-O-

Picturebook Romance

A Trolls fanfic

By Dreamsinger

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Guardian of Her Heart

On top of what we'd just shared, getting to hug Poppy so soon was sheer bliss. I let her body heat soak into me, feeling myself relax, trying to let go of all my worries for this brief moment.

Thank goodness Poppy seemed all right now, completely back to normal, as if the life-shattering events of the last hour hadn't happened. Certainly more recovered than I would have been. But then, she always had been stronger than me. Braver, too.

How does she do it? I'm still keyed up. It's just as well I promised the doctor I'd stay with you, because it's gonna be a long time before I feel like I can let you out of my sight again, Poppy girl.

Suddenly I felt a weird jiggle against my belly, along with an unmistakable sound.

My eyes popped open as we stepped apart. "Was that your stomach? You just had ice cream. Wow. You really are hungry!"

Poppy put a hand to her belly and laughed. I began to grin back at her, but my smile faded as I watched her hand slide up to rub the same spot I'd noticed before.

"Say, Poppy, I've been meaning to ask you… Did Leafe accidentally hurt you?" I asked soberly.

She seemed to realize what she was doing and pulled her hand away. "Well, yeah… But it's just a bruise; it's no big deal."

"Let me see."

Reluctantly Poppy lifted the yellow and green tiers of her new blouse, exposing a smooth expanse of perfect pink skin, with one dramatic exception; a large, blotchy rainbow-colored bruise, just under her ribs.

I gasped. "Oh, man. It's worse than I thought." Biting my lip, I ran my fingertips over it and she winced, a hiss escaping from her lips. "Oops," I pulled my hand away, wincing almost as hard as she had. "Sorry! I'm sorry."

"It's all right, Branch." She let her blouse fall back into place, covering the mute testament of how badly I'd failed her. I'd been off whining to Cherry Blossom about my relationship when I should have been guarding it with everything I had.

"No, it's not all right." Feeling my face twist in concern, I dragged a hand roughly through my hair, which did nothing to stop the rising levels of tension flooding my body. I blew out a stressed breath. "Poppy, I should have been there. I should have-"

"Oh, Branch, don't worry about it. I'm fine. Fit as a fiddle." She tossed her head and gave me a bright smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.

I narrowed my own eyes. "Are you?"

She hesitated, but couldn't hold my gaze, turning her face to the side, her shoulders slightly hunched and one arm coming up to cover the area where the bruise was.

She was lying.

My face grim, I contradicted, "You're not fine. Poppy, why do you always do that?" I flung my arms out to the sides. "Why do you always– ahh!" I growled, kicking a rock in frustration and sending it flying across the field to strike against a distant boulder with a sharp crack. "You just went through a horrible experience. I should have grabbed another puzzle sphere!"

"Huh?" She gave me a brief look of confusion and I caught a flash of worry in her eyes. "Okay, listen, calm down, Branch." She gave me another falsely cheerful smile and held her palms toward the ground, speaking slowly and reassuringly, as if she were talking to a trolling. "Don't get all upset now-"

"Me, don't get upset? Me? Me?" My voice went so high-pitched it squeaked. "I can't believe you're trying to make light of this! You got hurt! You nearly died!"

A shadow passed across her face, but she ignored my rising voice, saying placatingly, "But everything's fine now, it's all good…" She reached out to put a hand on my shoulder but I dodged it.

"Stop that!" I cried out, my voice cracking as all the fear and anger I'd been holding back came roaring out. "Do you have any idea how much you scared me?" I scolded her. "How much you scared all of us?"

Finally looking troubled, she gestured vaguely in the air. "Well, what do you want me to say, Branch? It was an accident. I'm sorry."

It wasn't enough. Heart pounding, I turned my back on her. My voice shook as I said, "You know, there are times when I think you do stuff like this on purpose."

I heard her gasp. "What? I didn't choke on purpose!"

"No, I meant, living your life as if there really aren't things out there that can hurt you! And so when something like this happens, you're not prepared to deal with it. It's what they call a fool's paradise. Only, you're not the only one who gets hurt."

I couldn't have hurt her more if I'd slapped her. All at once, I was nine years old again, lashing out at the one person who least deserved it.

I knew it wasn't really her fault. I wanted to comfort her. She was hurting, and I'd hurt her even more.

