Aren't you happy for me?

21) I asked you to give me some space

Dec's mum was over the moon that her littlest would spend some time with them. Dec had opened up to them straight away, he was sick of secrets and lies. To his surprise, his family understood and made him feel welcomed and loved.

It was exactly what Dec needed, just being with his parents and siblings, who reminded him exactly of who he was and that he was great the way he was.

In those two weeks, Dec found himself again. He didn't even talk to Ant or Stephen and Stephen had called him about a hundred times, Ant not even one single time.

In that moment, Dec knew. He knew Ant really loved him and thinking about it he knew that he had always known that. He saw memories differently now, he saw Ant pulling him close and kissing his head differently now, he saw Ant wrapping his arm around his shoulders when they watched football together differently now, he saw Ant breaking up with Lisa differently now, and he saw Ant being withdrawn when he had been with Stephen differently now.

As for his own feelings, he needed time. He knew he shouldn't rush things. But one thing he knew, someone who really loved him would wait.

Stephen arrived on the tenth day and Dec was quite taken aback when he stood in front of his parents' house. He let him in and his family went out to give them space to talk.

"Dec, what is this all about? Just come home, please" Stephen begged and Dec could see how hurt he was.

"I'm sorry, I can't" Dec sighed. "Why are you here?"

"Dec, I love you, I want you with me" Stephen said desperately.

"And I asked you to give me some space" Dec sighed.

"Dec, you don't need space, you need to be with me, you were so well over the last weeks, what happened?" Stephen asked concerned.

"I woke up" Dec stated and he knew it sounded harsh, but he was sick of Stephen not respecting him.

"From what? Dec, you are talking nonsense. Just come home with me, alright?"

Dec only shook his head. "I told you I need time" he repeated and sighed.

"Is it about him?" Stephen suddenly said and Dec could see tears welling up in his eyes.

"Who?" Dec asked and tried to play it dumb.

"You know who. Ant... He told you, didn't he? He told you he loves you. Oh God" Stephen gasped and put a hand over his mouth. "I knew it from the second I saw how he looked at you. Dec, you don't love him, you are just confused, just come home with me. You know what we have together, it's good this way. I look after you, don't I?"

"Stephen, it isn't like that" Dec sighed and his tone softened. "I am sorry but I want you to leave now. I know you love me but I have to learn how to be myself again."

"You are talking nonsense" Stephen said and ran a hand over his face. "I don't understand, everything was fine." Stephen was now crying and Dec couldn't cope with that and stood up.

"Please, don't make this any harder... I need time and at the moment above all, I need to be alone" Dec said now more sternly.

Stephen left without a word and although it was one of the hardest things Dec had ever done, just throwing him out like that, he was relieved.

He had stood up for himself and he had made it clear that he wanted to be respected. He knew Ant did that anyways and he also knew Stephen didn't get the point and had only talked about what he wanted himself again. And it made him sad, but it also made him realise who really cared for him.

When the two weeks were over, there was another visitor at the door. At first, Dec thought it might be Ant and he was quite annoyed when he opened the door. But it was Sarha and Dec smiled at her. He told her all about it, although it turned out she already knew most of it.

"That lad loves the bones of you" Sarha sighed.

"I know" Dec said and smiled. "But it wouldn't be fair on him now, I don't want to hurt him... It's all a mess at the moment and I have to concentrate on myself for a bit. I have taken a job offer over here, you know? And I know he'll wait for me, I know that."

Sarha only nodded and smiled at Dec. She had known him for so long and she was proud that he was acting so responsibly and considered Ant's feelings in all of this as well. And so she thought it was good that Dec didn't want to rush things. She only hoped that everything would work out well for them.

But actually, looking at Dec and the way he had smiled when he had talked about Ant, she knew there was a good chance that it would. She remembered the conversation with her brother and the look on his face and she smiled when she realised it had been exactly the same.