AN: A chapter ago I promised a deleted scene that had some beasties in it (I mean this is a Fantastic Beasts story after all so their exclusion would be sad). Anyways, this scene takes place right before Newt leaves Iris's office.

DELETED SCENE: Newt, Iris, and the Occamys

As Newt made to close the door, he caught a glimpse of Iris slumped down in Percival's oversized leather chair. She looked immensely careworn and miserable. Clearly, all this Grindelwlad business had taken a toll on her as well.

"Um, Miss Faeborn, do you think you could help me with something?" He asked, looking rather silly, mushed between the door and its' frame. "It's a two person job, you see."

Iris regarded his awkwardly charming smile with a raised brow. "It depends on what it is, Mr. Scamander."

"It's just something I want to do for a friend," said Newt, sounding completely innocuous as he reentered the office.

"Alright," Iris agreed, after a moment of consideration. She, of course, realized that she could have just made a huge mistake. But Iris did have an odd sense of faith in him after what she'd seen him do in the subway tunnel.

"Good. And please bring your coat," said Newt, pointing to Iris's white dress coat hanging on the coatrack in the corner.

Iris stood from her chair and fetched her coat, folding over her arm as she watched Newt set the case down in the middle of the office floor and open it up. The inside looked like a deep, dark pit. The only thing that could be seen was the top rung of a ladder that descended into the darkness.

"Directors first," said Newt, motioning to the open case.

Iris stared into the ominous opening skeptically, about to question why she had to go first until she remembered she was wearing a dress. She figured she'd spare him the embarrassment of having to explain that point to her.

Taking care not the slip in her heels, Iris descended the ladder. Newt quickly followed and with a wordless spell, turned on the work light. Reaching the creaky wooden floor, Iris looked around the cramped workspace at all of his tools and herb samples. Almost every other thing she saw was illegal to own in the US. But there really wasn't any point in mentioning it since he was leaving for London in a few hours. He would be their problem then, she thought half jokingly.

"This way," Newt directed, leading her to the door that led into the enclosures.

Iris marveled at the size and grandness of the space he'd created for his creatures, which were even more stunning. Newt's case, with all the controversy surrounding it, really was breathtaking. She was glad to have been given the chance to see it.

Newt lead her through the winding maze of enclosures, briefly explaining a few of the exotic animals to her before stopping in front of a large nest made of thick green reeds. Peering into the basket-like home, Iris came face-to-face with what appeared to be plumed serpents.

"You know, Mr. Scamander, a lot of people are afraid of snakes," she said, a crooked smile tugging at her lips.

"You don't seem to be scared by much," observed Newt, remembering how she boldly stared down Grindelwald in the subway station.

Iris couldn't hide a proud quirk of her lips as she continued to gaze down at the little Occamys. "No, not really. I hate spiders, though."

Newt made a quick mental note not to take her by the Acromantula cave. In fact, he decided it was best not to even mention it.

"What was it you needed help with?" Asked Iris.

"I need to collect those silver eggs sticking up from the leaves there. Occamy's are very territorial though, so I'll need your help distracting them."

"Distracting them?" Repeated Iris. She wasn't quite sure she had heard him right.

"Just kneel in front of the nest and hold out your arms like so," Said Newt, extending his arms in front of him so he looked like he was carrying two great big trays. "They'll curl up in your sleeves then and go to sleep."

"Just my sleeves, right?" She stressed, giving him a stern look of warning.

"Um yes," he answered with a note of uncertainty. "Well, at least that's what they do for me. You're not wearing any perfume are you?"

"No-" said Iris, wondering what that had to do with anything.

"Good," he smiled. "Then you should be fine."

Iris cocked her head to the side as she gave him a poignant stare. None of what he was saying gave her much confidence.

Trying to recall that faith she thought she had in him, Iris kneeled down in front of the nest as he'd instructed. Flipping her palms face up, she slowly reached out till her fingertips were touching the base of the woven reed nest. Her breathing was shallow and barely existent.

The little Occamys sprang upright, attentive and eager as they stared into the openings of her sleeves. Iris could have sworn she saw their eyes grow wide all at the same time before shooting forwards and into the belled sleeves of her coat. She grew deadly still, her heart leaping in her throat, and her spine growing ridged as they wrapped themselves snugly around her arms, trying to get warm. To her surprise and great relief, they didn't bite or fuss. In fact, Iris thought it was a bit cute how they took to her so readily.

Newt gave Iris an approving nod, noticing that she was practically beaming at this point. Stepping up to the empty nest, he immediately began gathering up the silver eggs. Iris watched as he placed them in a suitcase resembling the one they'd climbed into. A few simple deductions told her exactly what he was planning to do.

"Those eggs wouldn't be for Mr. Kowalski, would they?" Asked Iris, a casting him a knowing glace.

"They are," admitted Newt, hoping she wouldn't be upset by the truth. "He wishes to open a bakery but doesn't have the funds. Occamy eggs are made of silver. A case full of these will be more than enough to help him out."

Iris nodded, "I see. As much as I should say no, MACUSA owes him a debt of gratitude."

Newt smiled, realizing she was going to let him go through with his plan, "Thank you, Miss Faeborn."

Once all the eggs were collected, Newt rounded the nest and retrieved a metal pail. Without warning, he dumped its contents into the nest and the baby Occamy's flew out of Iris's sleeves immediately to devour the chunks of raw meat that fell there.

"There's only one thing an Occamy likes more than sleep," said Newt, as he set down the pail and offered Iris a hand. "Food."

Newt and Iris stood beside the nest and watched the feathered serpents feed. Iris stared in fascination while Newt regarded them like a proud father. When the last chunk of meat was devoured, the two made their way back to the ladder leading to Iris's office.

"Well, I really must be going now," said Newt. "I made a promise to your president after all."

Iris laughed, despite herself. Newt really had brightened her spirits, if only for a moment.

"Have a safe trip, Mr. Scamander… and thank you."

"What for?" He smiled, his brow knitting in confusion as he hurried for the door. "Goodbye, Miss Faeborn."

Once he was out of sight, Iris exhaled, shaking her head. He was a strange man, she thought. Nice, but very, very, strange.

AN: I hope you all liked the deleted scene! It didn't quite fit with the mood of the main story and that's the only reason why I didn't include it (that and it seemed as if it would drag out the chapter far too long). Still, I thought it was a nice stand-alone piece.