-O-

Picturebook Romance

A Trolls fanfic

By Dreamsinger

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Memory Lane 3: What I Learned from You

After the wedding I'd done my best to put the memories of my life with Leafe behind the golden door to my heart, the one I'd created to keep me safe from the pain of losing Jaunty and Courtley. In some ways it was harder this time, because I still lived in the pod we'd shared. Everything reminded me of the friends who had left me.

It sucked, but this was life as I knew it. Sooner or later, I always had to say goodbye. I was just glad that this time around, we'd parted ways peacefully.

-O-

As I gazed fondly at my friends, it occurred to me that there was something I ought to say to them. "Leafe. Cherry Blossom. I know I probably never said it back then, but thank you both." I gave them a grateful smile. "For being there. For all the sacrifices you made for me. I know you both put your lives on hold for me."

Their expressions softened. "We didn't mind, Branch," Leafe replied gently. "That's what you do for family. We knew you really needed us."

Cherry Blossom nodded. "It made us happy to know we were important to you. You were important to us, too, you know. We both really missed having you around after we moved to our own pod. Life just wasn't the same without our Branchkin."

She patted my cheek, making me smile. I sighed, in regret and relief. "I'm sorry, Cheery. I should have at least visited, but…" I spread my hands. "I didn't want to keep bringing you down. You had your own life to lead."

Leafe gave me a kind smile. "Yes, but we would have been glad to have you be a part of it."

Yellow and ruby hands reached for me, and I took one in each of mine. This time, I would not let them go.

Connection. Love. Family.

As I gazed appreciatively at the friends who meant so much to me, I wished there was another way to show them that. Words weren't enough.

…Or are they?

-O-

Poppy watched as Branch bowed his head and took a few steps back. His brow furrowed. His chest tightened. His hands clenched. Intensity filled the air around him, and Poppy let out a squeak of excited recognition. Leafe and Cherry Blossom glanced at her curiously, then turned back to the suddenly impassioned aquamarine troll.

Branch had turned his gaze skyward; soulful, fierce, despairing. Suddenly he dropped dramatically to his knees; a hand stretched pleadingly upward. Heartbreakingly desolate words sent a shiver up her spine.

Falling in the dark

Hiding from the world

Nothing to live for

No hope on the horizon

No horizon at all

Poppy glanced at the DreamSages, who stood in matching poses of awe and delight. Hands clasped and eyes shining with wonder. She smiled to herself. Everyone loved her sensitive poet.

A large blue-green hand swept gracefully through the air toward the enthralled couple.

But then you brought a spark

Of curiosity

Creativity

Compassion

Stopping my fall

The hand became a fist, pressed ardently against his chest.

And I began to live again

Dark eyebrows hooded intense blue eyes so full of pain and passion that it was all she could do not to throw herself at him. Oh, to kiss the lips that uttered such soul-shattering words!

Their friends too were so caught up in the powerful outpouring that it was only when Branch glanced questioningly at them that they seemed to realize the magic was over.

"So, what did you think?"

Leafe cleared his throat, but his voice was still somewhat hoarse as he answered, "I have never been thanked so eloquently."

"You deserve it," Branch said simply. "Both of you. That was the first time in my life I'd ever sunk so low. I'd lost all confidence in myself, but you helped me get it back."

Cherry Blossom responded, "Thank you, Branch, for the beautiful words, and the breathtaking performance. You touched my heart deeply." She put a hand to her chest and sighed dreamily.

"Bravo, Branch," Leafe said with quiet sincerity. "You've learned how to express your feelings. That's an important accomplishment, and I want you to know that I'm very proud of you."

"We are, too," Poppy and Cherry Blossom chorused happily.

Branch looked down, smiling. An adorable flush of lavender brightened his cheeks. "Thanks."

Poppy thought about the closed-off, untrusting teenager they'd taken in, compared to the warm, caring person he was today. It was hard sometimes to even see them as the same person.

"I know, right?" she gushed. "Branch has made so much progress! He's been doing a lot of work on himself lately, and it shows." She threw her arms around her boyfriend, reveling all over again when he willingly hugged her back. Six months ago he would have stiffened up, tolerating her touch with a grumpy, long-suffering scowl, if he couldn't dodge her altogether. "See? He's a champion hugger now!"

