-O-

Picturebook Romance

A Trolls fanfic

By Dreamsinger

Chapter Forty-Two

Bedtime Bonding

Note: I added a little to the previous chapters. In chapter 40, I had Branch notice the scratch on her leg from the prickle bush during their bath. In chapter 41, where Poppy looks through Branch's old belongings, I gave him a beautiful wooden chest with his old nickname carved on it, for his trollhood treasures.

-O-

As I returned to the always-rewarding endeavor of literally making a clean sweep of my bunker, Poppy's words came back to me and I let out a high note of amusement from my nose. Oh, man. I can see that I'm gonna be everything from Captain Apple to Captain Zither from now on.

Still, there were much worse nicknames.

In my journals, I'd often referred to Poppy as "the sunshine of the village" or "the one bright spot of my day", so spontaneously calling her 'Sunshine' yesterday had come naturally to me, even though I normally didn't go around nicknaming things. Hm. I must've picked up that habit from Jaunty – I forgot that he was always coming up with weird nicknames for things. Funny how something from the past can come back to you when you least expect it. At least it was something good this time.

I was glad she was happy with her nickname.

Of course, now that Poppy had picked up the habit from me, I was a little worried that someone would catch on to the fact that we were dating. And I really hope she doesn't set her heart on something ridiculously embarrassing. Thankfully, so far she did seem to be trying to pick a nickname that would please me. That alone made me feel special. In fact, now that I was used to the notion, I was surprised to discover how muchI really liked the idea of having a special nickname or two of my own, given to me by someone who loved me.

After I finished cleaning the lift shaft and deposited the glitter-roller fluff into the trash bin, I retrieved the medical supplies I needed from the main-level bathroom where I'd put them away earlier. In my bedroom, I set them down on my little bedside table and put on my usual two-piece pajama set, slipping the wide, flat arnica salve pot and the smaller antiseptic jar into my back pockets to use my body heat soften them so I wouldn't have to press on her bruise quite so hard this time. Poppy hadn't seemed to mind earlier, but she could be too forgiving for her own good.

As I looked at my bed, Poppy's unexpected comment came back to me, and my cheeks grew warm. I was tempted to change the bedding, even though the sheets were clean. Still, it made perfect sense that my bed smelled like me. I wondered now how much of the sweet scent I'd enjoyed last night had come from her bed, rather than Poppy herself. I never would have thought of that.

But I guess I shouldn't worry about it. Poppy said she liked it. I shook my head, the corner of my mouth turning up in a crooked grin. Wow. Queen Poppy of Troll Village likes the way I smell. We're going to share my bed. I'm not going to sleep alone. I put out a hand, wonderingly smoothing out a small wrinkle in the soft brown blanket. Man, every time I think I've gotten used to this, it blows my mind all over again.

I went to wait for Poppy in the living room, surveying the colorful chaos of our quiet time together with a fond smile. As I bent to brush stray flecks of glitter off the couch, I heard the lift coming up.

"Hey, good timing," I said cheerfully. As she entered the room, I turned around and stopped short, staring. Poppy was wearing a fuzzy pink one-piece body suit, with a few bright, flower-patterned patches here and there. Two long, slender ears rose above her head, furry pink rabbit-eared slippers covered her feet, and a poofy cotton-tail decorated her butt. "Aww, look at you," I cooed. "You found my old bunny pajamas. I didn't think it was possible, but you managed to become even cuter than usual. I hope they fit okay."

"Thank you." My girlfriend swayed from side to side, pleased at the compliment. "And yes, they fit fine."

-O-

Poppy paused to admire the gentle, domestic picture her boyfriend made in his paternal blue-and-white striped pajamas; a far cry from the 'rough-and-ready, camouflaged-warrior' look he tried to project during the day. Although it never seemed to occur to him that most of the other trolls thought his leaf vests were cute, as she did.

She adjusted the ear-headband, beaming at him. "I love these pajamas, Branch. They're so cute! I never would have thought you'd choose to wear something so whimsical, especially back then."

"I didn't actually choose them," he admitted, "but, well, they were the last gift Jaunty and Courtley ever gave me. When I was almost twelve."

Poppy clasped her hands together, her eyes all big and sparkly. "Aww…" Touched, she hippetty-hopped toward him with her arms out, and his own arms spread wide to welcome her into his warm embrace.

Branch rubbed his cheek against her own, his big hands gliding up and down her back. "Mmm…I always forget how buttery-soft silkfleece is. You're even more snuggly than usual, Sunshine."

Poppy giggled in delight as she cuddled herself into her boyfriend, thoroughly enjoying the long, richly satisfying sweeps of his hands along her body. Gosh, if he keeps reacting like this, I think I'm gonna be wearing these a lot, she thought happily, loving his embrace, and loving times like these, when he shared precious memories from his past with her. Unlike the rest of her people, there was so much about her boyfriend that she didn't know. She was going to enjoy spending the rest of her life learning about him.

Then, to her joy, Branch shared even more. "Yeah, they were my favorite pajamas for a long time. Putting them on was like being hugged by my dads."

"Aww, that's so sweet." And a little sad.

"I wore them until I couldn't fit into them anymore. I patched them when they got worn out; I even cut off the gloves and feet so I could keep on wearing them."

Poppy nodded, looking down at the pink-and-yellow flowered patches on her knees, elbows, one hip and the opposite shoulder. They were made from soft, sturdy felt, and despite being well-washed, showed traces of ground-in dirt; just what she would expect from an active young troll. The cutoff wrist and ankle cuffs had been neatly hemmed with thick, cream-colored stitches. "Yeah, these pajamas looked well-loved. I had a feeling they might be special to you."

"They used to have a hood, too. I did keep the ears, though." Branch nodded at the pink-eared headband comfortably settled atop her damp, fluffy magenta mane. She had stored her regular crown within her hair earlier for safekeeping while they bathed.

"Well, I'm sure you looked adorable in them." Her voice was rich with affection. "You're adorable now."

He smirked. "Yeah, I guess there's no hiding my adorableness."

He sounded like he was joking, but Poppy hoped he meant it. She wanted him to truly believe that he was beautiful in her eyes, and she would keep on complimenting him until he did, and even after.

His face softened. "But I'm not the only adorable one here." He cupped her cheeks in his hands. "You, my lady, are cute as a button."

He kissed her nose, and she blushed with pleasure. "Thank you."

As he let her go, Branch gave her a thoughtful look. "Actually, Poppy, if you really like them so much, would you like to keep them?"

Her eyes widened as she put a hand on her chest. "Really? But Branch, these pajamas were a special gift from your dads. I can't take them away from you."

"Poppy, they've been sitting in a box for years. If you wear them, I can appreciate them…and you."

"Oh. Well, in that case, I'd be honored," she said, somehow managing to look earnest despite the bunny ears bobbing gently overhead.

He crossed his arms, resting one elbow on the back of his other hand so he could contemplatively tap his chin. "In fact, maybe I'll make myself a matching set, now that there's room for a little whimsy in my life."

