"Branch!" Poppy cried, running into him, knocking him to the ground. "Branch! Branch! Branch! Bra-"

"What?" Branch asked, getting off the ground and dusting off his clothes.

"Guess what week it is!" she exclaimed.

"Your birthday?" he tried.

"Nice try, Branch!" Poppy said. "You know my birthday isn't until three months!"

"An anniversary? Your coronation anniversary?"

"Branch! You know that's the same day as our escape from the Bergens anniversary!" Poppy exclaimed, punching him lightly.

"Is it you dad's...coronation?" Branch tried, awkwardly smiling.

"Branch!"

"Okay, okay, fine!" Branch said, putting his hands up. "Creek Week!"

"Not even close! That's next week! Are you even trying?"

"Of course I am!"

"One more guess!" Poppy smiled at him. Branch stared at her new outfit. Her dress is red with a dark pink at the bottom, hearts embroidered into it. Her crown has two springed puff balls bouncing from it every time her head moves, followed along with a red, dark red and pink braided thread. "I'm assuming it has something to do with your clothes," Branch stated plainly, putting a hand on his chin.

Poppy's smile grew wider. "Uh, a big dance? You know, those formal ones we do every once in a while?"

"No!" Poppy cried, throwing her hands down in front of her. "Branch!"

"I'm sorry," Branch said. "I honestly don't know. I haven't checked my calendar yet."

"It's Valentine's Day! This week!" Poppy punctuated by pointing at the ground a few times.

"Valentine's Day?" Branch exclaimed. "That's this week?"

"Yeah it is!" Poppy cheered. "And guess what? I managed to turn down the party planning this week so people can prepare for the season of love!"

"You did?" Branch asked, raising his eyebrows. "I'm impressed. And they let you do it?"

"Yeah, actually," Poppy replied. "I was a little surprised myself. Anyway, I hope you ask that special Troll," she winked, "out soon or someone else might take your chance!" She turned, humming as she walked away.

Branch stared at her with an expression of bewilderment. Was she talking about herself? Why don't she ask him out?

Branch stopped to see a crowd of Trolls gathered around a tree. "Move!" Branch said. "What are we looking at?" Branch got stopped halfway through from the crowd, as it didn't continue moving. "It's a poster," a green haired Country Troll said. "But I can't see what it says from 'ere."

"I can," said a dark pink Techno Troll. He squinted. "Uh, it says, from what I can see-oops, sorry-'Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Ask your special Troll for a day out and watch your connection, and love, grow to...' That's all I can see. Someone's head is in the way."

"Valentine's Day poster?" the Country Troll asked. "Is Valentine's Day a big deal for you Pop Trolls?"

"Well, for Poppy it is anyway," Branch replied, shrugging. "I've never participated in one."

"Well, I guess it'll be your first, huh?" the Techno Troll stated.

"Yeah, I guess so," Branch said thoughtfully.

"Bitty B!" called a familiar voice from behind the crowd.

"Oh no," Branch sighed, slouching. "Hide me." Branch ducked inside the crowd of Trolls. "Baby Branch? Where did you go?"

There was silence for a moment before Branch was pulled out of the crowd by his ear. "Gotcha!" Branch rubbed his ear and sighed. "John."

"Branch!" John extended his arms wide, waddled to Branch, who tried to run but got pushed back by the crowd of Trolls, and scooped up in John's hug.

"John!" Branch gasped. "John! I...I can't breathe...!" Branch patted his brother's arm until he let go. Branch stumbled backwards and gasped for air before standing upright again. "That's just as bad as Holly," he muttered. "John, what are you doing here?"

"I came to visit my brother on the holiday!" John replied. "Isn't that obvious?"

"I thought you had 'John things' to take care of," Branch stated, using quotations with his fingers. John gasped, obviously offended. "And skip out on seeing my baby brother for Valentine's Day?" Branch raised an eyebrow, causing John to look away for a second. "Actually, yeah, I am busy. I just came by to give you this."

