A/N: Apologies for the strangely formatted original upload of this chapter! It should all be fixed now!

I posted this chapter on AO3 in July 2018… so sorry. Please follow me there for more consistent updates: theroseofhousestark

Let's fast forward a little bit – after a very happy Christmas, Tina's back at work, and Newt's still in New York and still sleeping on her couch. The two keep circling around each other, and it's driving Queenie crazy (though her pregnancy hormones might have something to do with it). Shall we see how our story continues? Thank you again for joining me. I am so grateful for all of you.

January 5, 1928

Newt bustled around the kitchen in Tina's apartment – her apartment? Their apartment? – as he eagerly waited for her to return home from work. "Should be any moment now," he murmured to Pickett, who had popped out of his shirt pocket. Newt moved to pull the chicken out of the oven when he saw Dougal freeze in the midst of lighting candles around the dining room table. "What is it, Dougal?" Newt set the food on the counter and moved towards his demiguise when the door flew open, revealing a distinctly distraught-looking Tina. "Welcome ho- Tina? Is everything alright?" After throwing her coat to the side and kicking off her shoes, she had sunk to her knees and had Dougal wrapped in her embrace. Newt slowly walked over and knelt down next to her. "Tina?" he spoke gently, and after a moment Tina looked up at him.

"Can we go into the case, Newt?" Though slightly taken back by her request, Newt immediately nodded. He held out his hand as he stood and she eagerly took it, Dougal still resting on her hip. They stepped carefully down into the case, Dougal swinging down in front of them. Newt followed Tina as she led them through the habitat to a great open plain surrounded by stars.

"Will you take me when you leave?" "What?" "When you leave, will you take me with you?" She had turned to look at Newt when he said this, and he was astonished. Was… was she serious? Go with him, around the world? But what about her career? He couldn't ask her to abandon that, not after all she had done to earn her Auror status back.

"Who said that I'm leaving?" "What?" It was her turn to be confused. What did he mean, he wasn't leaving? But he had too… "Oh. Well, if you feel that way." Tina had not realized she had spoken aloud. "No! I just mean… You have your creatures and your research and your book! You can't possibly remain in New York for that." "What if it's not all about me anymore?" Tina suddenly felt very warm, as Newt was staring right at her. "I'm sorry?" "My life isn't all about me anymore. It hasn't been, not for the last year." He took a step towards her. "I'm here for you, Tina. I would stay here forever, if you wanted. Whatever makes you happy. You come first." He stepped even closer, barely a hair between them now. "My life doesn't belong to me anymore. It's yours; my life, my heart, my soul. All of it. I thought I couldn't love anything more than my creatures." Here he shook his head, laughing softly. "How wrong I was." Tina was practically frozen, absorbing all that Newt was saying. What was he saying? He wanted to stay in New York? He wanted to make her (her!) happy? He loved-?

"Tina?" Newt's gentle voice broke her from her spiraling thoughts, his hand coming to caress her cheek. "Is it too much? We can go back-" "Absolutely not!" She said fiercely. Her mind was still whirring but her heart was steady and loud and clear. Her heart knew that she adored this man with everything in her being and would travel to the ends of the Earth for him – or, more likely, with him! He started to step away, obviously unsure and slightly hurt by her lack of response. She quickly reached forward and grabbed his waistcoat, pulling him so close to her that they were touching.

"Don't you dare leave me." "I would never," he vowed, and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to seal this promise with a kiss. Newt was simultaneously lost and found; lost in the absolute bliss of kissing Tina while knowing he had found his true place in life, with her. His arms moved to surround her, and they swayed gently with the wind without breaking their kiss. Her mind was blank but for a constant rhythm beating: Newt. Newt. Newtnewtnewtnewt…

Queenie's exuberant squeal broke the couple apart. Tina tried to shuffle away in embarrassment but Newt locked his arm around her waist, keeping her pressed against him. A moment later Queenie raced forward, enveloping them both as well as she could. She released Newt to grip her sister tighter and he took this opportunity to greet Jacob, who had walked towards them more slowly. He looked obviously apologetic for his wife's behavior, but Newt spoke before he could apologize. "She's Queenie. We wouldn't expect anything less." The sisters rejoined their respective others, Queenie still beaming and Tina looking slightly harassed but glowing with happiness. "So beautiful," Newt whispered, quiet enough for only her to hear. Her cheeks flushed and he leaned down to brush another kiss against her lips. He would never tire of being able to kiss this woman.

