Thanks for the reviews, Dreamsinger! Appreciate it! Glad you're enjoying the story. Yeah, he's got cabin fever. And that was only his first day back home! Here's another chapter for you.
Poppy opened the trap door and saw her friends' cheerful faces peeking inside. "Hi, guys." She smiled feebly.
"Hey, Poppy!" They greeted loudly.
"Shh! Guys, keep it down, please! Branch is sleeping! He had a rough night, and he needs his rest!"
"Sorry." Biggie hung his head.
"Sorry, Nurse Poppy." Cooper apologized.
"Sorry, Aunt Poppy." Tiny said.
"It's okay. Sorry." Poppy tried to hide a yawn. "It really is good to see you guys! You wanna come in for a little while? Uh...quietly?"
"Uh huh!" DJ Suki nodded eagerly. The trolls marched their way into the bunker on the upper floor. Poppy could smell candy, and cupcakes, and cookies! They made her mouth water, and her tummy growl. DJ Suki approached Poppy and pulled her to a quiet corner. "You okay, Popster? You look pretty tired."
"Like I said, it was rough." Poppy shrugged. "Branch's first night home wasn't as peaceful as I hoped it would be. He kept having nightmares about the scrimp attack. Not to mention the pain from his injuries."
"Sounds rough! Is he doing any better?" Suki patted her shoulder.
"He's sleeping right now. I hope! He didn't go to sleep without trouble until around three-thirty!"
"And how much sleep have you gotten?" Suki asked her friend.
"I conked out at around four, I think." Poppy shrugged.
"Girl, you need some rest!" Suki scolded.
"I was." Poppy yawned.
"Oh, Poppy, I'm sorry! I didn't know we woke you up! I can tell everybody that we can come back later."
"No. You're already here, and I could use some cheering up. And some really strong, really sweet coffee!"
"Say no more! I've got you, girl!" Suki smiled, hugging her. "You just sit comfortably on the couch and leave it to me!" Suki led her queen to the couch and made her sit down. "Fresh coffee in a jif!"
Poppy smiled tiredly, stifling a yawn. She hoped Branch was okay, down there on the much lower level. Why had he not called for her in a panic? How had he not heard the racket up here? Either he was out cold-hopefully-, or he was trying to brave it out by himself, because of how stubborn her was. Either way, she was relieved that he wasn't screaming. She hoped that Suki would hurry with the coffee! Felt like it was taking forever.
"Need a lift, Queen Poppy?" Smidge asked. "Look like you could use one."
"I'm okay, Smidge. Thank you." Poppy sighed.
"Whatever you say." Smidge shrugged.
"A pick-me-up, Queen Poppy?" Biggie offered, bearing a tray of cupcakes, cookies, and candy. Mr. Dinkles was safely strapped in the harness that Branch had given him.
"Ohhh. Thanks, Biggie. You're sweet." Poppy smiled, reaching for a yellow cupcake.
"We brought enough to last you for a week!" Cooper told her. "And we're gonna help you take care of Branch. We'll get him well in no time!"
"I made this bracelet for him. You think he'll like it?" Legsly asked. She held out her hand to show Poppy a beaded bracelet with a color pallet of brown, tan, blue, green, teal, and black-Branch's colors-, and letters that spelled Get Well Soon Branch.
"Aww, Legsly! It's so sweet! I'm sure he will like it." Poppy gushed. "That was kind of you!"
"Ah, no. I had a lot fun doing it!" Legsly hugged Poppy. Poppy was cut off guard at first but let herself become absorbed in her friend's embrace. Ohhh! It felt soo good! Like morning sunshine.
"Thanks." Poppy breathed wistfully. "I needed that!"
"Dang! This guy just thinks of everything!" Prince Darnell exclaimed as he rummaged through the kitchen, searching for a proper place to store the sweet goodies. Every cabinet he opened had food and kitchen gadgets sorted religiously, categorized, and even sticky notes of instructions on how to use or prepare all of it!
"That's our Branch for ya!" Cooper agreed.
"You alright, Poppy? You look beat." Guy Diamond said kindly, patting her arm.
"I'm okay, Guy Diamond." Poppy smiled bravely. "It's just, getting Branch to actually rest is harder than I thought. He keeps wanting to get up and work! The doctor said that he has to rest! And elevate his leg! He keeps worrying about the scrimps coming back."
"But we took care of that with our alarm system." Prince Darnell frowned.
"Yes, and I told him that. He said that he's proud of you guys. But, well...we all know Branch."
"Yeah, he has to inspect everything himself to make sure it's done right!" Smidge chuckled.
"What if we take a photograph of the alarm system and show it to him?" Biggie suggested.
