Through the Gap in the Curtains

For Now

Sophie smiled at Grady as he shook Fitz's hand, looking a bit peeved.

"It's not too late to change your mind," Grady whispered jokingly into her ear. "You know, and still be my little girl."

Sophie smiled at his, and gave him a hug. "I'll always be your little girl, dad. Don't worry."

Edaline smiled softly, and rested her hand on Sophie's cheek for a minute, smiling at her proudly, before steering Grady away to the buffet table.

Sophie smiled at Fitz, watching him scan the crowd for Tam and Keefe. Their ceremony had been an hour ago, and they still hadn't appeared at the reception.

"Where are they?" Fitz asked, voicing his (and probably everyone's) thoughts.

"They're a married couple," Sophie said, smirking. "Let them have their... fun."

Fitz reddened. "Ah. Well, I hadn't thought of that."

"Really? I'm surprised," Sophie said, attempting to be seductive. Fitz, as her Cognate and eldest friend saw right through that, and he laughed.

"Well, I'm sure we can arrange something," he said, and probably would have swept her off her feet and carried her out of there, but Alden and Della walked up to them.

"We just wanted to offer you two our congratulations," Alden said, and Della nodded.

"Dad, mom, you've done that already. Twice." Fitz said, laughing.

"Well, I'm just so happy," Della said, her eyes tearing up as she gazed at them. She started to sniff, and Sophie stepped forwards and gave her a hug, which was returned enthusiastically. Fitz and Alden joined in, and maybe they were all laughing, maybe they were all crying- Sophie couldn't tell, and she didn't mind.

They broke apart as a voice behind them spoke teasingly. "Group hugs! My favorite thing!"

They all laughed, and Della leaned in and whispered in Sophie's ear; "You know, I always wanted you for a daughter in law," before Alden and Della hurried away.

"Having fun?" Fitz asked Keefe and Tam, eyeing the wrinkled in their suits.

"Not my fault. Loverboy here-" Tam cut him off.

"Keefe, we were just making out. Save it." he rolled his eyes, and Sophie could almost see the happiness brewing under the surface of his smile. "And we only took so long because you had to re-do your hair- remember?"

Keefe shook his head. "As far as I know, we were overwhelmed by passion, and-"

Sophie slapped his on the arm as their flowergirl wandered by with her parents. "Shhh!"

"Oh. Ha. Right," Keefe said, feigning guilt. "Whoops!"

Sophie rolled her eyes, and wrapped her arm around Fitz's waist.

"You two have fun, now. Stay out of trouble," she winked, and walked away with Fitz, out of Everglen's huge foyer and into the starry, starry night.

They strolled through the garden, finally stopping where they had opened their Matchmaking scrolls only a few months ago.

They sat down by the water, watching the reflection of the night sky. They sat there, lost in the magic and the love and the joy of it all, just being together. Being together was enough.

Sophie still had a nagging pain about Dex in the back of her mind, but she pushed it away, and leaned closer into Fitz, lost in the motion, the magic, and the memories.

The moon shone, the stars danced, and for now- for one moment in the hectic world, there was peace.