Dec didn't get much sleep that night.He couldn't help but think about the conversation he'd had with Ant and mulled it over in his head again and again.

He didn't know how to feel,or what to think.Of course he wanted Ant to be happy,why wouldn't he?he was his best friend after all and he knew that Lisa was playing a huge part in that happiness,so there was no way he could have any resentment towards her,he liked her too much for that anyway.

But Dec was upset,alot more than he'd let on to Ant.At least Ant hadn't heard him sobbing into his pillow,he hoped not anyway.Dec definitely didn't want him to feel any worse than he already did,that is if Ant even felt bad about all this at all?Hopefully he didn't.Dec just wished he could get the continuous thoughts out of his head about how he would cope on his own,how different things would be,how much he would miss Ant,but it wouldn't be fair to Ant to make him feel guilty because of his own life choices,which he obviously had a right to.

Dec had been tossing and turning in bed for most of the night,occasionally drifting off into a light sleep which unfortunately didn't last that long according to the bedside clock that he'd looked at so many times during the night,he'd lost count.

Eventually he gave up on his fruitless attempts at getting any shut eye and sluggishly dragged himself out of bed at the unearthly hour of 6am.Dec very rarely saw that time of day,there had been a couple of occasions when he and Ant had partied so hard that they'd actually arrived home around that time after a very heavy night out on the town and it was actually getting light by the time they'd dragged their drunken bodies into bed,but for Dec to voluntarily get up at this hour was unheard of.

He made himself a cup of tea and plonked down heavily onto the sofa,not doing anything except taking the occasional sip from his mug.Just staring straight ahead in a sleepy daze,still not being able to think of anything except the fact that Ant was moving out.He wished he could get those thoughts out of his mind,there was nothing he could do about it after all,so what was the point in torturing himself?

He knew there was no point in that at all,but his busy brain seemed to have other ideas,that was until roughly half an hour later when he was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of Ant arising,starting to get ready for the work day ahead.

"Decs" Ant stated,feeling surprisingly uneasy at the unusual sight of his friend and flatmate sitting quietly in the living room so early in the morning.

"What are you doing up so early?" Ant queried "you startled me"

"Couldn't sleep" Dec mumbled "so gave up trying in the end"

"Oh really?" Ant asked concerned "that's not like you,usually out like a light you are"

"Yeah" Dec agreed "not last night though it seems"

"Guess I don't need to ask what's bothering you?" Ant sighed.

"It's ok Ant" Dec smiled "we don't need to go into it again,it'll just take some getting used to that's all,I'll be fine"

"Yeah you will" Ant replied affectionately "I know you and you definitely will be fine,want a cuppa"

"Just had one thanks" Dec smiled while nodding towards his empty mug sat on the coffee table "guess I'd better start getting ready"

"Yeah you do that pal" Ant smiled "got a few meetings today,need to be bright eyed and bushy tailed"

"Yeah" Dec answered with a forced smile as he made his way towards the bathroom to take a shower which he hoped would help with the hideous exhausted feeling a person gets after a bad nights sleep.

Ant watched his beloved friend walk out of the room towards the hallway.Ant was now worried,Dec maybe wasn't taking the news about him moving out as well as he thought and that broke his heart.

He never mentioned anything,but Ant could tell by Decs bloodshot,puffy eyes that he'd been crying.

"Poor Decs" he mumbled to himself.Ant was undecided whether to have another chat with him or not,would that make things better or worse?what could he even say that hadn't already been said last night?so he decided he'd leave it,for now at least and if Dec wanted to talk more at any point,then of course he would do his best to reassure him that this wasn't the end of the world.

He did have an idea though,one which he put to Dec on their way to work that day,as they were driven through the busy London traffic.

"Me and Lisa are going to look at houses this weekend" he announced "after the show on Saturday and thought maybe you'd like to tag along?"

"Tag along?" Dec enquired.He didn't like that expression,especially not in this situation.He thought it sounded like they were only inviting him because they felt obliged to,that he was the third wheel,the gooseberry who they were just trying to keep happy for an easy life,but who probably wasn't really wanted there.

