Writing and sending letters back and forth monthly was now officially how the Timberlakes operated. It kept them close despite the distance between them. They were quite patient with it too since it took the dragonfly, that had adopted the name of "Hermes", a month of travel.

John had his leg cast removed and was back to walking normally again but, it did feel weird at first to have his mobility restored. Clay had finally graduated high school with honors in advanced mathematics and English literature. The family couldn't be prouder than they already were. They were all supportive of the idea when Clay announced he wanted to further his education by going to college. Branch now being four years old has gotten a lot more adventurous and began singing more often with his friends. As for Rosiepuff not much had changed for her once entering another year.

The female troll hummed to herself with a basket of clean and wet washing by  here side. She stood near the clothes line. John Dory was nearby sitting in the middle of a tree branch. Branch happily plucked tony flower that was growing among the leaves then ran over to his older brother. The flower head was leaning more towards a ball of yellow fuzz with three rows of yellow petals surrounding it. The leaves were a soft green with orange veins.

" I found it!" Branch waved it around.

John smiled. "Good job,Bitty B. You picked a nice one. "

Rosiepuff looked at her eldest and youngest grandsons' direction feeling a smile tug at her lips. The pegs were clipped on her knitted overlayer. The sun shined brighter than usual on the washing line. This time around there weren't many clothes to wash and hang up but, not due to the fact Spruce and Floyd had moved out. Clay,John and Branch did have more clothes than before. They just didn't do many activities recently that would result in stains. That and John and Clay had already hand washed and hung up most of their dirty clothes a few days ago.

Turning back around the woman began hanging up multiple pairs of shorts belonging to Branch on the line. Glowbugs came out to hover around her picking up the song she was originally humming and continued it for her. Every now and then Branch's laughter and running back and forth could be heard. Sometimes even John's voice made a guest appearance with it. It was music to Rosiepuff's ears.

Meanwhile unknown to the trolls,the Bergen Chef crept up to the cage gate. A ring of keys was attached to her belt of knives. The metal gleamed in the rays of sun as she removed a certain key from its ring. Calmly inserting the item into the keyhole,the Bergen smirked sinisterly as she heard every click and clank from turning it til the gate was unlocked. A metallic creak echoed as the gate slowly swung open wide.

Trolls on the ground hurried for somehow to hide. They either camouflaged themselves or pulled themselves up into the tree through their hair. Some dashed to their pods and locked the doors. Whimpers,gasps and muffled whispers filled the air but they were too faint for the Keeper of the Trolls to hear. Shaking and hugging each other in fear the Pop trolls who were aware of Chef prayed for her to leave. Unfortunately the rest of the Tree inhabitants did not know the potential doom coming their way.

Rosiepuff dusted her hands off her dress skirt proud to be done so quickly with the morning chores. Blissfulness painted her delicate features along with a grin tugging her lips apart. Sensing a couple pokes against the smooth skin of her leg the female troll looked down. There was Branch with his bouquet of wild flowers. The same flowers John had told him to search for as a game.

" For best Grandma." Branch chimed.

" And?" John coached.

" And hmm..." Branch paused. " Happy Flower Day."

John laughed then ruffled Branch's hair. " Close enough."

The four year old simply giggled unable to stop his brother from turning his sapphire locks messy. John flashed his signature rectangular grin with playfulness shining from his core to outwards. During their game John was going through their mother's notebook that was filled with research on wild flowers  and plants in general. In there was a note that their grandma's favourite flowers were Fuzzbells. Those were exactly the same flowers Branch was finding and picking. After realising it John had schemed a little with his baby brother so they could show beloved grandmother some appreciation.

" Oh such an adorable gentleman. Thank you,Branch. Aren't you sweet? " Rosiepuff crouched down.

" John said they're your favourite and red and-nd pink are ya favourite so I picked all the pink and red ones." Branch said.

Rosiepuff accepted the bouquet. " Aww. You and Johnny know just how to brighten up Grandma's day,Peachfuzz. "

As Rosiepuff stood back up fully she brought the flowers to her light green nose. Taking in the sweet and enchanting aroma from the beautiful Fuzzbells, Rosie fondly sighed remembering the days Olivia would bring home some flowers for the kitchen table. Her daughter gave her flowers every now and then just because. Now Branch and John were pulling their own version of their mother's antics and it warmed her heart. The truth was pink and red weren't actually her favourite top two colours but, they were right now. Red and Pink stole those positions from green and blue.

" Johnny. Branch. Thank you. I'm so lucky to have such thoughtful grandsons." Rosiepuff pinched John's cheek.

" Ha. It's nothing. Just thought you could use some flowers for the kitchen table." John shrugged.

Heavy footsteps carrying a loud boom with them shook the pods in the tree. They were getting closer and louder with every step. In the corner of her eye Rosiepuff caught sight of the Bergen Chef while John was staring directly at the same Bergen. Rosie's heart stopped dropping the flowers Branch worked so hard on finding. John's breathing quickened and intensified as his hands began to shake. Branch gasped latching onto his Grandmother's leg with eyes wide and filled with dread. Rosiepuff turned her head to the Bergen then back to John trying to remain calm.

" Johnny... Take Branch home and hide. Don't look back. No matter what you hear. Okay?" Rosiepuff whispered.

" What?" John said recognising those words.

