Title: Bed of Roses
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Mike Keppler
Fandom: CSI: Vegas
Rating: PG-13
Table: Un-themed 7, mission_insane
Prompt: 6, Know
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 Mike Keppler, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Greg walked down the hallway to the front door of the crime lab to head home after a long shift, an unusual spring in his step. He hadn't felt this good in a long time -- unless he counted the day that he'd first met Mike, or the first time they'd made love.

They were going to get married. Mike wanted to marry him. They would spend the rest of their lives together, happy just to be with each other. It didn't matter if they couldn't work on the same shift, or even in the same place. They would be together outside of work.

Of course, he couldn't let anyone know yet; but he knew, and that was enough for now. It would probably be a while before he and Mike could make a public announcement of their engagement, and even longer before they could gt married. But it was going to happen.

He couldn't wait for that day to get here. Mike said that he had some things to take care of before it could happen, and Greg trusted him to get those things -- whatever they were -- done, so that nothing could stand in the way of their future happiness.

He wished that he could wear his engagement ring openly, but that would only cause a lot of talk -- and he might slip and give something away. He didn't want to take the risk of doing that, Greg thought regretfully. Still, it would be nice to be able to wear his ring for all to see.

But it was here, next to his heart, he told himself as his hand went to his chest to touch the outline of the ring under his shirt. He would wear it like this until he and Mike could be open about their relationship -- and then he could put it on his finger, where it belonged.

Greg sighed as he pushed open the door and headed out into the parking lot, pulling his keys out of his pocket. He really wished that he could let all of his friends know that he was engaged, and that he was the happiest guy in the world. But he knew he had to keep quiet about it.

Hopefully, it wouldn't be too much longer before he and Mike could tell everyone how they felt about each other, and share their happiness with the world. It didn't seem fair that they were forced to keep everything inside, but it wasn't the right time for anyone to know. Not yet.

If only they could be open about who they were, and how they felt! Greg sighed as he unlocked the driver's side door and got into the car, pulling the seat belt across his body and locking it before the put the key into the ignition. In a perfect world, they wouldn't have to hide.

Or would they? he thought with a frown. Even in a more tolerant world, they'd probably still have the same restrictive rules at work, rules that they'd have to abide by. He didn't like them, and he didn't think they should be in place, but he didn't have the power to change them.

Only he and Mike could know that they were engaged, that they loved each other. He couldn't even tell his parents, for fear that they could accidentally spill something to his friends if they came into any kind of contact before he and Mike were ready to spring the news on everyone.

It hurt, knowing that he couldn't let the people he was closest to know how happy he was. It diminished that happiness somewhat -- and he hated that fact. But there was nothing he could do about it; he and Mike had to keep their feelings to themselves, at least for now.

He wished that everyone he cared about could know just how happy he was -- but he had to accept the fact that it wasn't possible, at least not right now. He had to keep that happiness inside, hold it to his heart, and know that he could tell his friends and family about it later.

How would they react? Greg didn't want to try to guess about that; he had no idea what people would say. He just hoped that they would be as happy for him and he was for himself -- and that they would support his relationship with Mike, no matter where it might lead.

What would things be like after they were married? Greg couldn't even begin to fathom that; he hadn't given any thought as to what being married -- especially being married to a man -- would be like. His life was going to change a great deal once it actually happened.

But he was ready for those changes, Greg told himself, smiling as he carefully pulled his car out into traffic to begin the drive home. Each and every change was welcome; he might have a hard time getting used to some of them, but he would learn. After all, any relationship involved compromise.

If he and Mike had any problems, they would work those out between themselves. Their relationship wasn't going to be one that had conflicts about their jobs, or about any of the other silly little things that could tear most couples apart. He and Mike weren't like most couples.

Greg smiled wryly to himself as he stopped for a red light, sighing at his thoughts. Didn't every couple always think that they weren't like anyone else? He was no different from the thousands of other people who were sure that their future with the one they loved would be a bed of roses.

He wasn't expecting that, really he wasn't. He knew that relationships weren't always easy, and that it took work to make them succeed. But loving someone was a big part of being in a relationship -- the most important part. He and Mike definitely had that bit covered.

They loved each other, and that was the most important thing. Life might not be a bed of roses for them all of the time, but they could make sure that it was at least part of the time. And they could talk out any problems they might have, work out whatever tangles might form.

Thing would be a lot easier for them if they could let the people they cared about know everything about their relationship -- but they couldn't take that risk. Even if they did let some of their friends in on their secret, it could get back to Ecklie, and then they'd be screwed.

Greg sighed at the thought, wishing more than ever that they could simply be open and honest about their feelings and their future. It hurt having to keep secrets from his closest friends, from the people he trusted with his life every day that he was at work.

It didn't seem fair that he should have to keep them in the dark; they were the people who had his back, the people who had always been there for him when he needed them, and who always would be. But he knew that to confide in them at this point could only lead to trouble down the road.

No, he and Mike would have to wait to spring their wonderful news on their friends -- but Greg knew that all of the people he cared about would be happy for him. They might be shocked that he and Mike were together, but they would be glad that he'd found someone who made him happy.

Life definitely wasn't going to be a bed of roses, either before or after they were able to tell their friends about their relationship, Greg told himself as he pulled the car into the parking lot of his apartment building. But his life would be with Mike, and that was enough for him.

He didn't expect everything to be easy once everyone in his life knew about them, but he was sure that it would be less stressful to have their relationship out in the open, instead of hiding it. He just hoped that they'd be able to let people know soon -- and that there wouldn't be any dire consequences.

***