Poppy gasped. "Matching outfits? Yes!" She held out her fist and Branch laughed as he gave her a gentle fist-bump, joining her in a very whimsical pewww! As they wiggled their fingers at one another, magenta and midnight purple feathered into airy clouds above them.

"Hey, Branch, I thought you didn't want to wear matching outfits," she teased him.

"Only because it would clue people in that we're dating. But here in the bunker, it's fine." He winked. "It can be our little secret."

That was the opening she'd been waiting for. "Speaking of secrets, Branch… You know how you said to look through three boxes with your old nickname on them? Well, I…sort of opened a fourth one," she confessed. "A beautiful red cedar chest. It had 'Branchkin' carved on it." She ducked her head meekly. "I hope you don't mind."

"Oh, you opened my old toy box?" Branch shrugged. "No, I don't mind. There's nothing in there that would shock you." Poppy picked up on his unspoken comment. Unlike in my journals.

Relieved that he wasn't upset with her, Poppy agreed enthusiastically, "Definitely not! There's a lot of great stuff in there. Especially that cool board game, Trial Run. Branch, would you play it with me sometime? It looks so fun!"

"Really?" Shining azure eyes lit up like the sun was behind them. "Sure! I'm glad you like it." With the zeal of an avid hobbyist, he rambled, "Okay, so initially I created it as practice, to prepare for when the bergens or natural disasters or other threats hit us, you know? Leafe and Cherry Blossom and I would come up with all kinds of disaster scenarios, and create survival strategies, both offensive and defensive. Eventually I had hundreds of them. Nothing was gonna get past me!"

Poppy couldn't help but smile at his adorkable enthusiasm as his arms swooped through the air. "Sounds like you had a lot of fun."

Eagerly he began, "Yeah, I did! I -" He cut himself off, looking thoughtful. "I did. Well. Not that I would have admitted it, but yeah, it was fun. But after I moved into my bunker, playing it by myself just wasn't the same. I started getting a little bored with essentially doing the same thing over and over, so I decided to create some new players, some based on trolls I knew, and some unique ones. At some point, it changed from battle-strategy tactics to a straight-up adventure game. One where you and I were partners, the way I wanted to be in real life."

"Aww. So I guess you put it in storage because we finally made friends with the bergens?"

"No, I…" The light in his eyes suddenly faded. "It was because I gave up on the idea of us ever being a couple." He cast his gaze downward, the tips of his ears wilting a little.

Her heart twinged. She was starting to see that no matter how happy he got, Gray Branch would always be a part of him. But that was okay, because she loved him, too. She always had.

And she had years of experience in cheering him up – well, as cheerful as he ever used to get. "Gave up? Are you sure?"

He looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

She began counting on her fingers. "You kept my invitations all these years. You wrote poetry about me. You never dated anyone else; at least, not that I know of?"

He shook his head. "No."

"During your very first song, you openly confessed your love to me, in front of everyone, without fear. It's been six months since then, and in all that time, you could have looked for a girlfriend of your own, or even just a frolic partner, but you didn't. You waited for me to notice you. So I don't think you ever gave up, not completely. All this time, somewhere inside you," she poked his belly playfully, "you had hope."

He looked thoughtful. "Huh."

Poppy hopped on her toes and clapped her hands. "Ooo! Ooo! And guess what? We did go on an adventure." She waved her hands passionately, broadcasting high drama. "Gray Branch and Princess Poppy – partners! Off on a quest to rescue their friends. Just like in your game. So your dream came true!"

He blinked. "Yeah… I guess you're right, in a way." A slow smile spread over his face. "I hadn't thought of it like that."

"Yeah, Gray Branch was the best partner I could have had." She nudged him with her elbow, gently goading him. "Even if he was grumpy and pessimistic."

As she'd hoped, he responded with good humor. "Uh, I'd say 'pragmatic'," he corrected with a smile. "But even pessimism has its place."

"Oh, yeah? Like where?"

"Oh, say, when a certain paranoid outsider warns you that throwing the 'biggest, loudest, craziest party ever' is a beacon for trouble? Or when that pessimistic grump saves you when you're seconds away from being gobbled up by giant evil spiders?"

Poppy opened her mouth, closed it, and gave him a sheepish grin. "Ooo, yeah... You got me there."

"Ha!" He smugly crossed his arms. "Maybe from now on, you'll listen to me when I tell you something's a bad idea."

As always, their old, familiar argument sparked an irresistible urge to tease. "Oh, I doubt it." He rolled his eyes at her cheerful denial and gave a mock growl. Poppy grinned and added slyly, "Soo…Branch. While I was looking at your game, I noticed a very distinctive pattern of paint-wear on your figures."

He gave her a clueless look. "Distinctive pattern? What kind?"

"Oh, say, the kind you might get from making your characters kiss?"

Instantly his cheeks turned lavender, and he put a hand to the back of his neck. "Oh."

She crossed her own arms and smirked at him. He bore her amusement for a long, awkward moment before abruptly changing the subject. "You know what? It's getting late, and we really have to get to bed. Big day tomorrow." He began to head for the doorway, only to freeze in place as she spoke.

"Branch."

He winced, but then his shoulders leveled and he turned back to saunter back toward her. His soft voice was an amorous undertone; an irresistible lure. "Don't you want me to tend to your injury, Sunshine? I even warmed up the arnica salve, so it would be ready for you." He held out his palm invitingly. "Come with me, my love, so I can put it on you."

"I…" She took a step forward and caught herself, crossing her arms. "I know what you're doing. This is a distraction." He raised an eyebrow, his sly, sexy smile making her squirm.

"…And it's a reeaaally tempting one," she admitted. She gripped her bottom lip between her teeth, fighting the urge to give in and follow him, but it was too strong. How? How did the troll who's never even been to a Frolic Festival become such a master at flirting after only one day? Man, he's got charisma!

From his cute, smug expression, Branch knew it, too.

She sighed and shook her head, giving him a smile of pure admiration. "Okay, fine. I guess I'll let you get away with it this time." He chuckled as she gave him her hand. "Oh, and Branch?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for being willing to trust me with your stuff again, after I messed up earlier with your journals."

"Oh, I never stopped trusting you," he said warmly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "And thank you, for taking what I said about my privacy seriously."

"Of course." She moved to wrap her arms around him. "I love you."

When she started to let him go, he held onto her. "I love you too, Poppy." Nose-

to-nose, he put a hand on her face to guide her lips to his, and Poppy lost herself in bliss. Her belly, pressed against his, began to flutter delightfully.

Between his sweet, slow, tender kisses, the young queen murmured huskily, "I have an idea… Instead of heading to bed…why don't we just spend the rest of the night…right here…cuddling together on the couch…mmm…kissing?"

He hesitated and she opened her eyes to see his gaze flicking between her and the couch. A hint of a smile played around the corner of his lip. "Now who's being tempting?"

"Me."

Branch let out a full, joyful laugh. "You know, if tomorrow wasn't Cleanup Day, maybe we could, but… But we should- It's not- It's just that.."

