Sticks were drawn as Branch had first shift, allowing the two queens to rest in the balloon. Branch stayed up, comparing the map to their location.
"Sheila, keep going this direction" Branch said looking at the night sky, which we would admit was beautiful. Branch took the view in, admiring the sights. a few hours into his shift he looked at the girls sleeping, a blanket from Poppy's bag draped over the two girls.
Branch struggled to keep his eyes open. Sheila was navigating so it would not hurt so much is Branch dozed off for a few seconds.
Branch slipped into a quick sleep. his dream was a pleasant one, in it he and Poppy were on a warm beach, he was wearing his red trunk and Poppy a yellow one-piece swimsuit. after a long day of swimming and lounging on the beach, they two were laying in beach chairs, sipping on fruity drinks.
"I Really needed this" the pink troll said, lounging as she eyed her boyfriend like a juicy piece of fruit, getting off her chair.
"Branch, you mind if I set there" Poppy asked as he nodded agreeing to switch seats with Poppy, saying he would move as she interrupted him, sitting on his lap, kissing the teal troll, which honestly surprised him. they had been intimate, but this was a bit forward as she kissed him.
"You think we should get out of these wet swimsuits, and make love on the warm sand?" Poppy asked in a suggestive tone, not fitting the Poppy he knew as Branch realized he was dreaming.
Since the event of the Dream parasite Branch read up on identifying and controlling Dreams, as he looked at Dream Poppy, pulling her into a kiss, sniffing her strawberry scent. Branch felt something covering his eyes as the beachscape disappeared.
"Poppy, that you" Branch teased waking up as he felt hands covering his eyes finally getting his answer the figure spoke. It sounds like Poppy but a bit off, like she had a cold.
"Branch, guess what I'm wearing right now, and it's not a blue dress" The Queen asked, snuggling up against his back as Branch enjoyed the game.
"Pajamas?" Branch asked confused as the voice chucked, saying he could not see it back she was shaking her head.
"Think dirtier" The voice responded as Branch who was still aroused from the dream, envisioned Poppy in her cute panties as she chuckled, asking Branch to close his eyes in give her a kiss. Branch was a bit confused but did as his girlfriend instructed, Branch closed his eyes as the hands were removed, he turned around kissing the female trolls, locking lips. as the girl slid her tongue into Branch's mouth, he placed his hands on her cheeks. The two twirling tongues in a long and pleasureful kiss.
This Kiss was different than usual but maybe she was experimenting. They were practically swapping spit.
"I Love you so much" Branch replied, wrapping his arms around her in a hug, she did the same but instead firmly squeezed his butt, complimenting his firm rear
It was when she didn't return the hug that Branch realized something was up and using logic realized what had happened without even opening his eyes.
"Barb, it's you, isn't it?" Branch asked eyes still closed as the Rock queen dropped the Poppy act, claiming it was hard to pull off her vocal tones.
"Are you really indecent?" Branch asked, his eyes still closed as she chuckled, telling branch she was wearing the tiniest hot pink panties, he's ever seen, and was topless, her nipples hard from the cool night air.
"They are so hard right now, the cool night breeze" Barb said as Branch resisted every urge to open his eyes. to no use as Barb shook him, opening his eyes on instinct. unlike what she claimed Barb was fully dressed, black leather short, white shirt, chuckling.
"Man, you should have seen the look on your face" Barb teased. Branch looked to Poppy who was still sleeping like a log.
"I Can't believe I snatched a kiss from you" Barb replied as Branch covered her mouth, telling her not a word of this reaches Poppy's ears as Barb chuckled.
"Don't worry Boy-Toy, I won't tell her" Barb replied, claiming it was just a joke.
"As if you'd ever have a real chance with me, you're...you and I'm a Queen" Barb replied as Branch looked at her, reminding her that he was in a solid relationship with Poppy and had no interest in Barb.
