So I began writing this a long time ago but for some reason I completely forgot about it. That is until April 10th when I finally got to see Trolls World Tour and BROPPY FINALLY BECAME CANNON! Since we all know Branch is eventually going to become king of the Pop Trolls, I had to finish this story.

If you guys haven't seen the sequel yet, please do as not only will this story contain some spoilers for it, but we need to support DreamWorks with COVID-19 shutting down our theaters.

Just a heads up, this is going to be an extremely minor AU. Nothing gigantic, just a small difference from the second movie. I won't say what it is right now though because, well, spoilers.

I do not own either of the Trolls movies or the song "Forever Like That" (which I highly recommend you guys check out). Those honors go to DreamWorks and Ben Rector.

Here it is!

Branch could feel the bed shift as his wife got up to take her morning shower. He stayed where he was, pretending to still be asleep. Keeping his eyes shut, he could hear Poppy moving around the room and finally walk over to his side of the bed. She gently kissed his cheek before he heard her walk into the bathroom. It was only when he heard the bathroom door close that he let a smile spread across his face.

It had been around three years since Branch had finally gotten the confidence to tell Poppy he loved her, and not just as his best friend. Funny how one gains the confidence to do something like that after being turned into a rock zombie and nearly losing everything they hold dear. The two had already been close enough that they hadn't even been together for a year when Branch proposed to her. She had obviously said yes, and Branch's life had been nothing but happiness since the wedding. Oh yeah, and he was king of the Pop Trolls now. Talk about a job he never thought he'd have, though that didn't mean he didn't love it as long as he got to rule by Poppy's side.

Branch couldn't believe how lucky he was to have someone like Poppy. He had gone without any form of love or affection for so long after his grandmother had died, but Poppy had taken it upon herself to become everything he needed in his life; a best friend, a confidant, a teammate, a lover, and now a spouse. She had taken care of him when he had no one and for that reason alone (aside from, you know, everything else) he couldn't love her enough.

Branch pulled the covers up to his shoulders. He had never told Poppy, but he would always wake up in the morning when she did. She always thought he would sleep until she came in to wake him after her shower. In reality, he would lie in bed and listen to her sing, which she did every morning. It made him feel special that he was the only one who got to hear it.

As he heard the water begin to run, he smiled once again when he heard what he had been waiting for. He recognized the song instantly as she sang and he began to sing along as quietly as possible.

Well I'll be your rainy day lover

Whenever the sunny days end

And whatever the weather, we have each other

And that's how the story will end

Well I'll be your shade tree in summer

If you'll be my fire when it's cold

And whatever the season, well, we'll keep on breathing

'Cause we'll have each other to hold

It was about that point when Branch realized he was the only one still singing. He opened his eyes. He could still hear the shower running but he didn't hear anything from Poppy. Except… wait a minute. Was she throwing up? He listened closer and his ears were met with retching. She definitely was.

Branch leaped from the bed, practically throwing the bathroom door open. Poppy was gripping each side of the toilet as she threw up. The shower curtain was still wide open, letting water fall outside the tub. Poppy was still naked and dripping wet. She looked up at Branch for a second in surprise before turning back to the toilet.

Branch ran to her, gripping any of her hair that might fall in her path with one hand. With his other he grabbed a towel hanging up nearby and draped it over her shoulders, stroking her back afterwards.

Poppy had stopped throwing up by then, though she kept her head close to the toilet for a couple more minutes just to be safe. Branch flushed it, letting go of her hair in the process. He then felt her head, but aside from a few sweat droplets everything seemed normal.

"Huh, that's weird. You don't have a fever," he explained after grabbing her a cup of water.

Poppy washed her mouth out before speaking. "Well that's good!" she said with a smile. "I was worried I'd have to cancel my plans! Got to make sure Barb and I finish planning that party!" And with that she exited the bathroom, somehow still having a pep in her step.

Branch stood in shock for a moment with a look on his face like Poppy had just said she was going to kick all of the trolls out of Troll Village and replace them with Grossums.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" he said as he chased after her. "You are not going out after you just threw up! You need to stay home and relax, fever or no fever."

Poppy looked up at him, having just gotten dressed crown and all. Now she looked surprised. "I can't just stay home! I'm the queen! I have to take care of the village!"

"Well I'm the king!" Branch reasoned.

"Uh… queen trumps king!"

"Really? You're using your dad's line?"

