A new project always pumped Branch up. If the project included a good amount of calculus, engineering, and building things with his tools, then it was bound to get him hooked for days, weeks, or in this case, it was bordering a month of quiet digging and constructing and, so far, no one suspected a thing. He could barely wait to show it to Poppy and he couldn't imagine her face when she saw what he had come up with.

But first, he needed to shower. Branch emerged from the dark tunnels of his bunker completely covered in dust. The glasses were hanging on the front of his vest like an elderly troll would wear them.

His watch hit the eight hug time that day and the survivalist internally cursed. He had gotten carried away. Poppy would be there at any moment to discuss the next day's schedule and he was stinking! He couldn't let her see him like that.

The shorts were abandoned in the loungeroom, his vest in the hallway, and his briefs were taken off halfway through the bathroom door. He got under the shower even before the temperature adjusted to his liking and immediately put on the shampoo to clean his hair in the best way possible. Poppy seemed to take enjoyment in caressing his strands so they had to be smelling good! The smell, by the way, was provided by a mint shampoo that she had mentioned she enjoyed when he followed her into a large shop of hair products.

And she had said something about bringing pizza because they had to talk about something urgent that Lownote Jones had mentioned that day. So, Branch quickly set the table with plates and silverware, adjusting the chairs perpendicular to each other so they could stay close and still talk comfortably.

Just in time, he heard her familiar three knocks before taking the elevator down. The smile widened when he walked to greet her. Only to stop in his tracks when he saw her bending down to pick up the filthy pair of shorts he had discarded.

"Nah, forgot those. Sorry!" He snatched the item from her hand and quickly threw it inside the bathroom, hoping that she wouldn't ask any more questions. "Anyway, glad you're here!"

Poppy's hair was also wet, which was a surprise because she rarely left her pod without blowing her hair dry. He assumed she was running late as he was. She also chose to wear a dark purple dress, which he hadn't seen before. Her strawberry perfume was fresh and she was wearing more makeup than usual.

That could only mean one thing.

"You're tired!"

Poppy smiled weakly at him. Guilty as charged, the queen handed him the pizza box before sitting down on the chair by the kitchen table.

"Yes." But that answer didn't stop her from taking a notebook and a pencil from her hair. "I had a couple of busy nights, but I swear I'm good to get this done."

"Wait," Branch sat down next to her, the pizza was forgotten for a moment. He had plunged into his project the last few days and he didn't even notice she wasn't getting enough rest. Was she ever going to learn to take care of herself? "Is there something going on?"

"Oh no," she smiled sheepishly, "it's just the usual. Val needed assistance to get Demo back as her manager - late-night concerts, you know Rock Trolls - then Minuet wouldn't rest because she wanted to prepare for the audition and I sort of spent the whole night trying to convince her to sleep. And then," a brief yawn interrupted her, "just now Guy Diamond wanted me to see his speech in a very isolated cavern, which is why I am late. I'm sorry."

So, it looked like she was as busy as he was, Branch mused. It could also be a good opportunity to get her to stay over. In her bedroom. Like she did a couple of times before.

"So… you were convincing Minuet to sleep, but you also stayed up to get the convincing done," he smacked his lips to show her his reproval. Poppy gave him a guilty smile as he proceeded to cut the pizza slices for both of them. "As I said, you're pretty reckless."

"I'm trying to do better," She barely waited for the pizza to be placed in front of her and took a big bite. Her stomach rumbled loudly in agreement. "I may have forgotten to have decent meals, but I'm strong and kicking."

"Right." Branch rolled his eyes before focusing on his slice. "You should stay over today."

"Oh, I couldn't possibly intru-"

"I made a room for you and I want you to use it when you need proper rest," He pointed out, "Besides, it has been a while since you stayed."

"Yes…" guilty as charged, Poppy decided to agree with him to get it over with. "About tomorrow's schedule…"

"You eat and rest. I'll take care of the schedule." Branch reached over the table and snatched the notebook before she started taking notes during dinner. "Hugging, dancing, singing, games, contests. The usual."

He noticed his mistake when Poppy gave him a devilish side smile. Her toes raised to touch his leg from under the table, causing a small tickle that seemed to wake every cell of his body to its full alert mode. Barely, touching, she made his breathing catch in his throat as he watched her. She batted her eyelashes at him and her foot went up to touch his knee.