Branch burst out laughing. His friends joined him in both laughter and hugs, with her favorite troll in the center. Poppy was delighted. She wanted everyone to see Branch at his best, especially those trolls who had borne the brunt of his unhappy days. For her, seeing Branch happy was like a gift; the best possible gift in the world. She was sure it would feel the same to everyone who loved him.

When the group separated, Branch said honestly, "Well, maybe not a champion hugger. I mean, I enjoy hugs now for the most part, but there are still some days when I'm just not in the mood."

"Understandable," Leafe replied. "Everyone has times like that, believe it or not."

Branch raised an eyebrow, but didn't challenge his friend's statement. "Yeah, well, anyway, it's still a big improvement from how I used to be. I can hug now, and share my feelings. So basically, I just wanted you guys to know all your work with me wasn't for nothing. I wouldn't be the troll I am today if not for you." His tone softened. "You see, when I was alone in my bunker, one of the things that kept me going was the hope, however unlikely, that someday I might find someone who loved me as much as you two love each other." He turned to take Poppy's hand in his, gazing adoringly at his dream girl. "And I have."

"Aww…" Poppy cooed with the others. Her heart felt as soft as melted caramel at his sweet words.

Her boyfriend was wearing one of the expressions Poppy loved best; open, sincere honesty. Right here, right now, the golden door to Branch's heart was wide open. Seeing Leafe and Cherry Blossom as captivated as she herself had been these past few days was a reminder of just how beautiful it was, to see a completely different side of the once-guarded troll who used to avoid all emotional contact. Now he was willingly sharing everything he'd kept hidden for so long. And I'm glad.

Branch said softly, "Poppy and I have each other, and that might never have happened without you. You both showed me what it was like to build a relationship together. How to love and support one another. And you, Leafe. In the beginning, when I was hiding from the world after my Incident, you were there for me. Taking care of me so patiently, without judgement. I don't know if I ever would have recovered without you."

"Thank you, my friend. But I think you would have." Leafe gave his former roommate a speculative look. "As I recall, once you were feeling better physically, you began to go out and get involved in village life again without any prompting from me."

"Huh? That's not what I remember." Poppy was puzzled. "I remember Branch refusing to come out and play, no matter how many times I invited him. He wouldn't come out of your pod at all, not for months."

"…I did, actually," Branch admitted. "But only at night. That doesn't count. I didn't do it to get involved in anything," he added to Leafe.

"Really? Then what did you do?" Poppy asked.

"The usual. Patrolled the village perimeter for danger," Branch replied, shrugging. "I needed the exercise, anyway. Sitting on your butt makes you ridiculously stiff and sore, like an old man."

"But why do that at night? Isn't that scarier?"

"I went at night because the only trolls still awake were gathered in big, noisy parties. Easy to avoid. I would have done anything to keep people from seeing me." Branch sighed. "Looking back now, I can't believe I wasted months of my life feeling sorry for myself. I was so pathetic. I honestly don't know how Leafe put up with me."

"You weren't pathetic, Branch. You were badly hurt, and not just because of your Incident. You needed time and space to heal," Leafe said simply. "People don't recover from trauma overnight. They might pretend they feel better, but it takes its toll. I know. After what happened yesterday I'm sure I'm going to have nightmares for months myself. So will many of us, I suspect."

Poppy's face fell. "I'm really sorry." She lowered her head. "You shouldn't have to go through that."

The scholar shrugged. "A necessary price to pay, Poppy. The only way you can avoid such things is if you refuse to care about others." His kind expression showed no sign of resentment.

She took that in, recognizing the logic. "Yeah, that's true. Thanks," she said brightly.

Branch laughed. "That's my Sunshine. Nothing keeps you down for long."

As she watched, his smile faded and he looked at the ground. Poppy could tell he was thinking, Unlike me.

-O-

Part of me was glad to see Poppy recovering her usual high spirits, although it did make me realize how much further I still had to go when it came to trolly optimism. Leafe and Cherry Blossom exchanged solemn glances, and then my gentle friend put a hand on my shoulder. I looked up wistfully to see him smiling at me. "I truly don't regret the time I spent caring for you, Branch. It felt good to be needed. Besides, when I needed you, you were there for me."

"What do you mean?" I asked, puzzled.

A blue eyebrow quirked. "Don't you remember when Frolic Festival season came along?"

