Title: A Toast To Us
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Carlos Moreno
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Rating: PG-13
Table: 1, 52_challenge
Prompt: 25, A glass of wine
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own 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 smiled across the table at Greg, studying his boyfriend in the soft candlelight of the restaurant. He wanted to drink Greg in, to watch his every movement, every emotion that crossed his expressive features. He could sti here and look at Greg forever.

He had seen the looks as they'd walked through the restaurant towards their table near the back; there had been some people who'd looked at Greg as though they wished they were the ones with him, and Carlos felt proud that he was the man who this beauty chose to be with.

Those looks had made him feel proud and privileged, but at the same time, they'd annoyed him a bit, too. How dared those people look at Greg as though they wanted to rip his clothes off? This man was with him, and he didn't want anyone else's eyes on his boyfriend.

But he couldn't stop people from looking, so he might as well get used to it, he told himself. Besides, Greg chose to be here with him; he didn't have to worry about him being interested in someone else. Greg wasn't that kind of person; he was loyal to a fault.

He picked up his glass of red wine, raising it to his lips and taking a sip as Greg did the same. When their gazes met across the table, there was so much promise in both of them; they both knew what was going to happen between them when they got home tonight.

Though for now, Carlos told himself, they were going to enjoy a nice dinner, maybe dance a little, and have a romantic evening out. This was the kind of thing he wanted to do for Greg all the time, to show him that he was very much loved and wanted.

And needed, a voice in the back of his mind added. He needed Greg in a way that he'd never thought he could need anyone; he'd never let himself be so vulnerable to his emotions before, never let himself admit that he not only wanted someone in his life, but he needed them there, as well.

Greg brought out his more vulnerable side -- and he was finding that he liked it. He had been strong and tried to close himself off to most emotional contact for so long that it was a relief to finally let his emotions go, to be the person he wanted to be instead of the one he thought he should be.

His boyfriend brought out the best in him; at least, that was what he thought. He was sure that other people might disagree; Fin would say that he was being weak, he thought with an inward snort. But then again, she didn't care about his emotions one way or the other.

She hadn't broken his heart; he had been hurt when she'd broken off their relationship, but in a lot of ways, it had been a relief. They hadn't been emotionally involved; they had both wanted the sex, but that was all. He hadn't felt devastated when it was over.

She was a cold person, out for herself, to get what she wanted, and she didn't care who she had to use to get her way. That wasn't the kind of person he wanted to spend his life with. No, he wanted someone like Greg, a mate who wore their emotions on their sleeve.

He couldn't take his eyes off his boyfriend; Carlos was sure that he'd never seen anyone so beautiful. How was it possible for anyone to look so incredibly sexy when all they were doing was slowly sipping at a glass of wine? Yet Greg made that simple act look mesmerizing.

Maybe he just thought that because he was so much in love, Carlos thought with a smile. He had always had such a hard time saying that little four-letter word, even admitting to himself that he might feel it. But now, with Greg, it came to his lips much more easily.

He'd learned long ago that love could hurt, and he had cautioned himself over and over again that he didn't want to let himself fall in love too quickly, before he knew the other person completely. But this time, he'd let himself fall in love with lightning speed, leaping before he looked.

And he didn't feel apprehensive about it, not in the slightest. That surprised him; he had expected to feel that he should hold back, get to know Greg physically before he let his emotions take over. But that hadn't been possible; this time, his heart had led the way.

"What are you thinking about?" Greg asked softly, setting his glass down on the table and leaning back in his chair. They were waiting for the waitress to bring their order; it would probably be a few minutes, and Greg was obviously trying to make conversation while they waited.

Carlos leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and smiling at his boyfriend. "I was thinking about you," he said softly, his voice an audible caress. "About us, and about how I never thought I would fall in love so quickly. You're just full of surprises for me, Greg."

"I didn't think I'd fall in love like this, either," Greg admitted, picking up his glass of wine again and swirling the sparkling liquid. "I never expected to get involved with anybody -- much less to fall in love. But I don't have any regrets, Carlos. I wouldn't change this for anything."

"Neither would I," Carlos murmured, reaching across the table to take Greg's free hand in his and twine their fingers together. "I don't want anything about how I feel to change. But I know we'll be facing some changes in our relationship in the future, if we're lucky."

"Yeah?" Greg raised his brows in question, a faint fear creeping into the tone of his voice. "What do you mean by that?" His fingers tightened on Carlos', as though he didn't want to let the other man go. "What kind of changes? I hope you mean good changes, not bad ones."

"Definitely good changes," Carlos said with a soft laugh, squeezing Greg's hand. "I see us moving in together at some point -- and getting married," he added, his voice lowering. "That is, if you can see those changes happening, Greg. If that's what you want."

Greg nodded, his gaze not wavering from Carlos' face. "Yeah, that is what I want," he murmured, his voice very soft, but the words sure and strong. "It's in the future, but I can see it happening. And if I want it this badly now, I can't see me changing my mind."

"I hope you won't," Carlos told him, squeezing his hand again before letting go and picking up his glass of wine again, raising it in a toast as he smiled at his boyfriend. "A toast. To us. And to our future, and all the great things that we've got in store."

Greg nodded, smiling and lifting his glass to clink them together. As they drank the toast, Carlos kept his eyes on Greg, not wanting to look away from the beautiful man sitting across the table from him. He could feel his heart swell with love, joy, and anticipation.

Somehow, he had become the luckiest man in the world. Greg loved him; that was all he needed to hear to make his heart grow wings and soar. They had a future together, a future that would grow brighter with every passing day, a future that he could look forward to.

Reaching for the bottle of wine to refill their glasses, Carlos couldn't help feeling that this was the first day of the rest of his life. And he fully intended to savor every moment of every day that he was with Greg, and not let a single one of them go to waste.

They raised their glasses to each other again, smiling as they sipped their wine. They didn't need words to let each other know how they felt; Carlos could see Greg's emotions written in his eyes, and he was sure that Greg saw the same thing in his eyes when their gazes met.

As he sipped at his wine and smiled into Greg's eyes, Carlos felt happier than he ever had before. This was the life that he'd always wanted to lead, and he had Greg to thank for helping him to find it -- and showing him that there could be a wonderful future for the two of them.

***