Grown-Up Stuff

A Different Kind of Scrapbook

A/N: I admit, I wrote this about 4 days after the first trailer of Trolls 3 came out back in March XD

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Poppy could not bring herself to sleep.

Yes, her body was exhausted, but it was her mind that was not .

The Queen of Pop could not help herself in laying there with her bright fuschia eyes opened wide, reeling, unseeing to the earthen ceiling overhead as she ran over every moment of the night's events in her head. She sighed, smiling, giggling with giddiness into the still night air as she had on occasion for the last restless hour squirming in the bed, wishing instead that she could flail her arms high above her head in the air and sing at the top of her lungs. But even she knew that would not be a reasonable thing to do. One, it was the middle of the night. Even Trolls knew when it was supposed to be a time for resting. And two, going off of the first reason, she most certainly didn't want to disturb the cuddled teal form next to her. The hands-down best member of the newly re-banded Brozone, her closest dearest friend and boyfriend – her Branch .

She looked down at him now, completely admiring the way he slept so comfortably with his eyes shut contently, his bluish-black hair tousled about in a messy, adorable way, and the way his breathing came out in soft, calm intervals alongside the steady rise and fall of his chest. Poppy squealed softly, infatuated, and shot her arms out, ready to fling them around his neck for a tight, bone-crushing hug. But she stopped herself, arms midair, as she thought about it more. She didn't think it would be right, awakening her boyfriend from such a peaceful slumber like that just for a hug. Not that she thought he would mind. In fact, Branch would probably be happy to receive a hug from her, be it night, day, or any time in between. But, out of respect for him and his serene dozing, she decided not to. But she had to hug something! She turned to one of the pillows below their heads, giving it the crushing bear-hug instead, burying her nose within its fabric to catch a whiff of his nature-esque scent embedded within. It was an aroma that made her swoon.

And yet, as Poppy released herself from the gripping hug she'd bestowed on the pillow, she still didn't feel relieved of that lingering bout of energy within herself. She didn't think she would be. And she wanted to do something about that. But first...

She took into consideration her situation. A matter as simple as getting out of the bed would have been easier said than done, if not for the way Branch's teal limbs hugged her close, cocooning her with his warmth, not to mention the strands of his rich bluish-black hair that had subconsciously interwoven themselves with hers at the top of their heads. Poppy could not complain – never in a million years would she complain of such a blissful arrangement. But, as much as she hated to do so, she did need to maneuver her way out of it.

Poppy chewed the bottom of her pink lip in contemplation. Maybe she could stay? A little longer? She thought about it, laying there in Branch's strong arms for another hour or two, going on in the same way she had for the last hour or two, itching for more action but knowing that she probably shouldn't engage, running on a high that she couldn't act on...

Nah.

Poppy shifted, slowly, steadily undoing herself and prying Branch away from her albeit a bit unwillingly. It took a little effort – the troll's hold even in sleep was quite firm – but she managed to get up and out, grateful that he hadn't awakened with all of her wriggling. She'd previously known Branch to be a light sleeper, given his former paranoia in regards to Bergens and other dangers. It didn't exactly surprise her. He was still a cautious troll, but it wasn't nearly to the overly-exaggerated extent that it had been before, well... before her, she thought with a blush. There was no doubt that she'd changed his life. She'd always pictured it as her inviting him to a few parties that would make him turn happy again. But the way that it'd happened – and all their adventures in between – Poppy was glad that things had turned out that way instead.