"Helping you out?" Dec asked curiously.

"Yeah" Ant nodded "Anne-Marie has been to see me a few times and she said she'd help me find a place for when I leave here,so that's exactly what she did,looks like a nice place too"

"So you told her about leaving Lisa before you told me?" Dec asked in a hurt voice which pulled at Ants heartstrings.

"Yeah,I did" Ant nodded "but there was a reason for that"

"What?" Dec muttered moodily.

"Because I didn't want to put any more pressure on you" Ant sighed.

"That's ridiculous" Dec replied huffily "how is helping my best friend out putting pressure on me?"

"Well" Ant mused as he glanced around the room that had been his home for the last couple of months "you did all this for me,sorted this place out and I am so grateful for that,but you've done more than enough..."

"You've done lots for me over the years" Dec interrupted "I just wanted to return the favour"

"Hey" Ant replied as he wrapped his arm affectionately around Decs shoulder "you don't owe me anything,I did those things because I wanted to,not because I had to"

"But I don't want you to feel like you can't come to me" Dec murmured.

"Of course I don't feel like that" Ant smiled "I know I can come to you about anything at anytime and I often do,but aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?" Dec asked curiously.

"That Anne-Marie is my PA,it's her job to do these things for me and she's happy to do it,so you're really getting upset about nothing"

"I guess" Dec stared at the floor,now feeling a little bit childish and embarrassed.Of course Ants PA would be doing these things for him,why wouldn't she?it's what he pays her for after all.

"You still should have told me about leaving Lisa though" Dec continued "me and her are still close friends after all"

"Yeah,I realise that now" Ant nodded "I'm sorry Decs,I never thought it through"

"So who's picking you up on Friday then?" Dec asked hopefully.

"You are obviously" Ant grinned "if that's ok with you of?"

"Yeah,of course it is" Dec smiled "what time?"

"2 o'clock" Ant confirmed "we can go straight to the new place and Anne-Marie will meet us there to give me the keys...if that's ok with you?"

"Yeah" Dec nodded "looking forward to seeing the it.Do you need me to pick anything up from your house?"

"Thanks" Ant replied "but Anne-Marie has already done that and I'll go back and have a good sort out at some point"

"I'm sorry it's come to this for you and Lisa" Dec sighed sadly "you were so happy"

"We were for a long time" Ant agreed "but unfortunately it wasn't to last and this is for the best,we're no good for each other anymore"

"Yeah" Dec sighed "still sad though"

"I don't expect you to stop being friends with her Decs" Ant smiled "I know you two love each other and I hope this split will be amicable"

"Oh I have some news" Dec announced,quickly changing the subject.

"What's that?" Ant asked excited.

"I've found you a doctor" Dec stated proudly.

"You did?" Ant grinned "who?"

"His name is Professor David Deehan,he's a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and he's based in Newcastle,he's just waiting to hear from you" Dec informed him.

"Wow" Ant smiled "he sounds like a guy who knows his stuff"

"Yeah,he does" Dec confirmed.

"That's brilliant Decs" Ant smiled "Thanks for doing that,I can combine a trip to the doctor with a visit home to see the old gal"

"Don't let your Mam hear you calling her that" Dec laughed.

"Seriously though" Ant said,as he patted Decs knee "thank you so much for everything you've done for me,I really do appreciate it"

"You're more than welcome" Dec beamed "I'm so proud of you for doing this and getting yourself sorted out,I know it can't have been easy"

"Yeah,thanks" Ant replied "so are you gonna come with me when I see this doctor then?"

"Absolutely" Dec replied "I'm not gonna miss an opportunity for a trip back home am I?"

"Didn't think so" Ant laughed.

So that Friday,Dec picked Ant up from the rehab facility and took him to his new home,just a couple of streets away from his old one.

"It's very nice" Dec smiled,as he glanced around the large living room.

"It certainly is" Ant beamed as Anne-Marie showed the boys around the rest of the luxurious,rented house "you've got great taste Amzie"

"Amzie?" Dec giggled.

"Yeah" Ant blushed "just a nickname,Anne-Marie is a bit of a mouthful"

"More like you're too lazy to say it" Anne-Marie quipped.

"Yeah,that too" Ant grinned.

"Well,I'll leave you boys to it" Anne-Marie smiled.

They both hugged her goodbye and Ant and Dec returned to the living room to chill together for a while.

"She stocked the kitchen up for me" Ant smiled,while handing Dec a beer.

"That's the kind of personal assistant a guy needs" Dec laughed "but did I detect a spark between you two?"

"Don't be ridiculous Dec" Ant laughed "we're just good friends,she's been brilliant throughout this whole thing"

"Not sure I believe you" Dec grinned "I saw the way you two looked at each other"

"Decs,stop it" Ant laughed "I'm not going to get involved with my PA anyway,that would be weird"

"Why not?" Dec enquired "I married our manager after all"

"Yeah,good point" Ant smiled "but seriously,it's only recently that I decided not to go back to Lisa,it's way too soon to be getting involved with anyone else"

"I'll believe you,thousands wouldn't" Dec announced,mimicking one of his Mothers favourite phrases.

The next couple of months really were good for the boys.Ant had his operation up in Newcastle and although it was a very difficult and painful operation where his leg had to be broken and reset as his knee had been in danger of collapsing,he knew once he had recovered,he would be pain free and could finally put the nightmare of the last few years behind him and get on with his life.

He even gave some press interviews about his addiction and subsequent treatment as he thought it may help others in his position who were struggling with addiction.

