Title: A Happy Life Together
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Carl Hickman/Louis Daniel
Fandom: Crossing Lines
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 498
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Carl Hickman or Louis Daniel, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

"I was wrong, Louis, and I freely admit it."

Louis stared at Michael, his brows raised in question, feeling somewhat shocked that his longtime friend would say such a thing. Michael hated to admit he was ever wrong.

"That is saying a great deal, coming from you," he answered, waiting for Michael to sit down on the park bench next to him. They always seemed to have their meetings here; for some reason, it tended to be a place that they both gravitated towards when they needed to talk.

"I had thought that Carl would be your weakness, Louis," Michael said softly, turning his head to meet Louis' direct gaze. "I had thought that your relationship was a mistake. I was wrong."

Louis couldn't hold back a smile at his friend's words.

"Does this mean that you approve of our marriage?" he asked, keeping his voice very soft. "I was wondering just how you would feel about our announcement."

Michael sighed softly, looking down at his hands. "Louis, I can't say that I am a modern man. I know that you and Carl love each other, but two men being married still feels like a very strange thing to me. However .... you two have been through a great deal, and you both deserve to be loved."

Louis nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with his friend.

"Yes, we do," he said, his own voice very soft. "Carl and I have always deserved our chance at happiness, Michael. And now that we finally have that chance, we are not going to give it up. But neither will we give up what we do. It's too much a part of who we both are."

"I had mistakenly thought that the two of you being a couple would be a hazard to the team," Michael told him, his voice quiet. "But I was also wrong about that. It's an asset."

Louis nodded, holding back his smile of contentment.

"Thank you for saying that, Michael," he said, keeping his tone measured and even. "It means a great deal to me to know that you see the two of us being together as a good thing."

"I want to see you happy, Louis," Michael told him, smiling for the first time. "Both of you. You are colleagues, and more than that, you're dear friends. I care a great deal about the two of you, and I think it's wonderful to see you both so happy. I wish you and Carl a long and happy life together."

"That means more to me than I could ever say, my friend," Louis said softly, feeling his heart swell with gratitude. "Thank you, Michael. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

The two of them sat in silence, enjoying the sunshine and the pleasant day.

Louis closed his eyes, raising his face to the sun, unable to hold back another smile. Life was good. Right now, life was perfect. And it was only going to keep getting better.

***