OBE Oh My!

OBEs

Dec cracked the door and peeked his head out to see if anyone was coming down the hallway. Voices could be heard from the toilets, but he could not see anyone. He quickly stepped out of the closet, shutting the door behind him and went into the toilet to check his hair. 

After a few moments, Ant slid out of the closet and shut the door behind him. As he walked toward the toilets a valet approached him and bowed. 

"Ten minutes before the line, Sir. " The valet said in a deadpan voice. 

"Thank you. Just waiting for Dec. " Ant nodded. The valet nodded back, turned on his heal and headed back to the reception room. 

Dec came out of the toilet straightening his vest. "That was a close one."

Ant wrapped his arm around Dec's shoulder and they began to walk back to the reception. "Aw, never!" Ant laughed. He looked around to make sure no one was looking and gave Dec a quick kiss. 

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The group was led out of the banquet room to an area where they were lined up alphabetically. For the next couple of hours each person took their turn in front Prince Charles accepting their honor. 

As Dec made his way forward to meet the Prince, Ant could see he was his nervous. He had hoped their little tryst would have helped his nerves, but as Dec stuck his hand out to shake the Prince's and the Prince just smiled and discreetly shook his head, Ant knew Dec was embarrassed and even more nervous than ever. Dec managed to composed as Prince Charles pinned the OBE to Dec's chest and then shook his while briefly speaking to him before he exited. 

When Ant's turn came he walked calmly up to the Prince, bowed his head then stood tall. He was nervous, but not as bad as Dec. Once Prince Charles pinned the OBE to  Ant's chest, he felt relaxed and shook the Prince's hand as they talked briefly, sharing a laugh over their last visit to the palace. 

When Ant reached the hallway, he found Dec leaning against the wall with his back.

"You were fine." Ant said reassuringly as he grabbed Dec's arm to guide him out of the palace. 

"Did you see?" Dec shook his head. 

Ant wrapped his arm around Dec as they went down the steps of the palace into the garden where the press were waiting for interviews and photographs.