Chapter 9

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John Dory was putting the last things in place inside of Rhonda. Two hours and they should have left the village, if they want to arrive at the campsite that Branch talked about in the morning/ noon.

Other times, usually, this would relax him. Getting ready to leave The camp where he lived for a couple of months, and then moved on to another destination, was electrifying. He would begin, so to speak, a new life.

And he would be happy this time too, if it wasn't for the talk he had with his brothers. He is preparing everything by himself because ; Floyd had a breakdown, amount of tears that could be compared to waterfalls, and Clay was utterly absent. Eyes wide open, distraught face, as if the ground has crumbled under his feet, he had his hands crossed on his knees while his leg was shaking. He also had puffy red eyes, but was determined to not cry in front of them.

Those reactions were more than understandable. The only reason he didn't let his emotions get the better of him because, if he got demoralized, others would follow.

Bruce stayed behind with them, they were so frightened that that they might rush into Branch's room and beg to forgive them. He was relieved his brother was watching over them, taking care of them since their mental state at the moment. After all, out of the two of them, Bruce was best suited for sentimental situations. That's what he supposed since he has thirteen kids. As for Branch, JD was sure that he was fast asleep.

Thinking about the youngest, makes him feel like a giant rock buried him in the ground. The truth finally hits him. He knows his people, and he knows how the village's mentality was back then. It may have changed with time, but years ago, no one took anything seriously. They thought everything could be solved if you sang a happy song.

Like, "You are depressed? Have you tried to take a walk and breath fresh air?" or "Put a smile on your face and it will all pass."

After a grief, their colors would dull, yes, but being sad was an outrage for them so they forced themselves to move on when they weren't ready yet. Just because they couldn't handle something that wasn't happiness and parties.

So he's sure that no one took seriously the death of their grandmother and a little child being left on his own. He hopes he may be wrong, but he really doubts that anyone would take Branch in.

His baby brother, at the only age of 5 and he was already facing the world on his own, in the worst way ever.

The image a tiny blue trolling being left behind in the shadows, completely abandoned to himself, no one worried about, no one would held him in their arms, no one wiping away his tears when he scrapped his knee, no one singing to him lullabies at night.

This thoughts, made his heart ache, send shivers down his spine. Suddenly everything became colorful blobs, his vision blurred by the tears that were piling up and that he didn't realize he had until they ran down his cheeks.

His fist clenches in anger. No matter how much he tried to bring himself to be mad at the other trolls, he knows that it wasn't their responsibility to look after his baby brother, when he himself has failed to do so. When he was the first one that didn't put Branch's health and well being in the first place and chased his own freedom instead.

Branch was HIS younger brother, not theirs. Just like the other brothers , they were his responsibility. But Branch was their responsibility too.

He sits on the stairs of his sweet armadillo bus, grabs his head in his hands and closes his eyes, refusing to let one more tear to fall.

He wished that Branch would scream at him, yell to get out of his life once and forever, to not appear at his door ever again and that he hates him with his whole heart.

But, a part of him, wanted to cling into his baby brother, to hold his close, or else the wind would have took him away. He craved to be his big brother, the one he would go to whenever he had problems, to ask him advice, or simply snuggled with him.

When he let out a chocked sob, that he covers immediately by putting a hand on his mouth, Rhonda whimpers, emphasizing his sadness. It's true that animal are able to perceptive the emotional state of those closest to them.

John then tries to pull himself together. He doesn't want to affect negatively Rhonda's feelings as well. He brings himself to getting back to work where he left. Maybe this could distract him for a while. When Branch will recount his side of the story to them all, he would try to do the same and explain everything from his point of view.

___

Bruce wanted to drag John Dory back in the bunker. Why in the hell did he leave him to comfort Clay and Floyd alone?

He would have presented inside of Rhonda, force JD to man up and go back inside. But he couldn't leave his younger brothers alone like this.

He was patting Floyd's back, the poor dude was already dealing with his own problems of trollnapping and torture. Learning that their grandmother died in a tragic way and that Branch has been living since then on his own, completely destroyed him.

To not talk about Clay's face. Any adjective would be an understatement to describe it.

Back in BroZone days, he would always know what to do to take care of the emotional sphere of the others, words easily came out his mouth. But now, what could he possibly say? He also was suffering from this discovery. He can only hum a song, attempting to calm them down a little bit. Usually that worked with his children.

His posture drops, his facial expression starting to be haunted with guilt. He sits down next to Floyd. His mind starts to wander, going back to 18 years ago when he first met Brandi by pure chance. She was the one who convinced him to move permanently to Vacay Island.

His lips curl into a small and little smile at the memories. He and his wife had a whole teen romance. They married three years later. That day, he never missed his brothers so much. Not having them right next to him, not knowing that he was marrying the woman of his life. Not having them reassuring him in the hospital while his first child born, nor when the other twelve born.

His brothers missed the most important and the happiest events of his life. Just like how he missed their special days. Like Floyd's concerts, Clay co-running a business, JD finally exploring the Neverglade like he always dreamed since they were kids, and he missed Branch's whole life and watching him grow up.

He started his own family, just because the one he loved and closest to him weren't there, didn't mean that his life shouldn't have gone on , that the world had stopped. But, this absolutely didn't mean that he forgot about his dear brothers. Not his wife, nor his kids, nor anyone in the universe, could ever replace them. His heart became big enough to make everyone fit in, but there were always four empty pieces, that just now were starting to be put in their places again.

While Bruce was lost in his mind, Floyd brings his knees to his chest, hiding his face and starting to rock back and forth like a little ball. He made himself so tiny, in an attempt to hide from the world and not have to accept what he has just heard.