"So when's the wedding?" "Queenie!" Tina looked scandalized and her sister laughed. "I'm only joking, Teen. Newt knows that." Queenie shot him a wink as his thoughts dissolved into marrying Tina. Porpentina Scamander… "Newt, honey." It was Tina's turn to rescue him from his thoughts. "Shall we head back upstairs? The chicken should be sufficiently cold by now." They all laughed as Newt began to panic and rushed up the ladder, leaving the case open for them to follow. Newt was in the kitchen fiddling with the oven, cursing over the "blasted Muggle contraptions" and looking generally harangued. "Newt, darling?" Newt automatically looked up at Tina's voice, his heart racing a bit at her endearment. "Perhaps we use magic, for ease?" He felt foolish, but knew Tina had not intended to make him feel this way. He tried to laugh at his own foolishness, and Tina's beautiful smile and extended hand lifted his spirits.

They were seated at the table before he noticed the Kowalski's absence. "Where did-" "They, uh, thought we might like the evening alone. They'll be back tomorrow." "Oh. Alright." The pair began to eat in silence, Newt kicking himself for the awkwardness that had settled between them. Why was everything so much easier in the case? It had been perfect…

"Tina?" They had finished eating with small, failed attempts at conversation, and Newt had walked Tina to her bedroom door. "Yes, Newt?" "Um, if you don't mind me asking, why were you upset earlier? I realized that we never talked about it and I thought you might want to. It's alright if you don't, of course! No problem at all! In fact-" She held up a hand to stop him, and he let his rambling trail off. "It's alright, Newt. I just had another small disagreement with Madame Picquery. It'll be fine." "Would you tell me about it?" He looked at her with such caring in his eyes that Tina could not deny him. "It has become, um, very difficult for me to stay within the rules of the Aurors. The department seems to care more about following inane regulations than actually helping people." She shook her head in exasperation. "It's very frustrating."

Newt paused for a moment, thinking. "If I may be so bold, Tina." She smiled at him, encouraging him to continue. "I believe you would much better serve the world outside of an office. If you truly believe you cannot find happiness here… I would very much like you to come with me on my travels." Tina smiled even brighter, taking his hand. "I would like that, very much. But perhaps first we stay in New York for a while? I would like to be here when the baby is born..." "Yes, of course. And I will endeavor to make your remaining time here not so frustrating. I am planning to meet with Madame Picquery, create a temporary liaison position between MACUSA and the Ministry and hopefully begin a Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures here in the States." He looked so hopeful and excited to bring change that Tina could not resist reaching up to kiss him.

Once they broke apart, Newt made for the couch and wished Tina a good night. Before he could walk way, however, she grabbed his hand. "Um, Newt?" "Yes, dearest?" He added the endearment without thinking, and they both flushed. "Would you like some cocoa?" Newt nodded, and Tina hurried to grab some from the kitchen. She handed him a mug and took his other hand, leading him into her bedroom. She sat cross-legged by her pillow while Newt hovered awkwardly. "Come, sit." Tine patted the covers beside her and Newt obeyed, still looking nervous.

After they finished their cocoa, Tina reached to her bedside table and handed Newt a red-covered book. He looked surprised but smiled at her. "Read to me, Newt?" "Happy to oblige, my lady." He ushered for her to stand quickly and pulled back her covers. "In you get, my love." She kissed his cheek briefly before snuggling under her blanket, looking up at Newt eagerly. He opened his book and began to read, expanding on his stories for Tina's benefit. Soon she had drifted off to sleep, and he found himself dozing off against the wall, unwilling to part from her.

A few hours later, Tina woke briefly to find warm arms surrounding her. She nuzzled closer to Newt, feeling safer than she ever had. Her Newt… finally.