But I was hurting, too. Shaken. Terrified! What good was it to let myself get attached to someone who was only going to keep causing me pain, over and over again, only to lose them in the end, just like everyone else I'd ever loved? And when I did, who would comfort me then?

"Poppy, I-" I clenched my fists, breathing hard, my body going rigid as love and guilt and fury battled in my chest. I took a deep breath to continue yelling, but just then a great weariness rolled over me, pressing me down, and suddenly I wanted to cry, just as hard as I'd ever cried as a trolling.

It scared me. All these violent feelings; I hated them! I hated how weak Poppy made me feel, how vulnerable, after all these years of believing I was safe behind the strongest barriers of heart, mind and body that I could possibly build. I thought I'd put this all behind me! But I guess I'm still just the same helpless little trolling who wanted someone to come along and make it all go away.

I had to take several breaths before I could speak, and when I did, my throat sounded thick with unshed tears. "I can't talk to you right now."

I needed to get away from her before I said anything else.

-O-

Shoulders tight and hands clenched, Branch stalked away from her. The lone queen stood shell-shocked, left behind in the darkening light.

She waited. He would come back. He would.

She lost sight of his plumed hair among the colorless, empty tents.

…Wouldn't he?

Dazed, she stood there, her bewildered mind trying to make sense of what had just happened. One minute he'd been loving and gentle, and the next; a blast of hostility. As if he were still Gray Branch, cold and harsh.

It was deep twilight now. Slowly, she became aware of her surroundings, as the dull gray light stirred an unnerving memory, an ominous echo of the way the world had faded from her eyes as she'd slowly choked to death. The blinding fear in her brain. The futile struggle to breathe. The growing agony in her chest.

The wind grew stronger, snaking chilled fingers through her clothes and hair. The desolate young troll began to shiver, and her eyes filled with tears as the grayness stole over her body once again.

-O-

I refused to look back at Poppy as I stomped toward the wide trail at the edge of the village that led to upward to my bunker. The path that used to be a lot narrower, when the only feet that followed it were gray…and pink.

I can't believe her, brushing me off like that, I fumed. Treating me like a trolling.

I saw myself in my mind's eye as the small, skinny, frightened trolling I once was. He agreed, Of all people, she should know better! She doesn't hafta pretend to be strong when she's hurting inside. Not with me.

But she's the queen. It's her job to look after her people, argued Branch-the-lover, strong and mature; the version of me whom I most wanted to be.

But not me! little Branch contradicted. She chose me to be her special someone. That means I gotta look after her, too!

And a fine job you did, mature Branch said sternly. Losing your temper and yelling at her, after everything she's already been through today. What she needs is your support.

She won't take it! She thinks I'm just a whiny crybaby.

My inner selves dissolved as I came to a stop, hanging my head in shame.

…Maybe she's right.

I groaned as guilt overrode what was left of my frustration. After the way you just acted, it's no wonder she's afraid to rely on you. Congratulations, Branch. You broke your promise to everyone to keep an eye on her in less than an hour.

I pressed the heels of my hands to my eyes and groaned again, then sighed and straightened up, a sense of urgency pulling at me. Okay. Enough wallowing. You've got a queen to take care of.

I hurried as fast as I could down the path in the dimness, hoping I could catch up to her before she'd made it too far back to her pod, but to my surprise she was still right where I'd left her.

She's waiting for me? I felt a little better then. Wait-

Poppy stood with her head down, small and shivering and hugging herself, looking oddly faded in the graying light. I squinted. There were tears on her cheeks and a look of sheer misery on her face.

A bone-deep chill went through me. Oh, no.

"Poppy!"

I threw my hair around the nearest tree limb and flung myself downward, sweeping her up in my arms the second I hit the ground. "Poppy, I'm sorry! I am so, so sorry. I didn't mean it - it wasn't your fault! It's just – what would do if I lost you, after finally getting to tell you that I loved you?" I cried, my voice breaking. "I don't know what I would do!"

"Branch…" She brought her arms up to clutch me tightly. "Oh, Branch!"

We held each other fiercely, rocking from side to side. I was shaking just as badly as she was. My breathing had a hint of a whine to it, but I honestly didn't care right then. I'd surprised myself with my outburst, but I'd told the truth. I couldn't imagine living my life without her in it somewhere, the way she always had been.