"Yeah" Ant smiled,unaware of what was going through Decs mind about what he'd just said and how personally he'd taken those two little words "ya know?check out some places with us,will be fun and I'd like your opinion"

"Why do you need my opinion?" Dec frowned "it's Lisa you're gonna be living with,not me"

Ant tried his best to not be hurt by Decs tone,but it did sting.

"Just thought you might like to come that's all" Ant sighed,now realising it was going to take Dec a hell of a long time to come to terms with how things were changing,Ant knew now that he must have been incredibly naive to think otherwise.He knew how sensitive and easily upset Dec could be,the conversation of the previous evening where Ant had gone to bed thinking everything was hunky dory,seemed like a lifetime ago now.Still,he also knew that he could get Dec through this like he did with every other thing in his life,Ant knew from experience that all it would take was a bit of love and understanding which he had in abundance.

"Nah" Dec smiled sadly "that's for you two to do,it'll be yours and Lisas home"

"And yours" Ant cut in sharply "wherever I live Decs,there will always be a place for you should you need it,you know that right?"

"Yeah" Dec replied quietly "got a busy day,lots to discuss about Saturdays show"

"Yeah,there is" Ant sighed,Dec had just made it blatantly obvious that he didn't want to talk about the home situation any longer with his not so subtle attempt at changing the subject,but it felt unfinished to Ant,he felt like Dec probably had alot more to say on the subject,but he'd have to let it go for now,Dec would come to him when he was ready,until then,Ant would just have to wait patiently.

After that Saturdays show,Ant and Lisa were off on their mission to find their new home.Ant was sad that Dec wasn't coming along,his opinion was important to him after all,but he had to respect Decs wishes.

It didn't take long before the loved up couple had found the house they wanted to make their home.They'd decided to rent again for the time being,just to see how it would go,after all,they say you don't really know someone until you've lived with them,so they wanted to be a million percent sure that they were 'the one' for each other before they took the plunge and actually bought a place together.

Ant was so excited about his new abode and desperately wanted to tell Dec all about it as he arrived home that evening after taking Lisa out for dinner,but he knew it would be inappropriate given how Dec was feeling.

"Hiya" Ant shouted out cheerfully as he opened the front door to the flat he had shared with Dec for three years.

"Hey mate" Dec replied immediately.

Well he sounds alot happier than he did this morning,Ant thought to himself.

"How are ya?" Ant smiled as he flopped down on the sofa next to Dec and kicked his shoes off "me feet are killing us"

"Well I ain't massaging those trotters" Dec laughed.

"Aww go on" Ant grinned "isn't that what flatmates are for?"

"Don't know what world that is in?" Dec smiled "but it certainly ain't in my world"

"After everything I've done for you" Ant joked "what are you up to?"

"Just channel hopping" Dec sighed "I can't believe the crap on telly on Saturday nights,needs a complete overhaul if you ask me.When are they going to show something other than repeats and boring crime dramas?where's the actual family entertainment?you know,like Morcambe and Wise and all that,the stuff we watched when we were kids,it's all rubbish now"

"It'll get better one day kidda" Ant smiled "you'll see"

"Yeah,well it had better" Dec frowned "cos this is shit"

"Don't worry about that Decs" Ant replied "that's not our department"

"Yeah,well maybe it should be" Dec mumbled.

"So what else have you been up to today?" Ant asked curiously "or have you just sat in front of the box for hours on end?"

"Just about yeah" Dec whispered "spoke to Mam earlier"

"Ah your obligatory weekend phone call to the mother" Ant teased.

"It's not obligatory" Dec stated,slightly offended "she's me Mam,I like talking to her"

"I'm just jesting with ya pal" Ant smiled "how's everyone back home?"

"Yeah,they're good" Dec smiled "seems our families getting together has become a regular thing,even though we're not there"

"Really?" Ant smiled.

