Ant and Dec One Shots

Stephen's Fear And Reassurance

The atmosphere at home had been quiet lately-too quiet. Ant had noticed the subtle shift in Stephen's behaviour over the past week. The usually cheeky and confident Stephen, who loved cracking jokes and teasing them on set, had become unusually reserved. During filming, he barely cracked a smile, and the playful banter he used to share with them had disappeared entirely.

At first, Ant and Dec had chalked it up to exhaustion-work schedules could be gruelling-but as the days passed, Ant couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper was going on. Dec had stepped out to run some errands, leaving Ant alone with his thoughts. As he wandered the flat, tidying up aimlessly, his footsteps slowed when he passed the bedroom door.

The door was slightly ajar, and through the gap, he spotted a familiar figure curled up on their bed. Stephen lay on his side, facing the wall, his body wrapped tightly in a blanket. His shoulders were hunched, and even from a distance, Ant could sense the tension radiating from him.

Ant's heart clenched at the sight. Stephen looked so small, so unlike his usual self. Quietly, Ant stepped into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out, gently stroking Stephen's back through the blanket.

"Hey, sweetheart," Ant said softly, his voice full of concern. "What's going on? You've been so quiet lately."

Stephen didn't respond at first, his body stiffening under Ant's touch. "I'm fine," he mumbled eventually, though his voice was muffled and far from convincing.

Ant frowned, leaning closer. "Come on, Stevie. Talk to me. You know you don't have to do this on your own."

Still, Stephen didn't move. Ant shifted closer, carefully peeling the blanket away to reveal Stephen's face. His heart broke at the sight. Stephen's cheeks were damp with tears, his red, puffy eyes squeezed shut as if trying to block out the world.

"Come here," Ant murmured, his voice soft but firm as he opened his arms.

Stephen resisted for a moment before giving in, curling against Ant's chest. As soon as Ant's arms wrapped around him, the dam broke. Stephen sobbed uncontrollably, his body shaking with the force of his emotions. Ant held him tightly, his hand rubbing soothing circles on Stephen's back.

"I'm scared," Stephen choked out between ragged breaths. "I'm so scared of messing this up."

"Messing what up?" Ant asked gently, though he suspected he already knew the answer.

Stephen pulled back just enough to look at him, his tear-streaked face full of anguish. "Us," he whispered. "You and Dec... I don't want to hurt you or say something stupid. I can't lose you both. You're not just my boyfriends-you're my best friends. If I mess this up, I'll lose everything."

Ant's chest tightened at Stephen's words. He cupped Stephen's face, brushing away the tears that continued to fall. "Oh, love," he said softly, his voice full of emotion. "You're not going to lose us. Ever. I promise you that."

"But what if I say something wrong?" Stephen's voice broke again. "What if I hurt you without meaning to? What if-"

"Stop," Ant interrupted gently but firmly. "Stephen, you're overthinking, baby. You could never ruin this. We love you-for your jokes, your heart, your everything. You don't have to try so hard or walk on eggshells around us. We chose you because we want you. All of you."

Stephen's sobs quieted, but the tears kept coming. He buried his face in Ant's chest again, clutching at his shirt like a lifeline. "I just... I don't want to mess this up," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"You won't," Ant assured him, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "We're a team, Stephen. If something's bothering you, you can always talk to us. We're not going anywhere."

Exhausted from his outburst, Stephen's body began to relax against Ant's. His breathing slowed, and within minutes, he had fallen into a deep, fitful sleep. Ant stayed with him, holding him close and stroking his hair, his heart aching for the younger man. He made a silent promise to himself to never let Stephen feel this way again.

An hour later, Dec returned home. He walked into the bedroom, his arms full of shopping bags, and froze at the sight before him. Ant was propped up against the headboard, his phone in one hand and his other arm wrapped protectively around Stephen, who was still sound asleep. Tear tracks marked Stephen's face, and his expression, even in sleep, was one of exhaustion and vulnerability.

"What happened?" Dec whispered, setting the bags down quietly.

Ant looked up, his face a mixture of sadness and tenderness. "He's been so scared, Dec," he said softly. "He thinks he'll mess this up and lose us. He's been holding it in for who knows how long."

Dec's expression softened with understanding and concern. He climbed onto the bed beside them, wrapping an arm around Stephen's waist and leaning his head against Ant's shoulder. "Poor thing," he murmured. "We need to make sure he knows how much we love him."

For the next half hour, they stayed like that, cradling Stephen between them, their presence a silent reassurance. When Stephen finally stirred, blinking groggily, his gaze darted between Ant and Dec. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he tried to sit up.

"Hey, love," Dec said gently, pressing a soft kiss to Stephen's temple. "Feeling any better?"

Stephen hesitated, his cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink. "A little," he admitted shyly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Dec cupped Stephen's cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. "Good. Because I need you to know something, Stephen. I love you. So much. You don't have to hide anything from us, okay? We're here for you. Always."

Ant excused himself to the bathroom, leaving Dec to reassure their youngest. Stephen leaned into Dec's embrace, feeling the warmth of his love envelop him. "I love you both so much," Stephen whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"And we love you," Dec replied softly, holding him close. "More than anything, baby."

For the first time in days, Stephen felt the weight on his chest begin to lift.