"Penny for your thoughts?" Ali smiled as her new husband gazed out of the window in their Australian hotel.

Dec And Ali had already spent a couple of weeks visiting and hanging out with Ali's large family,many of who Dec had never met.Of course they all fell in love with him the minute they met him.His cheeky,Geordie charm was just too much for any of them to resist.

Now they were having some time for just the two of them.

"Beautiful here isn't it?" Dec smiled as he looked out over the stunning scenery.

"Absolutely" Ali agreed "is that all that's on your mind?"

Ali knew Dec only too well and she knew that something was bothering him,even if he was trying to hide it.

"Declan?" she muttered softly.

"Hmm" Dec sighed absent mindedly.

"Why don't you video call him?" Ali smiled.

"What?" Dec asked surprised.

"Call him" Ali repeated.

"Who?" Dec asked.

"Stop playing dumb" Ali smiled "you know who,go and call Ant,I know you're missing him"

"But I'm on honeymoon" Dec protested.

"So?" Ali smiled "so am I and I have no problem with you having a chat with your best mate and maybe I'd like to see him too"

Dec and Ali had been having the most amazing time in Australia,but Ali knew Dec really wanted to speak to Ant.She knew they saw each other just about every day back home and on the very rare occasion that they didn't,they texted or spoke on the phone several times a day.

Ali had absolutely no problem with it.This is how it had always been since she first met the boys all those years ago.They basically came as a pair and Ali loved Ant too,so there was no animosity from her because Dec was thinking about and missing his best friend back home.

Ant and Dec had texted each other a few times while they had been away,but that was a poor substitution for being together in person,so hopefully a video call would help with that.

"You sure you don't mind?" Dec asked.

"Don't be daft sweetheart" Ali smiled "of course I don't mind,why don't you text him and arrange a video call for when we get back later?that will fit in with the time difference"

"Ok" Dec beamed.

So after an exhausting day out where Dec and Ali saw lots of local sights,they set up the call once back at the hotel.

"Hi mate" Ant said cheerfully,while discreetly popping a nearby packet of pills into his pocket,just in case they might have been noticable on screen "hi Ali,how are you both doing?how's Australia?"

"It's brilliant" Dec beamed "how are you?"

"I'm good thanks" Ant replied "and you Ali?coping with this little runt are you?"

"Hey" Dec laughed "I am not a little runt"

"I'm fine Ant" Ali smiled "and don't you worry,I'm definitely keeping this little runt in line"

Ali smiled affectionately at the boys,still amazed how they immediately went back into their natural banter after being parted,she loved to see it and could already tell that the chat that was only just beginning had put both Ant and Dec in a great mood.

After a few more minutes of catching up,Ali announced that she would leave them alone to continue their conversation.

"Lovely to chat with you Ant" Ali smiled "I'll leave you boys in peace now and we'll see you in a couple of weeks when we get home"

"Yep" Ant waved at the screen "see you soon,enjoy the rest of your holiday"

After Ali left to go and take a shower,Ant and Dec chatted for a long time about just about anything they could think of...the honeymoon,work,friends and family and before they knew it,the entire evening had passed.

"Well,I'd better go" Dec announced "I think Ali must have gone to bed,I'd better go and join her"

"You dirty dog" Ant winked at the screen.

"Hardly" Dec laughed "I'm too knackered for any of that.The honeymoon has been absolutely amazing,but so exhausting"

"Well,you're no spring chicken anymore are you?" Ant joked "you're gonna get tired easily"

"No,I'm definitely not a spring chicken" Dec yawned.

"Speaking of which" Ant continued "we've got to arrange something for our fortieth birthdays,what do you think?a joint party maybe?wouldn't that be amazing?"

"Yeah,sounds good" Dec yawned again "but can we please leave it until I get home?"

"Yeah,of course" Ant smiled "don't worry,I might have a think about options while you're away.You go to bed"

"It was great to talk to you Ant" Dec smiled "I'm really missing you"

"Me too" Ant replied fondly "but we'll see each other in a couple of weeks,you just enjoy the rest of your holiday ok?"

"I will" Dec nodded "love ya"

"Love you too kidda,bye" Ant replied.

