"This" Dec announced proudly as he placed his tiny bundle of joy into Ants arms the following day "is my daughter,Isla Elizabeth Anne"

"Oh wow" Ant smiled down at the sleeping newborn baby "she's absolutely perfect"

Ant and Anne-Marie had just been on holiday to Italy,but they were absolutely delighted to be home in time for Islas arrival.

"Yeah,she is" Dec beamed as Ali watched on from her hospital bed.

"So you threw your Mams name into the mix as well then?" Ant observed "she must be happy about that?"

"She's over the moon" Dec smiled "we'd already decided on the names Isla and Elizabeth,but it seemed so natural that Mams name should be in there too"

"Yeah,we both agreed on that" Ali chimed in.

"Mam is my inspiration" Dec smiled "she's been the most amazing Mam anyone could ever wish for,so this is the best way we could think of to honour her"

"Or it could be that you're still a Mammys boy who's sucking up to her" Ant joked.

"Yeah and that" Dec laughed "she's coming to visit later"

"Well,congratulations you two" Ant beamed,barely taking his eyes off Isla "she's gorgeous,I'm going to have such a great time being her fun uncle Ant"

"Oh God" Dec sighed "he'll be teaching her all sorts of pranks when she's older"

"Would I?" Ant grinned cheekily.

"Yeah,ya would" Dec nodded.

"She's so tiny" Ant marvelled "definitely takes after you"

"Shut up" Dec laughed.

"I have some news" Ant announced,as he sat cuddling Isla in the hospital chair.

"Oh yeah?" Dec enquired curiously "what's that?"

"My dad has been in touch" Ant stated bluntly.

"Really?" Dec asked shocked "what did he say?"

"Not much" Ant shrugged "just a text asking how I am,I'm not even sure who gave him my number?"

"How do you feel about it?" Dec asked concerned.

Dec knew how much Ant had struggled with his feelings of abandonment about his dad.Ant had learned to deal with those feelings as he got older,but it still made him sad,wondering how different things might have been if his dad had stuck around,or at least if they'd kept in touch more.

"Not sure" Ant replied,glancing up briefly from looking at Isla "but I'm beginning to wonder if I've wasted all these years by being angry at him.

"You had every right to be angry" Dec pointed out "what are you going to do?did you reply?"

"Not yet" Ant frowned "I'm not sure what to say"

"Just say hi back if you're sure you want to reconnect with him?" Dec suggested.

"That's the problem though" Ant sighed "I'm not sure I do want to reconnect with him,he's basically a complete stranger to me now"

"He's still your dad" Dec smiled kindly.

"Yeah" Ant nodded "so maybe it is time I gave him a chance"

Dec still felt so sad at the situation that Ant was made to endure as he grew up.He found it so hard to comprehend,when he himself had always been in the loving,protective arms of his family his whole life.He just couldn't have imagined what his life would have been like if Fonsey had done what Ants dad did.

"He's got in touch with me a couple of times over the last few years ya know" Ant stated "he sent a couple of handwritten letters to Mams for me"

"Really?" Dec asked surprised "you never said"

"I didn't reply" Ant shrugged "wasn't ready"

"And now?" Dec asked.

"Well now,maybe I am" Ant smiled "I'm free from any addictions,I've ended my toxic marriage,I've got a gorgeous new girlfriend,this career break is doing me the world of good and now I've got this little one that I can spoil rotten"

"I have no doubt that you'll be doing that" Ali laughed.

She had kept quiet as she listened to Ant and Decs conversation,but what she was hearing,made her incredibly happy.

"I'm in a really good place now guys" Ant smiled "so maybe it is the perfect time to move on and just see how it goes with him"

"I think that's a great idea" Dec replied.

So Ant arranged to meet his dad the following week and Dec couldn't wait to hear how it had gone,but before then,he and Ali were to bring their new daughter home.

Anne was waiting happily to greet them and she couldn't wait to get stuck in with helping with her new granddaughter.

It was brilliant having her around as it meant the new parents still got as much sleep as they needed,but it was soon time for her to head back to Newcastle.

"I've loved having you hear Mam" Dec beamed,as they hugged goodbye.

