Cycles of Sun

The Taiwan ministry was beautiful. The walls barely existed for they were charmed to simply exist, allowing one to stand and watch the leaves and the local wildlife to their hearts content. Not for the first time since arriving in their ministry, Tina wondered at the spells cast on the walls to turn them into windows. Her own adopted ministry was sunk underground with very little in the way of natural scenery.

It was awful dreary in there sometimes. Maybe having windows to an outside view would help. She knew it would help in the auror department, where there was a high number of people who slept at their desks. It wasn’t like Tina was unaccustomed to working in a windowless room, Mercy knew that MACUSA didn’t have windows in any of their lackey offices. Windows were reserved for the offices of department heads, instilling a sense of importance to suits like Abernathy.

She stretched, tilting her head back to watch a bird flit past the window. Everything about the Taiwan ministry had her feeling calmer. Well, most things. Newt had been fussing over her lately, bringing her food and insisting she ate. She would just to stop him looking quite so worried. The food was delicious, she just didn’t have much of an appetite. The tea Tai bought her helped a lot.

The robes that Sophia had lent her were soft, smooth, bright and light in a way that the standard robes worn by departments in the ministry of magic just weren’t. Charlie resented not having a pocket to slide into though.

Someone cleared their throat gently. Tina started, turning to face Tai. Despite the cool reception when they’d first arrived nearly a fortnight ago, Tai had become a constant companion, self-appointed to guide Tina through the ministry.

“Oh, hi,” Tina smiled, not expecting one in return. Tai was generally of a more sombre disposition than her other half. It was a balancing act between them, was Tina’s general impression. “I didn’t realise you’d be in today. I’m only finishing up my entry for approval by your bosses so I appreciate you being here.”

Tai sank down on the floor opposite Tina. She arranged her slim hands on her lap. Tai was beautiful, beautiful but not someone you’d underestimate by looking at her. Here, in similar robes to Tina and every other witch in the town, Tai still shone by comparison.

“You are well today?” She asked carefully, each word measured and considered before being enunciated. Tai started every conversation with this greeting.

“Well I slept last night and Newt insisted I eat breakfast,” Tina shrugged. Tai had a way of seeing through any lies. “Honestly, I don’t know why everyone is fussing over me so much. You know, yesterday, a lady came up to me and gave me this lily. I mean I thanked her, of course, but she just smiled, said something that I didn’t understand because I didn’t have a translator and walked off. I mean, that’s not fussing but it is odd.”

Tai lifted the offending flower gently, turning it over in her hands.

“It is a well-wish,” she said, haltingly. Her dark eyes lifted to Tina’s. “You do see why we all wish you well, do you not?”

“Not really,” Tina admitted, “It’s like everyone knows something I don’t.”

Tai turned her eyes back to the flower, setting it down in front of Tina.

“It is a well-wish given to couples on their wedding,” She informed Tina, “To bring forth many sons. This was given to you to bless your marriage with a son.”

“Well, that won’t be for a while yet,” Tina snorted, sinking back in relief. “Newt and I aren’t ready for being parents.”

Tai’s silence continued a beat too long.

“It may be sooner than you think,” She said quietly, lifting herself gracefully from the floor. “I shall see you at the evening.”

“Bye,” Tina waved slightly, her hand dropping heavily to her lap. That was… weird. She shook her head to clear it slightly, leaning forward for her quill and starting to write again.

…………………………………………………………

Queenie was excellent at tuning the background hum of MACUSA out. She’d been upgraded from delivering coffees and being a general handywoman to a personal assistant. As far as she was concerned, that just had her taking stupid from one person as opposed to an office full. Luckily they weren’t the ones able to read minds.

It was crossing the main lobby of MACUSA that she first heard the stirring of something strange. She was used to the lust in men’s minds, the envy in women’s. But this was different. Her step faltered, her grip tightened on the file she was reading before she split her attention. One half was focussed on putting one step in front of the other and still appear completely normal, the other was on the muted conversation between two Rapport Enforcers on the other side of the room.

