Ant kept a very close eye on Dec throughout the coming weeks.The distraction of being back at work was definitely good for both of them,being busy was always what they were good at.

Dec still wasn't opening up very much.There had been several occasions where Ant had held him sobbing in his arms to comfort him,knowing how much he was missing Fonsey,but he still hardly spoke about it no matter how much Ant tried to encourage him.This was so unlike Dec,he always wore his heart on his sleeve and he was usually very happy to share how he was feeling with his nearest and dearest.

Ant observed him closely whenever he got the chance,Dec was often laughing but Ant could see the sadness behind his eyes and he found it utterly painful to see that hurt in his friend.

Ant was at a loss at what to do next,he had thought things were getting better for Dec once they returned to London,but now he wasn't so sure.What else could he do?he couldn't bring Fonsey back,just about the only thing that Dec wanted and needed right now.He could hug him when he needed it,wipe away his tears,be a shoulder to cry on,listen to him when he wanted to talk,not that he ever really did that,not about Fonsey anyway.That worried Ant as well,that Dec was just trying to shut his feelings out rather than dealing with them.He knew he talked to Anne most days but had no idea if they discussed Fonsey or not but he had absolutely no trouble imagining neither of them mentioning him for fear of one upsetting the other.

Ant was now spending his time divided between his and Decs house.Of course he would be there in an instant should Dec need him but he decided it would help Dec get back on his feet if he wasn't there to mollycoddle him the whole time.It took alot of willpower for him to stay away,but he knew it was for the best,they were together every day for work anyway so it was really only some evenings and night times that they weren't always together.Ant was convinced it was the right thing to do to help Dec,but it was hard,he thought about him all the time,missed him and of course was still terribly worried about him.

Ant had an idea.He wasn't sure if it was the best idea he had ever had or the worse.He didn't know how this idea would play out in the long run but he was willing to risk it for Decs sake.He had to give it a go!

Decs birthday was coming up and it was the perfect opportunity to put his plan into action.He stayed over at Decs the night before.

The morning of Decs 36th birthday soon arrived.Ant burst into his bedroom and jumped onto his sleepy pal,jiggling the bed carelessly.

"Happy birthday Decky" Ant shouted like an excited child "come on,get up,it's your birthday,can't spend it in bed"

"Yeah thanks" Dec tiredly groaned

"Come on,wake up" Ant insisted,flopping down next to him.

"Ok,I'm awake" Dec sat up,slouching against the headboard.

Ant practically threw a card at him and watched as he opened it.

"Thanks" Dec sighed as he studied the picture of a flock of pigeons on the front,shaking his head at Ants warped sense of humour "my favourite birds"

"Ah cheer up,I know what a pigeon fancier you are really,pigeon phobic indeed" Ant laughed and winked at Dec.

Dec couldn't help but giggle at his silliness.

"I know what you're thinking Dec" Ant grinned

"Oh yeah,what am i thinking?"

"You're thinking 'where's my present you tight bastard?' " Ant grinned

The two of them always made a real effort to buy each other special presents on birthdays and at Christmas,but both of them were running out of ideas,after all what do you buy the men who already have everything?

"Wasn't thinking that at all" Dec lied

"Yeah right" Ant laughed,placing an arm around him "don't worry,I'm going to go and get it later,you don't really think I wouldn't bother getting a present for my best buddy do you?

"Dunno" Dec replied

"Yeah you do,I know what a spoilt brat you are,can't risk you having any tantrums if you're not happy on your birthday can we?" Ant joked

"Honestly Ant,you treat me like a kid sometimes" Dec moaned

"Yep" Ant was enjoying winding him up and he knew Dec loved the well intentioned banter really.

"Fancy going out for breakfast?my treat?" Ant asked

"If you're putting your hand in your pocket then yeah I definitely fancy it" Dec smiled

"Cheeky" Ant gave him a nudge in the ribs.

He was determined to make this day enjoyable for Dec and maybe he could forget his sadness for just one day.He knew Dec hadn't made any plans for the day so Ant had taken the matter in hand.After a late breakfast,they were meeting close friends and spending the afternoon with them in their favourite local pub.Ant had thought Dec would probably find being with alot of people all day too overwhelming,so he would spend the evening at Decs house with him,just the two of them where he would give him his special present.

Ant had made it clear to everyone in the pub that Dec might not be up for staying out too long,depending on the mood he was in,which of course they all totally understood.

Dec thoroughly enjoyed his day,Ant thankfully didn't have to worry about him not eating anymore,his appetite was just about back to normal and he had tucked into his breakfast wholeheartedly.

The afternoon in the pub was great fun,laughing and joking with his friends seemed to be just the tonic Dec needed.Ant observed him fondly as he chatted to everyone,accepting cards and presents gratefully.Ant was a little bit concerned that Dec might get drunk,they both needed to be sober when he handed his gift over. He needn't have worried,Dec was drinking alot slower than usual and practically every time someone offered to buy him a birthday drink,he declined.

