p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""No, Newt! I'm coming with you!" She grabbed his arm as he tried to walk away, gripping as hard as she could through the sleeves of his coat. He stopped, and for a moment stopped resisting. She stood there, holding her breath. Perhaps he had changed his mind. Perhaps they would go and get Dumbledore and then Newt wouldn't have to take the fall. He stood still. Nervous, she started talking./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""I know you think you owe him everything, Newt, but you don't. I know it's hard for him. I know he's in love with Grindelwald, but that doesn't give him an excuse to put em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"you/em in harm's way! Because people need em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"you too!/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"Newt spoke, without turning around. "I'm not as important as Dumbledore. The wizarding world can thrive without me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""Newton Artemis Fido Scamander, that is garbage and you know it! So what, if you're not a people person? So what if you're not some— some snazzy politician that can mouth off to the Ministry? You've done enough! You did enough to get me my job back with Aurors, you did enough for Frank. Serafina Piquery passed that order on Thunderbirds because of em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"you! You/em made that happen! You are important, you are enough—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"Her voice cracked and she bit her lip hard. Newt turned around, and slowly made his way toward her. Unable to look at him, she continued. "I know what Leta did to you hurt, I know what your brother is doing to you, hurts. But throwing yourself in harm's way to be a hero isn't going to work. It's just going to pass the pain to somebody else…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"She felt his hand on her chin, slowly lifting her face to look at him. She hated it,span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spannow he could see the tears on her cheeks. There were some in his eyes too, though, and that made her feel a little better./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""Tina…" He said. "I'd like to apologize in advance if I'm reading things wrong. Although in my defense, Queenie doesn't exactly help…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""What are you talking about? Reading what wron—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"but her sentence was lost as he held her face in both his hands and kissed her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"It was more passionate than she had expected from a quiet man like him, as though he had been working up the courage this entire time and didn't want to waste the opportunity. His left Hand was behind her head; the other held her tightly at the waist./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"It was moments later when he pulled away, cheeks flushed, then she realized she had been too shocked to kiss him back. He blinked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""Like I said... I'm sorry if I misread things… I just thought—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"Tina flung her arms around him, and brought her lips to his, not even bothering to let go of her wand. After a few moments of his own shock, his hand found her face once more, and for a few moments there was no Grindelwald, no war at all./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"He broke away, his forehead resting against hers, eyes closed. He was scared. This was a chance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""You don't have to do this, Newt." She said. "It's not your fight. Don't leave us. Don't leave me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"He opened his eyes and looked up to the ceiling, as though pleading for answers, before returning his gaze to her eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""If I live, we can talk about this. I love you, Tina Goldstein. Expelliarmus!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"" NO!" But Newt weaved his way out of her arms, catching her wand in his hand, backing away. "Newt! Newt don't do this, please! I will follow you, wand or no wand!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"He looked at her sadly. "I know." And with a flick of his wrist, he swung a small green cocoon, releasing the swooping evil which wrapped itself around her, no vine needed this time. She looked into the creatures red eyes, and thought she saw regret there, though she looked up at its master and saw only sadness./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""I know you would follow me anywhere, but you would never risk hurting him. If you apparate to where I am, his life will be in danger as well as yours and I know you wouldn't do that." He backed away slowly, still uneager to go. He addressed the creature. "Orcen, do not let her go on your life. Hopefully Mum will be back soon." And with that he disaparated into thin air./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"The creature looked at Tina, but she couldn't bear to be angry, even at such a frightening thing. All she could do was cry./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""Please let me go, boy." She sniffled. "I have to help him, don't you understand?!" The creature only cocked its little skulled head, confused. "I have to save him! I have to follow him! I have to help!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"The creature crooned laying his head on her chest, as though in comfort./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""I love him."/span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"But the creature did not let her go. She didn't know if it was because he didn't understand… Or maybe because he did./span/p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""I know you think you owe him everything, Newt, but you don't. I know it's hard for him. I know he's in love with Grindelwald, but that doesn't give him an excuse to put em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"you/em in harm's way! Because people need em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"you too!/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"Newt spoke, without turning around. "I'm not as important as Dumbledore. The wizarding world can thrive without me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""Newton Artemis Fido Scamander, that is garbage and you know it! So what, if you're not a people person? So what if you're not some— some snazzy politician that can mouth off to the Ministry? You've done enough! You did enough to get me my job back with Aurors, you did enough for Frank. Serafina Piquery passed that order on Thunderbirds because of em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"you! You/em made that happen! You are important, you are enough—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"Her voice cracked and she bit her lip hard. Newt turned around, and slowly made his way toward her. Unable to look at him, she continued. "I know what Leta did to you hurt, I know what your brother is doing to you, hurts. But throwing yourself in harm's way to be a hero isn't going to work. It's just going to pass the pain to somebody else…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"She felt his hand on her chin, slowly lifting her face to look at him. She hated it,span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spannow he could see the tears on her cheeks. There were some in his eyes too, though, and that made her feel a little better./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""Tina…" He said. "I'd like to apologize in advance if I'm reading things wrong. Although in my defense, Queenie doesn't exactly help…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""What are you talking about? Reading what wron—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"but her sentence was lost as he held her face in both his hands and kissed her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"It was more passionate than she had expected from a quiet man like him, as though he had been working up the courage this entire time and didn't want to waste the opportunity. His left Hand was behind her head; the other held her tightly at the waist./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"It was moments later when he pulled away, cheeks flushed, then she realized she had been too shocked to kiss him back. He blinked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""Like I said... I'm sorry if I misread things… I just thought—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"Tina flung her arms around him, and brought her lips to his, not even bothering to let go of her wand. After a few moments of his own shock, his hand found her face once more, and for a few moments there was no Grindelwald, no war at all./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"He broke away, his forehead resting against hers, eyes closed. He was scared. This was a chance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""You don't have to do this, Newt." She said. "It's not your fight. Don't leave us. Don't leave me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"He opened his eyes and looked up to the ceiling, as though pleading for answers, before returning his gaze to her eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""If I live, we can talk about this. I love you, Tina Goldstein. Expelliarmus!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"" NO!" But Newt weaved his way out of her arms, catching her wand in his hand, backing away. "Newt! Newt don't do this, please! I will follow you, wand or no wand!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"He looked at her sadly. "I know." And with a flick of his wrist, he swung a small green cocoon, releasing the swooping evil which wrapped itself around her, no vine needed this time. She looked into the creatures red eyes, and thought she saw regret there, though she looked up at its master and saw only sadness./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""I know you would follow me anywhere, but you would never risk hurting him. If you apparate to where I am, his life will be in danger as well as yours and I know you wouldn't do that." He backed away slowly, still uneager to go. He addressed the creature. "Orcen, do not let her go on your life. Hopefully Mum will be back soon." And with that he disaparated into thin air./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"The creature looked at Tina, but she couldn't bear to be angry, even at such a frightening thing. All she could do was cry./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""Please let me go, boy." She sniffled. "I have to help him, don't you understand?!" The creature only cocked its little skulled head, confused. "I have to save him! I have to follow him! I have to help!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"The creature crooned laying his head on her chest, as though in comfort./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;""I love him."/span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"But the creature did not let her go. She didn't know if it was because he didn't understand… Or maybe because he did./span/p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;" /span/p
