Epilogue

Feyre

I looked up towards the gray sky, watching the snowflakes twirl through the air as they fell. The first snowfall… the solstice will follow soon after. I looked down at the bags around me, already excited for the coming weeks. I picked them up, getting a good grip on them before starting towards the River House. I smiled and nodded my head at the children waving shly from a street corner.

Everyday has gotten a bit easier since the night we hashed everything out. Going to Ida's has been helpful; she has talked me through everything that's happened in a way that Rhys's can't. And anything else I couldn't bring myself to talk about yet… I painted. I kept all of the canvases hidden, but just seeing my frustrations on them makes me feel better. Yet… sometimes when I walk down the street, just a sideways glance from someone will paranoid me; I'll get jittery and I'll constantly keep looking behind me. It's frustrating, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to get past it one day.

Warmth surrounded me as I shut the door behind me, hearing laughter from down the hall. I put my gifts in the closet and took off my coat before making my way towards the dining room and leaning on the doorframe.

The whole family was sitting around the table, laughing at something Cassian had said.

Rhys wiped the tears out of his eyes and grinned broadly at him.

Seeing his happiness made my heart swell in my chest. He's also started to heal after everything that's happened, but I still sometimes see an empty look in his eyes from time to time, even if it's only for a second. And everytime it happens I can't help but wonder what he's thinking about.

His days have been a mix of good ones and bad ones; one morning he could wake up and feel like the king of the world, and the next he could barely get out of bed. The first time these mood swings occurred he told me it was common for many fae who had lost their wings and that I shouldn't worry about it, but everytime it happens I get a pit in my stomach. I think he notices and pushes himself harder because of it, and that makes me feel even worse.

One morning he felt so good that he forgot about his wings for a moment. After challenging me to a race, he proceeded to jump off the balcony. By the time I ran out there however, he had already winnowed back to the edge of the bed, his face in his hands. It hurts to see him try and fail to do something he loved.

I leaned against the threshold, admiring them: Mor and her bubbly laugh, Cassian heartily slapping Azriel on the back, Azriel giving him an annoyed look even though you could tell he was enjoying himself, Amren and Nesta talking as Elain listened. This was my family.

'Would you like to join us, Feyre darling?' Rhys purred down the bond.

I nodded, smiling as I walked in and greeted everyone before sitting down next to Rhys. A stroke of affection caressed my mental shields as I joined the conversation. And despite everything that's happened, life goes on, and we heal from our wounds.

The End

A/N- Well, this is the end! I hope you enjoyed it, it's taken so long to make and has defiantly been the lengthiest piece of writing I've written. I have complied some moments that I thought should be told in others' POV's so I have three coming out in the next week and then it'll be done completely. Again, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!