Ant's new son

Better future ahead

<a week later>
It had been a week since the accident and during that time, Neil already had the chest drain removed but still needed to stay in hospital as he was still too weak and needed more time to heal. Anne Marie, Dec, Ali and the rest of the family had nonstop visiting him and Ant and did their best on cheering him up in the best way they could. As for Ant, he was slowly healing but was still on the ventilator. Dec and Ali, however, were both dreading the court date but kept hoping that Neil's father was going to get what was coming to him.
<current day>
Today was the day of the court. Dec, Anne Marie and Ali all decided to go whilst Christine decided to go and visit Ant and along with Anne and Isla being taken care by Dec's sister Camila.
[In hospital]
Once Christine and Anne arrived at the hospital, they both went to see Ant after being told from a nurse that Neil was still sleeping.
[In Ant's room]
After quietly entering the room, the two ladies saw the doctor doing her checks on Ant but what really surprised them was seeing Ant off the ventilator.
"Good morning Mrs McPartlin, Mrs Donnelly." The doctor kindly greeted.
"Good morning Doctor, how's Anthony doing?" Annie politely asked.
"Very well," The doctor kindly answered, "We've taking him off the ventilator so he should be coming around very soon but he's still got a long way to go on the road to recovery."
After hearing what the doctor was saying about Ant, Christine let out a huge sigh of relief and began to have tears coming from her whereas Anne was chuffed to hear the news.
"Thank you Doctor for telling us that." Christine tearfully but gratefully said.
"You're welcome Mrs McPartlin. I'll come back later to if he's awake." The doctor happily said then left.
After the doctor left, both ladies sat down next to Ant's bed. Anne then happily said.
"At least that's one bit of good news to hear today, just got to wait and see what the court verdict is."
"I hope that man gets what he deserves after he put poor Neil through." Christine hopefully said.
Just then the two of them heard the door opening and there they saw Neil coming with a sad and tired look on his face.
"Hey Nana Christine, hello Annie." Neil quietly greeted.
"Awww Neil, have you had another bad dream again?" Christine worriedly asked as Neil approached her.
"Yeah." Neil tired replied.
"Aww come here darling." Christine cooed as she pulled Neil onto her lap.
Neil didn't object and just happily sat in Christine's lap with his head leaning on her shoulder. Christine locked her arms around Neil and began kissing his forehead.
"Has there been any news yet from the court." Neil asked in a quiet voice.
"No not yet lovely." Christine truthfully but gently said.
Neil sighed sadly after Christine was finished. Anne didn't like seeing how sad Neil so she decided him up by reassuringly saying.
"Don't you worry pet, that man will get what he deserves and won't be able to come near you or Anthony again."
Neil smiled a bit which made Christine smile as well. It was then Neil surprisingly said.
"Nana Christine, do you think Mr McPartlin and Miss Corbett would be ok if I start calling them Dad and Mum?"
Both Christine and Annie were surprised by what Neil just said. Christine began having tears and so did Annie.
"Oh darling, I think they'll love that." Christine pleasingly said whilst gently hugging Neil and giving him a kiss on the side of the his head.
Neil smiled and happily but carefully put his cast arm over Christine's neck as she was hugging him. Anne gently patted his knee and happily said.
"You're definitely part of the family now Neil."
Neil smiled after hear that from Anne. Just then, the three of them heard a groan which started them. They then turned their heads to Ant whose was starting to come round.
"Nana Christine, I think Mr McPartlin waking up." Neil surprisingly pointed out.
"I think you may be right Neil." Christine agreed.
Neil very gently got off Christine's lap so she could stand up along with Annie. The three of them then went over Ant's bedside.
"Anthony, can you hear me?" Christine gently whispered whilst holding Ant's hand.
Not long after Christine said that, Ant's eye slowly started to open. Once he fully opened his eyes and saw Christine, Anne and Neil, he weakly said.
"Mam, Annie, Neil, is it really you?"
"Yes son, it's us." Christine reassuringly replied whilst gently squeezing Ant's hand.
Once Ant was fully aware where he was, he saw Neil's cast and head laceration and started to get worried.
"Neil what happened to you? How happened to your arm and why am I here?" Ant worriedly asked.
"Anthony sweetheart, it's alright." Christine reassuringly replied whilst rubbing Ant's shoulder.
Once Ant calmed down a bit, Christine and Anne explained to him about what happened at the park, how he and Neil got their injuries and where Ali and Dec are. After they were finished, Ant was speechless whereas Neil started crying.
"We'll fetch the Doctor for you son, just to do a check up on you." Annie sweetly said.
Christine and Anne then left to fetch the doctor, leaving Ant on his own with Neil who was still crying. Before Ant could say anything, Neil tearfully cried.
"I'm so sorry Mr McPartlin."
"Awww Neil, don't apologise son. You've got nothing to be sorry for." Ant reassured.
