Ant and Dec spent the next couple of days filming the rest of the video for "let's get ready to rhumble" and loving every minute of it.

They had great fun running around London as well as meeting and hanging out with the kids who were to be extras in the video and just generally having a good time.

The end of filming coincided with their move into the new B&B,so when the driver took them back that day,he was ordered by the record company to wait outside until the boys had got their things together and then take them to their new abode.

"We're leaving today" Dec smiled at the grumpy receptionist that he'd taunted so mercilessly over the last few days,he deliberately bit his lip to stop himself winding her up anymore by knowingly using the wrong name.

"I know" Sue stated bluntly,without looking up from her book.

"Been fun hasn't it?" Dec teased,perfectly aware that he still hadn't gotten her to smile like he bet Ant he would.

"Has it?" Sue glanced up at Dec.

"Has for me" Dec shrugged.

"That's because you're a child" Sue replied.Dec may have been mistaken,but he was sure he detected a hint of amusement in her voice.

"I am not a child" Dec smiled,he knew he had no right to get annoyed about whatever Sue may come out with after how he'd wound her up every day.

"I'm a ver ver mature young man I'll have you know" he joked.

Sue looked up from her book and straight into the cheeky teenagers eyes and she couldn't hide the slight grin that was now creeping across her face any longer.

"Aha" Dec exclaimed "you smiled"

"Did I?" Sue wasn't so sure she had.

"Yes you did" Dec insisted "you saw her didn't you Ant?she smiled,I won the bet"

"Yeah you did" Ant told Sue.

"What?you had a bet that you could get me to smile?" Sue enquired.

"Might have" Dec mumbled sheepishly.

Then much to Ant and Decs surprise,a huge,cheerful grin spread across Sues face "then I guess you did win"

She held out her hand to shake Decs "you're a worthy opponent Mr Donnelly"

"Wait what?" Ant was confused "what does this mean?that you're naturally miserable and Dec made you smile or that you were just pretending to be a miserable cow the whole time?in which case why would you do that?"

"You can make up your own mind about all that Mr McPartlin" Sue announced as she shook Ants hand as well "give you something to dwell on.I hope your next place is more to your liking"

"Er yeah thanks" Ant replied,still not sure what had just happened "come on Dec,we need to go"

"Ok,I'm coming" Dec replied cheerfully as he followed Ant out of the door,turning back towards the receptionist and waving a good hearted farewell.

"Bye Sue" he smiled.

"Bye Declan" she called back with genuine affection,before returning to her book.

"I have no idea what just happened" Ant stated as they climbed back into the car,which was just met with a giggle from Dec.

"Wow,this is much nicer" Dec stated as he looked around the new place that they would be staying in.

"Yeah definitely" Ant agreed "look,it's got a television and a phone and even a mini bar"

"A mini bar?" Dec exclaimed excitedly "let me see"

Dec was soon on his knees rummaging through the contents of the small chilled cabinet.

"Chocolate buttons" he announced proudly as he held the small bag of treats up to show Ant "how did they know I like chocolate buttons?"

"Well" Ant smiled "everyone sees you scoffing them often enough,would have only taken a tip from Telstar"

"Mine" Dec announced as he opened the bag.

"Excuse me Declan" Ant frowned "I'm sure there'll be two of everything,so equal shares ok Mr greedy?what else have they got?"

"Pringles,water,coke,beer and Ooh those little bottles of wine like they had in the limo" Dec smiled.

"Chuck us a beer then" Ant ordered.

"More like a hotel ain't it?" Dec observed "I'm not complaining though"

"Me neither" Ant laughed "now let's see what's on the box"

The boys were soon settled into their new way of life.They had been given a date for "let's get ready to rhumble" to be released on the eleventh of July,so meanwhile they got stuck into recording their debut album.

Importantly,Dec played the dutiful son perfectly,never forgetting to phone his parents every day,without even needing to be prompted by Ant,but Anne was finding the situation increasingly difficult as the weeks stretched into months.

