Strings Attached

Chapter 17

Queenie and Celeste prepared the dinner while Newt and Jacob talked about how Jacob's bakery was working fantastically.

"So, what brings you to London Queenie?" Celeste asked, as she leaned on the kitchen counter while the stew was bubbling.

"Me and Jacob need a new start. Tina was supportive of us in starting, but she has like taken a step back and kept reprimanding me on how this will not end well." Queenie said, sighing. There was a crack in her optimism for the first time.

"Oh love." Celeste said, standing up and approaching the blonde lady and bringing her into a hug.

"You are always welcome in the Scamander household. I will help you with your fresh start." Celeste said, rubbing the woman's back. Queenie sniffed and nodded his head.

"Now, let's have dinner, shall we?" Celeste said, while motioning the plates to move in the dinner hall. "Newt, can you help me with this stew?" Celeste asked, as she ushered Queenie out of the kitchen despite her protest.

"Uh yeah!" Newt answered back before excusing himself. While Jacob and Queenie were seated on dining chairs, Newt and Celeste brought food on the table.

"That's nice crockery you have here." Queenie said, eyes sparkling with happiness as she saw the mismatched crockery.

Celeste laughed at that as she set the steaming stew. "That would be Newt. Though I love them, the credits solely belong to him." Celeste said, sitting on one of the chairs.

"Well I don't know anything about the kitchen..." Newt said, shrugging his shoulders a little. "Oh please. You are a better cook than me." Celeste scoffed as she served stew in bowls.

"Now that's a lie." Newt argued, making the other couple chuckle in amusement. "His apple pie and chocolate mousse are just heavenly." Celeste said, took the spoon from the table and started to feed herself the stew.

"Never knew you were a cook, Newt." Jacob said, taking a sip of the stew. "Well I learned the cooking part from her mother, Stefanie. And when you are moving across the world, you have to learn that part for survival." Newt said, his fingers playing with the spoon.

Celeste chuckled again and continued eating, before she noticed something. "Is that a ring in your ring finger?" Celeste asked Queenie, who blushed and smiled.

"Yes. We got engaged. Last week." Queenie said, shyly. "After becoming an exception to the American laws, I didn't want to let this go. When I thought we were ready, I asked her to marry me." Jacob said, smiling widely.

"Aww I am so happy for you." Celeste said, extending her hand and patting Queenie's hand.

After dinner, Newt and Celeste washed the dishes magically while Celeste talked about something with Queenie.

"Where is Tina though?" Celeste asked after all settled in the drawing room with glasses of whiskeys in their hand.

"Paris. Even though we are not on talking terms, she sent a postcard. She is working on a case." She said, making Celeste go silent.

She knows very well why Tina is in Paris. She needs to make sure Credence is safe on her own. But looking at the fact that the minister has close eyes on Celeste, she can't do it directly, but someone can.

"Newt, can you do something for me? You can always say no." Celeste asked, swirling her glass, looking at it intently.

"Yes?" Newt asked, and Celeste noticed the tone shift. "Go to paris. Save Credence." Celeste said, biting her lip. "Celeste..." Newt trailed away, sighing.

"Look Newt, the American Ministry isn't going to be forgiving nor will any ministry. Credence is out in the wild. Direct target of Grindelwald. Someone has to do something." Celeste said, Queenie and Jacob exchanged a look.