At around 4pm,Ant could see Dec was growing weary,he'd obviously enjoyed catching up with his friends but that familiar sadness in his eyes that Ant recognised so easily now was once again creeping back in.

"Want to go Decky?" Ant gently asked "you look tired"

Dec looked around the table,guilt setting in at maybe cutting the day short and spoiling the enjoyment for everyone.

"Dec,no one's expecting you to stay out any later than you want to" Ant knew exactly what he was thinking,and of course all of their friends knew the situation as well.Dec was always the life and soul of the party and they all loved him,but they also knew how hard Fonseys death had hit him,they understood completely and all said their goodbyes and hugged him warmly,most of them choosing to stay in the pub a little bit longer.

Ant and Dec made the short walk back to Decs home.Dec was feeling exhausted and it was only late afternoon,he'd had several calls from family members throughout the day which he'd found unusually hard work,trying to convince everyone how well he was doing,how happy he was and what a great birthday he was having wasn't easy.Of course some of that was true,he was generally having a great birthday so far,but it was still tiring to convey that convincingly to his loved ones.

The two men sat on the sofa drinking hot cups of tea and chatting into the early evening.

"Party animals aren't we?" Dec smiled "thanks for arranging this afternoon Ant,it was great to catch up with everyone"

"No problem kidda" Ant replied "I'll be going out to get your present soon ok?I shouldn't be more than about an hour"

"Ok" Dec was getting increasingly curious about what this mysterious present could be,he couldn't even guess,he was totally baffled.

"You not even gonna give me a clue?"

"No Mr impatient" Ant teased "it won't be long now and I promise you it will be worth waiting for"

Ant soon left to complete his mystery task.Dec was now getting increasingly excited about what Ant was doing.

He glanced at a photo of Anne and Fonsey on the mantelpiece that was taken on their wedding anniversary five years earlier.

He got up and took the picture down,sitting back down on the sofa.He loved that picture,they looked so happy,his dad looking smart in his three piece suit and tie and his Mam in her pretty lilac dress.Although he knew Fonsey was never really comfortable being dressed up like that and once everyone had taken the obligatory photos,the tie would come off and the top button of his shirt would be unfastened.Fonsey was a jeans and jumper kind of guy,it was a running joke in Decs family that he never wore anything else.So much so that they all thought it would be hilarious to buy him a new jumper every single Christmas.He would get eight of them every festive season,one from each of the kids and one from Anne.They all made sure they were the loudest,most tacky jumpers they could find too,they all thought this was incredibly funny and Fonsey took it in good humour and wore the garments proudly.

Dec smiled at the memory.

He gazed down at the photo with tears in his eyes,before pulling it close to his chest.

"I miss you Dad" he sadly whispered "so much"

He placed the photo frame back on the mantelpiece.He was starting to feel a bit lonely and wished Ant would hurry back.He was getting used to time alone again but it was his birthday,although being with alot of people wasn't what he could cope with for too long right now,he really did want to be with Ant today.

He tried to busy himself,giving his living room and kitchen a tidy up,that would definitely surprise Ant,he thought to himself giggling.

Ant said he'd be no more than an hour,surely he could manage an hour on his own?

"You're so pathetic Declan Donnelly" he moaned to himself as he sat back down on the sofa after completing the tasks.

Luckily he then heard a key in the door before he could wallow any further.

"Dec?" Ant called out

"I'm in the living room"

Dec peered up at Ant as he entered the living room carrying a box loosely wrapped up in purple wrapping paper,in fact less than half of the box was even wrapped.

Dec went to stand up.Poor effort with the gift wrapping he thought,maybe Ant had run out of sellotape,or wrapping paper.Well it wasn't important anyway and he should stop being such a grump,it's the thought that counts and Ant had obviously thought alot about whatever it was that was in that box.

"No Decs stay there,stay sitting for this"

Ant very gently placed the box onto the sofa next to him.

"Now Declan,you have to open it really carefully ok?that's very important" Ant informed him.

"Ok" Dec was understandably intrigued,what could Ant have bought him?it was obviously something valuable,something breakable maybe if he had to be so careful,he'd never known Ant to be this mysterious about any other present he'd given him.

Dec very gently pulled the bow off,placing it on the coffee table in front of him.Meanwhile Ant had taken out his mobile phone and was recording Decs reaction which confused him even more.

He started to take the small bit of tape off the top of the box.Dec was still wondering why Ant had bothered wrapping it at all.

'Lazy git' Dec thought to himself 'probably got the box out of a skip,couldn't be bothered to go and get a better one'

He then slowly and carefully opened the top and as he peered down into the box,what he saw was the last thing in the world he could have imagined.

As Dec looked inside,tears started filling up in his eyes,this was definitely going to be a birthday to remember!