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Newt took a deep breath, adjusting the flaps of the jacket he had already corrected half a dozen times.
He looked down at Esther, sitting on the floor, focused on a stack of cubes that she was working hard to build, before toppling it over with bursts of laughter.
In a few weeks, she would be a year old. Newt still had trouble to believe that this much time had passed since the day he had found a little baby on the steps of that orphanage. And still… nine months later, his life had completely changed. And even though sometimes, he wondered what he was going, he wouldn't have traded his daily life for nothing in the world.
He crouched down beside his daughter, gently ruffling her hair.
Esther turned her big brown eyes to him, smiling gummily at him.
"Agababa," she babbled. Recently, she had been more and more talkative. She had been walking for a few weeks, but words were still out of her reach, even though her father had a feeling they would come soon.
"Exactly, my little love," he smiled. Taking another breath, he got something out of his pocket and held it in front of her. "Do you remember what we said?"
The little girl adopted a more or less serious air – which could also have been interpreted as a passing gas, but Newt preferred to think it was the first option.
"You're going to give that to Mama, alright? I'm coming with you."
He scooped his daughter in his arms and walked to the office where Tina was. When he reached the door, he put Esther down on the floor, careful that she would stay upright, and gave to her what he was holding. She closed her tiny, chubby fingers around it, apparently sensing the importance of the object.
"Go on," Newt whispered, pushing the door opened.
With a happy babble at the sight of her mother, Esther walked - or rather toddled - toward her.
Tina had turned when she heard them, and she smiled, sliding off her chair to crouch down and open her arms. Esther fell into her chest with a giggle, snuggling up into her.
"How are you, sweetheart?" Tina asked softly, pressing a kiss in her daughter's hair. "Is your Daddy behaving?"
"Brbelbe."
On these profound words, Esther reached out her hand, almost sending what she was holding into her mother's nose.
"Oh!" Tina was surprised. Then she saw what Esther was holding, and her breath caught in her throat.
She looked up at Newt, who was standing at the door, nervously watching them.
Looking down again, she carefully took the small box from her daughter's hand, who stuck her now free thumb in her mouth, resting her head against Tina's chest.
Feeling tears rise in her eyes, she opened the little box to reveal a silver ring, simple but beautiful.
Newt, who had walked to them, slowly got down on one knee.
"Tina," he began softly, staring at her eyes despite his nervousness. "You know I'm not good with words, but I'll try, because you're worth it. A thousand times. I've known for years that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And even if sometimes, it's not easy, raising our daughter together is the most beautiful adventure I was given to try. And I certainly wouldn't have gotten there without you. You're my best friend, and I love you more than words could ever express it." He took another deep breath. "Porpentina Goldstein, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
Tina's tears were falling freely, now. Careful not to unbalance Esther, who was now playing with her locket, she scooted closer to Newt to press her lips on his. He kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her until she was more or less sitting on his lap.
"Of course yes," she replied when they parted, resting her forehead against his. "Of course I want to marry you, Newt."
He let out a relieved sigh and pulled her into another kiss, before sliding the ring on her fiancée's finger.
Tina was about to say something else, when a little voice rose between them. But not an abstract babble, this times. Two syllables as clear as day.
"Mama."
Newt and Tina froze. They looked down at Esther, who was still playing with her mother's locket. The later brought a hand to her mouth.
"What did you say, little love?" Newt asked in a trembling voice.
"Mama," Esther repeated, looking up at her parents. "Mamamamamamamamama!"
Tina let out a noise half-laugh, half-sob, and pressed a kiss on her daughter's cheek.
"Tat's me, sweetheart," she said in a teary voice. "I'm here. Mama's here."
Seeming pleased with herself, Esther snuggled up against her mother again, her tiny hand resting on her collarbone.
Unable to speak, Newt tightened his embrace around them, placing a kiss in Tina's hair.
And as they remained huddled together on the floor, he thought that he could have never dreamed of such an unreasonably perfect life.