-O-

Picturebook Romance

A Trolls fanfic

By Dreamsinger

Chapter Six

Silk and Velvet Secrets

Wrapped securely in Poppy's silken embrace, I gently pressed my head against hers. She leaned into my back, resting her chin on my shoulder with her arms around me, and we stayed like that for a while, just enjoying the quiet time together.

A light breeze from the open door made my hair flutter and noisily rustled the leaves on some nearby branches. I never wanted this moment to end, but eventually Poppy stirred. "We'd better get going," she said reluctantly. "We're late. I'm surprised none of our friends have been by to see what's taking me so long."

As she withdrew her warm hair from around me, the cool air both woke me up and made me feel a little bereft of her comfort, but I turned to ask her the question I'd been holding onto since she'd spoken so seriously earlier. "So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Well, when you mentioned how the other trolls will react when they hear that we're together, it got me thinking."

In a good mood now, I rolled my eyes and teased, "Uh-oh. Poppy's been thinking; look out."

She quirked an eyebrow, giving me a half-grin.

I chuckled and held up my hands placatingly. "Okay, okay, so what sort of crazy party plans are you cooking up now? I know: you want two parties, right?" I held up a finger. "First, a warm-up party, where you let everyone know you have some important news." I put up a second finger beside the first. "Then the trolls spend the time in between all hyped up with anticipation, until you finally tell them at the main party and we all dance until we drop?"

Poppy shook her head. "That's not what I- Hey…" She beamed at me. "You know what, Branch, I like the way you think."

"Hold on, could you say that again?"

She looked confused. "I…like the way you think?"

"Wow." I gave her a completely non-sarcastic smile. "I think that's the first time in my entire life that someone's said that to me. And meant it, anyway."

"Well, I'm sure it won't be the last," Poppy laughed. "But before that, I have a favor to ask."

"What, you need more bugs for the party?" I had an idea. "Maybe glimmers - get that soft lighting to really set the romantic mood, you know?"

"Another great idea, but no. I don't want to throw a party."

I froze. "Don't want to-"

Alarmed, I put my hand on her forehead. "Poppy, are you feeling all right?"

"I'm fine, Branch."

She wasn't running a temperature. "Then, why…"

"What I meant was, I don't want to throw a party yet."

I could only stare at her, thoroughly confused. Poppy hesitated, then looked away and shifted her feet uncomfortably. "I know this is going to sound weird, but would you mind if we didn't tell anyone we're dating? I mean, we can if you really want to, but I'd really like it if no one knew about us yet."

A shaft of pain stabbed me in the chest, and my legs went weak. How could she, after everything we'd shared?

With no explanation, my brain started churning out theories. "Is this because I said I didn't want to kiss you yet? Because I will, I'll kiss you right now if that's-"

"Branch, no." She sounded sincere. "That's not it."

I narrowed my eyes. "Then is it…because you're ashamed of being with the village outsider?"

Her eyes widened and she waved her hands rapidly in the air between us. "No, no, no, no; it's nothing like that! Really! And you're not an outsider!"

"Well, then…why, Poppy?" My voice cracked, betraying the pain I could no longer keep from my face.

"I - I don't know!" She gave me an anguished look, then buried her face in her hands. "I don't understand it myself. I keep imagining us telling someone, and then that troll tells someone else, and it spreads and before you know it, we're surrounded by a crowd of happy trolls, hugging us, congratulating us, singing to us…"

Her mental image eased my conviction that she was somehow still ashamed of me despite her denial, but it only increased my bewilderment. "So what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing!"

I stared at her, then crossed my arms and eyed her. "Okay, Poppy, what's going on?" I asked firmly.

She didn't look up at me, only sighed dramatically. "Maybe there is something wrong with me, Branch."

Concerned, I took her hands in mine, gently pulling them from her face so I could study her carefully, then released them and blew out a quiet breath of relief. "Well, you're not going gray, anyway. Come on, Poppy. Talk to me."

"It's just…" She twisted one hand inside the other. "I feel guilty, I think."

"Guilty? You're the happiest troll in the village. Do you even know what guilt feels like?"

She rolled her eyes at me. "Of course, Branch. Just because I'm happy doesn't make me perfect."

I opened my mouth to make a snarky comment, then grimaced. "Nah, too easy."

"What?"

"Nothing. So why do you think you feel guilty?" I spread my hands out inquiringly.

She looked uncomfortable. "I just keep having this feeling that the other trolls won't leave us alone so I can enjoy your company, and it makes me want to-" She cut herself off, apparently unable to continue.

