A/N: I know, I should be working on The Flame of Happiness. But I got inspired from watching Season 2 of Trolls: The Beat Goes On. Besides, I thought some flash fiction practice would help with my writing. Enjoy!

Branch's Party

It's the unthinkable: Branch is actually hosting a party. But only one troll is invited? Not if Poppy and the Snack Pack can help it! Set during Season 2 of Trolls: The Beat Goes On.

For the trolls, every day was the potential for a party. There was usually at least one party going on each day or night, even if it wasn't Poppy throwing a big shindig.

A troll family might have a birthday party.

Another set of trolls could celebrate an anniversary.

One troll might be having a camping party.

Someone else could be celebrating their quincean-hair-a.

One troll even had a party called "Burping Bonanza," featuring lots of fizzy drinks.

Poppy loved to party. Even if there was nothing to celebrate that day, she would treat the day like a new adventure. She almost always shared that adventure with at least one of her friends. Now that Branch had his colors at last, Poppy did what she could to include him in her parties and adventures. Branch resisted, at first, but slowly began to inch his way into the party scene. But he always left early.

On this particular day, Poppy decided it was "Go Swimming Day." She gathered up her friends and they journeyed to Branch's bunker dressed in their swimsuits.

"Branch!" Poppy called when they arrived. "Come on out! We're going swimming!"

"Join us for our cannonball contest!" Guy Diamond encouraged.

"Or build sand castles with us!" Satin and Chenille chimed in.

"Or play how-long-can-you-hold-your-breath-underwater!" Cooper added.

"Why are you all shouting at my bunker?"

The trolls turned to see Branch walking up from the direction of the village. To their surprise, he carried a few bags of party supplies from Sky Toronto's shop.

"We wanted to invite you to go swimming with us." Poppy said.

"Oh. Thanks. I'd love to risk drowning in a 'holding my breath contest.'" Branch said sarcastically. "But I'm actually busy today.

"What's with the party supplies?" Suki asked.

"Yeah, that's not stuff you normally have in your bunker." Smidge said. "Right?"

"Oh, it's no big deal." Branch shrugged.

"But you never have party supplies." Poppy said. "What sort of traps or safety measures require streamers and cake batter?"

Branch considered what he would say, and decided to take the chance. Hopefully, they wouldn't overreact. "It's nothing big, but I'm hosting a party."

Poppy and the Snack Pack gasped dramatically, their jaws dropping. Branch sighed, wishing he hadn't said anything.

"You're hosting a party?" Satin asked.

"Like an actual party?" Chenille added.

"Sort of." Branch shrugged. "No need to freak out."

"Branch, you never host parties! You rarely come to parties at all, even now!" Poppy said. "When is it? What's the occasion? Who's going to be there? What kind of food will there be? What kind of music? Will there be dancing? Can we come?!"

Branch stared at Poppy dully. "To answer your questions, in order: the day after tomorrow, it's a very special occasion, only one other troll is invited, there'll be cake and ice cream, no music, no dancing; and, no, you can't come."

Poppy and the Snack Pack stared at Branch with shock and disappointment. "Why not?" Guy Diamond pouted.

"You think we can't handle a Branch Party?" Cooper huffed.

"Oh, I know you can't handle this party." Branch said. "There will be no music, no dancing, and it'll only last about an hour. You guys aren't invited because I know you'll get bored. I know that quiet parties are your thing."

"But you're our friend!" Poppy said. "We'd love to come! Right, guys?" The Snack Pack agreed, mostly because they were excited to imagine Branch having a party.

"The other reason I don't want you to come is because I know you'll turn it into a crazy, wild party, and I don't want that." Branch said.

"We won't make it wild or crazy!" Suki assured. "Promise!"

Branch eyed the trolls skeptically. "I don't know…."

"Let us prove it to you!" Poppy pleaded. "The party's not for a couple days. Let us show you we can handle a Branch Party."

Branch thought about it. He truly didn't believe Poppy and the Snack Pack would last more than ten minutes at his party. Still, they were all giving him their best pleading pouts. Plus, who was he to pass up an opportunity to test their limits?

"Okay, fine." Branch said. "Tomorrow, starting at six a.m. sharp, I will present to you a series of tests to determine if you can handle my style of partying. If you succeed, I will let you come."