Belatedly it occurred to me that I was probably hurting her bruised stomach, so I relaxed my hold some but didn't let go. She hadn't let out so much as a whimper. I knew she needed this hug as much as I did.

I pushed aside my thoughts and let myself get lost in her close embrace. A sweet scent. Soft, even breaths against my neck. A heartbeat, strong and steady in the warm, living body pressed against mine. I let myself forget everything and just exist.

For once, I was the one who didn't want to let go when Poppy began to stir, her natural energy returning, even though after a hug like this it'd be worse than coffee.

"Branch?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry," she said contritely. "I'm really sorry for scaring you, and…from now on I'm gonna try to be more careful. I promise."

I let that sink in for a minute. Her voice was doing that husky thing – she really meant it. It was the first time she'd ever said anything like that to me. "Thanks."

"I was scared, too," she admitted. "I still am, a little."

I blinked. What?

I stepped back to put my hands on her shoulders and studied her face. She smiled up at me, but in the back of my mind lurked a flicker of uneasiness. I couldn't remember the last time Poppy had confessed to being afraid of anything.

As she looked out at the fading landscape her smile faded, and I felt her tense up for a second.

"Poppy, are you really all right?" I asked softly, reaching to hold her hands in mine. They were cold.

She took a shade too long to answer. "Hey, who's the queen of getting back up again?"

I gave her a half smile, lifting an eyebrow and tilting my head to show she wasn't fooling me. Besides, even in the low light I could see that her cute little nose was still a little red from crying. "Poppy."

"Oh, fine." She rolled her eyes. "So maybe I'm not completely okay. But I - I'm sure it won't be long. I'm just…" she looked away for a moment and I saw the shadow again in her eyes, "…tired. We had a busy day and I think I probably just need a good night's sleep." She sounded as if she was trying to convince herself.

Then the meaning of her words sunk in. "Sleep? Does that mean you don't want to go to any parties tonight?" I asked in surprise.

She shook her head.

"Poppy doesn't want to party? Now I know there's something wrong with you," I joked, trying not to let her see my worry. If what I suspected was true…

When she didn't respond, I cleared my throat and said awkwardly, "Sorry. Listen, Poppy, since we're halfway there anyway, do you mind if we keep on heading to my bunker? I've got a medicinal salve I'd like you to try on that bruise. It'll make it feel a lot better, and help it heal a lot faster, too. It's called arnica salve."

"Really?" I was glad to see a spark of curiosity in her eyes. "I've never heard of it."

"Yeah. And…" I hesitated, my eyes dropping for a moment before I met hers again. "You'll feel safe there. Nothing will happen to you, I promise." And this was a promise I'd keep.

"Thanks, Branch," she said, her tone soft and sweet. I knew I was forgiven.

"And Branch?"

"Yeah?"

"You're strong. You're the strongest person I know. And if… Well, not that it ever would, but… 'If'." Her eyes looked off somewhere far away. "They'll need you, you know."

"…I know," I said quietly.

If something ever happened to take her away from the village, the other trolls would be left without a leader, other than an aging king with a broken heart.

She looked back at me, and it was my turn to look away.

She waited.

I honestly didn't know if I could do it, but I knew what she needed to hear. I took a deep breath.

"I'll do my best."

She gave me a grateful smile. "Thank you, Branch. I love you."

"I love you, too, Poppy."

I used my hold on her hands to pull her toward me, snuggling her against me with one hand at the base of her spine and the other stroking her back to soothe her. Her arms slid around my waist and I closed my eyes to relish the way she relaxed trustingly against me.

Suddenly I heard a set of familiar voices call out to us.

"Hey, Branch!"

"Poppy!"

I groaned as I let her go. "Aw, man. What now?"

As exasperated as I was, I was happy to hear Poppy giggle.

Satin and Chenille came hurrying across the darkening field, with the first of the evening's lights beginning to appear in the village behind them. The rest of our friends followed close behind.

Her cheer restored, Poppy asked, "Hey, guys, what's up?" as the twins stopped in front of us.

"We have the outfits we promised to give you," said Chenille.

"What? Oh, right." I noticed then that they were wearing their usual clothes.

Each girl reached into her hair and brought out one of the two mosaic-landscape outfits I had admired that morning in their tent and held them out to me.