His own words repeating on loop clearly in his head.

"We're gonna build the hide out together, when I'll be back. I promise."

Regret filling his head. He could have gone back to the Tree when he finished his performances, or made Branch and grandma Rosiepuff come along with him. They could have started a new life away from Bergen Town. Every single scenario was better than the choice of abandoning Branch.

But he was a kid back then, dumb and young, still didn't know the consequences of his actions and decisions. Never could have imagined that everything could down hill. This isn't a justification, obviously.

He didn't keep his promise. Branch ended up building the hide out- BUNKER alone. That's what he has been for all his life, alone. And now he was staying there with no bother, in the place that he hasn't helped in any way to create.

Why wasn't Branch repudiate him? How could he stand living under the same roof with him? With them.

But how was he so sure that Branch didn't hate them? The youngest showed that he was really good to disguise and bottle up his emotions.He definitely was mature enough to stay civil around them.

He was also suffering from the lost of their grandma. Most of his childhood, he lived with his parents, but they moved with the old lady when one day they didn't come back home.

Their grandmother was a strong and stubborn woman, sometimes also very strict. Especially the first months they lived with her.

But she was also very sweet and caring, sympathetic. Whenever he and his brothers accomplished something, she always prized them and made sure to make them perceive how proud she was.

She was the first one they saw when they woke up and the last one when they went to sleep. She was the one who helped them pull their baby teeth when they were ready to loose. She prepared their favorite food when they had a bad day. Before becoming a band, they would always perform for her and during their concerts, she was always in the first line. To think she isn't here anymore.

Floyd slowly untangles and compose himself after a while. If Branch said that will discuss about this whole situation later, then he definitely was planning to scream in their faces how horrible they are and whish to never see them again.

The magenta haired troll menage to calm himself down. Yet a void in his chest didn't give way to fading even in the slightest. It was impossible sensing that what they knew was nothing compared to what they had yet to know.

Tears still shone in Clay's eyes, refusing to let any fall on the floor, his forehead furrowed, a line between his brows and his pupil flashed from a point of the room to the other.

He was still deeply in denial. Couldn't believe, couldn't accept this. Grandma died in front of Branch's eyes, he witnessed it all. He had to rise himself, to provide himself food and water, to protect himself from the monsters under his bed.

But then he understood that the monsters where never under his bed, instead, they were really close to him, they followed him in the light of the day, they fed him, gave him baths, sang to him, they taught him to walk and talk, they put him to bed and one day, they disappeared in the dark.

Clay desperately wanted to confront Branch now. He couldn't stand any longer the pain and suffering, he wanted to skip to the part where they all were hugging and crying tears of happiness, where they started to be a family again, with no problems and misunderstandings and hard feelings.

But they had to work hard to accomplish that, a lot of time and a big amount of patience. The only thing he could do was to hope that Branch wouldn't completely erase their existence out of his life.

___

Branch was in his room, he wasn't asleep. Since the return of his brothers, he passed most of the time remembering all the moments of his childhood at night, instead of sleeping.

He was convinced that he was done with his past. But he understood that he has not made peace with it. He was trying to forget, so exhausted from the pain, desperately wanted to get away.

And he thought he was succeeding to do so, but then, John Dory appeared, shattering this conviction and everything fall apart.

The presence of his brothers brought to the surface a lot of memories, and obviously also a lot of pain. Even the good and happy parts of his childhood began to hurt, it was a reminder that he could no longer have these things again, that it was too late by now and no one could do anything about it. No one could bring back to him his childhood.

He was reflecting on what to say to his brothers later. Where should he even start from? What if the things that they would know about him, would change the way they saw him? What if they were going to be the one who would feel resentment for him after what he did to their grandmother?

Branch's mind was about to explode. He wanted to get ride of this feeling, it was draining to always feel anxious, scared, nervous, angry and frustrated all the time of the day.

For a moment there, he actually considered the option of rushing to where the others were and recount and explain everything. He already suffered for two decades, he really doesn't want to prolong the thing further.

At this point he didn't even care if the table turned and his brothers were the one who didn't want to see him ever again, he just wanted to put an end to this mess and officially move on from the past.

Branch finally convinces himself to get up from the bad and prepare a backpack for the next days, he walks to his bathroom inside his bedroom and sauntered towards the wash basin, taking his toothbrush and toothpaste.

While doing so, the dark haired troll takes a fleeting glance at himself in the mirror. Only those who had learned to observe him closely, like Poppy, could see how disheveled he is. Both inside and outside.

All this stress from keeping in his chest such a weight and grudge, wasn't doing him any good. The worry lines around his eyes that had toned down a little bit in the recent months were now a little more noticeable again.

His hair, who were always immaculately straight and in place, now at the end they were messy and knotted. He'll fix himself up later. His outward appearance mirrored how he feels on the inside. He can't let that happen.

He goes back in the bedroom and walks to the closet. Takes the items and clothes that he needs and is about to closes it, but then something on the top shelf catches his eye.

It was the puzzle box, the one he and his grandma always used to do in the rainy days when they couldn't go out. They used to do a lot of them, actually, but he had only brought this. The last one they made together.

Branch's exhale comes out a little bit more shaky than he meant to. He reached to take the box in his hands and gently dust the surface of the box, trying not to let it fly all over the room.

He stops for a moment, he doesn't hear the voices of his brothers anymore, and that makes him suspicious, but then he remembers that they are in the middle of the night and that they would leave at dawn, so he suppose that they left to go in their rooms and sleep.