"Yay!" Poppy and her friends cheered. Branch rolled his eyes and disappeared into his bunker.

"I enjoy a good challenge myself, but is this really something we ought to try?" Creek asked.

"Why not?" Smidge shrugged. "I'm never one to back down from a challenge."

"We can handle it." Suki agreed.

"Who does Branch think he's kidding, thinking we can't handle his party?" Guy Diamond scoffed.

"We can totally do this!" Poppy cheered.

"You failed the pre-test." Branch said.

Poppy and the Snack Pack gawked at him. "Already?!"

Branch checked his pocket watch. "It's 8:17 a.m. I said we would start at 6 a.m. sharp. With the exception of Poppy and Creek, who arrived at 5:57 a.m., all of you were late. Punctuality is important at this party. If you do not arrive on time, you will not be let in to enjoy the party." He could see a few of the trolls still looking tired. Branch blasted his air horn to wake them up. "You will be given three tests. Each one will let you prove you can handle a Branch Party. You have until the end of the day to pass the tests. You will be given chances to retry each test. At any time, you may quit and uninvite yourself to the party."

The trolls exchanged looks at Branch's devious grin. This was going to be a long day.

"The first test: gift-giving." Branch said. "In the event that a Branch Party includes the giving of gifts, your gift you present must have the three S's: simple, sentimental, and small. For this first round, you may work in pairs. You all have one hour to find and/or make a gift to present to me for approval. On your mark, get set, go."

The trolls split up: Satin and Chenille, Smidge and Biggie, Guy Diamond and Suki, Cooper and Fuzzbert, and Poppy and Creek. After splitting up and wracking their brains for ideas, the teams ran off to get to work. Branch strung up a hammock and decided to chill in the sunlight, waiting for them to arrive.

One hour later

The teams stood before Branch, ready to present their gifts. Each troll wore a confident smile on their face, determined that they would pass this test with ease. Although, that confidence did waver when Branch prepared his air horn.

Satin and Chenille stepped up first. "We weren't given any details of the recipient of the gift." Satin said.

"But we thought that the best gift we could give was this!" Chenille said. She and her twin pulled a tarp off the mannequin they had, revealing an elegant tuxedo complete with a top hat and a fancy bow tie. The twins looked quite proud.

"I must say, this once again showcases your talent for making clothes." Branch mused. The twins smiled at each other. But they jumped when Branch blasted his air horn in their faces. "But this gift fails the test. It's far too fancy to be worn every day. It's something that might be worn only once. Plus, what if the recipient of the gift doesn't have room in their closet for it? Fail."

"Aww." Satin and Chenille pouted.

Smidge and Biggie came next, though they were a little nervous. "We decided the best gift is the gift of friendship." Biggie said.

"So we brought this!" Smidge pushed over a box, and a Swampkin popped out. The creature mewed.

Branch blasted the air horn, causing the Swampkin to yowl and run away. "A good sentiment, so you get a point for that. But giving pets as a gift is like thrusting the responsibility of a baby onto someone. Plus, what if the recipient is allergic? Fail."

Guy Diamond and Suki pumped themselves up before approaching Branch. "We have combined our talents to present a musical dance spectacular!" Guy Diamond said. Suki kicked up the music, and Guy Diamond began the song and dance, which inexplicably included colored and strobe lights. But he didn't get very far before Branch blew the air horn to halt the performance.

"That was not small nor simple." Branch said. "And the song was all about you, Guy. So, fail."

Cooper and Fuzzbert presented a ginormous cake that stood twice Branch's height. They didn't even get to describe it before Branch blew the air horn. "It is safe to assume that refreshments will be provided at the party. Plus, with so few guests, the cake will never be finished in one sitting, and you cannot guarantee the recipient has a large enough fridge to hold the leftovers. Fail."

Poppy and Creek didn't even want to step up. So Branch approached them. They had tried to create a simple card. When Poppy opened it, the card emitted just glitter and sparklers instead of a massive explosion of color. Branch blasted the air horn, extinguishing the sparklers.

"Don't say it." Poppy said.

"The second test: proper behavior at a Branch Party." Branch said after the trolls cleaned up their failed gifts. A circular table was set up with some dishware. "Show me how you would behave during dinner."