"Go on," I said encouragingly.

"To tell them not to bother us." She turned big, remorseful eyes on me. "Branch, what kind of queen doesn't want to be with her own people? Not even our friends? I don't understand it. I mean, I love our friends. Why wouldn't I want them to be with us to share our happiness?"

My tense shoulders relaxed as I realized that for once, I understood exactly how she felt. "Honestly, Poppy, it sounds pretty normal to me."

"Uh…no offense, Branch, but what do you know about romantic relationships?"

"More than you realize."

It was on the tip of my tongue to elaborate, but if I brought up my past crush now, we'd get off track, so I only said persuasively, "Didn't I tell you once that I'm passionate about romance?"

"Well…I know you write poetry, but still…"

"Oh, I've done research." Reading romance stories and my family's relationship books qualifies as research, doesn't it?

"But…trolls are supposed to share everything."

"Is that what's bothering you?" I gave her wild hair an affectionate tousle. "Poppy, romantic relationships aren't exactly the same as a plate of cookies. You can't give everyone an equal share."

"But I'm the queen. I'm supposed to love every troll in the village equally."

I looked down and shook my head, smiling at her sweet naiveté. "Poppy, do you love your father the same as any other troll?"

She faltered. "I…well, no. But he's my dad, Branch. It's natural for him to be special to me."

"How about your boyfriend, then?"

Her mouth opened, then closed as a thoughtful expression began to ease the stress on her face.

I reached for her hands and softened my gaze, looking into her beautiful rose-colored eyes. "It's not that you don't want to be with them, Sunshine. It's just that you want to be with me more."

She went silent while she absorbed the idea. "So you really don't mind if we keep us a secret for a while?"

"Poppy, remember who you're talking to. If anyone understands the need for a little privacy, it's me. And besides," I winked at her, "I'd rather keep you all to myself, anyway."

She blushed, looking down and putting both hands over her heart. "I shouldn't say this, because I want you to love our people as much as I do, but Branch, is it okay for me to want you to love me just a little bit more than anyone else?" She let her hands drop and looked up at me wistfully. "Is it okay for me to be…well, selfish?"

I felt my eyes go round with wonder. She's serious. My stomach began to flutter as I reached out to slide my fingers lightly over her cheek. "I think I can forgive you," I said with a wry smile.

She put her hand over mine, pressing my palm against her cheek and smiling at me, but I didn't like the shadow in her eyes. Unlike me, Poppy was a very open, sincere person. So I let go of her and added, "Just one thing."

"What's that?"

"Do we have to lie to keep it a secret? I know this might sound strange coming from a troll who basically hid from society in a secluded underground bunker for years, but if we conceal our true feelings and pretend we're just friends, what happens when we finally tell everyone we've actually been dating? Won't they feel like we deceived them?"

She snapped her fingers and pointed at me. "Ooo, good point, Branch, good point." She lapsed into silence, then suggested, "Okay, how about this: we won't pretend there's nothing going on between us. We won't hold back or hide how we feel, and if anyone asks us outright if we're dating, we'll say yes."

"Ohh, I get it. So if no one asks…" I felt a grin grow on my face. "I like this plan. It might be kind of fun to see who picks up on it first. My guess is it'd be Biggie. Or Satin. They're both romantics, just like me."

Poppy gave me a tender look. "You're such a sweetheart."

While I was still blushing over that comment, she went on, "Well, I'd pick Smidge, or maybe Cooper. They don't miss much, even if Cooper seems absent-minded at times."

"Well, I guess we'll see then, won't we?"

For once, I had a feeling I was going to enjoy what came next.

-O-

I'm glad I decided to talk this out with Branch. I feel so much better now!

Poppy clapped her hands and spun around, heading for the door. "All right, then! Let's get this show on the road!"

Outside there was a sudden scuffling noise. Branch gave Poppy an alarmed look, then started for the door. Just then a large bug flew past, and the aquamarine troll's suspicion visibly eased as he turned back to her. "Poppy, aren't you forgetting something?"

The young queen turned curious eyes on Branch as he smirked and crossed his arms. "Unless the twins decided that 'bramble bush' is the hot new look, I'm going to need to borrow a hairbrush. And no offense, but there's someone else here whose hair could use a little TLC."

"Oh!" Poppy's hands flew up to her wild locks, her pink cheeks growing even rosier. "I forgot. Thanks for reminding me. Hey, I know, let's do each other's hair!"

"What?" The aquamarine troll took a step back, startled. "Uhhh, thanks, but I'm good."

