Ant watched intently from his car as Dec said goodbye to his mother on her front doorstep,feeling optimistic for Dec at what was obviously an emotional outcome.

Anne and Dec were caught in a long embrace and Ant didn't doubt there would be tears involved.

He smiled at Dec when he eventually tore himself from his mother's arms and made his way to the car with a big grin on his face.

"Bye Mam" he called out,waving at Anne as she watched him go.

"Bye sweetheart" she replied "I'll see you tomorrow"

She also waved at Ant as he drove by,who returned the gesture.

"Must have gone well then?" Ant grinned,as Dec climbed into the car "if you're seeing her again tomorrow"

"Oh Ant" Dec beamed "it was so lovely to see her,we talked,laughed,cried,hugged,it was very emotional"

"I can imagine" Ant nodded.

"She wanted me to stay overnight" Dec stated.

"Oh really?" Ant quizzed "why didn't you then?I wouldn't have minded,I can cope with a night in a hotel on my own you know,do it all the time for work"

"I'm sure you can" Dec laughed "but it wasn't that,it was just very overwhelming and if anyone else had turned up tonight,my brothers or sisters possibly,I probably wouldn't have been able to handle it,too much too soon,ya know?"

"Yeah,I do" Ant nodded "that's totally fair"

"So,Mam is gonna tell them I'm here" Dec continued "she is in no doubt that they'll all want to see me,but I want it to be just me,her and my sister Pat tomorrow,one step at a time,then I can catch up with the others sometime in the near future"

"Sounds like a good plan" Ant smiled.

"How was it at your Mam's?" Dec asked,realising he was just talking about himself again.

"It was good" Ant replied "told her all about you,she thinks you're really brave"

"Not sure brave is the word I'd use" Dec frowned.

"I would" Ant smiled "you've been through a lot,still are going through a lot,but you're not giving up and you're coming out on top"

"Maybe" Dec nodded "but you had a nice time?"

"Yeah,of course I did" Ant beamed "I'll introduce you to them sometime,they'll love you"

"They've got low standards then" Dec grinned.

"What do you fancy doing tonight?" Ant asked as he pulled up into the hotel car park "could go out for dinner or a drink?"

"I'm not sure" Dec frowned.

"Why not?" Ant asked surprised,he thought Dec would jump at the chance.

"Well" Dec sighed "I might run into someone I know,I don't think I'm ready for that"

"Newcastle is a big place you know" Ant grinned "what are the chances?"

"Very high chances actually" Dec stated "are you telling me you've never run into anyone you know when you've been out and about?"

"Yeah,course I have" Ant nodded.

"There you go then" Dec smiled "we could just eat at the hotel restaurant,or get a takeaway?my treat"

"You don't have to do that" Ant replied.

"I'd like to" Dec confirmed "it's the least I can do"

"Declan" Ant sighed "you need to get this idea that you somehow have to pay me back out of your head...you don't,I've helped you because I want to,nothing else,you don't owe me anything"

"It's only a takeaway" Dec shrugged.

"Ok" Ant laughed,as they entered Ant's hotel room "if it will make you feel better"

"It will" Dec nodded as he kicked his shoes off and flopped down onto Ant's bed.

"Make yourself comfortable why don't you" Ant laughed.

"I am" Dec grinned,as he turned on the television and started scrolling through the channels.

A while later they were tucking into a delicious chinese takeaway,while watching a film that neither of them were really concentrating on,they were too busy talking.

"Are you happy Ant?" Dec suddenly asked out of nowhere,while shoving a sweet and sour pork ball into his mouth.

"What?" Ant asked surprised "where has that come from?"

"Dunno" Dec shrugged "I was just wondering,your whole life seems to mainly revolve around work...so are you happy with that?"

"I like my job" Ant replied.

"That wasn't the question" Dec stubbornly pressed for an answer "people can like their jobs,but still be unhappy"

"I'm fine Declan,honestly" Dec stated.

"You don't like to open up do you?" Dec noted.

"Alright Dec" Ant sighed,placing his plate to one side "I'm not happy,is that what you want to hear?in fact I'm very unsatisfied"

"Wanna tell me about it?" Dec asked.

Ant frowned at Dec "you've become a shrink all of a sudden have you?"

"No" Dec replied seriously "but our friendship always seems to be about me...how you can help me...what you can do for me...it shouldn't be so one sided,you don't need to have money to be a good friend,I'm a great listener,try me"

"You're a stubborn little shit too" Ant grinned.

"Better get used to it" Dec laughed "come on then,tell me about you"

"I hate talking about myself" Ant mumbled.