The trolls took their spots. Suki pulled out a bug that acted like a music player, and loud, rambunctious music emitted from the speakers. The trolls talked and laughed over the music, miming the action of eating their food. It was almost like watching barn animals eat. Smidge even tried to instigate an imaginary food fight.

Branch blasted the air horn, and the music screeched to a stop. "That isn't proper dinner behavior. First off, any music that plays will be mellow and with ambiance. Second, you need to speak with elegance and have proper table manners. Thirdly, any food fights that occur will result in immediate expulsion from the social event. Got it?"

"Not really." Everyone said.

Branch face-palmed.

"The third and final test: sitting quietly." Branch said. Now, the trolls all sat in a circle in front of the bunker. "The majority of a Branch Party is quiet, almost like meditation." Creek gasped happily at this. "So, you all must sit still and absolutely quiet for the next ten minutes. Anytime someone makes a noise, the timer will restart."

"Easy." Poppy assured.

"Your time starts now." Branch started the stopwatch. The trolls sat quietly, smiling broadly.

"How's this?" Biggie asked.

Branch blasted the air horn. "Your time will restart now."

About thirty seconds passed before Smidge asked, "Are we done yet?" Branch blasted the air horn again and restarted the time.

Poppy suppressed a groan. Oh boy. This is not as easy as we thought.

Ten seconds passed.

"Can we move now?"

BEEP! The air horn blared.

Forty-five seconds passed.

"I'm hungry."

BEEP!

Three seconds passed.

"Are we done yet?"

BEEP!

Seventeen seconds passed.

"Ah-choo!"

No sound from Branch.

"Yes! That didn't count!"

BEEP!

Fifty-nine seconds passed.

"Have we reached ten minutes yet?"

BEEP!

Smidge let out a frustrated yell. "That's it! I can't take it anymore! We've been out here for five-ever!"

"Actually, it's only been an hour." Creek sighed.

"You're welcome to give up, if you'd like." Branch said.

"We are not going to give up!" Poppy said with determination. "Right, guys?" The Snack Pack mumbled to each other.

"Tell you what: take a lunch break." Branch said. "If you want to give up completely, let me know." He walked off, leaving the trolls to collapse in exhaustion.

"Poppy, with all due respect, I think this was a venture in futility." Creek said.

"I agree." Suki said.

"All in favor of quitting now, raise your hand." Cooper said. Everyone except Poppy raised their hands.

"Well, I'm not giving up!" Poppy said. "We're so close! I can feel it."

"Why do you want to join Branch's party so badly?" Satin asked.

"What's so fun about a Branch Party, anyway?" Chenille scoffed.

"Look, I don't know why I want to do this so badly." Poppy admitted. "I mean, I guess I'm really curious about a Branch Party. And the fact that Branch says I can't handle it means I want to try it even more. Plus, it sounds like he's going to be all alone."

"I thought Branch likes to be alone." Guy Diamond pointed out.

"Sometimes, sure." Poppy said. "But I think that there are times when Branch is really lonely. I'm not convinced that he really has anyone else coming to this party."

"It does kind of sound like he's trying to practice for a future party." Smidge admitted.

"I know we didn't have the best relationship with Branch in the past." Poppy said. "But we're his friends now, aren't we?" The Snack Pack nodded in agreement, with some hesitation on Creek's part. "And friends stick up for each other. We can't let Branch celebrate whatever it is he's celebrating on his own."

"But we can't handle any of these tests!" Suki protested.

"Yes we can!" Poppy assured. "We just have to think about how we would handle each test and mix it with how we know Branch would handle it. If we work together and support each other, I'll bet we can pass without a problem! Who's with me?"

The Snack Pack cheered, reinvigorated by Poppy's inspiring speech.

When Branch returned, he was surprised to see Poppy and her friends ready to try again. "You guys are sure you're up for this?"

"You did say we have until the end of the day." Chenille said.

"And we can retry the tests." Satin added.

Branch smiled. "Okay then. Let's give this another go!"

Since they did pretty well getting back soon after lunch, Branch moved right to the gift-giving test. The teams were different this time: Satin and Smidge, Chenille and Creek, Poppy and Suki, Guy Diamond and Cooper, and Fuzzbert and Biggie.

