"I'm so bloody excited for this" Dec grinned as he and Ant prepared for the first ever audition of Britain's Got Talent.

The audience were in place and the acts were warming up back stage.

Ant and Decs job,after initially coming on stage to say hello to everyone and introduce the judges,was to hang around just out of sight of most of the audience and chat to some of the acts just before they went on.

Obviously it was natural for anyone auditioning to be extremely nervous,but Ant and Dec had a knack of being able to put people at ease with reassuring words and a comforting hug.

They loved what they were doing from day one.Some of the acts made them laugh so hard,not because they were intentionally funny,but because they were so bad,they were hilarious.

They did feel a bit bad though when Simon and Piers ripped into them and didn't hold back with their opinions.

Ant and Dec didn't chat to all of the acts,just the ones who seemed like they would be the most interesting,funny or terrible,that was until one day when they were taking a quick break.

The whole crew travelled between London,Manchester,Birmingham and Cardiff to hopefully find the best talent that Britain had to offer.

They certainly found that one day in Cardiff.

The plump,middle aged man who was about to audition hadn't really done much to catch Ant and Decs attention,so they decided this would be the perfect opportunity to go upstairs at the Wales Millennium Centre and grab a sandwich and a drink from the cafe.

"I'm loving this Dec" Ant grinned "but I really need something to eat"

"Yeah" Dec nodded "haven't had much opportunity yet have we?I'm just glad I had a big breakfast"

"Yeah me too,I'm hungry again now though" Ant nodded as he browsed through the overhead menu "ooh,cheese and ham toastie,that sounds good"

"I'll just go for one of these" Dec smiled as he took a pre packed egg mayonnaise sandwich from the chilled cabinet.

"Yum" Ant grinned,as he took the first bite of his lunch.

"NESSUN DORMA" a huge,powerful voice belted out from the speakers.

"What the hell...?" Dec announced surprised "who's that?"

They looked at each other curiously,before quickly gathering up their lunches and dashing back downstairs to their designated area at the side of the stage.

"It's that guy" Ant nodded towards the man singing on stage "oh my God,that voice"

"Yeah,Paul Potts I think his name is" Dec mumbled through a mouthful of sandwich "he's amazing"

After Pauls audition,Ant and Dec decided from then on that they would interview every single act before they went on,no matter how tedious some of it would be,they couldn't risk not talking to any potential winner which was exactly what Paul Potts went on to be.

The series was a huge success and was loved by the public and critics alike and once it was wrapped up,Simon was already making plans for series two.

Ant and Dec were completely content with how their lives were going.Their careers were going from strength to strength and to be honest,the lads couldn't think of anything else that could make it much better.

They now had Saturday Night Takeaway,I'm a celebrity...get me out of here and Britain's Got Talent to occupy them all year round,as well as extra jobs that often came up like guest show appearances,voice overs,advertisements and award shows to attend.

The awards were still rolling in which made Ant and Dec feel like it was all worthwhile.What they were doing was loved and appreciated and that was what really mattered.

Dec was especially happy at the moment as Anne and Fonsey had finally agreed to let him buy them a bigger house.

It was something Dec had longed to do for years now,but his parents had turned him down over and over again,insisting that he spent his money on himself.

That was until they saw how profoundly Dec had been affected by the trip to Africa and knew he wanted to do something meaningful for his parents,so they accepted his offer,just to make him feel better.

Of course,it was very different than helping the people he had met in Kenya,but it seemed more important than ever to Dec now.

Not because he wanted the glory of doing something amazing,he was always very humble about his good deeds,but because he knew how hard Anne and Fonsey had worked over the years to bring up a family and things had never been easy.Dec didn't think it was such a bad thing to want to spoil them a bit in their older years.

So he was delighted when they finally agreed,on the condition that the new house wouldn't be too far from the area they were currently living in,they understandably didn't want to move too far from their friends and the area they'd lived for years and brought their kids up in.

So Anne and Fonsey finally moved into their new house,which as Dec predicted,they soon came to love.

Dec now knew he didn't need to be so concerned about them anymore,everything was great with them and just about everyone else in his life.

Ant and Lisa were happily married and Dec still spent practically all his spare time at their place,especially in 'the vortex' which is what they had named Ants kitchen.

"Married life is great" Ant announced to Dec one day as he,Dec and Lisa sat drinking beer in Ants living room "isn't it love?"

"Yeah,it is" Lisa smiled "I couldn't be happier"

"Good" Ant replied and kissed his wife on the cheek.

"Any luck yet Decky Doolittle?" Lisa asked gently "any lovely ladies caught your eye"

"Loads of them" Dec sighed "but it's not easy"

"Been on a few dates recently haven't you?" Lisa pushed Dec to talk.

"Yeah" Dec nodded "friends have set me up on a few blind dates,but nothing came of them"

"Oh yeah" Lisa smiled "Ant told me about that,what happened then?just didn't click?"

"I guess not" Dec mumbled "it's just weird as they automatically know a lot about me right from the beginning,but I know nothing about them"

"Yeah,I can see how that would be strange" Lisa replied sympathetically "but then you talk to them and you'll get to know more about them too.I can't imagine you sitting silently on a date somehow"

"No,I don't" Dec said "but it's just meaningless chit chat,nice girls,but it never goes anywhere"

"Ah,you're time will come mate" Ant smiled "there's someone out there for everyone"

"And you're quite a catch Declan Donnelly" Lisa stated.

"You really don't need to worry about me guys" Dec smiled "I'm not lonely or anything,I spend too much time here to be lonely"

"Yeah that's true" Ant laughed.

