Chapter 7

"I like Smurfette," Poppy announced the moment she had a moment alone with Branch when Hefty and Smurfette told them to wait by the stream while they retrieved lunch. "Like I really like her."

"I've noticed," commented Branch.

"No, you don't understand," Poppy insisted. "I want to serenade her under moonlight. And kiss her all over her beautiful face until she laughs that beautiful laugh and make little Troll/Smurfs if that's even possible."

"Considering that Smurfs get their babies via bird, I don't think it's possible," Branch replied.

"Is that all you have to say?" Poppy demanded.

"What do you expect me to say?" asked Branch.

Poppy straightened and did her best-bad Branch impersonation, not smiling one bit, "Oh geeze, that's great Poppy. Smurfette seems like a very nice Smurf. You should marry her."

Branch exaggerated rolling his eyes to make Poppy giggle, "Try dating her first."

"You mean it?" Poppy beamed happily.

"As long as you don't try to abducting her to the Troll Tree then I don't see why not," said Branch, not too assured by Poppy's giggle, "But there are somethings you need to consider before you pursue this."

Groaning, Poppy threw her arms in the air, "I knew there was a catch! Lay it on me Branch, what's the worst-case scenario?"

"Bergens," sad Branch, "But we're not talking about that. I'm referring to the fact that Smurf Village and the Troll Tree are a fair distance apart. Smurfette may not want to leave her people and you, quite frankly, can't move here because you're the future Queen. You don't have any cousins or anything that could take your place and there would be chaos."

Poppy laid back and looked at the sky, "It could be done. I mean, long distance would be hard but not impossible. We could visit each other a lot and they could stay in each other's villages for spurts at a time. It would definitely help Smurf/Troll relations too. But you said "things", you wouldn't have said "things" if there was only one."

Sighing, Branch laid down next to Poppy and looked at the sky as well, "You can't have children with her."

For a while Poppy was silent, twiddling her thumbs, "I sort of have to have at least one, huh?"

"That is sort of the package deal of being a princess," said Branch. "And I'm afraid your options limited. I mean, adoption even among royals, isn't unheard of but there haven't been any orphans since our generation and if one would to become available, as we hope one wouldn't, there would always be trolls that would fight their claim on the thrown because they weren't yours by blood. You can't even have one with a, can't believe I'm talking about this with you, with a one-time lover since Trolls don't have kids like rabbits. The Troll Tree will only grow a pod for Trolls really in love and you can't fake that."

Slowly, Poppy sat up and stared at Branch, "I love you, Branch."

Branch blinked, confused, "Um, okay, I love you too, but isn't that off subject?"

"Branch," Poppy looked at him seriously, "I love you."

Realization dawned on Branch and he bolted upright, "No, no way, not happening! Don't be weird."

"I am weird! Come on Branch, we love each other, we could have a child together," Poppy scooted closer and put her hands into a pleading gesture.

Branched scooted away, "I am not having children, not with anyone, especially not you."

"Now that's just offensive," said Poppy, then groaned. "Why not?"

"Look at me," Branch shook his arms in front of her. "What kind of parent would this make?!"

"An amazing one," Poppy grabbed hold of Branch's hands and held them. "Branch, you might not admit it but you care more deeply than any Troll I've ever met. You are so full of love and caring and protectiveness any child would be so lucky to have you. I wish you could see even a fraction of what I see. And I realize it's a big favor I just asked you but it's not even a for sure if Smurfette likes me back. The whole point might be mute."

Branch sighed, "She likes you."

"Really?" Poppy smiled widely.

"I'm pretty sure," said Branch. "And if she doesn't, she's stupid."

Poppy mock hit Branch's good arm before holding his hands again and squeezing them, "Does that mean you'll consider it?"

Groaning, Branch thought it over a bit more. He really did not like the idea. Not even the slightest. But, if it made Poppy happy… "I'll consider it."

Instantly, Poppy leaped forward, tackling Branch to the ground and laying on top of him while kissing his cheek, "I love you, Branch!"

"Excuse me, are we interrupting something?" Hefty's voice sounded tense.

Standing a short distance away with Smurfette, who looked like she was holding back tears, Hefty had clenched the handle of the picnic basket so hard that it had broken off and was still mangling the remains in his tight grip. Branch had never seen Hefty look like he might actually strangle someone.

Without thinking, Branch shoved Poppy off of him.

Rolling with it, Poppy bounced onto her feet, "No, you have perfect timing. Now I can do what I've been wanting to do for days!"

"Poppy, there's no moon-" Branch tried, staying on the ground and unable to help but think that if Poppy wasn't careful that he might lose his best friend to a tragic accident very soon.

"I can't wait anymore!" shouted Poppy and rushed forward and slide to her knees in front of Smurfette, taking her hand and kissing it.

Dazed, Smurfette blinked away her developing tears, "P-Poppy?"

Standing Poppy began to dance to a music that only she could hear and then started to sing, "I threw a wish in the well
Don't ask me I'll never tell
I looked at you as it fell
And now you're in my way."

All around them Smurfs had stopped their activities to stop and watch but that didn't deter Poppy at all. In fact, it probably spurred her on.

"I trade my soul for a wish
My crown for a kiss
I wasn't looking for this
But now you're in my way," Poppy sang, grinning when she heard music join her.

Saxophone Smurf had heard the commotion and hopped in, playing to compliment Poppy's singing. One of the girl Smurfs joined in with a guitar and two other Smurf girls with their drums.

"Your stare was holding
White dress
Hair was flowing
Hot night
Wind was blowing
I think I love you, baby," Poppy continued and tried to get Branch to join her but Branch shook his head and refused to move so she let him be.