"The Only reason I kissed you was because I thought you were Poppy" Branch defended as Barb smirked.
"And a long and wet kiss it was" Barb teased as Branch was naturally upset at Barb for what she did.
"Look Barb, you may be okay with not having anyone who cares about you but i have a loving relationship, Poppy and I care about each other, maybe you can't fathom the idea of Love and relationships but that doesn't mean you get to ruin mine" Branch whispered in a threatening tone as Barb looked silently, his word actually seeming to have struck a nerve as she instantly back off.
"Boy- I mean Branch, I'm sorry. Really i was just playing around, I don't want to ruin your relationship it's just" Barb sniffled as Branch looked at her confused.
"I'm actually kind of jealous. I mean you and Poppy; I know I put on the tough girl act, but I'm still a girl... I still have feelings. Part of me wants to feel loved" Barb confessed, sincerity slipping through her act.
"And you're not jerking me around, you'd hair swear this is for real?" Branch asked as the rocker nodded, curling on the edge of the basket. Telling Branch how she was expected to act being the leader of the Rock Tribe, she was the embodiment of the culture, and a lot of pressure comes with that.
"Sometimes that means I can't be true to myself" Barb admitted as Branch actually now felt a bit bad for her, not enough to forgive her but to understand where she was coming from.
"I'm sure there is someone out there for you" Branch comforted, never seeing this side of the Rocker before, sitting beside her as she genuinely apricated them talking even after she punked him.
"It was nothing compared to what Cloud Guy does to me, I can forgive you" Branch said as Barb looked at him, being serious as she asked a question.
"Say you are Poppy weren't together, could you see you and me being a thing, purely hypothetical" Barb asked as Branch scratched the back of his head, saying he barely knew her, even then she was Queen of the Rock Trolls, a completely different tribe, very different to dating Poppy.
"Maybe in sore other universe, where I was a Rock Troll but in reality, I don't see it working out" Branch said as Barb nodded.
"Honestly if I had to have a boyfriend I wouldn't want a Rock Troll, they act like I'm their ruler, not their friend, and they're very distant. They're my followers, my fans, and you should never date a fan" Barb imported some words of wisdom. Branch was surprised to have this conversation with Barb about Love and relationships.
"Since we're talking relationships, can I ask you a question" pointing at the Sleeping Poppy. Branch reached into his vest pulling out a small box, opening as a fancy diamond ring was inside.
"Sweet Hair Gel" Barb gasped, amazed by the rock on that ring. it was a pink diamond, entangled in golden vines, resembling a flower as Barb opened up.
"At the end of Harmonyfest or Trollstock, I was planning on proposing to Poppy. I want to ask her to marry me" Branch admitted, closing the box as Barb chuckled.
"Listen to me talking about relationships like a softie" Barb said wiping her eye, "In all seriousness I think you two would make a great couple, she loves you and you love her" Barb admitted as he smiled.
"Thanks for talking to me about this, I never figured you had a gentle side" Branch said as Barb blushed.
"You don't tell anyone" Barb replied, saying she would break his face as he chuckled. The chuckling caused Poppy to wake up as she was yawning, stretching.
"Oh, you both are up, what are you talking about?" Poppy asked, getting up as the two looked at each other.
"Belt Buckles/Cookies" The two replied at the same time "Belt Buckle shaped cookies, I was gonna make some for Harmonyfest" Barb covered, saying that is her shift to watch.
"You two go back to sleep?" Barb suggested as Branch laid down beside Poppy, the both of them drifting off to sleep. Barb looked at the two cutely snoring, clinging together as they slept.
Barb actually admitted they made a good couple but deep down a part of her was jealous, she wished that could be her, being cuddled under the covers by Branch, being touched, being loved. but she knew he was taken so she best thing to do was that had to accept that.
A/N: So, Branch plans on proposing to Poppy during Harmonyfest and even has a nice ring to complete the ensemble, on top of that Barb is crushing on Branch. where will it go from here