Okay so before any of you complain to me about how many weeks women start to show and all that jazz, I study childcare so I'm aware that 6 weeks is EXTREMELY early to start showing, but let's say that Troll physiology is very different to human physiology, and they may be other unforeseen circumstances to warrant it. (So please don't start pointing it out in reviews, I am aware, thank you c:)

Branch and Poppy barely made it back to their home in the Troll Tree before Branch threw up again, this time into the kitchen sink. He groaned and leant groggily against the counter as Poppy rushed up to their bedroom to change out of her ink-stained clothes. She came downstairs a moment later, now wearing a lilac dress. In her hair she wore a purple butterfly headband.

She carried a bundle of clothing for Branch, folded neatly, a pair of grey shorts and a light green vest. She stood in the doorway, watching him with anxious eyes. Upon hearing Poppy renter the room, he turned his head to look at her.

"Hello." He groaned, wincing a little. "Ugh. I hate throwing up."

Poppy nodded sympathetically. "I do too. It's the worst feeling in the world." She moved to stand beside him. "I've got these for you to change into." She showed him the pile of clothes, and he looked puzzled for a moment before looking down at himself and remembering the ink that Peppy had gotten on him when the three of them had embraced. He grimaced, plucking at his ruined vest sadly. "It's a shame. I liked this vest."

With a little smile, Poppy held up the nearly identical dark green vest she had brought down with her. "You mean the one that looks nearly exactly the same as all your other vests?"

"Yes, but this one was the vest I wore the day we saved all the trolls from being eaten."

"Oh." Poppy's smiled turned into a frown. "Then I suppose you're right. It is a shame."

Branch's ears began to perk up again. "On the bright side, I'm starting to feel better. And… there'll probably be a troll somewhere that knows how to get ink out of clothes."

Poppy nodded, feeling a little happier herself. "You're right. Maybe Satin and Chenille can do it. They know everything there is to know about clothes!"

"Good idea! Maybe we could have some lunch and then head over there." Branch said, straightening up. The colour seemed to be returning to his face, and Poppy thought that he must be feeling better if he wanted lunch.

As Branch began to take off his ink stained clothes to change into the clean ones, Poppy's eyes were drawn to his belly.

"Branch?" She touched his shoulder with her hand.

"Um.. yeah?" He was already in the clean shorts, and was about to put the clean vest on.

"Stand up straight for a minute."

Branch did what he was told, straightening his back and watching Poppy curiously.

"What is it?" He asked as she tilted her head to one side. Her eyes were fixed on his stomach.

Like a switch being flipped inside her, Poppy's eyes lit up and she started to smile. She looked up to meet Branch's eyes, and he could see that she was definitely excited about something.

"Poppy?"

"I think you've started to show!"

"What?!" Colour flooded Branch's face as he looked down to find that there was indeed a slight bump on his abdomen that hadn't been there before. The difference was small, but easy to spot if you looked hard enough.

"Oh how exciting!" Poppy cooed, rushing forward to hug Branch tight. "Isn't it exciting?"

"Y-yeah!" Branch's words were choked by the force of Poppy's hug. "It- it actually kinda is!"

When she finally released him, she took hold of his hands. Her eyes glittered with energy and interest. "Does it feel any different?"

"Uh- no not really." Branch's brow furrowed in thought. "Shouldn't it be too early? To show I mean. I'm only-" he lifted a hand, counting silently on his fingers. "-5… nearly six weeks."

Poppy frowned, considering. "I don't know." She admitted, thinking back to all those times in school when she didn't pay attention, stupidly thinking it wouldn't effect her. "Let's ask Daisy at your next check up." She added in a tone that seemed to signal the end of the conversation.

Branch nodded, and shrugged on his vest straightening it until it was perfect. "How do I look?"

"Handsome as ever." Poppy beamed, kissing him on the cheek. "Now what do you want to eat?"

"Hm… I don't mind. What do you feel like having?" Branch asked.

Poppy's eyes sparkled as if she was waiting for him to say that. "What about toasted cheese sandwiches?"

"Sounds good." Branch smiled before turning to grab the bread out of the cabinet.

Poppy turned in unison, though her target was the cheese. She found it nestled in the back of the fridge behind a jar of little gerkins.

"Got the cheese!" She announced, dropping it on the counter.

A moment later, Branch dropped the bread beside it. "Let's make some toasted cheese!"

"That was the yummiest toastie I've ever had." Poppy sighed in contentment.

"The yummiest." Branch agreed from his seat beside her on their bed. Crumbs were sprinkled about the blanket like snow, and as Poppy moved to a place the plates on the side table, Branch deftly swiped his hand over the blankets, brushing the crumbs onto the floor.

"I'll vacuum them up later." Branch raised his hands, defending himself at the reprimanding look Poppy gave him.

"You better." She eyed him suspiciously, though at the same time, playfully.

"Shall we go to see the twins then?" Branch suggested after a few minutes.

Poppy's face lit up. "Yes! Let's go!"

It only took Poppy five minutes to pull Branch down the stairs and out the door, barely enough time to catch his breath. Neither of them had spoken Satin and Chenille in at least a week, not since before they left on the failed expedition back to the old village. So much had happened, so much had changed. Poppy wondered if they missed her too.

They had made it half way their destination when Branch spoke.

"Poppy, we've forgotten the ink-stained clothes."

Poppy froze, and after a moment, huffed and turned around.

"Stay here!" She called to Branch as she sprinted off back in the direction on their house in the tree.

Branch rolled his eyes. It was so like Poppy to be forgetful and scatterbrained. She was a fantastic queen in his opinion, but when she got excited it was like her brain went too fast for her body to catch up.

By the time Poppy returned with the bag of inky clothes, Branch had taken a seat on the floor, and humming quietly to himself. It made Poppy's heart jump for joy. Not so long ago, Branch had hated singing, dancing and anything happy and joyous. Including humming. It was a joy to see him finally happy.

When Branch spotted Poppy hurtling along the tree branch towards him, he got to his feet, ready to get going again. "Got everything?" He asked.

Poppy nodded, opening up the bag to show him. "I think so." Inside, the clothes were scrunched and crumpled. She'd clearly stuffed them in carelessly, in too much of a hurry to fold them.

"Great! Let get going then." Branch took hold of her hand, and together they set off again toward the twin's pod.

When they finally arrived at the front door, Poppy let go of Branch's hand and reached up to knock. They only had to wait a moment before the door swung open.

"Poppy! Branch!" Satin squealed, jumping forward to wrap them both in a hug. Close behind her sister, Chenille joined the group hug.

"We're so happy to see you!" Chenille cooed, her eyes shining with joy. "It's feels like it's been forever!"