Ant and Dec both sat staring at the blank screens of their gadgets for a moment.Both having similar thoughts to each other while on opposite sides of the world.

They were thinking how they couldn't wait to see each other again.

Dec went to bed contented after their chat and Ant went about his day,pottering around the house,doing nothing in particular.

Soon the honeymoon had come to an end and Dec childishly reminded Ali constantly about the belated wedding present that she had promised him.

"Don't be so impatient" Ali laughed,as she unpacked her suitcase back in their London home "you'll get it on Saturday"

"Saturday?" Dec frowned "that's still four days away,I've waited long enough"

"I promise you,it will be worth the wait" Ali grinned.

"So you keep saying" Dec pointed out "what's the hold up,why can't I have it now?I assume you've actually already bought whatever it is?"

"Declan" Ali laughed "stop with all the questions will you?and yes,I have already bought it and when you see it,you'll understand the delay"

"Not fair" Dec mumbled childishly.

"Thought you were going to see Ant" Ali reminded him.

"I am" Dec replied.

"Go on then" Ali patted him on the bum "get out from under my feet,unless you want to do all this unpacking?"

"Hell no" Dec laughed "I'm out of here"

"DECS" Ant exclaimed when Dec turned up on his doorstep "it's so good to see you,I missed ya"

"I missed you too" Dec smiled as Ant pulled him in for a huge bear hug "but I kinda can't breathe"

"Oops,sorry" Ant laughed as he released his hold on Dec "I'm just so happy to see you"

"Me too" Dec smiled.

The boys spent the best part of the day together,laughing,drinking and catching up.This was what they both had wanted and needed and it was the perfect tonic.

"Ali's got a present for me" Dec announced "it's my wedding present"

"Bit late isn't it?" Ant laughed.

"Yeah" Dec nodded "but apparently there's a good reason for that,has she told you what it is?"

"I'm afraid not" ant replied.

"The suspense is killing me" Dec frowned "I've got to wait till Saturday before I get it"

"You're such a big kid Declan" Ant laughed.

"Well,we already knew that" Dec grinned.

That following Saturday,Ali was hurrying Dec along,ready to go and pick up his present.

"Can't believe I actually have to go and pick my present up myself" Dec complained "you not heard of the Royal Mail?or Amazon for that matter?they all deliver you know?"

"Stop your moaning and get in the car" Ali laughed.

Dec was baffled as they pulled up outside a house in Richmond.

"Here we are" Ali announced.

"Umm,where is here exactly?" Dec asked.

"You'll see" Ali smiled "come on"

Dec obligingly followed Ali to the front door of the house,still confused as he had absolutely no idea who lived here.

As Ali rang the doorbell,a chorus of little barks and whines filled the air.

"Ooh,they've got dogs" Dec beamed happily.

"Hi Ali" a pleasant middle aged woman chirped after she answered the door "we're all ready for you"

"Hi Beth" Ali smiled "this is my husband Declan"

"Nice to meet you Declan" Beth smiled as she shook Decs hand.She secretly felt a bit giddy at coming face to face with such a well known celebrity and he was about to enter her home,but she couldn't show that,that would be unprofessional.

"Here he is" Beth smiled as she led Ali and Dec over to a cordoned off part of her large kitchen.

"Oh my God" Dec exclaimed as he stared down at the adorable litter of dachshund puppies snuggled up with their mum "they're so cute"

"They are" Beth agreed as she reached down and picked one of the puppies up and handed it to Ali.

Dec noticed that it had a paper collar around its neck with the name Ali Astall written on it.

"Ali?" Dec questioned "what's going on?"

"Happy belated wedding day" Ali grinned as she passed the puppy to Dec "he's all yours"

"What?" Dec beamed with a tear forming in his eye "mine?really?"

"Yes really" Ali replied "we've talked about getting a dog for a while now haven't we?so now seemed like the perfect time"

"Oh my God" Dec smiled "thank you darling,thank you so much,I love him already...or is it a her?"

"It's a boy" Beth announced cheerfully.

"Well,you've always told me how much you love dachshunds" Ali beamed "now you have one of your own"

"WE have one of our own you mean?" Dec replied as he buried his face into the tiny puppies fur in a feeble attempt to hide his watery eyes.

"Yeah,WE have one" Ali laughed.

