The following evening Ant and Dec settled back on their beds to watch their debut performance on Top of the pops.

They had informed just about everyone they knew that they were going to be on the show,family members,friends and even occasionally complete strangers they got chatting to.

"This is it" Ant smiled as he passed Dec a beer from the mini fridge.

They clinked their bottles as the shows theme tune started and soon the time for their performance came around.

"Oh my God,I actually feel quite nervous" Dec whispered.

"Yeah me too" Ant laughed "but not alot we can do about it now"

The minute the song had finished and before the boys even had a chance to discuss what they'd just watched,the bedside phone was ringing.

"Hi Anne" Ant grinned "yeah thanks,here's Dec"

"Your Mam is very happy by the sound of it" Ant laughed as he passed the phone over to Dec.

That was soon confirmed as Dec could hardly get a word in with his mother.

"Yep...thanks Mam...good...glad you enjoyed it"

Ant had to laugh as Dec was pummeled into practical silence by his excited parent.

"How's your mam?" Ant grinned as Dec finally hung up the phone.

"Umm...proud would probably be the best way to describe her at the moment" Dec giggled.

"What did she say?" Ant enquired.

"Oh you know" Dec smiled "the usual stuff mams would probably come out with in situations like this.She's so proud,how she can't believe her son was on Top of the pops,all the people she told,I've been the subject of conversation at the irish club since we first knew we were going to be on apparently"

"Yeah I can imagine" Ant laughed just as the phone rang again.

"Hi Mam" he said while playfully rolling his eyes at Dec,he then proceeded to have a very similar conversation with his own mother.

Just two days later the boys were informed that let's get ready to rhumble had shot up to number eleven in the singles charts.

"So close" Dec grinned "so close to the top ten"

They carried on promoting the song and the following week,their dream finally came true.The single had at last broken the top ten and sat comfortably at the number nine position.

"This calls for a celebration" Ant suggested "no matter what happens now,we'll have always had a top ten hit,no one can take that away from us"

"Yeah exactly" Dec agreed "pub?"

"Yep,let's go" Ant beamed.

They celebrated long into the evening,only reluctantly going back to the Bed and Breakfast once it was chucking out time at the place that had become their local watering hole,but not before stopping off for some junk food to soak up the booze.

"Imagine if we could come back to our own place after these nights out" Dec thought out loud.

"I thought you liked it here?" Ant frowned.

"I do" Dec insisted "I like it alot.It's a great place,the staff are lovely and all that,but surely our own place would be better?how long can we keep on living like this?we've been living out of suitcases for months now"

"It's very rock'n'roll Dec" Ant laughed "some rock bands go on tour for two years and live out of their suitcases for all that time"

"Yeah but they probably stay in luxury suites in fancy hotels and don't have to go to the launderette" Dec moaned "they have their minions to do their laundry for them,Bon Jovi we ain't"

"When do you ever go to the launderette?" Ant laughed "you've got your minion to do it for you too,which is basically me"

"I went once" Dec mumbled sheepishly.

"Yeah,ya did" Ant laughed "and that'll be the time you dyed all our clothes pink by putting them in with bright red socks"

"I'm just not very domesticated I guess" Dec shrugged.

"You can say that again" Ant grinned "so having our own place will help with that will it?"

"Can't hurt" Dec smiled.

"Yeah,can't hurt for me to carry on doing everything for you,just in a different setting"

"You like looking after me" Dec pointed out "you admitted it"

"Yeah I do" Ant smiled "as long as I'm not still doing it in ten years time"

"As if" Dec winked "anyway maybe we should mention a flat share to Mike.When we first brought it up ages ago,they didn't want to commit to anything because they didn't know how successful PJ and Duncan would be.Now they know we're doing well,surely they can't refuse this time?"

"No harm in asking I guess" Ant replied.

Once again the subject was brushed aside when it was brought up with Telstar,so there was still no change in the boys accommodation.

As the weeks went by,the boys became more and more popular,they were recognised every time they stepped outside the door,usually by teenage girls.They'd been lucky enough to have a few spots on TV shows as well as some interviews with teen magazines.

"You called that girl yet?" Ant asked Dec one day as they relaxed in their room "Clare is it?"

"When have I had time?" Dec sighed "we've been so busy,you know that"

"She'll think you've lost interest" Ant stated "surely you could fit in a quick call?do it now"

"Yeah,you're right" Dec sighed "she might have met someone else by now though"

"Only one way to find out!Go on then" Ant nodded towards the phone.

"Well,a bit of privacy might be nice like" Dec grumbled.