She waited, but he seemed stuck, unable to choose. Finally she sighed and nudged his nose with hers, then let him go. "It's okay, Branch. I won't make you choose. I know it's a special day for you."

He looked relieved. "Thank you."

"In fact, after what you told me last night, Cleanup Day wouldn't exist without you." As he began to head down the passageway, she fell into step next to him and took his hand in hers again. "So it really is your special day."

He linked his hair with hers to show his appreciation. "Thanks."

Branch's bedroom was down the passageway from the living room. On the way, he stopped to pull a bunch of what looked like oddly-shaped pillowcases from a hall closet.

"What are those for?"

"You'll see."

In Branch's bedroom the pink bunny-troll hopped onto her boyfriend's big bed, happily bouncing on her hands and knees to the middle. She sat down cross-legged and undid the buttons of her pajamas, shrugging the top half off. It dropped around her hips, exposing the unsightly half-healed bruise underneath. Poppy looked ruefully down at it and sighed, then looked up as Branch joined her on the bed.

Her boyfriend didn't look at her bruise as if it were something bad. Only love and sympathy shone in his beautiful sky-blue eyes as he knelt in front of her, sitting comfortably on his feet. He ran his fingers lightly over the mottled colors staining her pink skin. "How does it feel? Sore?"

"Not really. It's a little bit tender, but not enough to bother me," she reported thoughtfully.

He smiled at her encouragingly as he reached into his back pocket and drew out a familiar ceramic pot. "Good."

"I never knew there was medicine that could help bruises heal so fast. It's wonderful, Branch."

"Thanks. I want you to heal as fast as possible, so you can forget about all this."

She saw the shadow in his eyes. You, too, Branch. I think seeing it bothers you even more than it does me. Deliberately, she gave him a big grin. "Don't worry, with your amazing salve I'll be completely healed in no time."

"Yeah." He glanced sidewise at her, the corner of his mouth turning up. "And maybe this will help make it better, too." Her sweetheart leaned forward to touch his lips to her discolored skin; lightly, delicately, no more than the brush of a butterfly's wing.

A snap of lightning shot through her spine. She closed her eyes and held her breath as the feeling spread up and down so that in moments her entire body was buzzing like she'd been shocked by a sparkbug. A wave of giddiness chased her pounding heart, and she let out a silly, deep-throated burble. "Heh heh… Yeah… Feels better already."

He chuckled. She heard the squeak of a cork being removed and a waft of coconut-scent drifted past her nose, bringing back cherished memories of a big, gentle hand caressing her skin. Of silky dark hair and warm soft ears beneath her fingers, and a beloved voice asking her not to stop. Her dancing heart increased its tempo as she waited in happy anticipation.

This time, his slick fingers were more sure of themselves, sliding in light, lazy patterns over her sensitive skin. It made her belly squiggle inside, like she was riding a boingo fruit or a rollercoaster, sending a wave of delicious heat through her. She started breathing harder from sheer excitement, wishing he would kiss her body again. Would it feel even better if she was expecting it?

Just imagining it made her moan loudly.

Instantly his hand was gone. Poppy opened her eyes to see Branch looking contrite. "Sorry, did I hurt you? I-" His voice cut off as he got a good look at her enraptured face. His own face went bright lavender and he looked away, embarrassed.

So did she, her fervid breathing loud in her ears. One hand came up to brush a few damp strands of hair away from her overheated face, and then she gave in to the impulse to hide her face in her hands.

-O-

There was a brief, awkward silence.

I honestly hadn't been anticipating quite such a strong reaction. Even though I'd been flirting with her a few minutes ago, I hadn't actually been trying to flirt just now. It had just felt so natural to want to kiss away my sweet girlfriend's pain.

But oddly enough, her self-consciousness made me feel better. I wasn't the only one dealing with unexpected bodily responses tonight. "Poppy? You all right?"

One bright rose-colored eye peeked through her fingers. "…Yeah, I'm good. Sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. In fact, that was a compliment." I smiled at her reassuringly. "Want me to keep going?"

Her glitter-freckles sparkled against her bright red cheeks as she dropped her hands and gave me a grateful smile. "Okay."

As I gently spread the softened salve a little at a time over the large, fading bruise, I began to enjoy myself. I liked taking care of my girl. I liked the idea that I was helping her heal, in more ways than one. It soothed me as much as it did her.

Poppy was alive. She was safe. With Leafe's help, I'd managed to save her life.

You're my hero, Branch.

I vowed to be her hero for the rest of my life.

-O-

Poppy closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the touch of her soon-to-be lover, relishing the ripples of excitement and comfort that tingled all the way to her toes. When he was done, he wrapped her injury with gauze, calming her with the familiar, beloved snip of scissors and scrrrk of tape.

"All done," he said softly, and she opened her eyes to see him giving her a kindly look.

She put her hands on his cheeks. "How can I ever thank you?" she asked cutely.

His eyes flicked to her lips, and the corner of his mouth quirked upward. "Well, I can think of one way."

Poppy giggled and pulled him toward her, leaning forward to meet his eager lips with hers. "Thank you."

"You are very welcome."

-O-

Smiling, Poppy began to button up her bunny pajamas, but Branch held up a hand. "Hang on a second, Poppy. I want to put some antiseptic salve on your cut."

"Oh, right." She'd forgotten about it, but of course Branch hadn't. When she flopped down on her back to slip off the one-piece suit, the fabric rubbed against her tender skin, and her scratch started to sting. "Ow."

"You okay?"

"Yeah." She sat up and turned her knees to the side to examine her left calf. The thin scab had come off sometime during the bath, and around the scratch the skin was a slightly darker pink than her normal skin color, but it wasn't a serious cut.

"This will help. It has a mild painkiller in it." Branch pulled out a little jar of salve from his other back pocket and dabbed it on fast enough to only sting for a few seconds, then reached toward his bedside table, where a midsized glass jar with a shiny copper lid held a collection of cheerful-looking leaves in various pastel colors.

Owie-leaves were naturally antibiotic. They were waxy and waterproof on one side and had sticky edges and a smooth, soft center on the other, making them excellent for use as bandages. The only drawback was that they were very small; too small to be practical to use on her big bruise. But they were just the right size for her little scratch.

Branch carefully stuck two pastel-pink leaves in a neat line over her injury. "There you go. All better."

"Thank you, Branch. Hm, maybe I should call you 'Doctor' Branch, instead of 'captain'," she teased as she put her pajamas back on. "You do good work."

"Thanks." Branch gave her a wry grin as he set the two jars on the bedside table.

"Okay, your turn, Branch."

"My turn?" He looked puzzled.

"Did you forget? You've got a couple of bruises on your back."

"Oh, right."

"Can you take your shirt off, please?"

He obliged her readily, slipping out of his striped pajama top and turning around on the bed to sit cross-legged with his back to her, exposing the small lavender bruise high on his right shoulder blade.

Poppy picked up the small, flat ceramic pot, ready to dip a finger into the salve, but the sweet scent of coconut floating past her nose brought back even sweeter memories that drew her into a mellow, peaceful mood.

