"Shit" Dec mumbled "I don't think I can face her"

"We don't have any choice Declan" Ant frowned "whatever we've been through,she's about to go through a lot worse"

"I guess" Dec sighed.

"Ok" Ant nodded towards the security guard "she can come in"

Ethan beckoned to the woman who was waiting outside the hospital room and Ant and Dec felt heartbroken about the looming conversation.

Maureen have already guessed the outcome,but having her fears confirmed wasn't going to be easy.

"Hi" the meek woman said gently,while holding out a hand for the boys to shake "I'm Maureen"

"Hi" Ant smiled sympathetically "I'm Ant and he's Dec"

"May I?" Maureen pointed towards one of the chairs.

"Yeah,of course" Ant replied "pull it closer if you like"

"Thanks" Maureen whispered,as she pulled the chair up to Ants bedside "I um...I don't really know where to start,or what to say"

"It's ok" Ant replied with understanding "I just want to say that I'm so sorry for your loss...we both are,right Dec?"

"Yeah,of course we are" Dec agreed "I'm so very sorry"

"My loss?" Maureen asked confused "what do you mean?do you know what happened to Andy?where he is?"

'Shit' Ant thought to himself,why had he just asssumed that this poor woman already knew thst her husband was dead?how could she?all she knew was that Ant and Dec had been found alive,so why shouldn't she assume her husband had been too?

"I'm so sorry Maureen" Ant replied sadly "but Andy didn't make it"

"Didn't make it?" Maureen repeated.

"I'm afraid so" Ant continued "he had a heart attack on the boat and I swear to you,we did everything we could to bring him back,didn't we Dec?"

"Yeah,we did" Dec confirmed "but it was hopeless,we couldn't save him,I'm so sorry"

"He's dead?" Maureen questioned,with tears now streaming down her face "how can he be?I need him,we've got kids"

"I know,I'm so sorry" Ant replied "I really wish we could have done more"

"Wh...where is he?" Maureen sobbed "did you bring his body back?"

"Umm...no" Dec shook his head "that would have been impossible,we were stranded on an island for three months,we buried him there"

"I promise you that we were as respectful as possible" Ant assured her.

Dec cringed inwardly and stared down at the floor as he remembered his request to throw Andy's body overboard and let it be washed out to sea.

Maureen did her best to compose herself through her grief,as difficult as that was,she still wanted to get as much information from Ant and Dec as possible.

"So,where is this island?" She questioned as she dried the tears almost as fast as they were falling "I'd like to visit his grave,maybe bring him home for a proper burial if it's allowed"

"Oh Maureen" Ant replied,with tears now forming in his own eyes "I'm so sorry,but we can't tell you where it is,we spent days drifting out on the ocean,we have absolutely no idea where we were"

"Oh" Maureen whispered sadly,not knowing what else to say.

Ant and Dec felt awful.

This poor,bereaved woman couldn't even say a last goodbye to her beloved husband,or have his final resting place close by,so she could visit it and have a place to lay flowers.

"I'm so sorry" Ant repeated,not knowing what else to say,nothing he said could ease her pain.

"If you need any help with anything" Dec smiled gently "you know...financially...we'll be only too happy to help out,won't we Ant?"

"Yeah,of course" Ant confirmed "anything at all"

"That's very kind of you" Maureen nodded "but we'll be ok,we're not broke,so we'll manage and I have a strong network of friends and family close by"

"I'm glad to hear that" Ant replied "you'll need them at this difficult time"

"Yeah" Maureen nodded.

"How many kids?" Dec asked curiously "if you don't mind me asking?"

"Four" Maureen informed him "they're a handful,but bring me so much pleasure and happiness,this is going to be so hard for them...for all of us"

"How old are they" Dec wasn't sure if he should press her for answers,but he felt compelled to find out as much information about Andy's life as possible.

"They're nineteen,seventeen,fourteen and nine" Maureen smiled "two girls and two boys"

"Three teenagers under one roof?" Dec grinned "that must be a challenge to say the least?"

"Yeah,it is" Maureen nodded "although I get more attitude from the nine year old most of the time"

"Declan has got all this to come" Ant smiled "haven't you Decs?"

"Yeah" Dec smiled "I've got a young daughter...Isla"

"Oh,I have an Isla too" Maureen stated,enjoying the slight distraction from her grief "that's the nine year old"

"Great name" Dec beamed "and what are your other kids called?"

"James,Lucas and Maddie" Maureen announced proudly "they're pretty good kids really,I'm very lucky...or I was"

Maureen looked deep in thought as tears started to cascade down her cheeks once again.

