Baby Time

How To Tell Him

Queen Poppy, who just found out she was pregnant, ran home to find Branch and Creek in a big fight. There were no tears, but one could shed them any minute.
They were both bruised pretty bad, there was blood almost everywhere on their faces. Poppy was so disappointed in Branch, he could've just settled things with a nice talk. He probably took the first punch, trying to be protective over Poppy. But he didn't need to be.

"Creek! Branch!" She shouted, and the boys turned around and her eyes widened even more. They were badly hurt.

"Creek! Get away from him!" Poppy ordered and Creek backed up with a sigh.

"Branch... I need to tell you something," Poppy said shivering. She didn't care if Creek heard. The whole town would no soon, if Poppy had the confidence to tell them.

"Oh brother, I should go. You're love makes me sick." He said and started to leave.

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Branch said.

Creek quickly left and Poppy took Branch to the bathroom to clean him up. She wiped his left eye first, cleaning up hid scars. The blood was wiped off and he still had small cuts that just wouldn't stop bleeding. Poppy finally put bandaids all over them and he thanked her.

"I'll make you a meal," Branch said. "How was the doctor's office? Are you sick?"

Branch will understand. He has to, Poppy thought. Maybe I can just hold it off until.... how long is it Trolls are pregnant until the baby comes? I should call the doctor.

"Just a cold. I'll be fine." Poppy said and picked up the phone.

"Hello, this is Doctor Britt. How may I... oh! This is a royalty line calling! Princess Poppy? Is that you?"

"Yes," Poppy whispered as Branch hummed a song on the other side of the kitchen chopping cucumbers.

"I heard the news! What can I do for you?" Doctor Britt said.

"How long.... how long does it take until the baby comes?" Poppy asked as quietly as she could, but she saw Branch's face turn immediately and stare at the back of her head.

"A week is the longest," the Doctor said.

"And the shortest amount of time?"

"Three days."

Poppy felt excitement towards this, she'd have a little small Troll pattering around the house all day. That would make her happy, but how to tell Branch?

"Okay. Thank you, Ms.Britt."

"Of course your majesty," Ms.Britt said and hung up.

Poppy looked over at Branch, a knife stuck inside of a cucumber in his hand and his face deplorable. He stared at Poppy's stomach and she started to cry.

Poppy fell into a statement of abash and frightened. "B... Branch, I'm sorry I didn't..."

Branch pulled her into a hug and her arms hit the ground. This was the first time in a while that Poppy had cried. She didn't hug him back, instead her head lay on his shoulder and tears fell onto his shirt. Her face lifted as her color started to fade.

"No, no, no, Poppy. It's okay! What's wrong? Why are you so sad?" Branch asked.

"If I can't even be a responsible Queen, how am I supposed to handle a child? This baby inside me depends on me. How can I let it do that if I can't even depend on myself?" Poppy asked cluelessly and broke down into an emotional statement on Branch's arm.

Branch never let go of Poppy. He let her cry. And he cried too. Together, the mother and father sat together feeling feeble on their own. All they could do was cry and hope for the best.