I am so so sorry about the late update but I have been really busy, I'm not going to promise any regular updates because my schedule is spotty at best.

Chapter 33:

Three days later and they were still at Newt's. Percival still felt weak, and not just because of the injuries he sustained. With Grindelwald free and so close to them, he couldn't help but be on edge the entire time. He had what Adriana took to calling 'trapped rabbit time' and he could see why. Although Newt's house was wonderful, full of more creatures, each with a habitat just for them, and they were practically isolated, he felt like he was being watched. Every whisper of tree branches. Every howl the wind made. Even the soft footsteps of other people made him wary. The only constant was Adriana. She was like a rock in a storm; and he clung to her, like a drowning man just waiting to be swept away.

"Stay with me?" He asked her every day, every night (any time he could).

"Always." Adriana would reply each time, a small smile on her lips as she pressed closer to him.

Newt would come in sometimes, a half smile and eyes that never looked at you. He would bring food, drinks and maybe a new creature friend. They helped, almost like they could sense that Percival was vulnerable. They would burrow into him. Cuddle. Give him warmth. Tina would pop her head through the door, usually holding a paper that would be snatched by Adriana before Percival could even look. Mostly, it was Jacob and Queenie who tried to keep him company. Jacob loved talking about the No-Maj world and Queenie loved to gossip. Percival felt, dare he say, comfortable with them. Credence had made almost no appearances; apparently spending most of his time with Queenie and Jacob, who had taken it upon themselves to feed him copious amounts of food.

The only appearance had been in the dead of night when he had snuck in. He'd stood at the end of the bed like a ghost, barely a phantom with his pale complexion. Percival had stared at him, unmoving, unblinking. A silent understanding passed between them that night. They would always struggle to get along, it was a fact of life. But they wouldn't hate each other. They would be civil. They would be good. Percival hoped that one day he would be able to walk past Credence and the other wouldn't shudder, wouldn't fear him. As much as Percival hated to admit it, hated the comparison. He was Grindelwald to Credence. He wasn't a good man. And sometimes, when Adriana wasn't there, when he was alone without Jacob's rambling, Queenie's gossip, Newt's creatures or Tina's papers, sometimes he felt every bit as evil as Grindelwald had made him seem.

The bonfire was Tina's idea. She had grumbled a lot over the last three days about everyone moping around. No point, she had said. They couldn't change what had happened, they could only move on and do better. So they sat in Newt's garden, fire roaring in every shade of colour imaginable. Percival was wrapped in a thick blanket with Adriana, pressing into her, arm snaked around her waist. Tina and Newt were awkwardly huddled together in separate blankets. Queenie and Jacob were snuggled together, Credence at their side. They made it look so easy that Percival felt jealous. A stupid thought but he wanted to be perfect for Adriana. Just like Jacob and Queenie were for each other.

"I saw him at the circus you know." Credence said in a soft whisper. The silence became louder, leaving only the crackling fire. "Grindelwald? He visited me while I was cleaning out a Kappa tub." Newt's face twitched, he probably had something to say about those magical creatures that had been locked up.

"Aww sweetie, what did he say to you?" Queenie asked sweetly, placing a soft hand on his shoulder.

"He told me he would help me. Help me with so many things." Credence whispered. He drew in on himself. "He said he would help me with magic, help me find my family so I could ask why they left me, he said he would look after me and make sure I was never hurt again."

"You can't believe him." Adriana hissed. Percival rubbed her waist, hoping to soothe her. Credence stared at her.

"I know." He said. "I ran away from him, and tried to stay away from him." He turned to Percival. "And then I saw you."

"I'm sorry Credence, I must have scared you." Percival said sincerely. Credence nodded but continued on.

"I know now that it wasn't you. And I know that he's a bad man but what if he has information? What if he knows who I am?"

"Knowing who you are doesn't come from family." Percival said. "It comes from knowing what choices you're willing to make. It comes from how you treat other people."

"Family is important." Adriana said, placing a soft hand on Percival's knee. "But the family you chose is equally, maybe even more important. They're the people who you want to be with. They're the people you love. Grindelwald may know who you're blood parents are but that doesn't mean he knows you." Credence nodded slowly, accepting what they had said.

"What do I do now then?" He asked, looking around.

"Oh, don't worry sweetie, we'll work something out for you." Queenie soothed. "Honey and I would love to take you in." Jacob nodded with a warm smile at Credence. The boy flushed.

"It's just that in America the law forbids us from being in relationships with No-Maj's." Tina sighed. Newt placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Not to mention you're dead, the best place for Credence is England." She looked at Percival and Adriana expectantly as if they would jump at the opportunity to raise Credence. It wasn't that Percival didn't want what was best for Credence. It was that he was pretty sure that he was the worst thing possible for the boy.

"Queenie, if you and Jacob want to be together so badly just come and live in England." Adriana said pointedly. "We don't have any laws against dating Muggles." Queenie bit her lip and looked at Jacob.

"Well there's the bakery to consider." Jacob said slowly. "I mean I have a lot saved up and we could cut some travel costs with the whole magic thing. But I don't want to move the whole bakery."

"There's a bakery near us." Percival interrupted. Everyone turned to him. "I mean, near Adriana's. I see him. Sometimes. I mean. He's old and I don't think his children want it. Just if you want to think about it." Adriana gave him an encouraging snuggle.

"That might work, I mean there would be a lot to do." Jacob said carefully. "But if we could then… then Credence would you want to live with us?" Credence's head whipped round, his mouth agape.

"I-if you w-want me to." He said uncertainly. "I-I would really like that." Queenie beamed at him.

"Of course we do sweetie." She told him firmly. "Don't worry, we'll sort everything out. I'll make a list." The mood seemed to lighten. They were doing something. They were moving forward. Newt whipped out some hot chocolate as they sat around the much brighter fire. The coming months would be hard but they would pull through.