ASDFGHJKLASDSFDKJF *flails around* THIS ONE IS NEWTINA
The next few days passed by in a cozy haze of blankets, cuddles and warm mugs of cocoa. Tina found she loved napping lightly, curled up with Newt's arms holding her like a cocoon; Newt discovered how much comfort he found in feeling Tina's heart beating whenever she hugged him.
Tina had big eyes that were browner than anything Newt had ever seen- not like mud, but like sweet melted chocolate. Like the hot cocoa they drank together. Brown enough to drown in.
Newt had beautifully delicate fingers, like a pianist's hands. Tina wondered how they remained so nimble and gentle after years of hard travel.
Tina had a laugh like ringing bells that Newt couldn't hear enough of.
Newt's smile was like the shining sun, bright in Tina's eyes.
It was as though they were seeing eachother for the first time- everything about the other was new and amazing and perfect. They talked between them as if they hadn't spoken in years- even though they'd sent letter frequently also when Newt was in England.
And so the days passed by quietly until the night before Queenie's return.
It was Tuesday evening, about eight o'clock, and everything was silent and still. Newt was down in his case, feeding the beasts; Tina was making soup. She'd gotten better at it since Newt had arrived in New York.
She sliced a carrot, musing to herself. Newt had told her he'd have to leave soon. That was obvious- his life was in England, not here in the City. It would be silly of Tina to think he'd stay forever; Newt had already spent two months with her and Queenie. Still, a small part of her ached with the thought that he could stay, if he cared enough…
"Tina?" Newt popped his head through the doorway, grinning sheepishly. "Could you come here for a moment?"
She sighed and put down the knife, a smile tingling on the corner of her lips. "Make it quick, or we'll be eating dinner at midnight."
"Two minutes." He promised.
Tina now noticed his grin was a bit nervous. Strike that, very nervous. She frowned slightly, hoping everything was okay.
"Newt, are you alright?" Tina asked, leaving the kitchen and wiping her hands on a nearby dish towel.
He nodded, obviously stressed. "I'm fine. Fine. Everything's fine."
It was very clear that she didn't exactly believe him, but Tina didn't press him further.
"So." She said. "What is it?"
Newt breathed in deeply and bit his lip, fidgeting with the edge of his jacket. Tina stood patiently, waiting for him to start talking.
"Well." He finally began. "Do you remember Christmas Eve? When you told me that… that I could consider myself an honorary Goldstein?"
"Of course." She said.
"So. I was wondering… would you want to be an un-honorary Scamander?"
Tina smiled. "Oh Newt, that's so sweet of you. But I haven't met you family yet and-"
She suddenly stopped, realizing what he'd said.
"Wait." She went on, slowly. "UN-honorary Scamander?"
Newt nodded, blush creeping down his neck.
"Newt, you don't mean-" her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Was he-?
With a small smile, Newt nodded again.
And got down on one knee.
"Tina Goldstein." He said, quietly and slightly stammering. "I know you're amazing, and fantastic, and beautiful, and smart, and powerful, and caring, and so magnificent that you deserve someone much better than me. You could get any other man. But since… well… I love you and you love me- I think, hopefully –I was hoping that maybe you would want to be my husband- I mean wife! –but what I'm trying to say is- Tina, will you… marry me?"
He was looking down, a bit breathless. Maybe still not fully aware that he'd done it.
Tina clapped her hands over her mouth, swaying on the spot. Her heart was practically bursting out of her chest now. She couldn't believe it. She just couldn't.
Newt looked up, a bit startled. He stood up.
"Are you okay?" His hand reached out to her and faltered in the air. "Is this okay? Tina-"
She let out a choky laugh. "I'm fine, Newt. I'm… better than fine. I'm great. I'm fantastic. Of course, of course I'll marry you! Mercy Lewis, Newt Scamander, I can't for the life of me believe what is going on right now!"
He took her hand away from her face, holding it. "Me too. Feel, I'm trembling."
Tina pulled away gently and shakily sat down on the couch. Saying she had butterflies in her stomach would be an exaggeration; it felt as though she'd swallowed pigeons. Giant, crazed pigeons. Her head was spinning as well. God, it was as though she was actually ill.
Tina touched her forehead to see if it was hot. Just in case.
Two hours later, after the two of them had sat awkwardly and dazedly in the sitting room without uttering a word, Tina told Newt to get some sleep.
"I won't manage to rest a wink." She said, when he asked about her. "Don't worry. I just… want to read."
But Tina didn't, even after she heard Newt finally fall asleep an hour after that.
In fact, Tina didn't do anything until four o'clock the next morning, when Queenie walked in through the door with a suitcase and a big smile.
"Teenie!" she grinned, hugging her sister tightly. "It's so good to see you! Jacob and I had a great time, but I missed home a lot. Glad to be back!"
Tina smiled weakly, eyes glazed.
Queenie pulled back from her embrace, frowning. "Hey, but what are you doing up? It's very late. Or early."
"Newt proposed!" Tina blurted, before Queenie could read her mind and find out for herself. "He proposed to me!"
The suitcase dropped out of Queenie's hand as the blonde witch let out a shriek of joy.
"TEENIE!" the cheer probably woke up all their neighbors. "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! WHEN?"
"Yesterday night. Eight o'clock. He just… asked."
Queenie laughed. "What did he say? What did he do? How did you react? Teenie, tell me everything!"
So they settled down on the couch and Tina did. Queenie's mouth grew wide and she giggled the whole while at her older sister's blushing face and shy smile.
"That sounds so sweet." She said, when Tina finished. "But do you remember that when we were little, you used to say your future husband would come to you as a handsome prince on a large horse, with a handkerchief for you to kiss for luck?"
Tina snorted. "Instead, he came as a British Magizoologist on an Erumpent, with a gash on his ram from a Nundu's claw for us to stitch up."
"So romantic!" Queenie exclaimed.
The two dissolved into peals of unexplainable laughter, a little hysterical because of the time of morning and Tina's nerves and lack of sleep.
After a few moments of cracking up and snickering, Queenie smirked. "So… what are you two going to do now? How about children?"
"Quee-nie!" Tina reprimanded, brushing hair out of her flushed face. "We're not even married yet!"
"So?"
"So don't talk about babies…" She went bright red.
Queenie giggled again.
"No, but seriously." She said. "When will you get married? And where?"
"I was thinking about a Spring wedding. May, perhaps. It's very pretty that time of year. And… somewhere upstate New York..? We both love it there, and it's always so beautiful." Tina said, smiling.
"You think Newt will agree to get married here, in America?"
"We met here." Tina mused. "I think he'd like that symbolism. And it's so gorgeous I hope he'll be charmed by the views."
Queenie grinned, clenching her fists in excitement. "That could work! But if it's in May then Newt'll have to go back to England first and then return."
"I guess so." Tina beamed. "So I'll probably go with him and meet his family. And maybe we'll want to settle down there..? I don't know!"
But suddenly it was as though the excitement and light had gone out of Queenie's eyes. "You'll… move to England. Right."
Tina stopped smiling. "What-"
Then she realized.
"If I move to live in England like Newt will want," she murmured to herself, "I'll have to leave you for the first time in our life."
Queenie smiled weakly. "You gotta go, Teen. No need to stay here for me."
"No." Tina said, trying to sound firm and failing. "No, I'll… I'll figure out something."
But all she could think was that saying yes was so easy. And this wasn't.
AN footnote: Now you have a choice: reveiw\PM me with what you want Tina to do, what decision you want her to make, and I'll take the amount of votes into consideration for the next chapter. Time is limited...