(This story: The Strongest Bough. Is the sequel to my previous Trolls Fanfiction titled 'Love Sick'. I will try to make it so that you don't need to read that one first, but if you tend to be a lil confused as to what the fuck is going on, you might wanna read it. It's only 11 short chapters)
Two Trolls were on the top of the Troll Tree. They were dressed in regalia to show the special occasion. The outfit consisted of a long green blazer that swished at their feet and some darker green half pants.
However they were both sitting on their backsides and leaning against a random branch sticking up near them.
"Is this supposed to take this long?" The first Troll asked. He was predominantly white but had large spots all over him including his hair. One spot that took half of his face and chest that was orange, one that was black that took up one leg and butt cheek on the opposite side and one more spot of a ruddy red that was on the left side of his mostly white hair. His nose was white and orange respectively and his eyes were amber. He sounded anxious which belied the way he was lounging there.
"Sometimes it can, yeah. If it's more than one." The other Troll seemed less concerned. He answered as he was examining his hand for random specks of dirt. This one was a dark navy blue with flaming orange hair. His eyes were green.
"Don't sound like you don't care, Tony!" The spotted Troll reprimanded him.
Tony laughed and continued to lean back comfortably while the spotted Troll had stood up and had his hands on his hips. The dark navy Troll smiled easily and put his hands behind his head to sigh as if it was the most carefree day of his life.
"Just wait until I tell King Branch how you're acting. You'll change your tune real quick!"
Tony was on his feet in seconds and eyeing down the spotted Troll dangerously. The amber eyes shrank away from the fierce green ones. That and Tony was taller than the other Troll too. White Troll hunkered down and wrought his hands together in a placating position.
"You listen here, Cal." Tony said quietly. "I'm closer to the King than you realize. If you were to say anything I could have you executed tonight."
"P-Poppy would never let him do that." Cal whimpered.
Green eyes narrowed; "Just don't push me, Cal."
Their position was awkwardly interrupted when the King himself popped up through the hole in the center of the Troll Tree. Cal stood up straight in respect as Tony turned to face the king with his hands behind his back.
Branch didn't notice what had occurred from the sheer happiness he was feeling. His cerulean was glowing as he ran over to the two other Trolls and actually hugged them both. Cal was over the moon to get a hug from the king while Tony hugged him back more in a camaraderie kind of way. The King was cheering with tears in his eyes as he grabbed one of the stash of glitter balls they had stocked by the top of the tree.
"It's a BOY!" Branch shouted as he loaded a giant slingshot with a blue ball of glitter. When he shot it it exploded outwards in the sky and a rumbling cheer rang out all around the Troll Tree by Bergens and Trolls.
Cal and Tony each ran to the flowers that shot out fireworks that were designated blue. They pulled their petals open to make a crib in the sky with the fireworks.
Before they could turn to ask how the Queen was; Branch had already popped back down the hole and was cheering all the way.
Cal and Tony didn't have time to care as they had to set off a string off glitter balls and fireworks to celebrate the arrival.
HoneySuckle was sitting beside the bed next to Poppy. She looked very tired but very happy at the same time. In HoneySuckle's arms was swaddled the tiniest little bundle. The little face as she looked down at it was unmistakably Branch's.
"He has my daddy's eyes." Poppy pointed out, however.
HoneySuckle couldn't distinguish the finer points of the baby's features quite yet. This was honestly the first time she held a baby. He was so small she cradled his little being in to one crook of her arm as her other arm went to push a lock of hair behind her ear.
She had her hair worn down again and soft as dandelion fluff at her feet. Her dress was short yet formal, in the form of a single leaf. Reddish in color to signify her status. Atop her head she wore a little tiara made of a branch with two reddish leaves on either side of the front. She was a pale yellow Troll with a little orange nose, hazel eyes, and hair that went from orange, to spots of browns, and shots of yellows. Her attire would make her stand out as Poppy's Prime Minister from the Troll Village.
When Poppy and Branch got married it was Branch that had been the Prime Minister in her stead. Poppy had stayed at the Troll Tree as Queen while he had been assigned to stay in the Troll Village. It turned out not every Troll wanted to live in Bergen Town so many chose to stay there. Poppy was only one Troll so assigned her best friend at the time, Branch, to rule. HoneySuckle had been his assistant at the time. So when Branch moved up, so did HoneySuckle, but she was magnificent at her job and very well loved.
The Snack Pack was in the room as well. All of them had to have a turn holding the new little Prince as Branch, upon learning what the sex was, ran away like a raving lunatic to tell the Trolls at the top of the tree what it was.
"I never knew baby Trolls were born gray, though. It really makes him look like Branch." Biggie was leaning down towards the little squishy face and making baby noises at him.
