disclaimer: I own nothing

Author's Note: Thanks to my enthusiastic guest reviewer for taking the time to leave a review. I didn't think anyone liked this story, so it was very appreciated. Here's the next chapter.


It was night when the made it to London. Tina became increasingly quiet as they walked from the Portkey spot to Newt's house.

Newt, concerned by this, kept up a running commentary of the places they passed, but Tina just looked around herself, looking small. Newt realized it was probably the first time she'd been to London. The London night was chilly and misty and they were practically the only ones on the streets. Finally, they came to the house and they climbed the front steps. Newt dug his key out of his pocket.

"Here we are." he said, sliding the key into the slot and turning it. He opened the door and held it open for Tina. She moved past him and he followed, closing the door.

"Home sweet home." He flipped on the lights as he spoke.

Tina looked around, saying nothing about the simple living room off to the left or the narrow staircase heading up to the right.

"I want to show you something." Newt said, to break the silence.

He led Tina through the living room, where she left her case and bag, to the kitchen. He opened the door to the basement and Tina followed him, looking a little apprehensive as they went down the stairs. He heard her sharp intake of breath once they got far enough down the stairs for her to see the basement with it's numerous staircases, habitats, and creatures. Tina stopped on the stairs, looking around. Newt smiled at the look on her face, a mixutre of surprise and wonder. She's seen his case before, of course, but this was something else entirely.

"Bunty!" he called, moving down the stairs.

There was a chance that she had already finished for the day, caring for the creatures in his abscence, but he wanted Tina to meet her.

"Bunty!"

Newt leaned over the railing to look for her, then saw her coming out of the Augeries' habitat, an empty bucket in hand. She looked surprised to see him.

"Newt!" She started up the stairs.

Tina looked a little confused as they started down to meet her.

"You didn't say you were coming home." Bunty said when they stopped on a landing.

"Tina, this is Bunty. She helps me with the creatures. Bunty, this is Tina Goldstein. My wife."

Bunty looked startled, but gave Tina a smile and the two women shook hands.

"It's nice to meet you. Newt told me all about you before he went back to America."

"It's nice to meet you, Bunty. Though I haven't heard anything about you."

Tina gave him a look. Newt gave her a small shrug, realizing this had probably been a bit of an oversight on his part.

"How is everyone, Bunty?" he asked as they descended the stairs.

"Happy and healthy, for the most part. Though the kelpie is restless." Bunty answered.

They were almost on the lowest level when Tina yelped and went back up a step. Newt turned in concern.

"What is that?" Tina asked.

Newt saw the three headed orange and black snake that she'd almost stepped on. The middle and left heads each had a cone around their necks. The middle one was staring dreamily ahead of itself.

"Oh." Newt smiled and bent down to pick the snake up.

"This is Charles, Robert, and Edwin." he said, indicating each head as he named them. Tina looked amused at the names as the snake coiled around Newt's arm.

"Why do they have cones?" Newt sighed a little, stroking the middle head.

"They are the unfortunate result of Charles and Robert trying to bite Edwin off."

"It tried to get rid of one of its head?"

"Well, actually, they're three beings on one body. The right head gets attacked quite a lot. It's a bit of a critic."

Newt bent down and released the snake. Tina stared after it, as if she didn't quite believe what he'd just told her. They followed Bunty to the edge of the kelpie pool.

"I don't see anything." Tina said, leaning out over the water a bit.

Alarmed, Newt put his hand on her arm and gently pulled her back.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. He's given Bunty plenty of bites. I don't want to see what he'll do to you."

Tina took a hurried step back as Newt pulled off his jacket. A green mass of what looked like seaweed had risen for the depths and was zipping around beneath the surface of the water.

"I'll be right back." he said to Tina and Bunty.

"What are you-"

Tina didn't get to finish her sentence before Newt stepped backward off the edge into the water. He plunged deep before the kelpie realized he was there. When it did, it spun around in the water and surged straight at him. As it did, Newt grabbed hold of some trailing fronds and hung on as it swam upward, the water going with them. It broke the surface and for a moment they were surround by rolling green hills before the landscape settled into what it actually was.

The kelipe did a few laps before Newt was able to guide him over to where Tina and Bunty were waiting. Bunty was soaked-it seemed Tina had backed up far enough to miss getting wet. Newt dismounted.

"Someone needed ot let off some steam." he said as he did. "Hand me that bucket, please, Bunty."

Bunty retrieved the bucket of fish, but when Newt had turned around, he saw that Tina had moved closer to the horse-like creature.

"Tina-" he started, but broke off when the kelpie snorted and stretches its head closer.

Tina didn't move to touch it-a wise decision-but the kelpie sniffed her, nostrils flaring, then nudged her stomach once, soaking her shirt. It then turned its attention to the bucket Newt held and made a demanding noise. Newt handed over the bucket.

"I think he likes you." he said to Tina as she dried the spot on her shirt, then turned her wand on him, drying him almost instantly.

"He must have a good taste in friends." Tina joked.

Due to his inattention, the kelpie seized the bucket and dove beneath the surface of the water with it. Newt sighed slightly.

