"Is that you Decky?" Anne called out as she heard the front door open.

"Of course it's me Mam,who else would it be?" Dec asked,knowing Cam was out for the evening.He proceeded to place his keys back in his jacket pocket and kick off his shoes.

"You're late sweetheart" Anne pointed out as she emerged from the kitchen while drying her hands on a tea towel "how was work?"

"Ok" Dec sighed.

Anne sensed something was a bit off,this wasn't like Dec at all,not to talk constantly about the events of his day the minute he walked through the door,no one else could get a word in edge ways usually.

She also knew not to push him if something was wrong.He would often come to her for cuddles and reassurance,but mostly went to his Father for advice.She would just have to wait and see with this one,having no clue what was bothering him,if anything,he might just be tired.

"You hungry?" She asked.

"Er no,sorry Mam,I'm not" Dec replied "I've been to the chip shop with Ant"

He then made his way into the living room where he plopped himself down on the sofa next to his Dad.

"Alreet son?" Fonsey enquired as he lowered his newspaper to look at Dec.

"Yeah" Dec replied bluntly.

Fonsey sensed that wasn't true and Dec wanted to talk about something,but may just need a bit of cajoling to open up.

He folded his paper and laid it down on the coffee table.

"Good day lad?"

"Could have been better" Dec stated.

"Want to tell me about it?" Fonsey encouraged.

Dec shrugged his shoulders.

"Ok,well I'm here if you need me" Fonsey smiled as he reached for his paper again.

"We're being written out" Dec stated bluntly.

"What?" Fonsey asked.

"We're being written out" Dec repeated "me and Ant,we're being written out of Byker Grove.We've just got too old apparently"

"Ah I see" Fonsey smiled,he wasn't completely surprised at this news and knew it was likely to be on the cards sooner rather than later as the boys grew up.

"You must be upset?" He asked.

"Yeah I am" Dec replied.

"So what's your plan then young man?" The loving father enquired.

"Well,believe it or not,we've been offered a record deal" Dec informed him.

"Really?" That was a sentence Fonsey never expected to hear.

"Yeah,I'm not too keen but Ant persuaded me we should do it"

"Hmm" Fonsey was thinking about this carefully "did he now?and how is Ant dealing with all this?is he ok?"

"He was upset too" Dec replied sadly "but he's handling it much better than i am,he's trying to see the positives"

"He's a sensible young man that one" Fonsey smiled.

"Yeah" Dec agreed.

"You know Dec,I'm glad you came to me with this,you want to know what i think?" Fonsey asked.

"Always" Dec replied.

"Well,we both know acting can be a fickle business and I'd imagine the music world is even worse" Fonsey mused "this may be worth a try,but I'd advise one thing"

"What?" Dec asked curiously.

"Have something to fall back on" Fonsey advised.

"Like what?" Dec wasn't sure what his Dad meant "you mean like a job?"

"Maybe,or go to college?"

"Yeah Ant mentioned college" Dec replied "i don't know how that would work if we have to record an album at the same time though?"

"They want you to record an album"? Fonsey asked surprised.

"Well not exactly,they haven't said that" Dec grinned "but they want us to record one song,you never know what it might lead to"

"Ah so you do fancy yourself as a bit of a popstar after all?all that protesting was a bit of a fuss about nothing was it?"

"No" Dec stated "it's still not my first choice,but beggars can't be choosers as Mam would say"

"Might give you some time to think before something else comes along" Fonsey smiled "and give you a bit of pocket money"

"Pocket money?" Dec laughed "I'm earning a wage,not getting pocket money,how old do you think I am?"

"Well,let's see now,how old are you?" Fonsey joked "well,you're about knee high to a sparrow so I reckon you're about five,maybe six"

"Shut up Dad" Dec laughed while affectionately nudging his beloved parent in the ribs,Fonsey was one person he didn't mind taking the piss out of his height.

"What song is it they want you to record?" Fonsey enquired.

"Tonight I'm free" Dec sighed.

"Ah,the song you both love so much,got number one hit written all over it that has" Fonsey joked "might just see you two on Top of the pops"

"Yeah right Dad" Dec laughed "as if that's ever gonna happen,can you imagine?"

"Maybe I can imagine lad" Fonsey smiled "dreams are all we have in life,so dream big"

Dec cuddled into Fonsey as the older man put his arm lovingly around his son and kissed his forehead.

"Dream big son"

"Love you Dad" Dec smiled contentedly.

"Love you too Decky"

Fonsey soon stopped the talk of dreams and came back to reality to continue the unfinished conversation.

"Anyway" he stated "back to what we were saying,alot of college courses are part time and maybe these music people will be willing to fit in with your studying?"

"Maybe" Dec thought "but what would I even do at college?"

"What about that acting course you noticed?you mentioned that a while back"

"I only mentioned it cos I was interested that the local college had started running that particular course" Dec replied "I never intended to enrol for it,i already know how to act"

"I know you do" Fonsey smiled "but a good actor is always learning"

"Ok Dad,I'll look into it,maybe Ant will be interested in doing it with me"

"That's the spirit son,you do that"

Dec did indeed decide to enrol in the B-tech in performing Arts course at Newcastle college and even managed to persuade Ant to do it with him.