Ant then gently leaned forward and pulled Neil into hug which he gratefully accepted. After they done hugging, Neil carefully got onto the side of Ant's bed and laid next Ant who happily put his arm over Neil.
"Better now?" Ant gently whispered.
Neil nodded his head and happily stretched his cast arm over Ant's chest. Ant frowned after seen the cast and the head wound on the side of Neil's head. He then gently kissed the top of Neil's head and soothingly said.
"Don't worry kidda, he'll get what's coming."
Neil sniffled then gently asked.
"Mr McPartlin, I was wondering. Can I start calling you Dad? If that's alright by you?"
Ant was speechless by what Neil had just asked him. He felt his eyes well up with tears on how touched he was. After wiping his tears, Ant proudly said.
"Yeah Neil, I don't mind. I would love you to start calling me Dad."
Neil happily gave Ant a sideways hug which Ant gratefully returned. Just then Anne and Christine came back in along with the doctor who kindly greeted.
"Hello Mr McPartlin, nice to have you back with us."
Ant smiled kindly at the doctor. Soon as the she came near to the bed, Neil began to sit up but the doctor kindly stopped him by saying.
"It's ok Neil, you can stay where you are whilst I'll do my checks."
"Oh ok then." Neil said whilst laying back down.
After Neil laid back down, the Doctor began doing her checks on Ant. When she done doing her checks, the doctor happily said.
"Mr McPartlin, you're almost on the mend but I still think you need more rest like Neil."
"Ok, thanks Doctor." Ant happily replied.
Just then Christine and Anne both had messages on their phones and when they both read the messages, they were speechless.
"Everything ok Mam? Annie?" Ant concernedly asked.
"The messages from Dec and Ali, they're about the court verdict." Christine slowly began saying.
"What's the verdict? What did that man get?" Ant eagerly asked whilst pulling Neil closer to him.
"50 years and no parole." Anne slowly but happily answered.
After Anne said that, she and Christine let a big sigh of relief whereas Ant and Neil hugged each other.
"Congratulations I bet you all are relieved to heard those news." The doctor kindly congratulated
"Oh we are Doctor. Very relieved." Anne happily said.
"I'd better call Sarha and Emma and tell them the news." Christine cheerfully said.
"I've got an idea," Ant suggestively began saying, "how you two go and get some food whilst telling Sarha and Emma the news."
"That sounds like a good idea. Shall we Christine?" Anne kindly asked.
"Of course Annie, we won't be long son." Christine agreed.
Anne and Christine then left and so did the doctor. After they left, Ant gently pulled Neil closer to him and hugged him again.
"That's the best news both me and you have had. Isn't it kidda?" Ant happily asked whilst giving Neil a kiss on top of his head.
Neil nodded his head in agreement and then gently began saying.
"If you want Dad, I can leave you and Mr Donnelly have a talk by yourselves whether he comes for his visit."
"Oh kidda, you don't have to leave." Ant began replying.
"No it's ok," Neil reassured, "I need to FaceTime Haydn anyway so I can him the news."
"Alright then." Ant understood whilst putting Neil closer to him.
For the remainder of that morning, Ant and Neil had a love catch up with each and spent time with both Anne and Christine.
<that evening>
It was now visiting time, Dec had arrived, Ant was having a nap whilst Neil was back in his room FaceTiming Haydn.
[In Ant's room]
Dec had very quietly came into Ant's room and noticed Ant was still sleeping. So not wanting to wake his mate, Dec very quietly sat down on one of the visitors chairs and watched Ant sleep.
Just then Ant began stirring and slowly started to wake up. Dec got from his chair, gently sat in the side of Ant's bed and sweetly said.
"Hey sleepyhead."
Once Ant fully opened his eyes and saw Dec smiling at him, he smiled back and sleepily replied.
"Hey mate."
The two geordies then hugged with Dec gently minding Ant's injuries. After they were done hugging, Dec emotionally but happily said.
"I'm so glad you're awake, I've been so worried about you."
"I know kidda, your Mam told me and so did my Mam. Thanks by the way, for keeping an eye on Neil for me while I was out." Ant gratefully said.
"It's alright mate, how is he anyway?" Dec then asked.
"He's a lot better now that his father has been put away. He's now started calling me Dad and wants to call Anne Marie Mum." Ant proudly replied.
Dec was surprised to hear that from Ant. He happily said.
"Awww mate, I'm so happy for you. I bet you were happy to hear that from him, wasn't you?"
"I was and a bit tearful as well." Ant proudly replied.
Dec smiled and gave out a happy sigh.
"You know, what with his excuse of a father now behind bars for what he did to him. Neil can starting getting the help he needs to move on from this whole traumatic experience Dec happily pointed out.
"You're right there mate." Ant happily agreed.
For the rest of that evening, both Ant and Dec happily had a nice catch up with each other and both looking forward to a better future ahead.