Now that Dec had cleared the air with Anne and he'd agreed to the family dinner,he was starting to feel excited. He hadn't seen any of his family since Fonseys funeral and he knew it was going to be great.

"You'll ask Ant and Christine to come too won't you Dec?" Anne enquired.

"Of course I will,I'll text him now"

Dec immediately sent the text to Ant, inviting him and his Mam to dinner the following day.Just a couple of minutes later,his phone buzzed with Ants reply.

"What is it?" Anne asked curiously as she noticed Decs frown as he read the message.

"He thanks you for the invitation but he doesn't want to intrude on our family time"

"Give me that phone" Anne scowled,practically snatching it out of Decs hand before pressing the call button.

"Hi Dec,how's it going?" came Ants cheerful voice.

"I'll tell you how it's going young man" Anne snapped,Ant was totally taken aback that it wasn't Dec on the phone as he expected.

"Now we are having a family dinner tomorrow which I want you and your Mam to come to,so what's this nonsense about not wanting to intrude on our family time?since when have you not been family?you have been a part of our family since you were thirteen years old,so I'll expect you both around 1 o'clock tomorrow ok?make sure you're hungry,it will be a feast" Anne could hear Ant chuckling on the other end of the phone as he couldn't get a word in.

Eventually she paused for breath.

"Ok Anne,that will be lovely,we'll both see you tomorrow"

After she hung up,she set about calling everyone else to inform them that the sunday dinner was going ahead.Meanwhile she had given Dec the daunting task of ordering the online shopping,he was basically just used to doing grocery shopping for himself,this was a whole different ballgame,there would be alot of them tomorrow so he got on to the task immediately.He also had a sneaky suspicion his Mam was just trying to keep him busy to stop the sadness from creeping back in,he didn't mind though!

"What meat are we having Mam?" He called out.

"You choose darling" came back the reply.

"Chicken it is then" Dec whispered to himself as he ordered his favourite.

Soon all the shopping was ordered to be delivered early the next morning and Anne had finished letting everyone know about tomorrows plans which they were all delighted with.

Anne and Dec spent the rest of the day chatting and watching television.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow" Dec stated.

"Yes it will be lovely" Anne confirmed "they're all looking forward to seeing you too and it will be a much happier occasion than last time"

Everyone was acutely aware that they hadn't all been together in the same room since Fonseys funeral.

They soon said their goodnights and both of them had a better nights sleep than they had had in a long time.

The next morning Anne soon set Dec to work peeling potatoes and chopping vegetables.This was one part of the cooking process she knew Dec couldn't mess up with his very limited culinary skills.soon everything was done and ready to be cooked once everyone arrived although the two very large chickens and mountains of roast potatoes were already in the oven and the gorgeous smells were already teasing his taste buds.

He had loved helping Anne out just like he did when he was a little boy.The awkwardness of the last couple of months had totally disappeared as they chatted,laughed and sang along to the radio.He was so happy they'd had that talk and told each other how they were feeling and he was also incredibly grateful that Ant had talked him into it!

At around 1pm the family started arriving and Dec soon found himself being the centre of attention,being hugged left,right and centre as his siblings,brothers and sisters in laws and nieces and nephews all piled in.Everyone was now more than aware of Decs struggles so kept the conversations light hearted.There was alot of laughter and sounds of the children playing,Dec had missed this more than he cared to let on and was loving every minute of it.

Unusually the last people to arrive were Ant and Christine,Ant was usually the first person to turn up anywhere when they had plans and Dec suspected it was because he wanted to give him a bit of time with his siblings before he arrived.

Ant was soon being the centre of attention as much as Dec was while some people were helping Anne in the kitchen.

Soon the dinner was ready and all the adults squeezed around the huge extendable table that was always pulled out for these occasions while the kids were sat around a smaller table.

As everyone sat down and Ant went to sit next to Dec,Dermott piped up.

"Oh no you don't,you always get Ant to yourself young Decky,time to share"

Ant grinned as Dec rolled his eyes playfully at Dermott as he patted the seat next to him indicating that he wanted Ant to sit there.

Soon everyone was tucking into the delicious dinner of roast chicken and all the trimmings.

Dec sat happily between Pat and Martin while Ant was sandwiched between Dermott and Anne.Christine sat the other side of Anne and he watched them as they chatted away,knowing no doubt that he and Ant were more than likely the topic of conversation.

It wasn't long before the kids had had enough food and were getting restless at having to sit at the table for so long,they were given permission to go and play as the oldest kids were more than capable of looking out for the younger ones.

Dec had happily chatted with Pat and Martin and anyone else who could hear well enough across the busy table,but for a few minutes his brother and sister were talking to the people sat the other side of them.

