Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tina let out a groan, sitting up with difficulty to shake her husband’s shoulder.

“Newt,” she hurried him.

“Mmphyes?” he replied in a sleepy voice.

“We have to go to the hospital,” she winced. “My water just broke.”

Newt sat up, perfectly awake.

“Now?”

With one look, he saw Tina’s expression and understood that his question was a bit stupid. Luckily, he was less stressed than the first time, and he knew what he had to do. He quickly got out of bed and took the bag they had prepared before walking back to Tina, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, breathing heavily.

“Are the contractions close?” he asked anxiously, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t know… I’d say eight minutes, more or less,” Tina replied between gritted teeth.

Newt nodded, his brow furrowed.

“Can you stand up?” he asked, holding out his hand to her.

She nodded and leaned on his arm to get on her feet. They got out in the corridor, Tina leaning on Newt, who was holding the bag in his other hand. Before they got to the stairs, Tina stopped in front of the door.

“Wait,” she said. “We have to tell Elisabeth.”

Newt nodded. “You’re right. Go, I’ll send a Patronus to Queenie.”

He took out his wand while Tina leaned on the door, entering her daughter’s dark room.

She crouched down with difficulty near Elisabeth’s bed, who seemed sound asleep, holding her stuffed Niffler close to her.

“Elisabeth,” Tina whispered, gently stroking her daughter’s hair.

She began to slowly wake up, rubbing her eyes.

“Mama?” she asked in a sleepy voice.

“You’re staying with Aunt Queenie, today,” Tina said softly, continuing to run her hand in her hair. “Daddy and Mummy are going to the hospital, and when you’ll see us again, you’ll have a little brother or sister.”

Elisabeth’s face lit up. “Weally?” she happily chirped.

“Yes,” Tina smiled, watching her daughter’s excitement fondly. “But for now, you still need to sleep, alright?”

Elisabeth frowned, wanting to protest, but her eyelids were still heavy, and her mother’s comforting touch helped her to slowly go back to sleep.

“I love you, sweetheart,” Tina whispered, pressing a kiss to her daughter’s forehead.

“I love you too, Mama,” Elisabeth replied in a sleepy voice.

Tina watched her daughter for a moment, smiling, then she leaned on the bed to stand up, and she got out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Newt was waiting for her in the corridor, smiling softly at her.

“I sent a message to Queenie,” he announced. “Shall we go?” he added, wrapping an arm around her waist to support her while she leaned on his other arm.

She nodded, and they began to walk down the stairs. They put on their shoes and coats and were about to go out when the door opened. Queenie entered, with the expression of someone who had been woken up suddenly. Her blond hair was a bit messy, but she hurried to hug her sister anyway.

“Hi, Queenie,” laughed the eldest, hugging her sister back. “Thank you for taking care of Elisabeth. You’ll be alright?”

“Yes, don’t worry!” the blond replied, letting out a slight yawn. “Go give birth, I’m keeping your daughter. Though I wouldn’t say no to finish my night first.”

Tina chuckled, wincing when another contraction passed through her. Queenie hugged Newt too, and the couple walked to the door, waving at the Legilimens, who closed the door behind them.

Newt and Tina walked to St Mungo’s, which was thankfully nearby. They were quickly settled in a delivery room, and Healers examined Tina, saying that the birth would probably not take a long time, giving her actual state.

Newt kept his wife’s hand in his, stroking her hair while she tried to breathe steadily.

“You’re doing great, love,” he said in a reassuring tone, gently squeezing her fingers. “You’re almost there.”

After a few hours, the Healers declared that it was time for Tina to push.

“It’s almost over, darling” Newt said, kissing her forehead. "You can do it, you're strong."

Tina pushed with all her strength, letting out a pained cry.

"I can't do it," she cried, her breathing jerky.

Newt's heart sank. He hated to see her suffer, he wished he could have suffered all the pain in her place.

“Yes, you can,” he repeated fiercely. “You can do it. I love you.”

Tina continued to push, squeezing Newt's hand to cut off his blood flow. But far be it from him to complain about it.

After a long while, Tina pushed a last time with all her strength with a cry of pain, before falling back on her pillows, exhausted.

His sight blurred by tears, Newt watched the Healers wrap their baby in a clean towel. He turned his head to Tina, whose breath was jerky.

“You did it,” he whispered in an infinitely happy tone, resting his forehead on her. “You are wonderful.”

“My baby,” Tina whispered weakly, reaching out towards the Healers.

One of them walked to them, placing their baby in Tina’s arms. Their cries stopped as soon as they were in contact with their mother.

“Is it a boy or a girl?” she asked weakly, stroking a finger over the baby’s cheek.

“A boy,” Newt replied, tears in his eyes. “We have a son, Tina.”

“A boy…” she echoed in a whisper. “He is perfect.”

“He is,” Newt nodded, admiring their son’s delicate features.

But suddenly, he realized that something was wrong. Tina was too weak, and she was beginning to lose consciousness.

"Tina?" he called, his voice tinged with panic. "Tina!"

