Title: Never Is A Promise
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Ryan Wolfe
Fandom: CSI: Vegas/CSI: Miami
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 Ryan Wolfe, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Ryan held back a sigh as he looked across his desk at Greg, watching him write the last bit of the report on the new case they'd had today. His boyfriend was still unusually quiet, and Ryan couldn't help but worry that he was still brooding over their near-breakup.

He had made up his mind to do something when they left work today, something that might surprise Greg but that he had decided they needed to do. Maybe it would set his boyfriend's mind at ease, and make him more comfortable and secure about their relationship.

Finally, Greg signed the report and looked up, sighing and leaning back in his chair. "There. I'm done. Let's get the hell out of here and go home to bed. I don't know about you, but I've been tired all day. I think we could both use more sleep than we usually get."

Ryan nodded, getting to his feet and pulling out his car keys. He knew why Greg was so tired; the other man hadn't been sleeping well lately, even when Ryan had held him and soothed away any bad dreams he'd had. Sleep seemed to be more and more elusive for him.

But hopefully what he was planning on doing would change that, Ryan thought, his spirits rising as they made their way out of the building and out to the parking lot. He hoped it would bring a smile to Greg's face, and a lift to his heart.

He had spent the better part of an hour when they were out shopping a few days ago in one particular place, hoping that Greg wouldn't walk by unexpectedly and see him there. But for the moment, Greg had no idea just what "special something" he'd been shopping for.

It was time to give Greg the gift he'd bought, the one that he'd been mysterious about for the last few days. Ryan hoped that it would cement their relationship and make them stronger than ever -- and banish any worries Greg had about their stability.

Instead of turning in the direction of their apartment complex when he left the parking lot, Ryan turned left, making Greg raise his brows in question. "Hey, where are we going? Did you want to stop by the grocery store or something? Home is the other way."

"I'm taking you somewhere special," Ryan told him, a mysterious smile playing about his lips. "You know how I went shopping a few days ago for something I wanted to give you? Well, it's time I did that. And I have to give it to you in a particular place."

Greg laughed softly, regarding his boyfriend with curious eyes. "You've been awfully secretive about this gift, whatever it is," he murmured, sounding a little hesitant. "Ryan, it's not .... you're not going to tell me you're leaving and going back to Miami, are you?"

As he stopped the car for a red light, Ryan reached over to take one of Greg's hands in his own, twining their fingers together and squeezing gently. "No, baby, I'm not," he said, his voice soft and loving. "What I'm giving you should be proof that I'll be here with you for the rest of our lives."

The smile Greg gave him at those words made his heart turn over in his chest; all it took was one touch from Greg, one smile, and his heart was lost all over again. He had never loved anyone in his entire life as much as he loved this man. Greg meant everything to him.

Turning the wheel before the next stoplight, he turned onto a road leading one of the large parks in Las Vegas, smiling at the surprised expression on Greg's face. His boyfriend obviously hadn't expected them to come here, but it was exactly where Ryan wanted to be.

He drove along the road for a few moments, until they were near the center of the park, finally stopping by a large man-made lake. It was a peaceful spot, with leafy, shady trees all around, the blue sky arching high overhead, and the water of the lake sparkling in front of them.

Ryan looked around as they got out of the car; yes, this was the perfect spot for giving Greg the gift he'd gotten. Nick had told him about it when he'd asked if there were any romantic spots in Vegas; he'd given Ryan the information about how to get here without asking any questions.

"This is beautiful," Greg murmured as he walked to the edge of the lake, looking out across the water before turning to Ryan with a slight smile on his lips. "I don't know what you plan on doing, but you chose one of the most romantic spots in Vegas for it."

"I wanted us to be in a romantic spot when I gave you this." Ryan slipped his arms around Greg, pulling his boyfriend close against him and whispering into his ear. "Close your eyes, Greg. I want this to be a surprise. A moment you'll remember for all your life."

Greg obediently did as he was told, and Ryan took the small box from his pocket. He'd been carrying it with him all day, knowing somehow that this would be the day he would give it to Greg, to cement their relationship and everything they felt for each other.

