As much as I wish it didn't, A Court of Thorns and Roses belongs to the wonderful Sarah J Maas. The plot, however, is my own.
It was the night of their third anniversary and Feyre was twirling around in front of the mirror. As usual, Mor had dragged her back to the apartment she and Azriel shared, while the boys had taken Rhysand to Cassian's. Feyre wasn't entirely sure what went on at those congregations - only that Rhys would come out dressed for the occasion, looking stunning as always. With Mor and Amren, however, Feyre was handed outfit after outfit, many of them ripped out of her grasp before she could get a good look at them. Feyre was anxious - and excited - to figure out where they were going.
It was tradition for the two of them to alternate planning the celebration every year. The year after they had started dating, Rhys had taken Feyre out to a small town called Velaris. The next year Feyre took him to a nightlife museum where they stayed the night. This year it was his turn, and from the clothes the girls were stuffing into her arms, she had no idea where they were going.
"Is it open top?" asked Mor, rummaging through her closet and piling twenty different things into her arms.
"No," Amren answered cooly, tilting Feyre's face just so to add a wing of eyeliner.
"I could swear…" she muttered, tossing half of her pile away. The bed lay under various articles of strewn clothing, scarves, boots and purses. There
were open jewelry boxes piles upon the various tables, with the three women's entire collection of makeup displayed on the wooden vanity.
Feyre opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by a screaming Mor.
"YES! BY THE MOTHER, THIS'LL BE PERFECT!"
Amren spun Feyre around to gaze at Mor who stood proudly, displaying two different outfits.
"Take your pick," she said, holding them out for her to see.
There was a flow-y red dress, sleeveless, with a black cardigan and high-tops underneath.
And then there was the strapless and sleeveless dark blue tunic that tied behind her neck, with black skinny jeans and a black leather jacket, paired with her trusty navy Vans and a black infinity scarf, all of which complimented the tattoo wrapping around her left forearm.
It was an easy pick.
When she finally stole away from the two to put on her clothes, she couldn't help but admire her own reflection. She looked… stunning. The little makeup Amren had put on brought out her odd grey-blue eyes. She looked like a woman who could hold her own against anyone and not crack a nail. She walked out of the bathroom and back to the girls.
Mor whistled low as Feyre strode into the room.
"Damn girl, if Rhys hadn't picked you up first I totally would've." Amen laughed and let a small grin slip onto her face.
"You look nice," she conceded with a nod of her head. Mor let out a whoop.
"Amren - gods above - Amren, just gave you a compliment Fey. You know what that means - you look bomb AF." Feyre shook her head with a laugh.
"Do you want me to go celebrate with my boyfriend or no?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Your lips Feyre, your lips!" screeched Mor. With a single gesture, Amren was painting her lips with a bright red, and the three of them set off the the rendezvous point of Feyre and Rhys' apartment.
By the time they had reached, the boys had already arrived. They were leaning against Az's sleek Cadillac, the product of years of hard work. When they spotted the girls, Az offered Mor a shy smile, while Cass smirked at them as a whole. Rhys had pushed off the car, striding towards Feyre. She stood on her toes to peck him on the lips, leaning in closer. Mor stuck her hand in between their mouths, shouldering her way in between the two. They both looked at her with identical puppy dog eyes.
"We just id her makeup, I will not have you ruining it for another hour," she commanded, glaring firmly at each of them. She checked her phone, and arched a single eyebrow. "Anyway, you'll want to leave now, if you don't want to be late."
They took a moment to drink in the sight of the other. Rhys wore black jeans and shoes, with a cargo jacket over a simple white undershirt. Bits of his tattoo were peeking out from the collar in stark contrast. He looked, as usual, amazing, but somehow the only thing he could seem to look at was her. Feyre smiled. She would never understand how, of all people, he chose her.
Rhys smiled, and leaned his forehead against hers, lacing their fingers together.
"Ready?" he whispered.
"Yeah," she replied. "As soon as I know where it is we're going." Rhys' mouth lifted in a corner. He dug around in one of his pockets until he found what he was looking for.
"Close your eyes." Feyre grinned in anticipation as Rhys pressed a stiff piece of paper into her hand. Confused, Feyre pulled back and examined them more closely. They were two pieces of paper, she saw.
Two tickets to view a meteor shower… at the planetarium where they first met. They were restricted access, so only ticket holders could stay in those areas.
Wide eyed, Feyre looked at Rhys, then the tickets, then back at Rhys. She had heard about the meteors, but had never given much of a thought to when it would be.
"Well?"
Feyre let out a whoop and squeezed him to her, pressing the side of her face against his chest.