"Well, I'm not getting that one back any time soon." he said.

Tina smiled a little. He looked at Bunty.

"You can go home now, Bunty." he said.

"I've almost finished for the day, Newt." Bunty protested.

"Tina and I can take care of the rest. You've done more than enough while I've been gone."

Bunty looked like she wanted to argue, then nodded.

"Goodnight." she said, then started up the stiars.

Newt waited until he heard her Apparate outside the basement, then turned back to Tina.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Bunty before. It never occured to me."

Tina nodded, looking around.

"I thought your case was amzing, but this . . . . ." she trailed off.

"A case can only fit so much."

"I can see that."

"I can introduce you to everyone, if you'd like." Newt offered.

Tina shook her head.

"Not tonight, Newt."

Newt realized she looked tired, so he nodded. They finished feeding the creatures and then returned upstairs. Tina shed her coat. They'd eaten in New York when it had become clear their Portkey would be very late in the day, so neither of them brought up dinner.

Newt led Tina upstairs and showed her the bedroom. It was simple and the room felt abandoned after somany weeks. He suddenly felt almost awkward.

"There's another bedroom if you would prefer-"

"Prefer my own?" Tina cut in, looking at him.

He nodded. She shook her head, giving him a look that made Newt think he shouldn't have said anything. Instead of saying anything more, Tina stepped into the room. Newt followed her.


XXXXXX


The next morning, Newt woke up before Tina and went downstairs, deciding to make breakfast for the both of them. Tina came down just when he was finishing, fully dressed in a shirt that had probably once been loose but was now stretched tight against her rounded belly. She looked surprised when she walked in.

"Good morning." Newt greeted, giving her a smile as he made up two plates.

"How long have you been up?" Tina asked.

"Just over an hour. I needed to feed the creatures. I thought I'd make us some breakfast."

"Thank you."

Newt turned to the table, a plate in each hand. Tina sat down and they started to eat. Newt started to describe some of the things he'd dealt with during the morning feeding when Tina suddenly gagged and bolted to her feet. Newt jerked up after her and managed to hold back her hair as she threw up in the sink.

"I hope that isn't an opinion of my cooking." he joked when Tina had finally stopped retching.

Tina shook her head.

"Are you all right?" he asked gently.

Tina nodded, rinsing her mouth out and spitting several times before she turned the water off and straightened.

"Just a bit of morning sickness, I think." Tina said, resting her hand briefly on her stomach.

"I can make you something else." Newt offered as they sat back down.

"No. Not right now."

Tina nibbled on the toast he'd made. The day was mostly spent with them incorporating Tina into the house. Newt didn't want her to feel uncomfortable in their own home. Just as he coming up from checking the creatures that afternoon, Tina came downstairs with the niffler in her arms. It was clinging to the necklace that fell past her chest, as if it was contemplating pullig it off of her.

"He was in our bedroom."

"Did he do anything?" Newt asked, feeling almost exasperated.

"As far as I can tell, all he did was try to take my wedding ring." Tina said, easing the niffler into his arms and leaving the room.

Newt sighed, looking down at the niffler. It sniffed, looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Keep you paws off of Tina's things, mister." he said, gently tapping it on the nose.

He let it go downstairs, though he knew he might regret that later.

Early that evening, there was a knock on the door. This confused Newt. He had told Bunty not to come today and it wasn't as if ever had people knocking on his door when he was home. He answered it to find himself face to face with a man that look vaguely lie himself, with a neater suit and hair. Newt blinked.

"Theseus?" he said in disbelief as he stared at his brother.

"Newt." Theseus's voice was formal, almost curt.

"Wh-What are you doing here?"

The last time he had seen Theseus was when his book had premiered.

"I heard from someone at the Ministry that you got a Portkey from Newt York yesterday."

"I did."

This was awkward. It was always awkward with Theseus in one way or another.

"Would you like to come in?" Newt added.

Thesue nodded and Newt stepped back to let his brother in. There were footsteps on the stairs.

"Newt, who-" Tina broke off halfway down the stairs and just stared at Theseus.

"Who-"

"This is my brother, Theseus." Newt said, glancing at Theseus.

"I know you." Theseus said, taking a step towards the stairs. Newt saw Tina stiffen.

"You're the American Auror." Before Tina could say anything, Theseus continued, seeming to blurt out the next sentence without a thought. "The one who was raped."

Tina's eyes widened.

"How did you know that?" Tina's voice was quieter than usual.

Theseus's eyes dropped to Tina's belly. He looked like he was about to say something else, but Newt spoke first.

"You can say anything you want to me, Theseus, but you can't speak that way about my wife."

Theseus's eyes popped.

"Wife?"

He looked between Newt and Tina, looking stunned.

"Yes." Newt said, a little tensely.

He knew Tina had her wand on her and he wouldn't blame her for hexing Theseus' right then and there. He honestly didn't think that he would stop her. Theseus took a few more steps closer to Tina. He cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry. May we start over?"

Tina looked over his head at Newt. Newt shrugged. What she chose to do with his brother was her business. If she wanted him out, Newt wouldn't argue with her.

