Dec was so excited when he woke up that Sunday morning.It was the day of his baby cousins christening and he knew once the boring church part was out of the way,it would be a great day.

He made a point of getting up early so he could be first in the shower.Once he was clean and fresh,he concentrated on his grooming ritual,mainly his hair,running too much gel through it and fiddling with it until he had it just the way he wanted.The whole thing took a good two hours with Dec styling and restyling his hair over and over again, as well as trying on different shirts and ties until he found a combination he was happy with.

He admired his reflection in the full length mirror and thought he looked rather dapper in his suit and slightly wonky tie.

Martin entered the bedroom having agreed to come and pick up Dec and Dermott and give them a lift to the church.

"Alright squirt?" He smiled and roughly tousled Decs perfectly groomed hair.

"Ah man,don't do that will ya?" Dec snapped annoyed "took me ages to get it just right"

Martin could only laugh at his little brother,it wasn't so long since he had been just like him.

"Sorry squirt,come here,let me straighten your tie"

"I'm really looking forward to today" Dec smiled as Martin completed his brotherly task and patted Dec warmly on both arms.

"Yeah" Martin replied "it'll be great,us Donnellys certainly know how to throw a party,we've had plenty of practice after all"

"Yeah that's true" Dec agreed.With such a large family,it felt like there was some kind of celebration practically every week.Weddings,christenings,coming of age parties,engagement parties,there was always a reason to celebrate.

"You ready?" Martin enquired "where's Dermott?"

"Yeah let's go" Dec couldn't resist one more quick glance in the mirror "dunno,thought he was downstairs?"

"Yeah,he probably is,I came straight up" Martin smiled.

It wasn't long before the large church was completely filled with Donnellys and their friends and other branches of the family.Everyone oohed and Ahhed at the cute baby who behaved impeccably throughout his special day.

Soon it was time for everyone to make the short journey from the church to the Irish centre in Newcastle.This was a place that was a big part of Decs and his familys lives.

Dec loved it there,he'd spent many happy days there when he was younger,learning Irish dancing,it was fun but his passion for acting soon took over and he gave up the dancing,choosing to concentrate on extra drama classes instead.

"Hello young Declan" Marie the barmaid smiled at him as he made his way over to be served "what'll it be?coke?lemonade?"

"Just a coke please" Dec replied sweetly before mumbling under his breath "for now"

Dec enjoyed socialising with everyone,more than happy to be the centre of attention when many members of his large,extended family asked excitedly about his acting job on Byker Grove,most still amazed that their little Declan could be on television.Things like that just didn't happen in their family,Dec had certainly broken the mould.

He was soon getting a bit fed up with drinking coke and wanted to try something new.

"Dermott" Dec whispered,sliding up to his brother "get us a beer will ya?"

"What?Declan you're sixteen,you shouldn't be drinking beer" Dermott wisely advised.

"Ah come on man,don't give me that,you were drinking beer at sixteen and probably even younger,you can have a day off ya know" Decs dig at his brothers chosen vocation may not have helped in his attempt to persuade Dermott.

"Sorry" Dec quickly apologised "I just mean I'd like to try a beer,just one,please?"

Dermott sighed "alright,just one,then you go back to the coke ok?and take it slowly,don't think anyone would appreciate a drunken teenager today,and i hope you've eaten something?"

"Of course I've eaten" Dec lied,he'd been way too busy talking about himself with people to even start indulging in the buffet yet.

"Ok,I promise,just one" Dec grinned and watched intently as Dermott went to the bar and returned with a pint of beer for each of them.

"You might want to drink that where Mam can't see you" Dermott recommended.

"Yeah good idea" Dec agreed and made his way over to a group of his teenage cousins who he knew would keep his secret.

He sat down amongst them and took his first tentative sip as they all watched.

"Shit,that's disgusting" he moaned immediately "why do people drink that?"

Everyone laughed at him but he was determined to persevere,that's what men are supposed to do isn't it?drink beer?or so he thought,so he wasn't going to give up after one sip.

After a few more mouthfuls,it was becoming more bearable and he was actually starting to like it a little bit.It wasn't long before he was staring at the bottom of an empty glass and trying to figure out who could be his next target to help get him another.

He decided on Cam,she liked a drink herself and Dec knew for a fact that she'd done her fair share of underage drinking in her time.It was alot easier to persuade her to get him a drink than it had been with Dermott and he was soon sat back amongst his cousins with them shielding him from adult eyes.

It didn't take long for that drink to go down too and Dec wasn't going to stop there,but as he stood up,his legs became wobbly and he sat back down with a thump.

"Oops" he giggled to much amusement of those around him.

"Declan,you're drunk" his cousin Abigail laughed.

"No I'm not" Dec snapped "I just stood up too quickly,head rush,I'm going to get another drink"

"Who's going to get you another drink when they see what state you're in?" Abigail enquired.

"I'm in no shtate at all" he slurred and made his way over to the bar.