"I can tell" Dec nodded "ok,let me try and make it a little bit easier for you,why do you work so much?"

"Because my job requires it" Ant shrugged "being a senior partner in a company is pretty full on"

"I get that" Dec replied "but you really can't work shorter days?not even once a week or something?take a bit of time off to relax and recharge your batteries?a bit of time just for you?"

"Maybe I don't want to" Ant shrugged.

"Why wouldn't you want to?" Dec asked confused "you've got an amazing home which most people would kill for,I'd be spending every single spare moment possible there if I were you"

"And do what?" Ant asked.

"Unwind of course" Dec smiled "make use of that lovely swimming pool and you like cooking don't you?"

"Yeah...but" Ant hesitated.

"But what?" Dec enquired,genuinely not understanding why Ant chose to work practically every hour God sent.

"I get lonely" Ant whispered.

"What?" Dec asked,not sure if he had heard right.

"I get lonely" Ant repeated and Dec was sure he detected a tremor in Ant's voice.

"Oh Ant" Dec smiled sympathetically "so you work so much just to keep yourself busy,because...because there's no one there for you?"

"Basically yeah" Ant nodded.

"But you have friends" Dec stated "and family,people who love you"

"A very small family" Ant pointed out "who are up here while I'm in London and yes I do have some good friends,but they're all settled down with families of their own,I'm the only one who goes back to an empty,quiet house every night"

"You can meet someone" Dec pointed out "but you have to put yourself out there"

"Ugh" Ant screwed his nose up at the thought "I don't relish the thought of dating,I'm a middle aged man,not a teenager any more"

"Doesn't matter" Dec smiled "you can date at any age"

"Who would want me?" Ant asked sadly.

"What the hell?" Dec exclaimed "who wouldn't want you?You're a good looking guy,a lovely,kind,caring guy,although you might want to keep the fact you have a bit of money to yourself,don't want to attract any gold diggers"

"I ain't all that great" Ant sighed.

Dec was shocked at Ant's low self esteem,he had no idea he felt like that about himself,he always seemed so confident and happy go lucky,just goes to show that no one can truly know what's going on inside someone else,Dec thought.

But after everything Ant had done for Dec,Dec felt that the least he could do was try and make Ant see all the goodness inside himself that was glaringly obvious to others.

"Ok" Dec smiled,as he got up to clear up all the takeaway wrappers "it's time for you to take some time for yourself,doesn't have to be anything huge,just little things can make a difference"

"Like what?" Ant frowned.

"Go for a walk" Dec ordered.

"What?" Ant laughed.

"Go for a walk" Dec repeated "when was the last time you went for a walk?just for the sake of it?"

"Umm,years ago" Ant replied "maybe never"

"Really?" Dec asked surprised "you've never just gone for a walk on a lovely spring day just for the fun of it or to relax,not ever?"

"Not that I can recall?" Ant shrugged.

"Not even when you were in a relationship?" Dec continued "a nice romantic walk down by the river, holding hands...nothing?"

"Well,I might have" Ant replied "just not what I can recall"

"Wow" Dec stated "off you go then"

"What?" Ant laughed "you're sending me out for a walk?"

"Yep" Dec grinned "that's exactly what I'm doing,it doesn't have to be for long,twenty minutes or so,just go somewhere nice,walk along the quayside or something,but just enjoy it and forget about work"

"But it's getting dark" Ant protested.

"Says the man who works till gone midnight,every night in London" Dec grinned.

"Yeah,but I get a cab home then" Ant replied.

"Go on,stop making excuses" Dec ordered "it may be getting dark,but it's not late is it?"

"Are you coming?" Ant asked,putting his shoes on,realising he was fighting a losing battle,so might as well just go for this damned walk and get it over with.

"No,I'll wait here" Dec replied "text me when you're on your way back though"

"Ok" Ant called out as he closed the hotel door,still slightly confused as to what had just happened and why he...a grown man...was being made to go for a walk against his will.

But he did as he was told and actually quite enjoyed it,breathing in the crisp spring air and making a conscious effort to think about something else whenever work issues popped into his mind.

He did end up at the quayside as Dec had suggested and sat on a bench to watch the world go by.

He loved this area and had many happy memories of hanging around it as a teenager with his friends or sitting eating fish and chips with ex girlfriends,how he now looked back on those times with such fondness.

Maybe Dec was right,there had to be more to life than work.

Yes,he had a great job,a great house and was very comfortable financially,but Dec had finally made him see the reality.

All of that meant nothing if he didn't have happiness!