The letter fluttered to the ground, forgotten, and Greg didn't give his heart time to hesitate. He leapt for his chance, praying that he wasn't wrong. Nick's arms caught him and Nick's lips returned his kiss with a surety that could only come from him. He knew what he wanted now, and he would have it, others be damned. Hands wound in to hair and neither was really sure whose hands were in whose hair because the kiss was overwhelming in the best way possible. When they pulled away Nick pulled Greg's forehead to rest against his own and they just stood there grinning at each other.
"I'm sorry," Nick whispered, but Greg shook his head and told him to shut up. They kissed again and it lasted for quite some time before the thought came flitting along that they were still standing in an open doorway. So they chuckled together, Nick kicked the door shut with his heel, and they headed for the couch to explore their new territory. The Texas boy couldn't help thinking how right this felt, like he should have been doing this all along. The solidity of a muscled chest beat out the softness of a girl's breast any day in his books. And the thought that Greg could enter him filled him with an intimacy he had never known. He found that he liked the thought of giving to Greg something he had never given away before. Hopefully he would never give it to anyone else ever again.
He stayed over after that, but neither even thought of sex – well, very seriously anyway. A new relationship so fragile as this shouldn't be jeopardized by doing something a stupid as rushing in to sex. But they lay in bed, both clad in only boxers and t-shirts, tangled in each other's limbs. It was nice for Nick to not worry about holding too tight, or being too rough. And it was nice to know that he could tease his partner without fear of giving offense because that's just what guys do. Why, oh god why, had he not seen Greg earlier?
"Are we going to tell the others?" The blonde's voice broke him from his reverie and he looked over at him. He could see the trepidation in his eyes and smiled, planting a kiss on his smooth forehead.
"They already know," he whispered. Greg sat up quickly and looked Nick, obviously fearful, but Nick pulled him down in to his arms again.
"How?" Greg asked.
"Mia found the letter on your computer, and your log of my – rather pointless – investigation," Nick told him. "She showed it to the others and they sort of took it from there. I overheard them talking about it." Greg felt a little betrayed by Mia's snooping, and even more upset that she would wave his business around for all to see, but it didn't last very long. It was kind of a relief, actually, to know that they didn't have to tell the others. Since they already knew, they would have time to get used to it before Greg would have to face them. So he smiled and let it go, snuggling in to Nick's chest. He found it hard to be upset when wrapped up in such strong arms. Actually he found it hard to think of anything, really, when anywhere close to said strong arms. He was just starting to drift off to oblivion when Nick muttered something under his breath.
"Besides, they helped me write the letter…" he said as if nervous to mention that. Greg sat up again and looked at Nick. Then he broke in to laughter and fell back down once more. That was just fine. His letter had come from the heart and so had Nick's. So long as Nick felt the same way he did, it didn't matter that he couldn't express it as well. Greg could feel it, and that's what counted.
Day one of being boyfriends was amazing. It began with waking up next to each other, messing around in the kitchen while they cooked breakfast together, and going to work in the same car. It progressed with the whole team watching their new fire burn with happy jealousy. And it ended with going back to Greg's place again and making out like randy teenagers, barely able to keep out of each other's pants. For at least a little while, neither was able to remember why sex right now wasn't exactly the greatest idea.
Day two became day twenty so fast they turned around twice and there it was. Their fire was growing even hotter, and the love they felt for each other was only growing. When day twenty became week twenty, Nick simply moved his stuff in to Greg's apartment and sold his. He never went home anyway. But when week twenty-one was just beginning, something rather random came to pass, and they couldn't deny that this was a huge event in Nick's life. His father had found him. He showed up at the door with Judy Stokes on his arm and a great big smile on his face. Nick, having answered the door in nothing but pajama pants, stared at him in slight horror. Only slight. As he was exchanging greetings, Greg happened to walk by in the same attire and stopped when he saw the guests.
"Pancho my boy!" Cisco boomed. "Heard you moved! This your new roommate?" Judy flashed a million dollar smile that said she knew very well that Greg wasn't just a roommate. She had, however, refrained from mentioning this to Cisco. Nick cleared his throat and gathered his courage.
"Uh, no that's my boyfriend," he admitted. Cisco blinked and did a very convincing imitation of a goldfish. Nick backed up until he was level with Greg and took a hold of his hand. Judy looked away and hid her smile. The two lovers waited quite some time for the father's reaction. They stood calmly, hands linked, and drew strength from one another. That fact was not lost to either parent in the doorway. Although it was also pretty clear that Greg was surprised Nick had admitted it so easily. Finally Cisco drew in a large breath, let it out slowly, took another, and focused his head.
