Disclaimer:
I do not own Trolls or these songs. I have been inspired with new stories and more chapters to write. My posting will be once a week since I do have other stories and life going on as well. I have so many new songs to add! I have looked at all the song requests in the comment section in Lone Concert and I will do what I can to not only add those songs but maybe even more. Hope y'all enjoy!
John was holding the woman he foolishly walked away from twenty long years ago. If he could go back and fix his choices in life he would do so many things differently. He wouldn't be so hard on his brothers and sister. He would have raised Branch. Hr would have married Val. He felt his heart racing knowing just how close she was to him but yet it still didn't feel like she was close enough. He just wanted to hold her. To beg her to take him back. To promise her that they could be a family with Branch. That he was a different man, but he couldn't. He couldn't be selfish. He had already made that mistake once in his life and that choice cost him everything he had held dear. His siblings, his family, his son, the woman he loves. He got so much back with a lot of hard work and during those years together without Branch. John Dory and his family worked hard to fix those mistakes of the past that lead them to this point. A big motivation they had was that they were doing this for Branch.
He had to do this for Branch. Earn his trust and tell him the truth about his parents. About him and Val being his parents. If he didn't he could lose Branch forever. Maybe if John was lucky in the future he coud also earn that second chance with Val. He wanted that. When he came back to the tree he had hoped to marry her and beg her to take him back and raise their son together. But when they all thought he was dead the two nearly broke. They ended up leaning on one another but they agreed that now was not their time. Not after everything that happened. Val didn't blame John, but he blamed himself. If he had stayed. They could have had that time with Branch that they lost. Time they could never get back.
Val has always missed the way John held her. She forgot how safe she always felt in his arms. She wanted nothing more than to get their family back together. They were cheated of so much time by the choices they made. Her parents had kicked her out for being pregnant at fifteen. John and his family took her in. She helped with the babysitting. She made the choice to leave her son during the first escape. When John had told her Branch was dead she yelled at Ozzy for over an hour until John finally managed to pull her off. She was so mad at John but she could never find it in her heart to hate him. The father of her child. She had given him a piece of her mind for leaving. Not just her but Branch. When he told her that he had come back not just for him but for her to try and raise their son together. She melted into his arms that night and cried over the loss of everything they had. They managed to remain friends. They grieved together. But they never felt like it was the right time to proceed with their relationship. Not after losing their only child.
Val wanted to kiss the man she loves. She looks into John's eyes and for the first time in a very long time she actually sees the troll that had first stolen her heart. Not some washed up boy band popstar. Just her neighbor and childhood best friend who used to stand up for her against bullies and her parents. The same boy who she trusted completely. She understood why he left, but she only forgave him because he chose to come back and try to fix his mistakes. For the first time in years she feels fourteen again. Thinking of the life they could possibly have together. Before everything got complicated. She started to lean into him. To kiss him. To tell him that things were not too late for them. That once they figured things out with Branch that they could try again. That this wasn't just a heat of the moment thing. That she still loves him with her entire heart, but they were sadly interrupted.
"I'm sorry. WHAT?"
That is what the two heard before turning to look and see most of their siblings and now John was worried about what exactly they heard. "We leave for our honeymoon and you make moves on my best friend. John, how could you?" Barb said, jokingly. If she was being honest she has known for years that the two had feelings for one another. She's happy for them. Carol just smirked before grabbing their things. "So which pod is ours?" She asked, pointing up. "I'll show you." Val said hestily getting out of John's arms and rushed to show Carol and Barb to their new home. "Congrats man. We all had a feeling about you and Val." Floyd said before grabbing their things. "Hey, Val, would you mind showing us to our pod?" Floyd asked with Riff behind him as they followed the other three trolls.
John took a deep heavy breath of relief that this would be easier to explain right now. He knew that when they decided to tell Branch the truth that they all would learn it too but he wanted Branch to be the first one to know so if things did go south they others wouldn't be in that line of fire. Last thing he wanted was to make it seem like a big family secret that they all kept from him, because it isn't. When Branch felt betrayed by him which he had every right to. Branch would need the others by his side. He could not let Branch feel like he had lost trust in his family again. Especially when they barely just got it back. It's hard to gain trust back when you barely had to start with.
When John turned around he saw Spruce with a smirk on his face. "Well, well, well. Looks like our big brother got struck by cupid's arrow." Spruce tried to joke with. They then saw Barb and Floyd head back down because Carol and Riff wanted to talk to Val for a moment so the twins figured they would go tease JD for a bit. That is when the other shoe dropped and it fell hard. Clay figured now was the time to reveal himself and by the look on his face John knew. That he knew.
