Chapter Text
When Newt and Tina return from their trip a week later, Mission Fall Back In Love complete, they're greeted by Queenie, who's magically managing her own rambunctious twins and niece and nephew. Then again, she's just practically perfect when it comes to motherhood, so Tina has learned to stop asking questions and just be grateful.
“You're sweet, Teen,” Queenie says, eyes crinkling up in a smile. “But I ain't perfect. Ask Newt.”
Before anyone can say anything further, the Scamander children turn around from where they were cawing at a seagull, light up, and hurtle towards their parents. Somehow they manage to execute a four-way hug without strangling one another; Queenie watches fondly and thanks the universe for Newt’s existence in her sister’s life. While Graham clings to his parents, Ally, who’s already growing out of her clingy stage, looses herself from her daddy’s arms to join Nessa and Zaze. They're thick as thieves, the three of them, and Tina and Queenie are both positively thrilled (and a bit emotional, at times) to see their children experiencing the joys of extended family that they never really did.
“Did you have fun with Auntie?” Tina asks Graham, kneeling down and giving him a big hug.
“Oh, we had a ball,” Queenie says, beaming. Then, mischievously, “Ask him who he’s gonna marry.”
“Who are you gonna marry?” Tina asks.
“Ally!” Graham replies.
Tina smiles. Queenie prompts, “And why is that?”
“Because Mumma’s taken.”
Newt wraps his arm around Tina. “Sorry, Grammy,” he says contritely, then kisses Tina on the cheek and whispers “Not particularly” in her ear. She is mildly embarrassed at the fact that she giggles. Queenie looks delighted.
“I can keep ‘em for a little longer, if you want time to settle into the house again,” she offers with a suggestive twinkle in her eye.
“Queenie!” Tina hisses disapprovingly, glancing over at the kids as though they’ll somehow hear and pick up on the subtle insinuation.
“We missed our family,” Newt says, wrapping his arm around his wife. “But thank you. Ally!” he calls. She and the twins glare at him for ruining their fun, but Ally knows better than to argue with Dad, and thus plods over rather sullenly.
“I wanted to play,” she objects when she joins her parents and aunt.
“Can you have dinner tonight?” Tina asks Queenie. In some cases, at least, the mighty Auror has proven to be the soft one. If her kids want to make friends and spend time being kids and not wandering around starving and cold, far be it from her to stop them.
“I’ll ask Jacob,” Queenie replies, running a hand absentmindedly through Nessa’s hair as she comes to lean back against her mother. “Oh, stop it,” she scolds Zaze when he threatens to jump off the pier.
“Nessa, come on!” he shouts.
“Agnieszka,” Queenie says sternly. Nessa sighs and reaches for her mother’s hand instead, where she slips Queenie’s wedding ring on and off.
“It’s hot,” Zaze complains. He comes over to Queenie and wipes his sweaty brow on her blouse.
“You little rascal!” she gasps, then seizes him by the wrist and pushes Nessa off of her. “I’ll send you an owl,” she tells Tina. Zaze tries to pry himself from her grasp; with all the strength of an unyielding mother, he isn’t going anywhere. “I’m real pleased for you, Teen,” Queenie adds, and kisses her sister on the cheek before dragging her twins towards the exit.
“Least we aren’t like them,” Ally comments, wrinkling up her nose.
Newt raises an eyebrow at her. “Says she who copies every single thing your cousins do.”
Ally, holding onto her father’s hand, leans backwards and attempts to walk up his leg.
“Don’t break Daddy’s knee,” Tina requests politely. She takes Graham by the hand, Ally stops trying to use Newt as a jungle gym, and together they walk out of the pier.
~fin~