The alcohol in his system was making him even more bolshoi than usual if that was possible.

"Pint of beer please Marie" he ordered.

Marie frowned at the youngster "I don't think so Declan,you know you're too young and have you been drinking already?"

"Noooo,of course not" Dec did his best to sound sober.

"Pint of beer please" he repeated.

Marie rolled her eyes at his cheek "here drink this,you might need it"

"Ooh,is it vodka?"Dec grinned.

"Of course it's not vodka,it's water, now drink it"

Dec frowned at the bossy woman,totally ignoring her instructions and she was soon too busy serving other people to make sure he did.

He scanned the room,hoping to find his next 'target'.It wasn't too much to ask was it?he just wanted another little drink.

Unfortunately anyone who he thought might help were either with his parents or his sensible siblings and relatives.

"Alright Declan?" The voice quickly distracting him from his task.

"Hmmm?"

"I said alright Declan?" His uncle asked.

"Oh yeah sorry Mike,was miles away there" Dec replied.

"I see that" Mike laughed "watch my pint will ya while I go to the loo"

Mike soon left to relieve himself and Dec immediately took charge of his drink,taking it back to the table.

"Who on earth was daft enough to get you another drink?" Abigail enquired.

"That's on a need to know basis only" Dec giggled.

"Ah leave him alone Abs" her older brother James instructed "he's enjoying himself"

"Fine" she snapped "not my problem when he makes himself ill then"

Dec did his best to make himself as small as possible amongst his friends and relatives as he spotted Mike returning from the toilet and was glancing around the room,no doubt looking for Dec and his freshly poured pint.

He soon gave up and was ordering another beer from Marie.

As Dec was half way through his third pint,he really started to feel dizzy,why was the room spinning?this was a new sensation and not one he was sure he liked.

"Dec are you ok?" He could hear the voice but didn't know who or where it was coming from.

Why did he feel so weird?so tired?he could easily fall asleep right there at the table.Ok he needed to pull himself together and sat up straight,reaching for the other half of his pint,knocking it down in one.

"Take it easy Declan" James advised "no hurry"

"Look at the state of him" Abigail fumed,forever the sensible one "he's pissed out of his mind,still think it was a good idea for him to have another drink do ya?"

"Jeez,pipe down Abs,you're not his mother,so stop acting like it" James retorted.

"Fine" she got up and left the table,refusing to be involved in this situation any longer.

By now Dec wanted nothing more than just to sleep right there at the table and buried his head into his arms and rested on the table,not caring about the spilt drinks he was laying in.

"Oh God,he's gonna puke" James stated horrified,as Dec started to retch uncontrollably "I need to get him to the toilet"

"He looks like a cat trying to bring up a fur ball" cousin George laughed unsympathetically.

"Oh shut up George,just get out of the way will ya"

James somehow managed to get a very unstable Declan to the toilets just in time,amazed that no one had seen them,everyone was too engrossed in their conversations to notice the little drama unfolding amongst the mostly teenage youngsters.

"Thank God for that" James groaned as Dec hurled the results of three pints of beer,very little food and an inexperienced drinking stomach down the toilet bowl.

"Thank God we made it to the toilet in time"

Declan meanwhile had no clue what was going on.He knew he'd just been sick,he was aware he was sitting on a cold,hard floor,but where was he?was he at home?in his bathroom?who's voice was it he could hear,he could barely make it out in his drunken state.The room was spinning so much, like a fairground ride and all he knew was he wanted to get off.

"Patricia?" He groaned "Mam?"

"Of course it's not Patricia or your Mam you idiot,you're in the mens toilets,it's me,James"

"James?" Dec slurred "wanna go to bed,don't feel well"

"Of course you don't feel well,you're pissed"

"Shorry,wanna go to bed" Dec repeated.

James peered down at his vomit stained cousin spreadeagled uncomfortably on the floor and soon realised he wouldn't be able to deal with this situation all by himself.

"I'm going to get help" he stated,taking a piece of toilet roll and wiping Decs mouth.

"No James" Dec called "don't go,wanna go to bed"

"I know that,that's exactly what I'm trying to arrange"

James hated leaving Dec alone like that in his drunken stupor,but had no choice.The Irish centre was starting to empty out as the party was coming to a close,the young baby and his siblings who's special occasion it was,had long been taken home to bed.

James scanned the room before setting sight on Martin.He'd know exactly what to do.

"Martin,I need your help" james whispered discreetly in his ear.

"What is it?" Martin replied curiously.

"It's Dec,he's umm,he's ill I think,or maybe a little bit drunk"

"What?where is he?"

"In the toilet"

James led the way and Martin was astonished at the unexpected sight of his little brother,propped up on the toilet seat,eyes closed,breathing heavily,fresh vomit down his previously smart suit and even traces of it in his floppy hair.

Martin could feel the anger rising from deep within him.

"What the fuck have you all been up to?"