Poppy notices how often Branch stares at her and she secretly loves it.
Poppy had noticed Branch staring at her with a soft look in his eyes for a while now. Every time she caught Branch staring, she would smile back, feeling their heart flutter in their chest. One day, as they were hanging out at Branch's bunker, The Pop Queen finally decided to confront Branch about it.
"Hey, Branch," Poppy said with a playful smirk. "You know you can talk to me, right?"
The teal troll's cheeks turned pink as he realized he had been caught. Branch smiled shyly, feeling a little embarrassed but also a little thrilled that Poppy had noticed.
"I'm sorry, Poppy," Branch said, rubbing the back of their neck. "I just can't help but stare at you. You're so beautiful."
Poppy felt a warm rush of affection wash over her at Branch's words. She leaned in and kissed Branch gently on the lips, feeling her heart race with excitement.
"I like it when you stare at me, Branch, " The Pop Queen said, grinning. "It makes me feel special."
Branch smiled back, feeling relieved and happy that Poppy didn't mind his staring. Branch wrapped his arms around Poppy, holding them close and feeling grateful for the love they shared for each other.
As the night wore on, Poppy and Branch cuddled on the couch, watching holiday movies and sipping on hot cocoa. The warmth of the fire and the soft glow of the Christmas lights hung by Poppy made the room feel cozy and intimate.
"I'm so glad we get to spend the holidays together," Poppy said, snuggling closer to Branch.
"Me too," The teal troll replied, kissing the top of Poppy's head. "I love being able to share these moments with you."
Poppy smiled up at Branch, feeling her heart swell with happiness. They both knew that they had something special, something that they wanted to cherish and nurture for years to come.
As the night drew to a close, Branch and Poppy exchanged gifts, laughing and joking as they unwrapped their presents. They had agreed not to spend too much on each other, but the gifts they had chosen were thoughtful and heartfelt.
"I got you something practical," Branch said, handing Poppy a small box.
The Pop Queen opened it to find a pair of cozy socks, embroidered with little penguins.
"They're so cute!" Poppy exclaimed, pulling them on and wiggling her toes. "Thank you, Branch."
Poppy handed Branch his gift, a framed photo of the two of them from their recent vacation. Branch smiled as he looked at the picture, feeling a rush of fond memories flood through his mind.
"I love it," Branch said, leaning in to kiss Poppy. "Thank you."
As the night came to a close, Branch and Poppy exchanged one final kiss, feeling grateful for the love they shared and excited for the many holiday seasons to come.
