A/N: An idea by FandomKingdomGirl on AO3 as well as pixarchan :)

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Nobody realized how much of a distance it was to their first stop, until the sky began to turn a gradient sunset color, and then gave way into night.

They had set out in the morning, traveling all day without rest, and it had taken its toll on the caterbus. Rhonda stretched out each of her four green legs and then flopped down on the ground, letting out a great big yawn. John Dory seated himself next to her and patted her fondly, the caterbus letting out a happy little purr in response.

Poppy in the meantime had nursed a fire, supplying wood to it so that it continued to keep them each warm. Sleeping bags were being set up by Branch around it, so they could all turn in for the night and be readily re-energized once tomorrow came.

"Ooo," Tiny Diamond said, seeing the setup. "Are we gonna be telling scary stories?"

"No," Poppy shook her head. "We're gonna go to sleep."

"What?" Tiny said, like he couldn't believe it.

"It's way past your bedtime," the Pop Queen said matter-of-factly.

"A man doesn't need bedtime!" Tiny Diamond pouted, crossing his arms.

"Oh, yes you do!" Poppy said. "How else are you gonna grow up to be big and strong?"

"Aunt Poppy, I'm already big and strong, see?" He flexed the teeny little muscles he had on his arms and Poppy sighed.

Branch could tell she was tired. With how energetic she was throughout the day, it all came crashing down at night. A fussy child was not something she would rather deal with right now when there was a nice, comfortable slumber awaiting her. So Branch stepped in to help.

"Proud of your boy

I'll make you proud of your boy

Believe me, bad as I've been, Ma

You're in for a pleasant surprise,

I've wasted time

I've wasted me

So say I'm slow for my age

A late bloomer, Okay, I agree..."

Branch sang just loud enough so that it could be heard over the crackling of the flames, and other nature sounds around them. Poppy glanced at him with delighted surprise, always charmed to hear his voice, but Tiny Diamond wasn't sharing her sentiments exactly.

"A lullaby?" he said. "Nice try, but that never - " He broke off, yawning suddenly, and realizing that it just might be working. Seeing that it was, Branch continued.

"That I've been one rotten kid

Some son, some pride and some joy

But I'll get over these lousin' up

Messin' up, screwin' up times

You'll see, Ma, now comes the better part

Someone's gonna make good

Cross his stupid heart

Make good and finally make you

Proud of your boy..."

It was clear that Tiny was falling to the sleeping spell, with the way he was bobbing his head and trying really hard not to let his eyes get too droopy. But he was being stubborn. He still had his glittery arms crossed and was sitting up straight. But Branch didn't let it deter him.

"Tell me that I've been a louse and loafer

You won't get a fight here, no ma'am

Say I'm a goldbrick, a good-off, no good

But that couldn't be all that I am

Water flows under the bridge

Let it pass, let it go

There's no good reason that you should believe me

Not yet, I know, but..."

Poppy sighed in admiration, her hands tucked under her chin and her eyes dilated. He was so captivating when he sang. That voice of his was something special, a gift from the heavens that bore much talent. It was no longer anything new to her, but it was to someone else who hadn't heard his singing voice for nearly two decades.

John Dory was just about to snooze against his pet caterbus, when Branch's singing had made him perk right up. It sounded totally bro-dacious! Not realizing it, his jaw had dropped and his eyes had gone wide as the realization came to him. That was Baby Branch, the little infant who was only an inch tall and who'd sang there on stage next to him when he was a teenager, with a voice that was still developing in strength and uniqueness. Clearly, Branch hadn't given up singing, and he seemed to have perfected his vocals so stunningly in the years he was on his own...

... years that John Dory was absent for.

A guilt suddenly came upon the teal Troll. He began to think back to how he'd greeted Branch back at the wedding earlier that day, as if no years had passed by, as though it was just another day up to their brotherly antics, when it obviously wasn't the case. There were many years in between, years where he could've seen Branch grow into that lovely voice, and helped guide him there vocally. That was no longer possible... not without a time machine, which, didn't exist of course.

Still, he wondered if there was a way to make amends to that bond...

"Someday and soon

I'll make you proud of your boy

Though I can't make myself taller

Or smatter or handsome or wise..."

John Dory had taken a leap of faith in joining in on the song, hoping that Branch wouldn't get upset. Branch did not stop singing, but he did look over in surprise at his brother. A part of him was annoyed. He hadn't wanted JD to sing with him. He wanted to sing with him only when the time required it, when they had already retrieved Spruce and Clay and were ready to do the perfect Family Harmony to free Floyd. But he couldn't stop himself now. It would break the serene melody that was finally making Tiny shut his eyes for good, the fight in him to stay awake lost.

"I'll do my best, what else can I do?

Since I wasn't born perfect like Dad or you

Mom, I will try to

Try hard to make you

Proud of your boy..."

Both brothers sang, and Branch felt a little spark inside him once they'd concluded. It hadn't sounded awful. It had sounded pretty good, and John Dory was beaming at him. Branch didn't scowl at him. He didn't smile just yet, but he wasn't frowning or huffing either. He was just looking at him with the slightest hint of appreciation.It wasn't much, but it was just enough for JD to get that vibe that things could be amended. They weren't beyond repair - they could still be put right.

Poppy was bubbly with joy as she grabbed the sleeping baby and tucked him into one of the sleeping bags. Tiny smiled in his sleep and cuddled the blanket close to him, sucking his thumb. She then turned her gaze to Branch and JD, and could see the expressions on their faces. They're going to be great friends by the end of this trip! Poppy thought to herself, looking forward to when she would see her boyfriend and his brother pal around, singing songs and hugging and dancing like they had years before.

Branch broke his gaze away first, and he glanced around them. "Wait... where am I gonna sleep?"

Poppy cocked her head. "Huh?" She looked down, and suddenly realized the predicament. Poppy had placed Tiny in Branch's sleeping bag, and by the looks of it, the Trolling seemed far too comfortable to be moved. Aside from John Dory's sleeping bag, which he was already settled into, there was only Poppy's pink one.

"Ohhh... oops," the Pop Queen said, biting her lip in contemplation.

"Hmm," JD thought, and then he snapped his fingers as he thought of a perfect solution. "Say, why don'tcha sleep together!"

"WHAT?!"

John Dory reared back as the two Trolls yelled in shock back at him. "Whoa, chill, alright? I just thought the sleeping bag looked big enough to fit ya," he explained. "What'd you think I meant?"

As Poppy's face turned red with a blush, Branch already began to walk off. "You know what? I, uh, I can just gather some leaves and moss and stuff and I'll just make myself a pile to sleep on, okay? Okay!" He hurried off.

"But won't that be uncomfortable?" John Dory called after him.

"NOPE!" came the strained reply.

JD was confused when Poppy too didn't want to speak anymore. "Well, goodnight!" she squeaked, quickly tucking herself into the pink sleeping bag and making sure to turn her face away from his.

John Dory exchanged a baffled look with Rhonda. "Was it something I said?"

Rhonda only shrugged.

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A/N: Song is "Proud of Your Boy" from the Aladdin musical 🎶