Title: The Day
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Carl Hickman/Louis Daniel
Fandom: Crossing Lines
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,218
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.

***

This was the day.

The day that all of his wishes came true, the day that his life fell into place. This was the day that he became the happiest man in the world.

This was the day that he was marrying the man he loved, Louis thought as he walked down the aisle with his hand in Carl's, unable to keep the smile from his face.

He knew that he was beaming, but he couldn't hold that smile back. He had never been so happy; he was sure that his heart was going to burst with that happiness, and that sunshine would flow out of him to envelop everyone who was here in this chapel in Paris.

The joy that he felt was pure and absolute, a joy that came from his very soul. He was marrying the person he'd always been meant to be with, and his life was complete.

He had dreamed of this day, but a part of him had never thought that it would happen. It almost didn't seem real now, even though it was taking place.

No, he couldn't say that. It was real.

The two of them stopped in front of the altar, still holding hands, and turned towards the chaplain, who smiled at them and began the ceremony.

They had opted not to write their own vows; Carl had insisted that he didn't really have much of a way with words, and Louis liked the simplicity of a traditional ceremony.

Besides, he thought to himself as the chaplain started the ceremony, they knew what they felt in their hearts. Saying these vows was just a formality; what they felt needed no words. They could each see what they felt inside every time they gazed into each other's eyes.

He could see Carl's love for him reflected in those dark eyes every time his fiancé looked at him; he had no doubt that he was loved and cherished.

And he couldn't begin to put how he felt about Carl into words.

But those emotions were there in his heart and soul, and always would be. Carl was his rock, his anchor, the center of his world. Carl was his everything.

Carl was the man he intended to spend the rest of his life with, and beyond this life into any other realm that might come. They would always be together, from here on out.

His life's happiness was assured in this moment.

Louis turned to Carl when the chaplain quietly asked them if they had their rings; he pulled the simple gold band that he would slide onto Carl's finger out of his pocket.

He listened as Carl repeated the words after the chaplain of the simple marriage ceremony, and he could feel his eyes filling with tears of joy. Carl was pledging to love, honor and cherish him, and he would do the same. They would keep those vows, for all of eternity.

He couldn't imagine loving anyone else, not in the way that he loved Carl. This man owned his heart and soul, and always would, until time itself came to an end.

"I do," he said softly when the chaplain put the question to him as to whether he would take Carl Hickman as his lawfully wedded husband. "Oh, I do."

He could see the joy light up Carl's face when he spoke those two simple words.

And Louis knew that Carl's joy was reflected in his own face when he heard the man he loved say those two words. They meant the world to him; he loved how they sounded.

He would never forget Carl's voice saying those words, and knowing in that moment that his love meant those words with every fiber of his being.

Louis scarcely heard the next words that the chaplain uttered; he was almost holding his breath as he waited for the words that told him he could slip the gold band onto Carl's ring finger. That would seal their marriage; once they were wearing the rings, it would be real.

This was real, he told himself as he took his love's hand, ready to slide the ring on. "With this ring, I thee wed," he repeated after the chaplain, his voice ringing out.

He had expected his voice to tremble, to falter, with all of the emotion that filled his heart. But it didn't; it was strong and firm, just like the love he felt.

He had to blink back tears again -- tears of pure happiness.

Carl did the same, taking his hand and sliding the ring onto his finger. Louis looked up at the man he loved, to see Carl gazing at him with such love that the tears almost overflowed.

But he managed to keep them back, instead giving the man who was becoming his husband a radiant smile, a smile that showed all the love that he felt inside.

"I now pronounce you married," the chaplain intoned, smiling at the two of them. "You may kiss your husband," he said, his smile growing wider. It was obvious that the man took pride in uniting couples in love, and Louis was once again thankful that they'd chose this chaplain, and this chapel.

Then a moment later, all he could think of was Carl, as his new husband swept him into those strong arms and kissed him passionately, dipping him slightly.

When he could think again, Louis could hear clapping and cheers from their friends; he looked out over the crowd of people as he and Carl held their entwined hands over their heads.

They were married now. Well and truly married.

He had never felt so happy in his life, or so fulfilled. He was exactly where he wanted to be, and he was now married to the only person he had ever truly wanted to be with.

Could happiness overflow from his heart into the hearts of those who were smiling at the two of them as they walked back down the aisle to the chapel door to go outside? Louis wasn't sure of that, but he could see that everyone there was happy for them, and that was a good feeling.

This was the best day of his life, Louis thought as they exited the building, walking out into the bright sunshine of a beautiful day. His wedding day.

He would remember this day, and these emotions, for the rest of his life.

He turned to Carl, standing at the top of the steps into the chapel and looking out at the city around them. They would make a home here, make a life together.

It was all he wanted, all that he could ask for. Their future stretched ahead of them, beautiful and glorious, full of light and love and hope.

It was all that anyone could want from their future.

Louis was ready to walk into that future with his arms and his heart wide open.

***