"Will you please sit still?" Ant ordered as Dec sat fidgeting next to him in the Harley Street hair transplant clinic.

"Can't help it" Dec moaned "I'm so nervous"

"You have no reason to be" Ant smiled "it's all going to be done under local anesthetic,you won't feel a thing"

"I know" Dec sighed "it's still scary though,never had anything like this done before"

"Yeah" Ant nodded "but you've wanted this for so long and you've really been looking forward to it haven't you?just think about the end results"

"Yeah,I'm trying to" Dec smiled "can't wait to have a thick head of hair again"

"Have you told anyone else about this?"Ant asked curiously.

"Only Mam" Dec replied "I know I can trust her"

"What did she say?" Ant enquired.

"She doesn't want me to have it done" Dec frowned "even got a little bit upset,she thinks everyone should grow old naturally"

"That doesn't surprise me" Ant nodded.

"But I'm not even old am I?" Dec protested "I'm only in my early thirties"

"Yeah,good point" Ant smiled "but as I said before,it's in your genes"

"Well,they're stupid genes" Dec complained.

"Don't let your dad hear you say that" Ant laughed.

"It's just that most people don't do the job I do" Dec pointed out "it's not the look ITV want for us is it?"

"Oh,they've said that have they?" Ant asked.

"No,of course not" Dec sighed "but it's our image isn't it?and being bald doesn't fit in with it"

"If you say so Decs" Ant laughed.

"Mr Donnelly?" Ant and Decs conversation was abruptly interrupted by the smiling doctor.

"If you'd like to come through?" Doctor Read invited.

"Umm...can he come with us like?" Dec asked sheepishly "I'm just a bit nervous and it helps to have him by my side"

"I'm afraid we can't allow that" Doctor Read replied "it's a surgical procedure so has to be staff and patients only,but your friend is welcome to wait here if he wants to?"

"Ant?" Dec peered over at Ant hopefully.

"Of course I'll wait if you want me to?" Ant smiled.

"I should point out that this will take quite a long time,usually between four and eight hours" Doctor Read announced "it's a long time for you to be sitting around doing nothing"

Ant looked at Dec,more than willing to follow whatever he wanted or needed him to do.

"I guess it would be a bit ridiculous for you to stay here all that time" Dec sighed disappointed "don't worry,you can go home if you want to?"

"Are you sure?" Ant asked concerned "I'm more than happy to stay,it's only a few hours out of my life"

"No,don't worry" Dec smiled "you go home and I'll talk to you later"

"I'm coming back to pick you up then" Ant announced.

"You don't have to do that" Dec replied "I can get a cab"

"I want to" Ant replied sternly "what time should I come back doctor?"

"How about I get the receptionist to call you half an hour or so before we're done?" The doctor suggested kindly "we'll need to keep him here for a little afterwards though just to keep an eye on him and make sure his recovery is going smoothly"

"Sounds good" Ant smiled "but you'll call me if there's any problems at all?"

"Yes,of course I will" the doctor replied.

"He can be an anxious little fella at times" Ant smiled fondly "so if he needs talking down at any point,I'm usually the one to do that"

"Yeah,he is" Dec agreed shyly.

"Ok,so we're all set?" Doctor Read asked,keen to get on with his days work.

"Yeah,we're all set" Dec replied.

He and Ant stood up and hugged each other tightly.

"Don't worry kidda" Ant smiled "it's going to be fine,you're going to be looked after"

"Yeah,I know" Dec sighed tearfully,not willing to pull out of his friends comforting arms just yet "thanks Ant"

"No problem pal" Ant smiled while reluctantly having to practically push Dec away and towards the waiting doctor.

Ant watched until Dec and Doctor Read had gone through to the room where the operation would be taking place,before finally leaving to get a cab straight home.

He had thought about hanging around the area for a while,going for a coffee somewhere or maybe a walk in nearby Regents Park,but decided against it as he just wasn't in the mood for chatting should he come across any Ant and Dec fans,which was very likely.

He knew he would be asked where Dec was as that was always the case when the two of them weren't together.It always amused them no end that the general public seemed to think they were joined at the hip twenty four seven.

So he was soon hailing a black cab after deciding to go back home and spend a few hours with Lisa who had the day off work.

Meanwhile,Dec was lying nervously in the reclining chair,waiting for the local anesthetic to take effect.

Gentle,calming music was playing softly through a speaker in the corner of the room and the doctor and nurse were cheerfully chatting away to Dec in an obvious attempt to soothe and distract him.

