Chapter Text
The next two weeks passed interminably slowly for Newt, but Tina's recovery was of the utmost importance, and so he didn't complain. With the weather cleared, he now went back home each evening, where his father had still not returned with Theseus, and visited Tina at the Burrow every day.
Each day, he brought her little gifts, such as books from his library, and sketches of his creatures. He sat with Tina for hours, reading aloud, laughing at jokes, and just talking about this and that. After a week, Tina was able to get dressed and receive him in the sitting room. And after another week more, at long last, Tina said the words he'd been waiting for.
"The doctor says I can start going outside again," she grinned widely, "and not a moment to soon, I am really feeling cooped up in here!"
"That's wonderful news!" Newt exclaimed, "may I-may I accompany you when you go out tomorrow?" He looked away, cheeks burning.
"Of course!" Tina also blushed, "what are you so nervous about? We've been on so many walks and rides, I'll be so glad to get back to that."
"Well, you know," Newt was still studying his shoes, "it had been so long, I wasn't sure, maybe you didn't want-"
"Newt," Tina said softly, causing him to lift his head toward her, "I've missed our rides. I'll be glad to start again."
Newt smiled back, though his heart remained stuck in his throat. Tomorrow is the day then…
Newt arrived just after breakfast the next morning, riding Dougal and escorting another horse that Tina had never seen before.
"But I have-" Tina started to say.
"I know," Newt interrupted, as he jumped down from Dougal, "but I just-I thought you might like to try this one. His name is Thunderbird."
Tina grinned bemusedly. She loved the odd little names Newt came up with for his creatures. Newt offered his hand to help her into her saddle, then, once satisfied, they took off for their favorite trail.
As she always did, Tina switched to riding astride as they got closer to the clearing. "Ah," she sighed, "My favorite part of every ride we take," she grinned mischievously at Newt.
"Mine too," he agreed, "I'm always so glad to see you enjoying yourself as you should be allowed to do."
As they reached the clearing, Newt swung down from Dougal, and gave his hand to Tina to help her down from Thunderbird.
"It's nice to know I'm not the only one who doesn't care about propriety. Thank you for teaching me how to ride astride," Tina said as they walked the horses over to the stream.
"Oh, it was my pleasure," Newt replied, "and I hope that soon we can be even more improper than we already are…" he trailed off as he realized he'd just really put his foot in his mouth. If only Theseus were back, he could have planned this out a lot better…
He chanced a glance at Tina and saw her eyes narrowed, questioning. Newt decided to keep talking to save himself.
"What I mean to say," he rubbed the back of his neck, "I didn't mean, well, I'm so sorry, I meant for this to be special, and I'm buggering it up and-"
"Special? What's supposed to be special?" she questioned.
And then, without even really thinking about it, Newt found himself down on one knee, holding both of Tina's hands in his. "What I mean to say is that I wish to marry you, and I very much hope you’ll agree.” He looked down at Tina’s shoes, still gripping her hands, but too terrified to look up at her face and find the answer in her eyes.
Tina was stunned. She knew, rationally, that he had never been engaged to anyone else, and he’d made it quite clear, especially in the last two weeks, that his affections were for her and her alone. And yet, had she really heard what she thought she’d just heard? Was this real, and not just a dream?
“Yes,” she breathed out, then looked down to find Newt still studying her shoes intently, and realized she had to say it louder, stronger, “yes, Newt!”
He looked up, momentarily astonished, and then as she nodded, breathing out the word “yes” again and again, his astonishment broke into a heart-stopping smile. Newt stood back up and stared into Tina’s glittering eyes. Unable to hold himself back, he lifted Tina by the waist and twirled her around, as they both laughed and laughed out of sheer joy. Newt gently placed her back on the ground, his arms still around her waist, then tipped her back and kissed her soundly.
Tina was shocked for a moment at the brashness of such a gesture, but was so happy to be kissing Newt, she quickly gained her bearings and drew her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. After what seemed like several minutes, they broke apart, but kept their foreheads together, both smiling shyly.
“I love you, Tina,” Newt whispered against her lips, “I love you, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I love you too, Newt,” she replied, “And there is nothing in this world that makes me happier than knowing I have you.”
They kissed again, more softly, but no less passionately, than before. “I don’t know if you heard me,” Newt told her as they once again broke apart to breathe, “but when you were ill, I told you that I love you.”