A wave of memories hit John like a tidal wave to years ago... Olivia and Noah now stood before their eldest son. Olivia pulled an egg with sapphire tuff of hair from her hair snuggling it for one last time. Noah frantically picked up fork staring at the Bergens that were collecting trolls down. Tears filled John's eyes as the Bergens stepped closer forcing the family to be caught between a tree stump and them.

"John... Take your sibling and hide. Don't look back. No matter what you hear. Okay?" Noah ordered.

" But what about-" Teenaged John Dory stuttered.

" Don't worry about us. We will be okay. Be strong for us. " Noah said.

" Just trust us,Baby. We'll distract them." Olivia said.

Handing over the little egg to her son Olivia faked a smile with tears filling her eyes as well. Not knowing whether this would be their last moment together or not she hugged both her children one time. The Bergens' stomping was increasing its pace shortening the distance to the trolls. Without a second thought Noah lunged forward letting out a mighty battle cry with the massive fork pointed at the Bergens.

Olivia noticed a Bergen with a cup then pushed John Dory out of the way getting herself trapped inside. She was scooped up before her son's eyes. Breathing heavily John froze as he heard his mother's screams. She wasn't screaming for help. She was screaming for him to run back to the tree and hide. To leave them and save himself and the egg. His vision blurred as he started doing exactly that.

Blinking away the painful memory Rosiepuff wiped away John's tears with her hand. Her calm and collected demeanor and caring smile remained installed in her at this very moment. Heaviness weighted on both their hearts. Shaking even more, John stayed frozen in place. Rosiepuff comfortingly took hold of both of his hands  rubbing her thumbs against the back of them until they stopped shaking.

" Ssh. It's okay. Don't worry about me. I will be okay. Be strong for me. Just trust us,Peachfuzz. I'll distract them. " Rosiepuff whispered.

" No. It's not. You can't-" John cried.

" Grandma..." Branch cried as well.

Picking the toddler up gently Rosiepuff planted a kiss on his forehead before handing him over to his older brother. John tightened his grip on Branch as the trolling latched onto him terrified. The little boy buried his face into John's neck. Rosiepuff's smile turned more sad as she took one last long look of her grandsons. She hugged John for the last time then looked back at the Bergen coming her way. Before John Dory could do anything his grandmother whipped her hair using it to grab and toss him and Branch as far away and deeper into the tree as possible.

" GRANDMA!" Branch cried as Rosiepuff was grabbed by the Bergen.

" AAAAHHHHGH!!!" Rosiepuff screamed.

John bolted for their pod as he could still hear Chef claiming more trolls and their screams. It sent a shiver down his spine and a flood of tears. Once they made it to and inside the large pod John locked him and Branch in the closet. The Bergen Chef peeled open their pod  causing items to fall and break. John covered his mouth with his hands while Branch clung to his chest trying to not make noise sobbing.

" Sssh..." John hushed causing Branch to go completely silent.

Soon all the screaming and panic of trolls stopped. There was nothing but, eerie silence. A loud metallic crash echoed followed by the loud locking of a gate. Branch kept sobbing too scared to make a sound. Still holding Branch with one arm the older man hesitantly unlocked the closet and peeked out. The chef was gone and their pod slowly lifted its walls back up closing up. Complete darkness surrounded them.

" John..." Branch whimpered.

" Ssh. Hey. It's okay. " John whispered.

" No. It's not!" Branch cried.

John's ears flopped as his heart ached. Branch was right. Nothing was really okay. Grandma was gone. Taken. They were almost taken if it wasn't for hiding in the closet. Their pod had been forced open. The screams they heard were nightmare fuel but, he didn't want to watch Branch sob and shake more than he already had. Then a familiar and comforting song entered John's mind earning a sad smile. A song that their father used to sing after every attack from Bergens.

" The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy " John sang softly.

Branch eventually looked at his older brother with bloodshot eyes from his tears staining them. This was the first time he had ever heard this song. Something about the way John sang it was soothing enough to make him stop shaking for a moment. A few tears still escaped the little one. John fondly looked down at Branch pulling up more then wiped away those runaway tears.

" Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better "

Branch rested his head against John's chest letting out a yawn. Exhaustion from his intense emotions had reached him and taken over. John's soothing singing lured him into closing his eyes. JD's gloves hand rubbed against the trolling's bare back in circular motion. Another memory of their parents blurred and transformed John's vision temporarily replacing reality but, this one was a more fond one.

John saw Floyd, Spruce and Clay sitting on the floor close by with John as their parents pulled them closer into a group hug thankful that all of them were still there. John rested his head onto his father's shoulder accepting the closeness while Floyd rested his head against John's chest in a similar manner. The room may had been dark but, the moment was far from scary or dreadful. Their father's singing filled his ears joining John's current live singing to Branch.

"Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy " John and Noah sang together.

Blinking John had returned back to reality and saw Branch had fallen into a peaceful slumber. His little arms were still wrapped around John's neck. Faint snoring could be heard between the little one's breathing. Smiling fondly John climbed out of the closet and walked over towards his bed dodging every broken and fallen item on the floor. He laid them down onto his bed and closed his eyes too. By that point the young man was no longer singing but, he could still hear their father singing in his ears.

AN: The song featured is Beautiful Boy(Darling Boy) by John Lennon