"Me too" Ali smiled "thank you so much for all your help"

"It was my pleasure" Anne smiled "and so lovely to spend these early days with my new granddaughter"

"We'll miss you" Dec stated sadly.

"Well,I'll see you all very soon" Anne replied "you won't be able to keep me away now you've got this little one"

"That's what I'm afraid of" Dec grinned.

Although Dec and Ali did miss having Anne around,they had actually employed a maternity nurse to arrive the same day as Anne left and as Dec was in the enviable position of being be able to employ someone to help them out,he and Ali thought why not?It meant the two of them would still be able to get some decent sleep and the experienced maternity nurse would be able to advise them should any problems arise.

It was a set up that worked perfectly and allowed Dec to get on with work related things without having to worry about Ali and Isla and eventually they would proceed to employing a live in nanny once the maternity nurse finished her employment.

The new series of I'm a celebrity was approaching fast and there was a lot of preparation that Dec had to be involved in.He was also very anxious about how it would go with Holly standing in for Ant.

But before then,Ant was to have the long overdue meet up with his dad,Ray.

He travelled up to Newcastle where Ray still lived and stayed with Christine for a few days.

Ant and Dec had spoken about the situation briefly on the phone,but as usual,they preferred to save all the details for when they could talk in person.

Dec had been thinking about Ant and his dad constantly while they were seeing each other,he had been desperate for it to work out for them both.He would have been heartbroken for Ant if it had ended badly,especially if it put his recovery back.

"How did it go then?" Dec asked cautiously once Ant was back in London.

"Really well actually" Ant smiled as he made the two of them hot drinks in his large kitchen.

"Really?" Dec asked relieved "tell me all about it then,where did you go?"

"Oh,I just went over to his place" Ant replied "you know,so we wouldn't be bothered by anyone"

"Makes sense" Dec nodded as he accepted a cup of green tea from Ant.

"Tell me all about it then?" Dec insisted impatiently.

"Well,it was a bit awkward at first" Ant frowned "neither of us really knew what to say"

"Yeah,I can imagine" Dec nodded.

"But then..." Ant continued "he just blurted out how sorry he was for everything.How he regrets not making more effort to keep in touch with me and Sarha and that he hopes I can forgive him one day"

"Can you?" Dec enquired.

"You know what?" Ant smiled "I think I already have"

"Really?" Dec asked surprised.

"Yeah" Ant nodded "we had a real heart to heart and it made me realise all the anger and bitterness I've felt towards him all these years has been for nothing"

Dec stayed silent as he listened to Ant open up.

"He's a good man,who's made some mistakes" Ant stated thoughtfully "I can see that now and although he knows he was very wrong to not make more effort with me and Sarha,he did explain just how bad things had got between him and Mam,leaving was probably the right thing to do even if he did go about it in a shitty way"

"I'm sure he is a good man" Dec agreed.

"Yeah" Ant nodded "He said he's been following my career since the early days,he's really proud of me"

"Why wouldn't he be?" Dec answered "any parent would be"

"I guess" Ant smiled "it's all so strange though.After the initial awkwardness,we talked about so much,as if there hadn't been any distance between us all these years"

"I'm so glad" Dec replied "I'm happy it all worked out for the best"

"It did" Ant smiled "although it didn't feel right to call him dad,I tried and it was just weird,so I'm just calling him Ray for now"

"How does he feel about that?" Dec asked.

"Well" Ant laughed "he doesn't really get a say in it after all these years does he?"

"Guess not" Dec smiled.

Ant continued to rebuild his relationship with Ray over the coming months,visiting him whenever he went to Newcastle and even inviting him down to London to stay.

Ant was soon talking about being ready to return to work in the new year and ITV and the boys management company would arrange more meetings to support him through that transition.

First though,Ant and Dec had to get through the ordeal of being separated for I'm a celebrity.

Ant invited Dec over to his house a couple of days before he jetted off to Australia.

"I just wanted to reassure you that I'm absolutely fine with this Decs ok?" Ant smiled "so I don't want you to worry about me while you're there,I know you and Holly will do a brilliant job"

"Hope so" Dec sighed.

"I know so" Ant smiled,as he rubbed Decs back "you both know what you're doing,so why wouldn't everything be perfect?"

"Because she's not you" Dec sighed.

