A/N: So after writing "Damsel In Distress" this idea wouldn't leave me alone. It's just a one-shot about Icheb telling Naomi her new nickname. They are kids in this one. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Ma Petite
Naomi looked up from her meal to find Icheb standing stiffly next to her table.
"I have...found an appropriate nickname for you," he announced, a little awkwardly. Naomi looked confused.
"You've what?"
"Since you have taken to using 'Itchy' when addressing me, I felt it would be advisable for me to come up with a suitable nickname for you," he explained, losing some of his awkwardness now that she hadn't laughed at him.
"I see," she said, even though she still didn't understand where this was coming from. "And what is this nickname?"
"Ma petite."
"What?"
"Ma petite, it means 'little girl' in an ancient earth language, French I believe. I came across it in one of my cultural studies with the Commander," he explained patiently.
"I'm not that little," she objected and was surprised by his amused expression.
"I know, but you are shorter than me," he responded drily.
This comment earned him a glare from Naomi.
"If it is unacceptable I can find another," he told her.
Naomi scrunched her face a little in thought, a trait Icheb always found very cute, not that he'd tell her that. She'd probably hit him.
"I suppose I can live with it," she said finally with an exaggerated air of long suffering indulgence.
"Good," he said and made to go, before he paused and half turned back towards her, "I'll see you later then, ma petite."
She smiled as she watched him go. Perhaps this whole 'nickname' thing wasn't so bad after all.
It was much later that an older Naomi discovered that Icheb had left out an important part of the nickname he had given her. 'Ma petite' didn't mean 'little girl' it meant 'my little girl.'
But by then she really was his.
She just smiled and supposed she should have known all along that she was and always would be his (little) girl.