~ The Other Side of the Storm ~

Chapter 4

( A/N - Pausing the TWT book for a while, don't want to finish it when there's still four billion months until the movie. )

Poppy had ran into Branch's bunker, practically at the speed of lightning (weather joke), ignoring the trolls that asked her questions about her party.

She opened his bedroom door, and saw Gary peacefully sitting on his pillow in his crib.

She took the new batteries off the shelf and opened Gary's back up with a screwdriver.

After replacing the batteries and tossing the old ones out, she closed the back and sat him back down, tucking him in. "Good mor-night Gary!"

She giggled and looked around the bunker, which was a mess.

She made his bed and folded his laundry for him. Why not clean the whole place? Give him a nice surprise for when he returns.

Poppy ran around his bunker, cleaning while singing.

"Just whistle while you work
And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune
It won't take long when there's a song to help you set the pace."

She pictured Branch's broom as him and repeated their Hair Ball dance.

And as you sweep the room
Imagine that the broom
Is someone that you love and soon you'll find you're dancing to the tune
When hearts are high the time will fly so whistle while you work."

( A/N - Whistle While You Work by Adriana Caselotti )

She sighed and plopped on to his chair. "Does he ever clean?"

Poppy noticed a door was cracked open. "Ah, cupcakes, I missed a room."

She walked in with the broom, and was shocked to see that it was very tidy.

There were shelves with curtains, an organised desk, and a dimly lit lamp.

Poppy slid open the curtains to find another surprising discovery.

"Every single card I've ever given him."

She recognized the twenty years of freedom from the Bergens card. 'He fixed it!'

She blushed more than she ever had, and closed the curtains, making sure he'd never know she knew.

~

Poppy made her way back to her pod to change and head to the lagoon for her party that was only a half hour away.

With her ear to ear grin, she twirled around in her suit and opened her drawer to bring the picture's of Biggie, Guy, and Branch, to make it feel like they were there.

She looked through, but couldn't find Branch's photo. "That's weird, I thought I put Branch in here too."

Poppy looked around her entire pod for it, but it was missing.

It was no big deal, so she took a picture of her teasingly putting her fingers in his mouth to make hin smile out of the frame, and safely placed it in her hair.

~

She arrived to the lagoon a little late, but her guests forgave her.

Poppy placed each picture in their own individual beach chair so they could sun bathe.

"'Ello Poppy!" Creek greeted, placing Mr. Dinkles right on top of sun bathing Branch.

"Hey Creek!" Poppy hugged him.