"The Life I Never Thought Possible"

Chapter I

"How would you feel if I gave you your copy in person?"

"I'd like that very much."

The way he had affectionately grinned at her made her knees weak and heart soar, as cliche as it was. After he boarded his ship and was out of sight, Tina made her way back to entrance of the docks and into her sister's outstretched arms.

"He'll be back," Queenie whispered, smiling happily at the dreamy look plastered on Tina's face. Tina looked down at her younger sister and gave her a watery smile; her voice aching with a twinge of hope.

"I truly hope so."

Four Months Later

Time never passed consistently after Newt Scamander's departure. To Tina Goldstein, the days either flew by on the wings of a phoenix, or they dragged on, inch by inch, until the sun had risen and set once more to signal another day gone. No matter how the day went, each one was always absent of Newt. Four months had come and gone and there had been no word from him. Tina knew that the earliest he would return would be after the publication of his manuscript, and she knew that had not happened yet; but her patience was lessening at an alarming rate.

Tina turned her head down at the brisk, morning breeze whipping through the corridor of buildings decorating the populated streets. She clutched at the black, felt hat covering her mussed, curly hair in order to keep it in its place. She quickly hopped the steps up to the Woolsworth building, eager to be inside and out of the cold. Once inside, Tina noticed her sister, Queenie, walking past the reception desk with a tray of freshly brewed coffee.

"Good morning, Teenie," Queenie greeted her warmly. "Want a cup?"

Tina accepted the offered mug and took a long, hot sip, knowing her sister had already prepared it the way Tina liked it.

"Thank you," Tina murmured gratefully and took another sip. "Has it been busy this morning?"

Queenie shook her head. "Nothing out of the ordinary. Though everyone is still a little tense what with Gellert Grindelwald stewing below us."

Tina nodded in understanding. Having the infamous wizard plotting away in his cell had everyone on edge. Honestly, no one knew what to do with him. Grindelwald had been captured several times, but always managed to escape his bonds and cause the deaths of many in doing so, both wizards and Non-magic alike. Madam Picquery had all of MACUSA on alert, ready to stop the madman should he make an attempt, or give up their lives if necessary. But that just added to the agitation of having him in the first place. There were many in the government who believed he should be turned over to the Ministry of Magic in London, but MACUSA's strong willed president was not backing down yet. Eager to make her legacy by not only capturing the dangerous criminal, but keeping him captured as well.

Tina finished her coffee and thanked Queenie.

"Of Course," Queenie smiled. "I'll have dinner ready for you when you get home."

Tina smiled in gratitude and headed down to her office. The one good thing that had come with her demotion was that she and Queenie worked the same hours. Which meant they could have breakfast together in the mornings and go home at the same time in the evening. But once Tina's old Auror position had been restored, her work hours changed and she only got to see her sister in the late evenings. Tina did miss spending the extra time with the only remaining family she had, but it was wonderful to be an auror again.

Tina made her way through the bustle down to her office and laid her bag upon the desk. Once she sat, a stack of folders floated over to her, full of the cases she was currently working on. There was nothing exceptional occupying her work hours. Nothing that compared to chasing down escaped magical creatures...

With a deep sigh, Tina leaned her cheek on her palm and closed her eyes. These thoughts would just appear out of nowhere and Tina seemed unable to stop them. Unable, or unwilling.

Knowing she would not be able to focus until she got another look at it, Tina pulled open her top desk drawer. Laying on top of an assortment of useless items was a large newspaper clipping that had "magically" appeared there several weeks prior. When questioned, Queenie had simply smirked and went back to her laundry. The clipping contained a moving portrait of a certain magizoologist stepping off his ship to be greeted with a hero's welcome from the awaiting crowd in London. In the picture he was waving, but Tina could make out the familiar pink tint to his cheeks. From the little time Tina had spent with Newt Scamander, she quickly learned that he did not take well to being in the spotlight, for bad or good reasons. Still, his smile was abashedly adorable, making her heart flutter in a way it had never done, before him.

With a thorough shake of her head, Tina attempted to clear all thoughts of him from her mind and from the intense ache in her heart.

"I barely know him," Tina whispered, furiously to herself before slamming the picture back inside the drawer. "Get back to work, Goldstein."

She set her mind back to the tasks at hand, determined not to let a man, thousands of miles away, distract her from doing her job.

The drawer was opened five more times that day.

When Tina arrived home that evening, the table was already set the heavy aroma of baked chicken wafted through the meager apartment she shared with Queenie.

"You're home," Queenie greeted from where she stood at the stove. "Dinner will be ready soon. How was your day?"

Tina was momentarily surprised to see Queenie actually using her hands to prepare the meal instead of using magic.

"It was fine," Tina replied distractedly as she moved to counter to set her things down. She noticed a small scattering of crumbs next to a small, wrapped parcel. Tina opened the package and found herself staring at a doughy pair of eyes in what resembled a pastry version of Newt's niffler. She heaved a heavy sigh and turned back towards Queenie.

"Don't start, Tina." Queenie had already read her thoughts and was clearly in no mood for a lecture.

"You went to see Jacob again?" Tina asked, although she already knew the answer.

"Yes. And?"

Tina shook her head, half in pity, half in agitation. "You know it's forbidden."

"I don't care," Queenie huffed and began angrily chopping at a carrot.

"You could be thrown in prison!" Tina snapped back. This was hardly the first time they had had this conversation. Ever since Jacob's bakery opened a month prior, Queenie had been making regular visits. And Tina was certain that it had nothing to do with her sister's sweet tooth.

"I don't care," Queenie repeated, refusing to meet Tina's concerned gaze.

"Queenie..." Tina started and placed a gentle hand on her sister's forearm, but the younger woman shrugged her off.

"I love him, Tina!" Queenie suddenly spun around, her eyes ablaze. "And he loves me too!"

"He doesn't remember you," Tina stated as calmly as she could manage.

"Yes, he does."

"What?" Tina asked, stunned.

"He got his memory back about two weeks ago," Queenie explained, softly. "And he wants to be with me."

Tina sat down at the table, completely perplexed.

"I thought Newt's potion was permanent?"

Queenie shrugged her shoulders and her face took a bright smile.

"I don't care how he got his memory back. I'm just so unbelievably grateful that he did."

Tina was struck by the tender sincerity in her sister's voice.

"You really do love him, don't you?"

Queenie placed her hand in Tina's and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"I really do."

Tina leaned back and closed her eyes in thought. If MACUSA ever found out...

"They won't," Queenie reassured her. "They have their hands full with Grindelwald to worry about little old me."

Tina simply shook her head, knowing nothing would dissuade her sister now that Jacob's memory had returned.

"Just be careful."

Queenie squealed happily and threw her arms around Tina's neck, kissing her cheek quickly.

"I will be, I promise."

Later that night, Tina sat against her headboard, work notes in hand, trying to focus but she could not stop thinking about how happy Queenie had looked. The glow of love illuminated on her face. Tina wondered, with a twinge of jealousy, if she would ever have that same look upon her face. With that thought, Newt's tender gaze came roaring to the forefront of her mind, bringing a fresh wave of heat to her cheeks.

"Pining like a child," Tina muttered and turned to stare out of her window. The brightness of the crescent moon and effervescent stars outshone even the brightest of city lights. She began to drift off wondering if thousands of miles away, across a boundless sea, Newt was thinking of her too. A loud buzzing sound startled her into awareness as a big, bulky, blue "moth" floated just outside of her window. It watched her for a brief moment before zooming away into the night. Tina watched it leave in wonderment, before leaning back against her bed with a contented smile on her lips and peace in her heart.