"Declan,what on earth is wrong?" Ant asked worriedly as he watched his friends face turn ashen after he had hung up the phone.

"Oh God Ant" Dec cried with distraught tears streaming down his face "what am I going to do?Clare will never forgive me now"

"Dec,you're scaring me" Ant tried to stay calm,but he was terrified that something awful had happened "please tell me what's going on will ya?"

"She did it Ant,she did it" Dec sobbed.

"Who did?" Ant queried confused "who did what?"

"Tina,of course" Dec replied sadly "she sold her story to the papers,Paul said my face is going to be plastered all over the front pages tomorrow"

"Oh God Dec,I'm so sorry" Ant replied while moving up close to his friend on the sofa,he knew how Dec always found close body contact comforting,so he made sure their thighs were touching and he could give Dec a reassuring pat on the leg or rub of his arm if necessary.

"My life is over isn't it?" Dec sniffed.

"What?" Ant exclaimed surprised "don't be so silly,of course your life isn't over"

"My career is though" Dec stated "and in turn,so is yours,I'm sorry"

"Declan,you're being ridiculous" Ant smiled "there's no reason why this should effect either of our careers.You know what they say?"

"What?" Dec asked tearfully.

"Todays news is tomorrows fish and chip wrapper" Ant announced.

"That's not actually true now though is it?" Dec frowned "it's all online now and will be there forever"

"A lot of people still buy actual newspapers though don't they?" Ant pointed out.

"That doesn't make me feel any better" Dec moaned.

"No,sorry" Ant winced at his clumsy attempt to comfort Dec "of course it doesn't"

Ant knew it was true that a lot of things were online now and so this was likely to be too,but he had to say something to convince Dec that things would be ok in the end.

"Look Decs" Ant continued "the next few days or weeks are undoubtedly going to be hard,but you can get through it,you just have to be strong,I know you have it in you to ride out this storm,we can do it"

"We?" Dec questioned.

"Yes,of course 'we'" Ant smiled "I'm gonna be with you every step of the way"

"Thanks" Dec mumbled emotionally.

"No worries kidda" Ant replied "you know I'm always here for you no matter what don't you?"

"Yeah,I do" Dec smiled for the first time since ending the phone call with Paul "and I appreciate it,I really do"

"That's what best buds are for" Ant grinned.

"What am I going to do though?" Dec sighed "about Clare?about all of this?"

"Well" Ant looked thoughtful for a moment "you've already discussed the issue with Clare,so the ball's in her court now"

"What if all this makes her even less likely to forgive me?" Dec enquired "she's going to hate it"

"Love conquers all" Ant announced confidently "it's not like she can just turn her feelings off,she won't just stop loving you overnight.Yes the press intrusion will be awful for a while,but they'll get bored eventually and move on to some other poor sod,then maybe you two can concentrate on rebuilding your relationship?"

"If she lets me" Dec frowned.

"Listen Declan" Ant smiled as he placed a loving arm around his friend,allowing Dec to bury his tear stained face into his soft jumper "I personally believe what you two have is worth fighting for.I believe YOU are worth fighting for.So you made a stupid mistake,you've owned up to it and are attempting to right the wrong,Clare knows that.Of course she'll be pissed off with the press intrusion,but hopefully she'll just see it as a minor inconvenience,because that's all it is,you get that right?"

Dec nodded silently into Ants chest.

"How about I make us a nice cup of tea?" Ant suggested "nothing a good brew can't put right eh?"

"Yeah,thanks,that would be nice" Dec replied,arising from his nestled position on Ants chest.

"Oh" Ant thought suddenly "or would you prefer something a little bit stronger?"

"Nah,tea is fine" Dec smiled weakly.

"Ok good" Ant got up to make his way to the kitchen "just popping to the loo first"

As he returned a few minutes later,Dec could see by the look on his face,something wasn't right.

"What is it?" Dec asked curiously.

"Um...they're here" Ant announced.

"Who's here?" Dec enquired "actually forget I asked that,I know exactly who you're talking about"

Dec got up to take a quick peek out of his hallway window.As he did,what seemed like a thousand flash bulbs went off outside his house.How he wished at that particular moment,he had a ten foot brick wall around his property.

"Yeah,they're here" Dec confirmed.

"Dec,come away from the window" Ant advised.

Dec made his way back into the living room and sipped cautiously from the hot drink that Ant had presented him with,although he could barely notice the taste,he was too stressed to even think about the joy a simple cup of tea usually gave his taste buds,so he might as well have been drinking plain water.

"Er...I'm sorry to point this out to you Dec" Ant said cautiously "but now it's out there,you know other people are going to find out about this don't you?just thought you might want to warn them?"

"Like who?" Dec enquired.

"Like your family" Ant replied "your Mam"

Dec shook his head despairingly "she'll hate me,they all love Clare,they're going to be so angry with me"

"Maybe for a little while" Ant agreed "but then they'll move on,just like you will,they're your family Dec,they love you unconditionally"

"That won't stop them being angry though" Dec sighed.

