Complicated Love

Chapter 28

Poppy and Branch couldn't stay in Pop Village any longer. Branch was still grieving over his grandmother but, he was going through it a lot better than everyone thought he would. That was cause of Poppy. She would find ways just to cheer him up when he felt really sad. Even Branch's colours were restored by 80% while Poppy and the others got their colours fully restored. Noah and Olivia also still had some grey but, they are doing well just like their son. They just need more time and everyone respects that.

Val had came to pick them up with Barb's critterbus that was a apology from Pop leaders after a Pop troll crashed one of Barb's tour flying Critterbus like plane. That is why it is so colourful. The Rock Queen couldn't come to do it herself sadly since she is now swamped with more Queen duties. Val leans against the caterbus as she watches and waits for her friends to be ready to leave. Poppy hugs her dad as Branch is talking to his parents.

" Are you sure you have to go now? We really don't mind you staying longer. ", Olivia says kindly.

" Mom, I have to go back for work. ", Branch replies honestly.

Noah chuckles at how their son replied. He can still remember when Olivia would say that she had to go home like. She usually wasn't so eager about it back then since she didn't like leaving him and Branch for so long.

" Just don't forget to message us when your back in the city. ",Noah says happily.

" I promise I will. ", Branch promises.

Val is now currently sitting on the driver's seat. She presses on the horn to remind them that they don't have all day. Branch turns his head to the window what he can see Val who just looks at him like she didn't anything. Poppy walks into the caterbus slowly and calmly. The still grey troll brings his attention back to his parents while turning his head back to them. Noah hugs their son first then Olivia hugs Branch afterwards.

" Don't forget that we love you and that you can still come to us if anything goes wrong. ", Olivia says caringly.

" And take care. ", Noah adds caringly.

Branch says Good Bye to his parents as Val presses the horn louder and longer. Branch complains her as he walks into the Caterbus. Val stopped doing it as the Caterbus shuts it's mouth. Noah,Olivia and Peppy simply watches the critter leave with their children. They are standing side by side.

" He'll bounce back soon. You both raised him well. Don't worry. ", Peppy tells them assuringly.

" Thanks... The pod is going to feel a little empty again without him here everyday... ", Olivia admits honestly.

"Yeah. I will miss him too. ",Noah adds honestly.

Noah and Olivia enjoyed having Branch back under their roof for a while. It felt like the old days without the drama of raising him from time to time. There were times when Branch would not come home til midnight causing them to worry because; him, Poppy and Barb went somewhere without telling them. Sure sometimes it was difficult but, as parents with their trolling now an adult they started missing having Branch around from time to time. This moment was no different.

A few weeks later... Branch was laying on the couch of his apartment. He was just staring up at the ceiling. He had just came back from a rough day of work. Erect was being an ass again and said "his grandma being sick" and her "funeral" was an excuse. Branch punched him so hard that he got in trouble and is now fired. Erect was so happy to not have someone to be threatening his position as leader of the project which Branch has no idea how it is still going forward.

Poppy walks into the apartment and is surprised that he is here so early. She is still wearing Rosiepuff's bracelet and has been doing so everyday. She closes the door behind her softly as she continues to look at her boyfriend. He didn't look happy at all! She gets the feeling that he had a bad day but, she has no idea how bad it was.

" Hey Babe... Are you okay?", Poppy asks concerned.

" Nope! I got fired but, that's not the worst part. ", Branch admits unhappily and sour.

Poppy frowns as she sits down next to his head. She places the top part of his hair on her lap then starts playing with it. Branch actually found it comforting sometimes since she would be so gentle with it. He didn't move at all. His girlfriend starts making small braides with his hair.

" What happened? Was it something related to Erect?", Poppy asks caringly and concerned softly.

" Yup! I should had hit him harder... ", Branch says honestly and seriously.

Branch wasn't normally very violent but, if someone pushed him asking for it to the point he snaps then that person shouldn't be surprised. It can happen to anyone with anyone in general. Don't do it if your not prepared for the end results but, Ercet learnt that the hard way.

" What the fuck did he do?", Poppy says surprised.

" Said that me going to Pop Village to be with my sick Grandma and staying longer for her funeral was a bloody excuse! So I knocked him out with one swing and now I'm fired for it. Apparently I was 'angerier and more aggressive than a bull that saw red'... ", Branch says blankly.

Branch is obviously still upset about it. Poppy's eyes widen in shock when she heard what Erect had did! What kind of stupid idiot of a troll says about someone's recently dead grandma to someone still grieving over their grandma's passing?! What the hell is wrong with Erect? Poppy is now just as upset as Branch was when it happened! How dare he mistreat her boyfriend and call Rosiepuff's health problems and death an excuse?!

" Bloody Fuck him!", Poppy curses without thinking and upset.

" That's what I said before I left. ", Branch admits honestly.

" Who the hell Erect thinks he is?", Poppy says stil upset.

After short while Poppy had calmed down and came up with an idea to make Branch feel better about today. It wasn't sex. She decided to celebrate instead that he is now free from that stupid project which doesn't deserve him if you ask her.

" We are going out and are gonna have so much fun that you will forgot that Erect and that stupid project even existed!", Poppy declares.

" How is that gonna help? I have no job. ", Branch asks blankly.

" I'm sure you will find a even better one soon or that they will be calling you when everything goes down hill. Now let's have some fun. You need it. ", Poppy says confidently.

Branch smiles at her as his eyes stared up at her instead of the ceiling. She was clearly determined to make him feel better at the day he had. How is that he is so lucky that he has a woman like her in his life? She was already making him feel a little less bitter and they hadn't even left their apartment yet.

" Now get up. ", Poppy orders happily and seriously.

AN: How much are you all enjoying this book? I might go over the chapter limit I set but, hopefully not by a lot.