"That's a great idea." Legsly agreed.
"Yes!" Guy Diamond added.
"That way, if he finds any flaws-" Cooper began.
"Which he shouldn't-" Prince D corrected him.
"But probably will," Cooper elbowed his brother, "he can point it out."
"If you guys believe that will help him actually relax like he's supposed to, go for it!" Poppy declared. "If you all can think of anything else like that, please share! I'm all ears!"
"I brought him some crossword puzzle books. I know how Branch enjoys a challenge." Guy Diamond smirked.
"You're not wrong there!" Poppy smiled at her friend. "Why didn't I think of that? That oughtta keep him good and busy!"
"We should play Mad Libs with him!" Suki suggested as she approached the couch with a mug of steaming coffee.
"Oh, I love Mad Libs!" Poppy blurted out. "Ohh! Thanks, Suki!" She took the mug and sipped it. "Aaahhh!" Poppy sat back comfortably on the couch. "That tastes like heaven!"
"What can I say? It's a gift." Suki smirked. "Actually, I followed Branch's instructions on your preferences for java. His are so primitive. He's so picky."
"So that's why it tastes so familiar."
"Here you go, Poppy." Satin and Chenille draped a fleece blanket over her.
"Ooo! So cozy…" Poppy murmured.
"You rest, Queen." Satin told her.
"We'll look after Branch for a while, Poppy." Guy Diamond said. "Won't we, Tiny? Uh...Tiny? Tiny, where are you? TINY!"
"There ya are, Branch!" Tiny greeted, hopping his way onto Branch's nightstand.
"Wha-Tiny! What are you-how'd you get down here?" Branch spluttered. He gaped at the puny baby troll bouncing on his chest. "Wait! Does your dad know about this?" Branch narrowed his eyes.
"Not worry, Bunker Boy!" Tiny boasted. "What am I doing here? Given you a boost in morale. How did I get down here? You'll never know. Does my daddy know about this? Uh...yes? And No?"
Branch stared at him skeptically. "What time is it?" He asked.
"Time for you to relax!"
"Ugh. Not you too." Branch rolled his eyes.
"Hey! Now you listen to me! My sweet Aunt Queen Poppy has moved in to look after you." Tiny wagged his index finger down at the hard-headed patient. "She's putting her heart and soul into it."
"I know that." Branch said dryly.
"Well, you ain't bein' a good patient, disobeying orders, refusing to take your medication-"
"Are you done yet?" Branch interrupted. "I feel a headache coming on."
"You ain't makin' it any easier on her, man! Aunt Poppy looks like she should be the one in bed."
"What? Is she okay?" Branch's eyes widened.
"If ya call bloodshot eyes, droopy shoulders, and a lowered head okay. Then yeah, she's just peachy." Tiny crossed his arms.
"Look, cut me some slack, will ya?" Branch groaned, struggling to sit up. "I didn't-ack! I didn't...ask her to be here. I kept-ahh!" He grunted in pain. "Telling her...I'm fine. I can...take care of myself."
"Uh huh! My point exactly!"
"What?"
"You don't listen to her! Tellin' her off and trying to put yourself right back in the hospital. For shame. If you'd do as you're told, you'd get better faster. And they all call me a baby!" Tiny threw up his hands.
"Wait! Whose side are you actually on?" Branch glared at the shimmery, mouthy baby. "If I wanted to be lectured, I would have stayed at the hospital." He growled. He used his bedhead hair to grab Poppy's cowbell from the nightstand and began tapping it. If it's that bad, she needs to go home and take care of herself! I'll find a way to convince her! She can't handle this!
"Ohh. That's Branch. He needs me." Poppy grunted, sitting up on the couch.
"No, no, no, no, no." DJ Suki held her in place.
"No you don't!" Cooper nudged Poppy back against the couch cushions.
"I'm the one who's supposed to take care of him!" Poppy protested.
"Take it easy, Poppy." Legsly smiled.
"We're here to help." Biggie patted Poppy's shoulder.
"But-" Poppy began.
"You just leave it us!" Prince Darnell told her.
"You just stay there." Smidge said.
"You catch up on your sleep!" Satin and Chenille added.
"Whatcha trying to do? Burst her eardrums?" Tiny scolded Branch.
"Ugh!" Branch groaned, setting down the cowbell. He didn't feel so well himself.
"Hi, Branch! Hey, Branch!" The Snack Pack greeted boisterously as they shuffled off the elevator into his bedroom.
"Ahh! Wha-what are you guys doing here?!" Branch gasped.
"We came to cheer you up!" Cooper announced.
"We brought presents!" Legsly chimed in.
"These are for you!" Satin and Chenille dumped a pile of pop-up get well cards on his bed.