"So I'm about to start Mr Donnelly" Doctor Read announced.

"Ok" Dec smiled weakly "but please call me Dec,everyone else does"

"Ok Dec" Doctor Read replied "let's begin"

Dec sat silently for a few minutes.

"Have you started?" Dec asked confused "I can't feel anything"

"Of course I've started" the doctor laughed "I told you that you wouldn't feel a thing didn't I?that's the whole point of an anaesthetic"

"Yeah,I know" Dec smiled "I just wasn't sure if I actually believed you,I'm not good with pain"

"A lot of people aren't Dec" Doctor Read smiled "but you really have nothing to worry about here"

"Good" Dec replied relieved and visibly relaxed further into the chair.

It was a very slow process though and for someone as lively and energetic as Dec,it wasn't easy to sit still for that long,although the anaesthetic obviously helped with that.

Finally,a few hours later,the procedure was complete.

Ant was soon on his way to collect Dec after the receptionist had called him.He was happy and relieved to hear that everything had gone well.

"Careful" Dec warned as Ant rushed forward,keen to give him a huge bear hug "got a sore head"

"Aww,a baby bear with a sore head" Ant laughed.

"Shut up,you eejit" Dec rolled his eyes playfully as he and Ant very cautiously embraced each other.

After spending an hour in recovery and being talked through how the transplant would work again,Dec was allowed to go home with strict instructions for his aftercare.

"Don't worry Doctor Read" Ant smiled "I'll look after him"

"I'm sure you will" the doctor replied happily.

"Yeah,I'm gonna stay at his for a few days" Ant stated "you know?just to keep an eye on him"

"Are you?" Dec asked surprised.

"Yeah,of course I am" Ant laughed "me and Lisa discussed it today,not gonna let you go through this alone little guy"

"Thanks" Dec beamed.He had been a bit worried about being on his own afterwards,but didn't like to ask Ant to inconvenience himself as he already did so much for him,not that Ant would ever see Dec as an inconvenience.

Dec was also relieved that Ant was staying with him and not the other way round.As much as he loved the times he spent at Ants house and there were a lot of them,he wanted his own bed during his recovery,his own home comforts,his own familiar surroundings and although Ants house was definitely his second home,there was nowhere like his own place as far as he was concerned.

"Comfortable your highness?" Ant grinned as he gently placed a pillow behind Decs back on the sofa.

"Yeah,thanks" Dec smiled "think the anaesthetic has worn off though"

"Yeah,it probably will have" Ant nodded "does it hurt?"

"Yeah,it's bloody sore" Dec frowned.

"He gave you some painkillers though didn't he?" Ant enquired.

"Yeah,but I can't take anymore till the morning" Dec replied.

"Ah,ok" Ant smiled "best I just distract you then.Wanna watch a film or something?"

"Yeah,ok" Dec nodded.

So the boys spent the evening watching a film and eating unhealthy snacks,Dec not really taking much notice of the doctors advice to only eat small amounts to let his body recover from the anaesthetic and Ants nagging didn't seem to have much effect either.

"I'm starving" Dec stated abruptly "haven't eaten since yesterday tea time"

"Just take it easy ok?" Ant smiled "don't want you to be sick"

"I'll be fine" Dec insisted.

Ant spent the next couple of days keeping an eye on Dec.They both managed to get some work done at least by coming up with some ideas for the next series of Saturday Night Takeaway even though it was nearly a year away.

They also had some suggestions for I'm a celebrity,but they weren't sure if they'd be used,both shows had a brilliant team of writers,so there was very little need for Ant and Decs input in that side of things,but the team were happy to listen to them and sometimes just humour them.

"Had enough of this now" Dec announced as he stretched and yawned.

"Let's take a break then" Ant suggested while glancing at the clock on the wall "it's nearly lunchtime anyway,what do you fancy?"

"Good idea" Dec smiled "I can't concentrate anyway,me head hurts"

"Scrambled egg on toast?" Ant suggested as he peered into Decs fridge.

"Yeah,sounds good" Dec replied.

Just a few minutes later,the boys were sitting down to enjoy their lunches.

Dec watched in disbelief as Ant smothered his meal in mayonnaise.

"Can't believe you have mayonnaise with scrambled egg on toast" Dec frowned.

"Why not?" Ant laughed "it's delicious,you should try it"

"No thanks" Dec snapped "if it needs anything,which it doesn't,it should be ketchup"

"Nah" Ant grinned "mayonnaise is good with everything,I love it"

"I can see that" Dec laughed "ya weirdo"

"You don't know what you're missing" Ant replied gleefully.

