. He sighed as he dried his hands. He wished he could be as connected as Poppy was, but this just wasn't his thing. Branch felt uncomfortable with babies. They didn't understand him and vice versa. He walked back into the living area where Poppy was just feeding Dex the last of his bottle. Branch gave a half smile as he sat down… on the chair… away from the baby…
"He's only a little baby," Poppy told him before turning back to Dex, "Aren't you? Just a cute little baby!" Poppy cooed at Dex, making him giggle and reach for her. Branch pulled a face.
"Babies aren't just cute, Poppy. They poo, cry, eat, make a mess, take risks... They are so… unorganised!" Branch practically shouted in frustration. Poppy broke into a fit of laughter at him, much to Branch's dismay.
"Branch, babies are filled with joy and all things nice. They aren't scary little demons like you think. You ought to get used to him, you might find you like being a father figure," Branch gulped visibly at that announcement. He wasn't sure that would be the case. Poppy shifted up and passed Dex to him, Branch held a breath as he held the child away from him. Poppy rolled her eyes.
"Like this," She said as she helped Branch lay the baby into his arm, so he was cuddled up. She knew the little guy was ready for a nap, and she also knew that this child was a man's man. Branch observed the child as Dex snuggled into him, closing his eyes. Branch felt something twinge in his heart and it brought a small smile to his face.
"See," Poppy grinned at him. Branch smiled back, but his smile soon faded at the large squishy sound that came from Dex. With a mortified expression Branch thrust the Troll baby at Poppy before quickly vacating the room. He most definitely did not want to change that diaper.
After the dirty diaper fiasco was resurrected, Branch returned to his living room where he found Poppy packing up a bag. He watched her place diapers, wipes and bottles inside along with a few other baby essentials. Branch raised an eyebrow at her as she placed the baby boy into the pram, tucking him in with his blanket.
"We are taking Dex for a walk," Poppy decided.
"We?" Branch repeated. He didn't feel this bonding exercise was going to work well, and it made him wonder why Poppy was being so insistent on it. He thought for a moment about it but was interrupted by Poppy grabbing his hand and yanking him onto the podium that would lift them to the surface. She passed him the pram. He looked at her worriedly as he took hold of the handles, his grip holding on a little too tightly. He felt nervous overseeing steering of such a tiny Troll. The whole thing made him feel nauseous with nerves.
"Relax, we are only going for a stroll. It's not like we are going leaping from trees with no safety equipment," Poppy tried to joke with him, but Branch found that sense of humour frightening. Safety equipment was always a must in his opinion and is most definitely not something to joke about.
"Poppy, this whole thing is crazy. It's not like this guy comes with an instruction manual! I do not know what to do with him,"
"Just relax. You're so tense and anxious that you aren't taking a minute to just breathe and look at him. He's a baby, Branch, not a bomb. Just love him and show him you are there. We are going to take him for a stroll around the Village and you can have some time just getting used to him. He should sleep through most of it," Branch didn't feel any better about it, however, he decided it was at least a good thing that the baby would sleep through the stroll. It gave Branch a sense of ease.
"Hello there, who's this?" Biggie asked as he wandered over and looked into the pram, Mr Dinkles snuggled firmly in his arms.
"This is Dex, we're babysitting," Poppy practically beamed in excitement. Branch rolled his eyes but couldn't resist the half smile on his face as he looked at her.
"He is a cutie. When are you two going to have one?" Biggie inquired. Branch, at that question, felt frozen. He didn't know what to say or do or even think. He was like a deer caught in the headlights. Him and Poppy had been an item for over a year now, and he knew his commitment to her was going to be making the next step soon, but children was not the next step he had in mind. At least, not yet.
Poppy was looking at Branch, concern on her face. She could see he was horrified at the though and it hurt her slightly, but she knew it wasn't like that. He feared being a father and overseeing a child. She knew she had to work with him to get over that fear, and it needed to be sooner rather than later…