Branch gave them an hour to come up with good gifts. The teams finished minutes before their time was up. Satin and Smidge came up with a bejeweled hair bow, colored lavender with multicolored gems. Creek had a small bell used for meditation, which Chenille decorated with ribbon and paint. Guy Diamond and Cooper had a dance routine they performed. Fuzzbert and Biggie made a simple cupcake with lots of sprinkles. Poppy did a compliment rap with Suki providing the music. Branch was clearly pleased, approving each gift and declaring that the trolls passed the test.

Everyone took their spots at the table for the second test. This time, Suki even put on calm music for ambiance, and everyone minded their manners. They spoke with their inside voices (even though they were outside), used good table etiquette, and not one food fight was even teased. Nobody shouted or complained, and each troll acted almost regally as they pretended to eat. Impressed, Branch passed them all.

The third and final test pushed each troll to their limits, but they would not be defeated. Branch even did things like shaking flowers in their direction or tapping a beat on a rock with a couple sticks. Poppy and the Snack Pack remained still and quiet, even when a couple of them began to sweat. Branch watched the stopwatch closely, alternating between the clock and the trolls. He listened closely for any sounds. But there was no noise whatsoever. No sneezing or coughing. They even breathed quietly.

After some time had passed, Poppy glanced to Branch, and she did a double-take. He had fallen asleep. Biting her lower lip, she tiptoed over to him and shook him awake.

"Oh, hey Poppy." Branch said as he sat up. Poppy only waved with a tight smile. "You guys can make noises now." Poppy and the Snack Pack let out loud exhales, groaning and moaning in relief.

"That was the longest ten minutes of my life." Poppy sighed.

"Oh, it's actually been about three hours." Branch said, checking his stopwatch.

"What?!" Poppy gawked. "Why didn't you stop us?"

"I wanted to see how long you all would last." Branch shrugged, making Poppy growl in irritation. "I must say, I'm very impressed. You guys really pulled through."

"So does that mean we can come to your party?" Cooper asked. Everyone stared at Branch pleadingly.

Branch rubbed the back of his head. "Well….I don't know…."

Everyone's jaws dropped. "WHAT?! WHY NOT?!"

"Guys, relax." Branch said. "I'm just afraid you'll get bored. This may not be as fun as you think."

Poppy suddenly got so close to Branch that their noses smooshed together. "Branch, we endured the horrors of your stupid tests this entire day. We earned the right to come to the party, and we want to come. So let us come or, so help me, I will sneak into your bunker and stuff marshmallows into every cupboard and empty box you own!"

Branch blinked a few times. "Okay. Fine. You can come. And you're welcome to leave whenever you want. But the tests you passed today are the things I expect at this party. No huge gifts. Proper behavior. Quiet. Understand?"

"Yes!" the trolls nodded hurriedly.

Branch smiled a little. "Okay. Great. The party is at noon tomorrow. Don't be late."

"What's the celebration for, anyway?" Suki asked.

"It's….nothing big…" Branch shrugged. "It's….uh…..a birthday….."

"Whose birthday?" Cooper asked.

"No one's." Branch said quickly.

Poppy smiled knowingly. "It's for Gary, isn't it?"

"No." Branch blushed.

"It's for Gary." Poppy said knowingly. "Great! Now we know what kinds of gifts to bring. We'll see you tomorrow!" The trolls ran off, and Branch chuckled as he walked home.

Poppy rounded up her friends the next day, and they walked to Branch's bunker together.

"I've never been to a party for a remote control before." Guy Diamond said.

"To be honest, I think my gift is better suited for a troll than a remote." Biggie said.

"Mine, too." Smidge said.

"That's okay." Poppy said. "I'll bet Branch will appreciate the gifts. It's the thought that counts."

"Am I the only one who thinks it's a little crazy to have a birthday party for a remote control?" Creek asked.

"Oh, it's totally crazy." Poppy said. "But it's for Branch."

They arrived at the bunker, and Poppy knocked. Branch's voice came from a hidden speaking tube. "Hey guys! Come on down!" The hatch popped open, and the trolls hopped onto the elevator. Poppy pulled the lever to lower themselves down into the bunker. It didn't take long for them to arrive at the right level, and Branch was there to greet them.

"We're here!" Poppy announced.

"Welcome, you guys!" Branch greeted. "Come on. It's almost time to start. You guys are actually five minutes early."

