"Ready to go?" Ant asked as Dec took a final look around the tiny flat that he had called home for the last few months.

"I'll miss this place" Dec said sadly "it wasn't just a flat to me,it was my savior"

"I know" Ant nodded with understanding and placed a comforting arm around Dec's shoulder.

"It looks so bare" Dec frowned.

"Well,to be fair" Ant mused "you never had much stuff here in the first place"

"True" Dec sighed.

"Come on" Ant encouraged "let's go,the cleaners will be here soon"

"I could have done that" Dec frowned "in fact,surely I was obliged to do it?"

"Don't you worry about that" Ant smiled "it's routine to get cleaners in to do a deep clean when someone moves out of a place"

"Don't you have to wait to let them in?" Dec asked.

"No,the agency are dealing with it all" Ant announced "that's what I'm paying them for,they have a set of keys,come on,let's go"

"Ok" Dec smiled,looking around at the flat one last time "goodbye little home,I'll never forget you"

Ant smiled to himself at Dec's words,he couldn't decide if they were sweet or silly or maybe a bit of both.

Ant placed Dec's belongings into the boot of his car and Dec looked back at his former home until it was out of sight.

"That's it then" Dec sighed "the end of an era"

"Dec" Ant laughed "you were only there a few months,that's a pretty short era"

"Yeah,but they were an important few months" Dec replied.

"Yeah,that's true" Ant smiled,acknowledging now that he should allow Dec his sadness.

"Here we are" Ant announced as he pulled into his driveway "welcome home Declan"

"Thanks" Dec beamed,now feeling happier as a new era was about to start.

"How about we get a takeaway tonight?" Ant suggested "and a few beers,you know...to celebrate your arrival?"

"Sounds like a plan" Dec beamed.

And so that evening,the two men were sat comfortably,eating their meal and chatting casually,both incredibly comfortable in each other's company.

"That was delicious" Dec announced,placing his fork down onto his empty plate and rubbing his swollen belly with his other hand "ate far too much though"

"You always do when it's chinese" Ant pointed out playfully.

"Can't help it" Dec smiled "I just love it so much,whoever invented sweet and sour pork balls deserves a medal"

"If you say so" Ant laughed.

"I do" Dec grinned "they're my favourite food in the whole wide world"

"Yeah,I've noticed" Ant replied,nodding towards Dec's empty plate.

"Hey,I only had twelve" Dec retorted in mock offence.

"Yep" Ant grinned "only twelve,plus the spare ribs,the chicken fried rice and the crispy duck pancakes"

"I'm a growing boy" Dec giggled "what can I say?"

"Yeah" Ant nodded "growing outwards maybe"

"Shut up" Dec replied playfully "you ate just as much as me"

"Maybe" Ant smiled "got room for another beer?"

"Always" Dec smiled.

The boys carried on chatting and laughing with each other until Dec was slightly distracted by the sound of a text message coming through on his phone.

He picked it up and glanced casually at the message.

"Shit" he muttered.

"What?" Ant asked concerned "what's wrong?"

"Er...nothing" Dec frowned "it's just that it's..."

"Who?" Ant asked impatiently.

"Ali" Dec stated.

Ant had included Dec's new mobile phone number when he sent the solicitors letter to Ali in the hope that she would contact him that way.

"Really?" Ant asked "what did she say?"

Ant hoped against hope that Ali was at least being civil to Dec,he knew how easily Dec's mood could change when something was bothering him and it was the last thing he wanted right now when he'd been so happy lately.

"Whatever she says" Ant continued "we'll deal with it,ok?"

"I don't think I can bring myself to read it" Dec frowned "I feel a bit sick"

"Give it here" Ant ordered and held out his hand.

'Dec' Ant read the message out loud 'it was a surprise to hear from you,but unfortunately not a nice one'

Dec immediately felt like his heart had sank to the soles of his feet,this obviously wasn't going to go well,he wasn't surprised,but had been hoping that Ali might have at least mellowed a little bit,but apparently not.

'I've had to deal with your little brat all by myself for months now'

"But she threw me out" Dec protested.

"I know" Ant patted Dec's leg reassuringly and continued with the message.

"And my daughter isn't a brat" Dec mumbled more to himself than Ant.

'It's about time you took some responsibility for your own child and gave me a break' it continued 'and while we're at it,you owe me a hell of a lot of child maintenance by now'

"She hasn't changed at all has she?" Dec stated sadly.

"Doesn't look like it" Ant smiled sympathetically "but don't get drawn into the nastiness,remember we have one goal here and that's to get you access to Isla"

"Yeah" Dec agreed "is that it?"

