Dec Reassures Stephen's Doubts

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The soft hum of the television filled the cosy living room, a muted background to Stephen's restless thoughts. He perched on the edge of the sofa, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his jumper, his gaze distant. Dec sat beside him, pretending to scroll through his phone, but his eyes kept darting toward Stephen. The tension between them had been building for weeks, and Dec couldn't ignore it any longer.

Ant had gone out for the day to spend time with his sisters who were in town, giving Dec the perfect opportunity to address the elephant in the room. He set his phone down and turned toward Stephen, his hand lightly brushing his arm.

"Stephen," Dec said softly, his voice laced with concern. "What's going on? You've been... different lately. Distant. I know this is new for all of us, but I can't shake the feeling that something's really bothering you."

Stephen stiffened at Dec's touch, his mind a whirlwind of uncertainty. He opened his mouth, but the words refused to come. How could he explain the storm of fear and self-doubt that had taken root in his heart? He stared down at his hands, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I just don't want to ruin anything."

Dec's brow furrowed as he leaned closer, his hand sliding to gently cover Stephen's. "What do you mean by that? You could never ruin anything, Stephen. Please, talk to me."

Stephen took a deep, shaky breath, his chest tightening as he finally forced the words out. "You and Ant... you've been together for years. You're so perfect together, and I-" His voice broke, and he looked away, his eyes stinging with un-shed tears. "I don't understand why you wanted me here. Why you wanted me at all."

The raw vulnerability in Stephen's voice hit Dec like a punch to the gut. Without hesitation, Dec slid closer and wrapped his arms around Stephen, pulling him into a warm, protective hug. Stephen resisted at first, his body tense, but Dec didn't let go.

"Oh, Stephen," Dec murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "You've got it all wrong." He pulled back slightly, cupping Stephen's face in his hands, forcing him to meet his gaze. "We invited you into this because we love you. Both of us. This wasn't some whim or a spur-of-the-moment decision. Ant and I talked about it for months because we wanted to make sure we did this right. We knew how we felt, and we wanted you to know it too."

Stephen blinked rapidly, his lips trembling as he tried to process Dec's words. "But... I'm scared," he admitted, his voice breaking. "I'm scared I'll mess it up. That I'll say or do something wrong and lose you both."

Dec's heart broke at the pain in Stephen's voice. He gently wiped away a tear that escaped down Stephen's cheek, his thumb lingering on his skin. "Stephen, listen to me," Dec said firmly, his tone filled with love. "You're not going to lose us. You're part of us now, and nothing is going to change that. I love you, Stephen. I love you, and Ant does too. He'd be telling you himself right now if he wasn't out. You've brought something into our lives that we didn't even realise was missing. You make us better."

Stephen stared at Dec, his breath catching in his throat. "You... you really love me?"

Dec smiled, his eyes shining with sincerity. "I do. More than words can say."

Unable to hold back any longer, Stephen let out a shaky sob and threw his arms around Dec, holding him tightly. Dec held him just as firmly, pressing a gentle kiss to the side of his head. "You're ours, Stephen. You always have been. Now there's just an official title to add onto it."

Hours later, when Ant returned home, he found Stephen and Dec curled up together on the sofa, their closeness radiating a newfound sense of ease. Dec looked up and gave Ant a small nod, silently letting him know what had happened.

Ant set down his bag and crossed the room, crouching in front of Stephen. He reached out and took Stephen's hands in his, his expression soft and full of love. "Stephen," he began, his voice warm and steady. "I love you. I have for a long time. Dec told you earlier, but I want to say it too because it's true. We're not the same without you. You belong with us, and we're so lucky to have you."

Stephen's breath hitched as Ant leaned forward, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead. "You're not just a part of this," Ant continued, his hands squeezing Stephen's gently. "You're a part of us. Completely. And nothing will ever change that."

Tears streamed down Stephen's cheeks as he looked between the two men who had become his entire world. "I love you both," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Ant smiled and leaned in to kiss him softly on the lips, followed by Dec doing the same. They sandwiched Stephen between them on the sofa, wrapping him in their arms and holding him close.

For the first time in weeks, Stephen felt the weight of his fear lift. He wasn't an outsider or a temporary guest in their love-he was home.

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