Title: For Once in My Life
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Carlos Moreno
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Rating: PG-13
Table: Fluff, mission_insane
Prompt: 9, Heart
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Greg Sanders or Carlos Moreno, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Carlos blinked as he opened his eyes, feeling disoriented for just a moment. Then memory came back to him, and he relaxed, rolling over onto his side and sliding one arm around Greg's waist as the other man slept. Greg exhaled softly, not waking up at his touch.

He could lie here and watch Greg sleep forever, Carlos thought, a smile curving his lips. He loved looking at Greg; it was hard for him to take his eyes off of the younger man any time they had to work together, and he couldn't help but wonder if anyone had noticed that fact.

He didn't think that anyone had; he'd been careful to keep his fascination with Greg to himself. He hadn't asked anyone questions about Greg; he hadn't even talked to the other man much until last night. They knew each other, but he couldn't say they were well-acquainted.

Though they certainly were now, he thought, his smile growing. Last night, they had managed to tear down all of the barriers that had seemed to stand between them -- and now they were together for the long run. He had no intention of this ending any time soon.

Truth be told, he didn't want it to end at all, Carlos told himself as he moved his hand up to gently stroke his fingers through Greg's hair. He wanted to wake up next to Greg every morning for the rest of his life, to know that he had a love in his life that would last.

Every other relationship he'd ever had seemed like a distant memory compared to Greg, and it wasn't only because Greg was the person he was with now. Everyone else he'd ever known paled in comparison; Greg was the blazing sun that his life now revolved around.

He wouldn't have it any other way, Carlos thought as he gazed down at the man he was already falling in love with. Greg completed him in a way that no one else ever could; he felt as though he'd spent his entire life waiting for this man, waiting to feel like this.

For the first time in his life, he was completely, unreservedly falling in love, with no questions, no doubts, and no hesitation. Before, whenever he'd begun dating someone, he had always asked himself if they were right for him, if letting himself fall for them was the best thing he could do.

This time, there were no questions. He didn't have to feel hesitant. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Greg was the right person for him, and that this was the best thing that he could ever think of doing. Finally, he'd found the love he'd always searched for.

Greg stirred slightly next to him, and Carlos smiled softly, bowing his head to press a gentle kiss to Greg's bare shoulder. He hoped that they would wake up beside each other like this many more times in the future -- every morning for the rest of their lives.

"Good morning," he whispered, watching Greg as the other man opened his eyes, blinked, and then turned his head to look up at Carlos. "I hope you don't mind me watching you sleep. You're just as gorgeous when you're sleeping as you are when you're awake."

Was it his imagination, or did a slight blush color Greg's cheeks? It was adorable, that blush; he'd never been with anyone before who could blush like that, who could look so innocent and yet at the same time be so devastatingly sexy that it took his breath away.

"You're gorgeous in the morning, too," he said, his voice very quiet, and to Carlos' ear, a little cautious. "I've never really had anybody want to stay in bed and watch me sleep in the mornings. Usually people want to get dressed and get their day started."

Carlos felt his heart contract a little at Greg's words. How could anyone have treated this beautiful man so callously? If he'd ever been lucky enough to be in bed with Greg in the past, he would have shown him just how much he wanted them to stay here in bed.

Greg looked away, his gaze focusing on the sunshine flooding in through the window. "If you want to go, I'm not going to hold you back," he said, his voice flat, almost emotionless. "You don't have to stay here with me out of some kind of sense of duty."

"That's not why I'm here." Carlos tightened his arm around Greg' waist, drawing the younger man closer to the warmth of his body. "I'm here because I want to be here, Greg. Because I care about you, and because I love being with you. It's not just about the sex."

To Carlos' surprise, Greg looked up at him, unshed tears shining in his eyes. "Nobody's ever told me anything like that before," he whispered, burying his face against Carlos' chest. A moment later, Carlos could feel the wetness of tears against his skin.

Completely confused, he wrapped both arms around Greg, holding on to him, uncertain of just what to say. He didn't know what had brought this on, but something told him that Greg's past lovers must have treated him pretty badly if being shown tenderness could upset him like this.

He raised a hand to stroke Greg's hair, murmuring softly to the man in his arms. "Shhh, baby, it's okay," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of Greg's head. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here as long as you need me to be, Greg. I don't want to leave."

It took a few moments, but before too long, Greg raised his head and wiped at his tears, taking a deep breath before he spoke. "Sorry about that. I just .... for once in my life, it's nice to know that somebody wants to be with me. That I'm more than just a one-night stand for fun and games."

Carlos was sure that he could feel his heart break when he heard those words; he hated to think that anyone could have treated Greg like that. He was so sweet, so beautiful; he deserved better than to have been used by people who were apparently only after one thing.

"I'd never do that to you," he murmured, raising a hand to wipe away a few tears that had streaked down Greg's cheeks. "You don't ever have to be afraid that I'll get up and leave, Greg. I'm not like that. I'm here for the long haul -- that is, if you want me."

Carlos almost held his breath after he'd said those words; more than anything in the world, he wanted Greg to believe him, to understand that he was here for more than just the physical pleasure of their bodies joining. He wanted more from this relationship than sex.

He didn't just want Greg's body -- he wanted his heart. And he was more than willing to give his own heart as well -- in fact, he had already done so. From the first moment that Greg had smiled at him, he'd been lost. He had fallen hard and fast, and he never wanted to get up again.

"How could I not want you?" Greg whispered, reaching out a trembling hand to run gentle fingers down Carlos' cheek. "I've wanted you ever since the first time we met -- I just thought I'd never get lucky enough to have you. I guess that's why I'm so scared you'll leave."

Carlos took Greg's hand in his own, kissing the other man's fingertips, then smiling as he leaned closer to brush his lips across Greg's. "You don't ever have to worry about that," he whispered, his voice very soft and husky. "I'm right where I want to be, Greg. I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise me," Greg whispered, his dark eyes widening in surprise at Carlos' words. "Promise me this isn't just a good time for you, Carlos." His voice was trembling, and Carlos could swear that he felt his heart turn over in his chest at the plaintive sound of those words.

"I promise, Greg," he murmured, moving one hand soothingly up and down the other man's back. "This is a lot more than just a good time." He pulled away slightly, focusing his gaze on Greg's face, looking him directly in the eye. "I'm falling in love with you."

Greg's eyes widened even more, if that was possible; then he buried his face against Carlos' shoulder again, taking a deep breath. "For once in my life, I wanted to hear somebody say that I meant something to them. You don't know how good that makes me feel."

"I'll keep saying those words, for as long as you need to hear them," Carlos told him, his own voice a little strained from trying to hold back tears. "For the rest of our lives, Greg. Because that's how long I intend to be around .I'm going to be in your life for a long, long time."

He meant those words, from the bottom of his heart. He'd lost that heart to Greg, and he didn't want it back. Not now, and not ever. He gave it gladly, willingly -- and he knew that he had Greg's heart in return, without needing to hear it in so many words.

"I love you," he whispered as he pulled Greg closer, bowing his head to kiss the man in his arms. As their lips met, Carlos knew that he'd finally found the perfect place for his heart -- and he had no doubts that he could trust Greg to keep that heart safe for all of their lives.

***