Chapter 21: she's never gone
(A few months after Trollsmas, the new year came in and shortly after Valentine's Day. After time went on...Branch's mom started getting really sick and when they took her to the doctor, they had been told she had contracted an illness from living out in the open for most of her life and they were given some terrible news.)
Branch: mom...please don't say it..please
Berry: branch...I'm not gonna make it...
Branch: mom no...you can't...you can fight this!
Berry: I'm afraid I can't...living out in the wilderness has caught up to me
Branch: (a few tears leak) it's all my fault
Berry: branch don't you dare say that
Branch: you wouldn't have had to live in the wilderness if it wasn't for me...(sniffs) I already lost grandma...dad..my first daughter...I can't lose you too you're all I have left
Berry: no I'm not branch...you have so many trolls who love you...I'm just glad we had our time together...to rekindle our relationship...I just want you to know even though we had a rocky relationship in the start...I love you more than anything...poppy too...and my grand Trolls...never ever forget that...
Branch: I-I won't...I love you too mom
(Branch stayed beside his mom on her death bed the whole night and held her hand when she took her last breath. Branch couldn't contain his pain...no matter what anyone said...he felt like it was his fault...if he hadn't sang his grandma wouldn't have been killed, they could have all escaped together and enjoyed the life they wanted. Branch was terrified to turn grey he tried so hard not to feel sad but...this pain hurt so much...he stuck it out when he learned his child died but now his emotions were letting loose, he felt his colors drain...he wasn't grey but he colors were not bright either...he couldn't let anyone see him like this! Branch had gone missing for a few days and everyone was really worried, it got to the point where they had to send a search party to find him while poppy tried to get herself together for oak and twig, all poppy could do was wait, it had hurt her as well that berry had died but she was also hurt branch had ran off without telling anyone. Finally some good news came.)
Biggie: we found him!
Poppy: is he ok?
GD: he's ok...but his colors look a little faded
Poppy: oh no! (She runs out and finds branch...his colors were still there but were not glowing, his hair scattered around and messy. His face dirty.) branch...
Branch: I'm sorry...I just had to get away for a little while...clear my head
Poppy: the children have been worried
Branch: I know...I feel terrible
Poppy: the important thing is that you're safe...but branch...maybe we should talk about...what happened..
Branch: talking won't bring her back
Poppy: it won't...but it can help make you feel better
Branch: (sighs) I wish we didn't find her...I wouldn't be hurting right now
Poppy: but then you would've never known she was alive after all this time...and that she was looking for you...that she loved you..you two got to rekindle...you got to spend 5 years with her and that's better than none
Branch: I know...I just..I don't know...it isn't fair...
Poppy: I know it's not...
(Branch went silent...the kids were out and branch hated that he felt this way, he didn't know what to think...he didn't feel grey or anything he just...felt like he lost the last member of his blood family. Poppy watched as he saw him just lay on the bed...faced towards the wall...half of her wanted to leave him alone so he could have space...but the other half couldn't leave him there...he had always been there for her..she thought it was time to be there for him...)
Poppy: (she got in the bed with him and held him, usually her instinct was to sing but poppy knew this was a different kind of hurt that couldn't be fixed with a song)
(When branch felt poppy touch him, he was a little taken aback..she had comforted him different times but it was usually with words or song...she wasn't saying anything but...she was giving him so much. Finally branch let loose and found himself crying.)
Branch: I just wish...we could've had more time...I took it for granted
Poppy: I know but just remember the time that you had with her...
Branch: our new baby...they will never..
Poppy: we will keep her memory alive just like we do with your grandma...she's never gone branch...like your grandma...daisy and your dad, they may not be with us anymore but they're still here (runs her hand through his hair)
Branch: (sniffs and smiles) you know...we may be busy all the time but I'm happy we're having another baby...we're creating the big family I never had
Poppy: (smiles) you're a great daddy, you have no idea
Branch: I can't take full credit, poppy...thank you...