"Oh, come on, Branch. It'll be fun. We always do this at sleepovers. It's traditional." She put a hand on his, and at her touch she felt his resolve weaken.

"Well…all right." He held up his forefinger. "But just because we're not hiding our new relationship status doesn't mean we have to go out of our way to advertise it."

"So, no matching hairstyles, then?" she said teasingly.

He crossed his arms, rolling his eyes and giving her the affectionate smile she could never get enough of. "Poppy."

She let out a giggle, then rubbed her belly. "Ouch."

Branch put a sympathetic hand on his own stomach. "You too, huh?"

"Yeah. Don't let me forget about that tickle game, okay? Gotta keep the old chuckle factory in shape."

"'Chuckle factory'?"

"Yeah, that's what my dad always calls it."

He snorted. "Cute."

Branch's hair turned out to be a real pleasure to brush. Poppy had him sit on the plush carpet in front of her while she gently drew her brush through his handsome deep-purple mane.

A troll's hair could be a nightmare to untangle if they'd slept poorly, tossing and turning or having dreams that caused them to move their hair in their sleep, but despite the fact that he'd been up at some point during the night to create that beautiful new scrapbook page, he'd obviously slept well, as he'd said. He'd sure looked deeply asleep to her when she woke up, and after his admission that he suffered from insomnia, she hadn't had the heart to rouse him.

The rest had clearly done him good. This morning his eyes were bright and alert, his stance ready yet relaxed; a far cry from the apprehensive troll who'd still been practicing his smile just months ago.

She had to resist the urge to drop a kiss on the top of his head. Be patient, Poppy. Soon you'll get to kiss him all you want. Look on the bright side – he's letting you touch him, right? So why not take every opportunity you can to help him get used to physical affection?

Poppy hesitated, then set her brush aside and began to comb her fingers gently through her boyfriend's long dark hair. At the first touch of her hands, his ears twitched and he stiffened, pulling in a quick breath that was almost a gasp. The pink troll bit her lip, then continued soothingly stroking his soft hair and using delicate skill to free the few knots she found.

His tight shoulders began to loosen and then, to her joy, Branch began to tilt his head, leaning into her caresses, his breathing deepening until it was nothing more than a series of long, contented sighs.

His beautiful thick hair was silk and velvet against her softly fuzzed fingers, inviting longer, deeper strokes and pulls. And Branch moved with her, his body becoming more fluid and pliant beneath her touch than she had ever suspected he knew how to be. Maybe he never had been, any more than she had known that she could so move another troll with just her hands alone.

It was a wonderful new kind of dance; one they were learning from each other, moment by moment.

How is it that everything I do with him feels so new, so different from doing the same things with my friends? She wondered what it would feel like when it was her turn.

And what about him? Has he never had anyone comb his hair before? I wonder if I could convince him to let me style it…

She was pretty sure she knew the answer to that, but just to be sure she asked him, "You want it left free, right?"

"Mm-hmm…"

He sounded…different. Poppy leaned over to check his expression. His eyes were closed and he wore a dreamy smile that made Poppy smile herself. "I guess you've never done this before, huh?"

"Nope," he drawled lazily, popping the 'p'. "Not since I was little, anyway. It feels…really…" He rolled his shoulders languidly. "Relaxing."

"I'll say. I've never seen you so relaxed. You're as loose as a palm frond."

"Ohh, yeahhh," he agreed amiably, in a tone so mellow she could practically hear his wide smile.

I've got to remember this the next time I want him to calm down. The young queen suppressed a giggle, both tickled and touched at how completely he'd given himself to her, letting her see a side of him that he would show to no one else.

Poppy was so enjoying the pleasure she brought to her beautiful aquamarine boy that she continued combing for far longer than she needed to, marveling every so often at how responsive he was to her touch.

Even his ears had gone soft, drooping a little and moving ever so slightly with every new stroke. They fascinated her. She kept catching herself reaching for them and had to keep diverting her hands back into his hair.

Finally, a little regretfully, she began using her brush to finish up, sliding his smooth silky locks between the brush and her other palm, lifting the strong purple strands high and proud.

As if it didn't want to let her go, his hair began to lengthen as her hands neared the ends, gently glimmering in soft, deep hues of amethyst and sapphire. Tiny iridescent sparkles began to appear with the passing of her brush, gently drifting into the air.

