As the four of them strolled along the Hudson River towards their next destination, Newt watched as the glistening water reflected in Tina's eyes. His heart was still pounding in his chest from their brief encounter in the alleyway only some minutes ago, and admiring her striking features against the moonlight wasn't making it any easier to relax. He let out a nervous sigh, finally breaking away to gaze at the water himself. Jacob and Queenie walked several paces ahead of them, clearly lost within their own world, judging by the constant stream of laughter and quiet conversation that flowed through the air from them—as well as the closing gap between their bodies, causing their hands to occasionally bump into each other, and then they both would momentarily blush and pause in conversation.

Newt had no idea he would be seeing his friend again so soon, and he couldn't help feeling a bit conflicted about the fact that the man who now walked in front of him thought of him as a complete stranger. They had just spent several days together in complete chaos of magical creatures, corrupted governments, and adventure. He knew this man's hopes and dreams of opening a bakery, his desire for love and friendship that was stolen from him as soon as he grasped it—he even knew that he preferred strudel over pie. But Jacob didn't even know Newt's name.

Tina watched as his brows started to furrow and his expression darken as he watched the two in front of them. She instinctively held his hand, which startled him and tore him away from his thoughts and made him look straight into her doe-like eyes. He could see the worry painted across her face, which instantly relieved his frustration.

"I-I apologize, Tina, I haven't been the greatest conversationalist tonight." He stammered, breaking away from her gaze and looking once more at the river.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" She answered, turning her head away from his as well as she also watched the waters once more.

"Yes, I am actually," he started. "I must say though, if this is the average night for a Muggle, they have far more interesting lives than I imagined."

She lightly giggled. "Well, then that's all that matters."

He smirked a bit, holding her hand tighter for a moment. He hadn't the slightest clue how she had managed to so quickly break through his barriers and already feel so safe, so inviting, and so comfortable to him, but he couldn't recall anyone else he felt this way with in only a matter of days. The newfound sense of security and excitement was powerful, but he couldn't help the small quiet voice of fear in the back of his mind—which was nothing new, especially when it came to any interaction with other people.

No matter how many beasts he met, cared for, and bonded with, the idea of a new human being entering his life on any personal level was much more terrifying.

Landmark Tavern was a large building that stood along the Hudson River waterfront, made of red brick and towering three stories. The windows of the top two stories were covered and completely dark; through the bottom windows a beautiful dining room could be seen with small square tables spread throughout with a lit candle at each center. They walked in succession into the front doorway, silence spread across the entire first floor. Distant voices and music could be heard, but it clearly wasn't coming from any of the darkened, patron-less rooms before them.

"In case you guys haven't figured it out yet, the party's upstairs." Jacob joked, making his way through one of the hallways. They all followed as he led them up not one, but two staircases, and then arrived at a closed door once they walked down a narrow hallway on the third floor.

"Let me do it!" Queenie cried, excitedly pushing past Jacob to the front of the door. She tapped quietly, and like before, a small slit at the top of the door opened to reveal two eyes.

Queenie puckered her lips a bit and seductively gave her best bedroom eyes, looking up shyly at the eyes now scanning everyone in their group.

"I heard this was a place to go for a good time…"

The man behind the door remained silent, still peering at all of them.

"Am I wrong, mister?" She battered her eyes at him almost obnoxiously, the drinks she had earlier in the evening clearly making their way through her system.

The man cleared his throat and then slowly opened the door, revealing an expansive room made up of mostly male patrons. The majority of the bar was occupied by groups of men dressed in very worn, dirty clothing, grasping their drinks with rough and darkened hands from days on end of hard labor; but there were also some others dressed in clean, flashy suits it would take the average man six month's pay to buy, and were the only ones with women at their side. Of the latter group were many familiar faces from Connie's Inn, people who had also managed to escape the raid and were not quite ready to end their night. The room smelled mainly of tobacco and fish, but there were the lightest hints of perfume in the air.

The doorman nodded at each of them as they all walked through, promptly shutting the door behind them and turning away as soon as they were in the room.

"I guess I shoulda mentioned this is a bit of a… well, gentleman's bar," Jacob nervously started. "I've been coming here for years, though. They're good company."

Queenie shrugged, looking back at Newt and Tina with a hopeful expression, and then followed Jacob towards the bar. Newt and Tina hesitantly followed as well. The people sitting at the tables and standing around the room didn't bother to look at any of them as they passed, either too involved in their own conversations to notice, or staring off into space contemplatively with a cigar burning in their hand. The spacious, deep cherry wood bar towered in front of them, with each inch against the wall covered by bottles of different spirits. Queenie hurriedly walked up to Jacob and whispered in his ear as he spoke to the bartender. Soon enough, four drinks had been served and they all sat down at one of the tables.

"Well, this is… nice." Queenie struggled to maintain her previous excitement as she closed her eyes and took a gulp of her drink.

Jacob immediately sensed her discomfort. A look of embarrassment washed over his face as he took a gulp of his drink as well.

Newt awkwardly looked over at Tina, and she returned his glance.

