Ant and Dec One Shots

Reassurance in the Darkest Moments

The pain had been building in Stephen's chest all day, an insidious, creeping ache that made every breath feel like a weight pressing down on his lungs. He kept telling himself over and over that he was being silly, that Ant and Dec loved him, that he was their friend and not just some spare part trailing along. But hearing that Saturday Night Takeaway would be taking another extended break had hit him harder than he'd expected. Without the show, without the steady routine and the familiar backstage laughs, what did they need him for?

The thought twisted painfully, each doubt feeding into another until his mind was caught in a relentless spiral. A cold dread pooled in his stomach, sinking deeper as he imagined himself fading into the background, left behind while his friends moved forward without him. Was that all he was? The friend who was fine to keep around when there was a purpose-but easy to forget when he wasn't needed?

The doubts grew sharper, clawing at his confidence, and he could feel his heartbeat start to pound louder, each thud rattling his chest. His breathing grew quick and shallow, panic threading into each short, gasping inhale. The room around him blurred, walls pressing in as if to mock his growing fear, the reality closing in on him.

No, I... I can't stay here. I need them... I need Ant and Dec, he thought desperately, clinging to the idea like a lifeline. Just seeing them would calm him, reassure him that these thoughts were wrong-that they wouldn't just let him fade away.

He pushed himself up, his legs trembling, as he made his way to the staircase, gripping the railing tightly to keep his balance. Each step was an effort, his heart hammering painfully against his rib cage, his lungs constricting further with each floor he climbed. Finally, he reached the door to their office and, summoning every ounce of strength he had left, he pushed it open, stumbling inside.

Ant and Dec looked up from their desks, surprise flashing across their faces, but that quickly melted into worry as Stephen's legs buckled, sending him crumpling onto the floor, weak from lack of oxygen and the overuse of his dead weight walking to their office.

"Stephen!" Dec's voice broke the silence, sharp with alarm as he and Ant rushed over. They were at his side in an instant, their hands gentle yet firm as they helped him sit up, Dec guiding him to lean back against his chest while Ant knelt in front of him, his eyes filled with concern.

Stephen's breaths were ragged, his chest rising and falling in sharp, wheezing gasps. His gaze darted between them, wide with panic, as he clutched at his chest. Ant took his hand, rubbing soothing circles over his knuckles, while Dec's arm wrapped securely around his shoulders, grounding him with their warmth.

"Take a deep breath, mate," Ant murmured softly, his tone steady and comforting. "We're right here. Breathe with us, okay?"

Stephen's eyes locked onto Ant's, finding a small anchor in his friend's calm gaze. He tried to breathe in sync with them, focusing on the gentle rise and fall of their breaths, Dec's calm, steady voice counting softly beside him. Slowly, gradually, the pounding in his chest began to ease, the crushing weight lifting enough for him to draw a deeper breath.

He let his head rest back against Dec's shoulder, letting himself be held, feeling the panic slowly drain away. Their gentle patience, the way they held him as if he was the most important person in the world, made him feel safe-a feeling he'd been sure was slipping from his grasp.

When he'd fully settled, they helped him over to the sofa, guiding him to lie down. The exhaustion hit him like a wave, his body going limp, utterly spent from the panic that had gripped him. The comforting presence of Ant and Dec nearby allowed him to fully relax for the first time that day. His eyelids grew heavy, and as he felt Dec's hand gently brushing his hair back, a feeling of warmth and safety washed over him. He barely registered the blanket Ant draped over him before he drifted off.

He woke a few hours later to the warm, inviting smell of pizza. Blinking groggily, he saw that the lights had been dimmed, with Ant and Dec setting plates and snacks on the table nearby. As soon as they noticed he was awake, their faces lit up with smiles, easing the last remnants of doubt lingering in his mind.

"Hey, there he is!" Dec greeted him warmly, coming over with a soft smile. "Feeling a bit better, love?"

Stephen nodded, sitting up slowly, and Ant handed him a plate. "Here, mate. We thought you'd be hungry."

The familiar routine of sharing a meal with them melted away any lingering tension, and Stephen relaxed, grateful for their silent, unspoken care. After a few moments, Dec scooted a little closer, a gentle seriousness in his gaze.

"Do you want to talk about it, Stephen?" he asked, his voice kind.

Stephen hesitated, the knot of insecurity rising in his throat again. But the patience in their expressions gave him the courage to open up. "I... I was afraid that, with the show on break, you wouldn't need me around anymore. Like maybe I was just... just tagging along, and you didn't really want me here."

A flicker of sadness crossed Ant's face, and he shook his head, leaning in closer. "Stephen, mate, listen to us carefully," Ant said, his voice firm and steady. "You're not just some spare part. You're family to us. Show or no show, you'll always be our friend. We love having you here."

Dec nodded, his gaze soft as he squeezed Stephen's hand. "On stage, off stage, it doesn't matter to us. You're so much more than a co-worker or some guest. Don't ever think we'd let you go because of something as trivial as filming schedules."

Ant placed a comforting hand on Stephen's shoulder, his tone earnest. "Promise us something, yeah? If you ever feel like this again, come to us. Don't let it eat at you. We're here for you, always."

Overwhelmed by their words, Stephen nodded, the tension in his chest dissolving. "I promise," he whispered, emotion thick in his voice.

Dec smiled gently and leaned over to press a soft kiss to Stephen's shoulder, while Ant kissed his cheek, both gestures warm and reassuring. With a tenderness that seemed to chase away any last trace of fear, they settled him between them, turning on a movie to watch together, their arms resting around his shoulders.

Every so often, one of them would press a light kiss to his cheek or his shoulder, small reminders that they were there, that he was safe. As they watched the movie, Stephen let his head rest against Ant's shoulder, his heart finally at ease. For the first time in a long while, he felt wholly and completely loved, certain that no matter what changes lay ahead, he had a place here-with them.