"Fetch Bella" Ant ordered as he threw the ball for the dog to chase.

Bella's owner had informed Ant that she was very well trained and had great recall,but it was up to him if he was comfortable letting her off the lead just yet.

After walking her for a while and making sure she listened to him,Ant was now comfortable doing so.

"Do you want to give it a go?" Ant asked,offering the ball to Dec,after Bella had retrieved it once again.

"Er...no,it's ok" Dec replied,as he sidled up close to Ant "you carry on"

"Dec" Ant laughed "why are you walking so close to me?you're practically in my pocket"

"Sorry" Dec mumbled,looking around cautiously.

Ant hadn't noticed Nick and Nick hadn't noticed either Ant or Dec and Dec hoped it would stay that way,but for some reason he felt anxious.

He knew he didn't have any reason to be,but he couldn't help it,coming face to face with your bully was never easy for anyone.

Dec didn't take his eyes off Nick and wasn't really listening to anything Ant was saying.

"Dec...DEC" Ant said "got your head in the clouds haven't you?come on,look,Bella wants to play with you"

Bella had laid her ball at Dec's feet,who absent mindededly kicked it gently.

"Is that it?" Ant laughed,picking up the ball and throwing it as far as he could manage.

"Can we go now?" Dec asked "we've been here a while,She's had a good run around"

"Really?" Ant frowned "thought you were enjoying it?"

"I am" Dec insisted "I guess I'm just tired"

"Ok" Ant sighed "let's give it another five minutes,then we can head off,ok?"

"Ok" Dec nodded,knowing he had no reasonable argument for that compromise.

"It's such a lovely day" Ant

stated,taking a deep breath of the fresh spring air and looking around at his surroundings "oh"

Dec followed Ant's eye line,which was resting firmly on Nick.

"So that's why you're acting so cagey?" Ant frowned.

Dec didn't reply,he didn't know what to say.

"Come on" Ant grinned "let's go and say hello"

"What?" Dec asked shocked.

"Watch this" Ant ordered mischievously.

"NICK" Ant called out and practically ran towards his former friend and partner,with Dec close behind,who was trying desperately to stay in Ant's shadow.

"Nice to see you Nick" Ant smiled "how are you?"

"Umm...yeah,hi Ant,Dec" Nick muttered "nice to see you too...er...I'm fine,how are you?"

"I'm brilliant" Ant replied confidently "and so is Dec,aren't you Dec?"

"Y...yes" Dec stuttered "I'm fine"

"He's more than fine" Ant grinned "he's amazing,we've just got back from the Maldives,we've set up our own dog walking company and he's back in touch with his family"

"That's good" Nick replied awkwardly "so,you're not at the law firm anymore?"

"Nope" Ant beamed "had enough of the rat race,I'm fulfilling mine and Dec's dreams with our new venture and I couldn't be happier,where are you working now?"

"Oh,I'm kind of in between jobs at the moment" Nick muttered.

"Really?" Ant asked "not found your calling yet?"

"Something like that" Nick sighed "There's jobs out there,just no one seems to want me"

"Oh,what a shame" Ant replied sarcastically "are you saying you haven't worked since you finished with us?"

"No,I haven't" Nick shrugged "something will come up though...I know it will"

"I'm sure it will" Ant nodded "how's your Mam?"

"She's ok" Nick replied "I'm back living with her now"

"Really?" Ant asked,feigning surprise "what happened to your lovely house?"

"Couldn't keep up with the mortgage payments" Nick said sadly "and as I still can't find a job,moving back with her was the only option,she's not happy about it though"

"I bet" Ant laughed "probably wants her own space now"

"Yeah" Nick nodded "and she makes that obvious every single day,I guess I should have put some money aside for situations like this instead of squandering it all on a lavish lifestyle"

"Too much champagne and fast cars?" Ant grinned.

"Yeah,something like that" Nick muttered.

"What are you doing over this way anyway?" Ant enquired "your Mam's place isn't around here"

"No,it isn't" Nick nodded "I just wanted a change of scenery...you know?a break from her and her nagging and to be where no one knows me...or so I thought"

"Sounds like you've had a pretty hard time Nick" Ant mused.

"Yeah,I have" Nick agreed "still am having a hard time"

"Hmm" Ant was deep in thought for a moment "you know what that's called Nick?"

"What?" Nick asked curiously,actually hoping Ant was about to give him some advice.

"KARMA" Ant grinned gleefully and immediately turned to Dec,holding his hand up for him to give a triumphant high five,which he obligingly did,before both men walked away without a single glance back,leaving Nick stood glued to the spot,open mouthed in disbelief as he watched his former friend stride confidently away.