He began to gently shake his wife's shoulder, but she did not react.

“Tina, please, look at me!” A fear stronger than anything else began to overwhelm him, and he continued to beg his wife to wake up. “Tina, you have no right to do that… Don’t leave me, please…”

He turned a despair look to the Healer, who looked down, powerless.

“No,” Newt breathed, feeling like someone had punched him in the stomach. “No, no, no, no, no…”

But he saw that Tina’s chest wasn’t moving, and she wasn’t reacting. He felt the ground give way under his feet, and he collapsed half onto the bed, clutching Tina's lifeless hand in his. He gently stroked her cheek, as if this simple gesture could bring her back.

“Tina…” A sob escaped his lips, soon followed by another one, and tears began to flow down his cheeks. “Tina, no… Stay with me… I’m selfish, I don’t want to lose you… I can’t do it, not without you…”

The only answer he got was silence.

“I love you,” he sobbed. “Please, wake up!”

But Tina didn’t respond anymore, and Newt felt like his world had just collapsed. Tina, the love of his life, his wife, his best friend, his soulmate, was gone. Tears were flowing down his face without stopping, and his sobs made his entire body shake.

The baby, still in Tina’s lifeless arms, let out a coo and began to cry. Newt heard him through his sobs and forced himself to take a deep breath. Running a hand on his face, he gently took his son in his arms, cradling him to his chest to gently rock him.

“I’m here,” he whispered in a broken voice. “Daddy’s here.”

The little boy slowly calmed down, drifting back to sleep in his father’s arms. Newt closed his eyes, feeling new tears roll down his cheeks.

How was he going to raise two children without Tina? He thought of the cruelty of the situation, which had taken the mother of a baby and a girl who was still very small.

He suddenly realized that he was going to have to tell Elizabeth, and the thought shattered the pieces of his broken heart. How could he tell a four-year-old girl that she would never see her mother again?

*****

Newt opened the door with a trembling hand, holding his son close to him with his other arm. They had left the hospital, having no other reason to stay there. He tried to breathe deeply, his breath catching in his throat despite himself. He entered the living room, where Queenie was playing with Elisabeth, on the floor. Both of them raised big smiles at him, but Queenie immediately read Newt's mind and expression, and stood up abruptly to leave the room, aware that his presence would be too much for the broken little family. She also wanted to isolate herself to give free rein to her grief.

“Daddy!” Elisabeth happily exclaimed, running towards him.

His daughter's enthusiasm threatened to make Newt burst into tears, but he miraculously managed to hold back. He couldn't collapse now, not in front of Elisabeth.

“Hi, sweetheart,” he said in a voice he forced not to tremble. He crouched down to be at eyelevel with the little girl. “Guess what? You have a little brother,” he added, looking down at the baby sleeping in his arms.

“Little bwother!” Elisabeth exclaimed, reaching out to gently stroke the little boy’s belly.

Newt smiled weakly at the sight, but the hole that had replaced his heart in his chest hurt even more when Elisabeth looked up, looking around.

“Where is Mama?”

Newt closed his eyes for a moment, feeling his throat tighten.

“Mama…” he began, his voice strangled. “Mama isn’t with us anymore,” he whispered, taking a trembling breath to hold back his tears. “Mummy had to leave. She’s in the stars, now.”

“In the stars?” the little girl asked, looking confuse. “But when is she coming back?”

“She… she isn’t coming back,” Newt stammered. Expressing it out loud made the fact even more tangible and real, and he had to sit on the ground so as not to lose his balance and collapse. "We're never going to see her again."

"N-nevew?" Elisabeth stammered, her lip twitching.

Newt looked down, unable to hold his daughter's tearful gaze. Without a word, he pulled her close to him with his free arm, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.

“M-Mama,” she called, not seeming to understand why her mother wasn’t answering, and would never answer again. She began to cry, her sobs shaking her little body.

Newt held her tightly against him, closing his eyes. He felt despite him a few tears flow down his face, unable to hold them back in front of his daughter’s grief. He gently rocked her, trying to help her calm down. His son began to cry too, and he hugged his two children tightly, grief crushing them.

He didn’t know how he was going to manage without Tina, he didn’t know how he was going to stand. But he knew that he had to, that she would have wanted their children to grow up happy.

Chapter Text

6 months later

“Beth, it’s time for bed, little love.”

The little girl looked up from her toy and jumped on her feet. She ran to her father, jumping in his arms.

Newt smiled slightly, hugging his daughter tightly.

“Ready to sleep?” he asked, pressing a kiss in Elisabeth’s hair, who nodded.

He had already put his son to bed, and he was sleeping peacefully in his crib, upstairs. Standing up, he carried Elisabeth up the stairs, to her bedroom. Her bed was ready, and he laid his daughter in it, tucking her in under the covers.

“Good night, sweetheart,” he whispered, pressing a kiss on the little girl’s forehead. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Daddy,” she replied in a sleepy voice.

Newt gently stroked a finger over his daughter’s cheek, before standing up and walking to the door.

“Daddy?”

