Hey! Welcome back!
I finally got to some broppy fluff in this chapter, not a lot but it's something! There will be a lot more fluff in a few chapters! I don't own trolls, but Rose is my oc. I hope you like it!
It was quiet in the room, very unusual since Poppy was there. Branch looked at her. "What's wrong Poppy? You're never this quiet." He reached for her hand.
Poppy looked at him and reached her hand back, squeezing his hand. "Nothing, Just thinking." She assured him, but it didn't work.
"Somethings wrong. Come here." He gently tugged her arm, trying to get her closer. "tell me what's wrong." He smiled at her. She smiled back at him and sat on his lap. She leaned her head against his shoulder, snuggling into his warmth. He kissed her forehead, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"I just…" She stopped to think for a moment. "I didn't mean to scare her, I thought she was still asleep. I don't want her to be scared. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to say." She whispered to him.
He glanced back at her, before looking at Rose who was still holding his hand. "It wasn't your fault she got scared. There were a lot of trolls she didn't know." He looked back at her. "You have always been good with trollings, and she's no different. She may have gone through something terrible, but you can speak to her how you normally speak to the others. Nothing needs to change. You can also do what you did with me, just more gently and maybe less glitter. She's going to need to see those cupcakes and rainbows." He teased.
She giggled at his words. "You're right. I'm overthinking this." She looked at Rose. "Thank you Branch." Poppy smiled as she looked at their hands.
"No, thank you Queen Poppy." He nuzzled her cheek gently. "If it wasn't for you, she wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you either." She looked at him confused. "I mean, I wouldn't be in the village, going to parties or wearing this hug bracelet. I'd still be gathering supplies and be in my bunker all the time."
"You have grown so much as a troll. I'm so proud of you." She placed a hand in his cheek, grinning when she saw the blush that came to his cheeks. "Oh you're so cute!" She kissed him softly.
"I'm not cute." He muttered after she pulled away.
"You are cute!" She moved so she could be face to face, grinning from ear to ear which he'd cause him to chuckle and smile back. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed! Such a cute smile, and nose!" She cooed him, giggling. "And don't get me started on your adorable ears!"
His eyes widened slightly. "My ears?" He barely whispered, but Poppy caught it and looked at him curious. Branch smiled lightly at her, before he changed the subject. "Anyways, have you and the others thought of anything? I know it wasn't long since you all left."
Poppy shook her head. "We haven't heard back from any of the trolls yet, though Queen essence said she will look after her until we find someone else who wants to take care of her. So at least that's something." She sighed sadly.
Branch held her close. "It's a start. Maybe once she's up again you can ask her if there are any trolls she knows?" He looked at her. "Since she prefers to write instead of speak, she needs someone who is very patient and willing to take the time to understand her more than others." He looked at Rose who snores slightly, a whimper leaving her lips as he could see a tear running down her face. "She deserves a family. I just hope she doesn't have to go from home to home." He muttered under his breath.
Poppy could tell by Branch's face he experienced it. "You went through that, didn't you?" She saw him slowly nod. "Oh Branch." She hugged him tightly.
"It's fine. It's in the past." He looked back at her. "If possible, when you guys discuss anything about Rose, make sure she's there or is told what was discussed right away. Make sure she gets a say in whatever happens." His words caused Poppy to look at him confused. "I never really got a say. We had just found a place to build our new home, everyone was too busy to look after a grey troll back then." He explained, causing Poppy to frown.
"You never had a say? But my dad always-" she started but Branch interrupted her.
"You're dad just led us to a new place to live. He had so much on his plate already. He just saved all the trolls from trollstice, he had to help all the other trolls build new homes, and he had to raise you. I didn't want to bother him or anyone else. Most of it is my fault for not saying anything, but I'm not going to let that happen to her. I will make sure she gets what she wants." His voice laced with regret and determination.
Poppy stared at him for a moment, before smiling. "Of course Branch. I'll make sure she gets a say. I will also get your opinion on the matters as well." She promised. "I'm sorry you never got that chance."
Branch smiled back at her, kissing her nose. "You have nothing to be sorry for Poppy. It was years ago, a lot has changed. Besides, You're the only one who looked past my colours." He rested his forehead against hers, their noses touching gently. He opened his mouth to say more but felt something on his left hand move. He moved away from Poppy and saw Rose slowly sitting up. "Hey kid, you're awake."
