Title: Serenity
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Ryan Wolfe
Fandom: CSI: Las Vegas/CSI: Miami
Rating: PG-13
Table: 3, csi50
Prompt: 7, Peaceful
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 Ryan Wolfe, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Greg snuggled against Ryan, sighing contentedly and closing his eyes. There was something so peaceful about being able to lie here with his boyfriend next to him after a long day at work; he could let all the worries and tensions simply seep away.

There was nothing that felt as good as having Ryan's arms around him, knowing that he was protected and loved. Ryan meant everything to him; he wouldn't trade the life that he led now for any other, no matter what enticement might be offered to him.

This was a peace and serenity that he'd never thought he would find, he mused as he settled comfortably into Ryan's embrace. He'd thought that his nightmares would haunt him for the rest of his life, that there would be no surcease from them for the rest of his days.

Those nightmares still had the power to make him shudder, but he was gradually putting them behind him. He would still awaken on some nights with his heart pounding, his body drenched in a cold sweat -- but Ryan would be there beside him, soothing the bad dreams away.

He did the same for his boyfriend whenever Ryan's dreams caught up to him. They helped each other through all of the mazes that they had to find their way out of, Greg told himself with an inward smile. That was what people in love did.

He'd never been in love before he met Ryan; it still seemed amazing to him that he could have fallen so quickly, and so hard. He hadn't thought that he was the sort of person who tumbled head over heels into love; he'd always thought that he was more slow and methodical.

That showed how well he knew himself, Greg thought with a rueful smile. He had let himself believe that he was a completely different person than who he'd proven to be once Ryan had showed up in his life, like a white knight in shining armor, to release him from a veritable prison.

Those nightmares, those memories, had built up walls around him that he'd believed for so long would never be broken down. But with just one look, one smile, one touch, Ryan had brought all of those walls crumbling to the ground. And Greg knew that he would never build them up again.

Hiding behind walls was a thing of the past, he told himself firmly. He would never have to do that again -- well, barring the fact that he and Ryan had to keep their relationship hidden. He hated that, but he hoped that things would change for the better at some point.

Greg resolutely pushed those thoughts away, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. He wanted to enjoy the peacefulness of his time with Ryan, let serenity and contentment take him over, and fall asleep here in his lover's arms.

"What's that heavy sigh for?" Ryan asked softly, one hand stroking through Greg's hair. "I'm guessing you must have something on your mind. Whatever it is, you can tell me, Greg. You know that any time you need to talk, I'm always here to listen."

Greg shook his head, a smile curving his lips. "I'm not going to go into any bad thoughts," he said softly, reaching for Ryan's free hand and twining their fingers together. "I just want to think about how peaceful it is to be here with you, and to feel so loved."

"That's because you are loved, pretty boy," Ryan said with a laugh. "I love you more than I could ever begin to put into words, Greg. From the first second I saw you, I knew I'd lost my heart. And I don't want it back. I think you'll take better care of it than I ever did."

"You've had my heart since the first time I looked at you," Greg answered, his own voice just as soft and gentle as Ryan's was. "I know I say this all the time, Ry, but I love you with all my heart and soul. You're the only man for me. For now, and forever. Until the end of time."

"No matter how many times you say that, I'll never get tired of hearing it," Ryan murmured, his voice husky and thick with emotion. "I wish I could say how much I love you in a million different ways. But the only way I know how to say it is like this."

Ryan sat up against the pillows, letting go of Greg's hands as the other man sat up and turned to him. His green eyes widened in surprise as Greg leaned forward, taking Ryan's face between his hands and gazing into his eyes before Ryan had the chance to move or speak.

"I love you, Ryan Wolfe," Greg whispered, his gaze never wavering from his lover's face. "I love you not just with my heart and soul, but with everything I am. You're my serenity and my peace and my safe place. You're my whole life, Ryan. You always will be."

Ryan didn't answer; he swallowed hard, closing his eyes and bowing his head. Greg was surprised to feel the wetness of tears splash onto the back of his hand; he opened his mouth to speak, but he didn't get any words out before he was pulled into Ryan's arms.

Then Ryan's mouth was on his, the kiss taking his breath away. His senses reeled, his eyes closing, his body instinctively arching closer to Ryan's. His own arms slid around his boyfriend's neck, trying to pull Ryan even closer than he already was, needing that intimate contact.

After what seemed like a very long time, they broke apart slightly, both of them panting for breath. Ryan's voice was soft in Greg's ear, the words no less strong and sure for all that they were whispered so softly that Greg almost had to strain to hear them.

"I don't have any words that can compete with what you just said," Ryan whispered, his voice breaking on the last words. "You know I love you, Greg. Today, tomorrow, and forever. You'll always have my heart. Nothing is ever going to change that. I'm yours, for now and all time."

This time, it was Greg's turn to feel tears rushing to the surface. He blinked them back, but a few managed to fall, streaking down hsi cheeks before Ryan gently wiped them away with the pads of his thumbs before leaning forward to kiss Greg again, his lips warm and gentle.

Greg snuggled into Ryan's embrace, resting his head on his boyfriend's shoulder and closing his eyes as he relaxed against the warmth of the other man's body. The feeling of peace and serenity was taking over again, making him feel as though he was wrapped in contentment.

No one had ever made him feel like this before, and no one else ever could, he told himself. Ryan was the one who he'd always been meant for, from the moment he was born. Even if Ryan hadn't ended up coming to Vegas when he had, they wold have somehow found each other.

No place had ever felt as peaceful to him as Ryan's arms; if he'd never known what it was like to be held close to this man's heart, he would have been missing a large part of himself. He had found his home with Ryan, the only place he ever wanted to be.

Greg barely felt Ryan's lips brush across his hair as he drifted off to sleep, a smile curving his lips. He was lost in dreams of the peacefulness and happiness that his lover brought to him, dreams that were mirrored in the life that they shared -- dreams that he never wanted to come to an end.

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