Poppy sighed. "What about all I have to do today?"

Branch tried not to chuckle. "You mean singing, dancing, and hugging?"

Poppy just rolled her eyes. "Ok, well what about the party? I can't just leave Barb to plan it herself. You remember what happened last time we let her plan it?"

Branch grimaced as he thought back to the time all of the rulers had agreed to let Barb plan a party for them in Troll Village. Long story short, flame throwers were not a good idea in a forest covered with trees; not to mention the Classical Trolls were apparently still traumatized from the time she had destroyed Symphonyville. It had taken months to convince the other kings and queens it wouldn't happen again.

"I can help her. I've helped you plan tons of parties before," Branch replied.

Poppy thought for a moment. "Ok, if I go see Dr. Plum and she tells me I'm ok then will you let me go out?"

Branch began to put his regular outfit on. "No, but I agree that you should go see her."

"Branch, come on!" Poppy whined.

Branch adjusted his vest. "Ok, on one condition."

The queen perked up.

"Tell me your stomach feels 100% better."

Poppy responded by looking down at her feet as Branch put on his crown. "Exactly," he remarked.

He turned and walked up to her, taking her hands in his own. "It's just for today," he said with a much gentler tone. "I can handle things on my own. I promise."

Poppy was silent once again as she looked into Branch's serious, yet love filled eyes. She sighed again. "Ok, fine. But don't forget I promised Queen Delta we'd give the Country Trolls more space to dance."

Branch kissed her forehead. "You got it," he said as he walked towards the door of their pod.

"And Hickory asked for more gumdrops this time!" Poppy shouted after him.

"No problem!"

"And Prince D wanted a rematch on that last dance off!"

"Don't forget to visit Dr. Plum!"

"And King Trollex said—"

"I love you! Bye!" Branch shouted, closing the pod door behind him.

"Are you sure?"

Poppy sat in Dr. Plum's pod about two hours later and Dr. Plum had just given the queen her diagnosis. Poppy had expected Dr. Plum to tell her that she had just eaten too much cotton candy the night before or something, but she hadn't expected the actual outcome in the slightest.

"I'm absolutely sure, Queen Poppy. Every test I ran came out positive," the doctor stated.

Poppy just sat in shock, her mind racing a million miles an hour. "I take it you weren't expecting this outcome?" Dr. Plum asked.

Poppy shook her head. "Branch and I… we never planned for something like this… We've never even brought it up. What am I going to tell him?"

Dr. Plum gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Well sooner or later you'll have to tell him the truth," she said. "We'll have to schedule several appointments for you in the coming months if we want to stay on top of things." She grabbed her clipboard and wrote a couple things down. "Would you like to schedule those now?"

Poppy was silent for a minute. "Can I discuss this with my husband first?"

"Of course," Dr. Plum agreed as she put her clip board back down. "Just make sure you two get back to me as soon as possible."

"Right," was all Poppy could say. Everything else Dr. Plum started telling her seemed to roll past her ears as she felt trapped in a daze. How would Branch react when she told him?

Poppy didn't have to walk far before she found Branch. Well, technically Branch found her.

"Poppy! What are you doing out?" he asked, running away from the group of trolls he had been talking to and up to her. "I told you to stay home and relax!"

"Oh, I just got done seeing Dr. Plum and I wanted to come find you," she replied. She didn't meet his eyes when she said this.

Branch tilted her chin up to look at him. He was clearly trying to hide his fear. "Is everything ok?"

Poppy was about to speak up when she realized the group her husband had been talking to was staring at them. Noticing her gaze, they all suddenly became incredibly interested in the length of the grass at their feet.

"Can we talk somewhere else?" Poppy asked taking Branch's hand. "Alone?"

Branch just nodded, though she felt his grip tighten. Neither of them said a word as Poppy lead her king to the most private place she could think of; the waterfall that housed the Pop Troll's string.

She sat the two of them down next to the glimmering falls, but she didn't get a single word out before Branch pulled her into a tight hug. Poppy was surprised to feel him shaking. Did she just hear him sniffle?

"Branch, what's wrong?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around him.

"I don't care what's wrong with you!" he declared. "Whatever's happening, no matter how much time you have left, I love you with all my heart and I'm going to be there for you. We'll go through this together!"

Poppy gasped. "Oh my gosh! Branch calm down! I'm not dying!"