After they had finished their lunches,Dec wasn't keen on doing any more work,so they decided to spend the afternoon watching telly as it wasn't often they got the chance just to have a lazy day.

"Stop it" Ant snapped.

"what?" Dec asked innocently.

"Scratching your head" Ant replied "I saw you"

"It's just so bloody itchy" Dec frowned.

"I can imagine" Ant replied sympathetically "have you washed your hair yet"

"No,I've been too scared to" Dec frowned.

"I guess you should then" Ant advised "Doctor Read said you can as long as you're careful"

"Still scared" Dec sighed.

Ant thought for a moment,before putting forward a suggestion.

"Would you like me to help you?"

"Er...yeah,I guess" Dec nodded "that would be good,as long as you're gentle"

"Gentle is my middle name" Ant grinned.

"Really?" Dec smiled "I thought it was David?"

"Shut up you fool" Ant laughed "I used to wash Sarhas hair all the time growing up and I often do Lisas too.Shall we do it now then?might stop the itching"

"No time like the present I guess" Dec nodded.

"So how do you want to do this?" Ant asked "bath,shower or kitchen sink"

"Dunno" Dec frowned "kitchen sink doesn't sound very comfortable"

"Bath or shower then?" Ant cajoled Dec into giving an answer.

"Might be a bit awkward in the shower too" Dec mused "unless I sit down"

"Bath it is then" Ant laughed.

"But you might see...you know?" Dec mumbled.

"What?" Ant asked.

"You know?" Dec repeated "you might see little Declan"

"Dec" Ant howled with laughter "I promise you I have no intention of looking at your willy if that's what you're worried about?and anyway,it's not like I haven't seen it before,how many times have we got changed in front of each other?"

"Ok good" Dec grinned " just keep your eyes on my head"

"You are so ridiculous Declan Donnelly" Ant laughed "but if you're that worried about it,keep your boxers on"

"Nah,it's alright" Dec grinned "got to clean my bits as well"

Dec was soon sinking into a soothing,warm bath as Ant sat on the toilet waiting for his cue.

"Ok,I'm ready" Dec announced "use that jug"

Ant picked up the plastic measuring jug from the shelf,knelt down beside the bath and very gently and carefully,started pouring warm water over Decs scalp.

"That's nice" Dec smiled while enjoying the sensation.

"You just relax Decs" Ant replied "I've got this"

Dec did exactly that.The warm water,the tingly shampoo bubbles and Ants gentle fingers caressing his delicate head made him feel incredibly soothed.

It had been a long time since anyone had washed his hair for him,Clare was the last person to have had that honour and Dec had to admit,he really liked it.

'All done" Ant smiled as he poured the last jug of water over Decs head to rinse the shampoo out.

"Thanks for that Ant" Dec smiled "it feels so much better"

"Good" Ant replied as he stood up and dried his hands on a towel "I'm glad"

"You're a good friend Anthony McPartlin" Dec sighed contentedly "I'm not sure many friends would do this"

"I'm sure they would" Ant replied "that's what friends are for surely?"

"Yeah,but you always go to the end of the earth and back for me" Dec pointed out as he reclined back into the warm water "and I want you to know how much I appreciate it"

"Er yeah...that's nice Decs" Ant laughed "but can we please have this conversation when you've got some clothes on?"

"Oh yeah,sorry" Dec giggled,glancing down at his naked body "You go downstairs,I'll be fine now"

Decs pain from the operation gradually improved and he had been warned it would take several months before he would see any results and also that some of his hair would fall out before the new hair would start to grow in.

The timing was perfect though as it was months before I'm a celebrity was due to start and luckily the summer was warm so he wore a sun hat every time he went outside,so he knew there was nothing anyone,especially the press could be suspicious of.

Eventually he was able to show off his luscious,new locks during that years stint in the jungle,even though no one except Ant,Lisa and his immediate family knew what he had had done.Nevertheless,he was relishing his new look and was extremely glad that he had gone through with it.

The year was ending on a high as the boys had something else in the pipeline.Something they'd never done before.

They had been approached earlier in the year about it,but hadn't had time to consider it seriously just yet,but now they did have the time,they were incredibly excited about it.

They had started jotting down notes every now and again back in September,just in case it was to go ahead,as soon as the idea had been suggested to them.

And that idea was for them to write their Autobiography!