Once the cover of the box is removed, you could see the puzzle entirely assembled, but one single piece was missing making it incomplete.

He was so upset in the beginning, he was so attached to this specific puzzle. When he was little this was the one he liked the most, he knew how to assemble it by heart. But eventually learned how to live with that. There were major issues in the past than a missing piece.

Branch lay the puzzle box on the bed and kneel right in front of it.

He slides his finger over the already assembled puzzle, being careful not to break it down anywhere. Every time he does this it's like reliving his childhood, the good part at least, and he always end up bawling his eyes, so for his own good he did this rarely, only when he felt like he needed a good cry so that he could enjoy the peace for a long time after.

This night was one of those rare times, he needed it so that he would be stronger when he would confront his brothers. But, he was interrupted.

In fact, Clay bargain inside Branch's room. The dark colored troll gasped in surprise at the sudden noise of the door being swung open and the light of the hallway illuminating faintly the inside of the bedroom.

The youngest, after a few seconds to recover from the surprise, he finally observe and inspect the frizzy haired troll who was standing on the sole of the door.

Clay's eyes looked like about to pop out, rivers of tears and tears stains all over his face, gasping for air and his chest violently going up and down and his lips were trembling.

Right behind him, there were Bruce, who was trying to drag Clay out by his arm, and Floyd who's eyes darted between the two and was covering his mouth with both hands, with red cheeks and eyes filled with tears.

Branch slowly got up, staring at the three faces at his door with a raised eyebrow in confusion. He was waiting for someone to explain what was going on, but then he notices that his brother was gripping some papers in a clenched fist.

Paying more attention and studied what they were about but it was hard to see a thing. Clay seemed to understand what he was thinking, because the third born held the sheets straight right in front of his face.

Branch's perplexed face, slowly turned into a scowl as he recognizes that what he was observing.

He can hear Bruce's voice, begging Clay to leave. Sometimes Floyd would join too, but the youngest couldn't make out the words. Branch was like paralyzed. Where did they find those. How did they? Why did they looked through HIS things? Things that he wrote and said in a moment of frailty and weakness. When he was alone, scared, traumatized, isolated and hopeless. When he was in that position because of THEM.

Branch couldn't take his eyes off the drawing he made at the age of 7, maybe he was 8. Independently his age, what was on the paper was concerning.

"Clay... Where did you get this?" the navy blue haired troll was still looking at the drawing, voice stern and cold.

Clay in response took a looong breath of air before talking. At this point, both Bruce and Floyd gave up on trying to get their brother out.

"Right now, it doesn't matter. W-we just want to know what happened Branch, please tell us." Clay cautiously moved forward and tried to place a hand on the youngest's shoulder.

But Branch didn't let that happen and took a few steps back. Eyes narrowing and beginnings to get wet.

Then the three starts to get alarmed, Floyd would loooveee to hit his older brother behind the head.

Minutes before, Bruce mentioned a science lab somewhere in the bunker. He also said that when he went in, he already found John inside and when he saw the older one in the face, he was so pale.

The purple haired brother also confided that John hinted to some odd drawings that Branch made. Hearing this, made Clay loose definitely his cool and flashed to the lab that Bruce talked about seconds earlier.

Like a madman, he threw open every single door in sight to find it. Bruce wouldn't confess where it was, seeing the conditions of his younger brother.

There were no ways for Bruce and Floyd to stop him. When they were about to reach Clay, the troll runs out of the lab and headed to Branch's bedroom.

Panic spread in the chest and mind of the other two, Clay risked jeopardizing all the progress they had made for their bro-relationship with Branch. The two hurries to follow after Clay, still trying to get him to calm down and convince him that this wasn't the right moment, the youngest said that he would explain everything when he was ready to do so.

Floyd didn't get the chance to see what the drawing was about, but a glimpse of Clay's horrified expression was enough to imagine how bad it had to be.

Now he was staring at the black and chagrined facial expression on his little brother's face staring at the three of them. Floyd can feel the tension leaving his body. What was done was done, so he tried to get the situation under control and have a pacific confrontation.

"Branch..we're so so sorry. We didn't want to mind your business and such a delicate episode of your life without your permission. But you do understand that we were driven by concern, this is not a excuse, i know." the pink haired one sauntered towards Clay and Branch, arms held in front of him to show that he meant no harm.

However, he stopped immediately when he saw Branch shake his head and eyes full of tears, biting his inferior lip.

At that moment, Branch thinks only of snatching the paper from Clay's hands and running away. He felt so betrayed, he explicitly said that he would recount everything, but only when he felt to and was ready.

Now it was Bruce's turn. The second oldest, who until now was witnessing everything outside the door, now walks inside the room.

"B, you know that if you don't confide with us, we can't understand what you're feeling, what you went through, and we don't know how to act with you." being a father surely helped to grow more patience, in fact his tone was soothed and fatherly.

But Branch didn't pay too much attention to the calm voice, expect for the words. The speech of Bruce just ignited the anger even more. Oh, so he should blindly trust those who have abandoned him? How can they make him feel guilty, for not trusting and venting to them after what they have put him through?

He arrived to the limit, he couldn't stand this anymore, one or two tears fall on his face, but he immediately wiped away them away with the back of his hand. He really didn't want to yell in their face, but they were testing his patience.

"How did you get that?"

Clay was taken back, Branch's voice was so icy that he almost got shivers. He glanced at the two behind him.

"Bud, that isn't important right-"

"Yes it IS!" Branch finally gave in, he couldn't contain his emotions anymore. Hot tears run down his cheeks, not even the time to wipe the ones that had already fallen, that others would come out. His throat burned, as if there is barbed wire surrounding it, preventing him from speaking without feeling pain.

