Spinning around John hurried taking off the jacket and glove. They flew back where they were found. Panic filled his widened eyes while his heart beat raced at the thought of getting caught. John swiftly grabbed his jacket sliding it off as he raced out the room. The door closed behind him the second he stepped out of it.

" Coming, Grandma!" John yelled.

The next day Spruce was searching through his space in a shared closet for something new to wear besides the usual white pants and purple puffy jacket. Despite there being several options like vests to t-shirts, they were mostly show wardrobe. Nothing actually personal or having any personality to them. Unless you counted personal pajamas but, Spruce did not. He threw and dropped ten pieces of clothing belonging to him. They pooled around his feet.

" That's it! I'm going out." Spruce declared.

" Out to where?" John asked.

John sat on his lower bunk in the middle of brushing Branch's hair. Branch stayed still hugging his blue crocodile plushie stroking at the soft material. The toddler's shorts had recently sewed in a button and strap identical to the shorts light brown shade. John however had resorted to wearing an old faded black sleeping shirt with his white pants cause his green jacket was stained and grandma insisted on making him take it off.

" The market! This outfit isn't gonna fly anymore." Spruce declared.

Spruce gestured to the purple jacket and his usual white pants he was currently wearing. He grabbed an old sage green shirt then slipped a navy hoodie over it to cover up the shirt. The entire time the newly of age adult beared his teeth with great annoyance while his purple eyebrows straightened and pointed downward. A scoff escaped his lips once catching a glance of his reflection. Normally he wasn't so bothered by the clothing he wore but, today Spruce couldn't shake off the feeling of everything in his part of his closet was too old or too "Brozone" coded or too ugly.

" If you want I could go with you. Just a thought. Not that I need anything." John offered.

John bit down his lip once a single lie escaped him. The truth was he needed new clothes too. In fact all of their brothers needed an update for their everyday outfits. However he didn't want to push or turn it into something about him. John didn't want to come off as self centered like he used to be or at least was trying to be. Changing was hard and he wanted to be less selfish while also being there more for his brothers.

Spruce picked up all the made from cloth items and shoved them back into one of his closet shelves. While his body was still active cleaning up his mess in a less ideal way,his mind took a moment to cool over and give the offer time to register. He could see through the lie. Literally. John's part of the closet was within his range of sight. It had less than everyone else. Maybe John wasn't as selfish as he hyped up to be considering he focused on his younger brothers getting more clothes than making time for his own closet update.

" Sure... A second opinion wouldn't hurt. Maybe we could get something for B too." Spruce agreed.

A knock on the door echoed into the room. Both male trolls turned to see their grandmother sweetly smiling at them. She adjusted her knitted red and pink shrug. Despite her old age Rosiepuff was still kicking and fit. Being one hundred and forty. Most trolls used to live until they were one hundred and fifty but, the Bergens made it impossible to even make it to fifty years old. That was considered young for old age. Rosiepuff was just lucky to survive this long without complications. She still looked no day over a hundred and twenty.

" Hey Peachfuzzes, any plans for today?" Rosiepuff chimed.

"Oh we were gonna hit the market, Grandma. Why?" Spruce said.

Rosiepuff smiled softly. " Well I just a little favor. Could you take Clay to get his haircut on the way? My hands are going to be full with the little ones this afternoon. Branch can stay here with me if he wants to."

" Fine by me." Spruce chirped.

" Don't worry. Old John Dory got this." John reassured with his natural charm.

Normally Spruce would have rolled his eyes at John's response due to how to smug it made him sound. On the other hand this time it was different. John wasn't holding anything above someone's head or taking over like an unwanted invader. Instead it was just him being reassuring. Chuckling Spruce shook his head finding it rather endearing.

Rosiepuff gently clapped hands. " Thankyou,dear. There's cookies for you in the kitchen. They're still cooling off."

" Ow! Hot!" Clay exclaimed from downstairs.

" Told you they were hot-oh hey Branch." Floyd's voice followed.

John looked down only now noticing that Branch was gone. Only the little plush toy was sitting next to him. When did that little guy get down and leave? He didn't even make a sound. At least John now also knew Branch was with Floyd and Clay downstairs. Last thing they need is another baby brother search cause Branch wandered off again.

Rosiepuff's sweet smile turned into a stern frown. Her eyes' sparks died out replaced by mild disapproval. Of course one of them doesn't take the warning of fresh,hot cookies seriously. Shaking her head she turned around still maintaining her sour expression and went downstairs removing herself from the older grandsons' sights.

" Clay,drink some cold milk." Rosiepuff advised kindly.

Soon it was the afternoon. John Dory, Spruce, Floyd and Clay were walking towards the market which was right next to the salon. Branch was there sitting in John's hair poking his head out cause he followed them. Floyd playfully tapped the tip of Branch's nose provoking an adorable giggle to escape.

" Boop." Floyd chimed.

" Those cookies were worth it. I regret nothing." Clay said.

" Bro, you burnt your tongue. Twice." John laughed.

" Worth it!" Clay insisted proud.

" Whatever you say,C." Spruce smiled shaking his head.

Branch retreated into John's hair fully but, his tiny hands grasped the orange framed goggles JD wore most days. With a steady pace the mischievous little one pulled them into the green locks. His walking ride was too busy focused on talking and finding the market and salon to notice that his head was missing light weight. Floyd glanced up to check on Branch but, raised an eyebrow at the absence of goggles. No giggles signaling that the trolling was still there.

" Hmm... John? JD?" Floyd muttered.

John shifted his attention to Floyd. " Yeah,Flo?"

