"Um, Poppy," The teal troll entered the living room with a slight frown on his face. "Do you know, by any chance, where all the candy canes went?"
Poppy, sitting cross-legged on the big, comfy sofa, didn't even look up from her novel as she replied solemnly with, "Oh, I guess they must've walked out the door."
A few seconds passed in silence, then she glanced up at him, and chuckled. Branch only shook his head and smirked.
"So, where did you put them?"
The Pop Queen fluttered her eyelashes. "I ate them."
Branch looked her up and down with narrowed eyes, trying to decide if she was being sincere.
"You did not."
"Indeed, I didn't," Poppy nodded with a smile. "But I know where they are."
"Po-ppy," The teal troll grumbled.
"Bra-nch," she imitated him with a chuckle.
"Where. Did. You. Put. Them?" he emphasised each word.
"I might tell you," Branch started interrupting her but Poppy continued before he could do so, "If you do as I say."
The teal troll narrowed his eyes at his girlfriend, then he carefully asked. "What do I have to do to get them back?"
Now the smile on Poppy's face grew into a downright mischievous grin. "Watch a Christmas movie with me."
Branch rolled his eyes and groaned. "Why did I ever say I love you that one night two years ago?"
The Pop Queen just chuckled – which seemed to have become her thing – and threw a pillow at him. "'Cause you do love me."
A small grin appeared on his lips but then he threw his hands up in the air and grumbled, "Let me prepare hot chocolate and tell me where the candy canes are. Then we'll watch a movie."
"Uh-huh," she shook her head. "You'll get one candy cane once the movie starts. And I'll give you the rest after we finish the movie"
"Fine. Fine," Branch gave in and left for the kitchen.
Ten minutes later, he came back with two cups of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and set down next to Poppy.
"So, what're we watching?" he sighed and leaned.
The Pop Queen grinned at him from the side and leaned in to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"The Christmas Chronicles," Poppy said, pulled out a small candy cane from behind her back and handed it to Branch who just chuckled and wrapped his arm around her body.