It's Been a Long, Long Time [Post-SOD]

queenie

Tina took a deep breath as she straightened her jacket and closed her briefcase. The office was quiet save the regular whirrings and clickings of enchanted knickknacks and the shuffling of the house elves as they tidied up. Being a higher-up now meant she was the last one to leave at the end of the day, and quite frankly some evenings it was more convenient for her to simply stay through the night and catch a few hours of sleep at her desk, if she was lucky. But today had been relatively uneventful, and she was glad, for she was eager to go home. Newt's letter had been rushed and a bit hazy, but one thing she knew for certain, and that was the only thing that really mattered to her: Queenie was coming home.

Tina glanced about the office one last time before locking up and heading out of the building. She was so elated at the promise of their reunion that it wasn't until she was halfway home that she paused to wonder whether Queenie would be angry with her. They had not parted on good terms, and it was Tina's stubbornly protective words and actions that had pushed her out all those months ago. It was Tina's fault that she had left, that she had been backed into Grindelwald's schemes. Tina couldn't help but wonder whether her sister still harbored some bitterness towards her in light of this. Newt had told her, back in Paris, how Queenie had been coming for her, that in the face of uncertainty and conflict she had set off to find the one person she always knew she could count on: her sister. But even so...Tina sighed and shook her hair. Worrying means you suffer twice. Newt had told her that, too.

She skipped up the stairs to her apartment, a funny stirring in her chest. She had almost moved upon her promotion, as the flat wasn't exactly the cream of the crop, but something had made her reluctant to part with the place, something that, she now realized, was hope. She opened the apartment door and noticed the lights already on, and humming coming from the kitchen. "Queenie?" she whispered breathlessly, shutting the door behind her. She had been expecting Queenie, but not so soon.

"TEEN!" her sister flew out of the kitchen and wrapped Tina in a tight embrace. Tina's heart melted and she tried to choke back the tears.

"Oh, no, hon," Queenie said softly as she read her mind, stepping back to see Tina's face but keeping her hands on her arms. "I'm the one who should be apologizing."

Tina shook her head with a teary smile. "I'm just glad you're home," she whispered, and Queenie nodded earnestly. "I know," she said softly. "Me too." She hugged her again tightly and then dragged her into the kitchen. "Eat," she commanded as she dished up the food. "And tell me everything."

When the most important events had been gone over several times, and Tina had eaten three full helpings of the first wholesome meal she'd had in ages, she glanced at Queenie with a little knowing smile and took the hand that had been anxiously fiddling with her napkin.

"What is it, Queenie?" she asked softly. Queenie smiled nervously and squeezed her hand. "Jacob and I are gettin' married," she said breathlessly, scanning Tina's face and mind for her reaction. "I know," she added hurriedly; "we can't do it proper here, but we don't care. If we says we're married, that's good enough for me. We'll do the vows and all, and have witnesses, and the rings—please don't argue, Teen; we've already made our minds up and we want your blessing."

Tina gazed sympathetically at her sister and squeezed her hand. "Of course you have my blessing," she said softly, "but I'm scared for you, too, because I love you. Both of you."

Queenie chewed her lip and saw that she was telling the truth. "I know," she said quietly. "Newt's coming," she added after a moment with a little mischievous smile, and watched Tina turn pink as she read her mind.

"How is Newt?" was all she said.

"Good," Queenie said, glancing at Tina as she adjusted the silverware on her plate. "He misses you." Even if she hadn't been a legilimens, the shy smile on Tina's face said plain as day that she missed him, too. What else does he think about me? she asked Queenie mentally without meaning to. Queenie giggled and waved her wand to clear their plates. "I'll tell you in bed," she said, squeezing her hand before letting it go as she stood up. Tina chuckled fondly and followed suit. They quickly changed into their pj's and got ready for bed, and Queenie found her side of the room just as she had left it—only a bit tidier. For now, though, she sat on Tina's bed with her, both hugging their knees and beaming at each other with the occasional giggle like they were ten and twelve again.