It had been a few days since the puke incident as Branch and Poppy were walking around Trollstopia, enjoying another day as they agreed to take a break from volleyball and have lunch. they sat at one of the mushroom tables, looking over the menus.
"I Still can't believe you got us reservations here" Branch said looking at the decorations, this restaurant just opened and on top of that it was fancy as Poppy smiled, reminding him that she was the Queen, it was only logical she'd get an invite.
Branch thanked her for taking him as her plus one as she smiled, saying he was her boyfriend and that there was no one else she'd rather be here with, looking over the menu as one the Trolls approached to take their orders.
Poppy gave her order, ordering pasta and a salad. Branch ordered the same at the waiter left. while waiting for their food the two began talking about things, Branch asking how her royal duties were. she smiled, that she enjoyed them. her activities kept her busy as she looked at Branch.
"Thank you for helping, with the schedules and all the paperwork. I really do apricate it" she thanked as he nodded, glad to help her out as they heard a voice behind them "I thought I saw you two lovebirds"
The duo turned seeing Dante, flying around with a few Classical Trolls who were being seated as Poppy smiled at them. Branch and Poppy being a couple was common knowledge and they were often stopped by their friends as Branch smiled.
"It's nice to see you Dante but we'd like to enjoy our romantic lunch" Branch replied as Dante took the hint excusing himself as their food arrived. Branch felt a little uneasy, he loved being with Poppy, but she was always in the spotlight, and everyone talked about the Queen and her boyfriend.
Poppy used her fork to pick up her pasta, enjoying the taste of the noodles, coated in thick sauce. Branch began on his salad. Lunch was enjoyable as the two had a great conversation, everything from discussing events to plans. This continued until the waiter returned, asking if they wanted dessert.
"Yes of course" Poppy replied looking at the dessert menu, deciding on what she wanted, there was mixture of dishes from each culture to appeal to all the Trolls.
"I don't know why but I'm really in the mood for Fluffleberry Cake, so a slice of that" she replied as the waiter gave a weird look at the Queen. Poppy looked at Branch, telling the waiter to make it two as she knew Branch liked it. he left with their orders as Branch looked at her.
"I thought you hated Fluffleberry, it's way too sour for you" Branch admitted as Poppy said she had a weird hankering to it, saying if she did not finish it, he could have her leftovers as he decided not the question it, eventually lunch was finished, followed by dessert as Poppy finished the whole slice surprising Branch as she patted her belly.
She claimed that it hit the spot as she got up, thanking the staff as she got up and left with Branch. He looked at her, as they left the restaurant, a few Trolls watching the two, letting the rare 'Aww' at them.
After Dessert the two went on a walk around the village to burn off their meal. Branch looked Poppy, surprised she ate that whole slice of cake and even picked a few forkfuls off his slice, last time she ate Fluffleberry her face scrunched up, and had to scrub her tongue.
The walked along the city, Poppy promised she'd listen to Val's new song as the two headed toward Rock Hollow, Talking about how Trollstopia was clearly coming along as Poppy stopped in her tracks, she turned to Branch explaining she had to use the restroom, that fruit juice she drank went right through her. Branch simply looked at her.
"You've been using the bathroom a lot" Branch commented as she had already made her way to a port-a-potty, closing the door. Branch stood outside, waiting for his girlfriend, eventually Demo came by with his clipboard, full of notes for the concert.
"Hey Branch man, you here for the sneak peek. No spoilers but this new song is gonna rock" he replied in a falsetto voice as Branch just stood there. Demo asked where Poppy was as Branch pointed his thumb back to the Port-a-potties. Demo just walked backwards, away from the teal troll as he headed backstage. Eventually Poppy left the stall, smoothing her dress out, saying she was ready to Rock.
Poppy woke up in the Bunker, looking around. last thing she remembered she was at Val's concert enjoying her friend's band playing "What Happened?"
Branch looked at her, explaining she passed out from exhaustion, and he carried her back. which by itself wasn't a bad thing. a lot of Trolls passed out at concerts, it was no reason to be back at the Bunker as Branch nodded, saying it wasn't just the Fainting.
Stuff has been off with Poppy recently, suddenly eating foods she never liked, using a bathroom like crazy and now fainting as he looked at her. Branch rubbed Poppy's shoulder to ease her tension as she smiled at him, thanking him for helping him back.
"I've been looking through my Medical books, when you're the ex-paranoid survivalist you tend to be prepared and I don't think you'll want to hear this and I partially hope I'm wrong, but I think you might...be pregnant" Branch explained as she looked at him, claiming she was not pregnant.
"We've been sleeping together for weeks, we've 'done it' multiple times and it fits up with the weird craving and excessive bathroom use" Branch added as Poppy got up in his face.
