I would start a riot

Testing the Water ~ September 2015

"I feel like my divorced parents have decided to put aside their differences because they think they need to have a two-on-one talk with me about something," Ant said, grinning wryly, "Am I in trouble?"

Stephen smiled lopsidedly as Dec rolled his eyes, two synchronised reactions that had become all too familiar over the years. Ant knew his role in it all, merely smiling back sweetly at their patient frustration.

"We've," Dec glanced at Stephen, smiling cryptically again, "We've got something we want to tell you."

"You're pregnant?" Ant guessed jokingly, giving a mocking gasp. Both of them laughed reluctantly as Stephen gave Ant's arm a half-hearted slap on behalf of Dec. Ant walked for another few paces (okay, maybe just two) before he got impatient. "Come on then. Spill the beans."

He took in the two of them, registering for the first time that they were holding hands. It was nothing out of the ordinary and Ant knew they slipped in and out of doing it, that they'd probably done that several times over the course of their walk around the park already. But there was something about Dec's demeanour that was different to normal; he was a little closer to Stephen's side, their hands a little more entangled than normal.

Ant registered all of that without blinking, reading the other man's body language as easy as breathing but drawing no real conclusions from it. But in the same way that Dec would lean into his own side and rest his head on his shoulder, Ant knew he had small things, like holding hands in that specific way, that he did with Stephen. When he was feeling particularly sentimental. When words didn't do the feeling justice so he just expressed it silently instead.

Ant grinned at the ground, not wanting to ruin their surprise but fairly sure he could already hear the church bells ringing in the distance. His stomach fluttered in anticipation, a milestone he'd been wanting Dec to reach for so many years finally right in front of them. And the fact that Stephen was right there with them made it so much better.

"Me and Stevie are thinking about getting married," Dec said, a little more tentatively than Ant was expecting. After all of that build up, he'd probably been expecting more than 'thinking about' – something along the lines of venue planned, date set, invitations ready to be sent – but he recognised Dec's tone of voice fondly, knowing he was waiting for one thing.

"About time," he said, simultaneously knocking his elbow into Stephen's and smiling widely when he met his eyes. "Who'd have thought there'd be someone idiotic enough to put up with you for the rest of their life, nonsense?"

"I do go for idiots, don't I?" Stephen played along, tugging Dec against his side for a moment. He wore a permanently teasing grin, although that didn't stop him from kissing the top of the other man's head swiftly before murmuring, "The more idiotic, the better."

Ant debated faking sickness, ruining the mood with that old joke about them being too couple-y in front of him. But he found himself too proud, too cheerful, to wipe the soft smile from his face. So, he met Dec's gaze instead and let the expression widen of its own accord.

That was all Dec was waiting for, after all – Ant's nod of approval, which apparently meant more than almost anything else.

"Am I the best man then?" Ant asked cheekily, unable to stop himself. He watched them look at each other, laughing at the silent conversation taking place in front of him. "Seriously?"

"We haven't talked about it yet," Dec said, as if that made any sense.

"Who else would you ask?" Ant retorted incredulously. "Name one single other person you'd consider."

"There isn't anyone else," Stephen replied, grinning, "But we're meant to ask you, not the other way round."

"Yeah, so stop getting your knickers in a twist over it and be patient," Dec scolded, a smile never far from his face. "We haven't even told anyone else about this yet, never mind planning anything."