Queenie carefully floated both boys across to bed, placing them down on the soft mattress. They were still cuddled up together, Newt's hands clenched onto Percival's shirt.
"Poor dears." She murmured to Jacob and Tina. "They've had a tough day, poor little guys." She turned to her lover, who was smiling at her, that same awed look in his eyes he had shown when they had first met, back when she was new to him, and he was surprised to find out about magic. Now, he was used to magic, but that sense of amazement hadn't faded. He still smiled at her like she was an angel, every day.
"You are good with them." Jacob said, and she could see the path his thoughts were heading down, imagining crafting a cradle, imagining holding a child of his own. She swallowed, and gazed into his eyes, reaching for his hands.

"Yes." She said. "Teenie and I always looked out for each other, and babies are always getting left in our office - we basically run free babysitting for most of MACUSA. I love helping the little ones..." She leaned in and kissed him, and he smiled.
"Have you ever thought about-"
"Yes." Queenie confirmed. She loved Jacob, and starting a family with him just felt natural to her. She smiled, and he laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"And you'd want-"
"More than anything." Queenie answered. "I know you'd be the most amazing father Jacob. Seeing you with those two earlier just confirmed what I already knew. You are an incredible man, one of the best that I have ever met, and I am so lucky... There aren't any others like you..."
"There's plenty like me."
"None of them are you though." Queenie answered, leaning in to press a kiss to his cheek. "And I wouldn't want a family with any of the rest of them. With you though, well that's different. I want to have a family with you, want to spend the rest of my life with you if I can."

"I'll see what I can do." Jacob nodded. "We can think about it at least..."
"That's a problem for when our friends feel better." Queenie suggested softly. "What can we do for them tomorrow?"
"Read them stories?" Jacob suggested with a shrug. "Get them making things. Tell them they're good. I don't think they can understand right now what's happened to them, so we need to try and make sure that they aren't upset or feel that they aren't wanted. They could ask a lot of questions so we need to know what to tell them."

"Tell them that their parents have been contacted." Queenie said quickly. "I can tell Newt's worried about his family, and the Director isn't surprised his parents aren't there to support him. He feels it's what he deserves..." She shivered, and Jacob's arm wrapped around her shoulder to soothe her. "And make them feel happy. Pickett being here will help of course..." She paused. "What about the case?"
"What about it?"
"Do you think we could take Newt down, not allowing him out of our sight? It will keep him busy at least."

Queenie nodded, smiling slightly.
"Okay, but no unsuitable creatures. The last thing we want to do is frighten either of them."

***

It turned out that Newt definitely didn't need to be worried out. His fondness for the largest and most ferocious animals was clearly well-developed by the time he was five years old. Percival seemed a little cautious, but he stuck close to Newt, trailing him like an overgrown shadow. Several of the creatures had come to investigate the strange human that appeared with Newt's scent, and Newt was ecstatic. He kept picking up different creatures and showing them to Percival with enthusiasm that the director clearly didn't share.
"And this is a diricrawl-" Newt tried to scoop up the small fluffy chick, which promptly apparated a short distance away. Newt gave chase, but just as he picked it up for a second time, the behaviour was repeated. Then the same happened, and Percival giggled faintly, the sound heartbreakingly quiet, but it had happened. Queenie smiled at him proudly.

"Having fun?" She prompted. Percival nodded, and she tried not to delve too deeply into his thoughts. It wasn't her place to look into his personal memories, to delve into the secrets that in his adulthood he would have never chosen to disclose. What she could tell though was that both of them needed a chance to be happy, and she and Jacob could provide that.

Jacob made everyone pies for lunch, and Pickett was given another woodlouse. Newt beamed to see the bowtruckle being treated kindly. Newt smiled up at them.
"Thank you for the help Mister, and letting me see all your creatures. When it's done... when I get home, I want a suitcase like that. I want to have all the creatures who need to be looked after. I’m going to be the best person at bowtuckles and occamy and every other kind of creature."