Melancholy vanished as I burst out laughing. "Oh, yeah. I've never seen such a swing, from logic to lovesick looniness."

Poppy grinned. "Ah, so I take it you enjoyed yourself?"

"Oh, yes," Leafe said fondly. "I had just started dating my sweet flower a month earlier. As a sixteen-year-old in love, I was rather…distracted, shall we say." Poppy giggled at the openly besotted look on his face as he turned to gaze at his wife, who looked back at him in much the same fashion. "Musing about my dream girl, and the wonderful romantic holiday ahead of us… Much of my usual common sense went right out the proverbial window, I'm afraid."

I laughed again. "I'll say. Talk about walking around with your head in the clouds."

"I regret nothing." Leafe reached for his wife's hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed it. The ruby-red troll giggled and stepped close to her husband, intimately nuzzling her nose against his. He responded by entwining his thick blue hair with her beautiful cherry-blossom tresses. It was easy to see that they were lovers.

Poppy cooed at the couple, still just as lovey-dovey as I remembered after eleven years of marriage. I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling. A part of me dearly hoped that Poppy and I would be like that someday.

-O-

Poppy looked at Branch, who was giving the lovebirds a look of affectionate tolerance. She grinned playfully at her boyfriend. "Just you wait 'til the next Frolic Festival comes along, Smoochie. You'll change your tune." She let her eyes flow appreciatively over his body, and had the satisfaction of seeing his cheeks go delightfully lavender.

Branch glanced at his friends, who stood with their arms around one another, smiling at him. As he looked back at Poppy, his posture changed, straightening up as if to show his body to its best advantage. Then he took a step toward her, tilting his head to give her body a look of distinct admiration. "As long as we sing that tune together," he murmured. "My beautiful dream girl can 'distract' me all she wants."

Her face heated up, and so did her body. A giddy giggle slipped from her lips. How she loved it when he flirted with her! Her mind jumped to a tantalizing future. Branch and me at the Festival. It's gonna be so much fun! Excitement bubbled up inside her, and she clamped her teeth on her lower lip, grinning foolishly. I can't wait!

She caught the amused recognition that passed between the older couple, who chuckled. "Yes, Branch, it's your turn to make cream cheese and jelly sandwiches," Leafe said cheerfully. "Although I still say they were tasty."

Branch chuckled. "Just as long as I don't try to brush my hair with a bagel."

Poppy let out a peal of laughter. "Did you really do that, Leafe?"

"I sure did." The yellow scholar grinned at the memory.

"I had no idea what was going on, or why my usually sensible roommate was acting so weird," Branch commented. "At first I was concerned, then exasperated. But I finally figured it out when he started to leave our pod to go on a date with Cheery. He didn't even notice his clothes were stained with jelly - or that he was wearing them inside-out."

Leafe took over. "It was at that point I discovered what a treasure a troll like Branchkin was. He stopped me from leaving, chose a spiffy new outfit for me to wear, and even gave me a little flower bouquet for my beloved."

"Aww," Poppy said, touched. "I love it when Branch goes all mother-bird on someone."

"Well, what else could I do? Frolic season foolishness had struck." Branch crossed his arms, smiling. "The poor guy couldn't help it."

Leafe gestured toward Branch with a proud smile. "After that he really stepped up, taking care of me and our pod as if he'd been doing it all his life. The change in him was nothing short of miraculous. He cooked, he cleaned, he organized. Our pod never looked so good. But more importantly, my formerly melancholic young friend seemed supercharged with energy. Branchkin went from spending half of every day in bed in a depressive funk to getting up hours before I did. From not changing his own clothes for days to keeping both my clothes as well as his own as fresh as a daisy. He even ironed my underwear so I'd look my best for my sweetheart."

"Ironing underwear. That's the Branch we know and love," Poppy teased.

He crossed his arms and lifted his nose in the air. "It's the little details that add that special touch."

The detail Poppy noticed was that he didn't object to Leafe referring to him by his old nickname. After the reunion with his dads, she was glad that he didn't seem to dislike it so much anymore.

"And I appreciated that, Branch. I truly did," Leafe said sincerely. "I was still quite young back then. Still a boy, really. Even though I was supposed to be caring for you, it was nice to feel taken care of myself. To feel as if we were sharing the responsibility."