He stopped at the door, turning back to his daughter, a hand on the doorframe.

“Yes, Beth?”

“When is Mama coming back?” she asked with a little voice.

Newt felt his heart sank. During those last six months, his grief hadn’t faded. It sometimes stayed buried, helped by Elisabeth’s smiles and joy, and his son’s adorable expressions, but a little detail was enough for everything to come back.

He curled his hand into a fist to prevent it from shaking, swallowing the tears he felt rising.

"I've already explained it to you, sweetheart," he said softly. "Mama won't come back. She is gone forever. But she watches over us, where she is. And she loves you very much.”

“I love you too, Mama,” the little girl chirped. “Daddy?” she asked one more time.

“Yes, sweetheart?” he replied in a strangled voice.

“Are you sad?”

Newt closed his eyes, squeezing his eyelids to hold back tears.

“Y-yes, Beth. I am very sad.”

“Don’t be sad,” she said in an almost thoughtful tone. “Because I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you too, Beth.”

The little girl smiled in the darkness, and she fell slowly asleep.

Newt observed Elisabeth's peaceful form for a few moments before turning away, closing the door behind him. He walked down the stairs, entering the living room to let himself collapse on the couch. During the day, when he was with his children or his creatures, he managed to keep his head above water and cary on, but the loneliness brought out his sorrow with as much power as on the first day. His gaze fell on a picture of Tina on the mantelpiece, and he buried his face in his hands. A choked sob escaped his lips, and the tears began to roll down his cheeks again.

He missed Tina so much that he felt almost physical pain all the time. He honestly didn't know how he kept going. The truth is that he was not moving forward. He was slowly sinking into an abyss of despair, and his only lifelines were his children.

Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door. He took several deep breaths and ran a hand over his face, wondering who could be coming at this time. The only people he could consider visiting would have been Queenie and Jacob, but they lived in New York and wouldn't come unnanounced. 

Newt walked to the door, wiping his eyes. He opened the door, and his breath caught in his throat. He felt himself turn pale, not believing his eyes.

Tina was at the door, thinner, but perfectly recognizable. Her face was showing immense despair and sadness, and when she saw Newt, her eyes showed a multitude of emotions.

“Newt…” she breathed in a whisper.

He couldn’t believe it. This couldn’t be possible. He had seen her lifeless, on her hospital bed, six months ago. She couldn’t be there, in front of him, alive. He didn’t even dare to talk, fearing that the charm would break and that she would disappear again, leaving him alone forever.

“You’re real…” she said in a trembling voice. She slowly reached out, lightly touching Newt’s cheek.

This contact felt like a shock, as if everything became real in an instant.

"Tina...” He stammered in a choked voice. "You're here..."

He had wanted to pronounce his sentence as a question, but he was too afraid that the answer would be negative. He didn't want the dream to end. But Tina's fingers, still on her cheek, were warm and soft, like in his memory.

Her face crumpled, and Newt couldn’t hold back any longer. He wrapped his arms around her and crushed her to him with the energy of despair. She burst into tears, clinging to him like a lifeline. She was shaking with sobs, and Newt buried his face in her hair, feeling the emotion numb his limbs. All that mattered was that Tina was in his arms. After so many months, so much sorrow, she was there. He didn't know how it was possible, but he didn't care. She was there, in his arms, and nothing else mattered.

She cried for a long while, her face buried in Newt’s shoulder. When she finally managed to talk, it was in a trembling voice, blurred by tears.

“I-I woke up, and I didn’t knew where I was, nor who I was… I had amnesia, but today I remembered everything. I-I came as soon as I could, but I was scared that you were just a product from my imagination…” she finished her sentence in a whisper, tears still rolling down her cheeks.

Newt felt his heart broke a little more at her words. He didn't even dare to imagine what she had to endure for six months, how lonely and lost she must have felt, with no memories. Despite himself, he also felt a touch of jealousy; It was unfair that he had to endure six months of grief and despair when she did not remember him. But he quickly repressed this thought. The important thing was that now she was here, back in his arms. He held her tighter, inhaling her scent so familiar and comforting.

Tina took several shaky breaths.

"I'm sorry," she said under her breath.

Newt pulled away slightly to meet her gaze, reaching out to wipe away the tears that ran down her cheeks.

“Don’t be,” he said. “It wasn’t your fault, you have nothing to do with it. You’re here, that’s all that matters.”

She smiled weakly.

“I missed you so much,” he added, his voice slightly breaking. “Without you, it was impossible.”

“I missed you too,” she replied in a whisper. “I always felt like I had a hole in my chest, now I understand it was because I love you and I never stopped to love you. Even when I couldn’t remember, I loved you. And I missed you.”

Newt held her tighter, pressing a kiss to her hair.

“I love you too,” he breathed. “More than anything.”

They stayed in each other’s arms for a long while, neither of them caring about the fact that they still were partly in the street. They didn’t want to let go of the other.

But suddenly, Tina moved slightly away, staring at Newt’s eyes.

“And… the children?” she asked, her voice slightly apprehensive. Newt smiled weakly.