John held up a card, sealed in a light pink envelope, closed with small heart stickers. Branch grabbed it, stared at it, and glanced up at John. "What is this?" he asked skeptically.

"Uh, your Valentine's Day card, obvi!" John replied, waving a hand at him. "What does it look like?"

"Like a three year old girl made it," Branch replied.

"Hey! That's all I got!" John cried. Branch stared at him, annoyed. "Anyway, I also wanted to tell you that your other brothers are coming over too. Spru-err-I mean, Bruce-might try to...how do I put it?" He waved his hand in a circle. "'Father' you. Just be warned of that."

Branch just stared at him in silence. John stood there for a second, waiting for some kind of response from his brother. "...okay!" John said suddenly. "Well...I'm going to be...heading out now!" John turned around, taking a large step and pausing to salute. "Have fun, Bitty B!"

John extended his hair to grab a nearby branch. "Would you stop calling me that?" Branch yelled after him. John just replied in another salute.

Branch walked off the elevator in his bunker and threw John's card onto the closest table. He slumped over to his bed and threw himself in it, face first. He gave a muffled moan. "Maybe this is why I never participated in Valentine's-" Branch stopped short, poking one ear up.

There came a loud, echoed knock from outside his bunker. Branch moaned again, got out of bed, and opened the slot in his mat. "What?" he asked, grumpy.

"Oh!" Floyd said. "Branch!"

"Hey, bro!" Clay called, waving a hand next to Floyd's face. "We came to give you a quick visit!"

Branch closed the slot and opened the mat. "How've you been? You know, since the whole reunion thing?" Floyd asked, walking onto the elevator after Branch's prompting.

"Fine," Branch replied stoically. "You? I mean, you were the one who was nearly killed."

"I've been much better actually!" Floyd said. "I definitely recovered my energy for sure."

"That's good to hear," Branch said.

"Nice to see you again, Branch!" Clay said, slapping him on the back. Branch flinched, nearly fell over, caught himself on the elevator lever, accidently pulling it down, and quickly readjusting the speed from shooting down. Branch glared at his brother. "Sorry," Clay apologized.

After a quick visit, at least an hour, from his brothers, they decided to head back out. Floyd and Clay's visit was much more pleasant than John's visit, as neither of them gave Branch hugs that nearly crushed his lungs. Neither of them handed him a card either, which Branch appreciated, whether he mentioned it or not.

After about two minutes of sitting down, another knock came from outside. Branch assumed this one to be Bruce, which he found to be true when he opened the mat. "Oh, Bruce," Branch said.

"You okay, Branch?" Bruce asked.

"Yep! Just peachy!" Branch said, forcing a smile onto his face.

Bruce narrowed his eyes at him. "No one ever says that if they're fine, Branch. Trust me. Brandy says that all the time." Branch sighed. "I'm good enough."

"Can you handle it yourself or do you want to talk about it?" Bruce asked.

"No, no, it's good," Branch said. "You can come in." Bruce joined him on the elevator and waited for it to get to the bottom. Once they both walked off, Bruce noogied Branch.

"Ah!" Branch yelled. "What was that for?" He rubbed his head. "Haven't done that in a while. You used to love that."

"I'm a man now!" Branch cried. "That hurt!"

"Geez, okay, sorry," Bruce said. He paused, watching Branch rub his head. He lightly punched his brother's free arm. "How's manly hood treating you, huh?" he asked playfully.

"Huh?" Branch questioned.

"Yeah...it was worth a shot," Bruce said. "Hey, you got John's card!"

"Oh, yeah," Branch said, his gaze turning to the sealed card.

"He didn't plan too much for that did he?" Bruce asked, giggling.

"You got one too?" Branch asked.

"Just like it!" Bruce pulled his card out from his hair and held it up so Branch could see the heart stickers. "I questioned him about it."

Branch smiled. "I did too! I told him it looked like a three year old girl made it!"

"Me too!" Branch and Bruce burst out in laughter for a while until they calmed down. "I heard you guys are having a Valentine's Dance," Bruce said.