Branch gave him a warm smile. "No problem, buddy. After all you did for me, I was happy to. I honestly doubt anyone else in the village could have helped me recover as well as you did. You – and Cheery-" he gestured to the two of them, "-were the family I needed to get better. After I messed up so badly, I felt like I was such a failure. But you always made me feel wanted, and accepted. Even though most trolls thought I was weird, you respected me and my opinions."

"I did indeed, Branch. And that's a good thing. Because I wouldn't be the troll I am today if not for you."

His face scrunched up. "What do you mean?"

"I knew you, but you knew me, too. I'd been out of school for a year, yet I couldn't seem to choose a life path. How could I? I was interested in everything. Then one day you gave me exactly the advice I'd been needing to hear. 'It sounds to me like what you really like is learning, and sharing what you've learned. You're always coming up with useful facts. Plus, you're a great tutor. Why don't you just do that for a living?' you told me. 'Why not become a teacher?'"

Hands blossomed into fireworks on the sides of Leafe's head, sending out a brief shower of twinkling sparks. "Pow! My mind was blown. That was when I realized how deeply I'd gotten into the process of tutoring you, and how rewarding it was to me to see you take the knowledge I gave you and just…fly with it."

-O-

I watched as my scholarly friend began pacing in front of us, his eager words flowing fast and free.

"This was it! My life's purpose. The thing that resonated most to me; engaging and energizing me more than anything I'd ever done. Figuring out how to connect on an intimate level with a deep, complex personality, guiding and supporting you throughout your learning experience- Why, it was just the kind of life challenge that appealed to a young intellectual like me. Every student I taught would have their own mind and personality, their own thoughts and dreams. I would get to know and love all of my students, as they would know and love me. I would be able to help them achieve those dreams. What a magnificent future!" His blue-green eyes were shining so brightly I could literally see stars in them. "I might never have known that if not for you. So, thank you, Branch. Thank you so much!"

"No problem." I glanced away, a little embarrassed at his gushing praise, but even so I was deeply touched. It made me glad to see him so happy.

Poppy obviously felt that same way, putting a hand over heart. "Aww."

"Yes, thank you, Branch." Cherry Blossom put a hand on mine, her green eyes full of sincerity. "If not for you, Leafe and I might never have met, or fallen in love. Our happy family might not even exist. So, thank you, my friend. You mattered. You truly made a positive difference in our lives."

"I… Thank you." I closed my eyes for a moment, overwhelmed by a rush of feelings. "I needed to hear that. And you're welcome. I was glad to help. It was the least I could do."

"Not true." Leafe held up a forefinger. "You were a valuable friend in many ways."

"Really?" I asked curiously.

"My main goal was to help you, but it wasn't my only reason for continuing down the path I'd chosen. I also wanted to prove myself to my parents."

"Your parents?"

"As you know, I'd always been an excellent student. So, when I first told my parents that I'd volunteered to take care of you, I expected enthusiastic approval for my decision. Instead their response was something along the lines of, 'Are you sure you can handle being on your own?'"

I blinked. "No way. Seriously?"

Leafe nodded, his face as close to a frown as it ever got. "They said, 'You've never even done your own laundry. How are you going to manage an entire podhold and that Branchkin boy all by yourself?' Frankly, I was astonished. I had no idea my own parents doubted me like that." A note of indignation crept into his tone. "I mean, I was inexperienced, not incompetent."

"Of course you weren't," I said, indignant as well on his behalf. "You were great at managing our pod. I can't believe they'd say that."

Always good at seeing both sides of a situation, Cherry Blossom replied, "Well, from their point of view, the news came as something of a shock. To them, he was still their darling little boy." She let out a light laugh. "Leafe still looked quite young for his age. He's always been a cutie."

As she fondly patted her husband's cheek, I found myself nodding. Even now, at thirty, Leafe looked as if he were only a few years out of pod school.

Leafe chuckled. "There was that, and also that I'd shown no interest in being an independent adult. Maybe if I'd been as responsible as you always were, Branch, they might have seen me differently." He filled his cheeks and let the air out with an indignant poof. "But even so, I was rather offended. An unaccustomed burst of rebellion came over me and I moved out that very day."

"Oh my gosh." I put a hand over my mouth. "I didn't know. I'm sorry, Leafe. I didn't mean to cause conflict between you and your family."

