Chapter 56

When Hefty left Therapist Smurf's office, he was surprised to find Branch waiting for him in the seating area. His mouth opened and closed a few times but no words came out to explain himself.

Standing, Branch picked up a basket and went over to Hefty, "Ready to go?"

Further surprised, Hefty simply nodded.

Raising his free hand, Branch offered it to Hefty, "I grabbed some lunch from Chef's, where would you like to eat?"

Glancing at the basket, Hefty took Branch's hand, "My mushroom?"

"Alright," Branch nodded and headed out with him.

Holding Branch's hand more firmly, Hefty walked with Branch silently. His mind buzzed with things he should say but nothing came out.

When Hefty's grip tightened, Branch looked up at Hefty and squeezed his hand, "It's okay, you don't have to say anything."

Slowly a smile crept onto Hefty's face. He paused their walk, in order to pull Branch close and kiss him, "I love you."

Going from gray to pale blue, Branch smiled back at him, "I love you too."

When Poppy and Smurfette arrived for lunch, Creek was surprised that Branch and Hefty were not with them. Apparently Hefty needed to apologize to Therapist Smurf and talk to him about Creek, and Branch, despite Hefty saying that he should stay with Poppy, went after him. Obviously Poppy thought Hefty's excuse was the truth but one look at a worried Papa Smurf confirmed Creek's suspicions that Hefty might have needed to talk to Therapist Smurf about his own problems. Creek frowned a little when he saw Brainy looking concerned as well, it was only a matter of time before the smart Smurf figured it all out.

"I'll get some glasses and some Smurfberry juice," Papa announced after clearing his throat. "Poppy, Creek; do you like Smurfberry juice?"

"Yeah, it's delicious," Poppy grinned and licked her lips for emphasis.

Pausing to think it over, Creek couldn't remember if he'd had tried the beverage. He remembered Brainy drinking it at one point but he couldn't recall if he had. Instead he said, "Smurfberries are good berries."

"Smurf yeah," Poppy agreed, making Papa Smurf smile and Smurfette giggle. She didn't seem to notice that Brainy was too lost in thought to respond. After Papa left the room, she turned to Creek, "How are the magic lessons going?"

Suggesting to his pants, Creek frowned, "I'm covered in dirt, take a guess."

"You'll get it," Poppy tried to assure him.

"It may not be possible for me to get," commented Creek, raising a hand to pause her when she saw she was about to protest. "Papa Smurf seems to think Trolls all have some latent magic due to how we control our hair. This incident may have brought mine to the surface more but it might not be possible for me to do with more with it like a Smurf can. At this point I'd be fine with not taking a regular dirt bath trying to hold a potted flower."

"Laundry Smurf could wash those for you," said Brainy, still seeming to be worried about his thoughts but content to put them on hold for a moment.

"My, Brainy, trying to get me naked?" Creek deadpanned.

Blushing, Brainy covered his face, "That's not what I meant, you j-" He stopped, frowning to himself.

"Jerk," Creek finished for him. "I'm still a cruel, manipulative jerk. Knowing my past doesn't change my present."

"Creek," Poppy gently squeezed Creek's arm, "You're not any of those things."

At that, Creek managed a tiny smile, "You have no idea, Princess."

Papa Smurf returned with drink, pausing when he entered a cloud of tension among the group. He looked between them, trying to pin point it, "What did I miss now?"

"Your son is trying to get me naked," said Creek.

"I am not!" protested Brainy, blushing again.

"Made the suggestion right in front of Poppy and Smurfette," Creek continued, unperturbed, "Quite scandalous, really."

"I was just suggesting laundry," groaned Brainy, covering his face again.

"I didn't exactly pack other clothes when I came here," commented Creek.

Looking between them, Papa was silent for a moment, "Alright, well, Tailor can take care of that."

"I don't have Smurf money," pointed out Creek.

"Smurfs don't use money," Poppy explained. "Everyone contributes and everyone gets what they need." She turned to Smurfette, "Right?"

Smiling, Smurfette kissed Poppy's cheek, "Right."

"I've hardly contributed anything," said Creek, sighing when Poppy latched onto his side, "To Smurfs; Poppy, I love you, but please stop fussing."

"Never," Poppy looked up and stuck her tongue out at him, "You're stuck with me."

"I'll never understand why you put up with me," said Creek, "But I can't say that I'm ungrateful."

Grinning, Poppy hugged Creek more.

Papa sat with the group, passing out the drinks, "I think we've done enough magic for today if you all want to go to Tailor's after eating."

"But what about Creek's control?" asked Poppy worriedly.

"I think he's closer then he realizes," Papa gave Creek a smile before turning back to Poppy, "He actually held the pot in one piece for a bit. Well, at least until Brainy smiled at him."

Creek could just feel Poppy grinning her head off at him so he didn't bother to turn to her, "Not a word, Poppy."

Giggling, Poppy did a little dance in her chair and somehow that was worse.

After lunch, they left Papa's mushroom to head to Tailor's, Poppy bouncing around and smiling to herself as she walked.

"Not much affects her stride, does it?" asked Brainy.

"Her resilient energy is part of why everyone loves her," commented Creek, noticing Brainy slump a little at that, "Platonically; she's one of the few Trolls that I can say is friends with everyone at the Tree."

Catching up, Branch and Hefty joined them on the path.

Frowning, Branch waved his arms to get Poppy's attention, "Poppy, do you really think that this is the best time for singing?"

Rolling her eyes, Poppy smiled in return, "Music is good for the soul, right Creek?"

Eyes darting between them, Creek had the distinct feeling this was not going to end well for him, "Well, um, there's a time and place for everything, love."

In a blink, Poppy dashed over to Creek's side, "Music is for all time and places."

