Twelve

When Tina woke up the next morning, she was in her own bed. Strong sunlight peaked through the gaps in the curtains, which told her that it was late in the morning. As she sat up, she remembered how Queenie had held her as she'd let all her tears out, and then how she'd helped her change and get into bed. Under any other circumstances, Tina would be feeling absolutely humiliated at putting such emotion on display like that. But she and Queenie hid nothing from each other (and Tina couldn't if she tried), and she was glad that she hadn't tried to last night.

A distant memory of her mother comforting her after she'd accidently burned her hand when she was four came to her: "You cry when you need to cry, Pumpkin; there's no shame in that, even when you grow up."

Tina reached into her pajama top and pulled out the old, golden locket that she always wore. Only she and Queenie had the power to open it, and that was done by kissing it. Inside, there was a photo of her mother and one of her father. They smiled lovingly at her, and Tina managed a small smile in return even as her heart twisted a bit. Though it had been nearly sixteen years since dragon-pox had taken them, Tina still missed her parents every day.

"I miss them, too, Teenie."

Queenie's voice was soft, and Tina wasn't surprised. She leaned against her sister as Queenie sat on the bed beside her and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. Both sisters looked at the smiling photos for a few minutes before Tina took a deep breath and closed the locket. She turned to Queenie. "Thank you, Queenie, for last night. Not just trying to wait up for me, but for taking care of me. I needed it…to let go, I mean."

Queenie nodded. "I know, Teenie. And I'm just glad that I got to return the favor. I've lost count of how many times you did the same for me. When we were kids, at Ilvermorny and you would sneak into the Pukwudgie wing, and after Jacob was obliviated."

Tina warmly hugged her sister, and when they pulled apart, Queenie said, "Come on. I've got flapjacks on the stove."

For the first time since the previous evening, Tina managed a real smile. Flapjacks were her favorite breakfast.

The two sisters ate in comfortable silence for the majority of the meal. Tina was the one to break it. "Have you been up for long?"

"Just a few hours," said Queenie. "You know how I like to get some chores and errands done first thing in the mornings on my days off."

Tina nodded. "You didn't go see Jacob yet, then?" The auror knew that Queenie loved to visit Jacob at his bakery in the very early hours of the morning, which is when all bakeries really began their work. Since it meant much less people around to see them, and Queenie was a morning person anyway, that worked out well for them.

Queenie shook her head. "I wanted to make sure to be here when you woke up. I've only nipped out once to run some quick errands, and that didn't take long at all."

Tina smiled at Queenie. "Well, I have my meeting with President Picquery in two hours. You can go and see him then, even though I'm sure it will be crowded in the bakery."

"How about I bring him over for dinner tonight? He can bring all of your favorites from the bakery, and I'll make a pot roast as close to Mom's as I can."

Under other circumstances, Tina would try to refuse and say that she wasn't worth that kind of trouble. But her heart still felt raw and ripped, and an evening with Queenie and Jacob sounded worlds better than an evening left to her horrible memories of the previous evening. So, Tina nodded and said, "I would really like that."

Queenie, of course, knew how unlike Tina this easy acceptance of her offer was. She also knew just how much her sister was hurting. So, she took Tina's hand in hers and said, "I'm really proud of you, Teenie."

Not expecting this comment, Tina raised an eyebrow at her little sister. "What in the world for?"

"After what happened last evening, you have every right to be as angry as you are sad. But you're still empathetic to him when a lot of others would only be furious."

Tina looked at their joined hands, considering Queenie's words. Finally, she sighed. "I suppose I am…though being furious would be easier, I'm sure. I just…can't find it in me to be, when I know how much that evening must have hurt to him, probably more than it hurt me. But I can't say that I'm not angry with others, like his brother, and Leta, but most of all, his father."

Queenie's expression became murderous, a very rare thing for her. Tina knew more than most that it took a lot to get Queenie truly angry, but when she was truly angry, nothing and nobody was safe. Shaking her head, she finally said, "I know that you heard all of those rumors and stories about the Lestrange family, just like me. How can anybody say that people like that, who have done such horrible things, are better just because of their family name?"

"I don't know," said Tina, shaking her head sadly. "I've witnessed a few exchanges of prejudice on the streets and in gin joints against our people, but never against me personally." She looked at her sister with some apprehension. "Have you ever…?"

Queenie sighed, her expression still angry. "Never directly. But I've caught a few thoughts sometimes after I've given my name, in shops or places like that…" She shook her head. "We're pretty lucky, I suppose. At least here, in a city that's made up of so many immigrants that make up entire communities and neighborhoods, it's a bit freer."

"And safer," said Tina. "And, though our magical community has some terrible ideas about No-Maj relations," (Queenie smiled at her gratefully), "we truly don't give a damn what anybody's gender, race or culture is. Our president is a dark-skinned woman; that's certainly not true in the No-Maj community right now."

"But hopefully, it will be someday," said Queenie, and Tina nodded in agreement.

The rest of breakfast passed in silence.

After the dishes had been cleaned up, Tina went through her morning routine and dressed for her meeting with Picquery. Coming out of her room, she found Queenie magically mending one of her dresses. The blonde turned her attention to the brunette when the latter walked into the room.

"Well, I'm off," said Tina. "If I'm not back in an hour or two, then I'm probably taking a walk or catching up on some paperwork. But I'll be back in time for dinner, I promise."

Queenie just looked at her for a long minute. Then, she put down her wand, walked up to her sister, and took her hands in hers. "He'll come back, Teenie. I know it. And I'll bet that you'll have a long letter from him before the day is over begging your forgiveness."

Tina hung her head. "He won't write, Queenie. He told me before last night that he wouldn't be able to write me until his book was finished. The publication date was already pushed back once; I'm sure that can't happen again."

"Well, if he doesn't write, I know he'll come back. He promised you a copy of his book in person, and he'll keep his word. He's that kinda guy, and you know it."

Tina's eyes filled with tears that she blinked away when they blurred the sight of her shoes. "Maybe…but nothing will come of it…I'm not what he wants or needs…"

"Yes, you are," Queenie said firmly as she brought Tina's face back up to look at her. "Don't you dare doubt that, Teenie. What happened last night hopefully makes him realize how much that's true. And if, for whatever reason, he still doesn't by the time he comes back, then he'll have to deal with me."

Of course, Tina couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her. She hugged her sister tightly until her eyes were clear again. "Thanks, Queenie," she said in a hoarse voice. "I'll see you tonight."

Queenie nodded and gave a small smile as Tina walked out of the apartment. And as Tina made her way out of the building and down the street towards M.A.C.U.S.A. headquarters, she managed to find a little brightness in the world around her, knowing that she had the best little sister in the world.

A/N: To anybody who wanted to see what happened when Newt went from drunk to hungover to a VERY regretful sober, I'm sorry if I disappointed you. This story will be from Tina's POV, as it has been from the beginning. I may write a companion piece to this in the near future that takes place in Newt's POV, if there's a high demand. Until then, don't worry: I won't leave you hanging for the next chapter long.