Poppy: It's what I'm here for...even at your darkest time
Branch: (is about to kiss her but poppy stops him)
Poppy: but you won't be kissing me until you take a shower, I mean...your clothes and hair are filthy
Branch: (laughs so hard he can hardly breathe and messes up poppys hair) well now I'm not the only one (laughs again)
(They both clean up and branch notices poppys baby bump and puts her hands over her belly)
Branch: our little boy or girl is starting to grow
Poppy: (giggles) do you think it'll be a boy or girl?
Branch: I can't decide if I want to be surprised or not...but I also want to know at the same time
Poppy: this baby must be a little bigger, my belly wasn't this big on the 2nd month with oak or twig
Branch: might be a boy...if it is let's hope he'll be more mellow
Poppy: (laughs) twig is a little firecracker
Branch: you have no idea, that kid acts like a sugar rush all day
Poppy: we got a kid who's like you and one like me...this kid might be in between
Branch: lets hope so..you know...oak seems upset but this change
Poppy: (sighs) I know...but what's to be done? How did you deal with change?
Branch: you're asking someone who lived alone for 20 years?
Poppy: (laughs) I mean you went from being grey to being blue, you must've had to deal with some kind of change...living in the village with the rest of us
Branch: good point...well I guess it was a little hard at first but then I just adjusted so I think oak will too...I can see where she's coming from...
Poppy: I think she will too...I haven't been able to explain all this to the kids
Branch: I'll explain to them...twig might be old enough to understand but I'll try
(When the kids finally come home, they are happy to see branch back)
Twig: daddy! (Jumps on him)
Branch: (hugs him tightly) hey my boy (looks at oak) come here oak! (Grabs her and spins her around)
Oak: (laughs)
Branch: I want to talk to you guys about something...I wasn't being fair to you...I was more concerned about how I felt, I didn't ask about how you two felt..as you know..Nonny died
Oak: (looks down)
Twig: mommy said she was gone...is she never coming back?
Branch: (sighs) I'm afraid not...
Twig: is it because of something we did?
Branch: what? No! Not at all! Nonny was just sick...there wasn't anything anyone could do
Oak: (a few tears leak from her eyes) she..helped me with my stage fright...now she's gone
Branch: oh oak tree (pulls her close) it's ok...
Twig: I loved seeing her when you guys were at work, she always made it fun
Branch: (smiles) that's good...you guys have good memories of her...she'll never be gone if you remember
Oak: I feel bad...I spent a lot of time with pop-pop and Grammy and not a lot with her
Branch: it's ok..you spent a lot of time with her too...she knew that you loved her and always loved you both
Oak: I miss her (cries)
Branch: (holds her close)
Oak: she..was going to teach how to fend for myself...
Poppy: what'd you mean?
Oak: well...when the baby comes...you'll be too busy with them...
Branch: oak! Listen to us! Yes we're having a baby, but did we not take care of you when twig was born?
Oak: you did...
Branch: we'll be busy for a little while, but we'll love you two just the same
Twig: I hope it's a boy I want a brother!
Oak: (rolls her eyes) I don't need another brother
Poppy: alright you two, we won't know for a little while
Branch: and...now that we've had this talk about your nonny, how are you feeling?
Oak: (shrugs) I honestly don't know what to feel...she was here one minute now she's gone
Branch: that's how I felt when my grandma died too
Twig: mommy said even when the people we love are no longer with this they haven't left
Branch: (smiles) well she's right, she's always been right (hinting at the other times when Branch felt down)
Poppy: (returns his smile)
(One week later, Oak is at school and she does something she never thought she'd do)
Star: hey oak, I'm really sorry about your grandma
Oak: thanks star
Star: she must've had a late effect on your singing
Oak: what?
Star: she died because she was embarrassed of performance
Oak: are you serious right now?
Star: come on oak even you know it's true
Oak: shut up star!
Crystal: come on oak let's go
Star: what'd you just say to me?