"Yeah, the doctor told me he'll get his color soon." Poppy explained half awake.
They all looked at each other knowingly and without saying a word quieted down while they watched the Queen fall in to a deep and restful sleep. The baby was passed around and for the most part he seemed pretty peaceful too.
When Branch finally re-entered the room in a rush and panting he misunderstood the quiet. Everyone staring at Poppy or the baby and Poppy's eyes closed. Before he could scream out her name Cooper and Guy Diamond tackled him and covered his mouth while simultaneously shushing him.
"She's sleeping." Guy Diamond whispered.
Branch stopped struggling and making noise and laid there while his two friends slowly climbed off of him. But they did it in such a way as if they were expecting to have to re-tackle him. The King walked over to Honey sitting beside the bed and scooped up the baby. His smile that had been touching either ear suddenly melted as he opened the swaddle the baby was covered in. The baby whimpered as Branch looked around the room questioningly.
"He'll get his color soon. But for now, you're making him cold, dad." Honey stood up and swaddled the baby once again.
Branch barely glanced at her as he stared down at his son who was beginning to fuss after being exposed to the cold air. It seemed expertly that he tucked the boy in one arm and found a rocking chair in the corner of the bedroom.
Everyone knew how Branch's moods could be. So quietly they all left without so much as congratulating him once. If they had he wouldn't have heard it or ignored it anyway. It was time for them to party while the new family in the room had to get acquainted.
Guy Diamond was dressed similarly to HoneySuckle. It was a shirt in the shape of a reddish leaf and long pants. His half crown was also adorned with two leaves signifying his status.
He and HoneySuckle were walking with her hand in the crook of his arm and her head lovingly on his shoulder. They were making their way with the rest of the pack to the party down below the Troll Tree with the Bergen. It was Guy's and Honey's responsibility to talk with the Bergen King Gristle and Queen Bridget and receive any gifts if they were offered.
"What did they name him?" Was the first thing Bridget squealed while trying not to hop up and down.
"They didn't name him yet." HoneySuckle replied; "Poppy was exhausted and Branch was all over the place. I'm sure they'll announce it soon. Do you have any gifts you want us to give her?"
"No, no. I don't want you to bother her while she is recovering." Bridget said, "She'll tell me if she needs something."
HoneySuckle nodded politely so that meant...PARTY.
Branch rocked in the chair with his son.
His son.
He kept looking at the little gray face and wondered if it was his fault that he didn't have a color. Sure, he had been happy for a long time, but what if all of those years of depression had been passed down to the baby somehow? What was he going to do if the only heir to the Trolls was a moody and unhappy grouch?
Did it matter? Really? Branch was here and he was never going to leave this little guy's side. This was the only family he had. The Bergen had killed his entire family; finishing with his grandma as a child. He had blamed himself for that death for so. many. years. But this boy's life was going to change. It was going to be strong, and happy, with nothing bad ever happening to him as long as Branch was alive.
Branch's eyes filled with tears as his heart burned both with fear and happiness. His smile was shaky, but it was there, as he rocked gently and looked down at that little face so similar to his own. He decided to sing him his first lullaby;
(Josh Krajcik: Let Me Hold You)
"When the dark clouds come your way. When your demons can't be tamed. When your last straw starts to break and you feel your heart can't take anymore. When your second chance is gone. When you're barely hanging on. When you're tired of being strong, and you don't know where to run anymore."
He held the boy in front of him. So tiny he only fit in one of Branch's large hands. Even so Branch held him protectively with both. He just wanted to be face to face with his blood.
"I wanna take away the hurts but I just don't have the words. Let me hold you. Let me hold you tight. Let me hold you. Just let me hold you tonight."
The baby yawned and settled right down with Branch's voice singing to him. Branch pulled him in closer and the baby snuggled against his chest before falling asleep.
"When the shadow's always there. When you can't come up for air. When tomorrow seems to lead nowhere and there's no answer to your prayer anymore.
I wanna take away the hurts. But I just don't have the words. Let me hold you. Let me hold you tight. Let me hold you, just let me hold you tonight."
"You're one of the best dads out there."
He heard Poppy behind him. She sounded so tired and sore. Slowly he stood up with the baby and went to the bed. Her smile was enormous when she seen the little face pressed up against his heart.
"So what should we call him?" She was asking Branch but marveling at the little face.
"Bough."
"Oh, my little BoBo. Come to mama" She reached out her arms for her baby and Branch almost felt a bit of himself leave when he handed Bough over to his mom. Who already gave him a nickname. Ugh.
(Welcome back guys lol Or welcome to the story other guys...Like the random new characters?)
