"ACTION" Matthew shouted out.

This was it,this was Ant and Decs big day,these scenes could really make a difference to their future.

A few seconds later,as instructed,Ant suddenly stopped running around the set and removed the protective goggles and hood he was wearing and shouted out "NODDY"

"And CUT,great Ant,now let's get you into make up before the next scene" Matthew smiled.

The make up lady was soon smothering Ants face with a mixture of bright yellow food dye,water and harmless soya based,non toxic paint.Also thrown into the mix was a gloss gel to stop it drying out and to continue making it look 'shiny' just like real paint should.Dec couldn't help but take the mickey out of him.

"You look like a beautiful daffodil Anthony" he laughed.

"Shut up squirt" Ant snapped back playfully.

"Hey,only my family are allowed to call me that" Dec informed him.

"Ok squirt" Ant winked at him "I'll try to remember that"

"Ready boys?" Matthew called as Ant and Dec made their way back to the set "Ant you look very,er....yellow"

Dec laughed again as Ant rolled his eyes,not that anyone could really see his eyes properly.

"Ok,get into position lads" Matthew ordered "and ACTION"

Ant immediately clutched his bright yellow face,falling to the floor in an impressive pile of twisted legs and overacting,squirming and squealing as much as he thought would be believable in this situation.

Matthew then gave Dec his cue to run over and deliver his lines.As some of the cast of Byker gathered around Ant,Dec practically flew over Ant to kneel down beside him.

He uttered the lines that the script called for and did his best to get just a little bit tearful.He waited for his moment before standing up and crying out in fake anguish,

"He can't see man"

"And CUT" Matthew shouted again "well done everyone,that was great and we didn't even need any reshoots,that's brilliant.Ok Dec,last scene for you,then we're done"

Once they were ready to shoot the next scene,Matthew shouted out the words everyone had come to hear several times a day,

"And ACTION"

Dec ran over to the wall,leant against it and uttered those words again.

"He can't see"

He did his best to have the most pained expression on his face that he could muster up,before running off to somewhere off camera.

"And CUT,that's a wrap,series four is in the bag,brilliant,well done Dec,that was perfect and well done everyone else"

Dec immediately made his way back over to Ant who was by now standing around being congratulated on his acting skills by the other members of the cast.

Dec ran up to him and slapped him affectionately on the back.

"That was brilliant Ant,well done" he smiled.

"Well done to you too Declan" Ant replied "now I need to go and get all this crap off of my face"

"You do that my pretty little daffodil" Dec grinned.

A couple of hours later,after the set had been cleared and everyone had got freshened up and changed into their own clothes and in Ants case,had a damn good scrub,the boys were attending the end of series party,held in the vast grounds of the mitre building.

Ant was lapping up all the compliments about PJs accident.

"You were great"

"That was so convincing"

"I could feel your pain"

Dec felt a slight tinge of jealousy at all the attention Ant was getting,after all,he was always happiest when he was the centre of attention,but he quickly brushed those thoughts aside,he was genuinely happy for his pal,he really was.

"It's true Ant" Dec whispered to Ant as they sat down on a bench "everything everyone is saying is true,you really were great"

"Oh for Gods sake Dec,it was only a bit of lying on the floor screaming,anyone could do that" Ant laughed "what's wrong with them all?"

"Well it's better than being told you're a crap actor isn't it?" Dec joked.

"Yeah I guess it is" Ant smiled "want another coke?"

"Yeah go on then" Dec replied "and bring us some food from the buffet will ya,I'm bloody starving"

Ant soon returned with two plates piled high with sandwiches,crisps,sausage rolls,scotch eggs,chicken drumsticks and quiche, plus two cans of coke sticking out of both of his jacket pockets.

"Love this stuff" Ant announced as he passed one of the plates to Dec "there's cake up there too"

"Yeah me too" Dec agreed "cake?why didn't you get some of it?"

"I've only got one pair of hands Declan" Ant replied,sounding just like his mother.

"Yeah well I'm going to get some before these greedy buggers eat it all"

A few minutes later,Dec returned to the bench with two plates each containing a doughnut,a slice of Victoria sandwich and a slice of cheesecake.

"Dec we'll be sick if we eat all that" Ant laughed.

"I don't care,it's free food man"

As the party came to a close with the two teenage boys indeed feeling slightly green around the gils from their over indulgence,they made their way to the waiting car.

"Alright boys?good party" The driver cheerfully asked.

"Yeah,great thanks" they both replied in unison.

As they were being driven home,Ant turned to Dec and announced,

"Dec,I'm gonna have alot more free time now,Sarha is growing up and can basically take care of herself.I still help out with cooking and cleaning of course,but we all take turns with everything now,it's her turn to cook tomorrow,I taught her,she's actually not that bad,can rustle up a mean spag bol,so we can hang out tomorrow if you like?do you want to do something?go to the cinema or something?"

Dec was very happy with this turn of events.As well as feeling desperately sorry for Ant because he had to be the 'grown up' at home instead of just getting to enjoy being a kid,he also loved hanging around with him and cherished every precious moment in his company.