Although that was a bit of a shock for one person.

"How could you let me find out like this?" Anne cried down the phone to Dec one day.

"I'm sorry Mam" Dec mumbled.

"That boy is like a son to me" she continued "and I have to read in the newspaper about how much he's been suffering and what he's been going through?why didn't you tell me Declan?"

"Er...I...I..." Dec stuttered.

"I what?" Anne snapped.

"I just didn't think it was my place" Dec sighed "it's Ants personal business,it was up to him who he told and I didn't know much about it myself until just before he went into rehab"

"I just can't bear to think of him suffering" Anne cried "I can't believe how long this has been going on and I knew nothing about it,you should have told me,how do you think it felt for me to read that in the newspaper?"

"Well,you knew he was still having problems with his knee" Dec pointed out.

"And I should automatically know that that would lead to a painkiller addiction should I?" Anne asked angrily.

"I'm sorry Mam" Dec repeated "but Christine didn't tell you either,are you this angry with her?"

"Don't you get cheeky with me young man" Anne scolded "I'm still your mother and did Christine even know?"

Dec knew that bringing Christine into the conversation was a long shot and he was actually perfectly aware that Ants Mam also knew absolutely nothing about her sons addiction,Ant had even cunningly managed to get through his stint in rehab without even telling Christine where he was,the quietness of his private room made it easy for him to convince her that he was calling from home whenever they spoke,but Dec was trying to deflect his Mams wrath onto someone else.

"Don't I know it" Dec mumbled under his breath,in response to Annes 'I'm still your mother' comment.

"Declan" Anne snapped "don't you answer me back"

"Mam" Dec laughed "I'm in my forties,are you gonna be putting me on the naughty step next?"

"Maybe I will" Anne replied,now relaxing a little as she could never resist her boys cheekyness.

"Like to see you try" Dec giggled "I'm taller than you now"

"At least you're taller than someone eh son?" Anne couldn't resist having a little dig.

"Oh,a dagger to the heart" Dec laughed "and from my own mother"

"I guess as long as Ant's ok now" Anne enquired,returning to the original subject "that's the main thing"

"Yeah,he is" Dec replied "he seems to be doing really well,although things have become a bit nasty between him and Lisa"

"Oh,that's such a shame" Anne frowned.

"Yeah it is" Dec sighed "they both need to move on now"

"Yeah" Anne agreed "I guess I won't see you until Christmas now then?"

"I'm afraid so" Dec sighed "got a very busy few months now with I'm a celebrity and all that"

"Poor you having to spend a month in Australia yet again" Anne joked.

"Yeah,it's hell" Dec laughed "all that glorious winter sunshine and those beautiful beaches,I'm not sure how I'll cope?"

"You are silly Decky" Anne replied affectionately.

"And that's why you love me" Dec stated.

"I do" Anne confirmed "such a mummys boy you are"

"Yep" Dec replied playfully "and you wouldn't have it any other way right?"

"Absolutely not" Anne agreed.

They finished their conversation on a much happier note than it had begun,Dec knew Anne could never stay angry with him for very long.

He couldn't wait for him and Ali to spend Christmas with the family back in Newcastle,it had been a hell of a year and a jolly old festive time was just what the doctor ordered.

Dec yawned and stretched as he woke up next to his wife on Christmas morning,warm and cosy in the bed he always claimed as his own whenever he went home to Newcastle.

"Good morning darling" Ali smiled "happy Christmas"

She was already sitting up in bed,browsing through her phone.

"Morning" Dec yawned "happy Christmas"

"I can hear the kids downstairs" Ali announced,referring to some of Decs nieces and nephews who had already arrived with their parents.

"I guess we should get ready and go down and say hello then?" Dec suggested.

"Not just yet" Ali replied "it's still pretty early,I want to give you your present first"

"What?" Dec asked confused "aren't we going to do presents around the tree with everyone else like we always do?"

"Yes,of course we are" Ali beamed "I just have one special present that I want to give you now,while it's just the two of us"

"Oh ok" Dec nodded,while sitting up in bed and propping himself up against the pillow.If that's what made his wife happy,then of course he'd open this present while they were alone.

Dec thought that it must be something extra special for Ali to want to do this in private and she seemed pretty excited about it.Dec couldn't begin to imagine what it was though,there wasn't anything he wanted or needed really,he was the man who had everything after all.

He watched Ali curiously as she rummaged in her handbag and pulled out a small oblong box,sweetly wrapped in reindeer Christmas paper with a small,silver bow on top.

"Happy Christmas sweetheart" she smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Thanks" Dec replied as he took the present and began to carefully unwrap it.

'Could be a watch,it's the right size and shape for that' he thought to himself,but Ali knew he didn't need another one of those,he had plenty,practically one for every day of the week.

'Some kind of jewellery then' he mused as he put the wrapping paper to one side and stared at the velvet covered box.

"Open it" Ali whispered gently into his ear as she stroked his arm.

"Ok" Dec replied and as he did so,he just stared at the long object inside,waiting for his brain to register exactly what was being displayed in front of him.

"What?" He asked as he peered at the item.

"Are you just going to sit there staring at it?" Ali laughed "can you see what it says?"

"Yes,I can" Dec replied with a huge grin spreading across his face.

He picked up the small,plastic stick and stared at the one amazing word displayed in the tiny window,one word that would change both of their lives forever.

Dec turned to Ali with tears of happiness developing in his eyes.

"It says 'pregnant'"!