“They are well,” he replied. “Elisabeth still is joyful, but… she misses you so much. She had a lot of nightmares since you were gone.”

He saw a hint of guilt appear on his wife's face. He kissed her on the forehead, feeling her relax against him.

"And... our son?"

"He's absolutely adorable. He is a calm baby, and Elisabeth adores him.”

"How did you named him?" she asked.

Newt smiled, a little more frankly.

"In fact, it was Elisabeth who had the idea. His name is Felix.”

“Felix…” Tina repeated. “I like it.”

She smiled sadly and rested her forehead on Newt’s.

"I want to see them,” she whispered.

Reluctantly moving away from her, Newt took her hand and closed the door behind them.

“They are asleep, for now,” he said. He walked her to the bottom of the stairs and hugged her a last time. “I’ll wait you here.”

Tina slowly moved away, then she walked upstairs.

She gently pushed Elisabeth’s bedroom door open. She saw her daughter’s sleepy form, under the covers, and emotion overwhelmed her again. She walked to the bed and crouched down beside it.

“Elisabeth,” she whispered, gently stroking her daughter’s cheek. The little girl opened her eyes sleepily. She blinked several times, then she realized who was beside her bed. She sat up abruptly, completely awake.

“Mama!” she exclaimed before throwing herself in Tina’s arms. She held tightly her daughter, feeling a tear roll down her cheek.

“I’m here, sweetheart,” she whispered. “I’m here.”

“Mama,” Elisabeth repeated, clinging at her. She was slightly shaking. “Daddy said you would never come back… But me, I was sad.” She began to cry, confused by the emotions she was feeling, but infinitely happy that her mama was finally back. “I don’t want you to leave again, Mama. Or else I’m too sad, and Daddy is too.”

“I’m sorry, Beth,” Tina whispered. “I’ll never leave you again.”

“P-promise?” she stammered.

“Promise. I’m staying forever. I’m here, sweetheart.”

Elisabeth buried her face in her mama’s neck, tears still flowing down her chubby cheeks.

Tina hugged her tightly, gently rocking her to help her calm down. Her strong emotions and her mama’s comforting presence soon got the better of the little girl, and she began to doze off in Tina's arms, her little fingers still clinging to her shirt.

"I love you, Beth," Tina whispered.

"I love you too, Mama," the little girl replied in a sleepy voice.

A few minutes later, she was fast asleep. Tina gently laid her down in bed, tucking her under the covers. She placed one last kiss on his forehead, gazing for a moment at her daughter's peaceful face before getting up and walking out of the room, closing the door behind her.

She walked to the next room, entering it to see Felix, sleeping in his crib, his little fists clenched. She leaned above him, feeling tears fill up her eyes again.

“Hi, Felix,” she whispered, placing a soft hand on his belly.

The little boy let out a coo and smiled in his sleep.

Tina pressed a kiss on his forehead. “I love you.”

The baby continued to sleep, oblivious to the fact that his mother had returned.

Tina watched him for a few moments before kissing him once again on the forehead and walking out of the room.

She walked down the stairs, heading to the living room.

Newt was waiting for her there, standing, and their eyes met when she appeared at the door. Their eyes reflected dozens of emotions, but love was predominant.

Tina simply opened her arms, and Newt crossed the space between them to bury himself in her embrace. She let out a sigh as she relaxed against him, closing her eyes. Newt buried his face in his hair, and it was as if all the emotions he had felt for the past six months came back all at once, mixed with immense relief and all the love he felt for his wife. He began to cry, uncontrollable sobs shaking his whole body.

They more or less fell to their knees, in each other's arms. Tina held Newt close to her, running a hand through his soft curls as he rested his head on her shoulder, unable to stop crying.

“I’m here,” Tina whispered. “It’s over, I’ll never leave you again, I promise. I’m not going anywhere. I love you.”

She rocked him gently, as if he were a child, whispering soothing words to him. After a long while, he finally began to calm down, but he clung to her as if his life depended on it.

"I love you so much," he said at last, in a muffled voice.

"I love you too," Tina replied, closing her eyes.

Newt pulled away slightly, plunging his misty eyes into his wife's dark brown irises. Oh, how he had missed her eyes. How he had missed her.

Tina raised a hand to gently wipe his cheeks, her eyes fixed on his. Slowly, she leaned in to press her lips on his, in a kiss infinitely sweet and so full of love that Newt felt the pieces of his shattered heart slowly take back their place. He kissed her back, closing his eyes, heaving a slight sigh.

He hadn't realized how much he had missed kissing her. Tina's lips were soft against his, and they kissed softly for what seemed like an eternity. When they parted, Tina rested her forehead against Newt's.

“I’ll never leave you again. I promise.”

Newt almost began to cry again, but the happiness and relief he felt won, and he hugged Tina even tighter.

After a long while, he felt that she seemed heavier in his arms, and she repressed a yawn. He felt a little dumb for not thinking that she had indeed had an exhausting day. Having all her memories back, feeling that many emotions at the same time must have been really exhausting. He felt exhausted himself, and he couldn't imagine what she must have been through.

