Dec and Ali left Newcastle a couple of days later,happy and contended after a wonderful Christmas with Decs family.

"Can't wait to see Ant" Dec smiled as he drove down the motorway towards London.

"Me too" Ali replied "how did he sound on the phone?"

"Pretty good" Dec smiled,recalling his and Ants conversation that they had had that morning "he said it was weird not to be in Newcastle for Christmas"

"I bet" Ali nodded "he's always gone home for the holidays hasn't he?"

"Yeah,he has" Dec smiled "but he just really wanted to stay in London this year for some reason"

"His decision I guess" Ali replied.

"Yeah" Dec agreed "but he loved having his Mam and Sarha to stay"

"Still a good old Geordie Christmas then really?" Ali laughed "just in a different part of the country"

"Yeah,basically" Dec agreed.

"I'm glad he's sorted himself out anyway" Ali smiled "he's come a long way"

"Yeah,he has" Dec confirmed "all is good with him now,he seems happy"

"Good" Ali replied.

"Can't wait to tell him our news" Dec grinned "he'll be made up"

"I know" Ali laughed "he'll love it"

"It's gonna be so hard having to wait a couple more months before I can tell him though" Dec frowned.

"Declan" Ali replied "you can tell him now if you like"

"What?" Dec asked surprised "really?"

"Yeah,why not?" Ali smiled "it's Ant after all,we trust him a million percent don't we?"

"Yeah,of course we do" Dec nodded "but what about waiting till the second trimester?what if something happens?"

"Then we'll deal with it" Ali stated in a matter of fact fashion "and I realise now that it would probably be impossible for you to keep it from him anyway,considering you spend practically every day with him,plus your whole family already know,so one more person won't hurt"

"Yeah" Dec replied gleefully "he's going to be so happy for us"

So the next day,Dec went to visit Ant in his rented home.Ant had been looking after Rocky while Dec and Ali were in Newcastle.The couple had decided that would be easier,rather than disrupting him too much just for a few days away.

"Great to see ya Decs" Ant smiled as he hugged his best pal warmly "how was your Christmas?"

"It was great" Dec replied,as his loyal dog came running towards him,after hearing the sound of his masters voice "hey boy,I missed you"

Dec bent down to scoop his beloved pet up and carried him into the living room,before plonking himself down onto the sofa with the small dog snuggled in his lap.

"Mam sends her love" Dec smiled at Ant when he brought some drinks over and sat down next to Dec "how was your Christmas?"

"So nice" Ant beamed "it was lovely to have Mam and Sarha to stay and they enjoyed it"

"That's good" Dec smiled.

"Yeah" Ant nodded "and Mam has decided she's going to come and stay for a while,she thinks I need looking after now that I don't have Lisa"

"Do you?" Dec enquired.

"Of course not" Ant laughed "I've been looking after myself and others since I was a little kid,but I think she likes the idea of paying me back for that"

"How are you gonna manage living with your Mam again though?" Dec laughed "won't she drive you nuts?"

"Ahh,we'll be fine" Ant smiled "It won't be forever,she just wants to spoil me for a while,I'll just let her get on with it,I'll be working a lot of the time anyway,so probably won't see her that much"

"It'll probably be really good for you both to have some mother and son time" Dec mused "when's she coming?"

"Not just yet" Ant smiled "probably not till February at least,I've got some news though"

"Really?" Dec asked curiously "so do I"

"Do you want to go first then?" Ant asked.

"Nope" Dec giggled like a cheeky schoolboy "you go first"

"Ok" Ant took a deep breath "well,you know you detected a spark between me and Amzie when I first moved in here?"

"Yeah?" Dec waited for Ant to continue.

"Well" Ant grinned "you were right"

"I was?" Dec asked curiously.

"Yeah,you were" Ant replied "we've seen a bit of each other over Christmas and we...er..."

"We what?" Dec beamed,already knowing what Ant was about to say.

"We kind of got together" Ant confirmed "you know,like girlfriend and boyfriend together"

"Aha" Dec stated as he playfully slapped Ant on the back,causing him to almost spit his coffee out "I knew it"

"I guess you did" Ant laughed.