"Yeah that will be great" he smiled cheerfully "not sure there's much I want to see at the cinema though,how about you?"

"Nah,not really,it was just a suggestion but we don't have to do that,we can do something else if you want?"

"I tell you what" Dec replied "why don't you come over to mine for a change?we can decide what to do tomorrow,or we can just hang out"

"Yeah sounds good"

"See you tomorrow" Ant called as he climbed out of the car outside his home.

"Yeah come at lunchtime,then we'll have most of the day,see ya" Dec shouted back.

"Ok,see ya"

As Dec walked into his own house a little while later,Anne looked up from the newspaper she was reading.

"Hello sweetheart,how was your day?"

"Yeah good thanks Mam,I'm glad to be done for a while though"

"I bet you are,you've been working very hard Declan,how was the big, dramatic ending?"

"It was good,you'll have to wait for it to be televised like everyone else to see what it was about though" Dec grinned.

He,like all the other cast members had been sworn to secrecy about the plotline for the programmes cliffhanger ending.He and Ant had been a bit worried that they'd given the game away when they got Sarha to help with rehearsals that day in the garden,but they needn't have worried.She had absolutely no interest in her Brothers daft shenanigans and had put it all out of her mind approximately five seconds after going back into the house that day.In fact she very rarely even bothered to watch Byker.

On the other hand Anne and Fonsey had done their best to weasel the truth out of Dec,but he was having none of it and had also had some fun telling them that Duncan may be killed off at the end of the series.

They were horrified of course,until they realised Dec was making it up,but it taught them not to pry anymore and accept they'd just have to wait and see like everyone else,even if that particular episode wasn't being shown for a few weeks,they had to be patient.

"Ant's coming over tomorrow Mam,is that ok?might go to the cinema or something" He enquired.

"Of course it is" she replied "you don't need to ask.That's good actually as we need to ask him something"

"What?" Dec replied surprised,what could they possibly need to ask Ant?

"You'll see baby" she smiled "it's nothing bad,it's something nice"

"Well tell me then?" Dec was starting to get a little bit grumpy with his Mother,why couldn't she just tell him what was going on?

"Declan" she sighed "I just don't want you to be disappointed if it doesn't work out"

"I won't be,just tell me Mam please?"

She sighed heavily.

"Alright but you need to promise me,you won't be upset if Ant or Christne say no"

"Say no to what?Mam you're driving us nuts here"

Anne laughed at her impatient son.

"Well,your Father and I were talking last night and we thought it was about time we visited everyone in Ireland again,it's been a couple of years and I know Nanna and Grandad are desperate to see you"

Dec totally forgot about Ant for a moment.

"Oh Mam,do I have to go?why can't I stay here with Dermott and Cam?they'll look after us"

"Declan,they've both got work,they can't be babysitting you"

"I don't need babysitting,I'm not a kid,I can look after myself"

"Oh really?" Anne laughed "so who's going to cook for you then?Dermott and Cam won't have time to pander to your every need and you can barely make toast without almost burning the house down"

"That's not true" Dec snapped,although he knew it actually was true that his culinary skills left alot to be desired,he'd never learnt to cook,why did he need to?Anne did it all for him and he was always a bit of a disaster in home economics lessons at school,eventually even the teacher knew not to expect too much from him.

"It's just so boring there" Dec mumbled.

Anne smiled at her boy "that is exactly why we've decided to ask Ant along"

"What?really?" Decs sour mood lifted in an instant.

"Yes really" Anne laughed "I'm sure that boy could do with a break,we'd love to take him along with us and maybe he'd keep you out of mischief"

"I doubt that very much" Dec grinned "thanks Mam,it'll be amazing having him there,Nanna and Grandad are gonna love him"

"Slow down Dec" Anne advised "his Mam has to agree first and he might not even want to come"

"Oh he'll want to come,I promise you that,can I call him now and ask?"

"Declan,give the boy a break" Anne rolled her eyes at her excited child "he's probably had to get stuck into his chores the minute he got home.If he's coming over tomorrow anyway,then you can ask him then"

"Ok" Dec reluctantly agreed,Ants Mam was so nice that he couldn't imagine her saying no,but he was scared that she wouldn't agree because he was still needed around the house some of the time.

The next day when Ant turned up on his doorstep,Dec sprung to his his feet and quickly ushered him inside.

"Jeez Dec,what's the hurry?" Ant asked amused.

"Come on,Mam wants to ask you something"

"Hi Anne" Ant greeted the older woman as he entered the living room "Dec said you have something to ask me?"

"Hi Anthony,indeed I do" she patted the sofa,indicating for him to come and sit down next to her.

"Now then,Declan,his Father and I are going on a little trip to visit family in Ireland in about three weeks time and we were wondering if you'd like to join us?I know you've been working so hard at school,work and at home and if anyone needs a break,it's you"

Ant looked slightly shell shocked for a moment,no one had ever done anything like this for him before and the Donnellys kindness made him become slightly tearful.

"Oh Ant" Anne smiled as she rubbed his arm comfortingly "so what do you say?can you come?do you want to?"

"Yes of course I want to,this is so kind of you" Ant replied.

"But I'm not sure I'll be allowed!"