Gently, he helped her to her feet and lifted her up in his arms. She snuggled into him, burying her nose in his neck as he carried her up the stairs, nudging their bedroom door open with his foot.

He gently set her down on their bed, lying down beside her. She immediately returned to snuggle up to him, resting her head on his chest. Newt heaved a small sigh of happiness. After so many nights of lying alone in the cold bed, he couldn't believe he could fall asleep again with his wife in his arms.

He held her close to him as she began to fall asleep, and he had one last thought as his own eyelids began to grow heavy. He was never going to let go of her.

Chapter Text

Newt was roused from sleep by the pale glow of the sun that filtered through the curtains. From the light, he supposed it must not be far from seven o'clock in the morning.

Suddenly, the events of the previous day came back to him. Still half asleep, he was overcome by a feeling of fear that what had happened had been just another dream.

But when he opened his eyes, he was reassured by the sight of Tina, still curled against him, sleeping peacefully. His arms were still around her, holding her close to him.

A warmth spread through Newt's chest as he stared at his wife, still unable to believe she had returned. The months that had just passed seemed ridiculous now, now that he could finally hold her close to him.

At the thought, he tightened his grip around her slightly, raising a hand to carefully push back the hair that had fallen over Tina's face. Her head rested on his chest, her hand right next to it.

The movement made her move slightly, and she opened her eyes gently.

“Hi,” she said in a sleepy voice, smiling up at him.

Instead of replying, Newt placed a soft kiss on her lips.

"I hadn't slept so well in six months," he whispered in the kiss. "I missed you so much."

“I missed you too,” Tina whispered. “I don't think I've had a full night's sleep since I-I woke up.”

Newt tightened his grip around her even more, trying to convey in his gestures all the comfort and presence he could bring her.

“I love you,” he whispered eventually. “So much.”

“I love you too,” Tina said, snuggling closer to him, burying her face in her husband’s neck.

They remained silent for a while, Newt gently rubbing Tina’s back.

Suddenly, the door opened. Newt sat up, leaning on his elbow, to see Elizabeth entering the room, looking anxious. Her big brown eyes were slightly wide, and she was hugging her stuffed Niffler close to her.

Newt understood that, like him, she was terrified to find out that Tina's return had been just a dream.

He gave his daughter a reassuring smile, feeling his wife sit up next to him.

Tina opened her arms, and Elisabeth only hesitated for a second before climbing up the bed and snuggled against her mother, her little hands fisting in her pajama shirt. She was slightly trembling, and Tina shifted her in her arms to hold her close, gently stroking her curls.

“I’m here, sweetheart,” she whispered in her daughter’s hair. “It’s okay.”

The little girl seemed to be on the verge of tears, but her mother's reassuring words and embrace, added to her father's reassuring hand on her back, helped her calm down. Her small fists loosened slightly on Tina's shirt, but she remained snuggled against her.

Newt heard, in the next room, Felix who was beginning to let it be known that he was awake. Careful not to disturb his wife and daughter, he got up and went to fetch his son, taking him in his arms.

 “Shh, Felix…” he whispered, pressing a kiss on the baby’s forehead. “Do you want to see your Mama?”

The baby had calmed down at the touch of his father, and he babbled happily at the mention of Tina.

Newt smiled, and he walked back to their room, where Tina still held Elizabeth close. She looked up at them, a smile on her face.

The Magizoologist sat down next to his wife, placing their son in his arms. Tina smiled at Felix, who made another happy noise. She readjusted the baby in her arms so that she could hold her two children close to her.

“I love you both,” she whispered, looking at them with infinite tenderness. “So much.”

Felix couldn't answer, of course, but Elisabeth smiled a little as she snuggled closer to her mother.

"I love you too, Mama," she replied in a small voice.

Tina's smile widened, and her eyes shone with tears of happiness and emotion. She turned her head towards her husband, leaning lightly against him.

Newt wrapped his arms around his wife and children, holding his entire world close to him.

He would have liked to be able to freeze this moment, this bubble of perfect happiness.

But the fact that the love of his life was back in his arms was enough to make him feel the happiest in the world.

Chapter Text

Three weeks had passed since Tina’s miraculous return. Newt had finally let himself believe that it was real, that she was here for good. Elisabeth had quickly jumped back into her usual routine, with the innocence of a child too young to completely understand what had really happened. Felix had warmed up to his mother as though he had always known her.

But something was still feeling a bit off. Some nights, Newt caught Tina staring at the window, obviously lost in thoughts that didn’t belong to their bubble of hope and relief. When Newt asked her about it, she usually brushed it off with a tight smile.

But that night, as he watched her on the window seat, knees cradled to her chest, he was determined to know what was wrong. And his resolution only became stronger when he saw the tear rolling down his wife’s cheek. Wordlessly, he got up and sat beside Tina, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She stiffened slightly, before leaning into him with a sigh.

“Love,” he whispered, gently tilting her head up. “Talk to me, please.”

Tina seemed to consider for a moment, then her shoulders slumped slightly. She looked down at her hands, twisting her engagement ring around her finger.

