No Better Version of Me Than When I'm With You

Chapter 7

"Alright, Tommy, I'll dance." Newt grumbled good-naturedly, reaching for the remote and tossing it onto the couch behind him before taking his other hand.

"Finally!" Thomas crowed triumphantly, whooping as he spun them in a circle. He laughed as they danced, swinging apart and then together again, Newt even joining in on singing the next verse. "I like my water with lemon and lime, that's 'cause they're better combined, kinda like us, you and I. If you a fruit you'd be a fine apple, if you a word you'd be the fine print. I'd like to try my hand at time travel, so you could walk by me again."

The song carried on and he and Newt danced until it was over, collapsing on the couch breathless and elated as they rode the high of the good news. Thomas reached for his champagne and downed the rest of it. Newt followed suit and they poured another glass each. Newt's eyes were bright with sheer relief and joy, and he could see it in his posture, hear it in his laugh. He felt the same relief. The agony of not knowing had had them both on edge, but now? Now they were free.

"Can you believe it?" Thomas asked some minutes later. He looked over at Newt who sat beside him, an arm slung around his shoulders. Thomas let his fingers trace a pattern on Newt's shoulder and upper arm. Music still played loudly through the speakers.

"No, not yet." Newt chuckled, swirling the remnants of his drink in his glass.

"Just wait 'til you get your actual resident card. Then it'll feel real."

"Hopefully." He nodded, then looked up and met his gaze. "You know what we should do? We should have everyone over, Minho, Bren, Fry, everyone - even Sonya and Harriet. Now that we know I'm here for good we should proper celebrate."

"That's a great idea." Thomas nodded, smiling as he lifted his glass to his lips. "Hopefully we can find a time when everyone's schedules match up."

"It's summer, shouldn't be too hard." Newt shrugged. Thomas nodded again, and they fell into a companionable silence. He was sure Newt was feeling as on top of the world as he was just then, unbeatable and like nothing could stop them. They worked better as a team, this much Thomas knew, but to have accomplished something so big, and with so much at stake? Their win felt bigger than the both of them.

The rest of the day passed in a happy daze. Thomas called his parents and Newt called his. Their groupchat with their friends blew up with celebratory replies, and by the end of the day they had all somehow managed to plan an evening together at his and Newt's house some weeks from then. He lay in bed and drifted off feeling more relieved and content than he had in week.

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With the stress of the green card out of the way, Thomas noticed the amount of time Newt spent in the garden sharply increase. Nearly every day when he came home from work, he'd find Newt out in the backyard, elbows deep in mulch and leaves. The plants were growing strong and quickly, especially the cherry tomato plants. They were ripening quickly, and Newt told him that there were even a cluster of small zucchinis beginning to grow as well.

By the end of the next week he came home to see Newt sitting at the kitchen counter, smiling proudly at him. He was beckoned over even before he'd taken off his shoes, and it was then as he rounded the counter that he saw the bowl full of cherry tomatoes sitting in front of Newt. Gasping, he looked up at his husband. "Are they ripe?"

"They are! I just picked them 'cause I knew you'd be home soon - haven't even washed 'em yet. Thought we could try them together."

"Then by all means, go wash them!" Thomas shoved at Newt playfully, chuckling. Newt laughed and slid off the stool with the bowl. He was back moments later, and offered the bowl to Thomas faux reverently.