Reaching the door of her father's pod, Poppy took a moment to squeeze Branch's hand before knocking. To someone else, he wouldn't seem anxious or even worried, but to Poppy, it was all too clear in the way his brow furrowed and his shoulders hunched, as though bracing against an invisible storm.

It took a minute or two for Peppy to open the door, and upon seeing him, Poppy burst into laughter. He was disheveled, covered in blotches of ink and with a fountain pen wedged behind his ear. He joined in the laughter, pulling his daughter into a hug and covering her in ink.

When she pulled away, her laughter quickly died at the sight of her ruined dress. Peppy just laughed harder, turning to embrace Branch.

The blue Troll quickly dodged, however, avoiding the same fate that had befallen Poppy.

"Quick thinking, my boy!" Peppy laughed. "Come in!" He stepped aside, allowing them entrance. Poppy scowled playfully at him as she passed, which made him chuckle. He shut the door and then followed.

As they made their way to the living room, Peppy began to speak again.

"To what pleasure do I owe both of your companies?" He smiled warmly, deftly clearing away the clutter of papers and stray ink pots.

Poppy moved to sit on the sofa, taking Branch with him, and watched her father with bright eyes until he sat down opposite them in the armchair.

"We have something to tell you!" Poppy smiled, glancing at Branch, who was looking quite pale.

Branch glanced over at his girlfriend and then looked at Peppy. He swallowed a lump in his throat, and then spoke.

"We've organised a party. It's happening next week on Thursday."

"A party? Is that all?" Peppy smiled, looking from Poppy to Branch and back again. "You both had me worried. You looked so serious."

Branch looked over to Poppy for help and then looked back at Peppy when it became apparent that she was expecting him to continue.

"That's not all."

"No?" Peppy's brow furrowed, a little confused, and wondering what on earth else there could be.

"It'll be an announcement too. I… that is, we..." Branch sighed and glanced over to Poppy again, giving her a pleading look. She looked much more relaxed that he did, practically bursting at the seams to tell the news. 'You do it' his eyes seemed to say, and Poppy didn't need to be asked twice.

"We're having a baby!" Poppy squealed, bouncing off the sofa and into her father's arms. She hugged him tightly, practically vibrating with excitement.

Startled for only a moment, Peppy soon returned the hug, and the room boomed around them with the sound of his laughter. He seemed half his age, taking Branch by the hand and yanking him off the sofa to pull them both into a tight group hug.

"Congratulations! That's marvellous news!" Peppy was practically beaming, and beside him, Poppy was still bouncing with excitement.

For a second, all of Branch's worry seemed to melt away. It was hard to worry about anything at all when surround by such joy. He squeezed Poppy and Peppy tightly, and even surprised himself with a laugh. When the three of them finally separated, Branch looked down to find that his clothes were now covered in ink, but found that he simply could not bring himself to care.

When the three of them had finally settled in the kitchen with cups of Troll tea, Peppy began.

"So how far along are you?" The question was directed at Branch.

He looked up quickly, blinking as steam swirled up from his mug. "I… I'm around 5 weeks. That's Daisy's best guess anyway." He blew on the tea, and the rising steam flattened out, half disappearing as it was blown away.

"So you've had the shift already? Ah, good thing too. Back when I was pregnant with Poppy my shift was horrendous. Blood everywhere." Peppy shook his head at the memory.

Branch's eyes widened, and he shivered.

"Branch's shift was pretty bad, dad. It happened when we were halfway between here and the old camp." Poppy said.

At this, Peppy's eyebrows shot up, and he looked between Branch and Poppy in shock. "But you went anyway? Even so close to shifting?" The last part was directed solely at Branch, and the blue Troll shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"I didn't realise I was as far along as I actually was." Branch murmured, eyes not meeting Peppy's or Poppy's.

"He's alright now though, nothing to worry about." Poppy quickly butt in, looking quickly between the two. She didn't want Branch any more stressed than he already was, thinking in the back of her mind that it wasn't good for the baby.

After a moment, Peppy relaxed. "As long as you're okay, dear boy."

Branch relaxed a little as well, though his ears remained pricked and alert. He wanted nothing more than for Poppy's father to be pleased with him as his daughter's choice in a partner. And after all, Peppy was the only parental figure he had left.

"And have you started to show yet?" Peppy asked after taking a drink.

Branch blinked and absentmindedly placed a hand on his stomach. It didn't feel any different, but he supposed if he was starting to show he wouldn't feel it slouching in a chair like he was.

"I don't think so." He replied.

Peppy nodded sagely. "Poppy was such a tiny Troll. I didn't start to show until the very end." It seemed like he was enjoying giving Branch advice, as though he had all this knowledge to share but hadn't yet had the chance to share it.

Poppy wondered briefly if he missed being king, giving dozens of trolls advice each day.

Branch tilted his head a little, considering. "I hope it goes like that for me. I think if it was obvious more trolls would ask about it. And… I don't really want the attention." He spoke honestly, glancing from Peppy to Poppy and then taking a sip of his tea.

Peppy laughed, and smiled knowingly. "You're carrying the new prince or princess. I don't think you're going to be left alone once they all know."

At this, Branch shuddered. All of a sudden, the colour seemed to drain from his face. Poppy blinked at him, surprised. "I didn't think you were so afraid of people, Branch. Look, it'll be okay. I won't let them swarm you."

Branch looked at her and shook his head. "That's not it." He told her weakly, ears drooping.

"Then what-" but Poppy didn't finish the question. Without even an explanation of what was happening, Branch jumped up and ran from the room.

Poppy blinked, startled, and then looked at Peppy who was looking similarly dazed.

"I'll go after him." She said to her father, and then followed Branch out of the room.

After a minute or two of going room to room looking for him, she finally found him. He was in the bathroom, standing over the sink and heaving.

"Oh my gosh, Branch, are you okay?!" Poppy cried, rushing to his side.

Branch nodded weakly, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead. "I don't feel well." He groaned miserably.

"You don't think something is wrong do you?" Poppy fretted, rubbing Branch's back as he retched again.

It was Peppy who answered the question. He was standing in doorway watching the couple with a concerned look on his face. "No. I expect it's just morning sickness."

Poppy seemed to relax at this, though Branch didn't seem to hear. He was too busy throwing up in the sink.

"It's okay." She spoke to Branch, still rubbing his back. "It's nothing dangerous."

Branch nodded, acknowledging her words, but too absorbed in nausea to really reply.

After a few long minutes, Branch stood, wobbling a little. "Ugh, my head is spinning." He groaned, closing his eyes. Poppy wrapped an arm around his waist. "I've got you." She murmured to him.

Peppy had long since disappeared back downstairs, not really wanting to be an audience.

Carefully, Poppy supported Branch back downstairs. "Dad?" She called.

Peppy appeared in the kitchen doorway.

"We're going to go home."

Branch seemed to be able to balance on his own now, so Poppy let him go and gave her Dad a quick hug.

"The announcement is on Thursday! Don't forget." She kissed him on the cheek, and then turned back to Branch, wrapping an arm around his waist again.

"I won't!" Peppy waved.

"I love you!" She waved back as she lead Branch back towards their house in the tree trunk.

"I love you too!"