Without You

52. Can You Feel It Too?

A/N - Another update for all you lovely people to celebrate passing my massive mock VTNE exam today! I hope you're all staying safe. Thank you as always for continuing to follow this story, I really appreciate your taking the time to read this monstrosity! Hopefully you're still enjoying it! 😁 -H. x

"Have a lovely afternoon, sweetheart," Ali smiled, pulling Dec close and placing a loving kiss on her husband's lips, "Give Ant my love, will you?"

Dec nodded against her lips, kissing her again before pulling away with a little smile. "Aye, I will. I'm just around the corner if you need owt, all right?"

"Yes, I know where he lives, silly!" Ali giggled, "But I'm fine, honest. I think it's just a sinus infection or something, my nose is all blocked up, too, it's not just a headache. But if it makes you feel better, I'll let you know if it gets any worse, okay?"

"Aye, you'd better," Dec responded, concern more than evident in his eyes and voice, "Just take it easy today, all right? Read a book or sommat, no housework or owt today."

"Yes, okay, okay!" Ali huffed, playfully shoving her husband towards the door, "I'll have a quiet day in with Rocky, does that make you happy? Now get a move on before you're late for your Chinese! You know how Ant is about food sitting around getting cold!"

Dec grinned sheepishly, "Oh, aye, turns into a right grump, he does," he smirked, "I swear he loves food more than life itself." Growing serious, Dec's anxiety made itself known as he once again pressed his lips to Ali's, murmuring, "Love you. Promise you'll text me if you're feeling worse?"

Now forcibly pushing her husband towards the door, Ali insisted, "Yes, love, I will, I promise! Now please go before I drive you there myself!"

Rolling his eyes, Dec paused before pulling open the front door, peering through the peep hole first. Satisfied the coast was clear, he slipped outside and jogged over to his car, hurriedly unlocking it and climbing into the driver's seat. It had been literal weeks since he'd driven anywhere himself, instead staying home and staying in, not going anywhere for fear of being ambushed by paps.

Switching on the ignition, Dec blew a kiss to Ali before pulling out of their drive and heading down the street. It seemed a bit silly to drive when Ant was quite literally around the corner, only a few minutes' walk away, but Dec had zero intention of walking anywhere right now, regardless of what Linda had said on Monday. He hadn't even managed to find the wherewithal to start working out again like she'd suggested, instead preferring to lie in this morning despite only having slept until somewhere between 3:00 and 4:00am.

He knew he really ought to start working out, especially given he was apparently expected to put in some sort of dance performance in a few weeks' time on BGT, but he just couldn't find the motivation. Or the energy. He still couldn't sleep properly, plagued by anxiety dreams, nightmares, and insomnia, and he was running on empty all the time. Yes, he sometimes managed to catch a nap for an hour or two during the day like he had yesterday after those wretched, mentally and emotionally exhausting meetings, but those little snatches of rest here and there didn't make up for weeks of interrupted, poor-quality sleep during the night.

Sighing, Dec flicked the turning indicator on, slowing as he arrived at Ant's rented house, pleased to find the gate was already open so that he could pull right in. No blatant sign of any paparazzi so far. Parking up in front of the house, Dec took a moment to scan the hedgerow across the road, looking for the flash of cameras or the glint of glass lenses in the bright sunlight beaming across the neighborhood.