"How was your 'undate'?" Ant asked as he and Dec took a quick break from rehearsing for the new series of Saturday Night Takeaway that was beginning the next day.

"It was good thanks" Dec smiled "how was yours?"

"Lovely and very romantic" Ant beamed "I love valentines day,old romantic that I am"

"Aww,that's nice" Dec smiled "I'm sure Lisa appreciated that"

"Yeah,she did" Ant nodded "took her to her favourite restaurant,bought her chocolates and red roses and just spoilt her rotten"

"Good for you" Dec replied happily.

"So,tell me about your night then?" Ant questioned.

"Not much to tell" Dec shrugged.

"Where did you take her?" Ant pushed him for more information.

"That little French place that you like so much" Dec replied.

"Oh really?" Ant laughed "I thought you'd end up in Macdonalds"

"Did you now?" Dec giggled "I can be very sophisticated when I want to be I'll have you know"

"Yeah,course you can" Ant joked "so you both had a nice time?"

"Yep" Dec replied bluntly and looked down at the floor.

"Decs?" Ant said.

"What?" Dec refused to make eye contact with Ant.

"You know what Declan" Ant snapped "there's something you're not telling me isn't there?"

"No" Dec retorted childishly.

"Look Dec" Ant replied in a softer voice "I know you and I know when something's bothering you,so out with it,did something happen last night?"

"Not exactly" Dec sighed.

"What do you mean by 'not exactly'?"

"Well" Dec mumbled,knowing there was no point in trying to hide this from Ant any longer as he always manages to get him to talk eventually "I just think that you...er...you may have been right"

"About what?" Ant asked curiously.

"About...you know?" Dec replied hesitantly.

"I really don't" Ant laughed "just tell us will ya?"

"Ok,ok" Dec frowned "just be patient,it's not easy to put this stuff into words"

"Alright,just tell me when you're ready" Ant smiled,the last thing he wanted was for Dec to get upset before he'd even said anything.

"I think maybe I do have feelings for Ali" Dec blurted out.

"Oh" Ant replied,not really knowing what else to say at that precise moment.

"You not gonna say anything?" Dec enquired.

"Umm...don't really know what to say" Ant mumbled.

"Well,you've had a pretty open opinion on it up until now" Dec pointed out.

"Yeah,I guess I have" Ant shrugged "what exactly do you mean by feelings?"

"Not sure really" Dec sighed.

"Well,do you think about her when you're not together?do you get butterflies in your stomach when you think about her?do you miss her when you're not together?do you know that you want more than just friendship?or do you literally just fancy the pants off of her?" Ant questioned.

"All of the above" Dec grinned shyly "but I know you don't approve"

"It's not that I don't approve Dec" Ant sighed "there's nothing I want more than for both you and Ali to be happy,I just worry what it would mean for our career if you two got together"

"Why would it need to mean anything?" Dec asked curiously "I'm perfectly capable of keeping my private life separate from my professional life you know?"

"I'm sure you are" Ant mused "but it might not be so easy in this situation and whatever happens between you and Ali effects me too"

"Why does it?" Dec asked.

"If it goes wrong and you split up in the future" Ant stated "how will that work with her being our manager if you end things on bad terms?"

"Ant" Dec laughed "Ali and I aren't even together yet and you've already got us going through a terrible break up"

"Yeah,sorry kidda" Ant smiled "just thinking of worse case scenario"

"Well,you don't need to" Dec assured him "I'm not going to act on any of these feelings anyway"

"Because of me?" Ant pondered "I'm sorry,I should mind my own business.I have absolutely no right to tell you or Ali who you can and can't date,just ignore me,I'm being selfish"

"Of course you're not being selfish" Dec smiled "you have every right to be concerned about this.You're right,it would effect you and our career if it didn't work out,I can see that now"

"Just promise me one thing Declan?" Ant said.

"What's that?" Dec replied.

"That you'll make this decision with only you and Ali in mind?not me,I shouldn't be a part of it" Ant insisted "and if you do decide to persue it,then I will be very happy for both of you,you both deserve happiness"

"Ok,I promise" Dec smiled "but I've pretty much made the decision already anyway"

"Oh yeah?" Ant replied.

"Yeah" Dec nodded "I'm not going to take this any further.Ali is a great friend and I really enjoy her company,but if anything more than friendship happened between us then I think you're right,it could make things very awkward"

"Are you sure?" Ant asked.

"Absolutely" Dec smiled "we're so busy at the moment anyway,so I just want to concentrate on work for the time being and there's one thing that I don't think you and me have even considered"

"What's that?" Ant asked curiously.

"That Ali might not even have any interest in being with me" Dec laughed.

"Yeah that's a good point" Ant nodded "you're Mam is right tough"

"Why is that?" Dec asked curiously.

"That there's someone for everyone and that perfect girl is out there,just waiting for you" Ant assured him.

"Hope so" Dec smiled "but right now I've got more important things to worry about"

"Oh yeah?" Ant asked concerned "like what?"

"Like this" Dec leant forward directly under Ants chin and pointed to the top of his head.

