Hey everyone! So... I haven't updated in FOREVER, sorry about that x) I've had a pretty rough year (but I think we all had!) so I didn't write for my multi-chapters in a long while. I finally finished this fic, though! This is the second to last chapter. The last chapter is ready to go, I'll probably post it in a few days :) I hope you guys like this one!

In other news, I've decided a while back to stop posting my new writing on here. This is mainly because I post in three different places at the moment and it's a bit complicated to keep track of everything. I have actually quite a lot published on my tumblr or AO3 if you want to check it out there, that I didn't publish here (on both those site, my username is nomattertheoceans). I'll of course finish updating this fic, and "Staying Afloat", on here!

The wedding ceremony would start in less than an hour, and Feyre could feel the way the energy had shifted around them. All day, everybody had ran around to make sure everything was ready, but right now, alone with her sister in the quiet bedroom, Feyre could feel the nervousness rising in Elain. As she was busy tying the small buttons on the back of Elain's dress, Feyre could see her face in the mirror, staring out at nothing, fidgeting with a strand of hair.

"You okay?" She asked in a soft voice, and her sister's eyes met hers in the mirror.

"I'm fine, I just… I think it's finally hitting me. At the end of today, I'll be married. It sounds crazy."

Feyre chuckled. "You and Lucien always did crazy things, though. Your place was a ruin when you bought it, and look at it now."

Elain took an extra second to answer, a small smile spreading on her lips.

"True! Although we wouldn't have achieved it without everybody helping around us. I didn't thank you enough for that."

Feyre tied the last button and rested her chin on Elain's shoulder.

"You did, Elain."

They fell silent for a moment, before Elain spoke once more.

"I'm sorry about what I'm putting you through this weekend, you know. I know you said it was alright, but I still feel bad about Tamlin being here."

"It's not your fault. He's Lucien's best friend, I knew he was gonna be here."

"I know but… still. I wish he'd only come for the ceremony. Or at least behaved more appropriately towards you. So I'm sorry."

Feyre moved away from Elain, just enough to fuss over the back of the dress, unable to answer her sister. But Elain wasn't done talking.

"I miss our lunches together each week, you know. I understand why we stopped, but I still miss them."

"I miss them too."

"Do you think we'll ever be as close again?"

Elain turned around to face her as she spoke, and Feyre looked up to meet her eyes. She stayed lost in thought for what felt like forever, before sighing.

"I love you, Elain, I do. But I don't think you and I can be that close anymore. I just… I don't want to hurt you," she added, taking Elain's hands in hers, "but I need to build my own path in life. And I can't do that if I keep hanging on to the past. We can still have lunch from time to time, and do stuff together, but… maybe not as often as we did before. I don't want to go back to the way I used to be, I need to move forward."

Elain nodded.

"I understand." Then she gave her a mischievous smile, and added, "it seems like you might have found someone to do that with."

"What?"

"With Rhys! You guys are a really cute couple, and he's charming. I'm glad you invited him this weekend."

Feyre felt heat invade her cheeks at the mention of Rhys, and suddenly, she knew that she didn't want to lie to Elain anymore.

"Can I tell you a secret? But you can't tell anyone."

Elain's lips split into a grin, and Feyre was reminded of their teenage years, and gossiping together late at night.

"Of course you can!"

"You promise you won't tell?"

"I promise."

She took a deep breath, and rested both hands on Elain's shoulders.

"Rhys and I only met last week. He was at Rita's the night of your Bachelorette party. He's… not my boyfriend."

Elain was silent for a second, her mouth gaping slightly, before she let out a loud:

"What?!"

"Shhh, you promised not to tell!"

"Oh my God, then why did you bring him here?" Elain asked, and Feyre could see she was more amused than mad.

"Because… On Saturday morning, Lucien kept talking to me as if he was sad for me, and pitying me because I wasn't coming with a date. So I lied to him about having a boyfriend, and then I couldn't back down! So, I asked Rhys if he - don't make fun of me," she added, seeing the laughter rising on Elain's face, "I asked him if he wanted to come as my date. And if he'd tell you guys we'd been together a while."

"Did you do it to get back at Tamlin?"

She took a second before answering.

"Kind of?"

Finally, Elain couldn't contain her laughter anymore, and Feyre soon joined her, because it did sound ridiculous when she said it out loud. They both laughed for a long while, and Feyre felt a weight lift from her chest, knowing that the lie was over, at least with the most important person this weekend. After a long moment, they managed to calm down, and Elain sat at the edge of the bed, taking Feyre's hands in hers.

