AN: This new series of shorts is basically me trying to make up for the fact that I've hit a major writer's block in 'In the Midst of This Danger'. Hopefully you guys will accept this form of apology and not murder me with your flying fruit of doom.
*ducks a flying pan*
Really should've seen that one coming.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Psych or any of its characters. In fact, I don't own anything except for maybe a few notebooks and stuff. Wow, how sad is that? Anyway, no copyright infringement is intended.
-Squeedle

Our lives are made
in these small hours,
these little wonders,
these twists and turns of fate.
Time falls away
but these small hours,
these small hours
still remain.

Little Wonders by Rob Thomas

~*~

Six years ago

Green met blue, blue met green and from then on it was fate. They didn't know it of course but it was fate nonetheless. It was written in the stars, streaked across the sky for everyone to see. All they had to do was open their eyes. After all, denial is but a river in Egypt.

*

Four years ago

They all had their opinions as to why Shawn had a grin plastered on his face.

Juliet was sure it was because of the case he had helped solve earlier that day. It was a logical explanation after all, to be proud of ones self after saving the lives two young children. But that wasn't why the pseudo-psychic was beaming.

When Gus dropped him off at his father's house he figured it was just Shawn being Shawn. He was a happy person by nature so naturally he was smiling. Another logical answer but also wrong.

Henry came to the conclusion that Shawn had something particularly devious in mind and just rolled his eyes. Shawn was always coming up with half-assed schemes and plans that would make even the most mischievous of people wag their fingers at him in a parental sort of fashion. Again, that was not the case.

No, the grin on Shawn's face didn't come from saving children, his happy-go-lucky nature, or his roguish ways. It was all because Carlton Lassiter actually smiled.

At him of all people.

*

Two years ago

The weight of it all came crashing down on Carlton around three o'clock one morning. It overwhelmed him so much that he had to get into his car and drive. He had no real destination in mind he just had to drive. Drive and clear his mind.

He sped down the street trying as hard as he could to get the memory of a blood-covered Shawn Spencer out of his mind. He tried focusing on the road, that didn't work. He tried blasting the radio but that didn't work either. Try as he might he just couldn't stop thinking about it.

They thought that the case they had closed two days earlier was just another open and shut deal. Well, everyone except Shawn. He kept insisting that their suspect had an accomplice but he didn't have the evidence to back it up. Carlton got a text from Shawn later that evening telling him to meet him at an abandoned warehouse on West 10th Street so naturally he ignored it. Until a call came in about suspicious activity at said warehouse that is.

Carlton tried his hardest to keep the next scene from playing his head but this proved futile.

Just seconds after he and Juliet had busted their way through the warehouse doors he saw it. Saw the knife as it was plunged into Shawn's stomach three times. Saw the way Shawn dropped to his knees, his mouth open in a silent scream. Saw the look on Shawn's face as he lay bleeding on the grimy warehouse floor.

Carlton shook his head furiously as the memory faded. He couldn't understand why it affected him as much as it did. It was just Spencer after all. But as he pulled the car to a stop and realized where he was he knew that it wasn't just Spencer. Not anymore.

He banged on the door about fourteen times before it finally swung open to reveal a very tired-looking Shawn Spencer.

"Lassie? You do realize that it's people-are-trying-to-sleep o'clock in the morning don't you?" Shawn asked but Carlton didn't hear it, not really. He was too busy taking in Shawn's appearance. He had on nothing but a pair of boxers and his hair was tousled this way and that. It would've reminded him of the Shawn that had been appearing in his dreams lately if it weren't for the bandages that were wrapped around his midsection.

Carlton breathed deeply as he passed the threshold of Shawn's apartment and pressed him gently against the wall while kicking the door closed. The kiss was needy and desperate and tongues and teeth and everything Carlton had wanted. Well, not exactly everything because he still had to be mindful of Shawn's wounds but it was good nonetheless.

When they pulled apart Carlton was hit with the realization of what he just did and was two seconds away from booking it lest he make himself look like any more of a fool but Shawn held him in place.

"Oh no Lassie-bear, I've been waiting for this for years. Now, you're going to walk your handsome Irish self into my bedroom and, like and or not, we are going to cuddle."

*

Presently

The room was quiet except for the sounds of their light breathing. They laid spread out on the bed – Shawn with his head on Carlton's chest and Carlton with his right arm curled around Shawn's waist. Shawn couldn't help but think that nothing could possibly be better than that moment. Nothing could possibly be better than lying next to the one person in the world whom you truly love.

Love. About four years back that was just a foreign concept to him. Shawn never would've thought that he'd ever truly feel it. He thought that he'd go through life as free as bird and he didn't really mind that. But then he met Carlton.

Shawn turned his head a bit to look at the ring glistening on his left ring finger then let his eyes trail down to the matching one on Carlton's and smiled.

"Hey Carly?" Shawn said breaking the silence.

"Yeah Shawn?" Carlton muttered tiredly.

"I love you."

"Love you too Shawn."

Okay so I thought this one was short, sweet, and to the point. Of course, you guys may not feel that way but I actually like this particular short and that's rare so don't ruin it for me. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it and any feedback or criticism of any kind is greatly appreciated. The next short should be up soon so until then my friends.

-Squeedle