He couldn't take his eyes off her. How could he? She was finally home.

After dinner and dessert had been eaten – and when everybody had gathered enough energy to move after that delicious meal – the family of six go down into the basement to be with the creatures. Newt escorts Tina down like a queen (which she is, in his mind), and was by her side as she reacquainted herself with each of his creatures. The other four eventually broke off from the couple, knowing smiles on their faces.

Eventually, though, Newt did have to part with her in the basement. The kelpie was overdue to blow off some steam, and Newt couldn't in good conscience skip this task. But when he came back out of the water atop the Kelpie's back, Tina wasn't there waiting for him – it was Theseus.

Reading the expression on his little brother's face as he made his way off the Kelpie's back, Theseus laughed. "Relax, Newt. She and Jacob are with your Murtlap. I just wanted a quick word with you."

"Oh," said Newt, a little surprised. He climbed onto the platform of the stone steps and pulled out his wand to dry himself.

But Theseus was quicker. "Allow me, little brother," he said merrily as he whipped out his wand. In the next moment, a blast of hot air came at Newt like a powerful hair-dryer. It was all Newt could do to keep his balance and not fall back into the water. When Theseus was done, he pocketed his wand again with a smug "That's better."

"Thanks ever so much," Newt muttered sarcastically. "So…what did you want to talk about?"

Theseus's smug amusement unexpectedly turned into something deeper but just as peaceful. He reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a small, square parcel. It was wrapped in red paper, with a tiny silver bow on top. "It's from Jacob and I," said Theseus, in a serious but heartfelt tone of voice. "For both you and Tina. Open it tonight when you two are alone in your flat. Alright?"

Newt, obviously curious and a little surprised by the seriousness of his brother's tone, decided that the best thing to do was accept the parcel and say, "Thank you."

Theseus nodded, playfully ruffled his little brother's hair, and said, "I'll see you in the morning."

With that, he turned and made his way out of the basement.

Newt watched him leave, and then looked down at the parcel meant for him and Tina. Tina. Remembering what Theseus had said, he quickly pocketed the parcel and hurried along to the Murtlap's enclosure.

The water-dwelling creature had her own little pond to herself. She lingered at the edge, most of her body submerged in water. Thankfully, she seemed to be perking up, as she eagerly ate the small crustaceans that Jacob and Tina were throwing her.

"That's it!" said Tina, encouragingly and gently. "Soon, you'll have just as much energy as you did when we first met you."

Jacob laughed and patted the side of his neck. "Oh, yes, we remember that well."

Newt joined them, his heart so warm at seeing his best friend and the love of his life so at home with one of his creatures; moreover, a creature who at once had been nothing but frightening to them. He crouched beside Tina at the edge of the pond. "She does know how to make a memorable entrance," he said, looking at the recovering murtlap fondly.

"As you said that day: 'Nothing to worry about,'" said Tina, looking warmly at Newt. He was sure that his heart might leap out of his throat in joy.

Jacob, who knew that this was his cue to turn in, got up and said, "Well, I'm going to bed. I will see you both on Christmas Day." Newt and Tina got up as well, and each accepted a hug from the good baker before he left them.

Newt and Tina stayed a few minutes longer with Miranda the Murtlap. Newt coated one of the crustaceans with a medicine that he'd made for her, and Tina made sure that she ate it. She disappeared into her pond as the two of them walked away.

They held hands as they walked through the various enclosures, saying goodnight to the creatures. When they came to Nagini's shack, they found her getting ready for bed. She hugged them both and wished them goodnight, again expressing how glad she was that Tina was back home. Newt then led Tina by the hand up the basement steps and back into their flat.

Finally, after two excruciating months apart, they were home. And alone.

Newt felt the atmosphere become just a bit more charged; the palm of the hand that held Tina's became sweaty, so he gently let it go reluctantly. Tina seemed to feel the energy shift as well, for her cheeks had become pink. "Um…let's change for bed, and then I could make some cocoa for us. How does that sound?"

Relieved, Newt nodded. "That sounds perfect."

Looking just as relieved, Tina pulled out her night-clothes from her suitcase and stepped behind the changing screen that Newt had gotten for her when she'd moved in. It allowed her privacy when she changed and ensured that she wouldn't have to always use the washroom to change her clothes. Newt then went to his wardrobe and pulled out his own pajamas.

As he took off his waistcoat and lowered his braces, Newt could still feel this new tension in the air of his flat. No…it wasn't new, he realized. It had been there since Tina had moved in with him. But before she had gone back to New York, there had been something stronger in the atmosphere when they were alone: their grief. It had been so raw then, especially for her. It had given them both the permission to be closer, to share a bed safely, to touch and caress in comfort, to soothe and reassure in the dark. Never had any of it crossed the line into romantic territory, but it had been intimate in a sense: two raw and wounded souls learning how to support each other.