She stilled, enchanted all over again as memories of the first time her shining boy had delivered his heart into her hands welled up inside her. From that moment on, Branch was always there in the back of her mind, a warm, comforting presence; the rock she leaned upon. The spark of passion she felt for him lay hidden within the cushion of their friendship, its tiny, determined flicker making her seek him out and pull him into her world, no matter how he complained at times.

She'd felt the pull from him, too, stronger than ever before. Something about Branch had always attracted her, even when she was a child. He was so like and yet so unlike the other trolls, their joyful passion and love of life tightly focused and tempered with fierce determination.

She remembered how he'd once told her he never relaxed, and that he liked being that way. Maybe he'd just been unable to imagine himself any different. Yet all along she had wanted to bring out his brighter side, the side she suspected he'd secretly always wanted to feel free to let out, the side she now loved so dearly.

Her Branch. The one who laughed, who challenged her with a grin, the showoff, the one whose strange habits still managed to surprise her now and then. The Branch who was so adorably proud of himself when he raised his beautiful voice in song, making her heart sing, too. The Branch from her dream.

Mesmerized by his softly sparking locks, the pink troll gathered his shining dark hair in both hands and brought it toward her, burying her face in the profuse fluff and kissing the soft strands. Branch was still, his breathing deep and even, and she wondered if he even realized what was going on. Had he fallen asleep?

Then she remembered her promise to him and reluctantly lifted her face from his hair. Oh, well, it's not like I actually kissed him, right? She rolled her eyes, soothing the tiny twinge of guilt with a promise of her own: I'll be sure to make our first real kiss just as romantic as he imagined.

With a silly, loving smile, Poppy resumed brushing the rest of his hair, which remained extended just enough past the neat, orderly length at which he normally kept it to add a gentle sway to his style. She wondered when he would notice.

"All done," she said softly, not wanting to break the magic between them. He stirred but did not get up, moving slowly as if all his muscles had gone as soft as marshmallows.

Poppy noticed several long dark strands caught in her brush, and she tweaked them out to admire them. "You have a truly magnificent head of hair, Branch."

"Thanks."

He sounded as if he might be blushing, and she grinned to herself. Maybe it was time for a little Branch appreciation.

"It's so soft, and yet so strong," she purred. Kind of like you. So tough on the outside, yet so sweet and sentimental inside.

"And it's such a bold, striking color. I can see why it changed to that beautiful pure black when you were gray." Few trolls had hair quite as dark as his, an elegant rich purple with blue undertones that made him stand out almost as much as when he'd had black hair.

Idly she wrapped the strands around her pink fingers, appreciating the contrasting colors, and then paused as an idea blossomed. Of course! That's perfect! And I won't say anything. I want it to be a surprise…

Not really noticing what she was saying at first, Poppy commented, "You know, the only other troll I've ever seen with black hair was the time I-oh!"

Branch jumped at her yelp. "What?"

She didn't answer, and he turned to look up at her in concern. "Poppy, what's the matter?"

"I think Biggie might be the one after all."

"The one what?"

"The one who figures out we're dating."

It took him a second to shift mental gears. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, I just remembered; one time I walked in on a-" She tittered uncomfortably. "Um, a reeaally awkward scene where Biggie was dressed up to look like you and Mister Dinkles was dressed up to look like me and-"

"What?" He scrambled to his feet, looking scandalized.

"I know, right? Totally blew my mind!"

Branch bowed his head, closing his eyes and pressing a finger between his eyebrows. "Do I even want to know what they were doing?"

"It looked like they were doing some kind of roleplay where you – I mean Biggie – was kneeling on the ground with his hand out, offering something to me - Mister Dinkles, I mean, or maybe asking me for something. I couldn't tell – they both froze when I walked in and it was super weird so I just got out of there as soon as I could."

"Kneeling? Maybe they were just recreating what happened in the bergens' pot?"

"Well, maybe… But Mister Dinkles was wearing glitter and Biggie looked sort of… I can't describe it, but thinking back on it now, it almost seems like …maybe… Biggie ships us?"

Her boyfriend looked absolutely stunned. "And you're sure they were dressed up to look like us?" He squinted at her skeptically, the lines around his eyes deepening.

"Biggie was wearing a black wig with gray ears. Unless you've got a grumpy twin brother I don't know about, he was definitely you."

"Oookay." He ran a hand down his face, and Poppy couldn't hold back a chuckle even though her stomach protested. "My mind is officially blown."

"Could be worse." Poppy grinned cheerfully. "Mister Dinkles did make a cute me, even if he did need more glitter."

Branch sighed. "Looks like maybe our little secret isn't going to be a secret for long."