"Of course it matters! It's MY past, MY problems, MY fears, MY paranoia. It's important to ME!" if they knew how much suffering he had to live and bare in the past 20 years. Since he was so young, he hadn't experienced anything but pain and loneliness.

Clay lowered his head in pure shame, whining in distress and rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Now I fell even worse than before. I could have prevented everything from happening if I decided to face grandma before leaving definitely the Tree..." the wild haired troll murmured under his breath. It's like he was unconsciously externalizing his thoughts but without the intention of letting others hear them. "...all of this could have been avoided."

Too late. Branch heard it all.

"...What?.."

Clay's head snapping to look at his youngest brother's face, locking eyes with him. He had the same expression as he did when their grandmother would catch him with his paws in the biscuits' jar at the first hours of the morning.

Branch's timbre of voice had now changed to a terrifyingly calm one.

Since Clay didn't proceed to explain, confess, and opened a few times his mouth but failing to let a word come out. Branch concluded it for him.

"You were still in the Tree...before escaping from Bergen Town..." it wasn't too hard to figure it out. Deep down, he hoped with every atom of his body that Clay would deny, that if he had a chance he would run to the pod and rise him immediately. But those denies never came, the tall one remaining dead silent and studied the ground.

"Y-you were there, but never ever worried to come back to check up on grandma and me..." Branch's wobbly knees threatened to make him fall on the floor, eyes irritated from tears and unable to speak any longer because of his throat getting more and more sore. Him biting the inside of his cheek.

The faces of the other three were mortified now, it implied that they understood how much bad they've messed up everything. They winced at Branch's words and, his voice starting to faint and he begins to shake his head incredulous, full of ire and despair.

The room was starting to feel too small, claustrophobic for the youngest. Everywhere he looked, Branch met faces he didn't want to see at the moment. The oppression and apprehension were becoming nagging, his skin tingling uncomfortably, as it prayed him to go as far as possible from there.

Thanks to what he just discovered, his mind was taking him back to the past, forcing him to relive everything that had made him miserable. His breathing increased and the tears showed no sign of stopping, quite the contrary.

He can feel burning and itch grow even more on the skin of his right arm, and in a desperate attempt to make it stop, he puts his hand on the spot, slapping away a hand that he didn't know who it belonged to,and honestly didn't care.

He needed to get out, to get some air and, specifically, get away from his brothers. They just gave him a reason to cancel every progress their relationship had made until now.

So, he nimbly manages to avoid Clay, Bruce and Floyd and run away. Branch can hear the them calling his name, asking for him to come back and talk things out, but right now, he hasn't any nice words for them, so he never stop and manages to get out the bunker.

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John finally has done everything, he was just putting the bulky items away, so that there would be more space for all of them inside the armadillo.

He scans the whole place to see if he forgot anything else. The old one is so enthusiastic and amused to finally have some bro-time together, without the pressure and anxiety that one of them is being tortured to death.

Now that he had the chance to satisfy his dream to explore the world, especially the Neverglade-Trails like his father always promised him, he wants to go back to the big brother role.

He loved feeling the adrenaline he felt from being so far away from home, waking up and having the sight of the sunrise, having fun to recognize and find the constellations, but most importantly, it was thrilling finding Rhonda.

Although, now that he experienced everything there was to experience, he wants to enjoy and rest with his brothers. He isn't gonna give up on his survivalist side, but the teal colored troll recognize that he also wants a connection with his family.

So, in conclusion, he's going to a long break from the wild life and grow a bond with his little brothers, and whenever he feels like going on another exploration, he wouldn't be away for too long and hang around, maybe even making them go with him.

Proud of his future plans, John Dory nods to himself with a grin and heads to the exit. But what he sees makes his face fall.

The scene that unfolds in front of him is his youngest brother running out of the bunker and the rest trying to chase him, but seeing how fast Branch is, they quickly give up.

Nope, it doesn't look like they were playing 'tag you're it'. They weren't playing at all.

Especially by their faces, every single one of them was crying.

What in the actual fur was happening?!

"BRANCH! COME BACK PLEASE!"

The oldest was torn between going to ask the three in the bunker for an explanation or following Branch. Hearing how desperate Floyd's voice was while calling for the youngest and Branch literally ignoring him, he deduced that something serious must have happened, so John opts for the second option.

The eldest already did the mistake of not running after his baby brother once, when he stupidly mocked him for wanting to be a family again, it's surely isn't gonna happen a second time. His 'big brother' nature won't let him.

Ironic enough, since for almost all his life he tried to run away from this kind of responsibilities and babysitting his four younger brothers. He wanted that specific responsibility, even though now it was his brothers whom didn't need it.

John shakes his head, forcing himself to concentrate on the problem and understand what was going on, he would contemplate his actions later, when everything was resolved. That is, if he could solve them.

So the older one immediately sets off in pursuit and does everything he can not to lose sight of Branch. This mission, however, turned out to be more difficult than he thought, the youngest was very skilled, athletic and fast. He moved smoothly and confidently between the various branches.

John also makes a mental note to ask him, among other questions, how and where he learned all those tricks. If he wasn't the one who had the task of tackling him down, the teal colored troll would be very amused and amazed.

Even though JD was able to keep up with the one he was chasing for now, for him it was a challenge. It was the middle of the night, Branch's dark colors certainly didn't help him to spot the monotone colored troll better cause he blended really well in the night's shadows, and moreover they were going into the thickest part of the forest.

