„Darling, you look angelic.“
Standing in front of the Kitchen window Narcissa was glowing. Her fine hair danced in the sunlight, seemingly golden and mimicking a halo. Her pale skin came to life with a rosy tint as her face heated up. She looked positively radiant. Her whole posture screamed royality, the way her hands lay comfortably folded and her head held up high. Narcissa’s beauty left no question as to her purpose. She was to be admired, to be adorned in jewels, to be worshipped. She looked like a deity and in Alice's eyes that's exactly what she should be treated as. Would be treated as, as long as Alice had a say in it. As long as Alice could possibly do so.
„You're not so bad yourself Love!“
Alice’s eyes were brightler than the sun shining in her face. It seemed fitting; the sun shining upon the one person who could make your face light up with a smile burning brighter than the sun, just by being in a room with you. Her eyes hat golden speckles in them and in the sun they came to life, like her freckles did in summer. Everything about Alice gave off warmth. She felt like home.
If you asked Narcissa what part of Alice she liked the most you'd always get the same answer. "Everything. But have you seen her eyes?" Her eyes that made the sun pale in comparison. The sun is a star, fitting to think a Black would fall in love with a star. but the sun is the one star we observe during the day. the sun is the one star we can see so clearly, that we see it's survive, it's solar storms and all the beautiful details. It's the one star that gives life to things. And as such the sun is the one star that could compare to Alice. Alice did not only feel like home, she is what made this unassuming abode Narcissa's home.
In between them were mere inches, yet their newfound freedom felt binding and constricting. With noone to guide them, to forbid them, with noone to interrupt their coexistence they were free to do as they pleased. But freedom can be frightening and so they were scared. Narcissa had never been more afraid then now actually.
Going against everything she had ever known, every expectation her family had for her. If she were a bit more like her cousin she would say she did it for love. But she didn’t, well not really. If she had done it for love it would’ve felt easier to let go of the love she thought she had. But it wasn’t easy. Never easy. If she were more like her sister she might’ve been happy about her freedom, ever one to have a plan, to know what she wanted to do – not compromising what she had to do.
But no, Naricassa was herself, not her family. And even when her family had beaten and cursed their values into her she knew. She knew who she was, who she is. And what she is must be crazy, leaving her perfectly predestined life, just for some common girl.
Well not just some girl. Alice. The most beautiful, most kind, the most Alice person she has ever met. And everything else didn’t matter. It didn’t matter that she has no status, that her family didn’t have more money than they could ever need. It didn’t matter that she was a girl. That she was just a girl. As long as she was Narcissa’s girl.
And maybe narcissa was selfish for it. maybe her mother was right. But maybe she wasn't. And maybe she did do it for love. A love that's pure and fulfilling and doesn't feel like a binding contract. A love that feels like love.
But Alice was afraid too. Afraid of failure. Of her own failure. Afraid of being a disappointment, of not being enough. Not enough for her parents. Not enough for Narcissa. How could she ever be enough for Narcissa? She had nothing to offer her, just herself, just her love. And of that she had an abundance. An abundance of love. Love for Narcissa.
And her parents and her friends were supportive, they were.
But Alice was still hurting. Hurting for Narcissa and her loss. Even if she refused to adamit it, Alice could see. Could see how Narcissa’s eyes got a bit watery everytime someone mentioned family around her. And it broke her heart. It broke her heart that it was her fault how much she was hurting. The Love of her life, crying because of her. And Alice could do nothing about how her heart cried everytime she thought about it. How could she be enough for Narcissa? There was no way that she was a sufficient replacement for a whole family lost. For the love lost. for the home lost.
And she was nervous. Her nerves were wrecked. She didn't have any left. She was nervous.
And her heart beat loud and fast and her cheeks felt redder than ever before. And it was warm in here. Did someone light a fire? it felt like she was on fire. Burning with love. bunring with passion. Burning with desire. Burning with a primal need to please. To be liked, loved even. She was burning for Narcissa.
They smiled at each other. They often did. A sad smile, showing how both were lost in their thoughts. A happy smile, Alice’s bright and Narcissa’s content. A smile. Never quite reaching their eyes. An angry, playful smile. When they both were in an argumentative mood, both willing to play their game. A simple discussion, tension and mostly: them. Just them and their lives, their opinions, their own little world.
