Strings Attached

Chapter 13

Newt was taken by surprise, but responded quickly. A moment later they pulled away, smiling fondly at each other.

"I wanted to do that so badly, since I arrived in New York." Celeste murmured, playing with a strand of his hair.

Newt just chuckled softly, as he let himself drawn into those yellow eyes that always gave him a sense of home and purpose.

"Umm..sorry to interrupt, but tea." Tina's voice makes them pull away from each other's embrace.

Celeste went ahead and accepted the two mugs, and invited the girl inside as the trio sat on the chairs.

"Did I miss something?" Tina asked, obviously asking about something she saw. "Oh no you didn't." Celeste said, sipping on her tea.

"Since when you two are dating?" Tina asked, as she sipped on her tea. "Seventeen years." Newt said, making Tina's eyes go wide in shock.

"What?! How did I miss that?!" Tina asked, with eyes still wide. "Well you didn't ask." Celeste said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Wow, that's really something. Any engagement any time soon?" Tina asked Newt, who nust pointed at Celeste.

Celeste lifted her left hand, and showed her the beautiful ring that Newt gifted her. Tina choked on tea, and blinked thrice.

"Why is it so shocking?" Tina asked, clearly extremely shocked. "What is so shocking?" Queenie asked as she and Jacob appeared in the case.

"They are engaged!" Tina said, pointing at the duo. "Oh!" Queenie squealed loudly as she rushed to Celeste. "Well we have been together for eight years." Celeste pointed that detail out, shocking Tina more.

"When are you planning on getting married?" Jacob asked as he took a seat on the vacant chair. A silence settled in the room, with Queenie looking at Celeste in hope.

"We have-" Celeste was about to speak, but Newt cut her off. "Possibly in March." Newt said, now shocking Celeste.

"Ooh, that's so brilliant. I am so happy for you." Queenie said, as she hugged the woman into a warm hug. Celeste thanked the woman, and made it a point to talk to Newt later.

After an hour, they found themselves in the Macusa where everyone was getting interrogated and Jacob was being registered in the wizarding population.

Celeste was sitting with Madam President as she asked questions and how she knew about Grindelwald's identity.

"I doubted Mr. Graves when he inquired about Newt Scamander about the obscurus. For someone who is so much about magical secrecy, why would he be interested in Obscurus other than destroying it?" Celeste spoke to Madam President, who nodded her head and signaled her to go on.

"And then giving both, Mr. Scamander and Ms. Goldstein, death penalty even though Ms. Goldstein was the one who handed the case and Mr. Scamander." Celeste said, fidgeting with her fingers.

"What you have done back there is sheer bravery and needs lots of guts to do so. Macusa owes the British ministry for handling this situation." Madam picquery said, a small smile flickered on her lips.

"You don't owe us anything Madam President. It was our duty to help you." Celeste said formally.

After an hour of more investigating, Celeste and Newt found themselves on the docks of New York. Celeste decided to journey back to England with Newt.

Celeste looked at the ship that was about to leave with a bit of relief. "Thank you Tina and Queenie. You helped us immensely. And you Mr. Kowalski, thank you for what you did for us." Celeste said, as she turned around to face the small group.

"Nah, no need for thanks. Adventure with you was the time I felt alive and I can never thank you enough for that." Jacob said, smiling at the woman.

"Look out for the owl in the coming months though. I will remember to send you the first copy of my book." Newt said, a small smile was on his face.

"Yeah sure. But thank you, both of you for putting in good words for me. It means a lot to be back as auror." Tina said, sending a watery smile at the couple.

"Oh it's the least I- we could do." Celeste said as the horn of the ship sounded across the dock. "And that would be our signal." Celeste said, patting on Tina's shoulder.

"Please visit us soon." Queenie said, her bottom lip quivering. "Of Course Queenie. Looking at the fact that I am a ministry employee, you will see me soon." Celeste offered a wide grin.

With a wave towards the group, Celeste and Newt stepped on the ship back to England.

"So, was that an impulsive decision back there in Tina's flat?" Celeste asked as they settled in their assigned room on ship.

"What impulsive decision?" Newt asked as he knotted his brows together. Celeste chuckled and shook her head.

"About a wedding date, Newt. Like we haven't thought about it at all with this Grindelwald mess." Celeste said, watching Newt blink before he shrugged his shoulders.

"Back there, in the subway. When he attacked you, it could have gotten worse. And probably  I just want to settle now, with you and my creatures." Newt said, a shy smile on his face.

"Oh Newt, Mum and your mum is going to freak out." Celeste said, chuckling. "Totally." Newt said, now grinning, which made Celeste laugh.