"How about some music, huh?" Queenie rose clumsily from the table and made her way across the room to a jukebox. Tina followed right after her, hoping to recreate the fun they had been having before and leaving the men to talk.

Newt anxiously took several gulps of his drink, almost finishing it completely before he set the glass down. Jacob laughed as he watched Newt, and then patted him on the back.

"There ya go. What'd you say your name is?"

Newt felt incredibly uncomfortable by introducing himself to his own friend, but went along with the conversation anyway.

"O-Oh, I didn't, but, Newt," he then took another sip his drink. "U-Uh, Newt Scamander."

Jacob nodded. "I'm Jacob Kowalski. You from around here? I ain't never seen ya before."

Newt now looked directly at him, his hurt now amplified by the alcohol. "You really don't remember anything, do you?"

Jacob now had a puzzled look upon his face as he looked at Newt, backing up slightly. "I'm not sure what you mean, Mr. Scamander, I uh…"

Newt suddenly felt overwhelmed with confliction. He knew better than to let this get to his head or act on what he was feeling, but he couldn't handle it at the moment. He had no reason to be surprised, he knew how obliviation worked, but he had never had it happen to someone he cared about. He reached over to drink the last sip, and accidentally knocked it over on the table. Without thinking, he quickly pulled out his wand and casted a charm which turned the glass back upright and made the entire mess disappear.

Jacob's eyes widened and stared at him in complete disbelief, as murmurs started to rise from the other tables surrounding them. He realized what he had done only seconds later, and met Jacob's shocked expression with one of embarrassment.

"You two!" A voice rang out in the room, as a man in a black suit and long jacket approached them; it was one of Tina's coworkers, a MACUSA official. He angrily paced the floor, before pausing as he scanned Newt up and down.

"It's you…"

Tina urgently ran over once she realized what was happening. Grabbing Newt, she then ran towards the door before tearing it open. They briskly ran down the stairs before turning a corner into another hallway, and she then instantly apparated them both. They were now over a mile away at the edge of the Hudson River, the sound of flowing water starkly contrasting with the busy chatter of the tavern they had just left.

They now stood apart as they were catching their breath, both of them almost trembling at the fear of the confrontation they just escaped. Newt looked over at Tina as she was still hunched over, a feeling of desire overcoming him. His mind raced and struggled with its own thoughts and emotions because of Jacob, because of being out among so many other people, all of the close encounters they had in just the past few hours, and mostly, because of her. He felt a need for the security and comfort she brought him.

"Come with me."

Her eyes widened as she gazed into his. His piercing blue eyes were unwaveringly now focused on her, with a serious expression on his face.

"Come with me." He repeated, only breaking his stare when he blinked.

She fumbled a bit, startled by his sudden intensity, and she had to look down now because of her own nervousness.

"Newt… T-That's a lot to ask…"

He grabbed her hands and covered them completely with his, then looked down at them, already embarrassed at his blunt proposition. He didn't clearly understand why he was feeling this sudden rush of passion for her and need to have her with him, but he couldn't ignore it. He didn't understand why he wasn't able to compose himself as he always had done before, even if he was awkward and clumsy in the process. He felt the need raging in his chest.

"Why? Don't you want to?" He now felt stubborn and irrational, extremely contrary to his usual self.

"Well for one, I just got the job I've been waiting for," Tina started, feeling a rise of stubbornness in her chest now as well. Her voice hardened. "I love that position, and I've been fighting for years to have it back.

And Queenie—how could I just suddenly up and leave her completely alone? She might think she has Jacob again, but what if she doesn't? What if this ends with her being hurt?"

Newt was silent as he now focused his eyes on the ground.

"My whole life is here, Newt. Everything."

He raised his gaze just slightly, not meeting her eyes, but struggling to.

"We could have so many adventures, Tina. There's so much I want to show you…"

Tina couldn't believe the nerve—who is this man? Where was the compassionate, warm, and timid man she had gotten to know these past few days? She could feel anger growing within her, and she released his hands. This took him by surprise as his eyes shot up to meet hers.

"That's not fair, Newt."

Queenie finally caught up with them as she apparated only a few feet away. She examined the pained expression on her sister's face, and then looked over to meet Newt's conflicted one.

"Teenie, are you—"

"I think it's getting a bit late for me. I hope you all enjoy your night." Tina abruptly turned away from them both and started walking down the edge of the river, forcing herself not to look back as she huffed angrily, before apparating back to her and Queenie's apartment.

Newt now stared at the ground, completely paralyzed. Queenie's face softened, as she stepped cautiously towards him.

"Mr. Scamander, I know it might not be my place to say anything, but…"

He didn't move.

"…you've had a lot to drink tonight, and I might not know you like Teenie does, but I know this isn't you."

He slowly looked up at her, tears threatening to spill out from his eyes.

"Go to her. I know she must've gone back to our place—go. You'll regret it if ya don't."

