A/N: Hi! It's day two, so here is chapter two of this little story! I am so glad so many of you like it. Thank you for your reviews and everything and please enjoy this chapter :D I'm shooting for 10 reviews this time around... think I can get them?

Word 2 - Anoesis (Posted 24 October 2011)

(Anoesis: A state of mind consisting of pure sensation or emotion without cognitive content.)

Harvey walked in the front door of his apartment, expecting to see Mike in his usual spot crouched by the coffee table as he examined file after file. Or maybe lounging on the floor in front of the television, watching some chick flick that he'd probably end up quoting tomorrow. He was not expecting to see him sitting on the couch, across from a beautiful woman.

They both turned when they heard Harvey come in, It was almost like a mini staring contest, each one seeing who would blink, therefore thickening the awkwardness as they were forced to think of something to say.

It was the mysterious woman who spoke first. "You must be Harvey." Her ruby red lips parted in a smile that showed off her glistening teeth.

He narrowed his eyes slightly as Mike smiled at the two of them. "Yeah, that's me." Then he sent a serious look to Mike. "I'll be in the kitchen."

"Dinner is in the oven," Mike told him. "Shepherd's pie. Should be done in half an hour."

"Wasn't it my turn to cook?" Harvey asked, temporarily forgetting about the very definition of a home-wrecker currently sitting in his living room.

"Yeah, but I figured you deserved another night off."

"You take turns cooking?" the woman's voice scratched at Harvey's ears.

"Yep," Mike's voice answered. "But sometimes I cook on his nights because I like to. His cooking is better than mine, but I like knowing I'm able to do something for him."

Harvey shook his head silently. He didn't feel bad about listening to their conversation, it was his house, after all. But he did feel bad that, even after all this time, Mike still felt like he owed him something. Couldn't he see that Harvey didn't want anything from him other than himself?

Especially since yesterday, when he said those three little words. Well, it was more like four words, and a somewhat roundabout way of saying what he hadn't even meant to say in the first place, but Mike knew what he meant and that was what mattered.

"So, tell me again how long you two have been together?" the woman asked.

"It'll be a year this Saturday," Mike answered.

Harvey could practically hear the smile he must have been wearing. He rolled his eyes, but more at himself for knowing exactly what Mike's face would look in pretty much any situation. He could still remember how it felt when he realized he'd fallen hard and fast for the kid.

It had been the biggest 'A-ha!' moment of his life, as he just happened to glance down at Mike's lips. He'd noticed them before, of course. Their thin lusciousness, their pink tint, and their moist softness had all claimed his attention before. But this time had been different. This time he'd felt compelled to appreciate them a little longer, maybe reach up and brush a finger over them, possibly get a little taste of them.

It was this moment that he felt like he'd left his body. With Mike staring up at him, giving him a confused stare as the moment dragged on, he felt like the strongest man on the planet. And when he finally leaned down and closed the distance between them, feeling a pair of arms encircle his neck as Mike's supple lips move timidly against his, he entered a transcendent state of being he could never explain to anyone else. It was the greatest feeling in the world. The absolute anoesis he experienced was unlike anything he could have imagined; it was like time stopped, and suddenly he wasn't feeling with his body anymore, it wasn't just neurons firing as his nerve endings were stimulated. It was his soul feeling the world around him, experiencing Mike as the single-most important fixture that ever was, is, or will be.

When Mike had pulled away, he'd also pulled Harvey back to reality. His cautious smile twitched nervously as he waited for Harvey to say something. He never did, he just took a gentle hold of Mike's hand and led him out of the bar they'd been known to frequent after a hefty success. Neither of them were drunk, having only had a drink each. That night Harvey took Mike back to his apartment, and even though no words were exchanged between them, they both somehow understood what was happening and what it meant.

"Harvey?" Mike's voice brought him out of his trance. He was suddenly standing next to him, looking at him with a concerned gaze but an amused smile. "Did you hear me?"

"Huh? Um... no, sorry," Harvey admitted.

Mike chuckled at the spacey look on his boyfriend's face. "I was asking you if you picked up the groceries I asked you for."

"Oh. Yeah." Harvey pointed to the brown paper bag he'd set on the table. "It's all there. But how I got suckered into running your errands, I'll never know."

"Aaw." Mike pouted playfully. He wrapped his arms around Harvey's waist and rested his chin on his chest, peering up at him with his big, puppy eyes. "You know you did it because you love me."

Normally, Harvey's response would have been brilliantly sarcastic, but looking into those vulnerable eyes always reminded him that yes, he did indeed love Mike and the kid deserved to hear it, damn it! "Yeah, that must be it."

Mike gave a cute, little smile as he pecked Harvey on the cheek. He made to leave the kitchen as he said, "And by the way, that woman out there is Annie Lackain. She was my babysitter when I was a kid, just looked me up and stopped by. So there's no need to turn your stun-gun glare on her, ok? I love you and I'd never leave you for anyone."

"Alright." Harvey answered semi-automatically. He took a deep breath as he contemplated how Mike always seemed to know what he was thinking. And then he remembered that he liked it that way. "Hey, Mike?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you too. And thanks."

Mike smiled broadly. "Anytime, Harvey."