The Adventures of Azalea and Twig (book 6)

Chapter 1

"Branch! Branch! Branch! Branch! Branch!" Poppy yelled, banging on the rock outside Branch's bunker.

"Hmmm... why is he not answering?" Poppy questioned.
"I don't know," Barb responded, sarcastically. "Maybe because... IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!!!"

Poppy glared at Barb, and then sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Wake up, Branch! It's important!" Poppy yelled, beginning to bang on the rock again.

"Ugh... that'll never work," Barb sighed, frustrated. "Move aside, Popsqueek. Let a professional show you how it's done."

She cracked her knuckles, and then headed for Branch's key pad.

"Uh... Barb? What exactly are you doing?" Poppy asked, concerned.
"You'll see," Barb responded, with a mischievous grin.

Suddenly, she punched the key pad open, pulling out the wires to dismantle it.

The hatch popped open, and Barb climbed in.

"I'll be right back," Barb said, disappearing into the bunker.

Poppy stood outside whistling, as she waited for Barb to come back out.

Suddenly, a loud bang came from the bunker, followed by a short scream of surprise.

"What the... Barb? What are you... AHHH! No! Barb, stop! AHHHHH!" Poppy heard Branch scream.

She flinched, suddenly beginning to hear crashing sounds, and a chainsaw.

"AHHHHH! BARB! STOP!"

Suddenly, everything fell silent, Poppy looked down at the open hatch, her eyes wide in fear.

"Uh... Barb? Branch?" she called down into the bunker. "What's going on down..."
"AHHH! Oof!"

Branch flew out of the bunker, landing at Poppy's feet.

"Ow..." he groaned, still in his pajamas, with messy hair.

"Oh my god! Branch! Are you ok!?" Poppy yelled, concerned, as she helped Branch up to his feet.

"I... sleeping... Barb... vroom!" He mimicked a chain saw. "AHHH!" He mimicked him running away in terror. "Raaah!" He fell to the ground, acting like he was being attacked. "Barb! No! Barb!"

Finally, he stopped, laying on the ground in the feudal position, as he whimpered, softly, his eyes wide in fear, traumatized by what had just occurred.

"It's ok, Branch," Poppy said, calmly, helping him up again. "Calm down. It's ok..."

She hugged Branch close to her, gently stroking the back of his head, as he whimpered, shaking slightly.

"Sup, dudes!?" Barb yelled, jumping out of the bunker.

"AHHH!" Branch screamed, quickly jumping behind Poppy for protection.

Poppy looked down at him, concerned, and then glared up at Barb.

"Baaaarb! What the heck did you do to him!?" Poppy demanded.
"What? I just gave him a friendly wake up call," Barb replied with a shrug.

"F... f... friendly!? What about that was friendly!?" Branch yelled, his heart still racing. "You chased me with a chainsaw!"
"You want me to do it again," Barb asked, angrily, pulling the chainsaw out of her hair.

Branch gulped, shrinking behind Poppy again.

"Knock it off, Barb," Poppy said, grabbing the chainsaw out of her hands, and throwing it away.

"My chainsaw..." Barb whimpered, sadly. Then she glared at Branch. "You're gonna pay for that, boy toy."

She pounced at Branch, but Poppy grabbed her.

"Stop, Barb!" she yelled. "He didn't even do anything!"
"Yes he did! He was born!" Barb yelled back, still trying to get to Branch.

Branch stood there, shaking in fear, not knowing what to do.

"BARB!" Poppy yelled, pushing her back. "Knock it off!"
"Fine! You got lucky this time, boy toy..." Barb snarled, glaring at Branch.

Poppy turned back to Branch, taking his hands in hers, as she smiled.

He looked at Barb, still terrified, but finally looked down at Poppy, smiling slightly at the sight of her.

"I've got some big news," she said, happily, bouncing a bit in excitement.

"Big news?" Branch gulped, his smile fading. "Oh no... last time you said that, we all ended up in a haunted pod, and had to literally fight to stay alive..."

Poppy shook her head, still smiling at him.

"Nope. You're gonna like this news," she said. "It's good. Very, very, good."

"Ok... I'm listening..." he said, skeptical of what Poppy defined as 'good'.

She stepped away from him, reaching up to open her hair.

Branch's eyes widened, at what he saw in there.

"Is... is that..." he said, quietly, pointing.

"Yep!" Poppy said, excitedly. "We're having a baby!"

"I'm gonna be a dad?" Branch asked, softly, still in shock.

Slowly, a smile began to break out on his face.

"I'm gonna be a dad!" he shouted with joy, hugging Poppy tight.

"Oh god... I'm gonna be a dad..." he said, suddenly nervous, as he pulled away from Poppy, beginning to pace.

"What if I'm a terrible father? What if our kid hates me? What if..."
"Branch, Branch. Calm down," Poppy said, gently, putting her hands on his shoulders to comfort him.

"You're gonna be a great father," she said, smiling. "How could anyone not love you?"

She kissed him, and he smiled.

"Ok. I'll... wait... where's Barb?" Branch said, noticing Barb was missing.

Suddenly, the sound of a chainsaw began off in the distance.

Both Poppy and Branch looked over, seeing Barb running at them, her chainsaw held high over her head.

"I foooouuuuunnnndddd it!" she said, laughing demonically, as she ran at Branch.

"AHHHHH!" Branch screamed, beginning to run away, Barb chasing after him.

"Get back here boy!" she yelled.

"Barb! Stop!" Poppy yelled, chasing after them. "Barb!"