"You said it would only be for a few weeks" she stated tearfully while speaking to Dec on the phone one day.

"I know Mam" Dec sighed "we're just so busy with everything,we genuinely don't know how things will be in the coming weeks and months"

Anne understood that it was Decs new music career that he was trying to get off the ground,after a shaky start,it was now what he wanted and it required them to stay in London,at least for the time being,she just missed him so much.

"You haven't even been to visit" she said sadly "not even for a weekend"

Dec felt incredibly guilty about that,but the truth was that they worked most weekends as well,they usually only had one day a week off and it obviously wasn't worth going all the way back to Newcastle just for a day.

"I know Mam" Dec replied sadly "I miss you guys and I'd love to come and visit,but we're just snowed under with everything at the moment,why don't you come down here to see us sometime?maybe Christine and Sarha will come too?"

"I doubt that would work" Anne sighed "your Dad has to work weekends too and so does Ants Mam"

"Ok" Dec replied thoughtfully "listen,let me have a word with Telstar about getting some time off,we must be entitled to a break,then I'll be home to see you all"

"You promise?" Anne asked hopefully.

"Of course I promise" Dec replied "I want to see you as much as you want to see me,I'll sort it out and let you know"

Anne hung up the phone feeling alot happier than she had in weeks.Of course she was so proud of her special boy and knew he was working his socks off down in London,but none of that stopped her missing him,missing fussing over him at every opportunity,missing him being her baby in person,not just a distant voice down a phone line.This was the longest she'd been apart from him and she hated it.

For now she decided she wouldn't focus on that,but concentrate on the upcoming visit home from her son that hopefully wouldn't be too far away.

After speaking to the record company,Telstar had agreed Ant and Dec deserved the break that they had been yearning for.The album would be completed in no more than a week or two and there would then be at least a couple of weeks spare before the single would be released.So both Ant and Dec informed their families they would be home as soon as possible.

Once that day came around,they sat excitedly on the train ready to take them back to their loved ones.

Fonsey and Anne insisted on picking them up and as the train trundled into Newcastle station,Dec immediately spied his parents through the window.

"There they are" Dec announced as he waved furiously at his waiting parents.

Unfortunately Anne and Fonsey hadn't spotted Dec yet amongst the crowds,but as the boys disembarked,it couldn't have been more than a nanosecond before the youngest Donnelly child heard the loudest,high pitched shriek.

"DECLAN" came the shrill voice as the excited mother ran towards her child with her husband in hot pursuit,not caring whos paths they were blocking.

"Oh Declan" Anne squealed as she attempted to scoop Dec into her arms,but soon realising he was way to big for that now,he had been for a few years.

So it came down to Dec to do the scooping and that's exactly what he did,lifting his petite mother off of her feet and swinging her around like a small child.

"Declan,put me down" Anne laughed,feeling slightly self conscious of all the people milling around them.

"Sorry Mam" he laughed,placing her back down onto the platform,but still hugging her "I'm just so happy to see you"

"How have you been son?" Fonsey asked as he prized his wife off of his son,so he could get a hug in for himself.

"Good Dad" Dec smiled as he let his beloved father envelope him warmly in his protective arms "really good"

"Glad to hear it" Fonsey announced as he pulled out of the hug,but kept his hands firmly in place on Decs upper arms "you looking after yourself,eating right?"

"Yes Dad,I'm looking after myself and eating right" Dec laughed.

"Not too much junk food?" Fonsey continued.

"Maybe just a little bit" Dec winked "Dad,have you turned into Mam while I've been away?I usually get all this nonsense from her"

"Hey" Anne snapped as she hugged Ant "I heard that"

Fonsey then hugged Ant affectionately too.

"Come on boys" Fonsey smiled "let's get Ant home,your Mams dying to see you"

"Yeah I know" Ant grinned "I've had her going on down the telephone too"

"Best get you to her then" Fonsey laughed.