"Wait, both of them? I thought it was just this one." I pointed at the pale blue sleeveless dress whose entire front was decorated with a lovely scene of a periwinkle-blue lake with the sun rising behind it, made from thousands of tiny pastel-colored ceramic beads, all blues and purples, pinks and yellows.

"They're a matching set," Satin explained.

Straining a little at the weight, Chenille held up the other outfit, a light pink shirt with a gorgeous aqua-blue waterfall on it that spilled down onto the matching slacks. Silvery-gray beads represented clouds of soft-looking mist from which a spray of brilliant rainbows emerged. "You can't display one without the other," she said.

Gazing at the waterfall, I was reminded of the same thing I'd thought of the last time, and was glad for the reminder.

"Well, thank you, Chenille." I held out my hands. "And thank you - urg - Satin," I grunted as both outfits were dropped gratefully onto them by their respective twin. Poppy had to help me lift my hands high enough to clumsily pack them into my hair. It was a good thing one of the properties of troll hair was its weight-negating ability. Who would have thought beads so tiny could weigh so much?

"They'll look beautiful on my wall," I added. Then I noticed the unusually tender smiles both girls were giving me.

In fact, all my friends were looking at me with weirdly affectionate expressions. I took a step back toward Poppy. "What?"

My friends all exchanged glances and grinned. "Oh, nothing," said Smidge.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, but then Guy did a pretty good job of changing the subject. "By the way, Branch, some trollings were looking for you earlier."

"They were? Why?"

"They said you told them to see you for help with learning how to hair-glide and stuff," DJ Suki replied.

I snapped my fingers. "Oh! That's what I meant to do today. I knew there was something I forgot!" I traded guilty looks with Poppy, whose eyes were wide with remembrance. "Oh, man…" I groaned. "I was supposed to visit the Whizbangs, too, to see Laurel!"

Poppy consoled me, "Well, we were a little distracted today. I'm sure you'll see her around."

"Yeah..." I grimaced guiltily. "But the trollings…"

"Don't worry about it, Branch," Guy said grandly. "We helped them in your place."

"You did?"

"We've got your back, my man," Suki added.

"Yeah, it was a lotta fun," Cooper piped up enthusiastically.

"Well, thanks, guys," I said gratefully. "I don't know where my head was today."

"Yeah, well, you can't help being distracted, what with you and Poppy being a thing, now," Cooper said generously.

"Yeah, but I should still-" My eyes snapped open and I literally jumped a foot in the air and squawked, "What?"

All of them, even Poppy, the traitor, burst out into uproarious laughter.

I stood there watching their hysterics for a minute before snorting and rolling my eyes. "Seriously, guys? It wasn't that funny."

"No – hahahaha – it was funnier!" Smidge's deep, guttural laugh seemed too big for her tiny body to contain. "Oh my gaaaad!"

The twins were hugging, their hair in the shape of a heart, DJ was chortling on the grass with Cooper on his back next to her with all four feet in the air and Guy was bent over, shooting poofs of glitter into the air, his undulating soprano giggle lifting higher than the girls'. Even Biggie was hiding a chuckle behind the hand not holding Mister Dinkles, who meeped once and set them all off again.

I crossed my arms, tapping my foot impatiently on the ground as I glared at Poppy. "So this is what you were talking to them about while I was with Cherry Blossom?"

Still laughing, she came up to me and put her arm around my waist. I tried to maintain my grumpy face, but she booped my nose and I smiled involuntarily and felt better.

"I didn't have to tell them. Remember this morning?" Poppy said brightly. "We were both right about who would guess our secret."

"Huh? Oh." I'd guessed it would be either Biggie or Satin, the 'romantics' of the group, and Poppy had guessed either Smidge or Cooper. "You mean they all figured it out?"

"It wasn't that hard," Smidge said smugly. "You've been circling each other like shimmer bugs around a lantern for months now."

I dragged a hand down my face and groaned. "Does the whole village know?"

"Not quite," Poppy laughed. "Let's see, there's our friends, my dad, Doctor Plum and Acorn, Cherry Blossom and Leafe, and…does Conifer count? Oh! and uhhh…who was it you told this morning, the Whizbangs?"

"Yeah. Well, they asked me, actually. They promised to keep a lid on it as long as they could, though, and since we haven't been attack by a confetti-throwing mob, I guess they managed to keep their promise. Seriously though, Poppy, I can't believe you told your dad already."