She gazed dreamily at the former loner trustfully sitting with his back to her, patiently waiting for the touch of her hand on his skin. Such beautiful skin…aquamarine, so subtle and delicate compared to the vibrant hues of their fellows. So calm and soothing. Unique; as he was. It suited him well.

Without conscious thought her hand moved. Her fingertips made contact, lightly grazing the soft fuzz of his skin. She let her hand drift sensually across the firm muscles of his shoulder, then flow down his spine. She felt his ribs expand as he inhaled. Poppy waited a moment to see if he would object, or complain about how she was wasting valuable sleep-time, but he only let his breath out in a tranquil sigh, tilting his head back. On his face was the same dreamy smile he'd worn yesterday after his bubble bath, as he stood there in the nude, basking under her wandering hands. And just like then, the sight of that special smile, the one he only used with her, awakened an urge within the love-smitten pink troll that she joyfully indulged.

Poppy set the little pot down and pressed both hands to the middle of his back, relishing his alluring body heat and the feeling of connection to him. She ran her hands adoringly down the length of his back, then curved back up, moving in wide, slow ovals. She could feel him relaxing under her hands, his breathing slow and deep. His ears bent and his head began to slump forward as her man gave himself over entirely to her gliding fingers.

Poppy began to apply a little more pressure; massaging his body in long, smooth, even sweeps. "Is this okay?" she asked softly.

He nodded wordlessly, still wearing his sublime smile, which made her smile, too.

She tried to imagine doing this with the person he'd been a year ago, and couldn't. Even if the old Branch had allowed someone to massage him, he would have been grumbling about how much time it was costing him, and he'd have stubbornly resisted the relaxation it brought. Or if he had relaxed, he'd have regretted his lack of control later. Even though releasing control and relaxing is the kind of the point of massages.

Doing this was relaxing for her, too. It was just the two of them here, deep underground where no one would bother them. The perfect safe space to explore his bare body, if he was willing. Or invite him to explore hers, if he wanted to. And man, do I want him to!

Poppy was used to giving out invitations, but the one she'd given him yesterday had been a lot more significant than she'd realized at the time. How curious it was that the former social recluse had been the one to instinctively understand what she was offering, and accept her invitation.

To accept her, as a girlfriend, lover, and life partner.

Before yesterday, the young queen had thought she had a pretty good handle on romance, but now that she was in a real relationship, she was learning just how much she didn't know. There were some things that Branch understood far better than she did.

And yet, in some ways, Branch was even more lost than she was. More lost than she'd ever realized.

I knew he had intimacy issues, but I never knew it went this far. Without even the general guidance every troll was taught about how to treat a lover, things about Branch that had always confused or hurt her were finally making sense. If his education came mostly from romance novels and psychology textbooks, it's no wonder he avoids intimacy. Even when he really wants it. She recalled his baffled frustration at the way his own hair had blocked her advances for seemingly no reason.

From their earliest days, trollings were taught the language of touch.

Love is shown through loving touch.

We all want love.

We all need love.

Everyone can give and receive love.

Hug Time is one of the ways we show love.

Trollings who were older were taught: Frolicking is one way to show love, but not the only way. Love is not just for lovers. There are many ways to be intimate with friends and family. You can hold hands, brush each other's hair, or just sit and cuddle together.

It was a lesson that Branch had always had a hard time understanding. It had always bewildered her that someone so smart couldn't understand something so simple. But now after her experiences over the past year, her feelings of shame, of letting her people down, she could empathize with him. It's hard to accept love when you don't feel worthy of it. And maybe if you don't have love, it's hard to give it, too.

Well, I guess we'll just have to start from the beginning, and take it a little slower. I'm fine with that, since I'm not exactly an expert, either. She gave her boyfriend a compassionate look, loving the way he let his lead loll, luxuriously rolling his shoulders under her massaging hands. I'd like to talk to Cherry Blossom, since she knew him when he was younger. Anything that helps me understand him will help.

She decided to check in with him. "How are you doing, Branch?"

"…Good…" He took a deep breath and sat up a little straighter, as if lifting himself up from a deep well of serenity. "Yeah… Feels good."

As if speaking had opened a door – a golden door, perhaps? – he continued quietly, "By the way, Poppy, what you said, about whether it was okay to open boxes… If I made you feel like you were doing something wrong, I apologize. I didn't mean to make you afraid to get to know my bunker." He looked over his shoulder at her with sincere blue eyes. "I really do want you to feel at home here."

She gave him a warm smile, pleased at his honest attempt to address her feelings. "That's okay, Branch. I understand."

"Okay." He seemed relieved. "Please feel free to explore as much as you want. All I'm asking is that you be respectful of my things. If you look at something, please put it back the way you found it. And please, try not to break anything."

"Sure, I can do that, Branch," she agreed earnestly, knowing just how hard it was for him to extend this invitation.

Branch had always been highly protective of everything in his bunker, as if harm to any of his possessions was the same as harming Branch himself. She was beginning to realize it was probably related to his anxiety. To Branch, the stuff in his bunker was more than just stuff, it was vital resources. Resources he'd believed he needed, to be safe. Even though most of it, in her estimation, was easily replaceable if lost. And fast, too, if the entire village pitched in.

What Branch didn't seem to realize was that while stockpiling resources was useful, people could be even more valuable and precious than any amount of stuff. People whom you could count on were the true resources.

He had spent so long relying only on himself that he'd forgotten that. I'll have to think of ways to remind him. It'll be a lot easier now that he's interacting with other trolls again. She smiled fondly, remembering what a great teacher Branch had turned out to be, joking with his friend Leafe to keep the tone light even with such serious subject matter. And the surprise I have planned for him tomorrow should help a lot, too.

The peaceful atmosphere was broken when Branch suddenly sat upright. "Aw, maan…"

"What?"

He turned sideways to face her. "I forgot I promised to let you read today's journal entry. Sorry, Poppy."

"Oh, right. Well, that's okay. I forgot, too. We had kind of a busy night." Poppy shrugged cheerfully. "So now I have something to look forward to tomorrow night. Hey, maybe you'll decide to let me read tomorrow's entry, too, so I'll have two whole days' worth of exclusive Branch-ponderings to read. I can't wait!"

His face fell.

"Branch? What's wrong?"

"Poppy… I'm sorry."

Again? "For what?"

His face was troubled. "I don't mean to be difficult. I know you want to read my old journals, and I understand why. I know you only want to get to know me better, but trust me, I'm a much better troll now. The troll I was then could only dream of the life I have now. In some ways, it's like he was a different person – always skeptical, never letting himself see the bright side. Full of fear, resentment, anger. I didn't trust anybody back then, Poppy. Not even you, much as I wanted to. I don't want reading about that guy to change how you think of me now. Like…" He sighed miserably, mumbling, "…maybe you'll see that I'm not so different after all."

"I see." She was quiet for a long moment. "Well…you aren't. Not really."

"What?" His ears twitched backward in startlement.

"You're happier, yes. You have a more positive attitude, and you really like singing, dancing and hugging now, but you still have the same qualities that I was attracted to even when you were gray."