"Oh, that's what that was about," Branch said. "I couldn't see the poster."

"There were a lot of Trolls near it," Bruce agreed. "So...you taking anybody? To the dance?"

"M-me?" Branch asked, flustered.

"Yeah, you!" Bruce said, poking him teasingly, shoving the card back into his hair.

"W-why-wha-what makes you say that?" Branch stuttered.

"Well, I did see that kiss from you and the queen," Bruce said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"But that-well-I-I, uhh-that's-" Branch stopped as anything he tried to say wouldn't come out.

"Oh, so you do like her!" Bruce said teasingly.

"Well, I-" Branch couldn't finish his argument as his cheeks grew warm.

"Oooh!" Bruce teased, suggestively.

"It's not like that!" Branch yelled, embarrassed. "I...I just like her, okay?"

"Aha!" Bruce exclaimed, pointing at Branch. "I knew it!"

"I-I wasn't-I didn't mean-UGH!" Branch threw his arms in the air in defeat.

"So, why don't you ask her out?" Bruce asked seriously again.

"I can't," Branch said, embarrassed. "I don't have the guts."

"Aw, come on, you're the bravest Troll I know!" Bruce said.

"You're just saying that because you're my brother," Branch argued.

"No I'm not!" Bruce said. "You stood up to all of us when we weren't being very nice. That takes a lot of courage. Plus, you stood up to Velvet and Veneer." Branch was silent. "Aw, come on, don't be so modest about it." Bruce elbowed his brother a few times.

"I just can't ask her out, okay?" Branch said.

"I'm sure you can!" Bruce said. "Look, it took me two, whole months after meeting Brandy to ask her out. I'm confident you can ask Poppy out!"

"I do appreciate your encouragement," Branch stated, "but it's just not happening."

"I'm sure you can do it when the time comes," Bruce said. "Want me to give you some tips?"

"No, not really," Branch said quietly.

"First!" Bruce started. "You have to know her. Like, REALLY know her. Nothing ever goes the way you want it if you don't plan! And if you don't plan well, then she might not like you! Boy, did I learn that my first date with Brandy. Thankfully, she was understanding enough to go out with me again. Oh, second!" Bruce put up two fingers. "Compliment her! People love being complimented...unless they don't. I guess that one is kinda tricky. Compliments worked on Brandy, although it was more of smooth talking her more than anything. Poppy seems like she might like it though..."

Bruce went on for about three hours on date information. "Bruce!" Branch yelled. Branch instantly stopped. "Bruce, look, I appreciate your help," Branch started, putting his hands together and pointing his fingers at Bruce, "but I don't think I need it."

"You sure? 'Cause-"

"Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!" Branch said. "I got this, please, just stop." Bruce stared at him for a minute before his thoughts were interrupted by the fourth ding of Branch's Hug Time Bracelet. "It's been four hours," Branch said slowly.

"It has?" Bruce cried, standing up, knocking the chair he was sitting in over. "What am I doing? I need to get back to my kids!" Before Branch could say anything, Bruce took off, taking Branch's elevator with him. Branch closed his Hug Time Bracelet, only for it to pop open a second time to him closing it again.

Branch sighed, half of relief, the other, irritation. "Finally, some alone time." Branch walked into the kitchen, tired from the interactions, and began making himself some coffee.

Before he could enjoy it, there came another knock at the door. He closed his eyes, gripped his cup tighter, inhaled deeply and placed the cup on the counter. He begrudgingly mounted the elevator and opened the mat to see Poppy.

"Branch!" she exclaimed. "The dance it in three hours! Did you ask your special Troll out yet?"

"No, I haven't," Branch sighed.

"Branch! It's three. Hours. Three hours!" Poppy repeated.

"Yeah, I got it, Poppy," Branch said.

"Why not?" Poppy asked.

"I just wanted some time-"

"To make sure you get the right Troll?" Poppy interrupted. "Smart move, Branch!" She pointed at him. "Poppy, no you don't get it!" Branch tried.

