As Happy as Us

The Troll tree was blissfully peaceful as Poppy looked over her people getting ready to turn in for the night. After celebrating her coronation as Queen, they decided to hold off another round of partying until tomorrow since they were tired from running around everywhere trying not to get eaten by Chef.

"Whatcha thinking about Poppy?" A soft voice asked as he linked his fingers through hers. Branch had just got done settling down at his new home so he decided to find his new Queen.

Poppy leaned her head against his shoulder. "Nothin much, just thinking about how different this place is compared to the forest."

"It hasn't changed much. But you were younger than me when we fled the village." Branch commented as he thought about the first escape from the Bergens. He had already lost his colors when they left for the forest to escape the Troll tree and he had few good memories of their original home.

Poppy sighed as she snuggled her head into his shoulder, he smiled at her. "I'm so happy that we have our home back."

"I'm happy that we survived getting eaten by that crazy Chef." Branch chuckled as he softly pulled her down to sit on the tree branch they were standing on together. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask you something. Something that's been on my mind."

Poppy looked at him with curious eyes. "What is it?"

"What did you mean specifically when Bridget and the Bergens deserved to be as happy as us? Did you mean as happy as ALL of the Trolls or did you mean...as happy as US." Branch asked with a blush rising from his cheeks.

The new Queen blinked a few times in surprise before she was able to think about Branch's question he just asked her. "I-I meant..."

"You meant...what?"

"I meant as happy as..." Poppy tried to say with her emotions making her trip over her own words. How could she tell him what she actually meant without sounding cheesy.

Branch continued to gaze at her with his soft eyes as she was trying to figure out how to spell things out for him. "Poppy?"

That's when the idea struck her like lightning. She smiled softly as she gazed directly into his eyes and leaned closer towards his lips. Surprisingly, Branch didn't react the way she thought he would react. He gently lifted his hand to cup her cheek and drew her closer with his soft hand. They both closed their eyes simultaneously as they felt their lips connect. The kiss was tender and soft as it felt like everything around them froze so only they were the ones still moving forward. After a moment, they parted and opened their eyes to see them fondly smiling at each other.

"You know...you could've just said you wanted them to be as happy as US." Branch teased as he rubbed his nose up against hers.

Poppy giggled as she shrugged her shoulders. "I thought it'd be easier this way."

"I still want to hear you say it though. Please...let me hear it from your lips." Branch almost pleaded as he still cupped her cheek in his hand.

Poppy snuggled her head in his warm touch. "I wanted them to be as happy as US Branch."

Branch kissed her nose as they leaned their foreheads together with big grins on their faces. Nothing felt more perfect to them in that moment of affection together. A moment that no one dared to talk about as Branch and Poppy's friends watched as they hid in the distance. Trying to conceal their joy for their friends' first kiss and tender moment.