"You…" His forehead wrinkled. "What qualities?"

She began counting on her fingers. "Well, you're reliable, and trustworthy, and really smart. You're great at figuring out problems. You're very brave when you have to be. And you have a secret soft side that shows more than you think it does." She gave him a fond look, and his worried expression mellowed. "None of that has changed. Oh, and you have a quirky sense of humor, too."

"'Quirky'?" He smirked at her. "I thought you found my sarcasm annoying."

"Let's just say it grew on me." She gave him a teasing grin. "Also, I was telling Dad, Doctor Plum, and Acorn how I appreciate that even though you get along well with other trolls now, you don't just agree to everything for the sake of harmony. You aren't afraid to speak up when you see a problem, and you aren't afraid to think outside the box, even if it goes against what everyone else believes. You've always been like that."

His agitation returned. "You mean, the guy who makes waves? The guy who upsets people when he questions popular opinion? The guy who's always wrong? You like that guy?"

"You're not always wrong, Branch. Look at what you said about the twins, how we should be ready to support the idea of them being separated, if that turns out to be the solution to their, um, unique problem? It's not wrong to question things, sweetie."

She patted his cheek affectionately and he covered her hand with his own, gazing at her appreciatively as she added, "If turns out that you're the one who's wrong, these days you acknowledge that, and you apologize, like you did a few minutes ago. And that's fine. If you're right - if something does 'blow up in my face'," she winked as she quoted one of his favorite warnings, "you might complain a little, but you also try to make it all better. You care, Branch. You always have, even when it was hard for you. And I've alwaysloved that about you."

He let out a long, slow breath. "Thanks."

She resumed her massaging, rubbing circles on the back of his neck and gently but firmly stroking outward across his shoulders and down his back, loosening the knots that had developed there.

"I'm proud of you, Branch."

"Proud of me?"

"You're willing to let yourself be vulnerable now. That's a good thing. Self-doubt is a tough nut to crack on your own."

"Hm," he said thoughtfully.

Then, as some trolls did during a massage, he started to get more vocal. "Ooo, right there… You got it…" His low, intimate purr was music to her ears. "Yeah… Feels so good…"

Poppy began to get the urge to move in even closer and start touching his skin with more than just her hands. Maybe her lips would do an even better job of making him feel good…but no. That was one urge she probably shouldn't give in to just yet. She knew if she did, she'd be starting something Branch probably didn't want to get into right now. As their time in the bath had shown, things went better if she let him take the lead. Pushing too fast tended to make him put too much pressure on himself.

Reluctantly she took her hands off him and picked up the salve pot, scooping up a dab and gently smearing it over the small bruise on his upper shoulder blade. She used her hair to lift a lavender owie-leaf from the glass jar and carefully covered the salve. She picked out another lavender leaf from among the pastel colors - Branch would appreciate being color-coordinated – put the lid back on, and set it aside on the little table. "Can you slide your pants down a little? They're covering the bruise on your butt."

So relaxed was he that it took him a moment to respond. "…Mmmyeah." He leaned forward far enough to slide his pajama pants halfway down his cheeks. Poppy paused to admire the sight. As always, his nude body attracted her eye in a way no one else's did. She was tempted to do a little massaging there too, while she had her hands in the area, but she knew some trolls found that arousing, and she didn't want to make things awkward yet again. She wanted him to associate having her in his bed with good feelings.

-O-

I was feeling good. So good I couldn't help but respond with the kind of love-talk I would probably be embarrassed about later, but at the moment, I didn't care. I just wanted to let her know how amazing it felt to have her hands on me.

A part of me had wondered when she would remember the salve, but I hadn't reminded her because I was enjoying the sweep of her magic hands way too much.

Between her calming touch and her thoughtful, caring words, my girlfriend made me feel safe, and loved. She made me feel whole. I wanted to make sure there were no lingering bad feelings between us.

-O-

"Hey, uh, Poppy?" Branch asked as she capped the salve pot and used her hair to set it on the bedside table next to the jar of owie-leaves.

"Yes, Branch?"

"I'm sorry about how weird I acted in the bath. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Me?" She blinked. "Branch, you don't have anything to apologize for. In fact, as the more experienced partner, I could have done more to make you feel comfortable."

That seemed to surprise him. "Really?"

"I knew you weren't used to bathing with anyone else. I should have realized that you might react to me. I was insensitive."

She was glad to see his look of worry change to relief, and then morph into a smirk. "No way. Queen Poppy of Troll Village, insensitive? Are you sure about that?"

Poppy grinned. His sarcasm is back. That's a good sign.

Then the smile lines around his mouth faded and he said quietly, "In all seriousness though, Poppy, I don't think it would have been such a problem if we were just frolicking for fun. If each of us just thought the other one was cool, and we were both in the mood for a good romp. If there was no pressure. But this isn't an ordinary tryst. I'm in love with you. That…complicates things."

She nodded. "Well, feelings tend to do that. That's one reason we need to talk things out. And I'd say we both sorted out a lot of issues today, wouldn't you?" she said warmly.

"We sure have."

"I'm proud of us." Poppy put her arms around her boyfriend from behind, and his hands came up to cover hers on his chest. "Oh, and by the way, Branch?"

"Yes?"

She used her hold on him to pull herself closer, until her folded legs touched him and she could rest her cheek against his back. "I'm in love with you, too."

He hummed a happy note of satisfaction at that, and leaned his head back against hers. His hair came down to wrap her in a warm, if slightly damp, blanket against his back. Poppy leaned against her boyfriend, and he bent forward to bear her weight. She let herself go, melting against his sturdy body, loving the feeling of his back rising and falling beneath her. If she paid close attention, she could even feel his heartbeat.

The two of them enjoyed a few simple moments of loving togetherness. Branch's hands began to gently rub hers where they rested over his heart, and she closed her eyes and savored her sweetheart's attention.

Then Branch took a deep breath. "Speaking of issues, Poppy…"

"Yes, Pookie?"

He snorted at the silly nickname, then sighed resignedly and forged on. "It occurs to me that since we're going to be sharing a bed, I should probably tell you that I can sometimes have really bad nightmares."

"Aww. Poor Pookie." She sat up and his hair withdrew, leaving her slightly chilled in the cool air.

Branch turned around on the bed to face her. "Now, usually I just wake up," he explained, "but once in a while they can get pretty intense. I've screamed out loud before, or even accidentally knocked things over, flailing around with my hair. It hasn't happened in a while now, but I figure you should know. I don't want you to be scared."

To his obvious surprise, Poppy nonchalantly waved a hand. "No worries, Snookums. If you start to have nightmare, I'll just sing."

"Sing?"

"Like Doctor Plum said."

He scrunched his eyes in puzzlement. "And by 'sing' you mean…"

Poppy told him what Plum had said about how her friend's grandmother had soothed him to sleep when he was a trolling by singing and stroking his hair, just like Grandma Rosiepuff used to do.

