Title: All That Matters
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Carl Hickman/Louis Daniel
Fandom: Crossing Lines
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 614
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.

***

Carl stroked Louis' hair, holding him close, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. He was finally where he wanted to be, after so many years of waiting.

He was in bed with Louis, holding the man he loved in his arms.

They were together, as he'd wanted them to be for so long. It almost didn't seem possible that one of his fondest wishes had finally come true, that the two of them were on the cusp of a future together, a future that would give them all they had ever desired.

"Carl." Louis' voice was very soft; Carl was sure that he could hear laughter lurking behind the words. "You might want to let me go for a moment. It's hard to breathe."

"Oh." He chuckled and loosened his grip on the other man. "Sorry about that. I guess it's just an instinctive reaction to hold you too tightly because I've wanted to do it for so long. This feels like a dream come true, Louis. A dream I've had every night for years."

Louis nodded, his dark gaze locking with Carl's.

"We are together now, Carl, and that is all that matters," he said softly. "The past is in the past -- and I fully intend to leave it there. I have done my grieving; that has gone on for too long. It's time for me to face the future, and embrace it."

He was silent for a moment before continuing, his voice stronger than it had been.

"I intend to face that future with you by my side." His gaze never wavered from Carl's face; his voice stayed firm and steady. "I believe that my future is with you."

"I always was," Carl murmured, unable to look away from that intense gaze. "We've always belonged with each other. Louis. I understand why you ran away from me when we had our first chance at being together. But this time, running isn't an option."

"No, it isn't," Louis agreed, his voice once again soft and quiet. "I promise that I won't run this time, Carl. I'm done with that."

"Good." Carl smiled, raising a hand to run his fingers through Louis' hair. "And I'm not going to run, either. We're both a lot more scarred than we were all those years ago, Louis. We've both been hurt. But we're older and wiser now, and we know what we want."

He was rewarded with the quick flash of a smile from the man in his arms.

"I have always known what I wanted," Louis told him, shaking his head. "I have always known that I made a mistake when I ran from you. But I'm glad you understand my reasons for doing so. I simply .... wasn't ready then. But I am now."

"I've been ready for a long time," Carl told him, then winced as memories came flooding back. "Okay, so there was a pretty good deal of time where I went off the rails. But I'm back on them now. And I'm going to stay there. With your help."

"I'm glad to help as much as I can," Louis said softly, raising a hand to stroke Carl's cheek. "Whatever I can do, Carl, just ask. I'm here for you. Always."

"And I'm always here for you," Carl replied, brushing his lips against the other man's.

That kiss lit a fire within him, a fire that he couldn't control. Within moments, he had rolled over on top of Louis, his hands moving down the other man's body. He could feel Louis' hands in his hair, then moving down to pull him closer, asking for what he was all too eager to give.

***