Oak: I said shut up! I'm so sick of you ganging up on me! What have I ever done to you?!
Star: exist
Crystal: oak come on...she's not worth it
Oak: exist? I didn't exactly ask you to be here either
Star: you think everything gets handed to you because your the princess but it doesn't!
Oak: nothing gets handed to me! I'm just like every troll here!
Star: no you're not, you'll never be, you're different and you always will be, you soon to be grey troll (pushes her)
(that word triggers her leading oak to push her back and they start fighting to the point where oak rips out a chunk of stars hair. Both of their parents are called and neither of them are happy.)
Branch: someone start talking
GD: wait hold on, I want an answer a chunk of my daughters hair is missing!
Poppy: whoa everyone calm down...well hear each side of the story
Branch: I got this poppy
Poppy: branch you promised you wouldn't treat me different just because I'm pregnant
DJ: can someone just tell us what happened?
Crystal: I'll tell you..Star was telling oak that her grandma died because of her singing and it went back and forth until she called oak a grey troll and star pushed her
Branch: are you serious?! What she said to oak was unacceptable! That's a very serious matter!
DJ: so is ripping out our daughters hair!
GD: star...is that true?
Star: (hangs her head) yes...
DJ: ..Star...why would you say such things?
Star: (shrugs)
GD: branch...poppy...im really sorry about this
Branch: we are too, what do you have to say for yourself oak?
Oak: (shrugs)
DJ: star? Anything?
Star: (also shrugs)
(Branch and poppy take her home and oak tries to go to her room)
Branch: hold on! We haven't discussed your punishment
Oak: punishment?!
Poppy: oak...what star said was unacceptable but you ripping her hair out is unacceptable too
Oak: but I wouldn't have if she hadn't pushed me!
Branch: it doesn't excuse what you did
Oak: this isn't fair! You're punishing me for what she started! (Starts to cry)
Branch: don't start with the tears, that's not going to help you
Oak: daddy why are you acting like this?! You're always on my side!
Branch: I can't always bail you out...you have to learn your actions have consequences...so you will be going to bed early every night this week, you'll be helping out with twig, and you'll be doing some chores around here
Oak: you know what? Whatever! I thought you would've understood because she insulted nonny! I wasn't just going to sit there and take it! I'm upset that she's gone! (Goes to her room and slams the door)
Branch: (sighs and goes toward her room)
Poppy: don't branch...she needs to learn
Branch: you're right (sighs) this was hard...I hate being hard on her
Poppy: it's what being a parent is..we have to make hard choices, she won't be mad at you forever
Branch: are we crazy for doing this again?
Poppy: what'd you mean?
Branch: well we have a daughter almost 6 but acts like she's 16 and is already starting to get into trouble and we have a son who doesn't listen very well and is off the walls, and now we have another one on the way
Poppy: branch...remember when we held our children for the first time?
Branch: (smiles) I do...
Poppy: they may not be little babies anymore but they will always be like that to us...and if I'm being honestly I missed holding a baby in my arms (rubs her belly)
Branch: I missed that too...(smiles) I'm excited to know what we're having...but...this is serious poppy...star is messing with oak again...
Poppy: I know...I don't know what's going on..
Branch: I was worried about this...I just want her to be happy
Poppy: I do too...but there's always going to be someone you don't like...like remember creek?
Branch: (laughs) yup I hated that troll
Poppy: all we can do...is just try to figure out why it's happening and be there for her
Branch: I think she's really affected by my mom passing...she's been acting different since then
Poppy: I've noticed but...she's not going to get over this overnight, it's gonna take time
Branch: I think it's time we did something more serious
Poppy: what do you mean?
Branch: we need to sit with DJ and GD and talk...all night if we have to
So so sorry for the late update! College keeps me really busy! So oak is having a little hard time adjusting to her nonnys death! And you got to see a defensive side to her! Will star and oak be able to get along? Find out soon!
~Ash