Ant immediately unbuckled his seatbelt that he had only just fastened.

"Oh Dec,come here" he invited Dec into his open arms.

The two men embraced emotionally with Dec sobbing into Ant's chest,although it was very awkward with the position they were in,being side by side in the car,rather than facing each other,which was always preferable during a heartfelt hug.

Nevertheless,they did the best they could and Ant held Dec as he cried, while Isla watched on bewildered.

Ant didn't say anything,just waited patiently for Dec to get it all out,Ant knew there was a lot of anger,frustration and bitterness there from the hell that woman had put Dec through and this was the culmination of all those things.

He didn't blame Dec for this reaction,he was only human after all and sometimes a good cry was exactly what was needed.

So Ant held Dec tight until the tears eventually began to subside.

"Ok?" Ant asked sympathetically as Dec sat up straight in his seat.

Dec nodded sadly and attempted to wipe the tears away with the back of his hand,but some drops still managed to escape over his sodden eyelashes.

"Here" Ant opened the glove compartment,took out a small packet of tissues and handed them to Dec.

"Thanks" Dec whispered.

Ant waited for a moment for Dec to regain his composure,before asking how he felt.

"I don't know" Dec shook his head despairingly "angry,upset,shocked...how did I ever fall in love with someone like that?"

"She fooled you good and proper" Ant nodded "but maybe you're looking at this from the wrong perspective"

"Am I?" Dec frowned.

"Yeah" Ant smiled "I know what just happened in there was horrible,I'm as shocked as you are,but look at the outcome"

He nodded back to Isla,who was by now happily chatting away to her toy giraffe,having gotten bored with whatever was going on between the two men within a couple of seconds.

"You've got your daughter back" Ant stated "and not just some of the time,you've got full custody,isn't that amazing?"

A smile spread across Dec's face,he had been too upset to even consider that.

"God,I have haven't I?" He beamed "I've got my baby back,she's going to live with us,I'm going to bring her up"

"Yep" Ant laughed excitedly "it's going to be amazing and Ali is out of the picture completely,so it's gonna be just you and her..father and daughter against the world"

"Father,daughter and friend against the world you mean" Dec stated.

"Ok" Ant laughed "father,daughter and friend against the world"

"Guess I was just in shock at what occurred in there" Dec pointed towards Ali's house,that they were still parked outside "but this is actually brilliant isn't it?"

"Yeah,it is" Ant smiled.

Dec glanced back at his daughter.

"I hope she's too young to remember her mother's nastiness" Dec frowned.

"She is" Ant replied confidently "and we're gonna smother her with love,so that's all she'll ever know from now on"

"Thanks Ant" Dec smiled.

Ant started the car and the trio started making their way home.

Dec was obviously mulling what seemed like a million things over in his mind.

"I'm so unprepared" he stated as Ant drove.

"How do you mean?" Ant enquired.

"Well" Dec mused "we're both working tomorrow,so what am I going to do with her?can't really take her on long dog walks with us,it would be too exhausting for her and we can't shorten the walks as that's what the owners have paid for...oh shit,what am I going to do?"

"Dec,calm down" Ant laughed "I can take care of the dogs"

"By yourself?" Dec frowned.

"I'll manage" Ant smiled "and if it turns out to be a bit much,I can find someone to help out through an agency at short notice,then that'll give you time to sort out a nursery or childminder or whatever you decide"

"Ok" Dec nodded thoughtfully.

"I've been thinking about employing a seasonal worker to help out anyway" Ant stated.

"Really?" Dec asked surprised.

"Yeah" Ant nodded "you know,just for the extra busy periods like the summer when lots of people go away"

"Makes sense" Dec agreed,as Ant pulled up into his driveway "and they can do the dirty jobs"

"Charming" Ant laughed "you too posh to scrub out a kennel now?"

"Nah" Dec grinned "I'm just kidding,I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty"

"Glad to hear it" Ant smiled.

"I need to get more stuff for her too" Dec pondered "clothes and all that,the things she has here for the weekends aren't enough"

"Maybe you could get all that from Ali?" Ant suggested "she won't be needing it now after all"

"Maybe" Dec nodded "although I have no desire to see her ever again"

"That's totally understandable" Ant replied.

"And I'd quite like to go and choose stuff for Isla myself" Dec beamed "I never got to do that"

"With Isla's approval I assume?" Ant grinned.

"Oh yeah" Dec laughed "she can come shopping with me,but prepare to have a house full of sparkly things with unicorns and rainbows on"

"Sounds great" Ant replied "take the whole of this week off if you like?to get everything sorted and spend some time with her"

"Thanks Ant" Dec replied gratefully.

After putting Isla to bed,Dec immediately got onto the task of finding somewhere for her to be taken care of during his and Ant's working hours.

After much searching,he decided he would prefer a childminder over a nursery as it felt more personal and homely,so he made a note of a few of their phone numbers,vowing to call them and have it all sorted out the next day one way or the other.

"It's gonna work out ya know" Ant smiled as he passed Dec a cup of tea "there's some fantastic childminders around here"

"I hope so" Dec replied "it's just all so new to me"

"Well,it's only for around a year or so isn't it?" Ant queried "she"ll be starting school next year"

"Bloody hell" Dec frowned "never even thought of that,she's growing up so fast"

"Yeah" Ant nodded "they have a habit of doing that,don't stay little for long,so make the most of it"

"I intend to" Dec beamed "not gonna miss another minute"

"Funny how life turns out isn't it?" Ant mused.

"Yeah" Dec agreed "last winter I was in absolute hell,now look at me,living in this lovely house with my daughter and best friend..."

"BEST friend?" Ant chuckled.