Tears pricked at the corners of Tina’s eyes. “I think I did!” she whispered hoarsely, “I mean, I heard you say it in a dream...But it was real, wasn’t it?”
Newt nodded, his own eyes shining with happy tears, as he kissed her again. “God, Tina, I don’t think I shall ever tire of kissing you.”
"Me neither," Tina whispered, "though I don't think we can stay out here forever."
"You are right, my dear," Newt laughed, twirling her around again, "we must get back and announce our happiness to the world!"
As they headed back to the horses, Newt had one more surprise for Tina. "Thunderbird," he said softly, kissing Tina on the temple, "he's yours. An engagement gift."
Tina was so overwhelmed, she practically tackled Newt as she jumped up and kissed him again. When they broke apart, Newt helped her up onto Thunderbird. This time, they didn't need to shyly linger with their touches, but rather intentionally held on a bit longer, with Newt kissing her hand before letting go to mount Dougal.
Queenie, Jacob, and Graves were waiting for them inside when they returned. Newt and Tina were beaming so brightly they didn't need to actually say why, but they did anyway.
"Tina and I are engaged!" Newt exclaimed excitedly, as Graves and Jacob clapped him on the back and Tina and Queenie embraced, crying happy tears.
After the round of congratulations, Jacob cleared his throat and said, "I have some happy news too; Queenie and I are engaged as well!"
Once more, there was a round of congratulations and hugs. Graves smiled softly, thrilled that he'd accomplished his objective so thoroughly. "Well, then," he clapped his hands, "I suppose it's time to get the wedding preparations underway! When shall we make them?"
Newt smacked his forehead. "I have to tell my parents first!" he groaned, as everyone chuckled.
"Then I suppose you should head home and do that," Graves replied, "and then I shall instruct the servants to begin the preparations."
"Come on, Tina," Newt grabbed her hand, steering her out the door, "we'll have to tell my mother. My father still hasn't returned, but it can't be helped."
If they thought the day couldn't get any happier, they were wrong. When Newt and Tina arrived at Hippogriff Manor, they found that Newt's father had indeed returned, not long after Newt had left that morning, with Theseus and Leta in tow.
His mother sat, looking at them resignedly, but Theseus and Leta smiled demurely at each other. "I'm glad to see you back, Theseus, and congratulations," Newt smiled warmly, "so, do I now have a sister?"
"Not quite yet," Lord Scamander answered, "I managed to convince them to return with me and have a proper wedding surrounded by family. And I convinced your mother to agree to it." Lady Scamander huffed, still obviously unhappy, but did not object further.
"That's wonderful!" Newt exclaimed, "and now for my own news. Miss Goldstein and I are engaged to be married as well!"
The room was silent for a moment, then, both Theseus and Leta yelped as they grabbed Newt and Tina respectively into a tight embrace.
"Finally!" said Theseus, ruffling his little brother's hair.
As they broke apart, Lady Scamander approached. She was smiling too. "Well, two sons at once," she sighed, "I suppose I can't complain about that." Theseus and Leta grinned, realizing that it was pretty much as close as they'd ever get to a blessing on their union from her.
Soon the details were decided. Theseus and Leta would be married in two weeks' time, followed by Newt and Tina two weeks after them, and Queenie and Jacob another two weeks later.
At Newt and Tina's wedding feast, Jacob approached the beaming couple. "Alright, Newt, time to cough up!" he grinned wickedly.
Newt had come prepared, and pulled a small pouch out of his jacket pocket, making a show of sighing loudly. Tina looked at him, questioning.
"Jacob and I made a bet the day after, well, that first ball," he winced a bit at the memory, but Tina giggled softly, "and, well, it seems I have lost the bet."
Tina and Jacob both laughed loudly at that. "But never," Newt smiled dreamily as he snaked an arm around Tina's waist, "never have I ever been so absolutely elated to lose a bet!" He kissed Tina soundly, as the guests whooped and hollered, Jacob and Theseus being the loudest.
Once they were all married, the three couples lived close enough to get together often, and of course, always had room for Graves whenever he visited England, and for Dumbledore, who, having now discovered real friends (including the sisters, who had completely forgiven him), now left Hogwarts Castle regularly to visit them. Newt and Theseus loved Jacob as a brother, and Tina and Queenie loved Leta as a sister, and so, the three elated married couples were also a happy family of six, eagerly looking forward to the time when little cousins would happily play and frolic together.