Four weeks after the dance, two after Branch had accepted Tresillos courtship.

Tresillo, Marimba and Tambora had been enlisted for new bounty from the funk King and Queen.

When Peppy hadn't been able to provide the marriage nor courting contract that proved Branch was held under the crown due to lack of family connections, Quincey and Essence took the chance and drew up a temporary one, naming Branch under their protection in lieu of a legal guardian, witnessed and signed by the leaders with Branch in presence to avoid anyone attempting to say he coerced to the agreement.

So, the trio had been requested to find the four brothers and bring them to vibe city in hopes they would transfer the contracts to Quincey and Essence.

Tresillo was packing a small kit for his travels, when Marimba's mate Ligia came into his room with a grin on her face, raising an eyebrow, 'Can I help Ligia?' as he continued to pack.

Her grin got broader 'your little spitfire is here' she sang watching as Tresillos face flushed in embarrassment over the nick name.

'Shut up' he mumbled

'What was that?'

'Nothing, where is he? Tresillo spun on his heal pack in hand, he went edged past her as she nodded to the living area.

Seated on one of the handmade cushions Ligia had gifted him (she disliked his lack of decorating), was a beautiful site, laughing with his sisters and one of his brothers was his spitfire, he looked content and happy surrounded by the trolls.

There on his right wrist Tresillo spotted was his gift, 'do you mind if I join the group?' He asked seeing the only open seat was next to Branch.

Tresillo watched as a light lavender flush appeared on the other blue troll, fighting back a coo, he offered the hand bearing Branch's acceptance gift, 'querido' watching as the blue troll placed his hand in his, with a quick press of lips against the scared knuckles of the smaller hand, he risked a quick nuzzle, in the presence of the now known Prince D.

He looked back at Branch, still holding the hand stroking his thumb against the leather band, seeing the small smile on Branchs face and noted the happy shine in his eye.

A short warning growl came from Darnell at the exchange. A kiss to the hand was one thing, he would let the nuzzle slide as it was short, but the title 'darling' the reggaeton needed to move away from his brother.

'D, stop' Branch whispered.

Tresillo noted the disappointed look in the blue eyes when let his go. The same, he was sure was reflected on his, putting a small smile on his face, he gestured to the cushion next Branch, even if it was his tent, he wasn't going upset the prince who had already warned him.

Seeing the disappointment fade as Branch nodded, Tresillo joined the circle bringing his cushion a little closer to the other watching as a small smile returned.

As he read the letter Clay felt his body run cold, note in hand he dashed from the admin block to the large pink ice cream cone he called home in the centre of putt-putt village. His baby brother was alive and going to be forced into a mating he didn't want, he couldn't let that happen. He regretted leaving after he and his older brothers fought but didn't have the guts to go back and look his younger brothers in the eye.

'Viva, Vi, Viv' racing through the tunnels in a most unordered fashion, he followed the strawberry vanilla scent of his mate to the centre, finding her sat in their nest crafting another candy necklace that she'd never finish.

Panting with exhaustion he collapsed next to her, thrusting the letter crumpled from her father towards her, the pair had been mated for almost 10 years now, so no words were needed as Viva took the letter from her pale mate.

Blonde eyebrows raised as she reached further down the page, Clay watched as she put the letter on her lap, shock written across her face, until tears started pouring down her face, she knew how it felt being forced into a mating.

Clay knew how she felt, she was almost pinned herself and her father was going to let it happen, it was him who had found her, the bastard who tried was thrown to the Bergens on the escape it was no loss to the village. (If it was him who threw a little too hard, well no one needed to know).

Clay knew while she wanted to see her sister, Viva never wanted to set eyes on her father, in all fairness neither did he.

Cupping the tear damp cheek rubbing away the rest, he rested his head against hers, 'what are you thinking Berry?' he asked his breathing finally under control, 'we need to help him Clay, if he's really being kept away from Poppy, we need to help him', nodding with her idea he replied, 'we'll set of in the morning we need to pack and plan for now'.

Pulling his Strawberry into his lap cuddling her close, soothing the pink and gold troll, he let his own green tea and sage scent loose, feeling her shuffle closer, Viva settled their fluffy gold and green blanket settle over them.

Once upon a time he would have rushed out, not thinking, but time with Viva co-leading the putt-putt trolls had taught him patience, he had to find out what was happening first.

He didn't trust Peppy, but it was his baby brother, and he wouldn't leave him hurt again. He'd check his papers he knew there was something he needed before they set off.

John read the letter twice hardly believing it his sweet baby brother was alive, he looked at the picture on the dashboard of his beloved armadillo bus.

Four laughing teenagers surrounded a trolling who was covered in fluff berry cake, an un-lit green number two candle poking out of his blue hair, as he looked at the camera with his toothy grin.