"Yeah,of course" Dec nodded "no one else even comes close"

"That's nice to hear" Ant smiled.

"You're an amazing person Ant" Dec continued "I was so lucky that you came into my life and completely turned it around...and I love my job,my family are back in my life and Ali is out of it,things are a lot different now,only seems like yesterday that Betty was sharing her bin offerings with me"

Dec was suddenly overcome with sadness.

"You thinking about that sweet old lady?" Ant asked.

"Yeah" Dec nodded.

He was thinking about her now,but the truth was,she hadn't even entered his mind for weeks,maybe even months and the last time he thought about her,he had vowed to go and see her,but he never gotten around to it and he had soon forgot about her once again.

He felt awful!

Berty had looked after him so lovingly while he was on the streets,always sharing her food with him and giving him a cuddle when he was scared or upset.

"That's it" Dec stated firmly "I'm going to see her this week,I'll take Isla with me and introduce her,she'll love her"

"Good idea" Ant smiled.

"So much to do" Dec stated seriously "and there's one more thing I definitely need to do"

"Oh yeah?" Ant asked curiously "what's that?"

"File for divorce" Dec announced "I know I'll have to pay her some money as we were married and she has rights..."

"Yeah,she does unfortunately" Ant frowned.

"But I can hopefully just pay her a lump sum" Dec continued "then I can wash my hands of her and she can drink it all away in Ibiza for all I care,I just want her out of my life once and for all"

"Umm...Dec" Ant replied seriously "you do know that there's a chance that Isla may want to get in touch with her again at some point in her life and even have a relationship with her"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it" Dec shrugged "she's too young to understand everything that's gone on at the moment,but if and when she does start asking questions,I will be totally honest with her"

"Will break her heart knowing how her mother rejected her" Ant said sadly,recalling his own feelings of abandonment when his dad left the family home when he was a child,never to return.

"Then I will always be there to pick up the pieces and show her how loved she is" Dec stated confidently.

"She's lucky to have you" Ant smiled.

"I'm the lucky one" Dec pointed out.

The next day as Isla sat on the floor playing with her toys,Dec sent several emails to local childminders that he liked the sound of.

He had decided that that was the best option,then he could take Isla out for the day to visit Betty and go shopping, before checking any messages that evening.

Ant's compassion and understanding meant that Dec knew he could take his time and be very thorough in his search.

"Ready to go out now sweetheart?" He asked Isla "let's get your shoes on shall we?"

He was soon travelling with an excited child on the tube towards Covent Garden.

Just being on public transport was an adventure for Isla as Ali rarely took her out anywhere.

"Choo choo" Isla squealed "train"

"Yes" Dec laughed "it's a tube train,we're in a tunnel"

"It's dark" Isla stated.

"You're not scared are you?" Dec asked concerned.

"No Daddy" Isla grinned "are you scared?"

"No darling" Dec laughed "I'm not,but I know you'll hold my hand if I do get scared won't you"

"Ok Daddy" Isla giggled "I'll hold your hand"

Once they'd alighted at the busy Covent Garden station,Dec immediately made his way to where he used to sleep rough,holding onto Isla's hand tightly so as not to lose her in the crowds.

He looked around him as they walked through the hustle and bustle of the teeming tourist area,hoping to catch a glimpse of Betty,but as of yet,she was nowhere to be seen.

Dec glanced at his watch,deciding she must be off on her daily search for anything useful or edible,so decided to take Isla for lunch and a look around the toy and sweet shops,staying close to the area that he knew Betty frequented.

An hour or so later he emerged from the restaurant with a takeaway bag for Betty,he knew she would be delighted to have a delicious hot meal,so as well as his and Isla's lunches,he ordered one for Betty too.

As he walked back to his old hangout,he spotted Bob,the homeless guy who he saw every day but rarely spoke,except to himself,so Dec decided to go over and say hello.

Amazingly,Bob looked like he was actually having a conversation with someone,who was obviously also homeless.

"Hi Bob" Dec said cheerfully "do you remember me?Declan?"

Bob just looked at him confused.

"I doubt he remembers his own name" the other man said "he's not doing so great,I just like to keep an eye on him,I'm Mike"

"Nice to meet you Mike" Dec smiled "and this is my daughter Isla...I'm sorry you've ended up in this situation,I've been there,I know what it's like"

"It is what it is" Mike sighed as Bob wandered off "sometimes life has a strange plan for us"

"Yeah" Dec nodded sadly "umm...Mike,do you know Betty?she usually hangs around here,we were good friends when I was on the streets,I'd love to see her and I've got her some lunch"

Dec held up the paper takeaway bag to show Mike.

"Ooh,that smells good" Mike sniffed the air "what is it?"

"Oh,just burger and chips" Dec announced,feeling guilty "it's for Betty,but here,buy yourself something"

He took a crisp ten pound note out of his pocket and handed it to Mike.

"Wow,thank you Declan" Mike took the money gratefully "and it's Betty you're looking for?"

"Yes" Dec confirmed "do you know her?"

"Yes,I do" Mike nodded seriously.

"Oh great" Dec replied happily "does she still come back here every evening?I can't wait to see her...give her some lunch...although I guess it'll be pretty cold by then,never thought of that...oh well,she won't care,she'll just be happy to..."

"Declan" Mike interrupted "just stop for a minute will you?"

"Sorry" Dec giggled and smiled down at Isla "guess I'm rambling on a bit aren't I"

"It's ok" Mike replied kindly "and I'm really sorry to be the one to tell you this"

Dec looked at mike confused and waited for him to carry on.

"I'm so sorry" Mike said quietly.

"But Betty died a couple of months ago!"