"Uh… Poppy?"

"You look handsome when you think you can boss me around."

No. Indeed, he couldn't boss her around. Not when she had those feminine weapons. Not when she managed to turn his brain into goo by simply touching him with her foot. Not with her hands, not with her hair, and definitely not with a hug. But a single long touch from under the table seemed to make him forget how to speak and breathe at the same time.

"But I agree with you," she retracted her foot and finished her pizza. "I need to rest. I just don't remember if I have clean clothes here."

"Y-you do." Branch stuttered, still reeling from the ghost sensation that was left on his leg. "I placed some clean pajamas in your drawer last week." He didn't even blush at doing her laundry anymore. He got used to seeing her white panties, Hair knows how.

"Perfect," Poppy pushed her plate away and motioned for him to start eating since he still had to finish the first slice. He obeyed instantly, "I bumped into Lownote Jones earlier today," Branch opened his mouth to ask what had happened, but Poppy pointed at his plate, so he took another bite as she continued, "he was looking for Pushy Poppy. It seems she's managed to sneak into our dimension to ruin our fun."

Branch frowned, trying to recall who that troll was and if he had ever heard of her.

"She's a version of me that tried to cheat on a game once," Poppy quickly explained, "I don't think I mentioned her before. Anyway, she's not trustworthy and Lownote asked to tell him once we spotted her. I particularly think she's a nice girl deep inside, but… I don't know."

"Well, if Lownote asked, then we should do as he says." Branch finished the pizza and stood up, picking both plates to take to the sink. "Hair knows the weird kind of universe secrets that troll keeps."

The sink was full of dishes. Branch hadn't realized he had managed to build a deconstructivist piece of architecture with all the plates he had piled up the previous days. Working on his project certainly had made him neglect housework.

He reached for the soap but stopped. Feverish hot arms wrapped around his torso, face buried in his back, pinning him against the counter with little room to think what was going on.

"Poppy?"

She whimpered, her voice drummed through his back and he could feel how much she was missing him.

The pile of dishes could wait. Branch turned around so her face was now buried in his chest, hands gripping firmly on his vest. She looked so inviting that before he knew it he was nuzzling her hair, his hands were on her lower back pulling her even closer.

"Are you okay?" The grip on his shirt tightened. She knew he hadn't meant her weary stare.

"Last time I stayed you had a nightmare." He heard Poppy's words but he couldn't comprehend what she was saying. It was months ago since she had stayed. They had been so busy that they barely had time for cuddles. "I was scared for you."

"Oh…" Branch's hand traveled through her back, resting on her hips. "I have nightmares sometimes. But I'm used to them."

"Has it always been like this?" She turned her face so her lips were on his neck. Not kissing, but feather-touching his skin as she spoke.

"Yeah…" since he lost his grandma, but he wouldn't mention it. Poppy seemed to hesitate. She wanted to stay, but she didn't want to intrude on his secrets. That's why she hadn't shown up in a while. "You cannot fight nightmares, believe me, I've tried." Not knowing where the boldness came from, Branch pinched her pink chin to make her look up to him. "But it's nice to know you're here when I wake up."

Thank Hair he was still leaning against the counter because his knees were about to give out when Poppy reached up and brushed her lips over his. Branch inhaled loudly, wrapping his arms around her and bringing his girlfriend as close as physically possible.

She wanted more. Branch could feel it. Her fingers lightly touched his hairline, caressing his ear. For a second he thought he would go mad. His body seemed to act on strong instinct and before he knew it he was trying to part her lips.

He widened his eyes and pulled away, suddenly realizing what he was doing. He jumped two feet away, seeing her breathing heavily, flushed, and holding a hand to her chest. She also didn't know what they were doing.

"Uh…" he quickly averted his eyes, finding the wall suddenly very interesting. Perhaps he should paint it. "You can sleep all you want. I promise to be quiet in the morning."

When she didn't answer, he had to look back at her. He expected to find a confused girl, maybe even hurt because he pulled away so suddenly, but instead, he found her looking adoringly at him.

"I will join you as soon as I wake up."