"But whyyyyYyyYyyYYYYyy not?" Guy Diamond said in his auto-tune voice. "Yeah!" The fashionistas agreed. "You are really cute together!" Biggie said, "It's their choice, not yours." He wanted to help his friends from the begging of ... Official-ness.

Queen Poppy simply giggled. She and Branch shared a look, saying, They're crazy. All of the queen's friends, including Barb, Trollex, and the Funk family wanted the two best friends to be an official couple.

Branch answered. "It's a good friendship. We don't want to ruin that." That may not have made the most sense, but talking to the snack pack, it would make all the sense in the world.

That's when Legsly piped up. "Best friendship," she said. Poppy said, "Yes, best friends, and that's about as much as you're gonna get!"

Everyone pouted. Poppy and Branch rolled their eyes in unison. "Now, I'll see you later guys," Poppy said. She made arrangements to hang out with them that afternoon.

Branch said bye, too, and said to the queen, "C'mon Poppy, let's go." As they walked away, they heard the snack pack saying, "Going where? 😏" Me is no innocent. The two just facepalmed and kept walking.

They went into Branch's bunker, and once they closed the hatch, they sighed a breath of relief and snuggled together. They shared a small kiss and looked at each other happily. The two had confessed their love for each other about a month ago, and they had been secretly dating ever since.

They didn't want the snack pack to know for multiple reasons. One, they always bugged them, especially Guy Diamond, and little moments they have. And they *cough* GD *cough* always were trying to make them look cute for the other.

The queen had found it a lot easier to do her job with Branch next to her. And she also noticed something about her boyfriend. "Y'know, I've noticed how you've become softer since you started dating me," Poppy said playfully, still in his embrace. Branch chuckled. He sure had lightened up.

He said, "It's because you're here with me." Poppy felt a blush cReEp 0_0 up her cheeks. He always knew the best ways to get her to get those butterflies. She loved him, and every time he flirts with her, she gets giddy.

Branch smirked at her. He pushed some of her bangs out of her face and caressed her cheek. I can't help it it's too fudging cute. "How do you think our friends would react to this affection?" Branch asked.

Poppy playfully put a finger on his lips and said, "Shh... They can't know!" Branch had an idea. "Well, they can know... That I started a tickle fight with you!" Poppy's eyes widened and she started to run.

She laughed as Branch chased her with his arms extended. "C'mere!" Branch said. "Noo, please!" Poppy was laughing and she was very ticklish.

Branch eventually tired her out and he tickled her. Poppy was laughing really hard. She tried to push his hands off her stomach, but he was strong. Soon, she giggled, "Okay, okay, enough!"

He stopped, and before he knew it, Poppy had started to tickle Branch's feet- his really ticklish spot. After she had gotten her revenge, Poppy stopped and smiled with satisfaction. You could see the twinkle in her eye from excitement.

Branch smiled and said, "You little-" Poppy cut him off with a kiss. "You thought you could get away with that?" She asked, teasing him. "Maybe," he said.

Poppy smirked and rolled her eyes. She grabbed his cheeks and nuzzled his nose with hers. Branch returned the gesture and wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning his forehead against hers.

Branch loved all the time he spent with her, and just loved her. He still couldn't believe he was dating the queen. Even if it was in secret, he was very glad that she shares his feelings.

They settled down to watch a movie, cuddling with each other. But not even fifteen minutes into the movie, they heard the elevator come down. Quickly, they pushed out of the other's arms and sat like normal friends would.

They saw a familiar troll step into the room. Poppy asked, "Barb? What are you doing here?" Branch asked, "How'd you even get in?"

Barb shrugged Branch's question off. She asked them, "What are you doing here, huh?" She raised an eyebrow at them. They were both were trying hide their blush.

Poppy said, "Branch invited me to watch a movie with him. Now answer my question." Barb said, "I need your little boy toy to help me with something back home."

At that, Poppy couldn't conceal her blush anymore. "Okay, I'll come," Branch said. He watched Poppy out of the corner of his eye and she did the same.

They walked out of the bunker, and before Branch departed with Barb, Poppy hugged him, whispering so only he could hear, "I love you." Branch hugged back and whispered, "And only I know it." He smirked.

~

Branch returned from Volcano Rock City and bumped into Poppy walking back to his bunker. Branch asked, "What are you doing here?" He grabbed her waist and pulled her into a hug.

Poppy hugged back and giggled. "I wanted to take you on a little date. I found a really pretty meadow, if you'd like to come." Branch smiled. "I bet it's not a pretty as you," he said. Poppy said, "Stop it!" She was blushing.

Branch said, "You only make yourself cuter when you blush," which made Poppy blush a darker pink.

She grabbed his hand and sprinted off, Branch trying to keep up with the eager young queen.

After a bit, Poppy stopped. She said to Branch, "It's right around this corner." They turned around the bushes, and Branch saw a majestic meadow right in front of him.

Branch said, "Wow, since when was this here?" Poppy said, "Um, it's actually... it's a secret place my... mom used to take me....."

Branch saw her trying to hold back tears. He pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead. "Hey, it's okay, she'll always be in your heart." Poppy smiled halfway.

The two sat down in the grass, letting the breeze soothe them. Soon, though, they heard footsteps coming towards them.

They quickly turned around and saw the snack pack creeping up on them. Guy Diamond said, "Date night much?" Branch was about to say something to deny it, (if you got it, can't deny it!) but, Poppy was quick to come up with a cover up.

"Why would you say it's a date night? Branch asked me to check for an bugs you might see around here. You never know when they could come into the village," she said. Satin asked, "But why you, huh?"

Poppy came up with an answer for this. "Because you would probably be to scared to." Smidge said, "Pfft, yeah?" Poppy smirked. Then she pretended to see a bug near their feet and said, "Wait- is that a bug right there?"

The snack pack jumped in the air, fearing the non-existent bug. Poppy rolled her eyes and laughed. "I rest my case!"

Biggie said, "We're just gonna go..." So they left leaving them alone. Branch said, "You little liar. :)" Poppy giggled. "It comes in handy. Like when I always sneak into to your bunker."

Branch's eyes widened. "You what-?" He was cut off by another kiss from Poppy. "You heard nothing!" She giggled.

Sunset came, and the two laid under the stars, and the snack pack oblivious to the fact that they have a future king on their hands.

I hope this was good. Also, 1.17K views on By My Side?! Meep.

Have a nice day! ~Rain 💙