"I just don't know how I'll tell them about their dad,or how they'll deal with it" she cried.

Ant leant forward and placed a caring hand on Maureens back.

"You're a family Maureen" he said kindly "it'll be hard,but just be there for each other,talk to each other and don't bottle things up"

"Yeah" Dec agreed "we've all lost someone dear to us,you'll get through it"

"Thank you" Maureen sighed as she wiped her tears away for what seemed like the umpteenth time "I guess I should go"

"I wish we could have given you better news" Ant replied sadly.

Maureen glanced up at Ants face,appreciating the compassion he was showing her,before looking over to Dec,who was wearing a similar expression.

She took hold of Ants hand and squeezed it tightly.

"I'm just glad he wasn't alone at the end" she smiled "I'm glad he had you there and I'm so grateful for everything you did for him"

"I just wish there could have been a different outcome" Ant whispered as he held her hand tightly.

"Me too" Maureen nodded,as she got up from her seat.

Ant and Dec immediately sprung up from their beds and gathered closely around Maureen.

"If you need anything" Ant smiled "and I mean absolutely anything,please don't hesitate to get in touch ok?"

"Ok" Maureen nodded gratefully.

"Or even if you just want to talk?" Dec chimed in "you know where we are"

"Thank you" Maureen stated.

And and Dec weren't sure if hugging this woman who they had only just met was appropriate,but it was a risk they were willing to take,so Ant held out his arms,inviting her in.

Maureen was only too happy to accept his kindness and the warm embrace was appreciated by them both.

Dec then followed suit and held the newly widowed woman closely.

"You take care of yourself ok?" He whispered into her ear.

"Ok" she nodded "you too"

After they had said their goodbyes,Ant and Dec climbed back into their beds,feeling emotionally exhausted.

"That was so hard" Dec muttered.

"Yeah" Ant agreed "poor woman,I feel just awful for her"

Dec didn't reply,but just rolled over,keen to have a nap so he could put what just happened out of his mind...at least for an hour or so.

Ant was having similar thoughts,so did the same and after a couple of hours,they both woke up feeling slightly more refreshed,but still sad.

Luckily one of the nurses came into their room to distract them.

Lydia had quickly become the boys favourite nurse,she was bright and breezy and always cheerful with a wicked sense of humour.

"So lads" she smiled,as she took Decs blood pressure "can't be long now until your families arrive?"

"Tomorrow" Dec beamed "can't bloody wait to see them"

"I bet" Lydia replied "who's coming?"

"My wife,daughter,mam,brother and sister" Dec announced happily.

"Ah,that's nice" Lydia smiled "and how about you Anthony?"

"Mam,sister and fiancèe" Ant replied.

"That'll be so lovely for all of you" Lydia mused "bet they can't wait to see ya?"

"Can't wait to see them either" Dec grinned "got a lot of catching up to do"

"I bet you have" Lydia winked.

"LYDIA" Dec exclaimed in mock horror "that was not what I meant"

"You sure about that?" Lydia teased "been three months ain't it?bet you and Mrs Dec are more than ready to start creating another little Donnelly"

"You're so bad" Ant laughed as Lydia moved over to his bed and placed the blood pressure cuff onto his upper arm.

"Best way to be" she grinned "especially where my two favourite patients are involved"

She looked over to Dec.

"Well,if you can't manage to control yourself once she arrives" she laughed "the janitors cupboard is always unlocked"

"Stop" Dec laughed "now get out of here"

"Yes sir" Lydia chuckled and gathered her equipment "oh and by the way,there's mango on the menu later"

"Oh God no" Dec frowned "I swear,i never want to eat another mango again in my life"

"Think she was teasing us Decs" Ant pointed out,although he couldn't be one hundred percent sure until dinner arrived.

The boys were gradually getting stronger and were able to increase the amount and variety of food they were eating.

The doctors were pleased with their progress and thought after a further three or four days,they could be discharged from hospital.

Ant and Dec were delighted with this news and went to sleep that night knowing they would be seeing their loved ones the next day,although when that day arrived,they both felt strangely anxious.

They couldn't eat much and just spent most of the day clock watching.

It was hard.. so hard,just waiting with nothing to do,even only having brief conversations between themselves,until the time finally arrived.

Ant and Dec felt unbelievably nervous and had no idea why?it was the weirdest feeling.

A doctor soon entered their room with a huge smile on his face.

"Anthony,Declan" he announced.

"Your families are here!"