"I think that would be best."

Tina came down the rest of the stairs until she was one above Theseus. Theseus cleared his throat again, looking a little awkward.

"Theseus Scamander."

Tina took Theseus's offer hand a little cautiously.

"Tina Goldstein."

"So you're my sister-in-law?" Theseus said.

"It looks like it." Tina said.

Theseus turned on Newt again. "When were you planning on telling me you'd gotten married?"

Now Newt felt awkward.

"It was a bit sudden."

"We've been married for four days." Tina said.

Newt was startled by her honesty with Theseus. He knew his brother would figure out that the baby was not his and he wasn't certain that was something he wanted to adverise.

"Would . . . . would you like a cup of tea, Theseus?" he asked, his hand still on the doorknob.

Theseus was surprised by the offer. Newt was too. Their interactions were never long. After a moment, his brother nodded.

Theseus stayed for an hour, being polite. Newt could see that his brother felt bad for what he'd said to Tina before and said nothing about Tina's pregnancy. When Theseus left, he hugged both Newt and Tina, but paused on the way out.

"The Ministry wants to talk to you, Newt."

Theseus's voice was serious. Newt hardly needed to guess what they wanted.

"They can wait for now."

Theseus started to say something.

"I have no interest in what the Ministry wants from me right now, Theseus. I need to be with my family. I'm not going anywhere. The Ministry knows where I am if they want to talk."

Newt's voice was firm. Theseus nodded and left with no argument. Once the door was closed, Newt turned to Tina.

"So that was our brother?" Tina asked.

"Yes. I'm . . . . . I apologize for what Theseus said. I don't think he meant anything by it." Newt said.

"It's all right, Newt." Tina looked a little troubled. "Newt, if he knows, can I really start over here?" she asked.

Newt bowed his head slightly.

"i don't know, Tina. But I know Theseus won't spread any rumors or tell anyone."

Tina nodded, then slipped back into the kitchen. She was washing the cups they had used. Newt slipped upstairs to their bedroom. There were some minor differences already and he picked up a framed picture sitting on the dresser that hadn't been there before. He smiled.

It was magical, of two young girls, one dark haired, one blonde, standing together in identical school uniforms. The older girl had her arm around her sister's shoulders protectively. Tina and Queenie. Newt wondered when this picture had been taken. He heard the door creak behind him and turned. Tina was standing there, saw what he was holding.

"Have you heard anything from her?" Newt asked, replacing the picture.

Tina lowered her eyes for a moment.

"I had a letter from her about three weeks ago." Tina's voice was quiet.

"Did you write her back?" Newt asked.

"Yes."

"Did you tell-"

"No."

Tina looked back up at him. Her hand was on her stomach and she started rubbing it in agitated circles. Newt was almost shocked by her response.

"Tina, why-"

"She doesn't need to know."

"Doesn't need- Tina, she's your sister. She would care. She would-"

"She ran off with Jacob." Tina said.

Newt felt his eyebrows raise.

"How would he remember her?" he asked.

"I don't know. The potion didn't work on him. I didn't . . . . I didn't get too involved, because of the laws. They snuck around for a while and we . . . . we got into a huge fight." Tina ran a hand through her hair, letting out a shuddering breath. "She left. Right before you came. Jacob went with her. I went by the bakery after that. He was gone. I . . . . I don't now where they went. If I tell her what happened, she'll come back. I know she will. And I can't ask that of her, Newt. She's happy. I don't want to ruin that."

Tina blinked rapidly, sniffing and dabbing at her eyes.

"Tina . . . . ." Newt didn't know what to say. What could he say? Tina had needed Queenie before and he knew she still needed her.

"You're not an inconveince to people's lives, because of what happened. I'm your family. Queenie is your family."

It felt weak. He stopped, just staring at her. A tear spilled down Tina's face.

"I miss her, Newt." She said it like she didn't want to admit it. "But after what I said, after driving her away, what right do I have to come back into her life like this? What right do I have to tell her, knowing she will drop everything and come back?"

Newt said nothing, realizing Tina was baring some of the pain she had been carrying these past few months. Instead, he walked to her and gathered her in his arms.

Tina sobbed, shuddering in his arms. Newt said nothing, just rocked her gently. Tina seemed thoroughly embarrassed when her sobs turned into silent tremors and she just stood with her head against his shoulder.

"I don't know I did that." she said into his neck.

"I think this is the answer." Newt said, resting his hand against her abdomen briefly.

Tina laughed tearily, wrapping her arms around him. They stayed that way for a few minutes.

"Dinner?" Newt suggested.

Tina nodded.

He pulled away and kissed her tenderly on the forehead before turning to head downstairs.


Author's Note: There are similar things here as in the Crimes of Grindelwald, but I loved the kelpie and we didn't get to see much of him. I thought Newt owned the entire house as well, so in the story he does. Also, fun fact, I have never seen the runespoor deleted scene (my beta informed me of it a few days ago) and I wrote this in 2019, so the cones weren't an original idea like I thought they were.

Please review!