"Umm...no,there's a bit more" Ant nodded and finished reading the message.

'So get your arse in gear and pick your daughter up,when or where you take her,I don't care,I just need a break from her incessant whinging and whining and stupid,bratty tantrums,goodbye!'

"Hardly candidate for mother of the year is she?" Ant frowned as he passed Dec's phone back to him.

"Poor Isla" Dec whispered,with a tear forming in his eye.

As well as missing his adored daughter like crazy,he now had to contend with the idea that she may have also been treated badly since Dec left,by Ali and God knows who else she might have let in the house.

"You need to reply Dec" Ant gently urged "let's get the ball rolling shall we?"

"I don't really know what to say to all that?" Dec frowned.

"Keep it simple" Ant advised "don't rise to anything she said,that's exactly what she wants"

Dec proceeded to type out a reply and showed it to Ant.

'Thank you for your message' it read 'just let me know when is a convenient time for you?'

"That's perfect" Ant smiled.

Dec was very restless after he sent it,nervous once again about what the reply would say.

He was very surprised when that reply came back just a few seconds later.

'The sooner the better' came the blunt reply.

"This weekend?" Dec asked Ant hopefully,now painfully aware that it would be Ant's place that Isla would be coming to if Dec chose to bring her back home with him.

Ant sensed Dec's apprehension and immediately put his worries to bed.

"Declan" he smiled "this is your home now too,you can bring your daughter here whenever you like,she'll always be welcome"

"Thanks Ant" Dec smiled gratefully "you're a good mate"

So Dec sent a message to Ali, suggesting he could have Isla on the Saturday and bring her to his and Ant's place for the day.

'If you want her' Ali said 'have her for the whole bloody weekend at least,not just one stupid day,hardly gives me a break does it?'

"She's a delight isn't she?" Ant laughed when Dec showed him the message "anyway that's fine,she can stay here as long as you like"

'I'll pick her up after work on Friday then' Dec replied assertively 'and bring her back Sunday evening,then we can arrange more regular contact'

'Fine' came Ali's very basic reply.

'Good' Dec stated 'I'll see you Friday,around 6 o'clock'

Dec placed his phone down onto the coffee table.

"Umm...Ant?" He mumbled sheepishly.

"Yes Dec" Ant laughed "of course I will give you a lift to go and get her"

"You read my mind" Dec giggled.

Dec was so excited about the forthcoming weekend and Ant was incredibly happy for him,but Dec was also very nervous.

"There's so much to do" Dec frowned as the weekend approached "we haven't got anything for her here and what about a car seat?I didn't even think of that"

"Dec,stop panicking" Ant laughed "surely Ali will send stuff with her and we can get a car seat,it's not a problem"

"Yeah,right" Dec snapped "do you really think Ali will bother packing anything for her?it'll all be left to me"

"Then we'll go shopping" Ant shrugged "tonight after work and you'll need to have stuff here anyway for her future visits,so it's not such a bad thing...now just breathe will ya and stop panicking"

"Ok" Dec nodded,breathing deeply,trying to calm himself "I just can't believe I'm finally going to get to see my baby girl after all this time"

"Yeah" Ant smiled "it's brilliant and I'm so happy for you"

"Do you think she'll remember who I am?" Dec asked sadly.

"I'm sure she will" Ant replied "she may be a bit apprehensive at first,that's normal,but then once she's back in her daddy's loving arms,there'll be no stopping her"

"I hope so" Dec beamed "I need to make a list"

"A list of what?" Ant enquired curiously.

"You know?" Dec smiled "everything she'll need for when she stays here...clothes,toys and the like...ooh,I need to get her a swimming costume,she'll love the pool"

Dec started scribbling furiously on a piece of paper and Ant watched him in utter delight,knowing how much this all meant to him,he just hoped and prayed that Ali wouldn't throw a spanner in the works at the last minute,from what he'd heard about this woman,Ant wouldn't put anything past her,but if she did mess up the plan,Ant knew it would tear Dec apart inside.

So as he and Dec sat in the car outside Dec's previous marital home that friday night,Ant could only hope against hope that that wouldn't be the case.

"This is it then" Dec stated.

"Yep" Ant nodded "good luck,I'll be right here if you need me"

Ant could only watch on helplessly as Dec tentatively made his way up the short garden path and rang the doorbell.

Neither of them knew it at the time,but they were both inadvertently holding their breath as they waited for Ali to answer.

Then the door slowly opened!