Branch looked thoughtful. "Come to think of it, I think Doctor Plum was the one who started singing after I woke up in Doc Whipple's pod after my Incident. She must have remembered. It worked, too. I calmed right down. Well, that makes me feel better."

"Oh, good."

"Yeah. I'll have to thank her for looking out for me."

"Yeah, she told me…" Poppy trailed off. Plum wants to clear up the misunderstandings that happened when he was a trolling living with her friend's family. She wants to make friends with him. It's going to be great! He'll be so happy.

Poppy decided to let that be a pleasant surprise for him, and merely said, "Well, Plum gave me some good advice because she wants to help you. You know the old saying, 'It takes a village to raise a trolling.' I think the two of you have a lot to say to one another. You should make sure to tell her about your arnica salve. I bet it'll be as popular as your sugarfruit soup is, Sugar."

"I will. And I like that nickname better than 'Pookie' or 'Snookums', but it's a little generic. I think I like more personal nicknames better, like 'Sugarfruit'. I like 'Captain', too. Oh! Or how about-"

Just then Branch noticed the clock on his bedroom wall. "Oh my gosh, look how late it is. We really need to get to sleep."

Poppy looked at the clock. It was in the shape of a big green leaf, and had black musical notes with rainbow-colored numbers on them. Its little leaf-hands showed that it was only a quarter to eleven. "Oh, we can afford to stay up a little later. It's not like we have to get up at the break of dawn. You know a lot of trolls are late risers," she pointed out.

"Oh." Again he nodded, his lips pursed thoughtfully. "That's true, I guess."

Due to their penchant for partying until midnight, those trolls who didn't have early-morning duties generally didn't get up until around eight or so. It occurred to her to ask, "Why, what time do you like to go to bed?"

"Nine o'clock, when I can manage it." Poppy winced a little. It was way past his bedtime, then. He elaborated, "That way I have time for a few chores, a workout and a swim first thing in the morning. I like to get a jump on the day."

Eagerly, she agreed, "Oh, me too. I do get to bed around nine if I'm not busy. But since I'm often at parties until late, I don't have set times for sleep. If I have a big event to arrange for the next day, I might get up really early, or I might even stay up all night to work on it."

He frowned. "That's not good, Poppy. You need your sleep."

She shrugged, trying to ignore a familiar flash of resentment at his criticism. "I know, but I'm the queen, Branch. What else can I do?"

They'd had similar conversations – arguments, really - all her life. Branch complaining about how she handled her duties, and about her in general. She was too rash, too laidback, too pushy, too lenient with the other trolls, or too over-the-top. Unpleasant memories of him yelling at her made her grit her teeth. For the first time since they'd become a couple, she wondered how she was ever going to work with him if he kept being so disapproving. So inflexible. So Branch!

But he surprised her. "You can delegate more of your responsibilities. People will be glad to help out."

She blinked. That's…actually a reasonable suggestion.

Then he ruined it. "Look, Poppy, I know you love the personal touch, but you'll burn yourself out at this rate," he scolded. "Especially right now, when you need to take things easy for a while." He gestured at her midsection, where her bandaged bruise was.

"Branch!" She scowled at him, annoyed all over again at his reminder of her accident and how it had messed with her head. He opened his mouth to keep arguing, caught her glare, and backed down. He looked away, avoiding her gaze, and her antagonism faded.

She looked away too, ashamed of her outburst. There was a long, painful silence, and then in sync the two trolls turned to face one another and said together, "I'm sorry."

Through mutual smiles of forgiveness, Branch patted her hand. "I don't mean to be overbearing. It's just, I worry about you, Sunshine, because I love you."

"I know. I know you mean well." Just like he has in the past when I get in over my head. "And you're right. I sure could use a hand. Do you…know a troll who might want to volunteer to be my partner?" She smiled appealingly at her boyfriend.

A soft look came into his eyes as his body relaxed. "Oh, I think I think I could find someone interested in the job." His tone was light, but his eyes shone with devotion.

She reached out to ruffle his damp hair affectionately and he gave her a moan that was almost a growl, a wide, playful smile on his lips. The lips she loved to kiss. She began to lean toward him, but his eyes flicked toward the clock again. "Just a minute." She watched in surprise as he slid off the bed. "I've got one more little chore to do."

"What?" She groaned as she let her head slouch to one side. "Another one?"

Poppy watched him pick up the pile of little cloth covers he'd taken from the hall closet and begin to tie them over the glowing mushrooms in his room. She caught on immediately – he was darkening the room enough to sleep. Efficient as usual, he'd used drawstrings to make the process quick, neat and tidy.

Branch passed by a tiny mushroom on the wall near his door. He commented, "After all these years, I don't really need light at all, but I'd rather leave one uncovered just in case, so there won't be any late-night boo-boos." Its soft light would let a sleepy troll find their way to the bathroom without stumbling, or stubbing their toes.

Even though she could have easily used her hair to light her way, Poppy was touched. "Why, thank you. You're so thoughtful, my sweet cinnamon bun." She couldn't tell if he blushed or not, but the dim light did nothing to hide his hum of pleasure at her praise.

Wanting to be helpful, she slid off the bed and turned down the covers. She picked up a pillow to plump it up, then reached for the other…that wasn't there. She looked around, thinking it might have fallen on the floor, then got down on her hands and knees on the braided rug to peek under the bed, but in the dimness she didn't see anything. She lit the tip of her hair to look, but sure enough, nothing.

Branch realized what she was doing. "Sorry, I only have the one pillow right now. DJ borrowed all my spares for an 'epic nap session' and hasn't returned them yet," he explained as she got to her feet and turned off her hairlight. "It's been almost a week, and at this point I don't think she's going to, so I'm probably just gonna replace them."

"Oh. I can talk to her if you want."

Her boyfriend waved a nonchalant hand. "Nah. It's not a big deal. I'm glad she's enjoying them. It's fine."

Poppy stared at him, surprised and pleased that he wasn't bothered by the loss of some of his precious resources. Maybe he's starting to change his priorities after all.

Branch gestured toward the bed. "You can have this one."

"No, no, it's your pillow."

"Poppy, you're my guest. I insist."

Poppy wavered. Manners-wise, he was correct. "Well…" She thought for a second, accepting his invitation to climb into the bed. "You know, it's a pretty big pillow. I'm sure we could share it, if we cuddled up together." Then she recalled last night. "But only if you're up for it. No pressure."

He was quiet. She wondered if he was worried that he might have another anxiety attack, and regretted saying anything. To take his mind off it, she asked, "Which side of the bed do you sleep on?"

"Hm? Oh, usually right in the middle, so I have space to roll around without falling off. You can pick whichever side you like."

She shrugged to indicate that she didn't care, sitting down cross-legged in the middle of the bed. "Do you fall off often?"

"No, not much. Not anymore. It's an old habit, really. I was a much more restless sleeper when I was younger."

Poppy understood. Because of his nightmares. It made her a little sad to imagine him like that, all alone in the dark with no one to sing to him. Without even a cuddle toy to comfort him. There hadn't been any in his old toy box.