"Oh, you want to get the courage to do so," Poppy said, smirking at him. "Gotcha."

"Poppy, really!" Branch said, becoming more infuriated. "You're not listening-"

"Oh, has your Troll been asked already?" Poppy asked. "I can go with you if you want!"

"POPPY!" Branch snapped. "I just want to be left alone! You're not making it any better!"

Poppy's smile faded and her ears went down some. Branch's anger turned into shock and regret as his ears drooped. "Poppy, I'm sorry-"

Poppy said nothing and ran away wiping tears from her face. "Poppy! Wait!" He climbed out of his bunker and tried after her but she ran too far to catch up. Branch stared for a moment before he clenched his fists and stomped. "Branch! You idiot!" he yelled. "Look what you've done!" He turned back to where Poppy ran off, and then grunted and went back into his bunker.

"This is why I never participate in Valentine's," Branch mumbled. "Your heart always gets broken!" Branch ran his hands through his hair, paced back and forth, and flopped onto his bed. He turned his head to the table where he threw John's card. "Pfft, I'm not doing that" Branch said to himself, turning away from the card.

Branch sat up on his bed and hugged Crocky. He continued to stare at the card. Every time he turned his eyes away from it, he would always catch himself looking at it again. "Fine! You win this one universe!" Branch placed Crocky back onto his bed and walked over to John's card. He snatched it off the table and mumbled as he opened it.

He pulled it out of the envelope. Inside is a handmade card, put onto white paper, folded in half. Branch huffed and rolled his eyes and he put the envelope down and unfolded the card.

'Branch, if I learned anything from you, is that you won't open this until either your gut tells you to, or the universe tells you to. So either way, you're gonna open it.' Branch rolled his eyes. 'However, since it's opened, let me tell you something. Something very, VERY important, that only I learned just recently. Never take for granted what you have. Everything you have can go away in just an instant. Your friendships, your house, your families, even your heart. Anything you own can, and will be, taken from you. There are people out there who will try to hurt you.'

"Huh," Branch said, sarcastically. "John actually learned something."

'It took me twenty years to find you, actually, to try to find you. It took me twenty years of missing you and regretting my decision of leaving you to learn...that it wasn't the smartest. Sometimes, people will take things from you, like Velvet and Veneer, or, even the Bergens who ate grandma (sorry for bringing that up, please stick with me). However, in twenty years, I learned that the world isn't always against you. Sometimes, you are against yourself. Sometimes, you take things from yourself.

'Living in hotels and Rhonda taught me that, after leaving you, it wasn't the world that took my family from me. It was me. I was the one who left without another word. I took everything I cared for...away. I know this is a really long, roundabout way, but, just hear me out. I wrote this card not to wish you a 'Happy Valentine's Day,' but to wish you to take care of those you care about. Things happen, whether it be the world, fate or yourself. So, be careful how you react in your anger and sarcasm, and take care of your friends. Love you, bro. -John Dory'

Branch wiped a tear from his eyes. "John, you idiot!" Branch said, smiling. Branch hugged the card and placed it on the table.

"Poppy! Poppy!" Branch called, running after her. He paused when he came to a ball of pink hair. "Poppy? Is that you? I don't want to fight anything under there," Branch checked.

Poppy returned her hair to it's original shape, turning her head away from Branch. "Poppy. I'm-I'm sorry," Branch said. He put his hands together in front of himself. "I...I didn't mean to snap pat you. I don't have an excuse on how I reacted and...I'm sorry."

Poppy didn't answer. She didn't even look at him. Branch relaxed his hands and sighed. He paused, then walked closer to Poppy, kneeling to her level. He grabbed her hands in his.

"Poppy, please," he tried. She looked at him and then turned away again. Branch looked down, his gaze meeting their hands. He stared at them for a short moment before returning his gaze back to Poppy.