"You didn't, not really. Remember, I'd been planning to move out and set up a podhold for us anyway. But more importantly, I'd been looking for a purpose in life. A certain amount of struggle is necessary for growth, but it can be hard to find the motivation. You were the catalyst I needed to make me care enough to make the effort, because I knew you needed me. Becoming your roommate is something I have never regretted."

His eyes shone with nostalgia. "I remember how excited I was. Nervous, too. A whole new life was waiting for me. A new family member, too. It was like the feeling you get when you're waiting for an eggling to emerge from the shell. Anticipation. Curiosity. Who is this new person? What will they be like? You and I were acquaintances through Laurel, but there's a big difference between an acquaintance and a housemate. So, once I finished settling into the new pod King Peppy had had made for us, I decided to visit you in the medical pod."

"You did?" My forehead wrinkled. "I don't remember that."

"No. You were asleep, and I didn't have the heart to wake you. Seeing you laying there all covered in bandages..." His normally cheerful face was grave. "That was when it stopped being an adventure. When the first twinges of doubt set in."

"Regret for your decision?" I commented dryly.

"No, self-doubt. I was worried that my parents were right; that I wouldn't be able to take care of you. You were so badly hurt. I went closer to check on you…and saw that you'd been crying."

"I'll bet you were really ready to change your mind then."

"No. Just the opposite. Seeing you so miserable made me want to help you more than ever."

Into the silence that followed, Poppy said softly, "I know how that feels."

Cherry Blossom nodded. "Me, too."

I looked back and forth between the three of them, a rush of warmth filling my chest. I loved them all so much.

Leafe continued, "For the first time in my life, I had serious doubts about whether I was up to a task I'd taken on." He closed his eyes, lines of strain appearing on his forehead. "Especially later on, when I heard you crying in bed at night."

"Oh. Sorry about that. I tried to be quiet about it."

"That's not what bothered me. It was more like, how do I help this poor trolling? If I went to your room, you'd go silent, as if you didn't want me to know you were crying. If I spoke to you, you pretended you were asleep. I was bewildered, and upset. I was there to help you, but you didn't seem to want my comfort. You even rejected hugs, most days. It made me feel helpless, and useless."

"I'm sorry," I said again.

"No, it was a good thing overall. It motivated me to try harder." Strangely enough, he chuckled. "It also helped me develop a little humility."

"Humility?"

"I'd been the smartest pupil in school, and I knew it. I expected to easily succeed at every challenge I attempted." He laughed. "Not exactly realistic, especially in situations where I had no practical experience."

He shook his head and grinned at his younger self's folly. "The thing is, I thought I did. I was an older brother, right? I'd had to learn to weather the emotional storms of a sister ten years younger than me. Maple was smart and spirited, but not very logical yet. Many things frightened her. She could be petulant and moody, too, especially when she was tired, or didn't get her own way. She even had temper tantrums sometimes."

I rolled my eyes and smirked. "Nice to hear you thought of me on the same level as a six-year-old."

"Yes, well, the point is, I assumed that I could handle you because my of experience with Maple. I learned the hard way that every troll is different. It was a valuable lesson, one that I use every day as a teacher. So, thank you for that, Branch."

"Oh. Uh, you're welcome, I guess." Kind of a backward compliment, but I'd take it.

"Eventually I figured out ways to bond with you, and how to understand your needs. That also helped me later on in life," Leafe continued.

"That's what I'm learning now," Poppy commented.

Leafe nodded. "Rewarding, isn't it?"

"It sure is."

I glanced from one to the other, smiling uncertainly. It's weird to think of them bonding over the idea that I'm hard to relate to, but I can't exactly deny it. Still, they seem happy, so I guess I'm okay with it.

"And that's not the only thing I learned from you, Branch. Part of a teacher's job is to create a sense of belonging for their students, so that they'll go on to feel like part of the community as adults. Believe it or not, it can be a challenge to do that with some trollings, especially those who feel as if they're not measuring up to their peers. How do you inspire someone who's discouraged, and make them want to try again?"

"How?" Poppy asked, leaning forward, eyes wide.

Leafe answered, "Because of Branch, I learned that one way is to make them feel genuinely wanted, and needed. When you realized that I needed you, Branch, your sense of duty made you get up and take action. Physical activity is immensely important, especially for someone who has serious issues with anxiety, or depression. The body is meant to move. When it doesn't, all sorts of things start to go wrong. So, by helping me, you helped yourself."