The boys had an amazing two weeks back at home,lapping up being spoilt by all the loving parents and catching up with their families and friends,but soon it was time to return to London in time to promote "let's get ready to rhumble"

"Declan,what are you going to do about your car?" Fonsey enquired as he drove the boys back to catch their train "it's been sitting here gathering dust for weeks now and you've hardly even used it while you've been back"

"Dunno" Dec replied "not really thought about it"

"Well,you'll need it when you come home for good won't you?" Anne enquired hopefully,turning back to look at Dec from the front passenger seat.

Dec just nodded absent mindedly.In all honesty,he had been having thoughts of not returning to Newcastle at all,he was loving life in London and it was the best place for him to be to further his career.The more he thought about it,the more he liked the idea,but he hadn't mentioned it to anyone yet,not even Ant,but unbeknown to him,Ant was having those exact same thoughts.

Of course his mother was the one person he knew would have trouble dealing with that idea,so he wasn't going to mention it to her just yet,it was just a bit of a dream at the moment.

"Declan" Fonsey snapped,jolting Dec out of his thoughts "your car?"

"Oh yeah" Dec sighed "maybe I should sell it then?I can always get another one once I come back,a better one"

"It's been a good little car that" Ant grinned.

"Definitely" Dec agreed fondly "a great little runaround"

"You never forget your first car Decky" Fonsey smiled at his son in the rear view mirror "it'll always have a special place in your heart,I still have fond memories of my first car"

"Oh I know I won't" Dec promised "my first car,my beloved MG metro"

"Turbo" Ant stated.

"Turbo" Dec repeated and they both giggled at each other.

"Next car will be a Porsche" Dec announced proudly.

"Oh will it?" Fonsey laughed.

"Yep,you wait and see" Dec laughed.

"Boys and their toys" Anne sighed as she rolled her eyes.

A few hours later the Ant and Dec found themselves back at their accommodation,looking forward to all the promoting they would be doing over the next few weeks.

They had been booked for a couple of slots on kids programmes,most importantly,the popular Saturday morning shows which had the target audience they were aiming at and where they would also get the video shown.They also had a couple of interviews lined up with teen magazines.Steve also assured them that there would be other things too,they just hadn't been booked yet.

So the time finally came for the single to be released.Telstar were on the phone immediately to inform Ant and Dec which number it had reached in the pop charts.

Ant held the phone receiver between his and Decs ears so they could both hear what was being said.

"Number eighteen" came Steves voice down the phone.

Ant and Dec both felt their heart sink once again as they reclined back onto Ants bed.Number eighteen?that's all?all their hard work,all the promoting they'd done and they'd hardly broke the top twenty?

Steve sensed the disappointment in their silence.

"Listen guys,you made the top twenty,that's brilliant,dont be disheartened ok?" He insisted "this isn't bad you know,this is just where it entered the charts,it's going to continue to climb"

"What like the last two records did?" Dec asked dejected.

Steve couldn't help laughing "did you actually think it would go straight in at number one or something?"

"Maybe" Dec whispered as Steve continued laughing.

"What's so funny?" Dec sighed.

"Sorry,can't help myself" Ant and Dec couldn't see it,but Steve was grinning like a Cheshire cat on the other end of the line.

"Maybe I know something you don't know" Steve taunted like a playful five year old.

"What?" Ant and Dec asked together.

"Something that I know will make you both very happy" Steve continued.

"What?" Ant and Dec repeated.

"Something you've both really wanted for a long time" Steve was stringing the boys along for as long as he possibly could "and something that I know will help the song do well"

"Alright Steve" Ant snapped "this is just getting incredibly irritating now,just tell us what's going on will ya?"

"Ok,sorry boys" Steve laughed "just having a bit of fun"

"And......?" Dec replied impatiently.

"And...." Steve continued "you have been booked to perform let's get ready to rhumble live"

"Where?" Dec asked curiously,a hint of excitement now beginning to course through his veins.

Steve then spoke the words that Ant and Dec had been longing to hear for what felt like a lifetime.

"On Top of the pops!"