"Maybe not" Ant agreed "but it'll be short lived,you'll see.Do you really think that your family,your Mam,who all think you are the best thing since sliced bread,who love you,adore you,are proud of you,are really going to give you such a hard time over this?especially once they know how much you regret what you did,how scared you are of losing Clare,how hard you are trying to win her back and how awful the press are undoubtedly going to be,they'll have your back,I promise you that,the same as I have"

"I guess so" Dec sighed unconvinced.

Ant stared at Dec silently for a while He was doing his best to make Dec see that this wasn't going to be the end of the world.Yes it was going to be bloody hideous for a while,but he knew Dec could get through it,Ant wasn't so sure he was doing such a great job of convincing Dec of that fact though.

"I suppose I should phone me Mam then?" Dec broke the silence

"Wouldn't be a bad idea" Ant nodded "she needs to hear this from you,no one else,I'll give you some privacy"

As Ant got up to leave the room,Dec quickly grabbed hold of the edge of his jumper.

"No,stay" Dec pleaded "I want you here,I've got nothing to hide from you"

Ant nodded silently as he sat back down on the sofa.

Dec took a deep breath as he dialled his parents home phone number,he cringed at his mothers cheerfulness as she answered the phone,knowing he was about to burst her happy bubble.

Ant found it difficult to listen to Dec attempting to explain things to his Mam,he felt such compassion for him as he stuttered and sobbed his way through the conversation.Ant knew Anne had a temper on her when the occasion called for it,that was no doubt where Dec got his fieryness from after all,but he was saying a silent prayer for her to go easy on her son,her wrath was the last thing he needed at the moment.

Of course Anne made it clear how upset and disappointed she was,but the call ultimately ended with her telling Dec how much she and all the family loved him and would always be there for him.

"Dec?" Ant smiled gently after he'd finished the call "don't you think you'd better warn Clare?you know about the paps outside.If she decides to come back here later,she needs to know she's going to have all those cameras shoved in her face"

"I guess" Dec agreed,but made no moves to do do anything about it.

"I tell you what" Ant said helpfully "I'll call Lisa in a bit and we'll decide what to do"

"Ok" Dec mumbled in such a quiet voice that it was barely audible to Ant.

To Ants surprise,Dec then got up and made his way towards the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Ant enquired.

"I'm going for a nap" Dec replied.

Ant frowned at his friend,that was very unlike Dec,he didn't nap,he slept in late when he'd been drinking the night before and didn't have to get up for work,but he never just took a nap,he had way too much energy for that,Ant was worried.

Nevertheless,he wasn't going to stop him,he thought it was unlikely Dec would actually be going to sleep,he knew he was more than likely crying into his pillow and beating himself up over all this,he then decided he would give it half an hour,then go and check on him.

Meanwhile,he phoned Lisa who was angry,but not surprised at the press presence.The couple decided between them that it would be best for Ant to spend the night at Decs house and Clare would stay with Lisa.

Lisa was doing her best to convince Clare that that her and Decs relationship was worth saving and she thought she was getting somewhere,but she was scared that the press interference would change all that.

Clare wanted to go back home to her own flat,but after her twin sister who she shared the flat with had informed her that some photographers were there too and Lisa had confirmed that they were also outside Decs place,she knew staying with Lisa was the best thing to do right now.Surprisingly,the infuriating men with their long lenses hadn't even thought to stalk out Ants place,considering how much time Dec spent there,wouldn't that have been an obvious place to try and catch a glimpse of the shamed star?but for that they were grateful.

Ant watched the large clock on the wall as he willed the half hour time limit that he'd set himself to hurry up and arrive.

Finally,after what felt like hours,he made his way quietly up the stairs towards Decs bedroom He knocked gently on the door,but there was no reply.

"Decs?" Ant said quietly,maybe Dec had gone to sleep after all,this must be exhausting for him and he was a very emotional little fella at the best of times,but still Ant felt compelled to check on him just to make sure he was ok.

"Decs?" He repeated as he carefully opened the door "Decs,are you awake?"

As Ant sat down gently on the side of the bed,he felt like his heart would break in two at the sight that greeted him.

Dec was curled up on his side in the foetal position,staring at the wall,tears streaming from his eyes,soaking into his soft pillow,a screwed up,sodden tissue clutched in his fist.

"Oh Dec" Ant sighed,feeling tears beginning to prick his own eyes at Decs anguish.

He was at a loss at how to help him further.Of course he'd be there for him as he always was with an abundance of cuddles,reassuring words and an understanding ear when Dec got angry,upset,sad,anything.

But at this precise moment,he was so angry about what that woman had done to him,how shallow do you have to be to sell a story about someone to the papers?he wished this Tina woman could see Dec now and see the damage she'd done.Yes Dec had been willing participant that night and he knew he'd done wrong,but this?he didn't deserve all this and Ant was furious about it.

He'd done his best to make Dec understand that yes,this would be awful,but he could still get through it.He'd cuddled him,advised him,listened to him,even wiped his tears away for him,but now he didn't know what else he could do to make him feel better?

The only thing he could think of doing was what always came naturally to the two of them.

He laid down on the other side of the bed and pulled Dec towards him.Dec nuzzled into Ants chest,resting his head there while listening to the soothing rhythmic sound of his concerned best friends heartbeat.

Holding each other when one of them was upset was no doubt what always came naturally.

Soon Dec was fast asleep,finally being able to forget about this nightmare.

Even if only for a short while!