"Punctuality is important, after all." Guy Diamond said as everyone followed Branch into a dining area where a large table was set up. A cupcake sat on each plate, with a small bowl of ice cream at each table setting. To everyone's surprise, King Peppy already sat in one of the spots.

"Dad?" Poppy questioned as she and the Snack Pack sat down. "What are you doing here?"

"Branch always invites me." Peppy said. "Today is a very special day, after all."

"Oh, of course." Poppy said.

"Okay, everyone. I'm going to get our guest of honor, and then we can start eating. After cupcakes and ice cream will be presents." Branch announced. "Just wait right here. I'll be back in a minute." He disappeared into another room.

"So how long have you been coming to Gary's birthday party?" Poppy asked her father.

"Gary's birthday? Is that what Branch told you today was?" Peppy chucked.

"Isn't Branch going to get Gary because it's his birthday?" Biggie pointed out.

"Nope. Gary's birthday was two months ago." Peppy said. "Besides, he's right here." Peppy pointed to the empty spot next to him, and everyone saw Gary sitting on a stack of books in the chair beside Peppy.

"Wait, if Gary is here, whose birthday is it?" Poppy asked. "And why would Branch not tell us?"

"I guess he doesn't want anyone to make a big deal out of it." Peppy said. He shushed his daughter before she could ask another question as Branch entered the room again. He carried a small, rectangular picture frame in his hands. Nobody liked the sad smile on Branch's face. The air in the room suddenly felt like a gray cloud hanging over everyone's heads. Branch set the picture frame on the table, the image facing the rest of the room. At once, Poppy and the Snack Pack understood, and they became quite sad.

It was a picture of Grandma Rosiepuff.

"Hey Grandma, check it out." Branch said as he took the chair next to the seat at the head of the table, where the picture sat. "We actually have more guests joining us this year. They've been really excited to partake in the festivities." Branch took out a box of matches and walked around the table, lighting the candles on the cupcakes. "Okay, as usual, it's the song and dessert first." He dimmed the lights, sat back in his spot, and began the song. Everyone else stayed quiet as he sang.

The day that you were born, the stars shined brighter
Every year you grow, your spirit strong like a fire
Let's take a little time to show them what I know
How your light shines in the darkness and woe
And today, we celebrate all we love about you
Today, I'm reminded of why I love you

Peppy leaned closer to Poppy to whisper to her. "This is a song Rosiepuff wrote just for Branch for his birthday." Poppy suddenly felt a little sick to her stomach.

"Okay, guys!" Branch's voice startled everyone out of their thoughts. "Go ahead and eat up."

Though it was a little awkward for everyone except Branch and Peppy, the trolls started eating their cupcakes and ice cream. Poppy and the Snack Pack minded their manners and ate in silence. When Guy Diamond requested that Smidge pass the napkins, he was afraid to speak above a whisper. Only Peppy and Branch talked at their normal volume.

"This is a really good cupcake." Suki piped up timidly.

"Thanks." Branch said. "Chocolate cake with vanilla icing and a dusting of cinnamon. It was Grandma's favorite."

Poppy nearly choked on her cupcake. She exchanged looks with her friends. They clearly felt the same way she did. They spent a day and a half gushing over a Branch Party, went through grueling tests, and worked their butts off while nearly dying of anticipation. Now that they were here, now that they finally understood the significance of this day, it just felt so wrong to be there. It felt wrong to be with Branch, celebrating a very personal moment. They remembered his story of losing his grandmother, the moment he lost his colors and his happiness. Creek wasn't there to hear the story, but the weight of the dismal auras around him affected his mood enough for him to understand.

After finishing only half her cupcake, Poppy set her food down and stood. "Uh, guys? I think we ought to be going, right?" The others nodded in agreement.

"Already?" Branch asked, surprised.

"You just got here." Peppy added.

"But I don't think we should've come at all." Poppy said. "This was a mistake, and we're sorry."

Branch smiled. "Actually, I'm glad you guys came. Come on, you at least have to show the gifts you brought. I'm a bit curious to see them."

Poppy exchanged looks with her friends, who nodded to let her know they wanted her to make the choice. "Okay. We'll give our gifts, and then we'll leave."

"Great. Go right ahead." Branch said.

"Me first!" Peppy pulled out a small bouquet of flowers. "I figured you could use something to brighten up the place."

"Thanks." Branch said appreciatively. "Okay, who's next?"