She took a deep breath before beginning to talk.

“There is something I haven’t told you. About when I… didn’t remember. Or rather someone.”

Newt remained silent, listening to her.

“When I woke up, in a hospital, I didn’t remember my own name. The nurses called me Miss Beth, because apparently, I was saying that in my sleep. They thought it might be my name.” She turned her gaze to the window, lost in memories. “I was lost. I didn’t know why I woke up crying in the middle of the night. Until Lyra arrived.” A sad smile appeared on Tina’s lips. “She was eight. The nurses said that she was there long before I arrived. She had no family. Nobody had come to fetch her. She didn’t talk a lot. But one night, I woke up crying again. And she was there. She didn’t say a word, but she climbed in my bed. And…” She paused, searching for her words. “Having her with me… I think my heart remembered that I had something before. Something that was missing. She followed me everywhere, like my little shadow. She said we were each other person.” Tina chuckled wetly. “She was my anchor. I think some part of me remembered that I was a mother.”

Tina took a shuddering breath, tears filling up her eyes.

“When I remembered… All came back at once. You, Elisabeth, Felix… I dropped everything. I was only thinking about coming back as soon as possible. I-I didn’t even say goodbye to her.”

Her tears spilled over, and Newt wrapped both arms around her, cradling her to his chest.

“She sounds amazing,” he whispered in her hair.

“She was,” Tina breathed. “She made me little paper stars, saying that they were like little people always with us. It was like she was feeling my sadness.”

Newt tightened his arms around his wife, tracing soothing circles on her back.

“I loved her like my own,” Tina whispered in a broken voice. “And I know that I should be happy to be back with you. And I am. I really am. I love you so much. But-” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I miss her so much. She was everything to me, back there. And I feel so guilty to have disappeared like that. I keep asking myself what she thought. She probably thinks I abandoned her, like everyone else. And I can’t bare it.”

She was sobbing softly in Newt’s shoulder. He kept his arms around her, soothing her.

“Do you remember where the hospital was?” he asked eventually.

Tina pulled back slightly, startled.

“I-I think so,” she replied hesitantly. “It was a small clinic near the Scottish coast.”

“Then we can find her,” Newt said softly.

“What?”

“She means obviously a lot to you,” he explained, gently cupping her face in his hands. “She seems to be a wonderful little girl. And honestly? I would love to meet her. And thank her for what she has done for you.”

“Really?” Tina asked, her voice trembling with tears and hope.

“Of course,” he whispered, wiping her tears away.

“And what if she doesn’t want to see me?”

“Then you’ll know it. And yes, maybe it will make you sad. But you could always write to her to explain. And I doubt she doesn’t want to see you, anyway. I feel like she cares for you as much as you care for her.” New tears rolled down Tina’s cheek, but they were tinged with hope. “And if she wants to… maybe we can offer her what she needs.”

Tina looked up at him, even more startled.

“You mean… adopt her?”

“Why not? You said you loved her like your own. And I want you to be happy. And if she makes you happy… I’ll be happy too.”

Tears were falling freely down Tina’s cheeks, now. Suddenly, she launched forward to crash her lips on Newt’s. He kissed her back, holding her close.

“Thank you,” she whispered eventually, pressing her forehead against his. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Tina. More than I can say.”

*****

The next day, they began their research. They sent letters to the hospital, and Tina waited anxiously for the response.

They talked to Elisabeth, explaining with simple words what happened and what they were doing. The little girl was excited to meet ‘Mama's friend’.

Until one day, the letter came.

Tina read it with trembling hands.

Mr. and Mrs. Scamander,

Lyra is still on our care. She keeps asking for Miss Beth. She’s waiting for you.

We haven’t told her that you wrote, but you’re very welcome to come.

Tina’s eyes filled with tears.

Chapter Text

They left the next day. They traveled by the Floo Network, baby Felix securely strapped to Newt’s chest, and Elisabeth’s hand in her mother’s.

Tina took a deep, trembling breath when they arrived at the hospital’s gates.

When they entered, the nurse who was at the front desk recognized Tina.

“Miss Be- Mrs. Scamander,” she breathed. “Lyra’s in the library,” she added with a small smile. “She hasn’t really talked to anyone since you left.”

Tina bit her lip, and Newt gently squeezed her hand.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

They walked in the corridors, towards the library. Tina remembered the place, and she looked around her, as if pieces of a puzzle were putting themselves into places. Past connecting with present.

She came to a stop in front of a wooden door.

“We’ll wait here,” Newt gently said, squeezing her hand again before letting go.

Tina nodded slightly, before taking a deep breath.

She pushed the door open.

Lyra was there, facing away from the door. In her lap were a dozen little paper stars, and she was apparently making another one.

Tina’s eyes filled with tears.

“Lyra?” she whispered slowly.

The little girl froze. Then, she turned slowly, tearing up.

“M-Miss Beth?” she whispered, her voice trembling. She stood up, the paper stars falling to the ground, forgotten, but she stayed where she was.

