Ant did his best to keep Decs spirits up over the next couple of days,even managing to make him laugh on a few occasions,usually while reminiscing about their time on SM:TV amongst other things.

"You basically spent three years trying to kiss Cat" Ant laughed.

"Yeah I did" Dec giggled "had fun trying though,I got that kiss in the end didn't I?"

"Yeah ya did" Ant nodded "I'm glad you didn't go through with your plan to eat raw garlic beforehand though"

"Yeah" Dec grinned "I just couldn't bring myself to do that to her,as funny as it would have been and anyway,why spoil that magical moment?"

"She would have killed you" Ant laughed "and she would have got you back somehow,probably when you were least expecting it"

"Yeah,that did cross my mind" Dec replied.

"I still giggle to myself when I think about you fangirling all over Brian McFadden that day" Ant announced as he thought back to the day when Dec dressed up as a girl to fake worship the Westlife singer "you made me laugh so much...BRIAN"

"BRIAN" Dec shouted back as they both collapsed into fits of laughter as they recreated the scene.

"But seriously Declan" Ant sighed as he regained his composure and turned the conversation towards a more serious theme "you can't stay in forever,you have to venture out sometime"

"It's hardly been forever has it Ant?" Dec frowned "I've been in for two days,when I need to go out,I will"

"Well,you did need to go out,but I went for you" Ant pointed out,referring to his trip to the supermarket to stock up on groceries for Dec.

"You offered" Dec whined childishly.

"Maybe,I shouldn't have" Ant frowned "you need to get back out there,those guys will all disperse once they've got their desired picture of you"

The paps who were still camped outside Decs house,weren't showing any sign of moving on yet.They'd got plenty of pictures of Ant as he left for his shopping trip,but that obviously wasn't who they were really after.

"We've got to get back to work soon" Ant stated.

The new programme,Pop Idol had confirmed that they definitely wanted Ant and Dec as their presenters.

"When it's time,I'll go" Dec shrugged.

"It'll be time very soon Dec" Ant sighed "I know it's months before it goes on air,but there's still a lot of preparation to be done"

"Stop worrying will ya?" Dec rolled his eyes sarcastically at Ant "there's nothing wrong with me enjoying a few days in the comfort of my own home"

"And what about Clare?" Ant enquired "the love of your life that you were so determined to fight tooth and nail for?are you not even going to see her?"

"She doesn't want to see me yet" Dec replied "but I'm sure she will pretty soon"

"Well,you have to make the effort" Ant scolded.

"I have made the effort" Dec insisted "you've heard me on the phone to her,we've talked a lot"

"Yeah,you have" Ant smiled.

Clare had finally agreed to give her and Decs relationship another go,which of course he was delighted about,but she had made it clear that she wasn't willing to forgive him,not just yet anyway,he would really have to work hard to earn her trust back and her forgiveness,she certainly wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily.

"She's gone back to her flat ya know?" Dec announced.

"Yeah,you said" Ant nodded "so even she's braved the photographers now?"

"Was her choice" Dec shrugged.

"Dec,you know you're being a complete baby don't you?" Ant stated "your photo has already been all over the front pages of the papers the last couple of days,so who cares if they get some more?"

"I care" Dec replied stubbornly "and those were obviously old pictures they already had"

"So why does it matter if they get new ones then?it's still you whether the pictures are old or new" Ant pointed out,he totally understood Decs reluctance to go out there amongst the circling vultures,but as he now seemed to have his heart set on becoming a hermit,Ant knew he had to at least try to do something about it.

"I just don't want them invading my space...invading my privacy" Dec sighed "you'd think they would have homes to go to wouldn't you?"

"Maybe they're working in shifts" Ant suggested.

"Don't care anyway" Dec replied "I hope they're cold and miserable out there"

"I'm sure they will be" Ant nodded "but don't you realise Decs,that if you'd just gone out there the first day they arrived,they'd probably have left by now?You'd have been left alone to get on with your life"

"Never thought of that" Dec winced.

"Well,think about it now" Ant pleaded "I'd quite like to go home to my girlfriend sometime soon,but I don't want to leave you alone when you're like this"

"Ok,ok" Dec huffed "I'll go out tomorrow,but if they're still here afterwards,I'm blaming you"

"You can" Ant smiled "I'll happily take the blame if it means getting you out the front door and I really need to start wearing my own underwear again,yours are way too tight"

"You asked to borrow them" Dec giggled "you could have popped home to get your own at any point"

"Yeah,but I didn't want to leave you when you were so upset,not even for a few minutes" Ant frowned "even going to the supermarket was hard enough,I worried about you the whole time I was gone"

"And now?" Dec questioned.

"Well,now you seem to be doing a bit better,even if you haven't gone out yet.At least you're smiling again"

"Yeah I am" Dec agreed "thanks to you and also because Clare has agreed to give me another chance"

"Well,I'm glad about that" Ant smiled "so do we agree then?you'll go out tomorrow,then normal life has just about resumed?"