Branch lifted his head from her shoulder to look at her, though he still kept his arms around his queen. "You're not?" he asked as Poppy wiped the tears from his eyes.

Poppy had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. Branch's survival instincts would come out far too fast at times, though to be fair, the way she had simply come back from the doctor only to take him somewhere private did kind of seem like a red flag.

"I'm fine. I promise," she said, making sure to add in a reassuring smile.

Branch breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God. So, what? Do you just have a virus or something? Was it all that cotton candy you ate last night?"

Poppy looked down at her feet for the second time that day. "No, it's… I— I don't know how you're going to react to this…"

When Branch didn't answer she looked back up at him. At least half of the fear that had melted away seconds ago was back on his face.

You can do this Poppy, she thought. Just come out and say it! What's the worst that could happen? You know, aside from Branch being horrified and refusing to help and leaving you and… oh gosh, did I seriously have to think about that?! Now how am I going to—

"Poppy, please just tell me what's going on," Branch pleaded, his voice cutting through her internal panic.

Poppy looked deeply into her husband's eyes. She saw fear of course but looking closer she could see so much more. She saw the same sincerity she'd seen when Branch had helped her regain her colors back in Bergen Town. She saw the sympathy he'd had when he ignored the fact that she'd caused them to be thrown in a jail cell by the Country Trolls and instead told her that she had done a great job. And she saw the same love he'd had in his deep blue eyes when he had finally confessed how he truly felt about her three years ago. The same love that had probably existed even farther back than then just like hers had. She saw she was far more than just his best friend; she was his partner in life. He had always supported her, always stayed by her side even on their crazy missions, always loved her. Why would this be any different?

She took a deep breath, pushing down the last of the doubts she had. "Branch, I'm pregnant."

Branch looked at her like she had just shown up in a wheelchair. "You— you're what?"

"I'm pregnant, Branch," Poppy repeated, desperately trying to keep away the negative thoughts that were threatening to invade her mind once more.

The silence for the next few seconds— which seemed like hours to Poppy— was deafening as Branch processed what he had just heard. Poppy was about ready to burst into tears until she noticed Branch's face slowly begin to change.

"You're— I— we— you're going— I'm a— I— I just— words!" Branch stuttered as a smile grew across his face. Tears began to roll down his cheeks as he took a deep breath to steady himself. "Poppy, this is incredible!" he finally cried. Without warning he swooped her up and spun her around, both of them now laughing with joy. Every bit of Poppy's dread and anxiety was swept away and replaced with the overwhelming joy an expecting mother dreamed of feeling.

When Branch finally put her down he was surprised to see how much she was crying. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked even though the smile refused to leave his face.

"I— I was so worried," she joyfully sobbed. "We had never talked about having a baby before and I— I just thought th— that maybe—"

Branch kissed her forehead. "What? That I wouldn't be thrilled? Ok, sure we've never talked about having a child, but it doesn't matter! Poppy, you gave me the family I've always needed and now I find out that it's about to get bigger? This is one of the best things that could've ever happened to me!"

Poppy cupped her hands to her chest as if her heart would bust out if she didn't. More tears gushed from her eyes as she lay her forehead against her king's.

"We're going to have to tell everyone else, you know. I mean, this child is going to be the new prince or princess of the Pop Trolls and it won't be much longer before I start showing," she whispered.

Branch almost burst from excitement after her last sentence. This was real. They were having a baby. They were going from a family of two to a family of three. Heck, maybe even more!

"I think we should tell your dad and our closest friends first," he replied. "Then we can worry about everyone else."

Poppy pulled her husband into a hug, closing her eyes so she could do nothing but feel his warmth. She felt him stroke her hair as he gently whispered into her ear.

"I love you. I love you both so much."

Now it was Poppy's turn to beam. She let go of Branch and placed his hands onto her still flat stomach. "We love you too," she replied, crying tears of joy herself.

Branch replied by attempting to pull his wife into a kiss.

"Branch, don't! I threw up, remember?" she giggled, gently pushing his face away from hers.

Branch just beamed. "Who cares? I'm going to be a dad!" And he kissed her before she had the chance to pull away again; one that Poppy couldn't resist returning.

I know we only ever saw the male trolls deliver babies in the sequel and they hatch from eggs in their hair, but I had already mapped this story out a long time ago, so I just kept it the way I had originally planned.

Was it good? Bad? Somewhere in between? Let me know by leaving a review!

Edger230 out!