Breaking in Pieces

Questioning

Dec woke up the next day before Ali did. He checked on Isla and-seeing as she was sleeping soundly-headed downstairs to cook breakfast. As he's putting the bacon in the pan to fry, Ali walks down the stairs, Isla in hand. "Well, what a nice treat!" She exclaims, giving Dec a peck on the lips. "Well," He says, "I figured it's the least I could do. I consider it an honour to cook for the two lovely ladies I'm so lucky to have in my life." He gives a little curtsy and grins at her before turning back to the pan. "How's Isla this morning?" Dec asks, grabbing the fork to flip the bacon over. "Well other than flattered that she has such a stunning and wonderful father, just downright happy." Isla gurgles and reveals a toothless smile. Dec grins. "I reckon we've already lost some time, eh? She's grown so much over the last couple of days."
Dec grabs the fork and starts placing the bacon on a paper towel laid out on the counter top. "Yep," Ali says, "I agree. She has definitely gotten bigger!" They both make eye contact and smile before Dec walks over to the refrigerator to pull out the eggs. "So," he says, "my first Takeaway solo starts tomorrow." Dec walks over to the cupboard to pull out the canola oil before pouring it in the pan. "Sure does. How does it feel?" Ali asks, upbeat. "Ya know, I'm not really sure," Dec chuckles, "I guess we'll have to see!" He was very happy this morning, which was good because he needed a good day after all his bad ones.
He cracks an egg and it starts to sizzle. "Typical English breakfast, huh?" Ali asks, immediately recognising it. "Yep," Dec says, "figured I would do something simple today." He flips the egg. "I'm sure it will be wonderful." Ali adds. She wraps her arms around his waist, and he turns to kiss her. "Only for you." Dec grins widely before giving a little bow. Ali laughs. "I love you so much." She looks at Dec before walking over to Isla who was sitting in her high chair. "Are you ready for your bottle?" Ali asks Isla, motherly. Isla grins a toothless smile and gurgles. "I'm taking that as a yes." And with that, Ali walks over to Isla's bottle which was out cooling on the counter top.
Dec has finished the eggs by now, and starts on the sausage. "You know you don't have to do it, right?" "Yeah, course. I want to." He turns back to the sausage to flip it on the other side. "Goodness me," He says, "I didn't know a traditional English breakfast took this long!" He and Ali laugh. "Well," she adds, "you must not have been much of a cooker, huh?" She asked anyway, even though she knew the answer. Ant always gave him a hard time about not being able to cook even the most simplest of meals. "That's what everyone says." responds Dec, "well, Anth at least. But, it's okay. Everyone has their thing. I just haven't found mine yet." "Oh boy," she chirps, "here we go again. You want me to write you a list that you can hang in your dressing room?" "Nah, I'm alright. It would be a short list anyway." He winks. Ali just smiles and rolls her eyes. "How long on breakfast?" She ponders. "Not too long," Dec verifies, "a few minutes. I'm just going to finish up this sausage and that should be about it." "Well then. Guess I don't have time for a quick run." "Guess not." stated Dec.

After breakfast, Dec cleans up the kitchen. "Go for a run honey. I'll watch the baby." Ali shoots him a look. "You sure?" she questions, "I wouldn't want you to do too much." "I'm fine," Dec says, "really." "Alright. I'll see you in a bit." "Bye." Dec says, before turning back to finish collecting the dishes. He walks over to the sink and places them inside to begin rinsing and placing them in the dishwasher. 'Wow,' Dec thinks to himself, 'it sure is quiet. I still have Isla to keep my mind occupied at least. So I don't have another "episode"'. If that's what we're even calling it now. Dec closes the dishwasher, runs it, and walks over to Isla. "Hi Isla! How are you?" She grins her toothless grin and laughs. "Oh, you like that? Well, how about this?!" Dec tickles her feet before blowing a raspberry. Isla laughs again. Dec grins. "Cutie" he says. He grabs her out of her high chair and takes her upstairs into their bedroom. Declan lays her out on the bed and strips her down to her nappy. "Shoo," he says jokingly, "you stink!" Isla grins again. Dec does it again, leading to Isla's smile again. "Alright," he eventually says, "let's get you changed." He walks over to the dresser and gets one of Isla's onesies, as well as a nappy and flannel to clean her up.

"There we go! All clean!" he says, falling next to Isla. She gurgles, and Dec thought he would burst from happiness. He sits up and bounces Isla on his knees. She grins the whole time. Whenever he stops, though, she starts to cry. "What's wrong honey?" he says, bouncing her again. She continues crying. "You want the airplane? Huh?" He holds her above his head and makes swooshing sounds. Isla smiles. 'I think she wants Ali. I'll text her to see where she is.' Dec pulls out his phone and texts Ali. Hey baby! Where are you? -D xx. He gets almost an immediate response. On my way home. Everything alright? x. Yeah, he shoots back, everything's fine. Just checking on you x. He puts his phone behind him and turns back to a now crying Isla. He starts bouncing her again. She stops. 'Mummy's almost home. Just a little bit longer.' he thinks to himself. 'Plus, I get to spend some one-on-one time with Isla. And that doesn't happen very often at all. Appreciate it while it lasts.' Dec's phone rings. It's Ali. He picks it up. "Yeah?" "Hey babe. Listen, Anne wants some help picking up Hurley from the groomers. I guess Ant usually does it and he's not wanting cooperate with her. I'll be back as soon as possible." "No," Dec practically interrupts, "I'll go. I'm not Anth, but I'm the second person Hurley trusts the most. Just come home and take care of Isla. I'll be really quick." He's practically pleading by now, though he doesn't know why. "Are you sure? I mean, Isla sounds happy and you two don't get much one-on-one." "Yeah," he says, "sure." "Well, alright. If you say so. See you in a bit!" She hangs up. 'Ali doesn't need to do everything. And besides, I need to get out of the house and do something besides filming. It'll better me.' Although now that he hung the phone up, he wasn't so sure. He just wanted all this to be over. The conspiracy (which hadn't even begun to be a problem yet), the rehab, going solo (which hadn't started either), everything. And now, he even began to question whether his relationship with Ant was even worth it anymore.