Branch continuously checked the clock on the wall. The minute moved slower with every tick echoing. The desk pens getting reorganized by his daughter's arts and crafts pen toppers laid on the desk. The toppers were created with paper,stickers and cheap glue. They were a father's day gift from his precious daughter. Sighing annoyed by how slow time moved,Branch picked up a pen then began rearranging it with the others by colour. Black,blue and red. The toppers didn't factor in. 

" So howz the wife? And the kid? I heard your having an egg. Congrats." A unexpected deep voice interrupted.

" What do you want,Jackie?" Branch said bluntly.

Branch glanced down at his right desk neighbor. There stood a female teaspoon troll with the common trait of having a baby face making them seem younger than they actually were. Hiding her hands behind her back, the woman's extra sweet smile turned into nervous one. Sweaty palms wiped themselves against the sides of her bell bottom jeans. Gently dropping the last red pen into it's holder, the seated engineer shifted his entire focus on his desk neighbor.

" What? Me? Little old me? Don't be silly. I'm just curious..." Jackie nervously laughed. " Yeah...So I love to hear about the egg..."

 Branch rolled eyes. " Poppy's fine and so is Harmony. The egg is nice and warm. It's a boy and me and my wife plan to name him "Aiden."

Jackie's nervous demeanor melted away the more she heard about her co-worker's family but, the invisible weight on her shoulders never left. Something about one of the most intimidating trolls in the office being  a family man made him feel easier to talk to. She did sit near Branch every work day and he had done nothing but, his job. Perhaps her minor fear of him was rather irrational. Her smile turned genuine once more but, overly sweetness had not returned with it.

" Oh... That's such a lovely name for a boy! I bet he'll -hmm..." Jackie paused. " Be taking after you a ton. "

"  Maybe... How did you know about the egg?" Branch questioned.

Jackie held in her urge to chuckle expecting that question. " Liza told me... By accident. "

" That tracks... " Branch commented.

Not that it was anyone's business to be spreading his personal life but, he was willing to give Liza a free pass. Afterall she was the first person to actually be help him to actually be able to do his job properly and easier. Remembering how excited she was when he just happened to mention his and Poppy's egg,it wasn't too much of a surprise that she told at least one person. So far only Jackie brought up his coming soon baby, therefore Branch thought it was safe to assume his work friend only told Jackie. 

A folder leaned poking out of Jackie's taller hair came into view. "Why are you hiding a folder in your hair?" 

Jackie sighed giving on causally asking help. " Okay. You got me. I need a favor but, I promise it's a five minute thing! "

Pulling out the purple folder from her curly mane revealed it's true volume size. It wasn't on thicker side but, still contained enough content not be the third lightest folder Branch came across that day. Plastic folder pages held the design blueprints,lists of materials and design notes. Resting the folder against her flat chest, Jackie's mouth ran a mile per second. No breaks for the space between her words. Branch blinked watching her stone faced as he mentally tried to slow down the desperate words fired at him.

" Ijustwantasecondonthis. Lizaalwayspraisedyoutomeabouthowstructurallysoundyourdesignsare! So I was hoping you could check if I made mistake..." Jackie paused. " Sorry... "

" Sure." Branch agreed.

"Really?" Jackie's jaw dropped.

 " It's not like Father Time decided to end my shift early anyway. What exactly are you working on?" Branch reached for the folder.

The weight of the world lifted off the woman's shoulders allowing them to lower muscles loosening. The anxious storm cloud above her head floated away. A sigh of relief escaped Jackie's lips allowing her breathing to both return and even out. Gratefulliness filed her softening eyes. Loosing her grip on the important folder Jackie handed it off to Branch with a thankful smile on her face.

" A new addition for the Fun Factory. A testing area for their party equipment testing."

Bramch breifly hummed at the answer recongizing building name. The Fun Factory? That's where Poppy worked. His wife. Poppy had never mentioned any construction work or additions being added. Perhaps it was only a recent decision and Poppy was only a Party Planner. It's not like she would have access everything with her position unless she was promoted to head of the party department. 

Branch laid the folder on his desk opening it." Don't they already have-?" 

" It exploded... Firework accident and Mr Toronto wants it separated from the factory building now. " Jackie interrupted causally.

It just exploded... Already flipping through the first few pages eyes set on the notes that piece of information slowly crept into Branch's mind. His minor smile dropped and eyes widen only realizing what he was told. Jackie had delivered the news so causal and calmly that he didn't think she would drop a bomb on him. Whipping his head towards to his desk neighbor stunned Branch wore his emotions like face paint. The Pop woman laced her fingers together waiting for him to finish looking over and checking her work.

" It exploded? How- You know what? I'm not gonna ask anymore. " Branch claimed.