"You never told us you were…" he trailed off, surprisingly calm. Nick shrugged.
"I didn't know," he admitted.
"But you are…?"
"Yes," Nick raised his chin defiantly, daring his father to question his lifestyle. Judy finally chuckled and shuffled forward, tossing her petite arms around both CSIs and drawing them in to a warm hug.
"Oh Nicky," she said. "Just because you've sinned doesn't mean you're no longer our son. God forgives us our trespasses, and he will forgive you. Won't he?" she hardened her tone when addressing her husband and he immediately straightened up, nodding as if that's what he was thinking all along. His face was a little red though. They stayed for coffee – on the condition that the boys don shirts – but didn't stick around for much longer than that. The truth made the situation a little uncomfortable, even more so when they had to admit that they had been together for over five months. As soon as the door swung shut with the Stokes' departure, Nick and Greg burst in to relieved laughter, holding on to each other for support and crashing in to the walls. When Greg realized that there was a very large 'Ban Proposition 8' poster hanging in clear sight on the living room wall, the laughter only got worse and it was at least an hour before they could stop. The two ended up in their bed, cuddling under the thick comforter and still having occasional giggle fits. When one would start it would get the other going. Greg was thinking of the poster and it almost made him break out for the millionth time when he caught the look that Nick was giving him and settled for an amused smile as he leaned over to capture his love's lips. The kiss fast turned rather serious. Pretty soon they were both without shirts again, hands trailing over hard muscles and smooth skin. Breath became impossible to recapture when Nick rolled over Greg and pressed himself down, desperate to feel more. He was just reaching to take off Greg's pants when he caught himself. He almost dropped his hands away, but Greg's came up and grabbed him by the wrists.
"Nicky, don't stop," he said breathily. Nick started a little.
"Are you sure?" he whispered. Greg answered by slipping his hands in to Nick's waistband and slowly, shyly slipping them over his hips. Nick stared at Greg's rapt expression, then dove his own hands in and locked his lips to Greg's, determined to throw every ounce of his love behind it. The message was well received as the kiss was returned, passion for passion. Then suddenly they were naked and it was first touches all over again. Their erections brushed and elicited two groans. Nick ground his hips down in to Greg's seeking more friction. It was delicious and he heard himself begging for more. Greg arched up in to his touch when his hand appeared between their bodies, taking hold of both erections and stroking firmly. The mewls coming from the younger man only drove his hand faster. He almost lost concentration when a hot tongue found his nipple, and he gave a loud shout of pleasure when a hand found his balls, cupping and squeezing gently. He panted as he looked in to his lover's eyes. Without even voicing his thoughts, Greg knew what he wanted. He nodded and shoved Nick's hips down between his legs, spreading to accommodate his broadness. Nick paused though. Greg was about to ask what was wrong when suddenly he was flipped and found himself on top. He looked down at Nick and the love in those eyes floored him. It was his turn to pause.
"Are you sure?" he asked. Nick smile up at him and bestowed a tender kiss.
"Make love to me Greg," he pleaded. "Take what no one else can have. I belong to you." No further encouragement was needed. Lube was dug out of the bedside and applied with shivering excitement. And then there was no more waiting. Greg took a hold of Nick and pulled them together as he pushed inside slowly. Nick bit Greg's shoulder and moaned with pain, muffled by the skin. But it was fleeting, replaced in moments by amazing pleasure as Greg hit his prostate and he cried out for a whole new reason. Things became blurry. All they knew was frantic thrusts and pleading sounds and grasping hands. Greg felt his heat beginning to rise and came with Nick's name on his breath, ecstasy exuding from every pore. Nick watched his face and the beauty of it sent him over his own edge, almost unable to take the intensity of it. They rode themselves out together and fell sated to the sheets, exhaustion claiming both at the same time. A dreamless sleep covered them like a blanket and they rested in happiness.
Greg awoke in the middle of the day when he should still be fast asleep. He rolled over to find that the bed was cold and there was a large empty spot of the other side of the bed. He felt his heart drop to his feet until he looked over and there on the pillow was a very neatly folded letter, identical to the one Nick had given him, the one that had brought their relationship to a certainty. He smiled, thinking Nick wanted him to read again. Silly hopeless romantics. So he reached over and pulled the letter to him, but what was inside it sent him searching through the house with a happiness filling his heart that rivaled the angels.