"Ok" Ant replied "I'll go for a walk around the block,but don't be long"

Around half an hour later,Ant returned to the room.

"Took you a long time to walk around the block didn't it?" Dec mused.

"Ran into some fans" Ant grinned "been chatting and signing autographs,they asked where you were"

"Hope you didn't tell them?" Dec frowned "hell hath no fury like a teenaged fangirl scorned"

The record company had advised Ant and Dec to keep any potential girlfriends secret,so it wouldn't put their loyal female followers off.

"Nah,of course I didn't" Ant assured him "told them you were having a nap"

"Great" Dec laughed "what a party animal they must think I am"

"Did you speak to Clare?" Ant continued.

"Yeah I did" Dec replied glumly.

"What's wrong?" Ant enquired.

"We're just both so tied up with everything to even go on on one date.We suggested several dates and times,but none of them fitted in with the others commitments"

"Oh I'm sorry Dec" Ant replied,wracking his brain for a solution that maybe Dec or Clare hadn't yet considered,but he just drew a blank.

"We swapped addresses though" Dec announced.

"Swapped addresses?" Ant asked surprised "why?"

"We're gonna write to each other" Dec grinned shyly.

"Write to each other?" Ant laughed.

"Ant,are you going to repeat every single thing I say?" Dec questioned.

"Sorry" Ant giggled "but you must admit it's pretty...um...old school?"

"Well,we think it's romantic" Dec snapped,slightly offended "if we can't meet up just yet,then we can get to know each other better by mail"

"Snail mail" Ant giggled.

"Shut up" Dec whispered.

A couple of days later Mike had some amazing news for them.He informed them that they had been booked as guest presenters on a programme called Gimme 5.

The boys had protested initially,claiming they had no idea how to present.Sing,dance or act yes,but presenting?where had that come from?it was completely out of the blue and Ant and Dec weren't sure they were comfortable with it.

However,Mike had persuaded them that even if they didn't really know what they were doing,they had the charisma,likeability factor,good looks and television experience to do a good job of it.

Of course Mike was right and they loved the small feature they did on the programme every week,they were nervous and it showed,but they enjoyed it nevertheless.

Unfortunately as time went on,weeks turned into months and Dec and Clare still hadn't been on a proper date.They had at least managed to meet for coffee every few weeks which was great,but they both still longed for that elusive first date.Clare wanted to be wined and dined and be made to feel special and Dec desperately wanted to be the one to do that,but work had a different plan for them,they both vowed it would happen before the year was out and they would certainly make up for lost time then.

Ant and Dec released their debut album towards the end of the year as well as a further two singles in September and November.

They had now been staying at the Bed and Breakfast for months and had finally had enough.Nothing had come of their previous conversation back in the summer,but now with an album and more singles under their belt,the record company had to agree that it was now time to get them into their own place.

Ant and Dec were delighted with the news,they would be moving into their own flat,after all this time.Even Anne accepted that it was inevitable that they would settle properly in London as they'd now been gone from Newcastle for so long,but the boys had kept their promise to go back home alot more often.

Before they moved in to the new place,Mike had some news.

"You're doing a 'meet and greet' he announced one day as he met the boys for coffee in a posh cafe.

"A what now?" Ant enquired.

"A meet and greet" Mike repeated "at HMV on oxford street.Basically the fans bring their CDs for you to sign,or anything else,you have a quick chat and bish,bash,bosh,everyone's happy"

"Sounds like chaos" Dec grimaced.

"Well,it's not just a free for all Declan" Mike laughed "you two sit at a desk and the fans all queue up to meet you.There'll be security guards there,it's going to be very organised,no one is going to mob you"

"Shame" Ant winked.

"Ok" Dec replied "when are we doing it?"

"On Monday at 3 o'clock" Mike confirmed.

"Great" Ant and Dec replied in unison.

"Will be nice to have a proper chat with the fans" Dec pointed out.

"Yeah it will" Ant agreed.

"Smash Hits magazine will also be there" Mike confirmed "kill two birds with one stone,a meet and greet and a photo shoot,they're going to do an article on you"

So the following Monday,Ant and Dec sat at the desk in the popular west end record shop,watching the queue of fans that was now snaking around the block get longer and longer.There were several groups of girls who had come together,a few in pairs,some obviously with a parent,some completely on their own and also a few lads.

As Ant and Dec got the signing underway,they happily chatted to the fans,many of them eagerly requesting to have a photo with the duo and some of the braver fans even daring to request a kiss on the cheek.

