It was midday before Daisy allowed Branch and Poppy to leave her pod, with the stern instruction that if Branch were to get any more cramps, he was to return promptly.
After agreeing to her condition, she sent them off with a white paper bag containing two bottles of vitamins and a promise to visit their home in the tree in two weeks time for a check up.
The walk back to their home was a quiet and awkward one, filled with nothing the gentle sounds of birds tweeting and other Trolls chattering somewhere in the background, completely oblivious.
Poppy entertained the thought of saying something to her boyfriend a few times, but then couldn't find exactly the right words. Branch trudged alongside her, clutching the paper bag in one hand and swinging the other by his side. It didn't seem as though he was waiting to say anything, his eyes downcast.
When they finally reached the front door, Poppy let them in. Branch went straight upstairs, throwing the bag on the counter as he went. There seemed to be a wedge between them now, a wedge that was nearly impossible to get around. It took only a moment for Poppy to make her decision, and she followed him upstairs.
When she reached the bedroom, the first thing she saw was Branch sitting on the bed, his back to the door, knees drawn up to his chest.
"Branch, listen. You know I'm angry with how you acted-" she sat on the bed beside him "-but I think it's time to move past that now. I want to talk about… what happens now."
There was a beat of silence, and then Branch uncurled, turning to look at his partner. His eyes shone with anxiety, as though he was worried that saying a word to her would make her get angry with him again.
"How do you feel about… all of this?" His anxiety bled into the question, and gave his voice a pitchy quality.
"About having a baby with you?"
Branch nodded minutely in reply, eyes flickering away from hers.
"I'm… I guess I'm happy. The whole nearly losing you thing kind of… dampened the news for me. But now that I know you're okay? I kind of feel… excited!"
For the first time since Branch began to bleed two days before, Poppy's eyes shone with joy.
Seeing the tentatively joyful expression on her face, Branch's heart leapt.
"So… good news?"
"Good news!" Poppy wasn't able to withhold her default attitude anymore. She may have been angry with Branch, but she was a naturally a happy Troll, the happiest there's ever been, and so would never stay angry for long. Especially since everything turned out okay.
With a squeal, her joyous energy exploded. All unhappiness and anger seemed to evaporate in an instant as she bundled onto Branch and peppered kisses all over his face.
Yes, Poppy could never be angry for long.
"We're going to have a baby!" She squealed. "Our own little baby! Isn't that amazing!?"
Startled and frozen in surprise, Branch just stared at her. After a moment though, he began to laugh. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "My sweet Poppy. I love you so much."
Eventually, their laughter died down.
"I love you too." Poppy sighed, kissing him on the nose. It was silent for a long time before either of them spoke again.
"Do you think it'll be okay?" Branch's tone was light, but the furrow in his brow betrayed his lingering anxiety.
Poppy blinked at him, considering for a moment. "I think so. Daisy said you'd be fine now as long as you rest." She gave him a meaningful look, a smile on her lips.
He laughed. "Okay, okay. I'll rest. I don't want a repeat of the last few days." He exhaled heavily, remembering the excruciating pain.
Then he glanced down at his stomach again, partially exposed through his half-open vest. It was as flat as ever.
Poppy saw him looking. "I don't think you'll look any different for a few week yet. Don't get ahead of yourself." She teased him, smiling.
"I'm not!" Branch protested, his nose wrinkling in an expression equally surprised and irritated as he looked up at his partner. Despite his protest, Poppy began to laugh again.
After so much sadness and stress over the last few days, it was amazing how just a little bit of conversation and laughter could change everything.
"I think the future is bright." Branch whispered when Poppy finally stopped giggling. She looked to him to meet his eyes, but he wasn't looking at her like she expected. Instead he was looking down at his flat stomach again.
She smiled gently and reached out her hand to hold his. "It's so bright because you and our baby are in it." She smiled at him, her tone gentle now.
At this, Branch finally looked up to meet her eyes. His heart felt like it might explode with love any moment.
"Thank you. For everything. For… putting up with me." He smiled ruefully, glancing down again.
"You don't have to thank me. That's what you do for someone when you love them."
"Well… I love you. And I'd do anything to make sure our family is okay. I'll… I'll always protect us." He twined his hair with hers as he spoke, and Poppy copied his movements, coiling her hair to fit around his perfectly. As the sun rose higher in the sky, she spoke. "How do you feel about some lunch?"
A week had passed since Poppy had discovered she was going to be a mother, and she couldn't remember a happier week in her lifetime.
The days had passed in a blur of planning and excitement. The day of the announcement was approaching, and she knew that there was someone else she needed to tell before then.
"So tell me again what we're going to say when he get there?"
"We'll go inside," Poppy told her partner "And I'll say, 'Dad, we have something to tell you."
"And then what?" Branch interrupted, smiling a little. He was used to Poppy's bossiness, and often just allowed her to plan things for him. She was good at it anyway.
"And then we tell him."
"What, just like that?" Branch looked amused, smiling a little as he glanced sideways at her. "Hey Peppy, just thought you should know, I'm carrying your daughter's child."
Poppy stifled a giggle. "Well try to be a bit more tactful about it!"
"Ah yes. Perhaps I'll offer him a cup of tea first. That ought to warm him up."
Poppy smacked him playfully on the arm. "Oh yeah sure."
Branch gasped. "Ow that hurt!"
Poppy looked at him, startled. "W-" But then stopped when she saw him start to laugh.
"You big fluff ball! That was so mean!" She wrinkled her nose at him, but Branch just smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"I'm sorry. Forgive me?"
"Of course." She kissed him on the cheek. "Oh- look! We're here!" The shape of Peppy's pod came into view along the branch on which they were walking, and all of a sudden, an uneasy nervousness twisted in Branch's stomach.