Anna watched the rain fall in heavy drops over the city's expanse, the muggles rushing about to get to shelter.
"Anna?" She turned her attention to Newt as he stepped up next to her, Queenie reached out, grabbing onto Jacobs suit jacket.
"Queenie, hey. This is for the best, yeah, I mean, I was…I was never even supposed to be here." His voice cracked, causing Anna's eyes to fall to the floor once more, "I was never even supposed to know…an-any of this. Everybody knows, Newt only kept me around because—" The plump man let his eyes rest on the suitcase toting wizard.
"Hey, Newt, why did you keep me around?"
"Because I like you, 'cause you're my friend. And I'll never forget how you helped me, Jacob." Tears welled in the mans eyes at Newt's kind words.
"Oh…" Queenie climbed the rest of the stairs, "I'll come with you, we'll go somewhere, we'll go anywhere!" Jacob let out a soft chuckle, Anna watched with sad eyes, even she knew it wasn't possible for them to be together, not here…
"See, I ain't never gonna find anyone like you."
"There's loads like me."
"No, No. there's only one like you."
"I gotta go…" the four watched as he stepped out into the rain, a question nagging at the back of her mind.
"Jacob…"
"It's okay. it's okay…it's okay. It's just like waking up, right?"
Why did people get hurt when she was in their vicinity? She watched him step backwards…inching further and further away as the rain washed over him, Queenie stepped out, her wand help upwards, a simple shielding charm preventing the rain from touching her as she gave Jacob a chaste kiss before they apparated away.
Tina and queenie had put them both up for the night and they'd be heading home in the morning, newt having finished the job he'd come to do in America. A familiar yellow scarf caught her attention.
"You kept it?"
"Kept what?" he turned, seeing her holding his school house scarf, a fond smile on her face as she ran her fingers over the well-kept yarn, her fingers tracing the cerulean stitched lettering.
"Oh, yes…" He stopped what he was working on, stepping back into the small shack
"I remember the day I gave you this was the day you gave me my own little paradise. You kept that too… Wasn't it painful?"
"Sorry?" doubt clouded her mind as she changed the conversation,
"Newt?" He looked up from his work station, "Why do bad things happen to good people? Am I just bad luck…am I…evil?"
"Where is all this coming from?" Anna had finally changed out of her extremely over worn outfit, now wearing Newts old school robes, she'd actually been surprised they fit her, considering how much taller he was than her, although…the sweater was a bit big, hanging just slightly off her shoulder.
"Anna, Sit down." She obliged his order, pulling up the stool in the corner.
"Anna, you are the least evil person I know. Where is this all coming from?"
"I'm his sister…" His mind trailed back to the subway tunnel, to Grindelwald's last words to her before they escorted him to a prison cell.
"He's the worst kind of evil, and I share his blood." She felt his finger tilt her chin up so she was looking at him.
"Look at me. You are not evil, don't think that for even one minute. You are the kindest, most caring witch I know. If you were evil you never would have tried to protect Credence the way you did, you wouldn't have run all over New York city helping me find my creatures, even though you had no idea who I was. Evil people don't help others, they only help themselves."
His thumb brushed a stray tear from her cheek, "Anna Elizabeth Carrio, you are living proof that family does not define you. Even if they weren't supportive of your magic, you proved them wrong and you got your parents to accept you without resorting to violence. There's no one I'm more proud to know, than you."
There was passion in his eyes as he spoke, when had he gotten so confident? "Do you understand me, Anna?" his voice was soft now, the thought of what would happen if she closed the space between them entered her mind, the grainy image of a long past kiss, flashed in her mind
"one more thing…" She looked at him, seeing fear, "Promise me you'll never leave again."
"What?"
"The day I got the news that you'd vanished was the hardest day of my life, Theseus found me in the kitchen, I'd thrown our photo against the wall." Anna's eyes trailed to the non-moving picture sat next to the one of Leta.
"He'd heard the glass shatter, but he kept assuring me that the body was never found, so I guess….I guess I always held onto that little bit of hope." She reached up, gently brushing the tear that spilled from his eye, reciprocating the gesture he'd shown her.
"I don't—I don't know what I'd do if I lost you again." Desperation, that was the emotion she was seeing, scooting forward on her stool she pulled him into a gentle hug, her voice soft.
"I'm right here, Newt. And I promise, I'm not going to go away again. Even if Grindelwald finds a way to separate us, I'll always find a way back to you." Newt, in a moment of courage, closed the space between them, relishing in the soft feel of her lips and the lingering taste of hot cocoa that Tina had made them before they settled in for the night. he enjoyed the way her lips seemed to mesh with his own, a feeling he thought he'd never experience again.
Anna broke the kiss, her cheeks flushed and her lips swollen, both partied left breathless.
"I've wanted to say this for so long…" Brown and green eyes stared up at him, a dopey smile on both their faces.
"I love you."
The three headed for the ship back to the U.K, Anna was progressively more nervous about going back home.
Newt had tied a strong rope around his case, ensuring the Niffler stayed inside for their travels.
"Well, it's been um…"
"Hasn't it? Listen. Newt, Anna, uh, I wanted to thank you."
"What on earth for?"
"Well, you know. If you two hadn't said all those nice things to Madame Piquery about me, I wouldn't be back on the investigative team now."
"Well, I can't think of anyone we'd rather have investigating us." Anna grinned at the brunette.
"You helped me so much, Tina. If that day at the bank had never happened I'd still be memory-less and working in a theater with a stage manager who was absolutely horrid." Tina laughed, "Well, then happy to help.
"I'd also never have reunited with Newt…" seeing she was on the verge of tears, Anna stepped forward, pulling the brunette into a hug, letting her hair fade into a brilliant yellow.
"Um…Anna…" Newt coughed, realizing her hair had in fact changed she pulled away, sheepishly, letting it fade instead to a more natural brown.
"I'll probably never get used to that."
"All right, try not to need investigating for a bit, you two."
"No promises." Anna teased, looking back at the ship they were destined for. "She's kidding, it's a quiet life for us from now on. Back to the ministry, deliver my manuscript."
'I'll look out for it. Fantastic beasts and where to find them" The ships horn blew in the background.
"I'll send you a copy of my book, if I may."
"I'd like that."
"Newt, we'd better get going or it'll leave without us." He gave simple nod as they turned, heading for the ship. Anna stopped him.
"What if…What if we came to give you your copy in person?" Tina looked between the two, a child-like smile spread over her face.
"I'd like that." Her smile was contagious as they shared in the laughter, "Very much." The ship horn blew again.
"We'd better go, Newt. We'll see you soon, Tina." The blonde gave her friend another hug before they boarded the ship back to England.
This story has been an absolute JOY to write for me, and even though this is still only the unedited version, i'm rather proud of it, it;s one of 2 projects i've ever finished without losing interest in the fandom. *Pats self on the back* I'm proud to announce that Beauty and the Beast master is officially completed, and even happier to inform that there will be a sequel, albeit much shorter in length. (Unless I decide otherwise :) )
I am still working on a title but you all will be the first to know when I finally decide because I will post an Authors note when I post the first chapter of the sequel!