After several hours of signing anything from CDs to T shirts and in some cases with the less shy fans,even somewhere on their bodies,the queue was almost at the end.

"Look at that girl" Dec whispered to Ant as he took a swig from his water bottle while nodding towards the very back of the queue.

"What about her?" Ant asked casually.

"I don't know" Dec replied thoughtfully "there's just something about her,she looks so sad"

"Bored more like" Ant replied as he signed another CD cover "she's probably been standing there for hours,she is last in the queue after all"

"No,it's more than that" Dec frowned "I can tell,something's not right with her"

"Got your mind reading cap on have you?" Ant laughed.

"Maybe I have" Dec snapped back.

"Dec,you're being ridiculous" Ant sighed "you don't know anything about her"

"Maybe not" Dec replied "but I'm gonna talk to her anyway,just in case something's bothering her,can't hurt"

"So you're an agony uncle now too?" Ant teased "is there no end to your talents Declan Donnelly?"

Dec didn't answer as he watched the security guard place a sign behind the girl announcing that the meet and greet was over and no one else would be permitted to meet the boys.Of course this led to disappointment for a couple of stragglers but that was just the way it was,Ant and Dec had already sat there for the best part of four hours with only water for refreshment,they were actually slightly annoyed that no one had even thought to offer them a snack,but they couldn't get too worked up about it.

"Hi" Ant and Dec smiled at the young girl who had waited so patiently at the back of the queue.

"Hi" she answered shyly.

Dec observed the girl for a few moments,noticing her introverted posture as she shuffled nervously from one foot to the other.

"What's your name?" Ant enquired.

"Rosie" the girl replied quietly.

Ant and Dec both signed the girls CD,which was already her prized possession,but would be even more so now it had her idols names scrawled across it.

"So Rosie" Dec smiled "how do you like the album?"

"I love it" Rosie grinned.

"Glad to hear it" Dec replied "what's your favourite song?"

"Let's get ready to rhumble of course" the girl giggled.

"Ah I thought it might be" Dec grinned "so you're here alone?where are your friends?"

"At home swooning over Peter Andre right?" Ant joked.

"I don't have any friends" Rosie answered sadly.

"What?" Dec asked surprised "how can a nice girl like you not have any friends?I don't believe that for a minute"

"Ok,let's wrap it up here" the security guard interrupted.

"No" Dec retorted "we're having a lovely chat with Rosie here,we'll decide when we're ready to wrap it up"

"Ok,ok" the security guard held his hands up in mock defeat and casually walked away.

"So Rosie" Dec continued "what's this nonsense about you having no friends?"

"Look at me" Rosie frowned "why would anyone want to be friends with me?"

"There's nothing wrong with you Rosie" Ant observed as he looked at the fourteen year old.

"You're just being nice" the girl sighed "I'm fat,ugly,spotty and unpopular.No one wants to be friends with someone like me"

"Well,for a start" Dec replied "you are none of those things and there are ways to make friends if you put your mind to it.I know how to get attention,I'll give you some tips"

"Oh I get plenty of attention" Rosie announced.

"You do?" Ant smiled.

"Yeah I do" Rosie frowned "from the school bullies"

"Oh I see" Dec felt his heart drop into his shoes,he'd been there after all,he knew just how this youngster was feeling and wanted to help her desperately,but what could he do?

"I know exactly what you're going through" Dec whispered more to himself than anyone else.

"You do?" Rosie asked surprised.

"Yeah I do" Dec replied.He suddenly had an idea "be back in a minute,you stay here with Ant ok?"

"Ok" Rosie agreed slightly confused.

Dec soon returned to explain his plan.

"How would you like to be on the cover of Smash Hits Rosie?" He asked with a grin.

"What?seriously?how?" The amazed girl asked.

"They're still here" Dec replied "we already did a photo shoot with them earlier,but I asked them if they'd take some more pics of us with you and they agreed.When I told them about the bullying,they agreed it would be a good idea,a kind of anti bullying campaign.Imagine you on the front page of Smash Hits with PJ and Duncan,that'll shut the bullies up right?"

"Great idea Dec" Ant agreed,although he did have a slight niggling doubt in the back of his mind,what if this made things worse for Rosie at school?made her even more of a target,especially if the bullies were the jealous types.

"It's totally up to you Rosie" Ant smiled "we'll only do this if you're a hundred percent sure?"

A huge,amazed smile spread across the lucky fans face.

"I can't believe it" Rosie grinned,with a hint of a tear starting to show in her eye.

"I'm going to be in Smash hits magazine with PJ and Duncan!"