"But seriously, I never would have guessed. You guys seem so… meant to be."

Feyre let out a snort, because of course Elain would be cheesy about the whole thing.

"Please Elain, don't be extra. We're having fun, but let's not get carried away, okay? Just because it's your perfect wedding with your perfect man doesn't mean everybody has to find their true love this weekend."

She was joking, and yet she couldn't help but blush, because if she was being honest, she was way more invested in this new relationship than she had any right to be. And she knew Elain could see it too.

Elain sighed and let go of her hands.

"Whatever you say, Fey. I'm just saying, what I saw this weekend doesn't feel like it's nothing. Just keep that in mind. Now come on, I need to go get married."

Most of the guests were already seated outside according to Nesta, and the small wedding party was gathered close to the doors leading outside. Elain was sitting with Nesta, chatting excitedly, and Tamlin and Lucien's cousin were talking too. Feyre was just trying to get rid of the nervousness that had crept inside her at the thought of walking out with Tamlin, and having him so close to her, even if it was just for a few moments.

She kept looking around, and when her eyes landed on the man walking towards her, she realized she'd been looking for him. Rhys smiled when he reached her and took her hands in his.

"Hey, I hope this is okay. I was going to go sit down but I wanted to see you before."

She squeezed his hands in gratitude.

"It's more than okay. I'm glad you're here."

And she was. Just his presence made her feel much less stressed, much more ready for what was to come.

Rhys bent down and pressed a kiss to her cheek, and she turned her face to allow their lips to meet. It was a light kiss, and she restrained herself from deepening it too much and risking ruining her make-up, but it still made her feel better. They pulled apart slightly and she rested her forehead against his.

"Good luck," he whispered against her.

"Thank you for coming here. I really needed that."

"I figured you would. I'll see you after the thing?"

"Sure."

He gave her a last peck on the lips before slipping outside, and she was left standing alone, although much more relaxed.

That feeling didn't last, though. Suddenly, she felt a presence beside her, and found Tamlin standing too close for her comfort, a smug look on his face.

"What do you want?" She said in a voice she wished could have sounded calmer.

"How about you calm down before we go out, darling?"

"Don't call me 'darling.'" God, she wanted to smack him.

"It's a joke, Feyre. And what, that guy gets to call you that, but I can't?"

She turned to him fully now.

"Yes, my boyfriend gets to call me that. Because I want him to. How long will it take for you to understand that I don't want anything to do with you?"

Before he could answer, the music started outside, and Nesta left with her escort, leaving the two of them alone with Elain. Feyre took that opportunity to leave Tamlin's side and go to her sister.

"You look gorgeous, Elain," she said as she reached her. Her sister grinned at her.

"I know."

Feyre let out a laugh.

"How are you feeling? Please, tell me you don't have any last minute doubts?" She joked, and it was Elain's turn to laugh.

"I don't. I can't wait to get married."

"Good!"

She wanted to ignore the man behind them, but Tamlin came close and patted her arm.

"We have to go, Feyre." He smiled at Elain before continuing. "You look radiant, Elain. Good luck."

Elain thanked him, and then Tamlin's arm was looped with Feyre's, and they were walking together towards the open doors. Tamlin stayed quiet as they reached the doors and stepped outside, and for a blissful second, Feyre thought he wouldn't say anything all the way down the aisle. But of course, that would have been too perfect. About halfway down the aisle, he bent slightly towards her and whispered, low enough so that nobody else would hear:

"Don't let him fool you, Feyre. You may think that your new boyfriend likes you right now, but he'll get tired of you really fast. Or do you think you're so irresistible? You're not worth staying faithful to. You're not worth the effort. That's true for me, and that's true for anyone you think could be into you."

She was too dumbstruck by his words to answer, and soon enough they reached the end of the aisle, and she had to take her place beside Nesta. The music started, but she barely registered when the guests stood as Elain walked in, or when her sister reached them and handed her her bouquet to hold on to. All she could think about as the minister started talking was Tamlin's words, and the scary feeling inside her that told her he was right. She didn't listen as Elain and Lucien recited vows of eternal love to each other. Instead, she fiddled with one of the flowers in her hands, replaying over and over what Tamlin had uttered in her ear.

'You're not worth the effort.'