"Hey I just met you
And this is crazy

But please give your love to me

And I'll shower

Your heart with tenderness

Endlessly," Poppy took Smurfette's hand, pulling her into the dance.

"One thing you can be sure of
I'll take good care of your love
If you will let me give you mine," Poppy smiled when she saw Smurfette blush but smile back at her, spurring her on.

"Lady Smurfette, it's now or never
Give your love to me, and I'll shower
Your heart with tenderness

Endlessly," Poppy pulled Smurfette close, sneaking a kiss on her cheek before twirling her.

"I beg and borrow and steal
At first sight and it's real
I didn't know I would feel it
But it's in my way

Your stare was holding
White dress
Hair was flowing
Hot night
Wind was blowing
I think I love you, baby," Poppy snuck another kiss on Smurfette's other cheek before letting go to dance around on her own, gathering some of the watching Smurfs into the fray and dancing them into position.

"Before you came into my life
I missed you so bad
I missed you so bad
I missed you so, so bad
Before you came into my life
I missed you so bad
And you should know that
I missed you so, so bad, bad, bad, bad...," Poppy caught a bouquet of flowers from Florist Smurf, falling to her knees in the middle of a heart she had formed with the participating Smurfs.

"Lady Smurfette, it's now or never
Give your love to me, and I'll shower
Your heart with tenderness

Endlessly," Poppy held out the bouquet to Smurfette, pausing a moment before speaking normally to the blonde Smurf. "So… What do you say Smurfette?"

Heels could not take Smurfette forward fast enough to tackle Poppy, accidentally knocking the bouquet out of her hands in her rush to kiss her.

All around them Smurf clapped and all Hefty could do was stare, "H-How…"

Branch shrugged, "It's Poppy."

Hefty turned, looking Branch over, "Why are you still laying on the ground?"

"Seemed like the safest course of action," Branch reasoned.

After a few kisses, Poppy and Smurfette came back over to them, now holding hands.

"We're going to have our own date," Poppy announced, grabbing things from the handle-less basket that Smurfette pointed out to her and using her hair to make a make-shift basket to carry it in. "You guys have fun."

As Poppy and Smurfette ran off together, giggling, Branch noticed a few of the Smurfs were staring at him again, "Show's over, go back about your business."

Slowly the Smurfs dispersed and Branch looked up at Hefty who was still staring after where Poppy and Smurfette had been. He hesitated but spoke up, "I thought you were over Smurfette."

"I am," protested Hefty, swinging around the broken handle. "But we met before they did, how the heck are they smooching and running off on a date?!"

Now that was a weird comparison, thought Branch. "We didn't turn into giggling weirdos when we first met."

"You were too busy trying to stab me with a stick," said Hefty.

"You were hiding in the bushes, you creeper," said Branch.

"Paranoid Troll," Hefty rolled his eyes.

"Muscle-headed Smurf," countered Branch.

Finally, Hefty relaxed and smiled.

"Hey Hefty?" Branch slowly sat up.

"Yeah?" Hefty asked, almost hesitantly

"That picnic handle is completely dead," Branch pointed to the mangled piece of wood Hefty was holding. "It's time to let it rest in peace."

Letting out a laugh, Hefty came over and sat by Branch, dragging along the remaining picnic basket "I guess I sort of over did it."

At first Branch was going to ask what upset Hefty so much when he noticed Hefty's hand was dripping a darker blue.

"You idiot," Branch scolded, taking Hefty's hand and opening it up, removing the handle for a better look. "You gave yourself cuts and splinters."

"It's no big deal," said Hefty but made no move to pull back his hand from Branch's hold, watching the Troll intently examine his hand.

"I'm pretty sure you need your hand to form a fist," grumbled Branch and reached into his hair to take out a pair of tweezers.

Hefty stared up at Branch's hair, "How does that work anyway?"

"These are tweezers, little metal things I shall use to remove the splinters," said Branch.

"Oh, thanks Brainy, never would have figured that out without you," Hefty rolled his eyes, wincing at the first splinter Branch removed. "I meant your hair. Poppy took out a whole book out of hers and it looks thin with that ponytail of hers."

"Hefty," Branch paused, removing the next splinter. "I'm a Troll and I don't understand the physics of it. It's useful and I leave it at that."

Hefty hummed, doing his best to stay silent as Branch removed the splinters, also a bit taken back by how careful and gentle Branch was being. He could have lived without the splinters but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't enjoying Brainy holding his hand for so long.

"Is the stream water clean?" asked Branch when he was finished.

"Um, yeah, we use it for-" Hefty winced when Branch put his hand into the water, it stinging a bit. He was surprised when he felt something wrap around it that completely smoothed the pain.

When Hefty looked up he saw Branch lifting Hefty's hand out of the water and wrapping some of his hair more securely around it. More surprising was Branch reaching into his hair to take out a pair of scissors to cut his hair so the part wrapped around Hefty's hair would stay in place, somehow wrapped just right so it wouldn't fall off.

"Your hair," Hefty said slowly, watching as Branch straightened it back into place and it wasn't any shorter. He stared at the hair around his hand, awestruck.

"That will work until your Papa can properly treat it," Branch returned the tweezers and scissors to his hair, standing and going to pick up the picnic basket from the bottom.

"What about lunch?" asked Hefty, he knew full well that Branch hasn't eaten anything all day and this was a late lunch as it was.

"We'll eat afterward," said Branch. "Now stand up and let's go or am I going to have to try and drag you with an injured arm?"

"That's cheating," Hefty grumbled as he stood.

"Hey, I can't blackmail you with Poppy so using your protection mode is the closest thing I got," Branch gave a little smirk, turned and headed towards the Recovery Mushroom.

Hefty sighed, smiling to himself, "If only you knew how much power you have over me, my Siren."