"You've got it backward. He told me, just like the Whizbangs asked you. He knew all along!" Poppy giggled. "I guess it's no use keeping something like this a secret from the people who love us, Branch." She sighed happily, and I couldn't help but relax and let her love soak into me as I put my own arm around her waist.

"Yeah, I guess not."

Did they love me? I mused. I hadn't believed anyone outside of my own circle of friends had cared much about me one way or another until this morning, but that was probably because after feeling Poppy's love for me, I'd gotten a taste for it and had gone looking for more. Or something.

"There's also whoever maybe saw us earlier, when you were – uh – helping me clean off the ice cream," she finished awkwardly.

"Oh. Right." My face heated up. It was a good thing it was nearly dark, or I'd be in for a boatload of teasing.

Poppy reassured me, "But everyone here promised they'd keep our relationship a secret until we're ready to let the rest of the village know."

I blinked. "Really? Well, that's cool of you. Thanks, guys."

"No problem, Mister 'Taking Chances'," Smidge teased.

"What?" I gave her a puzzled look.

"Ooo!" Biggie bounced in place and begged me with shining eyes, "Please, Branch, tell us the rest of that beautiful poem Poppy quoted from earlier!"

As the rest of them joined in the pleading, I turned to Poppy accusingly, my cheeks burning so brightly I was surprised I couldn't see them glowing. "You told them that?"

-O-

I stood with my back to everyone. Softly, gently, easily, the words flowed from my lips, my voice a velvet murmur in the twilight.

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

I turned around and tossed a handful of glitter I'd acquired from a cooperative Guy Diamond into the air. My friends and Poppy all looked charmed as the delicate flakes caught the last warm hint of daylight, drifting in the breeze like cherry blossom petals.

My sparkle girl

Kneeling on the grass in front of my beautiful girlfriend, I reached up to take her hand in mine, gazing up at her in adoration.

Cheeks of rose

All flecked with stars

And skin like honeydew

Dainty nose

And your warm arms

Your hair of sunrise hue

A smile that glows

Lights up my heart

Your eyes so pure and true

I let myself fall into her enchanted gaze, forgetting about our audience entirely.

All these things at which I stare

Sneaking secret glances

Make even someone such as me

Believe in taking chances

There was a long, sweet pause before Biggie whispered, "Bravo."

Reminded of their presence, I looked up to see all of our friends with teary eyes, hands on cheeks or laced together in front of them, wearing the sort of sappy, sentimental expressions that would normally have me snorting in disgust, but right now their silent joy felt like a standing ovation. I couldn't help but smile bashfully.

I ended up sharing two more poems, enjoying being the center of attention and enthralling the rapt audience who hung on my every word. It was sure better than having them laughing at me, anyway. Maybe if I turned my lessons into poems, or added music to them, people would give me the same type of positive attention. No wonder Poppy uses so many songs to teach her classes.

I kept an eye on the darkening sky and stopped at three poems, remembering the old adage, 'leave 'em wanting more'. When they protested, I grinned and promised them 'words to make the heart flutter' another day.

-O-

Poppy could not have been happier, surrounded by her best friends and watching her wonderful boyfriend open up and share a little of the deep, thoughtful, loving soul behind his guarded blue gaze. He really got into it, even kneeling on the grass with one hand over his heart and the other passionately held up to the star-flecked navy blue sky above. She grinned. What a ham.

She loved this side of him so much! And while she would always be ready to hear more poetry from him, in truth, the look of proud pleasure on his face when they all gave him a final round of enthusiastic applause was all it would take to make her own heart flutter.

It was almost full dark now and she was ready to head out, but Branch had one last question.

"I've been meaning to ask you; where'd you get all the helmets?"

Now it was their turn to act astonished.

"How – how'd you know it was us?" DJ stammered.

"Is that where the boingo riders got their helmets?" Poppy asked in surprise.

Branch smirked at their friends' guilty looks. "You're not the only trolls in the village who are observant."

"Well, we always carry helmets," Guy explained.

Branch blinked. "Really?"

"Of course. Just because your insistence on safety is kind of annoying, that doesn't mean you're wrong."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence."

As usual, his sarcasm went over everyone's heads, and Poppy hid a smile at his disgruntled expression when they all politely answered, "You're welcome."

