When she returned to Newt's room after the slight quarrel she'd had with herself in the bathroom, Tina found him adorned in striped blue pajamas, propped up with a single pillow in the bed. His nose was buried deep in one of his journals, mindfully sketching. Tina couldn't quell the simper pressing deep into her features, manifesting strong enough she could feel the dimple crease her cheek. The simple delight of watching him work settled pleasingly, causing her heart to once again flutter. There was something so overtly endearing about the Magizoologist when he thought no one could see him content at work. It made his compassion all the more genuine and alluring seeing that it wasn't merely an act he put on.
A heavy black stripe of charcoal dust decorated the bridge of his nose as well as his right cheek, Tina noticed as she moved deeper into the room. The tip of his tongue was protruding ever so slightly from his mouth, pressed between his lips at the corner as if the tick would help with the outcome of his drawing. A slight chuckle managed to escape Tina's smirking lips, unable to contain how the sight of him tickled her.
The sound didn't seem to startle him even slightly. Newt issued her an endearing grin in response to her presence and scooted closer to his side of the bed before turning wordlessly back to his sketch. Tina slid gracefully under the thick quilt, choosing to see his reaction as politely allowing her enough space and not him shying away from her. Tina's heart hoped that was the reason. More so, she was glad to have talked herself out of the nightgown, the mood wasn't right. The quiet scene was somehow too intimate for the loud presence the fanciful apparel would have brought with it.
"What are you drawing?" Tina asked, craning her neck to steal a peek at the pages.
Newt shrugged. "Nothing really — creatures. That's all I ever seem to sketch are creatures."
The bound pages he tilted for her to see held the images of an occomy and a nundu. The artistry of each creature was breathtaking to say the least. Every intricate detail was marked with such apt precision that his skill for illustrating the beasts seemed unrivaled. It was as though the very creatures were about to jump off the page at any moment.
"I love your drawings." Tina smiled. "Remember when you brought me a copy of your book over the holidays last year? You had drawn and written notes over all the packaging."
He glanced at her, looking earnest. "I do remember. Sorry about the scribbles."
Tina shook her head. "I adored the scribbles. They made the whole gift even more special."
Like you, she wanted to add, but held her tongue feeling as though the time to have said it had already slipped past her.
The room fell into a silence, one that was far more tranquil than awkward. Newt continued sketching, while Tina watched contently. Every sweep of the charcoal across the parchment enchanted her. Each delicate line or intense shadow was spellbinding, filling her with awe and no small amount of pride.
The two of them remain comfortable in the silent company of the other for a long while; Newt even smiled, faintly, when Tina scooted closer to rest her head on his shoulder to watch.
Tina wasn't sure what time it was when Newt closed his sketchbook, but she did know that it was much too soon.
"We should try and sleep," he announced, gently setting the leather bound journal on the nightstand next to him.
She sank under the covers with a bereft sounding sigh in agreement. Newt slid under as well, his long legs almost hanging off the edge of the mattress when he'd finally settled himself. They faced each other as they laid near enough to cause Tina's heart to swell with joy, and when a soft grin touched his eyes she was practically swooning.
"Good night," he murmured. "Sleep well, Tina."
She would certainly try, but the moment his eyes closed, sleep was the last thought on her mind.
"G'night, Newt," Tina sighed wistfully.
When morning came, it came swiftly and with little remorse. Sleep had been elusive, a cruel game of cat-and-mouse brought on by the indistinct chatter and anxiety in Tina's mind. All of it was excitement, swirling within her, keeping rest out of reach. She'd surrendered to it early, letting her mind drift as she listened to the sounds Newt made in his sleep: snores that ring like a whistle through his parted lips. By the time the wheels in her head stopped spinning and sleep was finally in her grasp, Tina had more than acquainted herself with a textured ceiling above her. The maze of embossed ivy no longer held any mystery, having spent the better part of the night wandering along its trail with her eyes.