"I. Am. Not. Pregnant" Poppy repeated, saying that eating one slice of Fluffleberry cake and using the toilet a lot does not mean anything.
"I drank a lot of juice at breakfast and wanting to retry something is not Crime" Poppy lashed out as Branch sat down nervously, getting why Poppy would be nervous about this. Poppy defended saying there was nothing to be nervous about because she wasn't pregnant.
"Poppy, having a kid is nothing to be ashamed off, Guy has a kid and he's in our age group" Branch replied as Poppy snapped at him. "But I'm the QUEEN, I can't just get pregnant!"
Branch backed away as Poppy huffed, saying she had to pee and when she got back, he had better drop the topic. Poppy defended as Branch sighed, he reached into his pocket pulling out a small paper tube, handing it to Poppy as she let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Really, a pregnancy test?" Poppy called out, saying that the joke was going on far enough as Branch clearly serious, saying all Poppy had to do was pee on it. if it came out negative than he was just being paranoid, and he would drop the subject.
Poppy took the test from her boyfriend, only agreeing to take it to prove he was wrong, closing the bathroom door behind her, Branch hoped he was wrong.
Poppy set the test on the sink, letting it dry as she took a deep breath, wondering why Branch was being so paranoid, yeah, they did it a few times, but she could not be pregnant, it was only a few times and her mom did not get pregnant till she was in her 30s. Branch was simply being paranoid, fearing the worst-case situation as she calmed herself down.
Outside the bathroom, Branch was pondering, thinking over situations in his head, what if he had actually gotten his girlfriend, The Queen, Pregnant. Branch's father and Grandmother died when he was young, and he had no recollection of his mother. he was the worst Troll in the city to be a father, let alone father of Queen Poppy's child.
Having relationship with Poppy was one thing, but actually starting family, would her father even allow that. Branch was having several fantasies varying from being exiled from Trollstopia to Peppy killing him with his own hair.
"No, I'm overreacting, Peppy is supportive of me and Poppy, so is most of the city. I mean some of them might actually be happy. Peppy, having a little grandson/granddaughter running around. and it's not like Poppy is bad with kids, she taught as a teacher." branch defended, biting his knuckle
"Steps Branch, we don't even know if she is Pregnant yet" Branch told himself as he took a deep breath, praying everything would work out.
"I'm NOT Pregnant, there is no way" Poppy defended as a gentle 'ting' was heard, Poppy looked at her hug watch to see no light on wrist piece, her glance shifted to the pregnancy test, the flower at the end blooming open as Poppy looked at it.
"Wow, I... I Don't believe it" Branch jumped, looking at the test on the dining room table, the pink flower, with open petals signifying she was indeed Pregnant as Poppy walked over falling on the couch sobbing.
Branch could not fathom what was going through her head as he walked to her, comforting her, rubbing her back, saying he was here for her, the last thing he would ever do is abandon Poppy, especially in a moment like this. Poppy wiped her tears glad to hear that.
"First things first, do you Want to have this baby? I mean with your duties being a mother would put more strain on you and only saying it's an option to do ad- I'm not getting an abortion" Poppy snapped, sick that Branch would even mention it.
"Abor- No I was gonna say adoption, we could put the egg up for adoption, let a foster family raise it, I had a good chuck of foster families after my family died" Branch explained, Poppy considered it but shook her head, deciding it was her baby, no THEIR baby. she would feel wrong abandoning it. the shock was wearing off as Poppy was starting to accept, she was pregnant.
"You know I never knew my mother right, she died when I was young, like before escaping Bergentown young" Poppy admitted, Branch always knew the previous Queen was taken at the last Trollstice. "I could never put a child through the pain of not knowing their mother or thinking I did not want them so... Yes, I'm gonna have and raise the baby, our friends can help with my duties" Poppy decided as Branch was clearly nervous but decided he would support her.
"I'm the last of my family, Dad and Grandma are dead, my mother is out of the picture, it would be nice to have a kid, and there's no other Troll I'd rather have a family with than you" Branch said kissing Poppy.
"You know this means we're gonna have to get married" Poppy explained as Branch as taken back a bit before she explained.
Having a kid outside of marriage might look bad for Poppy and technically the kid would be an Illegitimate Heir, one of pains of being a Royal so Branch would have to marry her. preferably before the city found out she was pregnant. Branch took a breath but nodded, beside he always dreamed of marrying Poppy as she hugged him.
(A/N: So instead of leading up to the pregnancy I'm stating it outright as it's in the description, though Branch and Poppy plan to keep it secret until after their married. the fact that Branch is the last of his family and Poppy never knew her mother seemed like reasons why they'd want to be parents)