Bella gave a quick bark at Nick and also turned her back on him as if in support with Ant,before running to catch up with him and Dec.

"That felt so good" Ant grinned.

"I can tell" Dec laughed "you really had him squirming"

"Good" Ant grinned "and in the unlikely event you ever run into him again,you need to do the same ok?"

"Ok" Dec nodded "so how come no one will employ him?"

"I have contacts in the business" Ant laughed.

"Ant,you didn't?" Dec giggled.

"I did" Ant replied proudly "I warned every single person I know in the industry about him,he'll never work in law again.

Dec was shocked and amazed in equal measure at what Ant had done and it basically left him speechless.

"So,do you still want to go home?" Ant asked "or hang out here a bit longer?Bella is loving it"

"We can stay a bit longer" Dec agreed "now the problem is sorted"

Over the next few weeks,Ant and Dec built up their clientele of people needing dog walkers,all of who left amazing reviews online and Ant had got planning permission for the kennels,so that was going ahead.

Dec had seen his family many more times and it honestly felt like they'd never been apart and best of all he had started getting the ball rolling with getting access to his daughter.

Ant had written a solicitor's letter to Ali,hoping they could come to an amicable agreement of some sort,without it getting too nasty.

They were now just awaiting her reply,but if she chose to still be difficult,then Ant and Dec would definitely be going down the legal route and Ant assured Dec that they wouldn't give up until Isla was back in his arms,at least some of the time.

One day after all the dogs had been walked and dropped off at their homes,Ant sat Dec down to tell him his latest idea.

"You what?" Dec asked surprised at Ant's suggestion.

"Move in with me" Ant beamed.

"Why?" Dec frowned.

"Because it makes sense" Ant replied "think about it Dec,it's just practical,this is basically your work place now,you're here most of the time anyway aren't you?then what do you do?"

"I go home" Dec shrugged.

"Exactly" Ant grinned "to that tiny studio flat"

"You chose it" Dec laughed.

"I know" Ant replied "but it was never meant to be a permanent thing"

"I like it" Dec pointed out.

"I know you do" Ant nodded "but you like it here even more don't you?"

Dec couldn't argue with that.

"Why do you want me to live here?" Dec asked curiously.

"As I said" Ant replied "it makes sense,I've got all this space for just me,so it seems ridiculous that you're stuck in that flat,look at it as a live in position,like an au pair,something like that,they live where they work"

"Or a butler" Dec giggled.

"If you like" Ant laughed "so come on,will you do it?for me?"

"What will you do with my flat?" Dec asked.

"I'd give it up" Ant replied "won't need it anymore"

"What if we fall out?" Dec asked concerned.

"That won't happen" Ant stated confidently.

"How can you be so sure?" Dec mused.

"Because we just click don't we?" Ant beamed "we're always gonna get on you and me,I can sense it and anyway,even if we did fall out,do you really think I'm the kind of person who would throw you out onto the streets?"

"I really would have gone full circle if that happened" Dec laughed.

"And it would still be proper employment" Ant said seriously "with your tax,insurance,pension and all that sorted and a decent wage at the end of the week,so what do you say?"

Dec was deep in thought for a moment,would this be a good idea?would he be mad to turn it down?he and Ant were good friends after all,so it would be just like a house share...or being a lodger,Dec wasn't quite sure which one,but there was obviously only one sensible answer to Ant's question.

"Yes" Dec beamed.

"Really?" Ant asked delighted.

"Absolutely" Dec grinned "I think it's a great idea,imagine the fun we'll have,football nights,takeaways,swimming in that fabulous pool,getting pissed together...it's gonna be great"

"Umm Dec" Ant laughed "you know we will be working too don't you?"

"Yeah,of course" Dec giggled sheepishly,now feeling a little bit embarrassed at letting his excitement get the better of him.

"Don't worry Dec" Ant replied "I understand and of course we'll be doing all that,but doing a job that we both love is going to be amazing too"

"Yep" Dec nodded "so when shall I move in?you'll have to give notice on my flat first won't you?is it a month?"

"Don't you worry about that" Ant insisted "I'll sort it all,you just need to pack"

"Well,I don't have a huge amount of stuff" Dec frowned "won't take long"

"Good" Ant smiled "so the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned then,how about this weekend?"

"This weekend?" Dec enquired surprised.

"Yeah,why not?" Ant shrugged.

"Ok" Dec nodded.

"Let's do it!"