Two months. Poppy hadn't heard from Willow for two months. Then again, she never bothered talking to her. Poppy just focused more on finding someone willing to raise the baby, but she had no luck. Although most of the village was still oblivious of her pregnancy, Poppy couldn't hide her swollen abdomen without wearing a large sweater.

Poppy went back to the doctor that afternoon, and Cyan went with her for emotional support. All she didn't know was that the baby was her grandchild.

“I need you to lie down, Princess Poppy," the doctor instructed. Poppy did what she was told and the doctor squirted sparkly gel on her stomach and rubbed a bug against it. The bug giggled at the tingling sensation.

“You see that?" Cyan said, pointing at a screen. It showed something about the size of a small fruit, with tiny arms and legs that barely moved.

“That's my baby?" Poppy asked in awe.

Cyan nodded. “That's your baby!"

“Looks like you've been taking good care of it," the doctor said. “If you'd like, we can tell you the sex when you come back in six weeks."

Poppy looked away nervously. “I don't know if I'm ready for that."

“You have over a month to think it over," Cyan reassured her. “Maybe then, you'll be more sure."

As they left the medical pod, Cyan noticed Poppy adjusting her orange sweatshirt to make her baby bump less visible.

“Princess Poppy, you have nothing to hide," she tried to convince her. “If you let them, everyone will see what a radiant mommy-to-be you are."

“Or they'll see what a radiant mess I am," Poppy said glumly. “Mrs. Birchwood, this should've happened later in my life, when I'm married, when I'm actually ready..."

“No one's ever ‘actually ready,'" Cyan explained. “You could plan having a baby for ten years, and the moment it happens will still be nerve-wracking. Princess Poppy, do you really want to give the baby up?"

“I... I don't know," Poppy admitted. “But I feel like I have to."

“And the father?" Cyan asked.

“I still haven't told him," Poppy replied.

“You can't keep this to yourself forever," Cyan said. “You'll have to confess sooner or later."

Suddenly, Poppy noticed Harper, a young artist, drop some paints. Most of them were black and purple, like a certain young Troll Poppy hadn't heard from.

Poppy sighed. “You're right. But first, I have to do something."

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Willow was sitting by herself on a log in the woods, holding a video camera and humming a sad song to herself. She felt like she was completely alone in the world.

“Umm... Willow?"

The teenager looked up to see the Troll princess walking up to her remorsefully.

“What, are you back for more?" she asked sarcastically.

“I'm sorry," Poppy said. “I can't blame my hormones for what I said. You were just trying to be a good friend, and I was a total jerk to you. And... and I don't expect you to forgive me. You can hate me all you want, because I was ungrateful and I hurt you. And... And..."

Poppy found herself drowning in her own tears before she could finish her apology. She failed to recognize, however, that Willow recorded it all on tape.

“And the award goes to Princess Poppy for apologizing to the teenage weirdo," Willow announced jokingly. “They're gonna be talking about this for centuries."

Willow spread her arms out and let Poppy in for a hug.

“Poppy, I know you've been under a lot of stress," she said sympathetically. “But it'll be okay."

“I need to tell my dad and friends," Poppy admitted. “Do you think they'll be upset?"

“Hey, we're Trolls," Willow reminded her. “We always find a bright side, and so will they."

“You didn't tell anyone I'm having Branch's baby, did you?" Poppy asked nervously.

“Who would I tell?" Willow pointed out. “You're the only friend I have. Well, you're actually my only Troll friend. I doubt there's anyone else who can speak bird."

As the two young women headed back to the village, they failed to notice a Troll crawling out of a bush, not believing what they had just heard.

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Poppy told her father and the Snack Pack to meet her at her pod before sundown, while they waited for everyone to show up, Poppy got to know Willow a little better.

“When I was five, my dad took me to see a movie called The Sparkling," Willow began. “I had nightmares for two weeks because of it, but ever since then, I've been completely obsessed with the art of filmmaking. My brothers and sisters wanted a glitterball or a doll set, I wanted a betamovie camcorder. But I never knew when my birthday was. I can assume it was somewhere in April, but I never knew the exact date. No one ever told me, and whenever I ask my mom... she tells me I'm not worth it."

“I'm sorry to hear that," Poppy said. “I can't imagine being treated like that."

“We're here!" Copper announced.

“Poppy!" King Peppy exclaimed in delight. “How's my beautiful daughter today?"

“Well, I've been better," Poppy admitted. “I kinda have to tell you guys something, and... Wait, where's Creek?"

“I believe he went to a yoga retreat, and won't be back for about six months," Biggie explained.

“Without saying goodbye?" Poppy asked sadly. “I was hoping to tell all of you, it's really important."

“If it's that you need a wardrobe change, we're way ahead of you," Satin said.

“Yeah, the baggy, orange jogger outfit does not flatter you at all," Chenille added.

“It's not supposed to be flattering," Poppy confessed. “It's supposed to be hiding something."

Everyone was confused. Poppy wasn't the kind of Troll who kept secrets.

“About three months ago, I was with someone," she explained. “There was no romance, but it felt too good to resist him. But now... I'm facing the consequences for my foolishness."

“What consequences?" Guy Diamond asked.

Poppy took a deep breath. “I'm pregnant."

Everyone gasped!

“Oh, my gah!" Smidge exclaimed.

“I'm a grandpa?" King Peppy said in surprise.

“How long have you known?" DJ Suki asked.

“Two months," Poppy answered. “I wanted to tell you guys, but I thought you wouldn't look at me the same way again. You probably think I'm dirty or reckless."

“Poppy, we'd never think that way about you," Biggie assured her. “You're our friend."

“And we wanna help you with the baby!" Guy Diamond added.

“Really? I was about to give them up."

“Why?" Cooper asked.

“I was afraid of being a lousy mom," Poppy admitted. “I was a lousy friend to Willow over here."

Willow just waved at them.

“It's okay," King Peppy reassured her. “You get to learn from your mistakes."

“So, can we see it?" Biggie asked.

“See what? Oh, right!" Poppy realized, and lifted up her sweatshirt to reveal her baby bump.

“Oh, my gosh!" Satin gasped.

“It's so cute!" Chenille squealed.

“Hey, everyone! I'm a grandpa!" King Peppy shouted out the window.

Poppy was surprised at all the love and support she was receiving.

“See? You're not in this alone," Willow said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you, Willow," Poppy replied, smiling warmly at her friend.

“So, who's the proud father?" King Peppy asked. Poppy's eyes widened.

“Is it Creek?" Satin guessed. “I bet it's Creek."

“Well, uh– uh– the thing is– uh..." Poppy stuttered before answering, “... I don't know."

“You don't know who the father is?" Guy Diamond asked skeptically.

“Well, I know who he is, it's just... he's not ready for parenthood, so I let him off the hook."

“That's a shame," King Peppy said.

Willow pulled Poppy aside and asked quietly, “What was that, man? Why'd you lie to them?"

“I just can't let them know it's Branch," Poppy answered.

“He'll probably know eventually," Willow pointed out. “Heck, he probably knows right now."

Willow couldn't be more right.

I hope this is an improvement over Poppy's b****iness in the last chapter. Next chapter, she'll talk to Branch. But first, he'll probably talk to his mom.

Until next time. 🌈