Ant and Dec One Shots

Gingerbread Cookies

The aroma of gingerbread filled Stephen's kitchen as he rolled out the dough, humming along to a soft tune on his playlist. The cosy, spicy scent brought a feeling of warmth and nostalgia, reminding him of Christmases past. He'd always loved the smell of gingerbread, but he had a playful rule: no gingerbread people. "Too cruel," he'd joke, insisting he didn't want to be responsible for "baking tiny humans." Instead, he opted for stars, hearts, and other festive shapes, focusing intently as he pressed each cutter into the dough.

As his favourite song came on, his humming grew louder, his voice filling the kitchen. For once, he felt completely relaxed, alone in his little world of ginger and spice, his shoulders loosening as he swayed to the rhythm.

Little did he know, he wasn't alone.

"Woah, Stevie's got a voice!" a familiar teasing voice broke through his concentration, making him jump, almost knocking the rolling pin off the counter. He spun around, eyes wide, only to find Ant and Dec leaning against the doorway with matching grins.

"You two nearly killed me!" Stephen laughed, a hand flying to his chest as he caught his breath. His heartbeat raced from the sudden scare, but seeing their mischievous smiles, he couldn't help but chuckle. "What on earth are you doing here?"

Ant shrugged, flashing a casual smile. "Just thought we'd pop by. Wanted to see what you were up to." He nudged Dec playfully. "Didn't expect to catch you belting out a tune, though."

"Can't say I'm complaining," Dec added, his gaze drifting to the gingerbread dough with a gleam in his eye. "Looks like we caught you at just the right time. Any chance you'd let us 'help' with the taste-testing?"

Stephen rolled his eyes with an amused shake of his head. "Oh, I see how it is! You both just conveniently 'popped by' for free cookies." He tried to sound indignant, but the warmth in his voice betrayed him. "Well, if you're sticking around, try not to distract me too much. These cookies don't bake themselves."

"Oh, we'd never dream of it," Ant replied, barely suppressing a grin as he reached over to steal a little piece of dough when Stephen's back was turned.

As Stephen worked, carefully cutting out stars and hearts, he felt their familiar, comforting presence. He found himself smiling at their laughter, the way they whispered and chuckled like two kids trying to hide something. Every now and then, he'd catch them sneaking bits of dough, laughing out loud each time he feigned annoyance. It was easy to slip into the rhythm with them, his friends who felt like family.

Sliding the tray into the oven, he began washing up, letting their chatter fill the kitchen. They swapped stories, from their latest work adventures to silly inside jokes, and Stephen found himself laughing harder than he had in weeks. As he listened, he felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the oven. Being with Ant and Dec felt so natural, so right. They were his safe place, his home, even more so than he'd realised before.

When the cookies came out of the oven, golden-brown and fragrant, Stephen arranged them on a plate, barely cooling before Ant and Dec were already reaching for them. He laughed, surrendering the plate. "Alright, alright! Just save some for the movie, yeah?"

Moving into the living room, they sank onto the couch, arguing playfully over which movie to watch. "We've seen that a hundred times," Stephen pointed out as Ant suggested an action flick. "Let's go with something that won't get crumbs all over the floor when you start flinging popcorn."

They eventually settled on a comedy they knew by heart. As the movie played, they shared the warm gingerbread, laughing at scenes they could practically recite. Stephen looked at them, a contented smile on his face. It amazed him how easy things felt with them. The way they laughed, leaned into each other, stole playful glances-it was everything he'd ever wanted in a friendship, and so much more.

After a while, he found himself looking over at them, his heart swelling. "Thanks for coming by, you know," he said softly, his tone a bit more serious. He hesitated, the words catching in his throat before he finally continued. "I...I'm really grateful for you both. You're more than friends-you're family to me."

Ant and Dec shared a look, a soft, knowing expression passing between them before they both leaned over, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, squeezing him tight.

"Same goes for you, mate," Dec replied, his voice quiet but filled with warmth. "We'd be lost without you, Stevie. You're part of our family, too."

Ant nodded, his usual teasing tone softened. "We're the lucky ones, having you in our lives." He nudged Stephen's shoulder gently. "No matter what, we're here. Always."

Stephen's heart felt so full it could burst. For a long moment, they just sat there in silence, letting the feeling settle around them, warm and steady, like the gingerbread scent still lingering in the air. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the three of them, curled up together, surrounded by laughter and a love that was as close as family.

And as Stephen looked at them, his two best friends, he knew-these two would always have his back, just as he'd have theirs.