“My real name is Tina. Tina Scamander,” Tina explained, crouching down. “I remembered my family.”

“You left,” Lyra said in a small voice, half breaking, half accusing. “You left me. I thought you were different. But you left me like everyone else.”

“No, baby,” Tina breathed, tears already spilling. “I never meant to leave you. I promise. When I got my memories back, I went back to my family, but I didn’t forget you. Never.”

Lyra’s lip wobbled, tears pooling up in her eyes.

“I won’t leave again, I promise,” Tina whispered.

There was a beat, then Lyra ran. She flung herself into Tina’s arms, sobbing against her shoulder.

“I missed you,” she cried, her little arms tight around Tina’s neck.

“I missed you too,” Tina whispered brokenly. “I’m so, so sorry.”

She held the little girl tightly, her arms wrapped securely around her small frame.

They stayed in each other’s arms for a long time, crying softly, making up for the time they had missed.

“I love you,” Lyra finally whispered in a small voice, and Tina’s heart cracked wide open.

“I love you too, baby,” she breathed. “So much.”

Eventually, she pulled slightly away, wiping the little girl’s cheeks with gentle fingers.

“Would you like to see my family?” she offered softly. “They’re waiting just outside.”

“You have kids?” Lyra’s eyes widened.

“I have two,” Tina smiled. “My daughter, Elisabeth, is very excited to meet you, if you want to. And I have a baby boy. His name is Felix.”

A little smile danced on Lyra’s lips.

“Can I meet them?”

Tina smiled and took her small hand in hers.

Side by side, they walked in the corridor, where the rest of the Scamanders were waiting.

“This is my husband, Newt,” Tina said.

Lyra watched, wordlessly, Newt, who crouched down in front of her, a hand on Felix’s back.

“Hello, Lyra,” he said gently, extending a hand toward her. “I heard so much about you.”

Lyra hesitated only a moment, then she slipped her little hand in Newt’s.

Felix gurgled happily, wriggling his arms as if he’s always known Lyra.

“Hullo,” Elisabeth said. She was standing next to her father. “Are you Mama's friend?”

Lyra nodded slightly, her wide eyes staring at Elisabeth.

The little girl seemed to watch her for a moment, squinting her eyes.

“Are you my new sister?”

The question surprised everyone. Newt and Tina hadn’t exactly told Elisabeth about their hopes of adopting Lyra. They didn’t want her to nourish false hopes in case Lyra didn't want to see Tina.

Lyra turned wide eyes to Tina, who crouched down beside her.

“We wanted to ask you,” she began softly, taking both her hands in hers. “If you want to come home with us. Not just to visit, but to stay. If you want to, you’ll be part of the family. I don’t want to leave you behind ever again.”

Lyra’s lip wobbled again.

“R-really?”

“Yes, sweetheart,” Tina replied, gently tucking a strand of the girl’s dark hair behind her ear. “For real.”

Lyra stayed still for a moment, then she launched herself into Tina’s arms again.

“Yes,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. “I want that. Please.”

Holding her tight, Tina locked teary eyes with Newt’s steady ones.

This time, Tina was completely coming home.

*****

The paperwork didn’t take long.

What took longer was Lyra’s adaptation to her new home.

Elisabeth had quickly gotten completely used to her presence, and dragged her everywhere, in all her games and made-up stories.

Felix had entirely fallen under her charm, always reaching for her and babbling to her for hours.

For days, she followed Tina like her shadow. It was with Newt she had a little more trouble.

He took it with infinite patience, always letting her take the time she needed, offering little attentions with care and love.

Little by little, Lyra opened and began to believe that she wasn’t just a guest, but part of the family. Paper stars began to appear everywhere in the house.

Tina and Newt treated her like their daughter. A little bowl with the name ‘Lyra’ had joined Elisabeth’s and Felix’s ones in the breakfast cupboard. Every night, Tina braided Elisabeth’s and Lyra’s hair as Newt read a bedtime story or his notes on magical creatures.

It took time. Weeks. Months.

But one night, Lyra padded to their bedroom, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Mom?” she called, her voice wobbling. “Dad?”

Newt and Tina immediately rushed to her side, hearts cracking wide open.

They held her close, their tears mingling.

“We’re here, sweetheart. Always.”

*****

The next morning, when Elisabeth toddled in, dragging her blanket, she climbed into the bed and snuggled between her father and sister like she’d done that all her life.

They were a family, finally complete.

Chapter Text

But one shadow remained. And she arrived unannounced, on a Sunday morning.

Queenie hadn’t visited in almost a year. Mostly because she and Jacob lived in New York, but also because it was too hard. The loss of her sister had deeply affected her. She hadn’t been the same after.

That morning, she had apparated to the Scamander Cottage, missing her niece and nephew. But there was something in the air that made her head tilt to the side. She couldn’t quite name it, but she felt less grief than she expected.

Newt looked up by the kitchen window when he heard the crack of apparition, and his eyes widened. He still hadn’t told Queenie. How could he tell her something this big in a letter? ‘Oh and, by the way, you sister is alive. Have a good day!’ It was simply impossible.