"No,she's not" Ant nodded "but you've got this,you both have,just enjoy it"

"It's just going to be so strange" Dec muttered "I'm going to miss you so much"

"I'll miss you too" Ant smiled sympathetically "but this is the last hurdle towards us getting back on track,we're almost there"

"Yeah" Dec replied "can't wait for that"

"I want to thank you though Decs" Ant smiled "you've been by my side throughout all of this and never given up on me,I'm so lucky to have you"

"That's what best friends do" Dec shrugged.

"Yeah" Ant agreed "but you've gone above and beyond anything a friend should have to tolerate and I know a lot of people have said you should go solo"

"Those people don't matter" Dec stated firmly "they don't know us"

"No,they don't" Ant agreed "but you must have at least considered it...you know,being out there on your own...permanently?"

"It did cross my mind" Dec admitted "but then after about five seconds,I gave my head a wobble and realised how much I would hate it and put that thought straight out of my mind"

"Well,I'm grateful for that" Ant smiled "me and Amzie are gonna go off on holiday somewhere while you're in Oz"

"Again?" Dec laughed "you've only just got back from Italy"

"Making the most of it while I can" Ant grinned "and I hope you understand,but I don't think I'll be able to watch the show,it will be too weird watching Holly up there in my place"

"No,I totally understand" Dec smiled "you have a great holiday,but we'll still talk won't we?"

"Of course we will" Ant laughed "when do we ever go a day without talking?"

"Never" Dec laughed.

"My divorce is about to be finalised" Ant suddenly said.

"Oh really?" Dec replied "that's good though"

"Yeah it is" Ant nodded.

This meant he could finally close that last painful chapter in his life.

Things had become increasingly strained between Ant and Lisa,so much so that they didn't even speak anymore and they had to get a third party to chaperone Hurley between them.

Ant was angry though.Angry at Lisas financial greed.He had already given her the house he loved and was more than willing to make sure she was comfortable for the rest of her life money wise,but she wanted more...she wanted half of Ants hard earned fortune.

Ant didn't doubt for a moment that she deserved some compensation for everything he'd put her through over the years,but he couldn't get his head around this.Half of his earnings would mean handing over £31 million and that was wrong as far as he was concerned,it wasn't like there were even any children involved,who would need financial stability.

But eventually,Ant agreed to Lisas demands.He decided it would be worth it just so all the pain and anguish of the last few years could be put behind him and he could concentrate on building a new life with Anne-Marie.It still stung though,especially as Lisa had her own lucrative career,so it felt like she may have been doing this out of spite.

Dec had bumped into Lisa a couple of times on their street and it had been incredibly awkward.

Ant had made it clear that he had no problem if Dec wanted to carry on his friendship with Lisa,but that wasn't to be.

Dec hated that he and Lisa barely knew what to say to each other now.Lisa had been so lovely to Dec over the years,but Ant was his priority,it just didn't work to carry on the friendship with her as if nothing had happened.

Eventually Lisa sold the house and moved away,much to Decs relief as the likelihood of them bumping into each other again would obviously be a lot less.

"I'm glad you can both finally move on now" Dec stated,startling Ant out of his thoughts.

"Yeah,me too" Ant smiled.

As much as he knew he was going to miss Ants presence in Australia,Dec was glad that they'd had this little chat.He felt better for it and was ready to face the challenge of presenting I'm a celebrity with a new co host.

He had the added bonus that this year,Isla would be accompanying him and Ali to Australia.She would be the perfect distraction should Dec start feeling down about Ants absence.They had initially been very wary about taking such a young baby on a long flight in case the air pressure damaged her delicate ears,but after being reassured by their paediatrician that it would be fine,they decided to go ahead and not leave Ali and Isla back home in England like they had considered.

Dec was very happy about that.He couldn't imagine being away from his wife and daughter for a month as well as his best friend,that really would have been too much to bear.

The series went well and Dec and Holly did an amazing job.If Dec did have any reservations still lingering about his new on screen co star,he didn't let it show,although as happy as Dec was,it still hurt him that some members of the public demanded that Holly take Ants place permanently.

Still he eventually learned to not let those people get to him.I'm a celebrity with Holly had gone brilliantly,but that was done and dusted now,it was time to move on.

Ant was finally ready to come back to work!