He considered the option of calling after him, but trashed that idea instantaneously. If Branch rejected Floyd, he most likely will do the same with him and accelerate even more.

He didn't know the village really well. John lived in the Tree before leaving, and although Poppy showed them around, they didn't explore the wild and untouched part of the place.

But he has lived in such environments for decades, so it this didn't worry nor scare him. The old one was also careful to where he was putting his feet, if Branch heard sticks and branches crack somewhere behind him, he would understand right away that someone was following him.

__

After hours, that's the time John calculated, and after get past all the trees, enormous plants and various weird critters, they have arrived to a vast green area, there wasn't anything but earth and grass and by the sound of flowing water he supposed that a stream must be there somewhere near.

The more they went on, the more JD progressively got a tiny bit closer to Branch. If the leaves didn't rustle and swish with the night breeze close to his ears and he didn't make a sound, he could hear Branch sniffle. He grow even more worried.

What in the hair happened between the others while he was setting up Rhonda?

Thud.

While the teal colored troll was distracted by unanswered questions, a sudden sound made him paying attention to his target.

Since John didn't find him on a branch of the tree right in front of him, he started to inspect the surroundings. When he finally found him on the ground, one of his knee touching the the earth.

It seemed like Branch has landed not in the right way, getting hurt, presumably to the knee he was now clutching between his paws.

JD didn't care anymore about being seen, checking Branch's health was way more important. Even if it meant being yelled at.

But unexpectedly, Branch got up and took a deep breath before kept going forward, this time more calmly and cautiously.

John had to repress his instincts to run up to his little brother and checking his injury, instead continued to follow silently him.

__

Branch cursed himself under his breath. The last time he got his knee scratched was when he was 11 years old, he was so enraged and furious that he lost concentration.

He initially thought about hiding from the world, inside of Poppy's pod. But he discarded that idea right away, he caused too many problems to his girlfriend in these past days. Plus she had her duty of Pop's Queen to think about and recently found her long lost sister to reunite and catch up time with.

He didn't want to be an additional burden to her, and she was surely already sleeping, he would have also interrupted her sleep. So he was heading elsewhere. At this moment, he needed a comforting and isolated place.

When he stood up, he let out a hiss of pain, teeth gritted. It wasn't anything worrying tho, it would only have formed a common hematoma. Gonna take care of it later, before Poppy would see it. He didn't plan on going to this stupid trip anymore.

'It will pass, while walking.'

No physiological pain could compete with the internal conflict he was feeling at the moment.

He was still mentally stuck on what happened a while ago. Still wondering how did his brother find those things, and especially, what made them think that they had the right to look trough his stuff.

The dull colored troll groans out of frustration, he could already feel a headache incoming. Maybe for how much he cried, all the way here, or the overthinking. Definitely both.

And when he was being emotional, his "survivalist" would switch off. This is why he didn't get the gut of being watched or followed. On the other end, John was very good at camouflage and stay quiet.

Branch's tensed shoulders loosen up at the mere relief of the fact that, the critters he had to worry about, were dead asleep at this time.

At least one thing was going the right way tonight. He was too exhausted right now to pick up fights also with tarantapuff or grown-up cuddle puppies. His brothers were enough.

He begin to drag his feet on the ground, starting to metabolize and process what happened time earlier. Has Clay really been staying in the Tree before the big escape? How was it possible that nor he nor his grandma ever seen him around? Why did he never showed up to take care of him? Why did his own older brother pretended that he didn't exist as if he was some dust under the rug?

The young one felt so forgotten by everybody, by his own family. So disappointed and hurt, no one cared enough for him to stay in the first place, but to know that they purposely ignored him when he needed them the most was another level of pain. It's hard to swallow this.

Most of his suffering could have been prevented if only even just one of them would've taken matters into his own hands.

Branch pressed a paw on his chest, Clay dropped an additional bombshell on him and it was making even breathing impossible to do without feeling pain.

Just when he thought that things were going for the better, suddenly everything dropped, evaporated.

All this was draining him completely, a weight that makes his inner body feel 10 times heavier. So he let himself fall on the mossy ground, his arms shacking and trembling, his legs could no longer support him, his vision getting blurry as tears started to building up at the side of his eyes, from his throat only sobs and whimpering would come out.

John, who was still hiding, gasped in horror, his legs moving as fast as they could to reach Branch. To hair his cover, his baby brother needing him was way more important. He didn't care anymore if the youngest is going to scream in his face, he will take care of him. His little brother's cries were so heartbreaking, just like when he was a little trolling and he cried for his big bros in his crib.

"Bitty B! Are ya alright?" Branch's eyes widened, after he opened them and raised his head and saw his oldest bother heading towards him.

The youngest cleared his throat and wiped away the last tears before talking.

"What are you doing here, John?" Branch maintained his voice cold and detached. He literally escaped from his other siblings, he didn't want to go even farther because John found him.

"I saw..uh, you leaving the bunker and the others who were trying to follow you. I was just about to walk inside, that's how I assisted the scene." JD tries to explain vaguely, omitting that he saw him cry.

"So you followed me? Did they asked you that?" Branch crossed his arms over his chest and furrowing his eyebrow in suspect, adjusting on the ground.

"No no, nobody told me to do anything. I just want to understand what's going on with you guys."

"There's nothing to worry about, they just did something that incredibly upsetted." Branch studied his feet, not wanting to make eye contact with his oldest brother.

He still couldn't believe that they went through his things, extremely PERSONAL things. He mentally face-palmed himself, it was his fault for staying so much away from the bunker during the day and not keeping an eye on them.