Poppy looked at Rose and grinned. "Rose, did you have a nice nap?" She turned towards Rose, who let go of Branch's hand and held her bear tightly. "You must be hungry, there is still food there for you." She motioned to the food. Rose looked at the food, placing her bear down and picked up a blueberry and started nibbling on it. After she finished the blueberry she looked at the rest of the fruit, before she eyed the cupcake. Poppy giggled. "That cupcake looks very good. What flavour is it?" Rose looked at Poppy, before she grabbed the cupcake. She bit into the cupcake , getting it all over her face. She held the cupcake towards poppy, showing the red inside. Poppy grinned. "That looks like strawberry! That's one of my favorites!" Rose nodded, taking another bite, eating more of the icing this time.
Branch chuckled slightly. "You got some icing on your cheek." He pointed to her left cheek. Rose put her cupcake down, and wiped her face with her hand, smudging it. "No, it spread." He said, causing Rose to frown slightly, rubbing her cheek again. "Now the other side." He said and she did the same thing. "Alright, you got most of it." He said. She nodded before going back to the rest of her cupcake. She took another big bite, getting more icing and crumbs on her face. Both Branch and Poppy smiled, and let her eat the rest of her cupcake.
Poppy grabbed a napkin from the side table once Rose finished. "You have a little more on your face. May I?" She smiled. Rose looked at her, before nodding slightly. Poppy stood up and leaned towards the trolling and gently placed the napkin on her cheek. Roses eyes shut tightly, as if waiting for something to happen. Poppy gently wiped her cheeks and nose, going slow to make sure not to startle her. "And there! All done." She grinned, sitting back on Branch's lap. Rose opened her eyes and looked at her, before nodding.
Rose looked at the notebook and picked it up. She took a minute to write in it, before showing Branch. He blushed slightly, causing Poppy to lean over and see what the child wrote. "Why am I sitting on Branch's lap? Well, why not? It's comfortable!" Poppy grinned at Rose, before cuddling into Branch. "Do you want to come sit on his lap too?" She held her arms out towards rose. Rose looked at them and opened her mouth, before closing it and nodding slightly. Poppy grinned before picking her up and setting her on Branch's other leg. "There! If you ever want a hug or anything rose, just let us know. We will gladly give you one."
"Hey, when did I become a chair?" Branch looked at them, before leaning towards Rose, putting his hand up by his face so poppy couldn't see his mouth move but Rose could. "Just so you know, if Poppy doesn't get her hourly hug she goes crazy." He whispered to Rose, but Poppy heard it and pouted.
"What?! I do not!" She playfully hit his arm, causing Branch to chuckle more. Rose looked at them, before she started writing more. She turned the book back to them, causing them both to blush more.
"N-no, we aren't married." He flustered. Rose looked at him confused before writing 'why not' in the book. "Because it's too early. Do you have any questions that aren't about us?" He asked, trying to hide his blush, causing Poppy to giggle.
She looks at Poppy, before she started writing again. After a few minutes she turned her notebook, 'Thank you.' Poppy looked at it, before smiling at Rose. "You don't have to thank me Rose, I'm just glad you're safe." She gently placed her finger on Rose's nose, giggling as Rose stared at her finger. "Oh you are so cute! Can I have a hug?" Poppy held her arms towards her. Rose stared at her, unsure at first before she slowly stood up on branch's leg and stumbled onto poppy. Branch has his hand behind Rose to make sure she didn't fall, keeping an eye on her as she balances on his leg. Poppy wrapped her arms around the little trolling, hugging her close but gently. "Oh thank you Rose." She smiled. Rose looked up at the older troll hugging her, before placing her head on her chest and wrapped her arm around her, hugging her back. Poppy held her close, not letting go until Rose wanted her to.
Branch smiled as he watched them, seeing Poppy wasn't nervous like before. He felt Poppy relax at the hug, as well as he saw Rose opening up. He smiled more at the thought. His arm still around Poppy, bringing her closer to him.
Poppy glanced at Branch before smirking. She leaned down towards Rose and whispered. "I think Branchie is jealous." She giggled, seeing Branch's eyes lock onto hers. "Oops. He heard me." She grinned.
"I am not jealous." He stated. Rose looked at him, before she slowly pulled away from Poppy and sat on her lap. Poppy looked down at Rose, keeping her arms around her protectively. Rose reached her hand towards Branch's free hand. He slowly moved his hand towards her outstretched one, not sure what she wanted. Rose wrapped her hand around one of his fingers, bringing his hand over so it rested on Poppy's arm. She looked at him and patted his hand, causing Branch to chuckle. "Well, Thank you Rose." He kept his arm where Rose placed it. "Do you have any other questions Rose?"
Rose thought for a moment before she started writing. Her ears fell slightly as she wrote, catching the attention of both of them. She slowly turned the notebook revealing her question.
'Will I always be grey?'