Four alphas in a pod were one thing, they all butted heads at one point or another they were threatened with being split up more than once when they got too rough, until their Mama made THE RULE, fight but no injures which required hospital pod visits or permeant damage, the timer came later, it worked they stopped.

But when Branch was born it, all changed because he was an omega, not that any of the brothers cared, he was just a bit different softer, daintier, cuddlier, all of them took full advantage of the cuddlier bit.

But this letter has to be a lie, John knew Branch had disliked Poppy as a child, don't get him wrong times may have changed and if Branch truly was being courted by Poppy he would give his permission on the agreement, only if his younger brothers were found, he could as the head of the family give his sole blessing, John knew what his parents wanted for Branch but he wouldn't agree to anything without one of his brothers ensuring everything was met first, he had left them, sure, but he would ensure Branch was safe and taken care of, something he failed to once.

He'd been given the title of head of the family regardless of his Gramma being an Alpha herself, he would honour that title.

Going to the back of the bus he started digging through old papers and books until he found what he was looking for.

He sent the tracker bug off; he wouldn't be needing it.

When the band split up, Floyd had taken the important things with him, the most important thing was a folder full of papers, he kept safe for eighteen years.

At one point he was travelling around finding his sound, when he quite literally stumbled into volcano rock city, he spent six years there making music he loved, falling in the underground pop/punk rock trolls, after this he started touring his music, a solo career, but he always came back, he'd found an adorable omega drummer Riff, they just clicked.

His tour has taken him to vacay island for some down time, and time with brother who he'd been surprised but non the less happy to see.

After some catching up Floyd became a regular attendee at the cantina, even dragging, his drummer boy, to meet his niece and nephews and very tall but charming sister Brandy.

After the rock world tour, he was pissed, that Barb had managed to drag his mate into the mess and even more shocked to know his baby brother was alive, after taking a POWER CORD to the chest. (He may have pummelled Barb until Riff pulled him off and very aggressively rode him till, they'd passed out from bliss.)

He'd set off immediately the next day to see Bruce and tell him, that was when the tracker bugs found him.

Bruce as he preferred, had left the tree before Floyd, but had managed at one point to cross paths with him, without him realising. Seeing that he was happy he left him alone.

He had continued on until he found paradise in the form of a tall, goddess of a women, his now wife of 14 years.

When Floyd had come to vacay island on tour if had surprised him, he knew he went through some changes, as being a dad caused a seismic shift in his brain but seeing how teenage brother had changed into a man.

He'd connected with Floyd on a new level, one that had led them to being friends and brothers again, he was happy with his life.

He did miss Branch and had gone back to the tree with Brandy, but there was nothing left, the pair had searched and found tunnels but with too many to search and the number of cave-ins, it had become too dangerous to continue so he left a postcard in the pod, there was never any reply, so he had assumed the worst.

He was concerned after he'd turned grey and his kids had dimmed too, may have only been a short while but it had scared them all, but he'd found out from Floyd about the world tour and was ready to pummel this Barb himself, until Floyd told him.

Their sweet, baby brother was alive, and apparently being courted by Queen Poppy, this had raised his eyebrows.

Branch truly didn't dislike many people as a pup, but Poppy he had disliked immediately, none of them, not even his gramma knew why.

Hearing two loud buzzer noises had drawn him from his conversation with Floyd.

Show each other the letters, they nodded, calling over his wife to explain, and with only loving support she told them, 'You'll never forgive yourselves if you don't, but meet with Branch first, find out if it's true.' With that she passed him a purple folder with a tree in the front, 'you'll need these before you go, and bring him back here, I would love to meet him and so would the kids' and with a kiss to Bruce and Floyd's cheek she waved them off.

'She's awesome man' Floyd said as they set off, 'you're a lucky troll'

'Nah, she a goddess, and I'm lucky, I was a goner the minute I met her.' Bruce said with almost literal hearts in his eyes.

Branch enjoyed his time with Tresillo and his sisters, he found Ligia and Cayo hilarious and asked if he could visit, to which he was told he better as they wanted to get to know him.

Excited, Branch bear hugged the laughing duo, promising, he felt their arms wrap him a bear hug if their own.

He had shocked himself, he wasn't a hugger, or not the one who started them, not after gramma died, not even she could get him to, but it seemed being around the funk trolls was changing him, he liked it.

But although he had enjoyed himself, he knew the day was coming to an end, as the trio of bounty hunter needed to go. That Tresillo needed to go, it was hurting just to think about it.

Looking at his courting gift he had an idea, he hadn't done it in a while but hoped it would work, seeing the twins and their mates had left, leaving Darnell, Branch and Tresillo alone, it was the best time.