Those were their favorite moments. Them in their own little world. No pressure from the outside world. No pressure from their parents or friends.
And they were in love. They were in love. They were in love and it’s all they could thing about. Hearts filled with warmth, heads filled with even more hearts and butterflies and all things nice. If they were a painting you could not describe it if you tried, so magnificient they would be. And there was no need for descriptions. Not for them. They had each other and they knew. They knew their faces, their eyes, the way their hands fit together like puzzle pieces.
And if you asked them they wouldn’t admit it, or at least they weren’t likely too, but they were happy. Finally happy. And content and joyful – oh so full of joy. Their life was a mess, but so were they and had they not found each other who kows what struggles they would have to keep at bay right now? A life in dismay is not for them, even if it tried to keep them trapped.
They were together, they were happy, they were in love.
This is how it could be forever. A moment, just them, in love.
Forever.
A moment could be enough for them. But in the now a moment is not all they had. It used to be, but not now, no.
They had forever. Forever with each other.
And they were free to spend their time doing whatever they liked.
And Alice really liked Narcissa.
And Narcissa really liked Alice.
So Alice leaned in and fell right into Narcissa's arms. She raised her hand to push a loose strand of hair behind her hair and left her hand lingering. Giggling she cupped Narcissa's face.
"I love you Darling. I love you now. I love you forever. And I really hope you'll never want me stop, because I don't think I could. I have never loved someone this much. You are perfect for me. I love you my Darling."
Her steady words contradicted her rapid heart. It was beating faster than it ever had.
She pulled Narcissa close. Closer. Pressing their bodies together until she could feel her heartbeat.
She looked deep into her eyes, getting lost in them. Searching for an answer she hoped she already knew.
Narcissa closed her eyes. Alice's heated skin against hers. Her own rapid heartbeat in her ears. She was surely blushing.
And she leaned in too.
Alice closed her eyes smiling.
Their lips met in a soft kiss. Their heartbeats synchronizing. Their chests filled with a warm, fuzzy feeling.
This was love, this was home. Their home.
The home they had made in each others hearts. A home that was just for them. no tainted memories, no pressure.
There was nothing frightening about this. They had done this a million times before. It was different nonetheless. An eruption of feelings inside of them.
Love, safety, home. The warmest of feelings. Them.
It wasn't fresh love, it wasn't young love. it was their love. And they were young but their love had already outlasted and overcome so many things. It was love. The forever type.
As their kiss ended the warmth filling them only spread. Time had stilled and the warm skin was nearly cooling on their skin.
A smile. One of their moments.
They seperated. Still only inches inbetween them, already missing the other's touch.
Alice smiled. Her eyes bathed in hope.
She kneeled down. And gazed up adoringly. Narcissa looked like a deity, like an angel, like the love of her live.
Narcissa's heart skipped a beat. And a then a few more. As it started beating again her blood rushed fast. Her cheeks turned red. The blush spreading down her entire body. Warmth turned into heat.
Alice pulled out a small box. It was an unassuming black. easy to glance over and forget.
Apart from the letters imprinted on it. In silver lettering Narcissa could read "AF+NF". Her already blushing cheeks deepened impossibly.
"Narcissa. I love you. I have forever now and if you'll allow me i'll continue to for the rest of forever. I love your laugh. i love your face. I love how your nose scrunches up when you are annoyed. I love you. All of you. An i want to make you happy. I love you. And I hope that is enough, because I don't really have more to give," she laughed nervously and cleared her throat. "I love you."
She opened the box. In it rested an elegant silver ring with a beautiful green gemstone. Not a slytherin green, or a black green. An Alice green. An Alice Fortescue green. The color of her loving eyes.
"Will you allow me to love you forever and be my wife?"
Silence.
They could hear their heartbeats.
"Yes! Yes! A hundred times yes!"
Narcissa jumped down into Alice's arms.
"I love you too. I love you more than I could ever say. I want a forever with you!"
They met in a frantic kiss. Blurry. Fuzzy. Warm. Time stopped and sped up at the same time. their hearts beat as one.
Another kiss. A smile.
They were together.
In love.
Forever.