John's eyes shut and he sighed in defeat, whatever happened a while ago, it's mostly sure that it was because of something he confessed to them earlier. He remembered the astonished faces and them being in a deep stage of denial, until he told them that he knew what he was saying because there were proof that demonstrated it.

He hoped that Branch would open up to him himself, but he noticed how the youngest hesitated and seemed not at all inclined to let off steam. Since he wasn't willing to do so then he will be taking a position.

"Bitty B, you and I both know that you have something to talk about."

Branch huffed in exasperation and rolled his eyes. Why can't they leave him alone?

"John Dory. I left the bunker because the others we-"

"I've found some concerning stuff in that bunk of yours, Branch." John's tone was serious, the most serious Branch has ever heard, and his look was stern. JD was no playing.

At the pronunciation of those words, the muted colored one scowled, his glare so cold that John thought he could have been frozen on the spot.

"What are you saying-"

"Branch, I went to your lab subspecies. I went through your research till I've read every single one of them, I went deep and i found some creep stuff. That's not normal for little kids Branch!" the eldest gestured frantically, he was getting agitated and didn't know how to handle this matter.

"So you're the one...Leave John. Leave now!" the ire starting to grow dangerously inside Branch's heart and mind. The young trolls tried to get up, but he was trouble to do so, a stinging twinge in the knee that he injured before. He winced, sucking air thru gritted teeth, a purplish spot was starting to form.

John offered him his support to stand up, reaching out both arms, still Branch held an hand up to stop the older from going any further and supported himself with both arms.

The navy haired blue troll, now a lot darker shade, stumbled a little, once he got his balance back, he started to walk away.

JD drags his hands down his face. He was tired of all of this, it didn't matter if he had to press Branch for an explanation. Tonight is gonna be the night where every secret will come out and isn't going to hindering their relationship.

"Branch, don't you understand? This step forward of yours is fundamental for us, sooner or later we will solve our problems if only you-"

John's continously talking, only worsened Branch's temper that was already ill. "Oh! So now ALL of this it's MY fault, John Dory?! Is this what are you implying?!" he snapped to look back at his older brother, his voice aggrieved.

"No no no no! Branch, that's absolutely not what I meant!-" John convulsively shacked his head and put his hands up in defense.

"That's exactly what you meant! You're putting the blame on me for not trusting you guys, the ones who abandoned me when I was a baby and never gave a sign of life for 20 years?! Do I have to remind you that you appeared out of nowhere in my life only three days ago?!"

The teal skinned troll didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply lowered his gaze, whatever he would say, it wouldn't be a worthy explanation.

"And it was only because you needed me for the Perfect Family Harmony. If Floyd wasn't about to die, i really doubt that you would have come back for me!" Branch was reasonably really hurt and angry, why did they expect him to speak freely about all the pain that has been inflicted on him throughout his life? Especially after so poor time they've spent together.

"Also, there wouldn't be any "problems" to resolve if you guys didn't left in the first place." the youngest mocked sourly and belligerent, with a dark look on his face. With that, Branch went for his way once again.

John jogged after him, still maintaining some distance, he had to keep his cool, Branch was evidently talking out how he felt, and the least thing he needed was for John to rise his voice at the bitter words. "B, I know you went through some deep and serious stuff, but if only you talked about it, every barrier between you and the rest of us would crumble and we-" he tried to persuade Branch to talk, he was growing desperate, but stopped immediately when he heard an unpleasant grunt from the one stomping in front of him.

"I let you inside my home, i was civil with you and i tried my hardest to go beyond my feelings just to have contact with you guys. What more do you want?! I think I've already broken down too many barriers, John!" Branch kept his eyes glued to his path, no longer deigning a single attention to JD.

"Branch, what exactly do you not trust? Of our reactions? On how could we take it? What could we do? Start explaining yourself clearly with us! How can we help if you don't talk to us- Whats the big deal that you refuse to talk about?!" the eldest was almost begging on his knees for answers, to understand something, anything, really.

"I'm the reason of why grandma died!"

John succeed in his intent, he pressed Branch so much that he eventually broke down. The answers wasn't the one he expected tho.

"Huh?" he scoffed incredulous, but his nervous smile vanished the very second he caught Branch's endless tears. "...What are you saying Branch?"

"What I said John Dory! I'm the one who caused her death! It's all my fault! I killed her and i lost all my colors, i went gray! Because i had no one else!" the youngest cried out, pointing an index to his own chest with vigour. His voice cracking and desperate.

'What does he mean he is the reason of grandma's death? ? He couldn't be older than...5! How could he be the one who caused her death? Wait... Gray?? He went gray?! Is this why his colors are so turned off..? Why he and Poppy were so weird about it earlier.. I thought that his colors muted when he matured, just like it happened to Clay..'

John's head was messed up with questions, but he had to wait for the answers.

JD skips to him, absolutely not hesitation when he saw his baby brother plopping on the ground and grabbing his head in his hand, while chocking some heart wrenching sobs.

Stress, anxiety and panic is a deadly combo, especially for Branch. The troll did in fact start to hyperventilating and can't take a breath. Something he suffered from since he was a new born, his brothers would get so scared and worried every time it happened.

"Branch, buddy hey! C'mon breath!" John materialized right beside his little brother. Maybe the late hour and lack of sleep were playing with him, but JD could swear that in his lil brother's eyes he caught a glimmer of comfort and calmness for a millisecond.

John already had experience with this situation, he was the one who reassured and took care of Branch in these scenarios back then, he even informed himself about what caused hyperventilation, what would happen and what to do in this cases.