When Tresillo had moved to collect his pack, Branch turned to D, purposely making his eyes water and body smaller, to appeal to his brother's alpha and sweet side, 'D, please, just five minutes.'

Seeing D resolve in weaken, he played dirty and let a tear slip, 'five minutes and I'm waiting outside the door' Branchs face lit with happiness as his brother did as promised, he could see the tip of blue and pink as he lent against the pole separating the two rooms.

Branch slipped of his leather band, and clutched in his fist, as he made his way to his suiter.

He must have known Branch was there, Tresillo had turned to him.

Watching as he realised, they were alone made Branch worry as Tresillo looked unhappy.

'Where' Branch stopped him by showing the leather band, and before he got to ask, his head snapped up at Tresillos gasp, realising what it must have looked like, Branch spat out quickly 'willyouscentit?'

Sensing someone behind him, Tresillo turned and was met with the excited face of spitfire, looking around he saw they were alone which made him worry, he started asking where everyone was.

Despair filled him as Branch thrust his hand out with the band Tresillo had worked on, he hadn't realised a gasp slipped out until, Branch looked terrified and quickly reeled out 'willyouscentit?'

Taking a moment to figure out what was said, relief spread through him he wasn't being rejected, the little omega missed and was going to miss him.

Taking the band, he rubbed it against his wrists and neck, watching as the smaller troll rub his lips together nervously.

Tresillo took the deceptively dainty wrist tying it back in place, he pressed a kiss to the knot he'd retied.

Looking down, he felt a hand at his own wrist, fingers playing with his own band, he turned it over allowing the omega to remove it, watching as it was scented it well before allowing Tresillo its return.

Rumbling started as he saw the happy smile returned to his spitfire's face, what Tresillo wasn't expecting was the returning chirps.

'Two minutes lil blue' was shouted from out of the room.

Looking Branch in the eye, seeing the happiness on his face, Tresillo took a risk, pulling Branch to him, he caught the smaller trolls' lips, feeling the small gasp he slipped his tongue into his mouth.

Coaxing the shy touch of the omegas tongue against his, left him feeling euphoric, the peach and cinnamon filling his senses, the feel of the warm body in his arms. It almost broke him to pull away.

'Branch, times up' D's voice came closer.

Seeing the dazed look in the blown blue eyes was worth it, with another quick peck, Tresillo bucked out of the room dodging the young alpha prince before he could catch him.

A smiling his face he grabbed his sister's arms pulling them away, ignoring their shouts as they stumbled behind him, the grin never left his face.

'I'm gunna kill him' Darnell was a mellow troll, but seeing Branch standing dazed as the bounty hunter ran out of the room had his fur bristled.

Pushing his baby brother out of the room and back to vibe city was a different matter, he didn't want to move. 'That's it' he gripped still trying to get Branch to move.

Cayo came to see what the fuss was about, putting two together, dazed looking omega, running alpha, laughing until he received a dark look from the younger alpha.

He offered his help, but getting the new funk troll to move was proving hard, it was like he was rooted to the spot. The duo had barely got him three steps before giving in.

Ligia had joined them, wanting to find out what was taking so long, offering the suggestion of Branch staying the night as she somehow had gotten him to the cushion he was sat on, laughing at the dirty looks she was shot, 'it's an omega thing.'

Quincey was blushing as Lownote had been reminding him what he was like when he courted Essence, and how she had cheekily stole a kiss which rendered the taller troll a stuttering mess.

He'd been rather annoyed that the alpha was so brazen and didn't have a leg to stand on now Lownote was ribbing him.

Essence had thought it might have been her mini-Q who would have initiated the kiss, it turned out Tresillo had taken the chance to steal a kiss, but to leave their son in such a state that he wouldn't move, that was bold.

Looking at her blushing mate, mischief sparked in her eyes, he still stuttered if she caught him unexpectedly, coming to his side as he was trying to defend himself, she waited for the perfect opportunity, and caught him on the lips.

Lownote burst into laughter at his blushing brother,'E are you sure you married the right brother?' Dodging as Quincey tried to punch him.

Looking into Quincey's eyes, Essence smiled 'I'm sure' watching Q smile, her heart beat a little quicker, she stole another kiss, whispering 'mini q started it, he conned Darnell into five minutes, takes after his mama, remember' she certainly did, that kiss was the best, even if her daddy had chased him out after, he didn't need to know it was her fault.

Quincey laughed 'I certainly do, but his circumstances are different, he needs to be careful.'

He didn't want anything to happen to any of his sons, but Branch was an Omega, with an Alpha Queen willing to do anything to take him, with an incomplete and temporary contract and being underage, anything could happen.

Ligia. This Spanish name comes from the Greek word that means "clear-voiced" or "shrill" as it was the name of one of the Sirens in the Odyssey

Cayo: It means 'rejoice,'