For Life

Part 6

As the evening went on and the champagne flowed,Ant noticed how much more relaxed Dec was becoming.

"You're loving being here aren't you?" Ant smiled "in your own place?"

"Yeah" Dec nodded "it's all I've ever wanted...my own space to do what I like"

"It's a really nice flat" Ant stated.

"Thanks" Dec replied "I like it a lot"

"I'm really happy you invited me to stay" Ant beamed.

"Me too" Dec grinned "it's going to be lovely having you here,I do appreciate how much you care about me"

"I more than care about you" Ant pointed out.

"I know" Dec smiled "and I know you're curious about me and I accept that if this relationship is going to work,then I need to be more open and honest with you,I'm just so used to playing my cards very close to my chest"

"I promise I'll never hurt you" Ant suddenly blurted out "you can trust me"

Dec looked at Ant with admiration.

"I believe you" he smiled "so what do you want to know?feel free to ask whatever you like,can't guarantee I'll answer,but I'll do my best"

"Everything" Ant replied "were you born in London?"

"No" Dec shook his head "I was born in Beirut"

"Really?" Ant asked,unable to hide his surprise.

"Why are you so shocked?" Dec laughed "I've already told you that my Mum is Lebanese,so it's not so strange that I was born there"

"Well" Ant mused "it's just your accent...it's hardly very Lebanese sounding"

"That's because we had to leave when I was a baby" Dec continued "because of the civil war"

"Oh,wow" Ant exclaimed "you came straight here?"

"No" Dec shook his head "we moved to Paris"

"So you speak French?" Ant enquired.

"Yep" Dec nodded "fluently"

"That must have been very traumatic for your parents" Ant mused "to have to uproot their family like that?"

"Yeah" Dec agreed "although I obviously don't remember anything about it,I was about one and a half at the time,but I was always scared to go on the tube here because it's so noisy,think that's where it stems from"

"What?" Ant frowned "you think that's some kind of subconscious thing?like it reminded you of hearing bombs or something?"

"Maybe" Dec shrugged "but like I said,I was only a baby...well,a toddler,so who knows?"

"Yeah,I think that might be a bit of a stretch" Ant replied kindly "so how was Paris?how long did you live there?"

"Until I was nine" Dec smiled "I was a Parisien brat"

"Were you?" Ant laughed.

"Yeah" Dec smiled at the memory "I was such a show off,I liked dressing up and wearing bow ties and stuff"

"Being a show off is a good thing in your line of work surely?" Ant grinned.

"True" Dec agreed.

"And you liked it in Paris?" Ant enquired

"Yeah" Dec smiled at the memory "I loved it,France was great,I was so happy,we all were...well up until my Dad was taken hostage"

"Er...what now?" Ant frowned.