Beth and her husband helped Ali put all the dog accessories and food in the car.Ali had actually purchased them before the honeymoon and Beth had very kindly allowed her to keep it all at her house so Decs surprise wouldn't be ruined.

"He's besotted already" Beth laughed as she watched Dec fuss over his new family member in the front passenger seat.

"Yeah" Ali nodded as she climbed into the drivers seat "I probably won't get a look in now"

They all said their goodbyes and Dec and Ali made their way back home.

"This is the best present ever" Dec smiled as they drove through the streets of London "thank you darling"

"You're very welcome sweetheart" Ali replied "told you it would be worth waiting for didn't I?"

"Oh,it definitely was" Dec replied,as he felt his lap become slightly moist.

"Oh no" he exclaimed "he's done a wee on me"

Ali couldn't help but laugh "well,he's only a puppy,he's going to need to be trained"

"No problem" Dec grinned,he was never one to shy away from a challenge "got to think of a name for him"

"You can call him whatever you like" Ali smiled.

"Rocky" Dec suddenly announced.

"Rocky?" Ali pondered as they pulled up into the driveway of their home "I like it"

"Rocky it is then" Dec grinned as he stroked the puppy "did you hear that Rocky?that's your name,do you like it?"

Rocky looked lovingly into his new owners eyes which suddenly made Dec feel overcome with sadness for the animal.

"Do you think he's missing his Mam?" Dec asked thoughtfully "I feel bad that we took him away from her"

"Possibly" Ali replied "it must be scary for him,but he'll be ok,we'll give him all the love in the world"

"Yeah,we will" Dec confirmed as he carried Rocky into the house "can't wait to show Ant"

"Best to get him settled in first" Ali stated.

"Oh,I didn't mean take him out" Dec replied "I know I can't do that yet,I just meant I can show him some pictures and stuff,he's as curious about my present as I was"

"That's ok then" Ali smiled "let's get him settled,then I'm sure Ant would love to see him"

So Dec and Ali did just that,with Dec insisting on not leaving Rockys side in case he got scared or lonely.

He happily snapped lots of pictures on his phone and got Ali to take videos of him cuddling his new pet.

Just a few doors down,Ants phone pinged to notify him that he had a message.He casually picked up his phone as he kept his eyes on the television.

A quick glance downwards informed him that it was a message from Dec.Once he opened it and saw the picture of a smiling Declan holding a small puppy,with the caption 'Welcome to your new home Rocky' it immediately had Ants attention.

'What the hell Dec?' Ant typed out 'you've got a dog?'

'Yep' Dec typed back 'my wedding present from Ali,gorgeous isn't he?'

'He really is' Ant replied 'When do I get to meet him?'

Both of the lads were dog lovers and Ant was as excited as Dec was about this.

'Pop over now if you like?' Dec suggested 'but we have to be very quiet and gentle around him,he's only just left his Mam,so he's quite timid and afraid at the moment'

'No problem Dec' Ant replied 'I'll be there in a few minutes'

True to his word,just ten minutes later,Ant was sitting on Decs living room floor,cooing over the puppy.

"He likes me" Ant grinned as Rocky sniffed his hand.

"I'm sure he does" Dec replied warmly.

"He's amazing Dec" Ant smiled "great wedding present Ali"

"Glad you think so" Ali grinned as she watched Ant and Dec fuss over the little dog "but how about you two give the little guy a break now?he probably wants to sleep"

"But I don't want a break" Dec joked.

"He's adorable" Ant smiled,looking deep in thought for a moment.

"What are you thinking about?" Dec asked curiously.

"I was just thinking..." Ant replied excitedly.

"What?" Dec interrupted.

"I think I'm going to get a puppy too" Ant announced "it will be a friend for Rocky,they can grow up together,doggy best friends"

"I like that idea" Dec grinned.

"Hadn't you better talk to Lisa about it first?" Ali suggested.

"Oh,don't worry about that Ali" Ant smiled "we've talked about it before,she'll be totally on board with it,she's a real dog lover too,we were just waiting for the right time"

"So now is the right time?" Dec questioned.

"Well,now you've got Rocky" Ant mused "it seems like the perfect time"

"I'm going to get a dog too!"