Poppy sat there in her room, thinking. She has never left the pod ever since her father went in the hospital. She didn't want to show them her heart-breaking face. Her skin was still turning grey, her hair getting shorter, her eyes sad and teary and her heart slowly breaking into pieces.

Branch knocked on her door, holding a flower for her. He wanted to give her more, he wanted to give her a bouquet of flowers but he didn't want to seem extra. Besides, he got the Poppy's favorite kind of flower.

"Poppy?" He knocked again, looking at the flower in his hand. He was getting worried by every second she didn't answer. Branch looked around her pod and saw an open window.

Poppy's phone rang, but she ignored it. She stared down at the ground but the phone kept ringing. She sighed and decided to answer since she saw Branch's name. "Hey Branch."

"Poppy, can you open the door please?" He asked as he heard Poppy sigh. She shook her head even though she knew he wouldn't see. "Sorry Branch, I cant talk right now."

"That's why I went through the window." Branch said right next to her, standing right at the door, holding the flower in his hand and approaching her slowly. He felt guilty, sad or more specifically, depressed. He hated seeing her like this.

Poppy looked at him and faked a smile. "Cmon Branch, I'm fine." She sniffled, holding the tears that itched to be released out of her eyes.

Branch sighed. "Obviously, not. I know how you're feeling. Who's the guy who has been depressed for years now?"

"You." She said quietly, smiling just a tiny bit. Branch smiled and sat next to her on the bed. "Right. You helped me become happy, and now I'm here... helping you to become happy... as well."

He cringed at himself.

"I appreciate it, Branch. I really do." She looked away, causing her hair bangs to cover her face. It was good for her. She didn't want him to see her gray face. Not like this.

He saw her hand laying right in front of them. He thought of reaching it and caressing it to show her how he really cared, how he'd be gentle with her in every step. He wanted to hold her to his chest. He wanted her.

He looked around the room to see that it was dark. He got up and turned on the lights with the light switch. Poppy hissed quietly, covering her eyes with her hands. Branch shook his head and sighed. "You need to get out, Poppy. This isn't healthy for you."

"I guess," she said, rubbing her eyes tiredly. Branch was glad she accepted, for once. In fact, he even smiled the widest smile he has ever made in months. Well, internally.

After a few moments of getting Poppy to get up from misery, they stepped out of her pod and smelt the fresh air, felt the warmth of the sun on their colorful skin, and held hands. Branch still couldn't get the image of her being depressed again. It just wasn't right to him. Before everything went downhill, Poppy shined the brightest with her beautiful smile. Sometimes, Branch can even feel her smile like it was his own.

As they walked and talked as they go, their hands stayed attached to one another, especially Branch who was holding her hand and squeezing it lightly. They once bumped into the Snack Pack, who gave Poppy warm hugs and supporting words. It helped Poppy a bit, and yet, she still never let go of Branch's hand.

Branch kept thinking to himself of different ways to cheer up the love of his life, but he was literally stuck. Everything was holding him back.

~~~~~

An hour before the incident...

"Branch, calm down. Just be yourself." Lake said as she was reading her book. Branch found it difficult to read and talk at the same time. Unless Lake wasn't listening and just giving him simple advice. "You've been friends with her for years now. You know how to act around her. You're basically closer to her than you think."

"But what if she says no?" Said the troll holding Poppy's favorite flowers in his hands, looking into the mirror and trying to memorize the words he planned out to say in front of her.

"She won't. You know her, she always says yes to everything. Well, specifically the positive stuff, of course. I know she loves you, Branch. She's the luckiest troll in the world. And so are you." Lake smiled warmly at him, closing her book and walking up to fix his hair. Branch felt awkward, his palms were sweaty, he felt his entire body tensed up nervously and he felt his heart beating fast; beating fast for her.

Branch finally walked out of his bunker to call Poppy. Just as he opened his contacts and saw her number, he felt nervous again. The flowers started to slowly die and the colors continued to fade into its dark shade. His finger was hesitating to dial her number, his body started to shake nervously as he bit his lip.

Just as built the courage and confidence to dial her phone, a troll screamed out about the news of King Peppy. Branch heard the troll clearly, so he quickly put his phone away.

'I knew this was a bad time.'

He looked down at the flowers and saw that only one of them survived as the others were wilted. He sighed shakily and gripped the wilted flowers tightly and then accidentally dropped them once other trolls gathered around him to hear more about the news. Branch started to feel anxious and claustrophobic. He held onto the only flower that was still bright and colorful. He smiled down at it.

'Maybe next time.'

A/N

Thank you guys so mUCH for being patient! (Some asked for a new chapter but that's fine XD)

Sorry this chapter took a long time to publish, I've been going through a lot (I know we all are-)
But I'm back on my feet and ready to write more! >:3