"But what about when you go home?" Lisa asked concerned "all alone in that huge house"

"Yeah,alright Lisa" Ant laughed "don't rub it in"

"Honestly,you two" Dec replied "will you please stop fretting,I'm just fine as I am.Sure,it would be nice to be with someone,but there's no hurry,I'll know when that special someone comes along and you nosey pair will be the first to know"

"Ah,we just want you to be happy" Ant smiled.

"I am" Dec stated "very happy"

"Good" Lisa replied "that's all that matters.

"Meanwhile..." Dec grinned teasingly.

"Meanwhile what?" Ant asked curiously,what could this little fella possibly have up his sleeve now?

"Meanwhile,I was chatting to Ali the other day and as she's single and I'm single..."

"Declan Donnelly" Lisa cut in excitedly "you didn't ask her out did you?"

"No,of course I didn't" Dec laughed "but we made a pact that as long as we're both still single by valentines day next year,then we would spend the evening together"

"Declan" Ant smiled cautiously "you're not developing feelings for Ali are you?"

"No,of course I'm not,you idiot" Dec laughed "we're just good friends,the same as you are with her,so why should we both sit at home on the most romantic night of the year feeling sorry for ourselves,when we could be having a nice night out?so we'll be going out...just as friends"

"Ok then" Ant nodded "because I'm not sure getting involved with our manager would be a good idea"

Ant had noticed the way Dec and Ali looked at each other sometimes.He tried to convince himself that it was all in his imagination,but now with this latest development,he wasn't so sure.

Ant loved Ali just as much as Dec did,but he didn't want anything to mess up their working relationship and he had no doubt that if Dec and Ali were to become romantically involved,it would do exactly that,he just couldn't see how that could work and he really didn't want to lose Ali as their manager.

"I've just told you that I'm not involved with her" Dec snapped "and anyway,why can't a man and woman have a purely platonic relationship?"

"Exactly" Lisa grinned "there's absolutely no reason why not,this caveman here just needs to get with the times"

"Hey" Ant laughed,pretending to be hurt "I am not a caveman"

"Of course you're not dear" Lisa winked and patted Ants thigh.

"Just stop worrying about me guys ok?" Dec smiled "honestly,I'm fine. Valentines day is months away anyway,so anything could happen between now and then"

"Yeah,it could" Ant nodded "you could be madly in love with some little hottie by then eh Decs?"

"You never know" Dec laughed.

That wasn't the case though.As valentines day the following year came around,Dec and Ali were getting ready for what they had started to call their 'undate'.

Dec had booked them a table in a secluded section of a local french restaurant.

The owners of the restaurant Pierre and Dominique,a married French couple,knew Dec by now as he and Ant had eaten there a few times,usually when Ant was trying to convince Dec to try something more extravagant than Macdonalds or steak and chips.

Pierre and Dominique were very happy to respect Decs privacy.They liked having such high profile customers and Ant and Dec usually spent quite a large chunk of cash there,so that was obviously very good for business.

"This is nice" Ali smiled as Pierre pulled her chair back politely for her to sit down.

"Yeah,it is" Dec agreed "Ant loves it here"

"And you?" Ali enquired.

"Yeah,I like it too" Dec nodded.

"But...?" Ali knew there was a doubt in Decs mind.

"Oh no" Dec quickly replied "no buts,I really do like it here,the staff are so lovely and the food is nice,well some of it"

"Ah,there we have it" Ali laughed "I'd imagine all this rich food may be a bit much for your delicate stomach"

"I guess so" Dec giggled,slightly embarrassed.

"Why did you bring me here then?" Ali enquired.

"Dunno" Dec shrugged "guess I was just trying to impress you"

"Well,you certainly did that" Ali smiled,taking a sip of the wine that the waiter had just brought over "it's lovely here"

"Good" Dec beamed "glad you think so"

"So" Ali grinned "shall we share some escargot?"

"What?" Dec asked nervously at the thought of having to eat snails.

"Got ya" Ali laughed "don't worry,I wouldn't do that to you,it's not a bushtucker trial"

"God Ali" Dec laughed "you had me worried there for a minute"

"I could see that by the look on your face" Ali replied cheekily "would you have done it though?would you have tried them if I'd wanted you to?"

"Dunno" Dec smiled "yeah probably,maybe just a tiny bite,would probably have thrown up afterwards though"

"Yeah,maybe it's best we avoid that then" Ali frowned "come on,let's order"

Dec and Ali spent the evening chatting and laughing about anything and everything.Neither of them could believe they hadn't thought to do this before.They'd always gotten on so well and they both knew what it was like to spend valentines day at home alone,sat in front of the television,pretending like they didn't care.

"This has been so nice Dec" Ali smiled as Dec discreetly paid the bill,including a very generous tip "thank you so much for dinner,I wish you'd let me pay towards it though"

"Absolutely not" Dec replied firmly "I invited you out,so I pay"

"Well,thank you" Ali smiled "It was lovely,but next time it's my treat"

"Next time?" Dec enquired curiously.

"Well,yeah" Ali nodded "if you want there to be a next time that is?"

"Umm...yeah,absolutely" Dec grinned.

"I just mean,maybe whenever we find ourselves alone on valentines day" Ali explained "we can do this again,you know,just two friends going out for dinner,make it a bit of a tradition"

"Of course" Dec smiled,but he did feel an unexpected twinge of disappointment at Alis mention of the phrase 'just two friends' but he wasn't going to dwell on that right now.

Although once he had dropped Ali off in a cab and made his own way home,he found himself wondering just exactly what was happening in his heart and mind.

Why did he feel so disappointed at Alis remark?Was he beginning to have feelings for her like Ant had suspected for ages?if he had,how would he deal with them?Would he really like to be more than just a friend to Ali?if he was,what would that mean for their working relationship?Was there really a spark there or was it just his imagination?did Ali feel the same?

He didn't know what to think anymore,he just knew one thing.

And that was that he felt utterly confused!