Catching Up

Who would have guessed that Branch would miss glitter so much? He kept glancing up from his book to capture small glimpses of his bubbly girlfriend working on several invitations. They had talked a lot during dinner, then they fell into a comfortable silence. She was going to spend the night, as he had requested. He didn't mind one bit the amount of glitter he would have to vacuum the next morning.

His book was interesting, but not as interesting as watching her skilled hands cutting the colorful paper into tiny characters to glue them on equally bright pages. In half an hour, she was already cutting tiny Poppy and Branch characters that were placed by each other's side in the front of the folder. He didn't even ask what all those invitations were for.

Maybe one day he should try scrapbooking again…

"So," she cut him out of his thoughts, "you don't have to tell me what's the project you're working on, but I confess I'm a little curious about what made you so mysterious during the last days."

His brows immediately shot up. Branch had almost forgotten the small lie he had told Poppy to keep her away. He wasn't working on anything! He had been busy trying to fix his mental health and nothing else! Except for the usual home improvements, he had nothing to show her…

Oh wait.

"I was just working on another tunnel," Branch stood up, motioned for her to follow him and he opened a door on the side of the kitchen, a door which Poppy thought was some sort of storeroom, but instead it was a long hall that lead to unfinished tunnels, with drilling equipment around. "I accidentally removed the bottom of the old well. You cannot believe how many cupcakes fell from there."

Indeed, when Poppy stepped into a larger hall - which was big enough to become another garage - she immediately smelled a sweet air, like sugar had melted down on the floor.

"It took me forever to clean it up. I was all sticky. Bleagh." Branch had been covered by a wave of frosting and ants seemed to have invited themselves in, as well. "Anyway, I found out that some trolls use the old well to make wishes. I was going to rebuild the bottom, but if we don't tell everybody to stop throwing cupcakes inside, then the structure will end up rotting all over again."

Poppy stood there, looking at the round end of the from where the stars outside could be seen. The moon was shining in its full splendor. The light formed a beacon that brightened up the dark and dusty room. It was almost magical…

"Or…" Poppy looked at him with her eyes gleaming and Branch immediately regretted showing her the well. "We could try making their wishes come true!"

"Oh, jeez, Poppy, do you even have the time? I mean, you're always multitasking-"

"I said 'we', Branch. You're totally coming on board with me." She squealed and that sound alone made the survivalist give in. It wasn't a bad idea… besides, he would get free cupcakes, right?

"Well, the holidays are coming, I think I could try making a couple of trolls happy to keep the spirits high."

Poppy gave him a bone-crushing hug, hearing that. No, really, at some point Branch felt a bone crack and prayed he didn't have any internal bleeding.

"You're the best! Gosh, I missed spending time with you!"

"Okay, I really need to breathe." Poppy only let go when she noticed he was turning purple. Maybe she had squeezed a little too hard.

"Sorry, sorry," giggling, she took his hand to walk back to the lounge room. Branch smiled at her, after checking the integrity of his neck bones. Perhaps the hyoid was a little damaged, but it didn't stop him from closing his fingers around hers. "You know, we should get together more often."

"Yeah…" Branch blushed and looked away. "We should."

"I know!" Excitedly, the queen quickly looked at the kitchen's table through the door, where she left all the sparkling invitations she had been working on. "What about we go on a balloon ride over trolls' kingdom and hang out?"

A date! Branch's brain buzzed in alarm. A romantic date! Him, Poppy and a splendorous view! It would be so much better than his first frustrated attempt to take her out! Oh, he wouldn't make her cry in this one.

"Sounds great!"

"So, so great!" Poppy repeated. Cutely, she walked backwards towards her room, with Branch watching her mischievous grin. "Good night, Branchfer."

She closed the door and the survivalist felt his knees going weak.

He needed flowers! He needed a tie! He needed his best clothes!

A date!