He rushed to the hallway and opened the door just as Queenie reached it.

“Hey, guys!” she smiled brightly, even if there was a sadness in her eyes. “What’s wrong?” she frowned, seeing Newt’s expression.

He opened his mouth to reply, but he didn’t have time, as Elisabeth came in, barreling into Queenie’s legs to hug her.

“Auntie Queenie!” she shrieked, giggling.

“Hi, Honey,” Queenie smiled, hugging her back.

Suddenly, a voice rose, and Queenie froze.

“Lizzie, have you-” Tina stopped dead, wiping her hands on her apron.

She locked eyes with her sister.

Queenie’s knees buckled, and Newt caught her.

“T-Teenie?” she stammered, her eyes wide.

“It’s me, Queen,” Tina breathed, her voice trembling.

Queenie stared at her for a second, then she ran. They met in the middle, arms wrapping desperately around each other.

“You were gone,” Queenie sobbed. “I felt you die. You left me.”

“I know,” Tina cried. “I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t remember anything. I only got my memory back a few months ago, I came back right away.”

They wept in each other’s arms for a long time, sisters finally reunited.

After a while, Queenie pulled back, cupping Tina’s face in her hands.

“You’re here,” she whispered. “You’re actually here.”

“I am,” Tina breathed, resting her forehead against her sister’s. “And I’m never leaving again.”

Queenie chuckled wetly, and she hugged her sister again.

Suddenly, a small voice made them broke away.

“Mom?”

Lyra had walked in, baby Felix in her arms. She was watching Queenie with wide eyes.

“Hi, Honey,” she said warmly, despite her surprise. “Who could you be?”

“This is Lyra,” Tina said softly, wiping her eyes before taking Felix in her arms. Newt walked to them and placed a hand on Lyra’s shoulder. “It’s a long story, but… she’s our daughter, now.”

“Oh,” Queenie whispered, smiling at Lyra.

“She’s the best auntie!” Elisabeth chirped. “And she’s your auntie too, now!”

Lyra looked up at Queenie, her eyes shy.

“Indeed,” the blonde nodded. Then, she opened her arms.

To everyone’s surprise, including her own, Lyra walked straight into them.

Queenie’s hug was warm like the sun, and she held her new niece tight.

“Welcome to the family,” she whispered in her hair. “You fit right in.”

And Newt, Tina, Elisabeth and Felix, who babbled happily in Tina’s arms, thought exactly the same.

Chapter Text

She was feeling lost. There was no other word to describe it. She had woken up in an unknown hospital, with an aching blankness for memory. She didn’t even know her own name.

The nurses had taken on calling her ‘Miss Beth’. They were kind, but they didn’t quite know how to help her.

She often spent hours staring out the window, lost in a longing she couldn’t understand where it came from.

Until one day.

One afternoon, as she had wandered into the small common room for the hospital’s patients, a little girl came in.

She had dark hair, and brown eyes far too old for small frame.

When she entered, her eyes fell on the woman. She stared at her for a few seconds, then padded towards her, looking sure of herself.

Wordlessly, the woman watched her sit next to her, a few inches away. The little girl extended her hand, open, to the woman.

“For you,” she said simply.

The woman stared at the little paper star in the girl’s hand. She gently picked it up, resting it in her palm.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Those were the first words she had pronounced since her arrival in the hospital.

“I’m Lyra,” the girl said matter-of-factly. “What’s your name?”

“I- don’t know,” the woman replied. Her brain was feeling like a giant fog that no light could pierce.

“That’s alright,” Lyra said. “You can borrow mine, if you want.”

The woman smiled weakly. “Thank you.”

Lyra smiled at her. For the rest of the day, she stayed beside her, her little fingers making dozens of tiny paper stars.

From this day on, one was never seen without the other. Lyra followed like a shadow. They stayed together during the day, sitting next to each other during the meals. When they walked in the small hospital garden, Lyra slipped her little hand in hers.

The little girl had no family. Nobody really knew how she had come in the hospital. She seemed to be there since forever, and no one had ever come for her.

But the real change happened a few weeks later.

One night, the woman awoke to find Lyra at the foot of the bed, clutching her blanket as tears flowed down her face.

She didn’t ask anything, didn’t hesitate.

She sat up and opened her arms. “Come here.”

Lyra climbed on the bed and folded herself in her arms. The woman held her tightly to her chest. Lyra’s little body was shaking with sobs.

“It’s okay,” the woman whispered, gently rocking her as she stroked her hair. “I’m here. You’re safe.”

Lyra clung to her, burying her face in her shoulder. She gradually calmed, but neither of them moved.

For the first time since she arrived, with Lyra in her arms, she wasn’t feeling like a hole was eating her from the inside. Caring for the little girl had eased some of the pain that she couldn’t understand where it came from. It was like something in her remembered. Remembered someone else her arms had hold.

The next morning, they were both still there. Lyra was curled against her, her little hand fisted in her sleeve.

They both had no one, but they had found each other.

And they would hold on.