"We're here to help take care of you!" Biggie smiled.
"Wait, what?!" Branch's eyes widened. "Wait. Where's Poppy?"
"Resting like she should be." Guy Diamond said with his hands on his hips.
"Give her a break, Branch. She's exhausted." DJ Suki explained quietly.
"Oh." Branch hung his head and his ears drooped sadly. I knew it! It's because of me. She needs to go home. This is too much. This is my fault.
"You hungry, Branch?" Cooper asked. "We brought cupcakes!"
"More cupcakes?" Branch cringed.
"Here ya go, Branch. I made it for you!" Legsly handed him the bracelet. He gave a small smile.
"Oh. Thanks, Legsly." He told her. "You didn't have to."
"I know, right? I wanted to. It was fun."
"Well, thanks." Branch shrugged.
"Attention, people!" Tiny Diamond hollered from his perch in Branch's hair. "We got a sick man here! Which means there's lots to do. Okay, first things first. Branch needs his medicine. And he must take it with food." He'd snatched Dr. Plum's list of care instructions.
"On it!" Satin and Chenille hurried back to the elevator.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Branch panicked. Were they actually going to take over all of Poppy's jobs? Oh, lentils no! No way!
"His injured limb needs to stay elevated!"
"Gotcha covered, man!" Prince Darnell cheered. Cooper dove his head into the closet and grabbed two extra pillows. Together, they gingerly piled them up under Branch's broken leg.
"Guys! Easy! Don't touch my leg!" Branch begged.
"Easy, Branch. We wouldn't hurt ya." Cooper tried to sound reassuring, which in Branch's case didn't feel reassuring at all!
"He needs rest and quiet." Tiny drawled on.
"Yeah! Yes, please. Do that part!" Branch pleaded.
"Need to air out and clean his wounds."
"WHAT?! No, no, no, no, no!" Branch exclaimed. "Nobody touches the bandages except me or Poppy!" He glowered.
"Just try to relax, Branch." Guy Diamond said quietly. "I'll handle that part."
"I'd rather you didn't, man. Really, I'm good. There's no need." Branch shook his head.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you have plenty of privacy." Guy whispered.
"Uh...thanks?" Branch gritted his teeth as dread ran through his body. Poppy! I need you!
"And someone needs to look after Aunt Queen Poppy." Tiny ordered.
"Wait, that's not on the list-" Branch began. "Wait. You're right. She needs a break."
"I've got that all covered." DJ Suki bragged.
"Here's the medical kit, Guy." Biggie said, carrying Poppy's bag.
"Thanks, Biggie." Guy Diamond smiled.
"You're not a doctor." Branch pointed out.
"I've picked up a thing or two, Branch. I'm more than just a glittery guy."
Branch laughed anxiously. He was grateful that his friends were trying to make things easier for Poppy, but still! Did his friends have any clue on how to properly take care of him? He doubted it very much. He was so lost in his jangled, worrisome thoughts that he was startled when he felt a hand touch his forehead. "Hey!" He gasped.
"No sign of fever. That's great news." Guy smiled.
"C-can everyone just slow down for a sec?" Branch asked.
"More pillows!" Smidge hollered, carrying an entire pile of pillows on her head.
"No, I don't need-"
"More bandages!" Biggie blurted out.
"If you guys turn me into a mummy-" Branch tried to warn them.
"We're on med and food delivery!" Satin and Chenille cheered as they reentered with a tray of cupcakes, water, coffee, and the dreaded medication.
"Cupcakes are not in my diet-"
"Ya know what we're missing? Music!" Cooper exclaimed.
Branch froze! Out of all they'd already mentioned, that would be the worst! He cared deeply for his friends, but their overly hyped singing and dancing would be catastrophic. "Guys, really. I'm fine!" He protested desperately. "Just take care of Poppy and let me fend for myself." I hope she's okay! She'd better be okay!
"Branch? Are you saying we're not welcome here?" Satin smirked at him.
"No, I...I.."
"How ungrateful!" Chenille growled at him. "After all, you saved all of our lives!"
"We owe you, Branch!" Prince Darnell told him.
"No, no-" Branch shook his head.
"It's our job to repay you. No arguments." Biggie declared firmly.
"Alright, Branch. Let's get started." Guy Diamond said.
"What?" Branch gritted his teeth.
"First of all, how do you feel?"
"The care instructions say he must eat before taking his medicine." Tiny said.
"Right. We can't have him upsetting his little tummy and puking up his pills." Legsly stated.
"Exactly! Not on our watch! Open up, Branch." Chenille narrowed her eyes at him, holding a sweet, sweet, luscious cupcake in front of his mouth.
"No, no!" Branch cried. HELP!