But before that began,there was the matter of filming their final ever scenes for Byker Grove.Ants character was due to exit the programme before Decs,but the filming schedule meant that the scenes weren't filmed in the order they were televised,so Ant and Dec actually finished working there on the same day.

When that day came around,a feeling of sadness hung in the air.Of course the boys acted their hearts out as per usual,just because they had been written out,that didn't mean they wouldn't still give it more than a hundred percent,they were way more professional than that.

Once filming had ceased,the crew and cast gathered around Ant and Dec and a few other cast members who were leaving as well,sadly having also grown too old for their roles,for a farewell party.

It was a lovely but emotional occasion with everyone telling them how much they would be missed and how great it had been to work with them,although both Ant and Dec did feel an unexpected twinge of jealousy at the fact most of these people would be coming back for the next series and they wouldn't.Several people including Ant and Dec couldn't hold back the tears as everyone hugged them warmly and said their goodbyes as the party was coming to an end.

"Well boys,it's been a pleasure" Matthew smiled as he approached them.

"Thanks" Dec said as he held his hand out to shake the mans hand who had helped them grow in so many ways,for that they would be eternally grateful.

"Thanks for everything Matthew" Ant smiled while also shaking his hand "you've taught us alot"

"All in a days work" Matthew replied.

"Nah,it was more than that" Dec pointed out "you've given us some great advice over the years,it meant the world to us"

"Well" Matthew replied "maybe I do have a bit of a soft spot for you two,so I was happy to help.It's been amazing watching you grow from those nervous little kids I first met,to the fine young men you are today,you and your families should be so proud"

"Thanks" both boys said appreciatively.

Matthew couldn't resist giving them a goodbye hug "you take care of yourselves lads"

"I'll miss you two shorties" Lyndyann smiled as she approached the boys after watching Matthew walk away,she tearfully hugged each of them.

"I'll miss you too gingernut" Dec replied as he returned the hug.

"Yeah me too fuzzy head" Ant teased as he ruffled Lyndyanns shock of red,curly hair while carrying on the banter that had taken place throughout their entire time at Byker Grove.

"Stay in touch yeah?" Lyndyann requested.

"Yeah" Ant and Dec both chorused together,although all three of them knew this was probably unlikely.

"Bye Anthony" came a small voice from behind Lyndyann.

"Bye Nicola" Ant smiled as he pulled his on/off girlfriend and co star of the last three years in for an affectionate embrace.

They had enjoyed a very casual relationship consisting mainly of going to the cinema or picnics in the park when the unpredictable British weather permitted it.In reality Ant had spent way more of his leisure time with Dec than Nicola which is what he preferred.Dec too had been dating a string of pretty lasses but nothing ever came of it.Ant and Dec knew they were most happiest in each others company than anyone elses,so why fight it?

But as their time at Byker Grove came to a close,both Ant and Nicola knew it was time to call it a day.They had been together since they were fourteen years old,they were both different,older people now.

They wished each other luck before moving on.

Ant and Dec found it hard to drag themselves away as the building got emptier and emptier,until it was just the two of them and the caretaker left who was waiting to clear up and lock the building,it wouldn't take long as some of the cast and crew had very kindly helped with everything that needed doing before they went home.

"You all done boys?" He asked slightly impatiently as he swept the wooden floor,hinting that he just wanted to get on with his job and go home.

"Er yeah,sorry Dave" Ant smiled "we'll be on our way"

"Good luck then" Dave replied casually as the boys made their way to Decs car,parked by itself in the dark, lonely car park.

"That's it then" Dec sighed sadly as both boys sat in the small vehicle,staring at the impressive Mitre building.

"Yeah that's it" Ant replied "the end of an era"

They both sat static in the deserted car park,neither of them verbalising their thoughts any further,but neither one of them wanted to make that final journey down that long,gravelled driveway.Would they ever walk or drive up it ever again?probably not,but it was just too sad a thought to contemplate.

They were both jolted out of their thoughts as they heard Dave slam the heavy door and secure the building.

He waved to them casually as he started his short walk home.

They politely returned the gesture.

"Just us now then" Ant stated.

"Yep" Dec replied "just us and the Mitre building"

"I'll miss this place as well as the people" Ant sighed.

"Yeah me too" Dec agreed "people who say buildings are just bricks and mortar are wrong,they're so much more than that.Theyre memories,hopes,dreams,aspirations and securities"

"Yeah" Ant smiled "and positives,this place will always have a special place in my heart"

"Mine too" Dec whispered as he started his car ignition and slowly started to drive away,giving a long,meaningful look back in the rear view mirror towards the place he and Ant had grown up and had began their journey from boys to men,uttering the sentence that pulled so deeply on his own and Ants heart strings.

"Goodbye old friend!"