"Yeah" Dec nodded "our Mams have apparently been getting together two or three times a week"

"Aww" Ant laughed "I like that,it's nice for them,imagine our Mams becoming best friends just like we are"

"Yeah" Dec agreed "I knew they socialised together,but I didn't realise it was quite that often,I think they pretty much already are best friends"

"It's great though isn't it?" Ant smiled "it's what my Mam needs I think,to have some time for herself now me and Sarha are older and she doesn't need to work her fingers to the bone to care for us,we're both earning our own money now,so it's time for her to have her own life and work less and I'm really glad it's Anne who's helping with that,I'm gonna help her out financially too,well I would if she'd let me,stubborn old boot she is"

"Yeah" Dec laughed "out parents are nothing if not proud,will take a bit of persuasion to get any of them to take anything from us"

Dec sat quietly for a moment before continuing.

"I told her about you moving out" he stated.

"Oh yeah?" Ant asked cautiously,letting Dec lead the way with where this conversation was going.

"Yeah" Dec smiled "although she already knew as your Mam had told her,but she made me realise how silly I'm being about you moving out and how I don't need to be upset"

"You're not being silly Dec" Ant smiled understandingly "there's no right and wrong about your feelings and you're entitled to them whatever they are"

"Why are you always so nice and understanding?" Dec asked suddenly.

"Dunno" Ant shrugged "that's just me I guess"

"Yeah it is" Dec replied "I don't know how you put up with me sometimes,with my moods,stroppyness and always wanting my own way?"

"Because you're my best mate" Ant confirmed "and I love ya just the way you are"

"Really?" Dec grinned "you mean there's nothing you would change about me if you could?"

"No nothing" Ant replied firmly.

"Well,there's things I'd change about you" Dec winked.

"What?" Ant enquired,slightly offended.

"Your horrendous,smelly farts" Dec replied and collapsed back into the sofa in a fit of giggles.

"Oh you can talk" Ant laughed "can fart for England you could"

With that,Ant pounced on Dec and wrestled him to the floor,rolling around like two five year olds playing at rough and tumble,before they eventually parted and slumped to the floor exhausted.

"So I take it you and Lisa found a place then?" Dec enquired while still trying to catch his breath.

"Yeah we did" Ant smiled,surprised that Dec had even asked,he now knew he had Anne to thank for that.

"Where?" Dec enquired.

"Chiswick" Ant grinned.

"Chiswick?" Dec exclaimed "how posh are you?that's an expensive area,how can you afford that?"

"Declan" Ant laughed "you earn exactly the same as me,you know how I can afford it,we're both doing pretty well aren't we?"

"Yeah we are" Dec agreed.

"And Lisa is earning a decent wage too remember" Ant pointed out "there'll be two pay packets coming in,so I doubt we'll be struggling"

"What's it like?" Dec enquired curiously "the house?"

"It's nice,the previous tenants have already moved out,so I can go over whenever I like" Ant replied,not giving too much away "want to come and see it?I've got something to show you"

"Yeah,why not" Dec smiled "what?"

"You'll see" Ant grinned playfully.

"The estate agent said the landlord may be selling it at some point" Ant informed his friend "so if all works out between me and Lisa,then that would be perfect,we could buy it and make it a proper home"

"I don't know why you don't just buy it anyway?" Dec smiled.

"I told ya Decs" Ant replied "got to make sure we're completely compatible before we make that kind of commitment"

"Of course you are compatible" Dec laughed "made for each other you two are and if it doesn't work out,you can just chuck her out"

"Yeah,I'm sure Lisa will be delighted at your casual attitude towards her home life" Ant laughed.

So the following Saturday after the show had aired,Ant took Dec to see his new house,making a brief stop beforehand to collect the keys from the estate agent.

"What do you think then?" Ant asked expectantly as he showed Dec around the downstairs.

"I like it" Dec confirmed.

"Come on" Ant summoned "I'll show you upstairs"

As Ant excitedly showed Dec around the top floor of his new home,there was one more room that had yet to be seen.

"Mine and Lisas bedroom is great isn't it?" Ant smiled "it's so big,will make a change from my poky little room at the flat"

"Yeah it's great" Dec agreed as he nodded towards another door "that's a spare bedroom I take it?"

"Yeah" Ant replied with a grin "well,we can call it a spare bedroom..."

"Or we can call it YOUR bedroom!"