"Poppy, please, just let it go," Branch pleaded.

"Ignore him," Poppy waved her hand at Creek, "Come on, Creek, lets show Branch how it's done!"

Creek hesitated.

"Just let Creek be," Branch put his hand on Poppy's shoulder, "He'll sing if or when he wants to."

"Singing would help him feel better," Poppy insisted.

"Actually, he should be talking to Therapist Smurf," said Hefty.

"It didn't seem to help this morning," argued Poppy.

"It takes time for it to work, Poppy," Smurfette tried to reason.

"All the more reason for him to sing now," insisted Poppy.

"Singing can't be a cure all," Brainy shook his head, "It would be a temporary mood booster if anything."

The group continued to argue and Creek was torn between screaming, crying and running away from the lot of them. He knew they were all just trying to help but it was just making him feel worse to be causing all this. A heavy, buzzing energy was coursing through him and he just wanted it all to go away.

"Help me," Creek sang out, silencing the group around him, though he couldn't look at any of them, "it's like the walls are caving in."

Slowly Creek wrapped his arms around himself, remembering Brocade's tea that he almost drank, "Sometimes I feel like giving up
But I just can't
It isn't in my blood."

Walking over to Creek, Poppy gently put her hand on his arm, smiling and singing softly when he looked up at her, "Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow."

Shaking his head, Creek pulled back from her, "Laying on the bathroom floor, feeling nothing
I'm overwhelmed and insecure, give me something
I could take to ease my mind slowly
Just have a drink and you'll feel better
Just take her home and you'll feel better
Keep telling me that it gets better," He paused and looked at Hefty,
"Does it ever?"

Swallowing, Hefty remained silent, rubbing over his tattoo absently.

Stepping in, Branch sang, "Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on."

Tears threatened to form in Creek's eyes but he wouldn't let them fall, "Help me, it's like the walls are caving in
Sometimes I feel like giving up
No medicine is strong enough
Someone help me
I'm crawling in my skin
Sometimes I feel like giving up
But I just can't
It isn't in my blood

It isn't in my blood…"

Again, Poppy put her hand on Creek's arm, "Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show."

This time Creek didn't pull back but he sang, "Looking through my life again, feeling anxious
Afraid to be alone again, I hate this
I'm trying to find a way to chill, can't breathe, oh
Is there somebody who could..."

Branch joined Poppy, standing at Creek's other side, "You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on."

Hesitantly, Creek met Branch's eyes, "Help me, it's like the walls are caving in
Sometimes I feel like giving up
No medicine is strong enough
Someone help me
I'm crawling in my skin
Sometimes I feel like giving up
But I just can't
It isn't in my blood."

"Lean on me," Hefty softly sang, stalling a moment then the group looked at him. Still he forged on, "when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on."

Branch smiled softly at Hefty.

"It isn't in my blood," Creek repeated, looking at the ground now.

Poppy gently hugged Creek's side, "You just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on."

Sniffling, Creek leaned against Poppy, still trying to keep back the tears, "I think, I think I should talk to Therapist Smurf again."

Holding him tighter, Poppy sighed but nodded, "Whatever you need, Creek."

Looking up, Hefty noticed there were a lot of Smurfs watching them, probably lured in by the singing. Quickly he waved his arms, trying to signal for them to go away. He was relieved when his fellow Smurf went back to their own businesses, even if they kept glancing back.

Standing close, Branch put an arm around Creek, not quite hugging him but letting him know that he's there, "Would you like me to go in with you this time?"

Staying against Poppy, Creek shook his head, "Your Smurf would be preferable."

Though he frowned slightly, Branch tried to joke, "You know his name is Hefty."

"I know," Creek admitted.

Keeping her arms around him, Poppy looked up at Hefty, silently asking him to go.

Also looking up at Hefty, Branch tried to convey his worry and silently let him know that he didn't have to go.

With a sigh, Hefty rubbed the back of his neck, "Do you want to go now? Therapist Smurf said he'd be available all day today."

Nodding, Creek straightened from leaning against Poppy.

"Um, maybe we could drop in to Tailor's really quick first?" asked Poppy, trying to hold onto Creek for a little longer.

"They're just pants," said Creek, "Just something to get through a bit so my pants can get cleaned before we go back to the Tree."

"He might need your measurements," said Poppy.

"That makes me want to go less," admitted Creek.

"Don't worry about it," said Branch. "Go talk to Therapist Smurf and we'll drop by Tailor's, alright?"

Creek nodded, "Thank you, Branch."

Since Tailors and Therapist Smurf's were in two different directions, the group silently watched as Creek left with Hefty to have another session.

Silently, Smurfette took Poppy's hand, "I know that was hard but Therapist Smurf really does want to help and he will."

"I just wish I could do something," Poppy admitted softly.

Wringing his hands together, Brainy approached her, "Princess?"

"Just Poppy is fine, Brainy," said Poppy.

Nodding, Brainy was silent for a moment. Then he softly said, "Sign me up."

Poppy blinked, "Sign you up for what?"

"Song Boot Camp," Brainy stammered, "I want to sign up for Song Boot Camp."

As Poppy's eyes went wide, Branch quickly got in between them, "Brainy, I don't think you know what you're asking for."

"I was there, I saw it," Brainy reminded him, "And I know it won't be easy but I," he paused, gathering courage, "I love Creek. Just singing for him hasn't been enough and I want to do all I can to show him just how much he means to me."

"You've sang for him already?" asked Branch, wondering when and where this happened.

Brainy nodded.

Poppy squealed, "Now this is definitely something I can do! Alright Brainy, time to learn how to sweep Creek off his feet and Branch is helping!"

"Oh Smurf," Branch groaned, much to Smurfette's amusement.