Poppy had finally gotten the kids to sleep after hours of crying in despair, and was now in her own room, sitting on her bed as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

     Little did she know... Branch was sitting right beside her, looking sadly at the love of his life, hating to see her in this much despair...

     "I'm so sorry, Poppy..." he whispered to her, the young queen unable to see or hear him.

     With a sigh, Branch lowered his head in shame, wanting to hug his wife so badly... but he knew that if he tried... his arms would only go right through her...

     "Youngblood thinks there's always tomorrow..."

     Branch's ear twitched slightly at the sound, looking over to Poppy to realize she was beginning to sing...

     "I miss your touch on nights when I'm hollow..." she sang softly through her tears. "I know you crossed a bridge that I can't follow... Since the love that you left is all that I get... I want you to know..."

     She looked up at the ceiling, hoping Branch could hear her wherever he was now...

     "That if I can't be close to you... I settle for the ghost of you..." she sang. "I miss you more than life. And if you can't be next to me... Your memory is ecstasy... I miss you more than life... I miss you more than life..."

     "Youngblood thinks there's always tomorrow..." Branch began to sing along, placing his hand on Poppy's, saddened to see it go right through her... "I need more time but time can't be borrowed... I'd leave it all behind if I could follow..."

     "Since the love that you left is all that I get... I want you to know..." Poppy continued. "That if I can't be close to you... I'll settle for the ghost of you..."
"I miss you more than life..." Branch sang.
"And if you can't be next to me... Your memory is ecstasy..."
"I miss you more than life... I miss you more than life..."

     Branch sighed, looking down at his hands as they began to slowly fade away, flashing in an out of existence. Something that had been happening for the past few days now that he unfortunately had no control over...

     "I'm sorry, Poppy..." he whispered again, lowering his head in shame as his ears drooped down in despair...

     "Branch?"

     The voice was so soft and gentle... and also sadly familiar...

     The little blue pop troll looked up, seeing the same angel from years before, standing in front of a bright light.

     "Are you ready?" she asked, gesturing for him to enter the light.

     Branch looked over to Poppy, her head low as she sobbed softly into her hands. Then... slowly... his gaze turned to a picture on his nightstand... a picture of him, his wife, and two beautiful kids... all of them happy together, Branch holding Azalea upside down, the little girl laughing hysterically as he blew onto her stomach playfully...

     He smiled slightly at the picture before his sorrow overtook him once more, slowly turning to look back at the angel...

     "I... I can't leave them..." he stated, the angel frowning slightly with compassion.

     "You can't stay, Branch..." she stated kindly. "Souls can't last for more than a few weeks in between worlds... you're already starting to fade..."

     She gestured to his flashing hands, Branch focusing all his energy to make them appear fully once again.

     "I'm fine..." he stated, standing up off the bed, gaining a stern glare from the angel.

     "Branch... you'll disappear if you stay here..." she said. "You'll fade out of existence... you'll loose all awareness of everything... is that was you want?"

     He sighed, lowering his head as he shook his head in response...

     "I... I just want to be with my family..." he muttered softly under his breath...

     "They'll join you someday..." the angel assured, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder to try and comfort him.

     "Someday... is too far away..." he responded, finally looking back up at her. "Couldn't you just... bring me back? Like you did before..."

     "I get one miracle, Branch..." she informed. "And I chose to use it on you... you had your second chance... but now... you're time is up..."

     Again, he sighed, looking away from the angel once again...

     "I'm not leaving them..." he stated firmly. "I... I can't leave them..."

     The angel sighed, realizing she couldn't talk Branch out of his decision...

     "Ok..." she sighed in defeat. "But the gates are always open for you, Branch... you're welcome to change your mind at any time..."

     And with that, the angel left, heading into the light before it disappeared along with her...

     Branch sighed, turning back to Poppy who was now laying down, having cried herself to sleep.l.

     With a small smile, he walked over beside her, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

     "I love you, Poppy..." he whispered, even though he knew she couldn't hear him. "And I'll never leave you..."

     Slowly, he took one last look at her before turning to go see his children.

     First, he went to Twig's room, seeing him sleeping in his crib with Shimmer right beside him...

     After giving his son a gentle kiss, he headed to Azalea's room, frowning when he saw the tears in her closed eyes...

     With a sigh, he walked over, wiping her tears away before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

     As he kissed his daughter, the little girl's eyes slowly blinked open as she looked up at him in slight confusion...

     "Daddy?"