“…tellin ya Bill, this raid, it’s gonna be a hard one. I heard theys a MACUSA”

“Mercy Lewis d’ya know who?”

“I ain’t heard, but it’s somewhere with a street name like Beaumont, beaufort, somethin stupid like that”

“Ain’t gone be pretty, that’s for sure…din’t ya say they gotta kid?”

Queenie stopped in the middle of the lobby, her face going pale.

She and Jacob had a flat over a shop called Bouffant: Hair and Beauty. She’d never been more grateful for her legilimens in her entire life. She stumbled, her hand going to her forehead in an imitation of a swoon. She felt the attention turn to her, the conversations cutting off. She’d been meeting her boss by the elevators and he came towards her now.

As far as bosses went, Bowty was a good guy, never thought a bad thing aloud. She could hear his worry as he crouched down next to her. It was only partly an act, her head was buzzing.

“I’m so sorry Mr Bowty,” Queenie put her best panicked girly face on, her hand against her heart, “I just don’t know what happened to me!”

“It’s okay now Miss Goldstein,” Bowty said gently, helping Queenie up, his mind clouded with concern. “Hey, you don’t look so good Queenie. You go home now, come back tomorrow all nice and happy again. I can deal without youse for an afternoon.”

If Queenie had her way, it’d be more than an afternoon he’d have to deal without her for. Instead, she smiled weakly, unwavering gratitude, before turning and walking away a little unsteadily. Once she was out of the site of the building, her shoulders went back, her head went up and she ducked into an alleyway. Within seconds she was in the storeroom office of Jacob’s bakery.

She strode out, stopping to pick her daughter up from the floor as she made her way to where she’d knew she’d find Jacob. Out in the front, helping customers and being the beautiful man she’d fallen in love with.
“Jacob,” She called out, feeling Aurie bury her face in her mothers shoulders. Poor thing was picking up on all Queenie’s stress. “Jacob!”

He turned to face her, his face lighting up, as it did every time he laid eyes on her. Then he took in how her dress wasn’t sitting quite right over, Aurie buried in her shoulder, eyes wide and scared. He was around the counter and leading her back to the storeroom in an instant.

“Queen?” He said lowly, glancing around to make sure no-one was listening. “What’s wrong? Is the baby ok?”

His hand pressed against her abdomen, at the bump she was still easily able to disguise. Queenie grasped his hand.

“We need to leave,” she said urgently, “Now.”

Understanding dawned on his face, his hand rubbing the murtlap scar on his neck that never seemed to go away. In his head, he swore, multiple times. Aurie had tears down her face, soaking Queenie’s pink shirt.

“Alright,” He said, pulling the apron over his head. He leant down, scrawling his name over a few pieces of paper. They’d had the managerial rights to the property ready to go with a seconds notice. That second was now. “I’ll just give this to Higgins, and be right back,” Jacob promised.

Queenie adjusted Aurie’s weight to free one arm, waving her hand at the wall, her wand tucked into her sleeve. Behind the desk, a case appeared. It was a knock-off of Newt’s, had taken his help to extend the space enough to fit their entire life in. The case went wherever Aurie did, for if they needed to run, she was their first priority.

“Okay baby girl,” Queenie murmured, sliding Aurie down her side and pulling her coat over the red tartan dress. “Just like we’ve told you. You’ll just be nice and sleeping in daddy’s arms.”

Aurie nodded solemnly as she could in her toddler glory. Queenie pulled her own travel coat off the hook, slipping it on quickly and readying Jacob’s for an instant disappearance. They’d discussed this in the quiet hours when Aurie was asleep. She packed and unpacked with a wave of her wand every single morning. They moved, often, to avoid becoming recognisable. They were prepared for this eventuality.

Now it was here and all Queenie wanted was her big sister to stand at the door and fight anyone who tried to get past her. She wanted her family away and safe. She was terrified. More terrified than watching Tina dive off a roof after Newt when Credence attacked New York City.

