Alice Fortescue was nothing if not a sucker for nicknames. Narcissa knew this all too well.
The idea of names had always been important to Narcissa, as a child she had wondered why she’d been named after a flower, an idiot from a myth, and not a star like the rest of her family? After all Andromeda had been named after not only a constellation, but a galaxy, Bellatrix after a bright–shining star.
Her cousins had also been named after stars. Sirius “the dog star” had one to fit his loud personality. Regulus also had a bright shining star, and in a way, all of these names matched their personalities.
Andromeda was brave, and had a true love with her, like the constellations of Andromeda and Perseus, yet despite this, she was independent. Bellatrix and Regulus were the golden children of the family. Always doing what their parents expected of them, even if it meant hurting their siblings. Sirius was loud, and did what he wanted, but was undoubtedly loyal to those he cared about.
Narcissa was anything but a Narcissist, in fact, she’d spent most of her younger years disliking herself, but that was something better not thought about now. A flower? Perhaps, she had always been quite down to earth, but it was unimportant, she was her and that was that.
And then there was Alice. Alice, her friend, her lover, Alice who was always there. Her name meant everything her family claimed to be. Everything her generation had failed to be. Noble.
And in most relationships, there are bound to be pet names. Inside jokes, nicknames, anything of the sort really. Narcissa herself had gone from being “Black” to “Narcissa”, then to “Cissa” and “Cissy”. Then of course you had your standard cheesy pet names, “Sweetheart”, “babe”, “Baby”, “Love” all things the couple had used before.
But Narcissa had something else to call her love. It started as a joke. One day when her chronically cold girlfriend had stolen her jacket once more, and she could still remember the way she laughed.
“Wow, you’re like alICE!” She laughed to herself, “Get it? Like—”
“Dear lord, that was horrible.” Alice rolled her eyes playfully, smiling.
“You’re just mad because I'm funny,” Narcissa grinned, leaning into her girlfriend.
“Of course you are.”
“Indeed I am, Ice.”
It became a common thing for Narcissa to call her girlfriend ‘Ice’, when people asked, they’d say it was just a short version of Alice. Narcissa liked it, something that was hers. Something she shared with one person she loved so much.
Alice liked it as well, Narcissa’s voice when talking to her was one of her favorite things. The way her lips moved as she called her by her ridiculous nickname, Alice was completely and utterly in love.
Narcissa knew a few things for certain, and the fact that she was happy was a big one. On her birthday, surrounded by all of the people she loved, she couldn’t help but smile. She’d made it.
“Sirius, Remus, get in here,” Andromeda called, “it’s time for gifts.”
Sirius came, almost bursting through the kitchen door, “I’m going first! Narcissa, you’re gonna love this.”
“Oh no.” Narcissa whispered at the same time as Regulus. Narcissa no longer had resentment towards her cousin like she did as a child, but she knew about his antics, he was unpredictable, and about to give her a gift.
“Okay, so,” he was on his phone now, “I made you a little video.”
“Oh?”
Sirius’ face split into a grin, “I promise.” He tilted her phone to her view, and everyone else crowded around her to see.
The video was of her? She was talking to Alice, but this day was awhile ago, and she had no idea why—
The video started. she could hear herself call “Ice?” and then another “Ice?”, then “Baby?”.
Some music played, and those three clips played over and over.
Narcissa sighed. “Ice Ice baby? Like that nineties song? Jesus Sirius—”
As if on cue, Alice burst into laughter.
“Ohmygod—” she practically wheezed out, her laughs continued, leaning against Sirius, she started once again. “ANDYOUMADEIT—”
Despite herself, Narcissa began to smile.
“See?” Sirius pointed to her, “you thought it was funny.”
“It was… unique, I’ll give you that, but you got her to laugh.” Narcissa smiled at her girlfriend once more, “so happy birthday to me.”