"Don't worry, Branch, you have me now. I'll be your cuddle toy from now on." She got on her knees and held out her arms to him. "Come here, my cute little snuggle bunny."

"Hey, you're the one in the bunny pajamas. Shouldn't I be calling you that?" he affectionately mock-protested, but he knelt in front of her and let her pull him into a warm hug.

-O-

I enjoyed hugging bunny-Poppy. It was like hugging cuddle-toy, but better. She was warm and alive. I loved the feel of her breath on my neck. I loved the feel of her heartbeat against my chest. And I loved that she hugged me back.

-O-

Poppy wanted Branch to feel safe and comfortable with her. She wanted him to never have nightmares again. She wanted to hug him until he felt so good there was no room left for anxiety.

Impulsively, she pushed her legs out to the sides and let herself fall backward, pulling him with her.

-O-

"Whoa!" I laughed as we landed together in the middle of my bed with a bounce, my arms and legs tangled with hers. Poppy took advantage of the fact that we were nose-to-nose to kiss mine, then held me close, wrapping her arms and legs around my body and smushing her cheek contentedly against mine.

I lifted myself up on my knees and forearms just enough to make sure I wasn't squishing her, but I let her feel some of my weight, thinking that she might be craving the contact. Also, she seemed fond of what she called 'slumber party pileups'.

For a minute, I let myself revel in the feel of her warm, soft body under mine. Like a pillow, yet not. Pillows didn't breathe, or rub little circles on your back. Almost instantly, I began to feel sleepy, which wasn't surprising, since it was long past my bedtime.

Eventually I slid off to lay beside her, leaving an arm and leg comfortably draped over her, and let my mind drift.

"Hey, Branch," she whispered a minute later.

"Hmm?"

"You're doing it, Branch. You're cuddling."

I blinked. "I am, aren't I?" The memory of last night's anxiety attack briefly came and went, but I was feeling too serene to let it take hold. I yawned and stretched, and Poppy rolled over to face me as I added sleepily, "That's good, then. One more step forward."

"I'm really proud of you."

I felt a great big smile spread over my face. "Thanks."

I thought it was cute that Poppy felt the need to whisper just because of the low light level. I could see her reasonably well, now that my eyes had adjusted, although there was only enough light to show a hint of her usual vibrant colors.

Then I realized we were lying diagonally across my bed, which bugged me, and also, Poppy might not be comfortable without a pillow. I sat up and slid an arm under her, lifting her enough to move her to the proper sleeping position. "Lift your head, would you?"

She did, smiling up at me as I laid her head on the pillow. "Thanks, Captain Hunky."

I snorted in amusement. "You've been waiting to use that one, haven't you?" I'd been one of the bigger trolls in the village since I was a teenager.

"Yup." She stretched luxuriously, and I found myself putting out a hand to rub the softness of her belly. This silkfleece is a magnet for my hands. Not to mention the girl in the silkfleece…

A part of me was still marveling over having the girl of my dreams in my bed with me. Another part recalled what she'd said about how my bed smelled like me, and that she'd liked the way I smelled. In a surge of affection I bent over her and pressed my nose playfully into the side of her neck, drawing in a big breath of her sugary scent. "Mmm… You smell so good, Sunshine."

"Thank you," she giggled.

-O-

As she looked up at her man leaning over her, somehow managing to look both cute and handsome with his slightly-ruffled bedhead, Poppy became aware of his scent. Like all trolls, Branch smelled mildly sweet, but once in a while Poppy had caught a subtle, tangy undercurrent. It reminded her of something familiar, but she had never had the opportunity to investigate before now.

A sublime smile spread across her face as she sat up and pressed her nose to his chest, inhaling deeply. It was enticing, to be sure. Many-layered; sweet and sour and tangy all at once, with just a hint of something more earthy, like spicy autumn leaves. Something like apples, but with a depth to it, a richness that hinted at the complex soul inside.

Ah, she had it now. "Apple cider."

"What?"

"You smell good to me too, like apple cider."

"Wait, seriously?" Ripples of amusement threaded his surprise.

"Mm-hm." She smiled slowly at him. "Hot apple cider."

"Huh. Interesting."

She gave him one more sniff. "I love the way you smell. When I was in your room earlier, it made me feel so warm and safe."

His expression softened. "That's good, I guess, that my scent comforted you. I know I sure love the way you smell to me."

She took another long, deep breath, letting it out in a satisfied sigh. "So what do I smell like? Coconut, right?"

"Well, yeah, but that's from the salve and shampoo. That's not your real scent. What you really smell like is…"

Branch got an intrigued glint in his eye and leaned forward to press his nose under her chin, snuffling and puffing spurts of air against her neck. Her breath exploded into eeps and laughter as she fell back on the bed, kicking her feet in the air and waving her arms wildly above his back. His questing nose hit a super ticklish spot and she let out a quick, involuntary scream.

He stopped and lifted his head to check on her, and she grinned up at him. The corner of his mouth quirked upward and then her frisky Branch was back, diving into her neck and making her squirm and wriggle, gleefully squealing in between her giggles.

When he lifted his head, he reported, "I'd kind of thought you smelled like caramel, or chocolate, probably because of – well, you know."

She sure did, thinking of his tongue stroking her arm, and a delicious shiver passed through her body. "Yeah..."

"But you don't; you smell like-" He took another deep, full breath. "Well, you smell kind of sugary-sweet, like cupcakes or marshmallow or something. But there's something else…" He snuffled his nose across her skin again and she giggled some more and squirmed under him in pleasure.

"Strawberry? Or…oranges, maybe? Something tangy. You smell great, by the way," he said as he laid his head next to hers on the pillow.

"Thank you."

He closed his eyes, murmuring, "I wonder if we each have a different scent? Do we taste the way we smell, too? Maybe that's why they…" He trailed off, his expression tightening, and she knew he was thinking about the bergens.

To stop him from going down that dark path, Poppy quickly leaned over to lick his cheek.

His eyes popped open. "Did you just lick me?"

"Yeah." A little embarrassed, she rubbed her tongue against the roof of her mouth thoughtfully. "You know, you really do taste a little like apples. With a hint of cinnamon."

"I- really?" His gaze turned inward for a moment, then focused on her, and she knew exactly what he was thinking.

She grinned. "Go ahead."

He sat up and leaned toward her, his face full of eager curiosity. Poppy closed her eyes as she felt the tip of his tongue tentatively dab at her cheek once, and then again. Then a warm, moist trail ran up the side of her face as he used his tongue to taste her. He swirled it in a circle, then moved on to her jawline.

Her body tensed in a rush of pleasure; all heat and tingling and thrumming. Her belly quivered deliciously. Then his wet heat moved on to her throat, and she lifted her chin, her mouth opening a little as she pulled in a long, slow breath, unable to stop a wide smile from spreading across her lips.

The young queen felt a powerful urge to press herself up into him, but just then his hot tongue ran her under her ear and she almost lost it, holding her breath so she wouldn't groan out loud and make him realize what he was doing to her.

"I can't decide," he said, and then, "Oh."

