For Life

Part 24

"Oh Dec" Ant said sadly "have you been awake all night?...crying?"

"No" Dec replied defensively.

"I know that's a lie" Ant replied gently.

"I got some sleep" Dec stated "on and off"

"Dec,I'm so sorry" Ant smiled sympathetically "I knew how upset you were,I should have stayed awake to look after you"

"You didn't need to do that" Dec shrugged "you need your sleep too,I just wish I wasn't such a baby about all this,I wish I still didn't let those arseholes affect me so much and you did look after me anyway,you wrapped your arms around me,that was looking after me"

"Hey,you are not a baby" Ant stated seriously "those jerks put you through hell and only people who have been bullied like that can truly know how it feels"

"You understand though" Dec said quietly.

"I have empathy" Ant nodded "but I can still never know what it feels like to go through what you did"

Dec smiled and planted a gentle kiss on Ant's lips.

"I don't know what I'd do without you" he whispered softly.

"I'm lucky to have you" Ant insisted "and for what it's worth,I think you handled the situation last night admirably"

"Really?" Dec frowned "I don't think having a complete meltdown is handling something admirably"

"You did just fine" Ant assured him "someone else might have just beat the shit out of them"

"Wish I had the courage to do that" Dec mused "but I'm not a violent person"

"I know you're not" Ant smiled "let's just hope those idiots never turn up again,but do you know what I think will make you feel better?"

"What?" Dec asked curiously.

"Writing a song" Ant grinned "that usually works doesn't it?"

"Yeah" Dec laughed.

"And don't hold back" Ant advised "make it clear that it's about those losers and sock it to them"

"Look at you giving me advice on songwriting" Dec giggled "but do you know what?I think you're right"

He suddenly jumped out of bed and made a beeline for the bedroom door.

"Dec,where are you going?" Ant called out.

"I'm going to write a song" Dec shouted back.

"What?...now?" Ant asked surprised.

He glanced at Melachi,who was looking at him curiously.

"I guess he's going to write a song then" he shrugged at the dog "I suppose you want your breakfast?then I'll take you for a walk while he works on his masterpiece"

Melachi's ears pricked up at the mention of a walk,so Ant quickly threw his clothes on and made his way to the kitchen.

He could already hear Dec tinkling on the piano keys and it sounded pretty good,although the words to whatever he was writing were being sung very quietly,so Ant couldn't make out what he was saying.

"It'll be a hit record in the making by the time we get back from our walk" he told the dog as she wolfed her breakfast down.

A couple of hours later,Ant and Melachi returned home after their long walk to find Dec still working on his song.

Ant stood at the door to the living room,just out of sight so as not to distract Dec from his work and held on to Melachi to stop her bounding up to him.