"That explains why you wanted to stay in London for Christmas" Dec teased.

"Yeah,I guess it does" Ant grinned.

"Seriously though" Dec beamed "that's really great,she's lovely and you deserve some happiness,you both do"

"Thanks Decs" Ant smiled.

"So I guess your Mam and Sarha met her while they were here?" Dec asked curiously.

"Yeah,they did" Ant beamed "and they thought she was great"

"That's brilliant Ant" Dec smiled.

He was so happy that Ant was moving on and knowing Anne-Marie,Dec was pretty sure she would be really good for him.

"We're not going public yet though" Ant pointed out.

"Wouldn't expect you to" Dec nodded.

"I know I can trust you anyway" Ant smiled "so what's your news?"

"You'll never guess" Dec giggled childishly.

"Probably not" Ant rolled his eyes playfully "that's why I'm asking"

"I'm going to be a dad" Dec announced proudly "Ali's pregnant"

"Oh my God Decs" Ant bellowed in a loud voice "that's absolutely brilliant,congratulations"

"Thanks" Dec smiled "I still can't believe it"

"Still got plenty of lead left in your pencil eh kidda?" Ant winked as he pulled Dec in for a congratulatory hug.

"Apparently so" Dec laughed "I can't wait though,I'm finally gonna be a dad"

"When is it due?" Ant asked excitedly.

"End of August,beginning of September" Dec replied.

"Are you going to find out if it's a boy or girl?" Ant asked.

"Don't know yet" Dec shrugged "we haven't even discussed that"

"I can't wait to be an 'uncle' to this little one" Ant beamed "it's going to be amazing"

"It will" Dec nodded "especially as you will be on poopy nappy duty whenever you come round"

"Oh that's charming" Ant laughed "is that all I'll be good for?"

"And babysitting of course" Dec jested "you know,should me and Ali fancy a night out"

"Bring it on" Ant smiled.

Even though he knew Dec was joking,the idea of changing any nappies didn't phase him at all.

"I can't wait" Dec smiled.

"I bet" Ant replied with a hint of sadness in his voice for the fact he had never become a father yet,but he did his best to hide that from Dec.No way in the world would he ever want to cloud Decs happiness over this.

"This year is looking good isn't it Ant?" Dec stated "the new series of Saturday Night Takeaway starts soon,you've got yourself sorted out and got a new girlfriend and I've got a baby on the way,it doesn't get much better than that"

"Yep,it's gonna be a great year" Ant replied cheerfully.

He had some niggling doubts though.Of course it was true he had finally overcome his addiction to painkillers the previous year and got his knee sorted out so he was pain free,but some things still weren't totally right,he was still battling some inner demons,but there was no way he was going to let them surface and cause Dec or anyone else to worry about him yet again,so he did his best to bury them in the deepest depths of his mind.

Christine moved in with Ant a few weeks later and although he hated to admit it,he was loving having her there and being looked after and Christine was relishing being able to fulfil her motherly role once again.

The new series of Saturday Night Takeaway was as popular as ever,much to the boys delight and as usual the ratings were through the roof.

"What the hell are you wearing?" Ant laughed raucously,as Dec emerged from his dressing room,ready for the rehearsals of the following Saturdays show.

"What?" Dec asked innocently "it's for the sketch with kylie obviously,I look hot"

Ant looked Dec up and down as he observed his friend in skimpy,gold hot pants,a flimsy matching gold top and a blonde wig.

"You look something" Ant laughed "not sure hot is the right word though"

"You're just jealous cos you can't pull off hot pants like I can" Dec grinned,while looking Ant up and down in return "and I definitely look better than you do in that long white dress"

"And I'm quite glad about that" Ant stated "the whole nation is going to see you dressed like that"

"See US dressed like this you mean" Dec giggled as he spanked his own bum playfully "and they're gonna love it"

Indeed,the audience in the studio and at home did love it,as Ant and Dec performed a song and dance routine with Kylie Minogue,the crowd went especially wild when Dec gyrated across a makeshift bar in his hot pants and the exhibitionist in him was enjoying it a little bit more than he would have liked to admit.