"You're okay, you're completely fine and you're not going to die. I need you to copy what I do, alright?" the teal troll grabbed firmly Branch's shoulders and positioned in front of him. Thru gasps, hiccups and sobs, Branch slowly nods and focus his attention on his big brothers.

After waiting for Branch's condescension, he proceeds to show him what to do. The older press his lips together and breath with his nose, keeping the air in for a few seconds and then exhale.

After repeating this process for several minutes, this seemed to have effect, the navy troll calmed down a little bit and his out of control crying, became sniffles.

'Oh, Thank Trollness!'

John relaxed and thanked the gods above after his method successfully worked, he leaned in to hold Branch in a tight hug. "You scared me there, man." JD let out a tiny laugh to play it down, but his heart racing would show the truth, it has been a while since the last time he had to intervene an episode like this. He also felt incredibly guilty and regretful for pushing Branch to open up to him, realizing how this reduced him.

Branch took his time to return the hug, at first it was weak, his arms still shaking, plus he expected for JD to pull away soon. However, the older seemed intentioned to not let go for any reason. His embrace was secure and comfortable, after all the stuff the youngest had to live in one single night, he really deserved gestures of love.

"It's not fair John...i was doing fine, i was finally living my life again, pulling myself together after years of misery. This before you interrupted everything by showing up." John couldn't see the face of his youngest brother, who was resting his head on crook of his neck, but his tone was apathetic and absent, worn-out from this shower of emotions, so he supposed that his expression wouldn't be so much different.

"Why now, John? Why only now? Why did you do this to me? You had no right to destroy everything i have rebuilt with so much effort..."

JD bit his tongue, he wanted to tell Branch everything, but he was in a fragile state and-

No John Dory, don't be a coward hypocrite.

The eldest exhaled all the air in his lungs in a sigh and took a big breath, before starting to recount his point of view of the story. Maybe if he would show his vulnerability to Branch, he would trust him more and do the same.

"I'm really sorry, if I've procured you so much undeserved suffering, B." JD began to calmly speak up, gulping his feelings of guilt. "I've been incredibly egoist and unfair with you in the past, and haven't got any better even now."

"When i left, i won't lie, I was the happiest, finally I could make my dream since I was a trolling, explore the Neverglades, something that our father passed to me. You would've really liked him..Maybe..."

Branch didn't interrupt his older brother not even once, he absorbed every word that came out of his mouth and payed very much attention to what he was saying.

"But not all the good things last forever, in fact I had to deal with guilt and my conscience. I spent a lot of sleepless nights wondering where you guys were, what you were doing, with who you were, if you ever missed me and whom have you become. Within days, those questions were becoming nagging, so i decided to give an answer to my curiosity . Except that when I arrived at the Tree, there was no one there, I knew that King Peppy was making the trolls dig tunnels to escape from Bergen Town, but I didn't know where they were, nor if it was still possible to run them. When I reached the pod, all our things were there, on the other hand it looked uninhabited for several years and there wasn't any of you around, just like in the whole Tree. I didn't know if you made it safe to wherever that tunnel ended, not if you survived and we're actually all gone. I faced the fact that every single member of my family wasn't here anymore. That's why I have treasured all your things, keeping them in the best of states and protected, because it was the only thing i had left about you. "

Branch straighted a side of his vest, Floyd's vest, and hummed, he understood how JD was feeling.

"There he is guys!"

"Shh, keep it down, man, if he knows we're here he will skedaddle away again!"

"Wait, John Dory is with him? it looks like they're talking about something."

"Yea.. I can't hear what are they saying, let's get closer."

"I felt completely demolished and hopeless, i was so sad that the last moment we had together, we spent them fighting and separated from each other. I also felt like I had failed all of you, especially you, you had nothing to do with it, but still the one who paid the most for the consequences. I always imagined what you would've looked like, wondered what would you have done if you met me, and you were the main reason of why I came back in the first place."

"Really..?" it was the first time Branch broke his silence, astonished from what his brother said. At this point, JD furrowed his forehead bewildered by Branch even questioning it. He pulled back from the hug to face Branch and cupped one of his cheek with his hand.

"Of course Branch! Why do you think i have a photo of you in my coat, always and perennially carrying it with me?" John was now grinning as perusal, showing the photo of a tiny blue trolling in the the inner pocket of his brown coat.

Branch, for the first time tonight, smiled fondly, also leaning a bit in the comfy warmth of the touch.

"Now...what do you mean with "I'm the reason of why grandma died!" and you went gray?" JD reported the same words Branch used.

"Oh...well, umh-"

"WHAT?!"

Both, John Dory and Branch jolts, shocked and scared by their others brothers' yelling and presence.

__

The next morning, Poppy hurried to go to the bunker. Usually routine, but today she went unexpectedly early, feeling anxious for her dear boyfriend.

The night before, when they had to let go of each other, she whispered to him in the ear that the successive morning she would go in the bunker to make sure that the night before, everything went well and the bros all left for the trip. If not, she would be there to comfort him.

Walking on towards the bunker, the pop queen looked all around. When she saw there was no sign of Rhonda, she exhale a breath that didn't know she was holding back. The brothers must have already left, everything is fine.

'See Poppy? You're only over thinking it! They're all good and staying all together for a few days alone, will only make improve their relationship. I'm 100% positive!'

She inserted the code and the bunker's entrance opens. Poppy hops on the lift and hurries for the kitchen, since she learned Branch's routine and knows that, if he's still here, he's sipping his precious black coffee by this hour . Well, for the first time ever she hopes from the bottom of her heart that she won't find him this morning.

The pink troll inspected every floor, just to make sure, and when she made it to the kitchen and sees it's occupied, her arms drops.