Cooper commented, "Why, I believe in you so much, I carry three helmets!"

"I'm probably gonna regret asking this, but why three?"

"One for my head, one for my butt, and another one for my head!"

Poppy exchanged puzzled looks with Branch. "Another one?"

"Yeah, to go over the first one. I figure if one helmet is good, two is even better!"

"I was right. I do regret asking," Branch said in that dry tone where it was hard to tell if he was joking or not, but Poppy laughed anyway.

"Oh," DJ said, "Almost forgot – here's the mix tape you asked for."

Poppy broke out into a happy beam, taking the tape and storing it in her hair. "Thanks a lot, DJ."

"What's that?" Branch asked, mildly curious.

"What else? Romantic riffs for my favorite two lovebirds," DJ said with a mellow grin. "Not that you'll need 'em, will ya, you sly dog," she teased, elbowing him gently in the stomach. "I see the way she looks at you."

Branch blushed a little, putting one arm behind his back and rubbing his nose as if he didn't know what to say.

"Yes, you're almost as attractive as meEeE!" Guy Diamond chimed in, throwing his head back and running his glittery fingers through his even more glittery hair.

"You're super cool!" the twins chorused.

"And so handsome!" continued Chenille.

"And hunky!" Satin added.

Branch smiled. "Thanks, guys."

"You're super smart, too!" Cooper's long neck flew up and down as he nodded so hard that he nearly fell on his face.

"And so brave! And talented! And you have an absolutely dreamy singing voice." Biggie sighed as he clasped his hands together in front of his chest. "Why, it's almost a shame that you're already taken."

"Meep."

"I know, right?" Satin agreed with the glowworm. Or possibly with Biggie, judging by the way Chenille put her hands on her hips and stared at her twin in surprise.

Branch's mouth dropped open.

I guess Branch was right about the twins wanting different things in life. Poppy had a fleeting thought that it was a good thing he'd made his choice clear, or poor Branch might have been the victim of a three-way contest and possibly have gotten so overwhelmed he'd have sworn off romance for life.

Biggie sighed dramatically and declared, "But alas, everyone knows he only has eyes for our Miss Poppy."

"Yeah…" their friends crooned contentedly, glazing at the young couple with such lovesick expressions that even Poppy got uncomfortable, trading awkward grimaces with her boyfriend.

I know you all said you were going to support our relationship and try to make Branch feel better about himself, but this is getting a little…weird.

Branch obviously agreed, taking a step backward as he said, "Uh… Listen, guys, thanks a lot for the tape and the clothes…and the support. It really means a lot to me."

Everyone automatically acknowledged his thanks with a troll's well-honed manners.

"Of course."

"No prob."

"You're welcome."

But as Poppy and her boyfriend began to walk away, Biggie called after them, "Wait, aren't you guys coming to the Beadfest Afterparty?"

Poppy stopped short. "Oh my gosh, I completely forgot about that!"

Their friends all took a horrified step back as the air filled with gasps.

Guy looked astounded. "You forgOoOot?"

DJ grinned. "What did I tell you? He's got you totally distracted. And you're loving it."

Branch looked at her and smiled. Poppy blushed, rubbing a hand on the back of her head.

"But…since when does Poppy forget about a party, especially one she planned herself?" Smidge looked so astounded that Poppy's guilt from the morning returned.

"Oh, guys, I'm so sorry." Poppy put a hand on her chest. "Please don't get me wrong – it's not that I don't want to spend time with you, it's just that right now I want - I – I - need-"

Branch stepped in front of her, bravely facing the short but powerful, hot-tempered yellow troll. "What Poppy needs is to come home with me, where she can get some rest and I can keep a close eye on her," he said sternly. "Sorry if I'm spoiling people's plans, but I-"

"No, no, it's my fault. What was I thinking?" Smidge slapped her forehead. "After what you've just been through, of course you'd need some time to recuperate, Poppy."

"Right, we can party anytime," Satin added.

"Thank you, everyone" Poppy said sincerely. "I – we – have the best friends in the entire world." As Poppy took a step back, Smidge's remark about party planning reminded her of something. "Oh! Hey, could someone stop by my pod and pick up the box of flashbugs Branch brought over yesterday?"

"Sure," Chenille answered.