Dec was happy.Life and work were going well.

That was until one day when he got a fateful phone call from Ant.

"I've been arrested" Ant sobbed down the phone.

"What?why?" Dec asked confused,what could his lovely,amazing,law abiding best friend possibly have done wrong?there must be some mistake.

"I had a car crash" Ant announced sorrowfully.

"Oh God" Dec replied shocked "are you ok?are you hurt?what happened?"

"I...I..." Ant stuttered "I crashed into someone and I was breathalised"

"So?" Dec stated confused "it's not like you drink and drive is it?so what's the problem?you haven't said if you're hurt?"

"No,I'm not hurt" Ant sighed "but Decs...I was over the limit,that's why I've been arrested"

There was stunned silence from Decs end of the phone line for a moment.

"What?" Dec asked,not being able to process what he was being told.

"I'm sorry" Ant mumbled,not knowing what else he could possibly say.

"Why Ant?why would you do that?" Dec asked tearfully.

"I don't know" Ant replied remorsefully "I was stupid,it gets worse though"

"How could it possibly get worse?" Dec asked fearfully.

"There were some minor injuries to the passengers in the other car" Ant said.

"Well,thank your lucky stars that they were only minor injuries" Dec pointed out.

"Yeah,I know" Ant sighed "and I'm so grateful we are ok"

"We?" Dec asked curiously.

"Yeah" Ant nodded "I had Mam and Hurley with me"

"Oh God" Dec moaned "you stupid idiot,you could have killed your own mother"

"I know" Ant replied quietly.

Dec heard the desperation in Ants voice,so he softened his own voice considerably,he was so angry at what Ant had done,but it was still Ant...his best friend,who he loved dearly,so Dec had to be there to support him at this difficult time,no matter what the situation,there was no way he would ever turn his back on him.

"What happens now?" Dec asked gently.

"I guess I stay here at the police station until they let me go" Ant replied.

"Where's your Mam?" Dec asked curiously.

"She's here" Ant announced "the police obviously want to speak to her too,she's waiting in reception,I'm not sure if I will be allowed to see her"

"Do you know when they'll let you go?" Dec asked.

"No idea" Ant replied "I could be here all night,will you do me a favour though?"

"Of course" Dec smiled "anything,what is it?"

"Can you please call Amzie and tell her what happened?" Ant pleaded "I'm only allowed one phone call and she'll worry if she can't get hold of me"

"Yes of course" Dec replied.

"I need her to come and pick Hurley up" Ant sighed "poor mutt has no idea what's going on"

"I can come and get him if you like?" Dec suggested helpfully.

"Thanks" Ant replied gratefully "but I think there's going to be a big enough media circus once this gets out,without you turning up,Amzie isn't such a well known face,so hopefully she can slip in and out without any fuss,then drop him off at yours"

"Yeah,that's true" Dec agreed "I guess it's best Lisa doesn't come for him either then?"

"Definitely not" Ant stated firmly "she's pretty recognisable too and she's going to be so mad that I crashed with Hurley in the car"

"I'll get him checked over with the vet" Dec announced "I'll keep him with me until you come home"

"I have to go" Ant announced suddenly,as a policeman was signalling for him to finish the call,presumably so they could carry on with their enquiries.

"Ok" Dec replied sadly "call me as soon as you're home ok?"

"Ok,I will" Ant promised "bye Decs and thanks"

"Ant?" Dec said quickly before he was forced to hang up.

"Yeah?" Ant answered as he tried to ignore the impatient policemans intense stare.

"Love you" Dec replied tearfully "it will be ok,I promise"

"Yeah" Ant sighed,but he wasn't so sure,but he didn't want Dec to worry "Love you too kidda!"

After they both hung up their phones,Ant was taken from the interview room to a cell at the back of the police station,he had expected to be put through more questioning,but apparently the police now had all the information they needed.

Ant stared straight ahead at the cold white wall,while Dec stayed still on his sofa,also staring aimlessly at the wall.

How had it come to this?That's all either of them could think about.

And a lonely tear trickled down the cheeks of both distraught men!