Chapter Text
Newt stood quietly at the work table, hunched over the basket of seeds he had spent the last half-hour sorting by type and size. He was aware that it was quite late and, if the moon high above the Graphorn pasture was any indication, Tina had most likely long since gone to bed without him. He sighed and returned his eyes to his work. Newt knew that the hours he toiled away in his new basement menagerie were taking a toll on his energy. Sleep had alluded him quite a bit in recent weeks in favor of long hours with his creatures, but with all of the recent changes and upcoming excitement he knew he needed to be ready. He had so much to finish and so little time left. A sense of urgency and, if he was being honest with himself, a bit of anxious adrenaline were getting him through.
He and Tina had been married for two years and, he thought with a grin, those years had been the happiest of his life. Since their nuptials, Newt and Tina had bought a small cottage on the coast of Dorset, created a new basement menagerie together for their ever-growing collection of magical beasts, and, to Newt’s absolute delight, had created a small life of their own.
Tina-- his beautiful Tina. She had given him more than he ever thought possible. The life he had always imagined for himself could never compare to the reality of the life he was privileged to lead at her side. He glanced to his left where a photo sat in a silver frame, perched on the corner of his desk next to the heaping piles of paper that comprised the lastest draft of the upcoming fourth edition of his book. His Tina, his lovely wife, smiled at the camera. Her arm was wrapped gracefully around his waist and her head rested on his shoulder. The picture shifted as her head lifted up and turned toward him, her smile widening as their eyes met. Her violet dress perfectly accented her skin tone and she looked radiant. Newt counted himself lucky every single day that he passed at her side. He was very fortunate and took nothing for granted. He knew he had been given a gift when she walked into his life four years ago-- even if it was to arrest him.
The corners of his mouth rose in a cheeky smile at the memory as he forced himself to turn his focus toward his task once again. At this rate, he may find himself down in his menagerie for hours to come. Shaking his head and willing his mind to stay on task, he neared the bottom of the seed basket after another 20 minutes. When there were just a few cups of the earthy, sweet-smelling seeds left, he heard a crash coming from the top of the stairs followed by a frustrated, feminine growl and a hissed curse. He dropped what he was holding and quickly rushed around the corner, wand raised out of habit, as he neared the base of the stairs. Tina sat on the fourth step from the top, holding her foot in her hand and sobbing as hot tears trickled down her flushed face.
Newt bounded up the stairs, two at a time, and reached out to her, cupping her shoulder. “What happened?” He asked frantically. “Are you okay?”
Tina looked up toward the ceiling as she tried to calm her nerves and swiped angrily at her cheeks with her palms. “I tripped on a bloody bucket and stubbed my toe. It went tumbling off that direction,” she stated as she nodded her head to the left of the stairs where Newt could see a dented, silver feed bucket sitting just outside the entrance to the augurey’s nest area below. He smiled and huffed at her humorous use of the British term. It sounded adorable in her American accent and was, no doubt, a result of spending far too much time around the Scamander brothers. “I couldn’t see it. I can’t see my feet,” she continued in a smaller voice, sounding almost embarrassed.
His eyes softened as he felt himself calming down after the sudden scare. He held out both of his hands to her and she placed her own chilled hands within. He hauled her up with a small grunt and wrapped her arms around his back before he released her hands and placed his own on either side of her jaw. He carefully swiped his thumbs across her cheeks, eliminating any trace of her remaining tears, before carefully and lovingly running his hands across her shoulders and around her upper back, holding her to him.
Newt leaned closer to her, brushing a faint kiss across her temple before whispering in her ear. “There seems to be something between us.” Tina gave a breathy snort before tightening her grip around his back. “Yes,” she answered, “and he won’t let me sleep.”
“Are you still convinced it’s a boy?” Newt asked as he pulled back just enough to look into her face. “You know, I would love to have a beautiful little girl, myself.” Newt paused as he met her eyes from under his messy fringe, “As long as she gets her looks from her mother.” Tina smirked and leaned forward, meeting his lips in a chaste kiss before pulling away and dropping her hands from around Newt’s waist. “You’re sweet. I’d be fine if the baby looked like its papa. I have an appreciation for reddish hair and freckles now, you know.”