"Yeah I agree" Dec replied reluctantly "but just one thing"

"What's that?" Ant asked.

"Will you please stay here just for tonight,just one more night?it's been great having you here,even if I have been a misery guts,was just like being back in the flat in Fulham"

"Yeah,it's been nice" Ant agreed "just wish it had been under happier circumstances"

"Yeah,me too" Dec nodded.

"You know kidda" Ant stated,noticing Decs glum face "we'll have lots more times like this,with me staying here and you staying at ours,that's what our spare bedrooms are for after all"

"Yeah we will" Dec smiled "I just love spending time with you,even when we're not working"

"And that" Ant stated happily "is why we are the best of friends"

So the next day,Dec was nervously preparing to venture outside his front door for the first time in a few days.He didn't know why he was so nervous?Yes,he hated having his privacy invaded,but they were just photos,why did he care so much about a photo?the general public already knew what he looked like.The gutter press obviously wanted to get him looking his worse though,they wanted him to look heartbroken and disheveled,they obviously had no idea that he and Clare were actually still together,so this was just a non story now as far as Dec was concerned.It had already been reported about his cheating,so what else could they possibly write about him now?

"Ready kidda?" Ant smiled as Dec checked his reflection in the mirror one last time.

"Yep,let's do this" Dec replied confidently.

"Got your sunglasses?" Ant enquired.

"Check" Dec grinned.

"Cap?" Ant asked.

"Check" Dec laughed at the thought of wearing Ants old cap.

"Sad face?" Ant beamed.

"Check" Dec giggled while faking his saddest,pouty face.

"Then we're ready" Ant smiled.

They had already agreed that Ant would leave a few minutes before Dec.They hoped that if the photographers got a picture of Dec alone,they would finally leave him in peace to get on with his life.

"Call me later then?" Ant requested and hugged his friend tightly,while also giving a him a small reassuring kiss to his forehead "you've got this"

As Ant left Decs house,he heard a couple of camera shutters clicking but he didn't take much notice of them,he knew he wasn't the person they were after.

"Alright lads" he smiled cheerfully and lifted his right hand to wave at the uninvited gathering,he had to smile inwardly at the disappointment on the paps faces,they were obviously expecting him to look distraught at his friends situation,the smiling,cheerfulness that he actually greeted them with was a complete let down for them.

As Ant came to the end of Decs road,he glanced back with a sigh as he could just about make out the small figure of Dec in the distance, surrounded by the men who would do anything to earn a fast buck,no matter how much misery they caused people,all that mattered to them was getting that one clear picture that would impress their editors and make the front pages the following day.

"Be strong Decs" Ant whispered to himself.

Meanwhile Dec was attempting to make his way through the sea of cameras that were being harshly shoved just centimetres from his face.

He didn't look up at all,just kept his eyes firmly looking down at the pavement as he watched his every step.Sunglasses and cap at least partially hiding any giveaway signs of the stress he'd gone through over the last few days.

As well as taking Decs photo against his will,the press also started throwing personal questions at him.

"Have you and Clare Buckfield split up?"

"Why did you cheat on her?"

"Did you have a good night with the stripper?"

"Was she worth it?"

"What does Ant think about what you did?"

The intrusion was really pissing Dec off,he wanted to punch each and every one of these arseholes squarely on the jaw,but he stuck to Ants advice to just keep walking,not make eye contact with them and not say a word.

He had soon made it to a nearby shop,he breathed a sigh of relief at that,although he still had to make it back home again.

He didn't actually need anything from the shop,this was purely an exercise to get rid of the press from his doorstep,he only hoped Ants idea would work.

He bought a large bottle of coke and some tea bags just for the sake of buying something,before making his way back home.The same rabble repeated their attempts at getting pictures and some shouted the same questions as before at him,which of course he ignored.

Soon Dec was back in the familiar surroundings of his home,breathing a sigh of relief that he'd actually gone through with it,he only hoped they would all clear off from outside his house now.Of course he knew a lot of those pictures would be on the front pages of the papers again tomorrow,but what then?how much more could they possibly print?there couldn't be that much more left to say on the matter now,surely they had to finally let it go?

After making himself a cup of tea,Dec called Ant and proudly told him about his little trip out.

"Well done Decs" Ant smiled "I'm proud of you,I knew you could do it,was it as bad as you expected?"

"Yeah,it was" Dec sighed "but it's done now"?they're still out there though,wish they'd just piss off"

"Declan" Ant laughed "it's been what?half an hour?give it time"

Indeed Ant was right and the group gradually started to disperse throughout the day,much to Decs relief.Finally,he could be left alone to get on with his life and focus on rebuilding his relationship with Clare.

He was also determined to concentrate on his career.It was about to go from strength to strength with the start of Pop Idol and it wasn't long before other offers started rolling in like voiceovers for kids cartoons and advertisements,they'd even been asked to host the Brits.

After what had possibly been the hardest,most upsetting period of Decs life so far,things were finally starting to look up!