Rock On

Epilogue

Branch adjusted the crown on his head and stared at the mirror again. He looked goofy. It didn't fit him the amount of exposure the position as King implied. He glanced at his wife who was softly snoring on their bed with a bare back and looking deliciously inviting.

He was doing it for her. Poppy was the center of his world and if she happened to be the Queen, he could take his role as King, after all. He had to admit his days didn't change much after they got married. Aside from the attractive freedom of having access to each other's bodies, Branch's routine remained the same. It helped a lot that she moved into the bunker, understanding his need for privacy.

He just couldn't feel comfortable enough with that stupid crown. The jogging routine and the weekly meetings for a father and son 'quality time' had been enough changes. The wedding had been incredibly liberating, like he could finally breathe out of his pooling feelings for her.

They were both sleeping in late that Sunday morning. Both monarchs had attended a fancy dinner with Barb, King Thrash and Branch's father - with Zep being the King's brother, it was only predictable that he attended, too.

Branch watched while Poppy briskly discussed with Barb a way to make immigration lighter among the kingdoms. Both girls were over-excited after their concert and were willing to explore the lengths their people would go to form new bands, to learn and inspire each other. They needed new roads and hotels along the way so they could safely journey from one tribe to another.

Poppy, having her own road trip with Branch as experience, had a few inside ideas of how to make things comfortable to the wandering trolls. The young King, - who had left his crown at home with an understanding nod from his Queen - had merely stepped out of the conversation when his father engaged him in a conversation about the old days on the road.

So, seeing that his wife was happily discussing the best places for road supplies between Pop and Rock kingdoms, Branch thought he was safe from prying ears to ask his father about an issue that was bugging him since he learned about his past.

"Why did you choose to leave my mom?"

Zep's reckless tapping on the guitar stopped and his smile's wrinkles shrunk down to sadder ones. It took him long minutes and two taps on the sides of his guitar to stand up and walk outside, looking for privacy to dive into the heavy subject. He gulped down an amount of whiskey, as if it would give him courage to start talking.

"I didn't leave her." He said after a while, taking Branch by surprise. "I was just going to finish that one tour and then I'd be back for her." Branch raised a suspicious eyebrow at his father. His womanizer reputation didn't favor his words. "Hey, I mean it. She was the one girl I'd give everything up for."

"Even my twenty-something brothers and sisters?" Branch found it funny to joke about the amount of half siblings he had. For a lonelier, he had quite a big family. One that he had yet to meet.

"You were the first child, you really made me rethink my life." Zep scoffed, gulping the rest of the whiskey, leaving the ice untouched at the bottle.

Once again seeing the crown on his hair, Branch gave up trying to adjust it and put it down on Poppy's vanity, sleeping under the blankets to her side. Feeling the mattress moving under his weight, Poppy snuggled close, resting her head on his chest and an arm around his torso. His own arm went around her body to caress her back while blankly staring at the ceiling.

He was the first child, which meant he was… third on the line of the succession of the Rock Tribe's throne. It made him wonder if royalty had always been in his blood even if he didn't know about it.

Hair… Barb was his cousin. He had always been a prince. That was way too messed up.

Would Pop and Rock ever reunite?

"You don't have to wear it, you know." Poppy's sleepy voice breathed hotly in his ear, making an excited chill run down his back.

"Sorry to wake you up." Sorry, but not sorry. He rolled to the side, burying his nose in her neck and took in her perfume. Her leg went up, hanging over his hip to get to a more comfortable - and convenient - position. She kissed his forehead with tenderness causing him to close his eyes.

"I mean it, my love." She said again. "You don't have to wear the crown, you don't need to step up. It's just some title. I just want you to be comfortable… and happy… as my husband."

With great relief, he let his hand go down, caressing the small of her back like he always did, as a silent way to thank her for saying the right words at the right time.

There was an understanding feeling that took over his mind when he replayed the conversation he had with his father the previous night. There was always something that would make them change their ways. His mother had made his father consider giving up a fantastic career and fame to settle for a family.

Poppy had made him break out of his isolation habits, his shell and his survivalist ways to face the dangers of the world and welcome changes. There was no denying the joy she had brought into his life. He was bursting with happiness each morning they shared.

"Why do you and dad go fishing so much?" She blurted out, causing Branch's mind to go back to their previous meeting.

King Peppy had asked when they would have an heir.

"Ah," Blushing, Branch was glad he was still with his chin on her shoulder, hiding his embarrassment from her. "We just enjoy each other's company." That had been one awkward conversation for both males, since the retired King had been overprotective of his daughter's innocence. "And he mentioned a 40 year reunion of The Black Rock and H.U.G.G. bands. He asked me to arrange a concert."

"Really?" Sitting up with an excited squeal, Poppy clasped her hands together with eyes gleaming with several ideas that were already running through her head to help him produce the biggest concert of them all! She looked down to see if he shared her excitement to find him with a goofy smile, staring at her bare breasts that were completely exposed. "Branch?" She rolled her eyes at him.

"Yeah…?" He answered lazily, not even blinking.

"Hair, you're such a boy." She giggled, raising the sheets up to hide herself. "You see them every day."

"And I'll never get tired of them." He replied, jokingly, placing his hands on her hips, while she sat halfway on top of him. "Uh oh." He frowned at her, making Poppy blink a few times in confusion at his sudden seriousness.

"What is it?"

"I think…" His words trailed off, working his fingers a little further so he could squeeze her. "... I feel my Hard Rock blood running faster. I need help."

She rolled her eyes playfully at him and yelped when he pinned her down with a quick move, making her giggle. Well… if he wouldn't ever be tired of seeing her, then she'd never get tired of his hot kisses. There was something incredibly transcending about them. She felt his thumbs softly caressing her cheeks and opened her eyes.

Branch looked down at her with adoringly devotion. It was the face of a troll who had found home, who had found happiness and who was happily settled.

"I love you." He whispered against her lips.

"I love you, too." She replied, noticing that truer words had never been spoken.

The End