The group had just reached the market with the hair salon as its neighbor. There were fresh food stands, trading items tables, live music,tents with clothes for sale and so much more. The recently cut grass brushed against everyone's ankles as the brothers stepped onto the market's grounds. One large overgrown root of the Troll Tree surrounded the area as an incomplete circle. Trollings laughed and played at the entrance as the adults did their fair share of shopping and selling.

" Weren't you wearing goggles a second ago?" Floyd asked.

" Obviously I-" John touched his forehead where the item once rested. " Hold up! Wait a minute."

Spruce and Clay joined Floyd in watching John try to feel for his favorite everyday accessory. John patted around his head and forehead before reaching his hand. In less than a minute Branch was pulled out of his elder's hair with both hands. Caught red handed Branch was holding goggles in front of his blue eyes trying to look through them. A cheeky smile painted the toddler's face.

" I'm John. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect." Branch sang.

All four brothers, especially John, bursted into laughter. Branch copied trying to laugh just like John who was struggling to breathe from laughing so hard. Clay covered his mouth with one hand while his other rested on his knee. Spruce hugged stomach throwing his head back. Floyd covered his mouth with both hands.

" Okay, smartass." John said between his laughter.

" Language." Floyd reminded nudging John's shoulder.

" English." John bantered.

" You're a smartass." Branch said trying to copy John.

" No, Branch. Don't say that." Floyd gently corrected.

Spruce shook his head still smiling with his cheeks now sore from laughing. He let go of his stomach then looked around the market until he spotted a local salon. It was a mushroom building. Clients were walking in and out of it happy with how their styled hair turned out by the hands of the trained hair architect. Hair architects were a step from hair stylists. Regular stylists only were trained in doing specific hairstyles. Hair architects knew every style and made new ones.

" Hey. Come,dude. " Spruce tapped Clay's shoulder.

Clay fully stood up again trying to relax his face into allowing him to make his smile smaller. Noticing the direction his brother was looking at,he nodded his head understandingly. It was time to get his hair trimmed and his light green roots dyed. The duo walked off leaving Floyd alone with John and Branch.

Four hours later...

The band of brothers finally made it home. Spruce had a couple bags of new clothes. Floyd had a smaller bag with make-up and new earrings. Clay had three brand new thick books in his arms to add to his personal library he was forming. His hair was trimmed shorter than normal but, the sixteen year old was too hyped on his plans for making his private library to care. His roots were no longer green. They were blonde like the rest of his hair. John had Branch in his pair of goggles. They were smaller with a green frame and blue plastic lens. There was only one bag hanging from the eldest's right arm and it was very light.

" Did you all have a nice time, Sweethearts?" Rosiepuff asked sweeping.

" Yeah. We did it. Kinda lost track of time." John chuckled.

" It was awesome." Clay said going up the stairs.

Spruce followed Clay to their bedroom to put away his new clothes. Floyd gave Rosiepuff a side hug before doing the same as them leaving John and Branch alone Grandma once more. John placed Branch down onto the couch. The cheeky little one kept smiling lifting up his own pair of goggles then pulling them back down. The blue lens gave everything he saw a blue tint which caused him to giggle.

" That's great. Johnny... I have something for you. I know it's not new and it was a bit of a fixer upper when I found it but, I thought it deserved a new owner and you came to mind." Rosiepuff set aside the broom.

She went into the kitchen and returned with a white box tied with red ribbon. Curious John set down his newly bought clothes next to Branch then silently accepted the gift. Carefully untying the ribbon he pulled it off and opened the box. Inside was exactly the same jacket and glove he discovered yesterday but, now the glove had a newly made matching friend making them a pair and the jacket was mended and expanded without ruining the overall look of the brown leather.

Eyes widening in awe John gasped. His jaw dropped at the mere sight of the present. Even though it was technically a hand me down it was more than that to the male troll. This meant something more to him on a deeper level whether he understood it or not. Forcing himself to look up at his grandmother gratefully, he tore his eyes away from the thoughtful gesture.

" Grandma... I... Thankyou. So much."

A sad but, fond smile graced Rosiepuff's face. It was almost as if seeing the same jacket and gloves brought memories to her. Memories of a person from the past. From a time when things felt simpler.

" These belonged to your father, Johnny. The day your Dad was put in this cage he was wearing this jacket and these gloves. Actually one was missing cause he lost in the woods but, I made it a friend... Noah... Your Dad would have been so proud if he was still with us. He would have wanted you to have this..."

Tears threatened to escape from John's now misty blue eyes. His hands began to shake a little. His heart beat slowed down but, was so loud with every beat. Hearing those words. That confirmation. Everything about that jacket and glove made sense now. He hadn't realized how much he needed to hear his grandmother's claim of his father's pride and love until now. He had been working so hard to help support and care for his brothers.

It was hard for him to try and replicate their Dad. He wasn't him. He would never be their Dad. But, hearing that Noah,his father, would be proud of him for everything despite his mistakes... Woken a sleeping wave of emotion in John.

Setting down the box, John gently tackled his beloved grandparent into a warm embrace. Tears held back from last three years poured down into her shoulder. Gently wrapping her arms around her first grandbaby Rosiepuff hugged him. John needed this moment more than anything. She knew had been strong for way too long.

" Ssh. Ssh. It's okay. Your doing your best. " Rosiepuff whispered soothingly.

Branch's ears perked at the sound of his older brother's crying. Not being able to tell the difference between tears of joy and genuine pain, he decided to help in the only way he knew how. With a hug. Maybe John had more than one kind of tears overflowing at once. His emotions were too strong and mixed to know for sure if they were just gratitude or pent up suffering and relief. Branch pulled off his goggles then ran over to hug JD's legs. His tiny body shook like a cute little duckling ruffling its feathers.

" Thank you..." John kept repeating.