Lovers (A Newtina Fanfic)

Part 20

Tina woke to the smell of pancakes. Queenie's pancakes, the ones with chocolate chips and blueberries.

"Yes," she whispered. Checking the time, she cursed. Nine forty-five am, the clock read. Getting out of bed, she almost panicked until she realized she was going to take a few days off anyway. She could call in sick. The Ministry allotted a few paid days off, it would do well to take advantage of one. She shuffled out of the room, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and combing her fingers through her short-ish curly-from-sleep bob. She was due for a haircut soon. Entering the kitchen, she was greeted by a table crammed at all sides with hungry-looking witches and wizards. Newt, Renata, Nagini, Credence, Jacob (there was no way Queenie would let anyone help her with pancakes, not even Jacob), and- Leta and Theseus. She'd have to remember to tell Theseus about the days off, if Queenie hadn't already. It looked like Theseus was taking a bit of time off too, as she was sitting around the table like everyone else. At the kitchen, Queenie flipped pancakes and hummed happily to the jazz playing on the radio. She always looked happy, that was in her nature, but today there was something extra.

Then something struck her. Queenie only made pancakes on special occasions. This wasn't a special occasion...was it? Why else would she make pancakes? Queenie was a spontaneous person, but she had never ever ever been spontaneous with the celebration pancakes. An uneasy feeling spread in Tina's stomach.

Queenie turned around, charming the pancake-flipper-thing to flip pancakes for her. "Teenie! You're awake!"

"Of course I am," Tina commented dryly. "What's the big deal? You never make these," she said, gesturing to the stack of pancakes.

Queenie handed her the teetering stack on a blue china plate. The plate was surprisingly heavy, but Queenie did have to accommodate nine people."Oh, nothing! Help me take those to the table, will ya?"

"Sure...Queen." She hazarded a small smile. Something was off, and Tina couldn't begin to conceive what. At least she was sure that the Queenie that just handed her pancakes was the real Queenie, no one else knew the recipe for the pancakes, not even herself. She placed the stack on the table, and a race started for who could get the most in half a seconds By the time Tina pulled up a chair to squeeze between Renata and Nagini, the pancakes were all gone from the platter.

Tina turned her head to face Theseus. "I don't know if you noticed, but I'm taking a couple of days of sick leave. I hope that's not too big of a problem?"

"No, that's fine. The sick leave is overdue for you anyway. I remember you came in with a cold and a dreadful cough about a month ago and pushed through meetings anyway, so let's say these are for that," Theseus replied, shovelling a blueberry pancake in his mouth the second he finished the sentence. Leta, who was looking much healthier with most of her bruises gone, slapped his arm lightly. The fiancees shared a look; an adoring, heart-melting one.

"How's it been since I've been gone? Anyone missed me?" Tina asked lightly, as if she had been on a relaxing holiday.

"After the general panic, yes, we missed you. You didn't give us much time to miss you, though. You were too smart to be gone long. Everyone'll be glad to have you back," Theseus replied.

"Oh. That's good to hear." Tina's stomach suddenly grumbled. She realized she hadn't eaten anything more than a slice of toast last night. Anyone who tried to cross her in the retrieval of pancakes would be hexed, she thought, summoning a plate and utensils for herself. Queenie brought another stack to the table, and pulled up a chair. Knees knocking, the others moved over to accommodate. Tina batted away anyone who had already gotten pancakes and promptly took four. The seven adults and two teenagers munched in quiet, the music winding around the room, enough sound for all nine. As per usual, the pancakes were delicious. They were comforting and warm and reminded Tina of home.