"That's awesome." Poppy beamed at Leafe, who beamed right back.

"I know, right?"

I took a minute to mull over what he'd said. "I'm surprised you know about things like anxiety and depression. In my family's psychology scrapbooks, they said it was pretty rare for trolls to-"

"You have psychology scrapbooks?" both teachers chorused, zooming in close. Like, right in my face.

I let out a startled yelp and threw my hands up between us. Peeking between my fingers, I saw two pairs of huge cuddle-pup eyes shimmering hopefully at me. I answered hesitantly, "Um. Yes?"

"Where?"

"Can we read them?"

"Please, Branch?"

"Pretty please with sprinkles on top?"

Still a little freaked out, I made a slight shooing gesture. "Sure. If you just…back off and give me some space. Okay?"

Immediately they did so. "Of course, Branch."

"Sorry, sorry."

"We just get so excited about new knowledge, you know?" Leafe said enthusiastically, only half apologetic.

Poppy helped with the social tension, letting out a cheerful laugh. "That's our scholars. Always interested in learning."

I grinned. "Yeah. I'd forgotten how ga-ga you guys get over books."

"Sorry to freak you out," Leafe said more calmly. "But when it comes to atypical fields of study, we'll take all the knowledge we can get. I discovered that to be the case when I was preparing for your arrival. There was precious little information pertaining to your rather…unique situation."

His expression grew serious. "While I was at the medical pod, I spoke with Doc Whipple regarding your treatment. He said you would need to stay there for a month or so to heal. You had several broken bones, and a concussion he wanted to keep an eye on. After I left, I sat down outside to think. Your physical injuries were concerning, but they would heal without my help. Your emotional issues, on the other hand…"

He sighed, looking troubled. "Well, as far as I knew, you'd been permanently gray since you were a small trolling. Helping you regain your colors was a long-term problem that no one had ever made much progress with." His tone shifted, growing strong and resolute. "I knew I had to figure out a strategy to help you. Something no one had ever tried before."

I smiled. That was definitely the Leafe I knew. The ultimate puzzle-solver.

"Seeing you in that bed, looking so different from the way I remembered you awake… I'd never noticed before how young you looked, how vulnerable. How deeply unhappy…" Leafe gazed off into the distance for a long moment. "It made me all the more committed to getting it right."

I knew that was the moment he set aside his own trollhood. When he chose to take on adult responsibilities for the first time, for me. I would always be grateful for that.

Poppy nodded. "I know what you mean. Branch always seemed so tough and independent on the outside, but once in a while he'd let you in and it was just… He just… You couldn't help but love him, you know?"

"We know," my friends agreed.

I thought about all the times I'd told the persistent pink troll to go away, and how that had only seemed to make her more determined to befriend me. When I looked up, they were all smiling fondly at me. Once again there was only one response I could make. Only one response I wanted to make. I opened

my arms. "I love you guys, too."

Author's Note:

As teachers, Leafe and Cherry Blossom have had some training when it comes to providing emotional support for trolls suffering from unusually strong negative feelings. Acorn has, too, as a nurse. Not that they run into that sort of thing often. Our scholars did research early on, but couldn't find much help for serious cases like Branchkin. All of them became interested in psychology because of their experiences with Branch. They've all actually created their own reference scrapbooks on the subject, based on their experiences with him.

I like using personality profiles to help me guide a character's wants and needs. The one I know best is the MBTI, the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator. I chose INTP for Leafe (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving), and INFJ for Cherry Blossom (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging). NT types tend to have a scholarly bent, and usually make good teachers. Being introverts, they tend to be naturally quieter and more deeply introspective than some other types. Branch is an introvert too, an ISTJ. The Sensor part means he tends to be more attuned to the physical world, which is why he's so good with his hands. (Poppy's an ENFJ, if you're curious. (Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging) Super outgoing and very concerned with promoting social harmony.)

I chose the title of this chapter because I figured that scholars like Leafe and Cherry Blossom would naturally regard their time with Branch as a learning experience; valuable on many levels. But it applies to Branch and Poppy, too. Branch in particular learned a lot, even though it's only now that he's beginning to put a lot of those relationship lessons into practice. I wanted to give him some mentors he can turn to for advice, as he and Poppy start down the road of life together. 😊