Dec took this opportunity to get his thoughts together.He glanced down at his empty plate and bulging belly,it really had been a delicious dinner,his Mam was the worlds best cook and he wouldn't let anyone tell him any different.

He listened to the sounds of the children playing,it was such a happy sound and he couldn't wait for the day when his own son or daughter would be joining in.

He slowly took in every person sat around the dinner table,he felt so lucky to have them all,he loved each and every one of them and they loved him,he even got on tremendously well with his siblings other halves.

He slowly went around the table,taking in one face at a time.

His oldest sister sat next to him who was basically his second mother,he wondered how different his life would have been if he hadn't had Pat in it,but luckily he did have her and she made him feel so safe and loved,for that he would always be grateful.

Then there was Martin,Dec giggled to himself as he thought of the banter that always flowed naturally between them.Martim always had been his favourite brother,he wasn't sure why,they were just naturally closer and just clicked.Martin played the protective older brother perfectly,Dec knew he would probably die for him if necessary.

Cam and Moyra were deep in conversation.Growing up Dec and Cam bickered constantly,being the two youngest but she had always been his constant playmate and he had many adorable memories of their time together as youngsters although he tried to forget the times when she would insist on playing "dollies" with of course Dec having to be the unwilling doll.

Moyra had been the practical one trying to teach him things.Everything from cooking to sewing to gardening,even Fonsey had given up trying to get Dec to help with the gardening so Moyra took over.The truth was that Dec didn't really like gardening,he saw it as an old mans activity so it wasn't long before Moyra gave up on it too and it wasn't long before she gave up on trying to teach him anything else,he would have rather have just been playing.Of course it was different when he helped his Mam as he just loved being with her and the one on one attention he got from her at those times.

He gazed at Dermott who was still deep in conversation with Ant,he wished he could hear what they were saying.

Dec was continuously amazed at Dermotts unwavering faith in God.Dec too believed but he sometimes had doubts when things weren't going well.But Dermott?well it didn't matter what was going on in his life or around him,he believed completely and utterly.The priesthood was absolutely the right vocation for him,Dec thought.Dermott was kind,considerate,loving,caring,compassionate and always put everyone elses needs before his own.Dec didn't know how he could be so selfless and could only aspire to be the amazing man Dermott already is one day.

Then there was Eamonn,who was chatting to his wife,they were still so loved up after so many years of marriage.Dec thought Eamonn was the funniest person he knew,he often had Dec crying with laughter at his quick witt and hilarious jokes.

He rested his chin on his hand and smiled to himself,quite glad that everyone was now so busy chatting to each other,that they hadn't noticed him silently observing them.

His Mam?his amazing,strong Mam!He didn't know how she did it?brought up a large family with so much love and understanding,very rarely getting cross,always making time for each and every one of them.All Dec could do in return was love her,admire her and try to be the best son he could be.

And there he was!The last but definitely not the

least member of his family.Dec watched as Ant shovelled a roast potato that was way too big into his mouth.He giggled to himself,thinking about what a human dustbin Ant was,food was never wasted when he was around.

But that was just one of the millions of things,big or small that he loved about Ant.

He thought about when they first met as young teenagers.He could never have imagined back then how their friendship would have blossomed into the deep,meaningful relationship it had become.

Ant was his rock,his soulmate.No matter what,he was always there for him,comforting him,laughing with him,crying with him,hugging him,supporting him.Dec was so grateful that they had found each other,he knew it was only down to Ant that he'd got through the last difficult few months since Fonsey died.

The pain of losing his beloved father had been unbearable but as he took in each and every face sitting around the table,he felt rich.

Not rich in money,although that would never be an issue thanks to his and Ants careers,but rich in love and rich in family!

He was undoubtedly lucky,he knew many people didn't have such close families like he did and he vowed he would appreciate them every day for the rest of his life.He would never shut them out again,he had now realised that this had been pointless and only caused more upset in the long run.He also vowed that he would make a conscious effort to see everyone more often.At least Christmas wasn't too far away and he thought he would definitely bring Rocky up with him then,he was missing his little pup so much and was looking forward to introducing him to everyone!

This had been a desperately emotional and difficult weekend but it was ending on a high.Dec was now happy to go back to London the following day knowing everything was getting better.

Of course these family occasions would never be the same without Fonsey there and Dec was always going to miss him,but he knew he was now coming out the other side.

Thanks to Ant,he could feel the dark cloud that had been following him around for what seemed like forever beginning to lift.He knew there would still be hard days,days where he'd miss Fonsey so much,he would think he would barely be able to go on.Days when the pain would just be too much.

But he also knew there would be good days,better days,days where everything seemed fine and he knew those days would be occurring more and more often.

And during those days,whether they were good or bad,there was one constant presence he could always count on to get him through,someone who would always be there and never let him down.

And that was his Ant!

End!