Cycles of Sun

Tina walked into the office carefully, her stomach turning a little from her trip in the floo. It was her first proper day back in the office after Taiwan and their emergency return. She’d been in, usually rushing in, exchanging completed paperwork for the paperwork she had yet to complete, and then rushing out again. She’d hardly said anything to anyone in the fortnight or so they’d been back.

However, now she was back. And, as luck would have it, today was the first day that Tai’s tea had failed to have any sort of impact on her turning stomach. Tina was taking things as steadily as she could, knowing her face was pale, her breathing measured. They could think whatever they liked so long as she didn’t throw up over someone’s shoes.

“Morning Tina,” Esmerelda said brightly, a pile of folders quirked on her hip. She frowned suddenly, even as Tina was extending salutations of her own. “Good Griffs you look terrible.”

You could always count on Esmerelda to be incredibly blunt about something.

“Gee, thanks Es,” Tina replied drily, rolling her eyes at her friend. Esmerelda studied her carefully.

“Eat something bad?” She asked carefully.

“Something like that,” Tina shrugged awkwardly, already itching to her desk and her generally oblivious partner. Esmerelda studied her a little more intently, before nodding, unconvinced. Tina hurried off down the corridor, away from the suspicious eyes. If Esmerelda worked out she was pregnant, then the whole damn Ministry would know by noon and it would be in the evening bloody prophet.

That was the worst thing about being married to a celebrity. Sure, her books were popular, but Newt was still riding an ever growing wave of success. Their bank account was such that neither needed to work – ever. In fact, they could travel to their hearts content and never have to worry about a knut. But Tina liked her work, and even Newt admitted that having Ministry of Magic credentials helped.

Tina wanted a few more weeks of ignorance. A few more weeks where the only ones who knew about the baby were people that mattered. A few more weeks where she could pretend that she was an ordinary woman, in love with a somewhat (extra)ordinary man living a life where their every move wasn’t chronicled.

In fact, Hetty would probably disown her if she found out about the newest Scamander baby from the Prophet.

It was annoying, having to keep her pregnancy such a secret when she really just wanted to hurl her guts every time someone walked past with milk in their tea (which was every single person). If it were possible, she’d walk into Theseus’s office and demand he let her do her paperwork in the corner so she could suffer in peace.

Unfortunately, Theseus had some important meetings going on, despite his wife giving birth days prior. Queenie was spending the day with Hippolyta, helping her acclimatise to motherhood when Hippolyta really wasn’t a natural at the task and was still recovering from her difficult birth. Newt was in his own office and had promised to visit as frequently as she needed. They could spin something quite convincing about how they weren’t used to being apart after nearly a month away from the office.

It was true, actually. Tina was very aware that she wouldn’t be seeing Newt for several hours – that she couldn’t just pop to wherever he was and sit and play with demiguise. It was strange, just knowing that, even if she’d happily spend the day in the house while Newt was in the case. Maybe it was the choice?

Anyway. She made it to her desk with minimal human contact, pulled a file towards her, and got on with her workload.

She didn’t see Theseus once that day.

………………………………………………………………..

A week or two after Helena had been born, Hippolyta had come around, desperate for a change of scene and wanting to discuss things about pregnancy that made Tina wonder if she shouldn’t just give up on motherhood right now. It sounded terrifying. But Helena was a lovely baby, even if a little inclined towards fussing that would only settle when she was against Hippolyta’s chest. Aurie already adored her, would spend hours just staring at the baby if she could, occasionally turning to stare at her mother’s gently bump.

The first time Aurie had stated curiously at the tummy she’d been told the baby was in, Queenie burst out laughing. After calming down, Queenie had informed the room that Aurie had wondered how the baby got into mama’s tummy. After Helena had been born, Aurie had wondered if mummy ate the baby. Jacob had taken it upon himself to explain that mummy had swallowed a special seed – face beet red and pointedly ignoring Queenie and Tina having to duck out of the room in hysterics.

It was a quiet night, Hippolyta enjoying not having to pretend (there was no point with Queenie and the two were fast becoming very good friends) and Tina enjoying having the button of her trousers undone, relieving a little pressure on her abdomen. The men were in the case, both having disappeared when they realised how much detail Hippolyta wanted to discuss pregnancy in, Aurie was dozing off against Queenie’s lap. It was peaceful.

Until there was a sharp knock at the door. Tina started, feeling a little foolish, before sliding out of her seat, fixing her trousers as she went.

She was surprised to see Hetty on the doorstep, looking flushed, like she’d come straight from an evening in front of the fire. She was even wearing slippers.

“Is it true?” Hetty asked, eyes bright with excitement, letting herself in and closing the door behind her.

