And here we are, the end of the journey.

OoOoOo

Branch found Poppy outside later that night, sitting in front of the water. When he got close enough, he immediately (gently) slumped against her shoulder. He was completely emotionally drained... and physically drained for that matter, his head was throbbing even more than before. He was glad they were staying here tonight because the last thing he needed was a trip all the way back to Pop Village on Rhonda.

She giggled. "I take it the talk went well?" she guessed, placing a gentle kiss on his temple.

He sighed. "It was... good," he admitted. "They all apologized... And I told them about Grandma. And about being gray."

Poppy gave a little hum of thought. "And how do you feel?" she asked.

"Relieved," he told her. "You were right, they needed to know. I needed to tell them."

She grinned, her overbite giving away how gleeful she was. "I'm always right," she informed him haughtily. "...Except when I made us go back for Creek. We should have left him."

"Would have saved us a lot of trouble," agreed Branch. But then again, would he have gotten his colors back? Would Poppy have made peace with the Bergens? Would they have saved the world from Barb? Would John Dory have still found him? Would he have gotten his brothers back?

Maybe the mistake wasn't going back for Creek, but not making sure he was dead. Yeah, that sounded right.

Poppy snorted. "I'm glad you talked to your brothers," she said lowly, a soft look in her eyes. Muses, she really was so beautiful.

"I'm glad you're okay," he replied. He frowned, noticing a purple bruise on her cheek that hadn't been there before. He reached out and took her face, running his thumb over it.

She winced, but then leaned into his touch. "When Creek hit me," she answered his unasked question. Her voice was quiet, fragile in a way that so wasn't Poppy. "I think the bruise just started to form."

Branch nodded, but looked at her closely. The urge to ask her if she was really alright rested on the tip of his tongue, but he held it back. Poppy wasn't someone who liked to confront her more negative emotions, she was only just getting used to anger. But sadness? Hurt? If he asked, she would just say she was fine.

He would have to wait until she told him on her own.

Instead, Branch gently kissed the purple welt. "We'll have to put some of the ointment on it," he told her.

Poppy nodded, and he didn't miss the relief in her eyes when he dropped it. "Yeah!" she agreed, smiling a little too big. "I'll be better in no time!" But then she groaned. "Ugh, I have to oversee Creek and Daisy's trial, don't I?"

Branch grimaced; he wasn't sure he wanted them around her after everything. What if they tried something? "Maybe Peppy or Viva will stand in for you?" he suggested.

But Poppy shook her head. "No, I'm the queen," she reminded him resolutely. There was a defensive edge in her voice. "I have to do it."

"Okay," agreed Branch because what else could he do? If Poppy said she would do something, that was it. No one would be able to change her mind. "Hey, Pop?"

The tension was wiped from her face. "Hm?"

He gave her a small smile. He could find out what was bothering her when they got back, but right now? He wanted to sit on the beach with his amazing girlfriend who he had missed so very much. "I love you." Her reply came in the form of Poppy tackling him to the ground and peppering his face with fierce kisses.

"Poppy, your bruises!"

"This is more important!"

OoOoOo

And we're done! I didn't think I'd get this fic done so fast, but ya'll really kept me going, thank you for that! I had something different in mind for the epilogue, but since almost all of you wanted the Poppy sequel, I thought I'd set it up here. I don't know when I'll get around to writing it though.

Again, thank you so much for reading! You guys rock!