She shrugged her shoulders. "All the more reason to enjoy it while it lasts. My turn!" The pink troll plopped herself down on the carpet in front of him and gave him an expectant look.

He hesitated, then moved toward her. She scrunched her eyes shut.

Nothing happened. She waited, an impatient frown beginning to take over her look of happy anticipation. Finally she opened one eye and then the other, glancing sideways at her freestanding mirror to see what was taking him so long.

Her boyfriend was standing with one arm folded across his ribs, cupping his other elbow while he held his chin between his thumb and forefinger. He was frowning thoughtfully as he contemplated the literally knotty problem before him.

There was nothing Branch enjoyed more than working on a problem; rectifying a tangle – physical or theoretical – and putting it right. In fact, if there was one thing they had in common, it was that neither of them could become aware of a problem without doing everything in their power to try to fix it.

Poppy felt herself melting, a fond look spreading over her face. How handsome he looked! How intelligent; how competent. How lucky she was that he was hers. How glad she was that she had never given up on him! Branch would never be the kind of troll who rushed into anything, but he was always worth waiting for.

The young queen noted his sky blue eyes moving rapidly with his thoughts and got the sense that he was looking at the problem from multiple angles at once. She watched, fascinated, and caught the 'aha' moment just before his face relaxed into a pleased smile.

She slammed her eyes closed just as he began to reach for her. He had not picked up her brush.

The moment he touched her, she knew this was going to be different. Physical contact with other trolls was generally within the familiar bounds of Hug Time, or limited to casual touches between friends. Despite having had her hair brushed by her friends and her father all her life, Poppy found herself responding to his hands in a way she never had to anyone else's. If there had been any doubt in her mind that he was the one for her, it vanished the moment she felt the hesitant, tender brush of his fingertips against her skin.

It was not the touch of a friend. This was the touch of a lover.

Her world went small and close. Nothing existed except him as he gently slid his fingers across her cheeks into her hair, pressing deeply through the soft fibers to make contact with her head. Slowly he swirled his fingers in some mysterious pattern that must have made sense to him, but she was too busy enjoying the sensation to bother to focus.

Everywhere his fingers passed, her skin awoke, singing in a way that made her roll her head and moan to match the song.

Instantly his touch vanished. "I'm sorry; did I hurt you?"

It took her a moment to process his words. She turned to see him standing with his ears and hair pressed back, shoulders hunched, his fists pressed against his ribs and a deeply anxious look on his face.

"'Hurt me'? Branch, that feels amazing!"

His shoulders dropped as the lines around his eyes smoothed. "Really?"

"Yes!" she said enthusiastically. "Whatever it is you're doing, Branch, keep it up!"

His gaze shifted to the side and then back to her, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Uh, I'm just locating and isolating the worst of the tangles, but-" he shrugged, "Okay."

He still looked a little uncertain, and she remembered again how new he was to being close to someone. She settled down and closed her eyes, waiting.

This time his touch was more confident as he gathered up all her hair at once, letting it flow outward across his palms in a silken river as he gently pulled it straighter. He repeated this several times as she tried to prevent her head from lolling too much in bliss, not wanting to weird him out.

Still, she enjoyed every stroke, every tingle that lingered and spread deliciously down her spine. "Hey, Branch?" she murmured.

"Yes?"

"Take your time, okay?"

The waft of air from his nose on her bare neck made her shiver in delight as he chuckled silently. "Sure, Poppy," he replied, his tone rich with affectionate tolerance.

She felt herself easing back into the harmony that had grown between them earlier, leaning and swaying to the rhythm he set, a silly, languid smile on her face. Every glide of his fingers through her hair was a caress, soothing and exciting all at once.

Then his hands were joined by a new sensation; slender cool threads sliding smoothly through her own, lifting and testing, delicately tweaking at troublesome spots. He was using his own hair to comb hers?

She opened her eyes to check the mirror and was instantly captivated by the sight of him behind her, so close, so intimately close, his hands holding her head with gentle, steady pressure as slender ribbons of deep purple intertwined with bright magenta like a beautiful, intricate puzzle.

She felt a rush of love for her wonderful Branch, quietly focused on his task now with no sign of nervousness or discomfort. Occasionally his brow would furrow and his lips twitch when he ran into a knot. A few times she caught a hint of tension on his face and realized that he had managed to tangle his own hair with hers, but some careful work with his fingers and the rest of his hair would soon have him free again, his expression easing back into peaceful contemplation.

