A/N: Yes, I'm posting 2 chapters today because I forgot to post the second chapter last Thursday! So, I apologize!
When the summer sun faded into the nocturnal glow of the city, all manner of sounds drifted on the breeze rustling the trees of their green oasis. The distant hum of jazz crept through the air, a phantom-like counterpoint to the constant chitter of insects. Stars, twinkling like faceted gems floating overhead, ushered in a welcome freshness after the brightly heated day, and for a moment, with Newt's hand warm around Tina's, it felt as though the universe was theirs. Her world narrowed to the temperate evening; the swirling of fireflies and swaying of tall grasses swept her into an atmospheric euphoria with the symphony of sound and sky she'd never been so in tune with before.
With the fall of night, Jacob avidly broke out his collection of fireworks; a modest supply of cones that spit sparks and one or two that shot into the sky with a single burst of colored light. They were quick displays each of them took turns lighting, while the others stood safely aside to watch and marvel. Most of the fun came with the plentiful handfuls of sparklers. Queenie and Tina twirled barefoot in the tall grass, arms locked together laughing as they waved their sparklers. Newt seemed content as he was, standing close by, simply waving patterns into the air, a smirk pulling at one corner of his mouth. Jacob pretended to be a wizard. He stood feet planted in the swaying grass, flailing his arm about as the golden glow at the end of the stick sputtered and hissed it's shower of sparks, muttering nonsensical phrases. Queenie roared with laughter, watching the baker carry on with childish enthusiasm and she rushed to his side, her own sparklers left extinguished and forgotten where she'd once stood.
The evening was bright and wholly alive with whimsical laughs and a magic far beyond spells and potions. Breathless, Tina collapsed on the blanket, her heart expanding beyond the confines of her chest and rising into the sky as she watched Queenie holding Jacob's hand and demonstrating the correct swish and flick method for a leviosa spell. From the moment she'd clapped eyes on Newt that swelling in her chest had skyrocketed and exploded in a shower of unparalleled joy — only to continue to rain upon her.
Newt followed her onto the blanket in a fluid tumble of limbs until he laid beside her — his sparklers doused and disposed of. It was her hand he reached for to replace his discarded fireworks, and the gentle scratch of his calloused fingertips entwining with hers ignited sparks without the need for fire. Tina relished in the momentary solitude they'd found laying together on the blanket as Queenie and Jacob occupied themselves nearby. Neither uttered a word, they didn't have to; the tender feel of his hand in hers spoke volumes.
Tina would have gladly stayed sprawled next to Newt on the picnic blanket, watching the stars and soaking in the shred of privacy they had found. Eventually, though, Jacob's bag of fireworks had run out and with it so had Newt and Tina's moment of solitude. With a bereft sigh, the pair sat up — surrendering the other's hand — as Jacob and Queenie returned. Newt remained close to her; still, Tina had to fight to keep the disappointment from souring her face. That frustration didn't linger, however, chased away as the sky above them came alive with the first of many fireworks for the city's annual display.
All at once, Tina's mind flooded with memories as she gazed in wonder at the cascading, colorful flashes overhead, of that hilltop in England where Newt had kissed her. Her heart was swelling again at the thought. Closing her eyes, she could still feel him close to her, his every breath beating against her skin until his lips had captured her own. Thinking back on that precious moment had carried her through those long weeks away from him.
Tina was aware of how painfully still Newt was sitting next to her; as though he feared moving would somehow frighten her away. She couldn't help but to smile at the odd idiosyncrasy; perhaps it was something he'd picked up all those times he'd been faced with a creature in the field. Nonetheless, Tina seized the opportunity to openly lean into him. Newt's rigid posture relaxed the moment she was near, folding around her perfectly and soft like petals on a rose. Never had she felt so comfortable resting against another human; Newt was sturdy and warm, so very warm…
Every few moments, Tina caught sight of her sister's pleased grin and sly side glance tossed her way, and all Tina could do was ignore them. It remained a mystery to her as to why Queenie gained such joy seeing the two of them together in situations one step to the side of intimate. When their situations had been reversed, Tina had always been respectful of Jacob and Queenie's courtship, looking away and never staring any time the two shared a similar moment. She rolled her eyes and told her sister to buzz off in the nicest way she could think before turning her focus back to the spectacle above them.
"Do you remember the last time we watched fireworks?" Tina asked, glancing towards Newt, only to become lost in wonder at the play of technicolor flashes lighting the British wizard's upturned face.
His wide lips formed into a grin as he drew his focus to only her. She marveled briefly at how his eyes twinkled with warmth as he held her gaze. Tina gnawed her bottom lip, stomach fluttering.
"How could I forget?" Newt murmured, smile unfurling deeper. "It remains one of my fondest memories...perhaps my fondest, even."
Tina could have thrown her arms around his neck and kissed him, and she would have (of that she was certain) had Jacob and Queenie not been an arm's length away. Instead, she bit her lip a little harder, hoping the pain would deter some of the unwitting urges working through her body.
"Me too," Tina finally managed, and turned her eyes back to the sky.