Tina could have sworn she had only just shut her eyes when a beam of light cut through the split in the heavy drapes, waking her. Newt wasn't in bed beside her, she realized quickly, sprawled across the entire mattress like a starfish. She forcefully swallowed the odd pang of disappointment of finding herself alone. For a moment she considered staying in the bed, warm and wrapped abundantly in the smell of the Magizoologist, but curiosity won out and soon she was digging for her robe in her suitcase so she could venture out to find everyone.
Stepping into the hall, Tina was immediately hit with the scent of cooking breakfast, and golden sunlight spilling into the apartment. The solar glow amplified the best parts of the apartment, from the woodwork to the wallpaper. Though she was tired, Tina found it increasingly difficult to keep from smiling.
The kitchen was where she found everyone, each having donned a robe like her, and Queenie with curlers still in her hair.
"Good morning, Teenie!" she sang, uncharacteristically cheerful for someone who was not usually a morning person. "Newt's taken it upon himself to make us breakfast! Come sit."
Her sister pushed out the wooden chair across from where she was sitting adjacent to Jacob with a welcoming smile.
"It seems absurd to me to have my guests preparing my meals," New commented, expertly flipping a pancake. "I'm not skilled with most meals, but breakfast I'm rather good at."
He flipped the pancake again with a touch of flair, a wink and a cheeky grin to show off before turning back to the stove. Every delighted thought racing through her head, Queenie was absorbing — Tina could tell from the impish smirk on her blonde sister's lips.
Newt finished preparing their meal without too many more moments of showmanship, issuing them each a hearty stack of pancakes, and a pile of scrambled eggs.
Tina ate hers with a thick spread of butter while the others drenched theirs in a lake of syrup. True, the meal was nowhere near Queenie's exceptional prowess in the kitchen, still, all of them were pleasantly surprised with the meal Newt had prepared. Each pancake was browned perfectly and the eggs were fluffier than any of them remembered having before. All of it had Tina noshing with a content smile on her face and with each morsel that passed her lips she forgot that she'd only gotten a few hours of sleep.
Tea followed breakfast for three of them while Tina clung to her mug of coffee hoping the caffeine would give her a little more pep. Behind them the plates and silverware were scrubbing themselves clean in the sink, allowing them the opportunity to discuss the schedule for the day.
"So," Newt started, taking a sip from his cup. "What's the plan?"
His question was directed at Jacob and Queenie, who exchanged a glance and a shrug, but Tina took the liberty of hashing out ideas.
"Newt's parents already agreed to host both of you," she reminded them. "And Theseus was supposed to tell Louise we're here."
Newt nodded along silently.
"You think that offer still stands?" Jacob asked, taking Queenie's hand.
"I don't know why it wouldn't." Newt shrugged optimistically.
He stood, gently tossing his empty teacup into the dishwater, only for it to be plucked out magically, given a good scrub and put back into a neat stack on the counter.
"Tina's right. My brother's already put the idea into my mother's head. If we don't go to her, she will undoubtedly come to us."
A small chuckle escaped Tina's lips as a wider smile lit up her face, knowing what Newt said was true. A fresh wave of excitement worked through her; igniting that spark of vigor she'd hoped to gain from the coffee on the table in front of her.
"Can we go?" Queenie asked, "Now?"
Even the curlers in her golden hair bounced with enthusiasm. She never looked so eager for something before in her life.
"Shouldn't we at least change first, doll?" Jacob chuckled with a grin. "I don't know about youse, but I'd like to make a decent first impression."
All of them laughed, and Queenie leaned in to kiss him sweetly.
"Of course!"
She stood fluidly, depositing her cup in the sink, and strode nimbly down the hall and up the stairs without another word.
All Tina could do was shake her head adoringly as she did her best to ignore the return of those anxious butterflies in her stomach.
A/N: So close to the end now! I can't believe I've almost got this whole thing posted! The next part of the series is well under way, and I've officially finished the 1st draft of the first chapter; it's a short piece, so only one more chapter and an epilogue to go!
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.