"Aren't you something to admire?" he started singing. "'Cause your shine is something like a mirror and I can't help but notice, you reflect in this heart of mine." He waited for a response from Poppy but there came nothing.

"If you ever feel alone and the glare makes me hard to find, just know that I'm always parallel on the other side. 'Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul, I can tell you there's no place we couldn't go. Just put your hand on the glass I'll be there to pull you through, you just gotta be strong..."

He waited again. This time, she took her hands out of Branch's, stood, walked away a little, and kept her back towards him. Branch turned around and stared at the floor. "'Cause I don't want to lose you now," he continued, slower. "I'm looking right at the other half of me. The vacancy that sat in my heart," he turned around. "Is a space that now you hold." He reached his arm out to Poppy, but she just moved away.

"Show me how to fight for now, and I'll tell you, baby, it was easy coming back here to you once I figured it out. You were right here all along. It's like your my mirror. My mirror starin' back at me. I couldn't get any bigger. With anyone else beside me. And now it's clear as this promise that we're making. Two reflections into one. It's like your my mirror. My mirror starin' back at me, starin' back at me."

Poppy gave him no reply again. Branch walked closer to her. "Aren't you somethin', an original? 'Cause it doesn't seem merely assembled. And I can't help but stare, 'cause I see truth somewhere in your eyes. Ooh, I can't ever change without you. You reflect me, I love that about you. And if I could, I would look at us all the time," Branch finished the verse in a falsetto. The verse ended, causing Poppy to look at Branch, but her eyes still hinted sadness.

"'Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul, I can tell you there's no place we couldn't go," he hit a falsetto in the middle. "Just put your hand on the glass I'll be there to pull you through, you just gotta be strong. 'Cause I don't want to lose you now. I'm looking right at the other half of me. The vacancy that sat in my heart, is a space that now you hold. Show me how to fight for now, and I'll tell you, baby, it was easy coming back here to you once I figured it out. You were right here all along.

"It's like your my mirror. My mirror starin' back at me. I couldn't get any bigger, with anyone else beside me. And now it's clear as this promise that we're making. Two reflections into one. It's like your my mirror. My mirror starin' back at me, starin' back at me."

Branch grabbed Poppy's hands in his again. "Yesterday is history, oh. Tomorrow's a mystery, oh. I can see you lookin' back at me. Keep your eyes on me. Baby, keep your eyes on me. 'Cause I don't want to lose you now, I'm looking right at the other half of me. The vacancy that sat in my heart, is a space that now you hold. Show me how to fight for now, and I'll tell you, baby, it was easy coming back to you once I figured it out. You were right here all along.

"It's like you're my mirror. My mirror starin' back at me. I couldn't get any bigger, with anyone else beside me. And now its clear as this promise that we're making, two reflections into one. It's like you're my mirror. My mirror starin' back at me, starin' back at me.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Ooh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Ooh, oh, oh. Now you're the inspiration of this precious song. And I just wanna see your face light up since you put me on. So now I say goodbye to the old me, it's already gone. And I can't wait, wait, wait, wait, wait to get you home. Just to let you know, you are..." Poppy smiled.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Ooh, oh, oh, oh. Girl, you're my reflection, all I see is you. My reflection in everything I do. You're my reflection, and all I see is you. My reflection in everything I do." Branch paused for minute. "You are, you are the love of my life. You are, you are the love of my life. You are, you are the love of my life. You are, you are the love of my life."

Branch met eyes with her in anticipation. Poppy smiled and giggled. "Thanks, Branch!" Poppy cheered. "That helped."

"Wait, really?" Branch asked.

"Yep!" Poppy said. "But now, you have to go to that Valentine's Dance with me!"

"Heh," Branch giggled awkwardly. Poppy leaned in for a quick kiss on the cheek. She pecked him, pulling away with a smile. "A-heh heh heh!" Branch giggled awkwardly. Poppy caught him when he almost fainted.

"Let's go, Branch," Poppy said, smiling.

Author's Note

Jokes! Jokes! Jokes! Gotta love 'em!