She gave him a reassuring smile, feeling her heart ache for her sister. Even though she felt Newt had been acting erratically all evening (well… more erratically than usual) and had certainly crossed a line, judging by the replay of their conversation that was playing on loop in his mind as she read it, she knew that Tina was hoping—even if only deep within her heart, in a place where she could still deny it to herself—that Newt would come for her. He let out a soft sigh. He was emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted from the events of the evening. Part of him was tempted to find a hotel and try to speak to Tina in the morning, but he knew that he couldn't let the night end here.

He nodded at Queenie with a forced, polite smirk, before he apparated to the apartment.

Newt found himself just within their home in front of the front door once more, and the only sound that could be heard was the crackling of the fireplace before him. As he looked over, he saw Tina sitting at the kitchen table, quiet, looking down at the cup of coffee she had made, and alone besides the lone flower grown within a pot at the center. He swallowed, attempting to gather the courage he needed to have the conversation that was about to happen. He felt embarrassed, but more than anything, remorseful because of the way he had cornered her. Even in his current state of mind, he knew that he had made a mistake.

He slowly, gracelessly made his way to the kitchen, before placing his hand on the back of one of the chairs. Tina did not look up, even though her body subtly reacted to his presence.

"…May I sit here?" He timidly asked.

"S-Sure." She stammered, still not looking up at him.

He carefully pulled the chair out and sat across from her, never taking his eyes off of her. He never had been one that was skilled at conversation in general, but he certainly wasn't when it came to situations like this. He cleared his throat, folding his hands on the table as he looked across it towards her, but unable to look directly at her out of embarrassment.

"Tina, I…"

He was silenced by the pain he felt as she looked up at him. There was a stain of a tear down her face, darkened against her makeup. He drew his breath.

"I… should not have put you in that position.

I was suddenly so overwhelmed by everything… being with you, being out in the city… having to face the fact that Jacob truly has forgotten everything…

We were almost arrested, twice, in one evening, Tina.

I woke up this morning planning to be on my way back home, turning in my manuscript, returning to the Ministry. I wasn't prepared for any of this."

She nodded, still feeling the ache of hurt in her chest, but understanding everything he was saying. As he spoke, he kept looking down at the ground or in his lap and back at her every few seconds, as he always did. His shyness was coming back through as he was sobering up.

"I-I don't regret it though; I hope you know that.

I just… hope you can try to understand… why I acted the way I did."

A small smile found its way to her lips as she looked at him; his boyish, freckled features were wrought with sincerity and worry, and his hands were trembling ever so subtly. She slowly reached across the table and placed her hands upon his, and was instantly comforted by the warmth she felt.

"I meant what I said. There is so much I want to experience with you, there is so much I want to show you, so many magnificent things…"

With that, he took his wand out and used an Engorgio charm on the flower that was in a pot at the center of the kitchen table; its turquoise petals gracefully expanded in different directions and the scent of it filled the air. She reached out to touch it, but he immediately grabbed her hand.

"My grandmother always used to tell me…" He was struggling to maintain his composure once again. "Well, I-I didn't truly understand the meaning of it, until tonight, but…

If you love a flower, don't pick it,
If you pick it up, it dies,
And it ceases to be what you love.
So if you love a flower, let it be.
Love is not about possession.
Love is about appreciation."

He couldn't believe as the words simply spilled from his lips, feeling so unusually natural. Her eyes started to fill with tears as she held his hand back.

"I will never ask you to do anything that you don't want to do. I only ask that you do what makes you happy, because I've realized that your happiness is more important to me than anything else in this world."

She stood up and he cautiously followed. She grabbed his face with both hands, behind his ears, feeling his soft, tangled hair with her fingertips. He genuinely, uninhibitedly smiled now, gazing into her gleaming brown eyes. She passionately pressed her lips against his once more, as he instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist. He drew her body against his, as they both lost their balance and almost fell onto the table. Tina laughed, breaking away from his embrace but holding his hand.

She led him past the kitchen table and down the hallway towards her bedroom. He drew his breath when he realized where she was taking him, and nervously looked into her eyes. She giggled.

"Mr. Scamander, I know what would make me the happiest woman in the world right now…"

His heart was palpitating as she pulled him into the entryway of her bedroom.

"Appreciate me." She leaned in and whispered, her lips within inches of his.

His eyes widened slightly, the color of his cheeks turning scarlet, as she cheekily smirked up at him. He wrapped his arms around her once more as they moved towards her bed, and he hurriedly closed the door behind them.

A/N: Hi everyone! So here concludes the third chapter. Drunk Newt is quite a character, isn't he? I apologize if it's a bit slow, but I was trying to capture just how much Jacob being obliviated affected Newt, as well as the inner conflict that was building up inside of him from all of the craziness of their night together so far. My description of Landmark Tavern is based on the few sources I could find about how it was in the 1920's (and if you didn't know, it's still open in NYC!) so liberties were taken.

I also wanted to clear up that the 'old proverb' Newt mentions is from Osho, who wasn't even born until 1931- so clearly, his grandmother wouldn't have said that to him. But I felt that it was so beautiful and relevant to the chapter (and one of my favorite quotes of all time), so I had to use it.

Also, thank you all that have left reviews so far, they really help motivate me to continue writing.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and thank you so much for reading! Please let me know what you think!