Dec could hear Isla crying as the door opened and his heart sank,this probably wasn't going to go smoothly.

"Here,take her" Ali snapped and thrust the distraught child into Dec's arms,then quickly slammed the door behind her.

"WHAT?" Dec exclaimed "ALI...OPEN THE DOOR"

His shouting got him absolutely nowhere as he struggled to keep hold of Isla who was now screaming like a banshee,desperate to get back to her mother.

But Ali ignored both of them and Dec knew it was pointless carrying on with the continuous banging on the door and non stop ringing of the bell.

"MUMMY,MUMMY...I WANT MUMMY" Isla sobbed loudly.

"I know sweetheart" Dec replied,while attempting to soothe her "but you're coming with daddy now,we'll have so much fun,I've missed you so much"

Dec finally admitted defeat as it was pretty obvious Ali wasn't going to open the door again,so he made his way back to Ant's car,who had watched on shocked at what was unfolding in front of his eyes...Dec really hadn't been exaggerating about what an awful person Ali was.

He quickly got out of the car to help Dec get Isla into the car seat.

"Come on Dec" he smiled "forget about her and let's just concentrate on getting Isla settled shall we?"

"That might take some time" Dec frowned,as he attempted to strap the child in,but her writhing around as well as kicking out at him,certainly wasn't making it easy.

"Isla sweetheart" Dec soothed "please be a good girl for daddy,I know you're scared,but it's going to be ok,I promise you"

"I can't get her strapped in" Dec stated "she's too wriggly"

"Here" Ant offered "you hold her still and I'll do it"

Eventually,after what seemed like a lifetime,Isla was safely in her car seat.

"What now?" Ant asked,trying to make himself heard above the screaming as he and Dec got back into the front seats.

"Home I guess" Dec replied despondently.

They had talked about maybe taking Isla to Macdonalds for dinner,but that obviously wouldn't be a good idea now and Dec didn't even know if she'd already eaten or not.

There was obviously no other option than to take her home,where she would hopefully calm down and begin to settle.

"She's got a pair of lungs on her hasn't she?" Ant stated loudly.

"Yeah" Dec replied bluntly.

Ant glanced at Dec,acutely aware of how worried Dec was about the situation.

"Don't worry Declan" he said kindly "it's just a tantrum and she's a little scared,but she'll be fine"

"I hope so" Dec replied sadly "I was so looking forward to this weekend"

"And you're going to have a great time" Ant smiled "you'll see"

Isla was still screaming as Ant pulled into his driveway and Dec carried her into the house.

He gently placed her down onto the sofa and sat down beside her.

"Look what I've got for you" Dec stated in a soft,loving voice "a cuddly giraffe"

Dec attempted to place the toy next to Isla,who immediately threw it back at him.

"NO" she shouted "WANT MUMMY" before throwing herself onto the floor in a sobbing heap.

"I don't know what to do?" Dec asked Ant desperately.

"Just persevere mate" Ant replied "it'll be hard,but you'll get there in the end"

So Dec picked Isla up from the floor,attempting to hold her flailing arms and legs still as he cuddled her,surprised at just how strong she was.

"She's certainly determined" Ant smiled sympathetically.

"Gets that from her mother" Dec muttered "bloody stubborn,the pair of them...AAAAHHHH"

"Dec...what's wrong?" Ant asked concerned.

"She bit me" Dec frowned "that really hurt"

"Here" Ant offered "let me have a go"

Ant took Isla from Dec,sitting down next to him on the sofa,holding her tightly as she screamed and thrashed around and attempted to rock her to and fro

"Hush little baby don't say a word

Papas gonna buy you a mocking bird

If that mocking bird won't sing

Papas gonna buy you a diamond ring"

Ant sang the lullaby as close to Islas ear as he could manage and Dec watched on in hope.

"If that diamond ring turns brass

Papas gonna buy you a looking glass

If that looking glass gets broke

Papas gonna buy you a billy goat"

Ant continued to quietly sing the song and both men were amazed when there were now little gaps in between Isla's sobbing.

"It's working Ant" Dec whispered relieved "sing some more"

"If that billy goat won't pull

Papas gonna buy you a cart and bull

If that cart and bull turn over

Papas gonna buy you a dog named Rover"

"I think she's going to sleep" Dec smiled,as the screaming eventually subsided and turned into heartbreaking quivers of breath every few seconds.

The childs eyes were getting heavy and beginning to close as she fought to stay awake.

"If that dog named Rover won't bark

Papas gonna buy you a horse and cart" Ant sang in a much softer voice and gently handed Isla back to her desperate father,who held her tight and kissed her sweaty forehead.

Ant smiled at Dec with understanding.