Newt’s smile widened in reply and he released a soft chuckle as he took in his wife’s appearance. Her hair was jutting out at odd angles, mussed from what he assumed was tossing and turning in bed. She had bags under her eyes, bare feet, and her dressing gown was pulled as far as it would stretch, the two sides of the gown just meeting at the apex of her swollen belly. He knew she was feeling worn out and uncomfortable after eight months of carrying their child, but she was absolutely beautiful to him. He had to admit, she was even more beautiful to him now than she had ever been before. He grinned at the thought and reached forward to slowly, gently tuck a strand of tousled hair behind her ear before running the pad of his calloused thumb slowly down her cheek.
“Why couldn’t you sleep?” Newt inquired softly. “Is it your back again?”
Tina huffed out a stream of air and grumbled in frustration. “It’s my back, my feet, all the stretching and cramping-- I am so tired but I can’t get comfortable!” Tina’s eyes began to well with tears of frustration once again and she looked up into Newt's face before continuing. “I just-- I feel like I can’t breathe. I toss and turn all night and I feel like the pressure is just pushing every organ in my body up into my lungs. I don’t think I have taken a deep breath in months and it makes me feel so-- so claustrophobic.” Her hands were gesturing wildly in an attempt to make her point and Newt gently grasped them before bringing them to her abdomen, lightly pressing them to her body to calm her. Her tears escaped her eyes and made their way down her cheek as she sniffed. Tina ignored them. She leaned forward to place her forehead lightly against her husband’s and he pulled back and gently kissed her forehead where seconds before his own had rested. He spoke softly against her skin, his warm breath lightly brushing against her hairline.
“You are amazing-- so amazing, Tina. I wish I could take on some of this burden for you-- that I could help you.” He lifted one hand up to cup the back of her head, smoothing down her dark hair as is slowly traveled down toward the back of her neck. “Tina, love-- Look at me.”
Tina’s eyes took in his own as she registered the deep emotions found within. Her husband’s eyes were the window to his soul, and it was with those blue-green eyes that she had first found herself lost. The corners of her mouth raised into a small smile in response to the love and admiration she found looking back at her.
“Tina, your body is creating a human. You are doing something amazing.” Newt continued smoothing her hair affectionately, something he knew calmed her when she was anxious. He was thankful that their years together had taught him how to help her through tougher moments like this one. “I am so proud of you and so happy that you chose me to-- well, to-- live life with. To build a family with. I never thought any of this would ever happen for me--” Newt paused as his emotions took over. He returned his hands to her rounded midsection, lowering his eyes to watch as he drew senseless patterns across her nightgown.
“I feel like all I do is complain anymore,” Tina whispered, lowering her eyes to watch his fingers caressing her. “I hurt everywhere, I cry constantly, I look like the World’s Fair blimp, and my feet are so swollen that I look like I have erumpent legs.” Newt chuckled as his eyes met hers.
“You’re beautiful, Tina,” Newt whispered. "Absolutely breathtaking. Always.” Tina responded with a watery smile and leaned forward to meet his lips in a kiss full of unspoken feelings. As she pulled away, Newt continued, his voice full of emotion. “If anyone has earned the right to complain a little bit, it’s you.” Newt slowly ran his first two fingers up and down her arm. “What can I do to help you, love?” He asked quietly.
“Come to bed. It’s late,” Tina responded, laying her hand on top of his hand that still traced patterns on her swollen abdomen. “I sleep better when you’re there, anyway.” She shrugged one shoulder as she lifted her eyes to meet his. “Maybe it’s what I need to finally get some rest tonight.” She found his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Are you at a stopping point down here?”
“I can be, “Newt replied, squeezing her hand gently in reply. He released her and took his wand from its holster. He silently summoned his jacket and waistcoat from the depths of his shed and they flew into his outstretched palm before he turned toward his wife with a grin. “I’m all yours. Lead the way.” She smiled as she led him the last few steps out of his basement paradise and into the cool, dark kitchen of their home. Newt pointed his wand over his shoulder in the general direction of his shed, and without looking behind him he whispered the spell that would close the door on the long day of labor he had just completed.
“Nox.”