Queenie pressed Newt's forehead, leaving behind a pink smudge of lipstick.
"I believe you sweetie. I think you will be the best ever one day."
"Even better than Mister Jacob?"
"Even better than me kid." Jacob agreed. "Would you two like to come to Central Park this afternoon?"
Newt nodded quickly and Percival agreed a moment later. Queenie smiled.
"Okay, well remember to be careful and stick with the two of us. We're going to pretend we're a family, does that sound nice?"
Newt nodded, and his agreement once more secured Percival's own.
"What about my bowtuckle?"
"He can sit in your pocket?" Queenie suggested, and Newt was quick to agree. When they had all eaten their fill, Queenie took both boys' hands and walked with them to the zoo, niffler plushie hanging from Newt’s other hand. Jacob bought the boys ice-creams, and held Queenie's hand as they followed the kids around the zoo.

Newt was getting Percival to him read all of the signs, and Percival was obliging with the same patience that he would show whenever Newt brought some injured and spiky creature home. Queenie watched, and then leaned back against Jacob.
"They're doing great." She promised. He nodded, then swung Newt up into the air, spinning him around and then guiding him to sit against his shoulder. The small boy giggled and cuddled up onto him, grip still tight on his niffler plushie. Percival squeezed her hand, his face serious.
"Miss Queenie?"
"Yes sweetheart?" She asked, feeling his fear and hope as he tried to put into words what he was thinking. After a few minutes he seemed to succeed.
"You're lying about something aren't you?"
She knew she could have denied it, but she didn't want to. Not when Percival was smart and brave enough to ask.
"A little bit." She agreed. "But it's not something important, and not something which puts you or Newt in any kind of danger. In a few days everything will make sense."
"Okay." Percival nodded. "Just don't hurt Newt."
"Never." She reassured him. "I wouldn't hurt either of you."

He nodded, and there was such seriousness in his eyes that it broke her heart a little, knowing that the boy hadn't ever really had the chance to relax. She would do what she could for him, for both of them.
"Would you like a bedtime story tonight?" She offered, and he smiled a little and nodded.

Once they got home, the two of them cuddled the boys, making sure they were comfortable before putting them down in bed. Newt sat up a little, bouncing from side to side in excitement as she began to tell a story, reading it from a children's book about dragons that she had kept since her own childhood. Newt was entranced, his niffler plushie wiggling from side to side, Percival listening while trying to pretend that he wasn't. She smiled at both of them, and when the story was finished she tucked them up into bed, kissed them both on the forehead and went to sit with Jacob.

He held her.
"You'd be a good mother as well..." He paused. "Although I hope that the mindreading doesn't run in the family..."
Queenie giggled and kissed his cheek fondly.

***

"Good morning Mister Kowalski, Miss Goldstein." Percival announced the next morning as he walked in wearing some of Jacob's clothing. He was back to his normal size, but was still swamped slightly by the clothes designed for a larger man. "Thank you for your assistance the last few days."
"How's Newt?" Jacob asked, but Queenie could already hear Percival's thoughts. While he was capable of barring her from them, at the moment he was concentrating instead on calming her, thinking 'Newt is better. Newt is fine.' clearly and loudly enough for her to hear. She smiled as Newt appeared as well, dressed in a fluffy pink dressing gown that she often used.
"The zoo was amazing." He said quickly. "New York really is an interesting place."

Queenie walked over to pull him into a hug. A moment later Jacob joined in. Percival sighed softly, but made his way over to the three of them and pulled them into his arms.
"I need to go to MACUSA now, so does Newt. We've got statements to give. Miss Goldstein, if you can come in later?"
"Of course Director."
Percival headed towards the door, planning on apparating back. Newt extracted himself from the hug and walked to Percival. Newt smiled, and waved. Percival paused for only a moment.
"Thank you." He said softly, before the two of them apparated.

Jacob smiled up at her.
"So, do you fancy starting a family of our own?"
She giggled, pulling him towards the bedroom.