Ant and Dec One Shots

Piano Therapy

Ant and Stephen couldn't help but notice Dec had started to withdraw from their usual antics and routines. He was present-always there with a smile and a quick remark-but something seemed off. Ant especially picked up on Dec's change in mood; his friend wasn't quite as engaged in conversations, and he'd laugh along but rarely added his own thoughts or joined in on the teasing and back-and-forth banter like he usually would.

At first, they chalked it up to the demands of the show and the long hours at the studio. But as more time passed, they couldn't ignore the way Dec seemed to distance himself, sneaking off during breaks and slipping away the moment filming wrapped. Stephen glanced over at Ant during one such moment and asked, "Have you noticed him slipping away more than usual?"

Ant nodded, his brow furrowed in concern. "I have. Something's eating at him, I think. He's been keeping to himself a lot more."

They decided it was time to find Dec and see if he was okay. During their lunch break, Ant and Stephen wandered through the studio halls, trying to figure out where he'd gone. They checked the dressing room and then the green room, but Dec was nowhere to be found. Just as they were about to give up, they heard faint music coming from a room at the back of the studios-a room neither of them had ever really noticed before. The soft strains of a piano drifted out, a hauntingly beautiful melody that seemed to echo with pain, loss, and a touch of something far more complex.

As they pushed open the door, they found Dec seated at an old grand piano, his fingers moving skill-fully across the keys. His eyes were focused on the instrument, and he seemed almost unaware of their presence. The melody filled the room with an intensity that caught both Ant and Stephen off guard. There was a rawness to it-a depth of emotion they hadn't expected to hear in their friend's music.

Dec's face was a mix of concentration and vulnerability. He pressed down on the keys with more force than was strictly necessary, his hands almost trembling as he poured his heart out into the piece. Ant and Stephen watched silently, feeling like they were intruding on something deeply personal.

When Dec reached the final, lingering note, he looked up and finally noticed them standing by the door. His face reddened slightly, and he gave them a half-hearted smile, his usual charm faded.

"Didn't expect an audience," he said, attempting a chuckle that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Ant stepped forward, his voice soft. "Dec, mate, we've been worried about you. You've been... different lately."

Stephen nodded, moving to sit on the bench next to him. "We miss you," he added, glancing down at the piano. "I didn't know you still played."

Dec gave a small shrug, his fingers brushing absently over the keys. "I'd put it aside for a while. Life just got busy, you know? But I never really stopped, music holds something deep in me."

Ant's hand found Dec's shoulder, squeezing gently. "But you're back to it now. Something's clearly on your mind if you're coming here alone to play like this."

Dec looked down, his fingers still on the keys. "It's... silly, really," he started, but Ant gave him a nudge, his expression gentle and encouraging.

Dec sighed, then finally spoke. "I just... I guess I've felt a bit like a third wheel between you two. I know it's irrational, but sometimes it feels like you've got this whole new connection, and I'm... just here."

Stephen's eyes softened. "Dec, you're never 'just here.' I know Ant and I have been close, but you're the heart of this, you know? We'd be lost without you."

Ant's hand didn't leave Dec's shoulder, and he added, "I'm sorry, mate. We never meant to make you feel left out. You're as much a part of this as I am. We're all in this together."

Dec let out a long breath, looking down at his hands. "Playing helps, though. It's like I can just... let everything out, even if no one else hears it."

Ant and Stephen exchanged a look, then Ant nodded toward the piano. "Play for us, Dec. Let us hear it."

For a moment, Dec hesitated, but their presence gave him the reassurance he needed. His fingers found the keys again, this time with a gentler touch, and he began to play a melody that seemed to tell a different story-a story of three friends, each with their own tune, coming together to create something beautiful. As he played, the tension eased from his shoulders, and when he looked up, he saw Ant and Stephen watching him with nothing but pride and love.

When the last note faded, Stephen clapped a hand over Dec's and smiled. "We've got a lot of catching up to do, haven't we?"

Ant grinned, a hint of mischief returning to his eyes. "You're not getting rid of us that easily, Dec. We're here for the long haul."

Dec laughed softly, and this time, the warmth returned to his eyes. "Yeah... I think I'd like that."

And with that, the three of them left the music room together, a renewed sense of closeness settling between them.