Fuzzbert stepped up. A kazoo popped out of his hair. He began a short, chipper song on his kazoo. When he finished, the trolls clapped politely.

"I guess I'll go next." Guy Diamond said. He pulled out a card from his hair. When he opened it, the card had words that popped up and read, "Happy Birthday!" There was also an image of a birthday cake, which spewed quite a lot of glitter. "Sorry." Guy Diamond chuckled nervously. "I couldn't help all the glitter. It's kind of my thing."

"My turn!" Smidge said. She pulled out a bottle with a bright bow tied around it. "It's one of the last bottles of my stoutberry juice. I think you…..uh, at least, I hope your grandma would've liked it." Branch only nodded.

"I brought something that we can all share." Biggie produced a box he held under the table, and he passed cups around to everyone. "This is a new soup recipe I've tried. I hope you like it. And here's the recipe card." He passed the card down to Branch.

Branch took a sip of his soup sample. "This is really good. Nice work, Biggie."

"Okay, us next!" Satin said.

"Satin and I made some jewelry." Chenille said. The twins produced a necklace made of green gems. It was meant to match the green button on Gary, and instead unintentionally complemented the color of Rosiepuff's hair.

Cooper looked a little uncomfortable. But, at his friends' encouragement, he showed his gift: a mini version of his hat. He had made it for Gary, since he believed the party was for the remote. Luckily for him, the hat actually rested on the picture frame well, and Branch seemed to approve.

"I made this new album." Suki said, holding up a record. "It has a bunch of calm, gentle music."

Then came Creek, who hesitated. He had a tiny yoga mat for Gary, which he considered silly before but didn't want to be left out. Now that he saw whose birthday it really was, Creek didn't want to look foolish in front of everyone. Plus, he didn't want Rosiepuff to have just any gift. Thinking quickly, Creek lit up with an idea and reached into his hair. He produced a handful of thin sticks. "This is incense. Lavender-scented. It aids one's peaceful resting."

Branch looked awed. "That's…really thoughtful of you, Creek. Thanks."

Finally, it was Poppy's turn. She reached into her hair and pulled out a box wrapped in ribbon. She opened the gift and pulled out a music box. The circular box had a pair of trolls on top. Poppy twisted the key, and music began the play. The pair of trolls spun like they were dancing.

"It's beautiful, Poppy." Branch said. "All your gifts are great."

"Thanks. Now, I think we should go." Poppy urged as everyone stood up.

"Wait, no." Branch stopped them. "You guys don't have to go, really."

"But we should go." Poppy insisted. "We didn't realize this party was so important. We shouldn't have intruded on this special occasion. After all, we don't know your grandmother."

Branch thought for a moment. Then, he lit up. "You didn't know her, but she knew you."

The trolls exchanged looks. "She did?"

"Wait here." Branch jogged off into another room. After a few minutes, he returned carrying a very old scrapbook. He cleared some plates and cutlery away and set the book on the table. Everyone gathered around as Branch carefully turned the pages, which crinkled due to age. The trolls were shocked and in awe to see pictures of babies, pictures of Poppy and the Snack Pack as babies, and notes in Rosiepuff's handwriting.

"What is this?" Poppy asked.

"Well, some of you weren't born yet, but a lot of you were just babies when we escaped the Troll Tree twenty years ago." Branch explained. "My grandma was in charge of babysitting the kids of the Troll Tree. That included many of you. Even you, Poppy. This scrapbook held some of her best memories of you." Branch turned to a picture of Satin and Chenille, the twin babies covered in lengths of yarn. He read off the passage Rosiepuff scrawled next to the picture. "'Satin and Chenille are now a month old. They seem to enjoy dressing their dolls. Every time I watch over them, I have to hide my sewing needles so they don't hurt themselves. But their favorite pastime is playing in my yarn basket.'"

"Aw, look at us, Chenille." Satin said. "We even matched the yarn to coordinate with our hair and eyes."