She was terrified. She pulled Aurie back into her arms, one hand fixed on the suitcase that Jacob had once used to transport baked goods. She waited, her throat constricting with every second that passed. Could Jacob have been caught? Was that possible? If they were raiding their flat then they knew the name, knew where Jacob worked. They must’ve known by now that her illness in the lobby was a ruse to get her to her husband and away. They must be on their way.

Jacob burst through the door before she started hyperventilating, pulling the coat on quickly. Then he noticed Queenie’s face. He laid his hand gently against her cheek, wiping away the tears with a swipe of his thumb and thinking calm, loving thoughts.

“For better or for worse, remember?” his moustache quirked. Queenie nodded, pressing a kiss to his palm. She needed a clear head for the apparition to the emergency point Theseus had pulled a few strings to get them.

“Ready?” She asked. He nodded, smiled, gripped her hand tightly as she spun away.

Within half an hour, she collapsed in Diana’s arms, sobbing. Her family were safe. She wasn’t going to be executed for falling in love. Her babies weren’t going to grow up orphans like she and Tina. Jacob was safe. Aurie was safe.

They were safe.

All she wanted now was her sister.

…………………………………………………………..

Newt decided to meet Tina at the Ministry. Even he liked the building, open to the wild as it was. One fellow in a department he couldn’t pronounce had a phoenix in place of an owl, and Newt was charmed.

He sauntered through, inclining his head in greeting and keeping his hands visible and still. Their society wasn’t wandless, but they still used their hands for a lot of magic.

Tina looked up as he arrived near her desk, her face softening into a smile. She’d been exhausted recently, eating and sleeping at strange hours, and he was worried about her. He was planning on gently suggesting she visit a Healer when they returned. But her eyes sparkled when she smiled up at him, tilting her head back for a brief whispered “hello” against each others lips. He’d fallen in love with that sparkle. He rested his chin on her shoulder as she leant back into is chest with a sigh of relief she probably didn’t know she’d been holding in.

“How’re you getting on?” he asked, glancing down at the pages of scribbled notes around Tina’s main sheaf of parchment.

“I think I’m done,” Tina announced proudly. “I’m planning on handing it in later. Just need to check it through once more. Then, sadly, it’s back to our ministry. I think Theseus needs us back. Hippolyta even wrote to me, she’s worried about everything and wanted a sister I think.”

“I’m glad you’re getting on with my sister-in-law now,” Newt confessed. “I would have chosen you over any of them if they’d continued being so completely horrible.”

“One thing I can say about your mom’s illness,” She confesses, “It certainly helped bring the family together.”

Newt murmured in agreement, his eyes skimming Tina’s final drafted entry. He was about to suggest a minor phrasal change when Sophia came tearing through the room, a scarlet letter in her hand. She was panting as she thrust it towards Tina.

Newt came round the chair, noting his brother’s even handwriting and feeling his heart climb up his throat as Tina tore through the envelope of the emergency international mail.

It contained very few lines:

Rapport’s. At home. Come quickly. Theseus.

Newt felt his heart stutter, glancing over to Tina, eyes full of fear.

“I’ll get the case,” he managed to stammer out, standing to leave when Tina’s hand snapped out and grasped his waistcoat.

“Tai is fetching it,” Sophia promised, “We saw the red and she went to fetch case.”

“Newt,” Tina said faintly, “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Newt pulled her against her chest, wishing Tai was faster. They needed to get home, now.

“Arrange our connection, emergency,” Newt ordered Sophia. She nodded, dashing back off again to the wide-eyed stare of other ministry employees. Moments later, Tai appeared, thrusting the case in the direction of the couple.

“Go,” She said sharply, “We will contact you. You must go now.”

They didn’t even know what was in the letter, they just knew it was bad. And Tina had never been more grateful to have them as friends.

“Thank you,” She said honestly, “Thank you.”

Tai nodded once, before indicating they should hurry. And hurry they did.

When Queenie saw Tina emerge from the fire, she burst into hotter, angrier tears than before. Jacob, pale beside her, was maintaining a tight hold on his uncharacteristically quiet daughter.

And what had started out as an ordinary, quiet day for all, became a day that they would all remember for decades to come.