Chapter 21

Tina glanced down at her feet, her eyes slightly widening at how swollen they'd become. Then she shoved them into her slippers and maneuvered her overly-pregnant body down the stairs. She was due any day now and it couldn't come fast enough. The baby was beating her up from the inside and her back hurt all the time.

She'd slept in this morning, and Jacob had left her one of his homemade muffins. Newt had a meeting with his editor so it was quiet in the kitchen. She made a cup of tea and planted herself at the kitchen table, flipping through The Daily Prophet newspaper Theseus left behind.

It didn't faze her when the basement door cracked open. She figured Bunty had been working down in the menagerie. Usually when the woman saw her, she'd bolt for the door without any acknowledgement of her presence. Tina didn't like the tension it created, but it wasn't up to her.

"Um, Tina?"

Tina started at the unexpected voice coming through the cracked door.

"Bunty?"

"Can I, um, can I talk to you?"

Tina sat up straighter, putting down her cup. "Of course." She pointed to the other chair.

Bunty slipped into the chair, placing a brown bag at her feet. "I want to..." She paused, wringing her hands. Then she took a deep breath and got her words out. "I wanted to apologize for how I've treated you. It's not right. I'm sure Newt told you about my completely inappropriate behavior towards him while you were gone, and I am so sorry."

Tina hadn't been told by Newt about any inappropriate behavior, but she kept her surprise off her face.

Bunty continued. "I thought you were taking something from me, something I thought would be mine if I waited long enough. But I realized it never really was mine, and you didn't take anything from me. When I stood at your wedding ceremony, and I saw the look of love on his face as he slipped that ring on your finger, I truly knew his heart belonged to you. Please accept my apologies?"

Tina smiled and patted Bunty's tense hand. "Oh, Bunty, you are so important to Newt's work. I can see your caring heart when you are with the animals. Of course, I forgive you."

Bunty smiled brightly. Then she pulled the brown bag off the floor. "I got you a present for the baby."

"You didn't have to do that!"

"It's the least I could do for being so rude to you. But since I didn't know if it was going to be a boy or a girl, I got one for each." She pulled out an adorable blue stuffed dragon and a white stuffed unicorn with a pink mane and tail.

Tina laughed with delight. "These are so adorable! I love to them! I'm sure the baby will love it too."

"Keep them both." Bunty stood up smiling and gave Tina a small hug. " I've got to get back to work."

A/N- I really wanted to redeem Bunty in this story. I like the character and I've experienced watching someone I've got a crush on falling in love with someone else. Next up, the grand conclusion!