"I take it that you like the gift?" Rhys said cheekily. Feyre smacked him on the shoulder.
"C'mon, we have to go if we don't want to be late," said Feyre. Rhys raised an eyebrow.
"Hey - it's your turn this time and you can be sure as hell I don't want to miss it." Rhys leaned down for a kiss.
"HER LIPS!" Mir screeched. The couple glanced in surprise at the four friends near Az's car.
"Huh. You're here."
The duo sprinted for their car, looking behind their shoulders with a grin as Mor chased teasingly after them.
The announcer's voice drew their eyes up to the stars, beckoning them to watch closely. The meteor shower was to begin in a few minutes. Feyre felt her blood begin to tingle with excitement as she thrummed her fingers against her thigh. Cordoned off areas of the planetarium were opened to the crowd, and others around them dispersed to enjoy different views.
Rhys threaded his fingers through hers, squeezing once. She glanced over to him with a smile in her eyes, seeing the joy echoing back at her from his.
"Thank you," she murmured.
"For what?" he asked, tilting his head. She leaned in to peck him on the cheek.
"For the best gift anyone has ever given me," she replied. A hopeful and slightly nervous look flitted across Rhys' face, but then the joyful bliss returned. She rested her head on his shoulder as they aged back up through the glass ceiling.
Her head perked back up as the sky began to brighten. She head gasps whisper across the room in preparation, all awaiting the awe inspiring sight that was about to become them.
A tug on her hand had her looking to the side - and then clapping a hand over her mouth with a gasp of her own.
For before her was Rhys, kneeling on his right leg, and holding out a beautiful ring, of a rich black stone with a sapphire, the same color of his eyes, embedded in the center.
He was holding it out to her.
Rhys twitched nervously, scratching his face in apprehension. He cleared his throat and, eyes flickering Feyre's feet to her face, began to talk.
"I've, um, been wanting to do this for a long time, but, ah, I've never really found the, um, time, I guess, well, uh," Rhys rambled on for a bit before taking a long, shuddering breath and squaring his shoulder.
"I've been wanting to propose to you for a while, but have never gotten the guts to do it," he started. "Mor, being Mor, has been bugging me about it for a while, but I never found the right time. So," he took a final breath, keeping his eyes of her.
"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Feyre, and I'll never stop feeling lucky that I met you, got to know your, fell in love with you. I could spend five hundred years searching the world for someone like you, but it would be impossible. Because no one will ever come close to being like you. I've been in love with you for over three years, and I'll love you for the rest of my life. And I really, really hope you feel the same." His voice softened a bit as he continued, "You lit up my whole life. You made everything better." Rhys' eyes shone full of hope and love.
"So, Feyre Archeron, will you marry me?" She fell to my knees before him, gripping his free hand with both of hers. Feyre struggled to form words, lips moving like a fish. There was an awe in her eyes that the world had never seen before.
"Yes."
Stars flew across the sky in celebration as Rhys pulled the two of them up, circling his arm around her waist and dipping her down for his first kiss as her fiancé. Rhys ever-so-carefully slipped the ring onto her finger, as if her hand was more valuable than gold.
Applause thundered around them as hundreds of spectators stared at the sky - though many of them looked upon the pair with eyes of wonder and adoration.
"MAKE A WISH," boomed the announcer as the sky lit up their path. Music began to play in the background as Rhys smiled at Feyre, pulling her close to him.
"No need," he murmured, swaying side to side with her to the beat.
"And why would that be?"
"Because I have everything I've ever wanted right in front of me now." He stated it as a fact. It was so simple, so easy, the way he said it.
Feyre leaned in once more to kiss him. Pure elation, pure joy and love and hope was what she felt.
"Make that two," she whispered against his lips. She felt them pull up in a grin, and wrapped her arms around his neck. They came closer together, noses brushing and whispered to each other,
"I love you."
And while the man and the woman never forgot that night, neither did the stars.
They remembered.
The remembered the brilliant night sky, with sweeping streaks of majestic reds and blues and purples, scattered with showing stars and balls of light. They remembered the mountain ranges littering the background.
And they remembered the silhouette of a man and a woman, laughing with joy and dancing to their own song.
Author's Note:
Thank you all for reading! I've gotten some really sweet reviews, and it practically makes my heart burst. I may or may not add a second and third part to this fic, probably an encounter with Tamlin which is currently a WIP, and another one I'm debating on doing. Unfortunately, I have no idea how long it would take for me to write them, so I will not have a regular posting schedule.
Random Fact: When trying to spell champagne, I pronounce it as sham-pege-nee. Anyone else?
Stay awesome,
franklyherondale