The young queen closed her eyes and gave herself over to his clever hands. As the last of the tangles were gently teased apart, his warm palms began to run over her head and neck, tenderly smoothing and caressing as her breathing deepened in response.

She began to watch the mirror again as he started collecting her hair into a topknot, his still slightly-puffy morning face a beloved study of concentration and caring. She let her eyes travel admiringly over his handsome features, feeling an odd desire to run her fingertips over his eyelids, to trace the care lines at the corners of his eyes, and touch his smile as his lips gently curved upward.

She was so absorbed in observing him that she actually jumped when he spoke.

"Poppy, do you have a hair band?"

"What? Oh, yes. Over there." She pointed to a small bowl in one of her wall niches, and he sent out a stream of purple to pluck one from its home.

He took up her brush then, and she closed her eyes again to enjoy the final few moments of his hands sweeping and gliding across her skin, alternating with the tingly scratch of soft bristles. He tied the topknot with her hair band and then his hands left her. She missed them instantly.

"Does it look okay?"

She opened her eyes to see him eyeing her topknot critically and turned to check the mirror. "Yes, it looks fine."

"Okay. Oh, sorry; I should have asked what you wanted. I can change it if you-"

"No, I like it." Something occurred to her. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah, I do. It reminds me of…" He looked to the side, then met her eyes. "Well, everything that happened between us."

"You mean when we went to Bergentown to rescue everyone."

He nodded, then looked a little sheepish. "Also, I just think you look really cute like that."

Poppy felt her face going red, and she put her hands to her cheeks. "Aww, Branch, thank you! That's the first time you've ever said you thought I was cute."

"It is?" Branch blinked, then grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Well then, that is an oversight I must address immediately."

The aquamarine troll's expression turned inward, searching, and then he sank down onto one knee in front of her. He placed a hand over his heart, his face softening with such affection that she felt her own heart begin to flutter in her chest before he even spoke. His voice was a hushed murmur meant for her ears alone.

I tried to pretend I didn't notice

I tried to pretend I didn't care

I told myself it was impossible

But your face was always there

My sparkle girl

His gaze was so clear and blue she felt as if she was seeing into the depths of his soul.

Cheeks of rose

All flecked with stars

And skin like honeydew

Dainty nose-

He tapped her nose lightly, and she giggled.

And your warm arms

Your hair of sunrise hue

A smile that glows

Lights up my heart

Your eyes so pure and true

She was gone, so lost in his words that she was hardly aware of anything else.

All these things at which I stare

Sneaking secret glances

Make even someone such as me

Believe in taking chances

It took her a moment to come back to herself, as he knelt there waiting for her response. She had to swallow to speak past the lump in her throat. "Branch, I... That was… You... The most…" She looked down, blushing. Had she ever been this tongue-tied? This smitten?

He gave her a pleased grin as he stood, offering a hand to help her up. She took it, clinging to his big warm hand as he lifted her up in more ways than one. Then she let go, looking down and pretending to brush carpet lint off her dress while she composed her thoughts.

"That was really, really beautiful, Branch. I loved it. Especially the part about me inspiring you to take chances." She reached for his hands again, looking earnestly into his bright blue eyes. "I've never received a greater compliment. Thank you."

For once he didn't evade her gaze, openly letting her see the real Branch; the devoted troll who loved her enough to follow her anywhere, who believed in her enough to change the fundamental way he saw the world, even when it defied everything he'd ever accepted as truth.

It took a lot of courage to take that leap of faith, and she would do her very best not to let him down.

Her true-blue friend, her trusty companion.

Her Branch.

Author's Note:

Whew! That's the first time I've tried to write a poem that wasn't for school. How'd I do?

Being in love is changing not only Branch but Poppy as well. For the first time, she wants something that will seriously affect how much time and attention she can devote to doing her job as queen, and she's trying to figure out a way to balance that, thus her request that Branch keep quiet about their relationship for now.

Also, she's noticing Branch physically more and more now. Plus there's another source of conflict I've been thinking about that we'll see more of in coming chapters.

The whole "relaxed as a palm frond" is a reference to the season 4 Trolls: The Beat Goes On episode "Branch Bum" (a play on the idea of a "beach bum" - someone who hangs out at the beach all day long instead of working at a job), where he finally gets a well-deserved chance to completely relax. It's one of my favorites!

I also reference a (hilarious) official Dreamworks Trolls short on Youtube called "Dress-up" where Biggie and Mister Dinkles really do act out a scene as Branch and Poppy.

And yes, I'm going to talk a lot more about Poppy's idea, and about Branch's past, including a crush he once had many years ago…