Tina flushed. Hetty had heard about the pregnancy. She would be mad. She didn't look mad though - she had that crazed 'I've found a story!' look in her eye.

“You have to give me the scope on this Tina,” Hetty was practically vibrating with excitement. “It’ll be huge!”

“Has it ever occurred to you I don’t want my pregnancy splashed across national news?” Tina asked wryly, crossing her arms across her chest and raising an eyebrow. She loved Hetty, really, but she was such a journalist sometimes.

Hetty’s face remained fixed for a few seconds, before her eyebrows shot up and her mouth down. Her eyes flickered down to Tina’s mid-drift, and Tina was suddenly aware that she had said something very wrong.

“You’re pregnant?” Hetty checked, lips curling up and barely restraining herself.

“Isn’t that why you’re here?” Tina asked warily.

“No I was asking about the new policy change proposed that will prohibit aurors from taking part in international affairs, Theseus Scamander is incredibly against,” Hetty flapped her hands dismissively. “This is far more important! You’re pregnant?”

“Yeah,” Tina couldn’t exactly say no now could she? What was it Jacob said about assumptions?

Hetty squealed. Moments later, Helena’s thin wail returned the favour. Hetty glanced at the door in surprise, before letting herself into the room, greeting Queenie and Hippolyta with excitement before turning back to Tina. The woman was a whirlwind.

“How long have you known?” She asked, hands clasped in her lap, probably in deference to Tina’s dislike of people randomly placing their hands on her. Hetty was much more tactile by nature than Tina could ever dream of being.

“Since I got back from Taiwan,” Tina admitted carefully through her fringe.

“You didn’t even work it out, Queenie did,” Hippolyta quipped, her child now snuffling quietly in her arms.

Hetty let out a barking laugh, eyes shiny.

“And you’re only just telling me?” She pulled an unimpressed face.

“It’s been what, three weeks?” Tina snorted, “I’m still telling me.”

Hetty laughed again, launching into a tale of how long it took her to work out she was actually pregnant with her son, that it wasn’t just going to go away whenever she stopped throwing up. They continued exchanging stories until Hippolyta yawned widely, a similar yawn stretching her infants face.

“We’d best be off,” She sighed wearily, and Tina knew she was wondering if Theseus had managed to make it home tonight. The offer to stay was declined, as Tina knew it would be. “Queenie dear, I’ll see you tomorrow. Tina, dear, if you see my husband tomorrow…” she faltered, flushed, embarrassed, casting a wary glance at Hetty. Hetty smiled sympathetically.

“I don’t see my husband much at the moment,” Hetty added, “He’s always working so late, what with the situation over in Europe.”

Hippolyta smiled awkwardly, leaving in a graceful flourish.

“I’d better get back as well,” Hetty glanced at the clock on the mantle, stood up, wrapped her arms around Tina’s middle.

“Hey, Hetty,” Tina said cautiously, as they walked to the door. “You ain’t gonna…”

Hetty turned big, reproachful eyes towards her.

“You’re my friend Tina,” She said firmly, her voice absent of the hurt Tina had almost expected to hear. “I won’t tell a soul.”

Then she was gone, leaving quiet in her wake and Tina feeling incredibly guilty.

Later that evening, Tina crawled into bed and slotted herself against Newt’s side. He was warm and comfortable and she was falling asleep almost instantly.

“How was Hetty?” He whispered into her hair.

“Happy for us,” Tina replied sleepily, “She’s a good friend. I think we should tell Worme tomorrow. I’m tired of having to wear pants.”

Newt chuckled into her hair, not correcting her americanizations.

“Love you,” he whispered into her skin.

“I love you too,” she whispered back.

…………………………………………………………………………..

Three days later, the society page of the Daily Prophet, and most other papers in their world, started the day proclaiming the new Scamander.

Their bubble had broken. At eleven weeks, Tina was the focus of the wizarding world, the reprieve from the dark, dark cloud pressing against the British Channel.

She hated it.

But in the Ministry, in the office, with the aurors and the magical law enforcers, Tina didn’t feel any differently. Sure, she was expressly forbidden from doing fieldwork by an amusingly stern Pettigrew, and her paperwork had increased as a result, but they didn’t treat her any differently. To them, she was still Tina. To them, she was still the one they’d placed bets on, the one they asked about cultural clashes with other ministries, the one they came to with a question about protocols. She was still Tina.

And Newt, surprisingly, was only slightly more protective than usual. Tina had feared he would want to stop her from doing things in the case, make sure she ate specific foods. She realised she should have known better. Newt knew her. He knew she hated inactivity, he knew she was sensible and independent and if he cooked for her a little more often than their 50-50 split, then who was she to complain?