"Clay." JD tried to ease his brother but it was no use. "Branch is your son?" Clay said with no doubt in his voice. When he thought about it, it made sense. Branch was a perfect blend of Val and John Dory but it did not stop his mind from being blown. "What?" Spruce asked, very lost in the conversation. "Yeah, what does he mean? Branch is your son, he's our brother. Right?" Barb said before looking at John's face. Floyd saw it too. "John. John Dory." He said. John Dory and Clay were in a little bit of a staring match until Suki toughed Clay's arm and snapped him out of it. "Do you want to tell them or should I?" Clay asked rudely. He was giving JD a harsh glear until he glanced back at Suki who gave him a look that told him that that was uncalled for and his own gaze softened. He just felt so angery. His little brother. Is no longer his little brother. He felt like a part of him just got ripped out of his chest.
When Clay looked back at John he saw a sad, defeated look on his face. John sighed and sat on the ground under his feet. "Let me explain. Please. Before you all decide to hate me." John begged. The others sat on the ground around JD. "Val and I used to date when we were teens and we made stupid decisions together, one of which had led to her becoming pregnant with Branch. Remember when she came eand loved with us?" They all nodded. "Well the reason why was because she got kicked out of her house by her folks for getting pregnant and in case you don't remember they never actually liked me." John explained before taking another big shakey sigh before continuing. "We didn't know how to raise a child when we were still kids ourselves. So we decided to try and give him his best chance and."
"Say that Branch was our brother." Spruce finished. He didn't know how to feel about any of this. He had a nephew and it was his youngest brother. Who they all abandoned. Spruce felt sick when he thought about doing to his kids what they had done to Branch. For a father to leave his child but John had done just that. He could not help himself; he just flung his fist at John, giving him a black eye. But what threw everyone off more was that John just sat there and took it. John then stood up calmly and faced Spruce. "I know I messed up Spruce. When I had gone back to the tree to find it destroyed nearly killed me because I had gone back to fix my mistake of leaving him. Fix my mistake and become his father, not just his brother. I was going to raise him. I was planning on marrying Val. We were going to be a family that Branch deserved. But when I saw that tree the only thing that went through my head was that my child was dead and it was my fault." It finally sunk in why John changed so much when they had seen him after all those years. He was a grieving father and Spruce's face softened. He would never wish that upon anyone. Not even JD.
"I'm sorry John." Spruce said pulling his brother into a hug which he returned and for the first time in two decades John let himself cry. "I deserved it. I was a crap dad. I left my kid. Hecould have died because of me." John said through shakey breaths. "No. No more blaming. You might have been his father, but it was never just on you to take care of him. We all should have been there for him." Floyd said, joining the hug. Barb didn't know how to feel. She felt tears run down her face at hearing what her big brother went through. She then joined the group hug. Clay stood there with Suki hand in hand unsure what to do. "I'm sorry John. I shouldn't have said it like that." Clay apoligized. John pulled Clay into the group hug.
When they pulled apart John noticed things were better with Suki. "So I guess things went well." He gestured with his head. Clay chuckled. "Yeah, but don't change the subject. What are you going to do?" John sighed. "Val and I are going to tell Branch soon but we just want to figure out the right time. This could hurt him and I want to make sure that he understands that we did what we did out of love. I don't want to hurt him anymore than I already have." The others understood nodding their heads. "Hey Clay I am going to head home, but I promise my lips are sealed. I won't anyone, not my sister, and not Poppy, or Branch. I promise, but I am holding you to telling him. You are not going to ruin my friendship with them by lying. Ok." Suki finished pointed to John DOrry aggressively before kissing Clay on the cheek and heading off. "What is it to our family being attracted to aggressive women?" John asked under his breath causing the others to laugh.
"Oh before I forget. I was supposed to tell you that dinner is ready. They are probably wondering what happened to us. Floyd. Barb. We are really happy the two of you are back and we will properly catch up tomorrow but tonight go spend it with your spouses." Spruce said with a grin. Floyd and Barb headed back to their pods to talk things over with their said spouses. Val went home to her pod figuring that John needed to think things over. She might have also been told by Barb and Floyd that they knew now. Great.