"And if that horse and cart fall down"

Ant took Isla's tiny hand in his and leant forward to place a kiss on it.

"You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town"

Silence!

Ant and Dec both let out a sigh of relief and Dec was now relishing having his beloved daughter in his arms,sleeping soundly with her face pressed against his chest,his T shirt soaking up what was left of her tears.

"Thanks Ant" Dec smiled "you're amazing"

"It was my pleasure" Ant beamed.

"I don't know that song" Dec stated as he rubbed the palm of his hand rhythmically up and down Isla's back.

"Mam used to sing it to me when I was little and I couldn't sleep" Ant replied,smiling at the now very vague memory "and I've never forgotten it"

"It's lovely" Dec smiled.

"She used to sing mama,not papa though obviously" Ant mused "and I'm not sure I remembered all the lyrics correctly"

"That doesn't matter" Dec replied,as he gazed down at his sleeping daughter "it worked,that's all that matters...look at her"

"Yeah" Ant nodded,stroking Isla's soft hair "she's beautiful"

"I just love her so much" Dec announced.

"I know you do" Ant nodded "but you've got her back now and will never lose her again"

"I hope not" Dec whispered.

"Do you think you should put her to bed?" Ant suggested "she's obviously exhausted after all that screaming"

"Yeah,probably" Dec agreed "I haven't got her pyjamas ready or anything,I wasn't quite prepared for her reaction"

"Doesn't matter" Ant shrugged "let her sleep in her clothes"

"Really?" Dec frowned.

"I doubt she's gonna care" Ant laughed "and you don't want to risk waking her up and starting that screaming all over again do you?"

"Definitely not" Dec frowned "but can I just hold onto her for a little bit longer?I've missed her cuddles"

"Oh Dec" Ant smiled "you can hold onto her all evening if you like,it was just a suggestion"

"I'd like that" Dec whispered into Isla's hair,breathing in her scent.

"Fancy a beer?" Ant got up to go to the fridge.

"No thanks" Dec replied "I'm not going to drink while she's here,but you go ahead"

"Good point" Ant nodded "I won't either then"

"Ant,you can have a beer if you want one" Dec laughed "she's my responsibility,not yours"

"Nah,it's ok" Ant grinned and brought two cans of coke back to the sofa and handed one to Dec.

"I just had a thought" Dec frowned.

"What's that?" Ant asked curiously.

"Well" Dec continued "if I put her to bed in her own room,she's going to wake up in a strange place,not knowing where she is...she'll be terrified"

"Good point" Ant agreed "but she doesn't have to sleep in there,it's fine if you want to have her in with you"

"Yeah" Dec nodded "I think I'd prefer that,at least at the beginning until she's more comfortable here"

"That's settled then" Ant smiled "you hungry?"

"Starving" Dec replied.

"What do you fancy?" Ant asked.

"Chinese?" Dec asked hopefully.

"Declan" Ant laughed "you eat way too many takeaways,we've got plenty of food in,I'll make something"

Dec sat watching television quietly while Isla snored gently on his lap and Ant busied himself in the kitchen.

"Chicken korma" Ant announced an hour or so later,while proudly holding two plates of food "do you want to eat at the table or on the sofa?"

"Maybe on the sofa" Dec replied as he lay Isla down next to him "then I can keep an eye on her"

"Ok" Ant nodded,handing Dec his dinner and sitting the other side of the sleeping child.

"What are we going to do for the rest of the weekend then?" Ant enquired.

"Park?" Dec shrugged "softplay,anything like that...if she'll allow it"

"She'll be fine" Ant replied confidently.

"That was delicious Ant" Dec smiled, once he'd finished eating "thank you"

"You're very welcome" Ant replied "glad you enjoyed it"

Ant took Dec's plate from him and made his way back to the kitchen to start cleaning up.

"I'll be over to help you in a minute" Dec called out.

"Ah,don't you worry about it" Ant replied "you've had a stressful evening,you just relax and I'll take care of this,it won't take me long"

Dec never failed to be amazed at Ant's kindness,but he was endlessly grateful for it.

While Ant was busy,Dec decided to send a text to Ali.

'That was totally out of order how you just shoved Isla screaming into my arms and shut the door in my face' he typed 'she was very upset'

Dec wished he hadn't bothered when the blunt reply came through a couple of minutes later.

'Get over it!'

Dec threw the phone down onto the coffee table with a heavy sigh and decided not to text her again unless it was absolutely vital.

Later that evening as he watched his daughter sleeping soundly next to him in bed,he could feel nothing but happiness.

Yes,it had been a very stressful start to the weekend and Dec was still very worried about how it would pan out the next day,but he tried to put that to the back of his mind for now.

Only one thing mattered at that precise moment.

And that was that he had got his precious daughter back!