Now…though the grief was still there, and probably always would be, that wound had begun to scar over. Now, Newt couldn't ignore the fact that he wanted to be close to Tina, touch her and be with her, in other ways for other reasons. And he was sure that she felt it as well, by her pink cheeks and subdued tone of voice right now…

But would it be right? After everything that had happened? After what their nearest and dearest had lost? And with all of the difficulties and darkness that surely lay in all of their futures?

As he began to lower his trousers, he remembered the small parcel that Theseus had given him. He pulled it out of his trouser pocket and set it atop his wardrobe. He decided that he would do what Theseus had advised – open it with Tina when they were alone – after she had finished changing and the cocoa had been made. If anything, it would provide a needed distraction from the tension in the air.

He finished changing into his striped pajamas and robe first, so he called softly to her, "I'll put the kettle on, shall I?"

"Thanks, Newt," she replied. "I'll be done in a minute."

"Take your time," he said in a slightly higher voice than normal – he could not let his mind wonder what she looked like in her current state of undress behind that screen. He hurried to the kitchen, filled the kettle with water and set it on the stovetop. After getting the stove started, he took a deep breath before turning around.

Tina had come out from behind the screen, now changed in her long white nightgown, and a blue shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She stood with her back to him, facing the Christmas tree. Newt didn't need to look at the fairies glowing on the branches to know that they were striking poses and preening for their audience of one. He stared at Tina's silhouette, and his feet seemed to move of their own accord to her side.

"It's so beautiful, Newt," she said, keeping her gaze on the Christmas tree.

As he stared at Tina's profile, her pale skin glowing in the fairies' light, Newt could only choke out in response, "Yes…beautiful…"

She turned her head and met his eyes. Merlin, her eyes…the parcel! Glad to have remembered that much-needed distraction, he cleared his throat and turned to the wardrobe. "I have something for you," he said, grabbing the little parcel. When he came back to her side, he continued, "Well, not me, exactly. Theseus and Jacob, and it's for both of us. Told me to open it with you."

"Oh," said Tina, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. She took the parcel from Newt and carefully tore off the red paper to reveal a simple cardboard box, just large enough to hold a Rememberall or a golden snitch. She lifted the lid, and then something magical (literally) happened.

What was in the parcel neither got a good look at until it was hovering just above their heads, for it had risen of its own accord out of the box right after Tina had taken the lid off the box. It hung above their heads, just out of their reach. It was some kind of plant, a sprig of…mistletoe. The white berries had a soft glow about them.

Newt and Tina gasped, both when they realized what it was, and in the next moment when each felt a warm sensation gently wrap around the middle of their backs. No mystery there what that was: this was enchanted mistletoe, and any two people caught underneath it wouldn't be able to take a step anywhere until…

Simultaneously, the two lowered their gazes and their eyes met. Both had expressions of absolute shock and pure joy on their faces.

Newt was the first to speak. Unfortunately, it was the shocked part of him rather than the joyous part that spoke for him:

"I had no idea about this."

And unfortunately, Tina's shocked and joyful expression turned into one of doubt and fear. "Are you…not pleased about…"

Thankfully, Newt didn't let her finish that sentence. "On the contrary, Tina…" He lifted his hand to gently move a strand of hair behind Tina's ear – a very purposeful and meaningful gesture that finished his own sentence for him.

Hope filled Tina's expression as a small smile came to her lips. As if to reassure herself, she raised her own hand and placed it over his heart; it was pounding as hard as her own.

Newt's hand, which lingered on her cheek, very gently pulled her face closer to his until their foreheads touched. "May I?" he breathed.

Even though they were under an enchanted mistletoe that wouldn't release them until they'd kissed, he still asked for her permission. That was all Tina needed, and she nodded her overwhelming consent.

Feeling as though a great load had slid off his heart, Newt carefully shifted his face and brushed his lips against her own. She responded, kissing his lips, her hand sliding up his chest to rest against the side of his neck. The mistletoe above them glowed and, its purpose fulfilled, fell down towards the couple.

When it bounced off the top of Tina's head, it caused her to jump back in surprise and confusion. When they saw the dead sprig of mistletoe on the floor, they both burst into giggles and fell into each other's arms. When their laughter had faded, their embrace tightened as emotion flooded through him.

"I've really missed you," Tina whispered against his neck.

Newt held her tightly and rubbed her back. "You're home now, Tina. I've got you."

Eventually, Tina pulled her head back just enough to meet his eyes. Her own, full of happy tears and shining with love, were more salamander-like than ever. And when she touched his cheek and raised her lips, he met her halfway.

They stayed in each other's arms, sharing sweet kisses and sweet words, and didn't part until the kettle boiling on the stove demanded their attention.