Branch turned to a picture of Guy Diamond the day he was born. Branch read the passage next to it. "'We welcome a new addition to the Troll Tree, and we're only months away from escaping. Guy Diamond is a rambunctious little boy. His diaper is always full of glitter, though. Apparently, he has a thing for glitter farts.'" Everyone laughed good-naturedly while Guy Diamond looked proud. Branch turned to a photo of Biggie. "'Biggie is large for his age, but he has a heart of gold. He's a gentle giant who loves the bugs that sneak into his home. Today, I found him napping with a glow bug that somehow managed to sneak into my pod. He's going to make a lot of friends when he gets older.'" The next picture was that of Creek. "'Creek is an interesting child. He's calm and quiet, and very attentive. Or, I guess, he's sensitive to his surroundings. Cybil has already expressed interest in training him to be a yogi. I think he'd be perfect for that. If I'm having a bad day, and he's nearby while I'm not in the best of moods, he can pick up on it. Sometimes, he'll fuss and distract me from whatever bothers me. It seems like he's trying to comfort me. I look forward to seeing him grow up.'"

Creek looked down with a sad look in his eyes. "I…I do sort of remember her…at least, I remember someone singing me a lullaby…someone with a lovely voice…"

Finally, Branch showed a picture of Poppy, laying in Peppy's arms. "'The princess is everything the kingdom hoped for. Poppy is a bundle of joy, and always in a good mood. She is going to be a great leader and adored by the kingdom. I enjoy sending time with her. The littlest things she does remind me of her mother. I can tell already that Princess Poppy will be just as kind, adoring, and party-loving as her mother. Though she is not my own child, I am still so proud of her.'"

Poppy had tears in her eyes, and she wiped them away quickly. "I can't believe she wrote about all of us."

"There's more. Lots more." Branch said. "After I got my colors, I realized that I didn't have a lot of friends. Well, actually, I didn't have any friends. Then, I found my grandma's journal, and I read everything she wrote about all of you. I got to know you all through her. It made me braver, gave me more confidence to try and include myself in your group. I also got to know my grandmother a little better. I'm not afraid to think of her anymore. Thinking of her and embracing her memory…." Branch glanced to the photo of his grandmother. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

"I wish we did remember your grandma, Branch." Poppy said.

"We're really sorry if we intruded on this party." Suki added.

"Yeah. That was uncool of us." Cooper agreed.

"Actually, it's great to have more company." Branch said. "Like I said, I was able to learn more about you through her. You and her are kind of connected, and it makes me so happy to reconnect with her." Branch rubbed the back of his head nervously. "So, if you want, you can start coming to her birthday party every year."

Poppy and the Snack Pack gasped. "Really?" Poppy asked. "You mean it?"

"Absolutely." Branch nodded. "I always invited King Peppy because he knew my grandma. But she knew you all too, so it's only right that you should celebrate with us." Branch chuckled as his friends cheered, thanking him a dozen times. "By the way, I thought about what you said, and I added something to the party that I think you'd enjoy."

"Is it something Grandma Rosiepuff would enjoy?" Cooper asked.

"Yeah. I think so." Branch nodded. He jogged across the room and pulled out a bug stereo. He pressed the PLAY button, and mellow dance music emitted from the speakers. "Grandma always liked to dance. Maybe not as loud as your parties, Poppy, but she knew how to have some fun."

"Let's party!" Suki cheered. The trolls began to dance. Not nearly as rowdy as the dance parties they normally had, but still fun.

Poppy danced her way over to Branch, who had moved Rosiepuff's picture to the other end of the table so the picture was closer to the dance floor. Poppy hugged the blue troll. "It means a lot that you included us, Branch. Thank you."

"I should be thanking you." Branch said. "I've been celebrating Grandma's birthday for years, but it was always sad for me. I started inviting your dad when I got older because it was lonely with just me and Gary. But after everything we went through, especially getting my colors back, I'm not afraid to remember the people I loved and lost."

"I know she was so important to you, Branch." Poppy said. "If you ever want to talk about her with someone besides Gary, you know I'm here."

Branch smiled at the picture of his grandmother. "Thanks, Poppy."

"Now come on! Let's dance!" Poppy urged, returning to the dance floor.

Branch looked to the picture of Rosiepuff again. He kissed his fingers and then pressed them to the framed picture. "Happy birthday, Grandma." He went to Poppy, joining her in a dance while Rosiepuff's picture seemed to watch happily.

A/N: Hope you liked it! This is an episode I would've liked to see in the animated series. I hope we do see Branch exploring his memories with his grandmother and the rest of his family. I also would love to see an episode about Poppy's mother.

Now, I should probably get to bed. It's late, and I have work tomorrow.