"Umm..." Ant muttered "your head?what's wrong with it?"

"Not my head" Dec frowned while sitting up straight "my hair"

"What about it?" Ant asked confused.

"Don't pretend you haven't noticed Anthony" Dec replied sternly.

"Declan" Ant laughed "I really don't have a clue what you're talking about,have you found a grey hair or something?"

"I wish that's all it was" Dec moaned.

"Alright" Ant shook his head despairingly "just tell us what's bothering you will ya?"

"I'm going thin on top" Dec replied sadly "I'm losing my hair"

"Really?" Ant replied,scanning his eyes over Decs head "I can't say I've noticed"

"That's because you see me practically every day" Dec sighed "I bet if we didn't see each other for six months,you'd definitely see the difference"

"It was inevitable I guess" Ant smiled sympathetically.

"What do you mean by that?" Dec enquired curiously.

"Well" Ant continued "it's in your genes,look at your Dad and brothers,they're all going thin on top too"

"They're more than going thin on top" Dec frowned "practically bald,some of them"

"Not a lot you can do about it unfortunately" Ant replied.

"I can't go bald" Dec whined "not in my job,I'm a much loved television presenter,our fans won't want a bald Declan Donnelly"

"You don't know that" Ant grinned "baldness can be very sexy,just look at Bruce Willis"

"Yeah,well I'm not a muscly,action man" Dec frowned "so I don't think the bald look will work so well on me"

"Aww,I don't know kidda" Ant laughed "I think you'd look quite cute,like an overgrown baby"

"Yeah,cos that's really the look I'm going for" Dec replied sarcastically "why can't my hair just bloody well stay on my head where it belongs?"

"Could be worse Decs" Ant smiled.

"How?" Dec asked glumly.

"You could have a huge forehead like me" Ant grinned while pointing to his head.

"Yeah,that's true" Dec winked "that would be my worst nightmare"

"Yeah and I'm stuck with it forever" Ant laughed.

"Gives us plenty to joke about on the telly though" Dec giggled.

"Yeah,it does" Ant nodded "luckily I don't mind"

"Well,I wouldn't do it if you minded" Dec pointed out "I'm not that mean"

"Yeah,I know you're not" Ant smiled "but seriously just forget about this,you can't change the course of nature,we all have to go through the aging process"

"Well,it sucks" Dec stated bluntly.

"Yeah,it does" Ant nodded "but as I said,there's not a lot you can do about it"

"Isn't there?" Dec replied teasingly.

"Oh God Declan" Ant frowned "what have you got up your sleeve now"

"A hair transplant" Dec blurted out.

"Declan,what the hell?" Ant retorted "please tell me you're not serious?"

"I'm deadly serious" Dec informed him "why is that so shocking?plenty of men have it done,including celebrities"

"So you want to look like Elton John?" Ant grinned.

"No,of course not you idiot" Dec replied "I want to look like me,just with more hair"

"I've heard those things are really painful" Ant smiled sympathetically.

"Yeah,I've heard that too" Dec sighed "but it will be worth it in the end"

"You're a big baby when it comes to pain" Ant smiled "you practically cry when you stub your toe"

"Hey" Dec replied with mock offence "stabbing your toe is really painful,everyone knows that"

"I'm just teasing ya Decs" Ant laughed "but it still sounds like a difficult procedure"

"That's why you'll be coming with me" Dec grinned.

"Oh will I?" Ant laughed "sounds like you've made up your mind,you're actually going to do this?"

"Yep,I pretty much have made up my mind" Dec nodded "I really want to get this done"

"So,when do you plan to do it?" Ant asked,concern now replacing amusement about his friends situation.

"As soon as this series of Saturday Night Takeaway finishes" Dec replied "I've already booked a consultation with a private clinic in Harley Street,then I'll hopefully have a new thick head of hair in time for I'm a celebrity"

"Just imagine if the press get hold of this" Ant sighed "they'd have a field day"

"Well,who's going to tell them?" Dec mused "I know you won't and the doctors can't,patient confidentiality and all that"

"As long as no one sees you going in and out of that place" Ant replied.

"They won't" Dec smiled confidently "they're very discreet there,they have a lot of high profile patients,they all go through the back entrance where no media can get access to"

"Well,if you're sure this is what you want?" Ant asked concerned.

"It is" Dec replied.

"Then I'll be behind you all the way" Ant smiled and gave Dec a reassuring hug.

"Thanks Ant" Dec replied "I knew I could count on you"

"Always" Ant smiled affectionately.

Of course he would be there with Dec every step of the way,but he would be lying if he said he wasn't worried about what Dec was about to endure.

But for now,both of them would have to put those concerns to the back of their minds.

They had more pressing things to attend to,like getting back to rehearsing for the new series of Saturday Night Takeaway,which was literally starting in not much more than twenty four hours.

They were so excited about it.It was going to be such a jam packed,fun few weeks,but there was one thing the boys were particularly looking forward to.

And that was pranking the man who had by now become a very close friend.

Stephen Mulhern had no idea what was about to happen to him!