Jackie watched as Branch readjusted his attention back to the folder of her current project. Silence followed with tension growing in it by the minute. Jackie contuined to awkwardly stand by Branch while others around them checked the clock and packing up ahead of time. Some even cleaning their desks to pass the time. Scanning the details before him carefully Branch's face returned back to stone. Jackie couldn't tell whether he was thinking positively or negatively of her work. Her heart pounding echoed in her ears with worries of his upcoming answer being purely negative plagued her mind.

Branch flipped to the very last page seeing an list of materials. " Personally I would had choosen to use brick but, Rocky Mushroom Paulum will workout fine. Just add thicker Marix Foam between the walls to help slow down impacting forces to minimize the chances of holes in the walls. Other than that you nailed it. Not Bad,Jackie. "

Branch's feedback wasn't harsh but, it still carried constructive criticism. However he said it nicer than the nervous troll expected further proving how irrationally her fear of her co-worker was. Closing the folder gently to avoid damaging the work persevered inside Branch glanced down at Jackie waiting for her reponse. Flashing a reassuring smile as Jackie proccessed his words.

" Really?" Jackie exclaimed lighting up like light bulb.

" Yeah. It's actually good for the most part. " Branch confirmed.

Picking up the purple document holder Branch stood up from his seat then bent towards to Jackie. He reached his arm ready to hand over the folder of design plans. Jackie's smile returned doubling in size with her confidence restoring in her being. Excitedly and proudly snatching back her work bringing it closer to her chest.

 " Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou!" Jackie ran off.

" Your welcome. " Branch called out as she disappeared from view.

The clock on the wall chimed signaling to a portion of the staff on that floor that their shift was over,including Branch. Branch looked up checking to see if it was indeed the clock and not his imagination. Finally Father Time was on his side. Branch grabbed his workbag ,which was packed earlier, hurrying his way to the checkout point,stamped his card and ran out the building. The voices bidding him "Good Bye" and making jokes about him bring in a rush fell on deaf ears. 

Soon the running Rocker reached his parents' doorstep to see the door was wide open. Harmony's footsteps headed towards him getting louder the closer she got. He stepped inside settung his sights on his excited noise maker. The father smiled getting down on his knees arms open wide for a hug from his little girl. Poppy leaned against the kitchen door frame smiling sweetly watching from a far. Olivia rocked both Aiden's egg and the mysterious egg in her arms sitting at the kitchen table behind Poppy. 

" Daddy!" Harmony hugged her father.

" Harmony. I missed you. " Branch said picking up his daughter.

 Poppy walked over to the door as her husband rose back. Giggle escaped their daughter as Branch kiss attacked her cheek. The little girl didn't fight back. She contuined to laugh accepting her fate of receiving her father's affection. By the time the wife reached her family the moment of kiss attack was over. Branch brought his gaze up from his first born to his life parnter with his grin remaining strong. The couple leaned forward sharing a soft kiss on the lips before pulling away. Noticing Branch's workbag on the floor,Poppy picked it up turning around to go deeper into the living room.

" Hey. How was work?" Poppy placed Branch's workbag on the coffee table.

" Hey. Same old. Same old. Looked over Jackie's design plans. Their structurally sound. Your work is getting a new testing area. You might see construction outisde board meeting window soon. What did I miss?" Branch replied.

That bit of information earned a nod from the mother of his children. She vaguely remembered something about getting new testing room for their equipment,new products and supplies being mentioned during her meeting but, not in great detail. Nice to know her engineer degree husband had given his approval over it. Poppy doubted she would be entering that area of the Fun Factory often but, it being safe was reassuring.

" Harmony got in trouble in class today. We got stopped during pick up time." Poppy informed.

" Really? What did chaos did she bring?" Branch asked.

" She swore and unintentionally taught her friend how to swear. She used "Bad Bitch." Poppy stated still amused.

" She - you what?" Branch looked at Harmony holding back laughter.

" Perry was sad mad. I wanted to help her feel better. " Harmony reasoned shamelessly.

Branch lost control as his laughter bursted out. Harmony watched his reaction taking it as a positive sign that it was okay to say what she spoken earlier mentally. She heard had her parents,her Grandpa Peppy and Grandpa Noah curse before in front of her or around her. Therefore in her mind her cursing was no different regardless of the setting. Harmony was too young to know any better. Branch eventually calmed down carrying his daughter over to the leather couch then took a seat allowing Harmony on to sit on his lap. He was still equally as amused by Harmony's  choice of cuss as his wife.

" So what do you suggest? I'm out of ideas. " Poppy admitted sitting down next to her man.

" Try a swear jar. " Olivia suggested walking into the room with the eggs.

" Swear Tax never stopped Branch, Honey. " Noah called out from the kitchen.