Title: Hearts and Flowers
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Nick Stokes
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Rating: PG-13
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 Nick Stokes, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Nick bounded up the steps to his house, taking his keys out of his pocket. He cursed as he almost dropped the keyring, catching it in the nick of time. He had to juggle the flowers in his hand, grinning as he thought of Greg's surprise when he was presented with them.

Or maybe he wouldn't be so surprised. His boyfriend hadn't mentioned Valentine's Day, so Nick had assumed that Greg had either forgotten about it, or that it didn't mean much to him. He winced inwardly at that thought, wishing it hadn't jumped into his mind.

Being with Shane, Greg had probably never had much of a chance to appreciate the day. Nick remembered Valentine's Day last year; Greg had seemed happy and excited that day when he'd left work, but the next morning, he'd been quiet and withdrawn.

He had come to work that day with a bruise on his cheek; when Nick had asked him where he'd gotten it, he had made up an obviously untrue story about cracking his cheekbone against an open cabinet door in the kitchen. But Nick had known better, even then.

He'd had his suspicions about how Greg was being mistreated long before the lab explosion had occurred and had outed Greg's secret. Even before he'd known for sure, he had wanted to kill Shane with his bare hands for what he was doing to Greg.

The sparkle had been gone from Greg's beautiful dark eyes for so long before that explosion that Nick had despaired of ever seeing it again. He might not have known just what was going on, but he had known that Greg wasn't happy -- and he had desperately wanted to change that.

Now it had changed, he told himself firmly. Greg was here with him, and the two of them were happy together. Shane might still be in the wind, but Greg was protected from him; he was out of their lives, at least as much as he could be at this point.

And today was Valentine's Day, he thought as he fit the key into the lock and turned it. He intended to make this day, and every one in their future, as happy for Greg as he possibly could. He wanted to make up for all the unhappiness that Greg had suffered in the past.

"Hey baby, I'm home!" he called out as he opened the door, looking around the living room. His first reaction to not seeing his boyfriend right away was panic; last night had been Greg's night off, while he'd had to work, and he had thought his lover would be waiting for him to get home.

Why was he being so jumpy? a voice in the back of his mind inquired. Greg was probably in the shower, or asleep in the bedroom -- after all, it was only a little after 8 am, and he'd probably fallen asleep waiting for Nick, as he usually did when their schedules differed.

Putting down the keys on the table and locking the door, Nick moved through the living room, peering into the kitchen and seeing no sign of Greg. The bathroom door wasn't closed, so he obviously wasn't in there, either, he thought as he headed for their bedroom.

He stopped in the door, gazing at the sight that met his eyes. Greg was indeed asleep in their bed; Nick couldn't tell if he'd fallen asleep while waiting for him to get home, or if he had planned on surprising him at the door and had just gotten tired. He'd have to ask later.

Whatever the reason that Greg had fallen asleep, the sight in front of him was enchanting. Greg was lying stretched out on their bed, fast asleep, one hand under his cheek on the pillow -- and the fact that he was stark naked made Nick's heart race and his pulse pound.

Had his boyfriend been thinking of Valentine's Day and decided to greet him like this at the door? Nick wouldn't have been surprised at that; Greg had a romantic soul. He was the sort of guy who appreciated sweet, romantic gestures, like flowers and candlelit dinners.

And he was the kind of guy who would greet his lover at the door naked on a day that was supposed to be meant for romance, Nick told himself, smiling as he moved over to the bed and sat down, putting the flowers carefully on the bedside table and pulling Greg into his arms.

He heard the soft gasp before he remembered that Greg didn't like being awakened by surprise; his arms tightened around his boyfriend, his voice soft and husky when he spoke. "Greg, baby, it's okay. It's only me. Shhh, babe, don't be scared."

At the sound of his voice, Greg immediately relaxed into his arms, resting his head on Nick's shoulder. "You scared me for a second," he murmured, his voice husky and rough from sleep. "I didn't mean to fall asleep again. I was going to meet you at the door."

"With no clothes on?" Nick said with a soft laugh. "Now I've got to say, that's the way I'd like to be greeted after a long night at work any time we're not on the same schedule with our days off." He ran a hand through Greg's hair, pressing a kiss to his boyfriend's soft cheek.

"Yeah," Greg said, sounding somewhat sheepish. "I thought it'd be a nice little surprise for you, and since it's Valentine's Day and I've never done that before ...." His voice trailed off as he wiped sleep from his eyes, then spied the flowers on the table.

"Are those for me?" he asked, sounding surprised. Nick reached for the bouquet and handed it to his boyfriend, smiling as Greg closed his eyes and buried his nose in the flowers, inhaling their scent. Nick had to admit, they did smell nice -- and they looked lovely.

But not nearly as beautiful as Greg looked when he raised his face again to smile at Nick. Nick's heart felt as though it was contracting in his chest when Greg smiled like that; his lover's smile never failed to tug at his heart, to generate that little shock of desire.

"Thank you," Greg whispered as Nick pulled him closer and their lips met. He had to move the bouquet out of the way to keep it from being crushed; the flowers lay forgotten on the bed for several long moments as Nick indulged them in a long, searing kiss, his hands moving slowly over Greg's nude body.

"I decided to go the flowers route this Valentine's Day," Nick said softly when he could catch his breath again. "You already have my heart, Greg. I didn't know what to get you that would signify that. So I figured I'd just show you, and make love to you all day long."

Greg tilted his head to the side with a smile, making Nick's heart turn over. "That sounds like a perfect way to spend Valentine's Day," he murmured, snuggling into Nick's embrace. "There's only one little problem from where I'm sitting."

"What's that?" Nick asked, raising an eyebrow. "I remembered everything. I brought you flowers, and I've already given you my heart a long time ago. So, you get hearts and flowers for a valentine. How could I have forgotten anything? I've obviously got it covered."

"That's not what I'm talking about," Greg told him with a soft laugh. He tugged at the collar of Nick's shirt, accidentally popping one button. "Oops. Sorry about that. What I mean is .... you're more than a little overdressed for the occasion, don't you think?"

Nick looked down at himself, grinning. "Yeah, I guess I am," he admitted, reaching for the next button on his shirt, then changing his mind and pulling Greg into his lap. "I'll worry about undressing later. Right now, I just want to get my hands all over you."

Greg's arms wound around his neck, pulling him close as he swung his long legs over Nick's lap. As their lips met, Nick felt as though the blood rushed to his head, obscuring every thought but the fact that Greg was naked and willing in his arms.

When they broke away from the kiss, they were both panting and a little unfocused; it took Nick a few moments to get his breath back and clear his throat. "I think I should get out of these clothes," he said softly, gently disentangling himself from Greg's embrace.

"And I'll find something to put the flowers in, if you want," Greg offered, reaching for the bouquet and burying his face in it again. "It's beautiful, Nicky. Thanks. I love flowers, especially roses and gardenias. How did you know? I don't think I've ever told you what my favorite flowers are."

"I followed my heart," Nick told him, smiling as he started to unbutton his shirt. "Hey, you'd better get those flowers in water quick and get back in here unless you want me to come looking for you," he said, raising an eyebrow as he pulled his shirt off.

"Yes, sir," Greg told him with a laugh, saluting him as he stood up and headed for the door. Nick smiled as he watched Greg go, knowing that he would be back in their bedroom within just a few minutes, and their romantic Valentine's Day could really begin.

***