Branch was there, he was wearing his usual clothes, between his hand there was a mug full of caffeine. Sensing a presence in front of him, the navy haired troll raises his head and tiredly smiles when he recognizes who it is.

'But...if Branch is here..and Rhonda isn't, then it means....'

"Oh Branchifer..I'm so sorry." Poppy sauntered to him, a hand on her chest.

"They don't know what they're doing. Soon or later they will crawl back to you- Not at all! You don't need them, what you deserve is a loooot of love." she cupped his cheeks and caressed them with her thumbs, only now noticing only now how puffy and red his eyes were.

'How many times did they make him cry?! Those guys better not show up ever again, unless cry their eyes out for Branch! If I ever catch them, they're done for!'

Branch shakes his girlfriend out of her thoughts, by grabbing her hand and hold them in from of him.

"I really appreciate your love and protection, Poppyfer, but you've got it wrong."

Poppy tilted her head in confusion, and she was about to ask what he meant, but then the young queen hears some soft and muffled snores coming from the next room, the living room.

The pink colored troll was weird out by the sound and glanced at Branch with narrowed brows in questioning.

'Branch is here, then who is sleeping in the other roo-'

Her eyes widened in realization and she zoomed in the room in question when Branch gave her a nod while smiling, and as she thought, she found the other four brother, peacefully sleeping in a cuddle pile.

She gasped loudly, but quickly covered her mouth when Floyd turned on the other side.

Branch walked lightly to her side and stare to the cuddle pile mess on the floor of his. "It was impossible to get out of there, so suffocating."

Poppy grabbed the other troll's hand and dragged him back in the kitchen.

"Tell me what happened!" she whisper yelled, bouncing on her feet while holding both Branch's hands.

"I told them everything."

"Everything everything?"

"Everything everything." he confirmed between the chuckles as he nodded.

Poppy silently screamed while tip trapping with her feet on the ground, or maybe her screams were so high that he couldn't hear them.

"Recount to me how it went! Like, right now!"

"Uh well-"

__

"Guys- please! I've been stuck on the part that I've loose my colors after witnessing grandma dieing for half hour now!-"

Branch was interrupted once again, he lost the count how many times, by a exaggerated loud choir of cries and sobs coming from his brothers, who were all on the floor clenching in his legs and arms.

After sometime, Branch luckily was able to talk about all of his life and what happened to him. His grandma dieing in front of him, losing his colors and only finding them back thanks to Poppy, him being outcasted by the whole village and having to live on his own, feeding himself, building the bunker alone and providing to himself on his own.

Now the group of bros was walking back to the bunker. They were exhausted by this night, everybody just wanted to sleep, hugging and cuddling each other.

"Now that the trip is postponed, we have an excuse to reunite all together bros!"

"You're right Johnny! We could also make a stop to Vacay Island! The kids is gonna be mega thrilled to get to know their uncles!"

"Absolutely down for it dude!"

"Yea, I'm dieing to meet them!"

"Maybe it's better if you don't say that man.."

Branch was walking at the back of the group, rolling his eyes amused and scoffing playfully, a smirk uncontrollably forming on his lips at his brothers' antics.

Don't think everything is fixed, absolutely no. It's just that spilling some important information and being honest, eased the process.

Clay also slow down and ended up being by his side. At first the tall troll awkwardly cleaned his sweat romper, even it was already perfectly clean. With his side view, Branch can see that his older brother is trying to spur a conversation, he has a confirmation when Clay clear his throat and speaks.

"H-hey B.."

"Oh, hey Clay."

The youngest could see the frizzy haired troll open his mouth several times,should and arms so tense that it looked like he was doing a demonstration of his rusting robot. At some point he sighs, and start to speak out his mind to his younger brother.

"Branch, i wanted to tell you that I'm sorry, for living inside the Tree after i left grandma's pod and purposely avoiding you. I was a teenager, it's not a justification! But i wanted to drastically change my life stile, to have people who respected me. I won't deny that i felt terrible about leaving you. I wanted to come back to you, after some time, but I was scared of what grandma would have said and i didn't have the guts to confront with her. I'm deeply sorry little brother, If i wasn't a teenager back then, but an adult like i am now, i would have made better choice , i would have handled better everything. Like leaving you in the first place." Clay said that last sentence bitterly, making fun of himself.

This made Branch giggle a little. "I can see you're genuinely sorry and upset with yourself, Clay. But i won't forgive you, none of you yet. Consider all of you under test. Now, cmon before the others start to wonder where are we."

"Yea, i can accept that, it's only fair for you to ask for more time."

The lime haired troll side hugs his younger brothers, gaining laughs from Branch, and both joins the other three.

__

Poppy seemed to have run out of her burst of energy and stopped to gaze at Branch and beam at him.

"I'm so happy for you Branchy, you deserve this and a lot more." she squeezed his hand, still holding them firmly.

"Thank you, Poppy."

Finally the two, both leaned closer and had their topical "good morning kiss" that they have forgot to do until now.

"I'm waiting for the wedding!"

"Stop it, Bruce!"

~ The End ~

Finally the last chapter!! This story has come to an end but there's gonna be a lot more. I wanna thank everyone who supported and followed me since chapter 1 and motivated to write more. LYSM!! Also sorry for the long wait, but it was very hard and complicated to write this finale for me, in fact i don't really like how it come out. Probably I'm gonna do a remake or something really similar to this when I'll improve my writing skills. Thank you again and see you in the next fanfic<3P. S. If you see grammar mistakes and word repetitions, please ignore it, I'm too tired to check and change.