John, Clay, and Spruce went in to see Poppy and Branch sitting at the kitchen table with their parents. They had apparently had dinner without them and the food had gotten cold waiting for those three. "Finally I was worried that we might have to send out a search party." Ozzy joked when he saw his three oldest. "Sorry. Barb and Floyd had come home early and we were helping them get settled in. They are stopping by tomorrow to tell us all about it." Clay then looked around. "Did Holly ever make it home?" Trying to get the topic over to their sister for several reasons. "She's fine, she's still with that nice fella Bigsy." Delta told them. "Um, it's Biggie. Yeah we were just telling them that he is one of the nicest and most respectful trolls you could know." Which made Delta feel much better about her daught not being home yet. "How did things go with Suki?" Poppy asked excitingly. Clay smiled at her. "Yes. We are official. Speaking of official. What about you and Val? John." Clay asked curiously. John ended up spitting out his water giving Clay a look. "She was the one who was at the door. The two got busted by Carol, Riff, Floyd, Barb, Suki, Clay and myself. Almost kissing." Spruce said, ratting him out. Of course no one was gonna mention what they talked about but they could still tease JD because he is still totally smitten with the old family friend.
"Tell her you still love her yet?" Ozzy said, taking a drink from his cup. JD was completely red now. "What? I did not realize everyone was so invested in my love life or lack thereof." JD argued. "John. I have seen the two of you grow up together and act like an old married couple at the age of five. You have been in love with this girl since you were three and I know you both have made mistakes in the past, but I also know you two will get through anything together once you get out of your own ways." Ozzy said. This also happened to be a similar speech he gave to finally get Peppy to ask out Viva. "It's not that easy. I ruined things when I left. We agreed we would be best as friends when I came back." John said sad and defeated. His brothers saw a side to him they didn't realize was there. They finally saw just how much he loved her and it hit them like a ton of bricks. Just how much Branch takes after his father JD even without his guidance. Spooky.
Ozzy and Delta went back to their pod with Dixie and Brandy had taken the kids to bed so Spruce went to help her. None of them had realized just how late it had gotten. Poppy was about to leave when she saw John plop himself on the sofa sad. "Hey John. You ok?" He just turned to her and saw Branch walking up behind her. "Yeah Poppyseed. Just a lot on my mind." John said. "About Val?" She asked bluntly that had taken John a second to recover from. "Yeah." John said tight lipped. "Well maybe it's not too late." Poppy said, trying to be optimistic, but Branch had placed his hand on her shoulder as if to say to leave it for the night, but they heard John start to hum to himself and Glitz started to join him.
You should see the look on your face
Baby when I finish what you start
but I can't hear a word you say
With a bullet laying in your heart
What am I gonna do with all this
I guess that's the way we play it
She loves me now
She loves me not
She loves me now
But only when I walk away
She loves me now
She loves me not
She loves me now
But only when I walk away
When I walk away
John finished his song with the glow bug that now snuggled themselves up to the sad troll who just gave them a smile petting them on the head. Branch felt bad for his Branch. He should feel like he had to be alone forever because of a past mistake. If he was about to forgive him then maybe she could too. Then it hit Branch he was willing to forgive his brother and maybe brothers. Branch decided to walk Poppy home before he had any more emotional breakthrews that night, but when he looked at her face he became a little worried by the look on her face. "Oh no. I know that look. You have a plan that you haven't thought of yet." Branch said, catching John's attention away from Glitz. "Maybe." She said excitedly. Branch groaned out a sigh. "Please promise me you will at least sleep on it before you do anything." From John's point of view the girl looked ready to burst. "Ok. I won't do anything." Poppy knew that if she stayed any longer she would break her promise to Branch. Ok I have to go. Night." She said quickly before giving Branch a kiss on the cheek. "I LOVE YOU!" She cried out as she rushed out of the bunker. "I love you too." Branch said, placing a hand on his cheek smiling after his girlfriend.
John could not help the wide eyes and dropped jaw when he heard the speed Poppy was speaking at but he also couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his mouth when he saw the love stuck look plastered on his face once she left. When Branch turned and heard JD's laughter his smile turned into a frown. "What?" Branch asked, annoyed as he walked over to join JD on the sofa. "One word KEEPER. But seriously, when are you going to ask her?" John asked Branch. "You're one to talk." Branch sniped back. "What are you talking about?" John asked, genuinely confused. "You do realize all that was Poppy coming up with a plan to get you and Val together right?" Branch asked with a smug look on his face. That was the moment when John lost his smile and realized he was in trouble. He knew Poppy well enough by now to know that when she put her mind to something there was no stopping her, but despite the fear he felt for his impending doom. He could not help but smile because even though Branch didn't know who he really was to him; John really cherished these moments between him and his son. So maybe things would be ok in the end.
Well I hope this will be a good chapter for y'all to enjoy. This time I mean it. I really do promise to start the Lone Concert 2 part of our story. I just could not go into that without properly leading up to it. I was not going to deprive you of a proper chapter. I hope y'all enjoyed it and until the next time. Bye.