The display in the sky progressed into an extravagant finale that lit the entire park with flashes of gold, marking the end of the celebration. A collective cheer resonated throughout the whole of New York, drowning out even the bangs of the fireworks. All at once, the majesty of the evening diminished with the eruption of applause, causing a slight pang of woe to sink into Tina. The magic and the perception that the world was her own was gone, leaving only the stale promise of reality. Those near to them — who in the euphoria of the evening, Tina had paid no mind to — begin packing their own picnic baskets and various other possessions. The park quickly filled with the ordinary indistinct chatter of civilian and insect; the definitely unmagical noise of people arguing and children crying. The dimmed lamp posts lining the walkways regained their usual lumination, to further steal away her enchanted evening. Even the whimsical jazz filtering through the trees now sounded perfunctory, played by musicians who were waiting for the evening to be over.
All that remained to remind her of what had been only moments ago was a thin cloud of acrid smoke lingering in the air from the pyrotechnical display. Tina watched it drift carelessly with the breeze and swirl into tendrils as people broke through. She sighed wistfully, and moved her focus elsewhere. A glance at Newt was enough to dull the melancholy feeling inside her, prompting a faint smile to return to her lips. He was helping Queenie pack their things, deftly folding the blanket before handing it to her. He smiled when he looked Tina's way, and she was glad for the tickle of joy it provoked.
"Are you going back tonight?" she asked, falling in line behind Jacob and Queenie as they moved with the crowd out of the park.
The realization of the freedom Newt now possessed came to her all at once, and with it a surprising surge of neediness and slight concern. Before, goodbye came only when a ship arrived to take him back across the sea or when his scheduled date came to Floo home. The portkey he carried with him was a perfect doorway in and out of her world; Tina both hated the notion and adored it.
Newt carded his fingers through his hair, shaking his head as the fringe fell back into place. "I wasn't planning to. But if you wish me to, I can—"
"No!" Tina grabbed his hand with an almost desperate squeeze, and let go just as suddenly. "I just mean — um — it's late, so you should rest and travel when you're more rested."
Good save, she scolded herself with a fleeting grimace.
Newt laughed, seeming to catch her momentary sour expression. He rejoined their hands with an eagerness that matched her own.
"Yes," he agreed, kindly. "Rest does often make a grand excuse for one looking to extend a visit. However, reason often overshadows excuses and my reason for staying is you."
His voice was so light; but though the tone could have been swept away with the breeze, every word spilled forth with genuine devotion. Suddenly, Tina found words cumbersome obstacles she couldn't maneuver. Instead, her lips curled into what was (she was sure) a goofy grin of mostly teeth and little charm. She ducked her head with faint embarrassment, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks. An anxious excitement was building inside her as they walked with their fingers woven together that was growing difficult to quell...
July's thick heat had chilled enough to prickle Tina's exposed shoulders as a slight shiver wracked through her. Newt was quick to sacrifice his warmth, cloaking her with his jacket. She thanked him and promptly inhaled the scent of herbs, the earth, and sun. The tickle in her nose delighted her. Suddenly, the magic Tina had so missed once more flourished. She felt it with his warmth around her, and saw it unfold with one look to the beautifully clear heavens above them. Only that thin veil of smoke remained, residue from private displays still filling the sky with sparks of light.
The hour was growing later as they walked, yet the streets of New York still thrived. Sporadic bursts lit rooftops and alleyways as people refused to let the celebrations come to an end. All of it seemed to captivate Newt. Every adoring glance Tina stole, she found his face alight with fond intrigue — a sense of childlike wonderment — that kept her smiling just as brightly as those fireworks.
"Having fun?" she asked. Tina slowed their pace, allowing her sister and Jacob to take a substantial lead and hopefully grant them a moment away from the over-the-shoulder glances Queenie kept stealing.
"Yes," he said with a grin. "England, I don't think, has a shred of patriotism in comparison — well the Muggles may, but the wizard community sure doesn't."
Tina smirked at the play of expressions on his face. "Don't frequent many No-Maj festivals, I take it?"
"I don't frequent a lot of things, especially festivals," he scoffed with heavy jest, though Tina knew there was mostly truth to it.
"We have that in common," she told him with a faint air of pride.
Newt's tendency to stray from the obscurity of social situations was something Tina knew well, and held with respect. She was not unlike him in that regard; a walk in the park, or trips to a nearby cafe with Queenie were social and familiar things Tina enjoyed engaging in. Parties or other similarly bustling gatherings she was less fond of.
"I'm gonna stay at Jacob's tonight," Queenie announced when they reached the fork in their paths home. "With Newt around you won't be needing me, Teenie."
She threw them both an impish wink, causing color to tint both Newt and Tina's cheeks.
"Goodnight, Queenie." Tina hugged her sister tightly. "Today was fun."
"Sure was!" she agreed.
Newt issued each of them a sincere farewell as Tina took hold of his hand again.
"Why don't yous both swing by for breakfast in the morning?" Jacob suggested before they walked away.
Tina met Newt's quizzical expression with a nod.
"Love to!" He grinned. "We'll be there bright and early."
A/N: Thank you all for the comments, if I haven't gotten back to your comments, I will. It's been a busy week for me so I'll get there; I adore your comments and I love to comment back. Chapter 4 will be posted on the 18th!
Furthermore, you can follow me on Tumblr fandom-non-sense
That is where you can keep up with my progress, check out my favorite works by other talented authors and even find a link to keep me caffeinated so I write quicker ;).
Also HUGE thank you and shout out to my betas CuivienenGazer and katiehavok. They are the true heroes here and I owe them both so much for making these chapters readable.