She opened her eyes to see him giving her a look of surprise, as if he'd just caught the blissful rapture that must have been on her face and connected it to what he'd just done. It was the second time he'd unknowingly stirred her up this much, and not just her face, but her whole body was singing.

She thought he flushed, too, although the dim light made it hard to tell. Then his expression turned contemplative, as if understanding perhaps for the first time just how much power he had over her. A small, smug smile appeared on his face as his self-confidence visibly grew.

She lay there, breathing, and then partly from curiosity and partly to keep the moment from turning awkward, asked, "Can't decide what?"

"Strawberry or orange. Some places taste more like strawberry, some more like orange. It's oddly intriguing."

"Well, then I guess you'll never get tired of me."

His face softened. "Never."

He leaned down to give her a warm, sweet kiss. Poppy put her hands on his cheeks, then ran her hands down his chest, half-wishing he wasn't wearing pajamas. Then again, considering how easily he had managed to get her in the frolicking mood without even trying, that was probably a good thing.

I wonder if he'd freak out if I… I'd better ask.

"Mind if I have a turn?" She'd meant to sound polite, but it came out low and sultry.

He hesitated. Before he could get too nervous she added, "Just a little bit. And if it's too much, you can always say no. I'll listen. I promise."

His tension faded and he nodded. "Okay." He lay down on his back with his head on the pillow, and Poppy was pleased to see he looked more interested than fearful. Curiosity could be a powerful motivator, as long as he felt he was safe. And no matter how much she wanted him, she would keep her word. His own desire for her would do the rest, in due time.

She got up on her elbow and put her other hand on his chest, leaning over to lightly kiss his lips, and to her delight, he kissed back. Happily, the pink troll let her lips stray across her sweetheart's face, giving in to the little fantasy she'd had earlier that day, to indiscriminately kiss him everywhere. What better way to express all the affection she was eager to lavish on him?

Branch let out a hum of pleasure, and Poppy grinned. He was enjoying her attention. "Oh, you like that? Well, there's more where that came from, big boy."

As her mouth encountered his ear, she slipped her tongue out to taste it, sweet and tangy. He gasped and stiffened underneath her, and she paused to assess him. He was breathing deeply and his eyes were scrunched tightly closed, but his mouth was hanging open in a goofy grin.

She suppressed a giggle. Found one!

In school she'd been taught that every troll had certain places on their body that really turned them on. His ears are definitely hot spots. I thought so.

As she ran her tongue along the long outside edge of his ear, his mouth opened and a breathy, "Ahhh…" emerged. Teasingly, she slid her nose under his ear and licked gently. He was tasty.

His breath hitched. "Poppy…" he moaned, his face upturned, clearly ready to let her do whatever she wished to him. At the sound of her name on his lips, deep and throaty and totally lost in the moment, she had to hold her breath to hold back the sheer flash of greedy passion that raced through her, lest she pounce on him ravenously. I promised not to go too far!

Poppy swallowed hard, wondering how far she should take this. She wanted him to enjoy himself, but she didn't want him to regret any of this later. He had such a hard time letting go of feelings like regret. And guilt. Not that they were doing anything wrong, but he had blocked her with his hair earlier. She needed to take her time, for his sake.

Better cool things off for now.

She kissed his ear once more and then came back to his mouth, indulging herself in a few long, tender smooches before she let herself down to lay her head on his chest. She let her body mold itself to his, listening to his rapid heartbeat gradually slowing to its normal, comforting rhythm.

She sighed with a mix of wistfulness and bliss, wishing she could spend a little more time exploring him, but happy just the same. This is way beyond where we were last night. He's doing so well now.

Idly, her boyfriend caressed her back, their hair loosely entwined. She hadn't even noticed when that happened.

"What are you thinking?" she asked softly, wanting to make sure he was all right.

"Remember how you said our first kiss felt magical to you? Well, that's how this feels to me, too. Like there's some kind of special magic between us."

She melted inside.

"There is, sweetheart," she said softly. "It's called 'love'."

Author's Note:

Silkfleece feels like minky microfleece. So smooth and soft it feels almost like water, or butter 😉 BTW, in case you were wondering, yes, Poppy is wearing underwear under the bunny suit. Clean cotton panties that came with the outfits the twins gave her earlier.

I couldn't resist the old "Kiss it and make it better" trope, haha! 😉

When I say Branch smells/tastes like apple cider, I do not mean the clear, alcoholic hard-cider version. I mean the cloudy-looking, rich and flavorful version that is made from apple pulp, along with cinnamon, brown sugar, and other spices like nutmeg, vanilla bean, anise or cloves, oranges, or even maple syrup. Afterward you are supposed to strain the solids out, but I like when some is left behind because the added texture gives it a more sensual feeling as you roll it around in your mouth to release the flavors. Mmm… 😊

Apple cider or sweet cider is a very popular traditional beverage (often homemade, from a favorite recipe) in my New England area of America during the autumn season, but it is not made to be alcoholic. It's actually served hot; a comforting thing to carry around in cold hands while you are walking around in the chilly air of autumn fairs, festivals and farmer's markets. Just the sugary-cinnamon smell alone brings back good memories.

I researched how people react to massages. Most people just relax quietly, but some get talkative or even moan. Some people even cry, especially if they have unresolved emotional problems. I thought that Branch might be one of the chatty types, just because he's not really used to it and it feels very good to him. Also, because of the bonding hormones.

See, massage itself is quite interesting. There's the physical part, where the massage therapist manually rubs away muscle tension and knots. What a lot of people don't realize is also happening on a chemical level is that the touch itself causes a decrease in stress hormones like cortisol, and an increase in feel-good hormones like dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin, which are a natural part of the bonding process. This happens even when we hold hands or have someone stroke our hair, or even just lean against someone while watching TV. It happens when we hug pets, or even stuffed toys.

Natural feel-good hormones are usually beneficial to us. We're happier, we have more confidence, we're healthier, and we're more inclined to feel safe and trust others. I can see why Troll Village is so harmonious, with the custom of Hug Time building trust among them all.

Speaking of hormones, when Branch thinks about ways he and Poppy might eventually break up, that's called self-sabotage. One way for people to self-sabotage is to believe deep down that they're going to lose something that makes them happy. It turns out that your brain wires itself to expect failure, changing your hormone levels and thus your emotions to influence you to do things that can ultimately bring about the very loss you fear.

Optimistic people make the choice to be more trusting, to have hope that things will work out somehow. It may take a few tries to find something that works, but just the confidence that it will makes your brain wire itself for success. So even if people like Poppy look foolish to a Gray Branch-type of person, blind optimism can actually be a pretty powerful force. Pretty cool, right? 😊

* My beta reader keeps raising a point that is an issue with her, so I thought I'd check with all of you. When I have Branch refer to Poppy as "my girl" rather than "my girlfriend", does it seem patronizing to you? I generally only have him use the word when he is taking care of her and feeling especially protective of her. Otherwise, I have him use "girlfriend" as I feel the word is more respectful, and indicates a relationship between equals. How do you feel about each of these words?