"Flashbugs, eh?" Guy rubbed his chin and traded sly glances with the rest of their friends. "Was that the fateful errand that brought loverboy here to your door yesterday? Hmm?"

As their friends all gave knowing chuckles, Poppy's face went hot. Branch stiffened, looking upward with his hands over his face and groaning, "Great. Here it comes."

Cooper began to say something but Poppy took a quick step forward, holding a hand out with her palm facing them. She shook her head, giving them all a pleading look as she tilted her head in her boyfriend's direction, then straightened up before he noticed.

There was a moment of silence, and then Biggie said, "Right, then. Come on, everyone, best get those flashbugs ready before people start showing up for the afterparty."

Branch gave their friends a look of surprise as they all began to walk away.

"He really is cool, isn't he?" Chenille said to her sister.

"Yeah," Satin sighed dreamily. "And his poetry is divine…"

"Remember his very first poem?" Smidge asked, batting her long lashes.

DJ said, "The one that made Gristle fall for Bridget?"

"Oh, the nostalgia!" Guy said feelingly.

"I know, right?" Cooper grinned.

"Soo romantic…" Biggie gushed.

Smidge said, "How did it go again? 'Your eyes are like two pools…'"

As their voices began to fade away, DJ Suki turned back to give them a smile that was just a little bit wider than usual. "You guys go get some rest now, ya hear?"

Poppy glanced at Branch and then both of them looked away from one another, blushing.

After a minute, Branch gave her a puzzled look. "Poppy, is it me, or was that weird?"

-O-

I still felt a little bothered by the fight Poppy and I had had earlier, but the sharp edges had worn off, thanks to our friends. They hadn't teased us nearly as much as I'd thought they would, and having their support really did make me feel a lot better. Poppy would say that was one reason why being sociable is a good thing, and I had to agree. She certainly seemed to feel much better, skipping along beside me and humming some happy little tune as we made our way to my bunker.

My home. I was bringing a girl who was interested in me home for the first time.

On some level I still couldn't believe that I was getting to spend so much time with her. That she wanted to spend so much time with me, and me alone. I felt like the luckiest troll in the village.

Why do I love her so much?

I gave her an adoring look as I watched the way her bobbing topknot caught the first rays of moonlight, her spunky attitude guiding her dancing steps. She was so vibrant, so full of life. Her eyes shone. Her smile sparkled. The glitter freckles on her cheeks twinkled brighter than the stars.

What makes her so dear to me?

The only thing brighter was her pure, shining heart. The heart she had given to me to guard and care for, forever.

Everything.

Author's Note:

The outfits from the twins kind of represent Branch and Poppy. Poppy is the sunrise/hope, and Branch is the unexpected rainbow of colors that emerges from the mysterious misty waterfall, all hidden depths and secrets. It also represents something else, as you'll see later on.

Arnica salve is real, although I don't know if it's as effective in real life as it's going to be in my story.

Thank you to Iloveanimals for the reminder about the flashbugs! I do so hate leaving dangling plot threads – if anybody else has anything they've been wondering about, feel free to mention it in a comment.

MUSIC I LIKE

I've listened to every song that people have suggested so far, and a lot of them are really good and are ones I'll be looking to include if possible:

Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer, suggested by CrownPrince, as a duet by our favorite Broppy couple. Also Come Away with Me by Nora Jones, which for some reason I can totally hear Frond singing.

ChipmunkfanNo.1 suggested a good line change for the Taking Chances song by Celine Dion. Thanks! And thanks also for All of Me by John Legend.

Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran was suggested by both ChipmunkfanNo.1 and Lunar_L. I think I'm going to use it in my other story, Taming Branch. In that fic he's even the same age as in the song, 23.

Another Ed Sheeran song I like is Perfect, suggested by FreakyFandomFangirl. That line about them dancing barefoot in the grass is SO right for trolls, haha!

Lunar_L also suggested Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars. I can see Poppy singing that to a self-conscious Branch.

All About Us by Owl City, suggested by Pliowolf92.

Michelle James suggested a song by Debarge, which led me to another Debarge song that would make a fantastic troll party song, The Rhythm of the Night.

After seeing Trolls World Tour, I realized that the song Branch sings, Perfect for Me, would be, well, perfect, haha, as a love song for Picturebook Romance if I changed some of the lyrics to match this story, so I went ahead and wrote some. So expect to see that song soon! :)