He took the ring with its gold band set with opaline stones out of the box, holding it in his trembling hand. "You can open your eyes now," he told Greg as he held it up, watching the rays of the sun as they made the colors in the opals flash.

Greg's eyes widened as he looked at the ring; his voice hushed when he spoke. "It's beautiful, Ryan. Y-you got that for me?" He sounded as though he couldn't believe that Ryan would have thought to give him such a beautiful gift. "I should have gotten you something, too."

"I got them for both of us." Ryan tugged gently at the gold chain he'd clasped around his neck just this morning; he pulled a matching golden and opaline ring from under his shirt, where it had been nestled against his heart. "They're promise rings."

His boyfriend was still staring at him with wide eyes; Ryan stepped back a pace, taking one of Greg's hands in his own and sliding the ring onto the other man's finger. He raised Greg's hand to his lips and kissed his boyfriend's fingertips before he spoke, his voice soft and husky.

"Greg Sanders, with this ring I promise to always love you, throughout this life and in any that come after it," he whispered, holding Greg's hand against his heart. "I promise to never leave you, to always protect you, and to give you my heart, body and soul for all eternity."

He could feel tears rising behind his eyes, tears that he couldn't hold back. They matched the tears that were slowly slipping down Greg's cheeks -- but those tears didn't mean that his boyfriend was unhappy, not judging from the radiant smile on his face. Those were tears of joy.

"Never is a promise, Ryan," he said softly, his gaze not leaving Ryan's face even as he blinked back his tears. "Can you keep that promise? Can you be absolutely sure that this is everything you want, and that you'll never change your mind or have regrets?"

"I'll never regret being with you, or loving you. Not for the rest of eternity," Ryan whispered, pulling Greg close to hm again. "I know that never is a big promise, but it's one I'm more than prepared to keep. You'll never have to be afraid of losing me, Greg. Because it'll never happen."

"You'll never lose me, either," Greg murmured, trailing his soft lips along Ryan's jawline. "I'll always be here for you, Ryan. Whenever you need me, whenever you want me. I've been yours since the first time you smiled at me, and I'll be yours forever."

"That's a promise, isn't it?" Ryan asked, smiling as he pulled back slightly to gaze into Greg's dark eyes. "I know we'll both keep that promise, baby. We might have our disagreements every once in a while, but what couple doesn't? We'll always be able to work things out."

Greg nodded, resting his head against Ryan's shoulder for a moment. "I know I shouldn't have been so clingy the last couple of weeks," he whispered, his arms tightening around Ryan's waist. "I'm just .... I've been so scared that you might leave."

"I'm sorry for making you think I ever could," Ryan answered, his voice a mere whisper of sound. "I'll never leave, Greg. I promise. You own me, heart, body and soul. There's nowhere else I want to be but here with you. For the rest of my life -- and way beyond that."

"Never is a promise we'll both keep," Greg told him, raising a hand to stroke gentle fingers through Ryan's hair. "Never leave each other, never lie to each other, and try our best never to hurt each other -- even though I guess that's inevitable sometimes."

"I wish it wasn't -- but I think you're right about that," Ryan murmured, closing his eyes and resting his cheek against Greg's palm. "I'll try my best never to hurt you again, Greg. And if I do -- then we'll work it out. I know we will. We love each other too much not to."

"I can't imagine a life without you," Greg told him, his voice catching in his throat as he spoke. "I want us to be together forever, Ryan. And if you promise that we will be, then I'll believe you." His voice was soft, husky, his dark gaze holding Ryan's.

"I promise," Ryan whispered, leaning close to brush his lips against Greg's. The kiss began gently, barely there; it quickly escalated into a roaring conflagration as their hands moved each other's bodies, their breaths coming faster when they finally drew apart.

"Maybe we'd better continue this at home," Ryan said with a shaky laugh, reluctantly disentangling himself from his boyfriend's embrace. "What I've got in mind requires a lot more privacy than what we're going to get here. I don't want anybody getting a glimpse of your body!"

Greg laughed, taking Ryan's hand as they headed back towards the car. That laugh, and Greg's smile, were all that Ryan needed to see to know that any doubts had been dispelled. Yes, never was a promise -- and it was one that he intended to keep until the end of time.

***