a/n: i am the queen of posting oneshots i wrote during the christmas season in february. all au's are valid okay? even christmas ones...during february..i'm sorry. this isn't too holiday-centric, anyways. just 'poppy thoughts' a few months after she and branch are married. (if you're enjoying this at all, reviews help me update faster...cough, cough) thanks for reading!

flowersforfanfics: THANKS A MILLION FOR THE SUPPORT i love you very much! even though you've READ ALL OF THESE BEFORE LMAO i will keep updating, for you.

iv. for everything

She wakes up in warmth, the comfortable kind that entwines around every limb and poses an incredible argument to ditch the whole let's-get-up-today thing. Poppy is glad she's at liberty to take a vacation from life's troubles, just for a little while, because his arms are draped snugly around her waist and his even breath tickles the side of her neck.

Poppy consciously traces the side of his jaw and digs fingertips through his dark hairline, tenderness pulling the edges of her mouth as Branch sighs peacefully, nestling deeper into her body.

It's their first Christmas tomorrow, as husband and wife. Poppy doesn't know why she keeps taking note of firsts, they've done this stuff before. Only.. not with a promise wrapped around her left finger and the person that matters most completely belonging to her. Branch would scoff at that thought, since "Poppy, I've always belonged to you.", but she knows he enjoys the sentiment just as much as she does. It's put on paper now, like a scrapbook.

Branch mumbles in his slumber and Poppy bites her tongue to hold back an adoring snicker.

He was never what Poppy expected, but now that Branch Holloway is in her life, for good and all, forever and ever, Poppy cannot imagine anyone else taking that spot. No one else could possibly whisper gentle, vulnerable "I love you's" at two in the morning, could press their lips on hers, could hold her hands like she was their sole anchor, could have all of her. No. No one could. Just him.

The gentle rise and fall of his chest stops, and Poppy glances down to see exalting blue eyes gazing up at her sleepily.

"Hey," She smiles, inhaling as he shifts upwards and presses his doting mouth under her ear.

"Why are you awake?" He sits up, still leaning into her.

"I can't sleep before Christmas!" She squeals, chuckling at Branch's tell-tale flinch.

"Should've known." Branch lets his eyes flutter close as she snuggles into him. It's silent except for snow-drifts knocking on the window panes, quiet as slippers on carpet.

"And.." Poppy says quietly, Branch shifting his pleasant gaze to her. "I'm just excited." She bites her lip.

His smile is crooked and fond and warm enough to grow fields of flowers. "For what?"

Poppy locks eyes with him. She studies every part of his face, and knows he's doing the same as his eyes shift across her expression. Her heart swells. "For everything... Do you feel that way, too?"

Branch's eyes seem to glisten and immediately Poppy presses her mouth to his, their lips reflecting in serene smiles. "I do."