"No,please don't say that Ant" Dec pleaded "she has to let you come"

"I'm sorry Dec" Ant replied sadly "you know I really want to go,but it's not up to me,it's up to Mam and I just don't know what she's going to say.We're always busy at home,she needs me there"

"But you said you were doing less now Sarha is older" Dec was so disappointed,he was becoming almost tearful.

"I know,but that's usually only for a few hours that she's left alone,not any longer,Mam just won't allow that"

"At least ask her Ant please" Dec whined.

"Ok boys" Anne interrupted "how about I give Christine a ring and ask her?that ok Ant?"

"Er....yeah,sure" Ant replied "but she's not supposed to have personal phone calls while she's at work unless it's an emergency"

"That's not a problem" Anne reassured him "what time will she be home?"

"About 6 o'clock"

"Ok,well how about you stay for dinner and I'll ring her afterwards?"

"Yeah,that will be great,thanks Anne"

Ant and Dec spent most of the afternoon in Decs bedroom listening to music as well of a bit of time kicking a football around the back garden.

Dec was constantly clock watching as they sat eating their dinner,willing 6 o'clock to come around.

As soon as it hit the desired time,he practically pounced on Anne.

"It's 6 o'clock Mam,Ants Mam will be home now,you gonna call her?"

"Declan" Anne stated "for goodness sake,calm down will you.Do you think maybe Christine would like to have a cup of tea and relax for a few minutes as soon as she gets in from work?give her a while before she has to deal with us lot will you?"

"Nah,she won't mind" Dec cheekily replied "call her"

"Ten minutes Decky,then I'll call her,ok?"

The boys hardly took their eyes off Anne for the next ten minutes who deliberately busied herself with other stuff just to tease them.

"It's ten past six Mam" Dec reminded her.

She shook her head playfully at her incorrigible son,his impatience amused her no end,but she wouldn't have him any other way.

Both of the boys stayed quiet while they eavesdropped on her telephone conversation,but she wasn't giving much away and as hard as they tried,they couldn't hear what Christine was saying on the other end of the line.

"Yes ok"

"No that's fine"

"Ok that's not a problem"

Neither Ant nor Dec could make out where the conversation was going from the short sentences Anne was uttering.

As soon as she hung up the phone,the boys waited with baited breath for what she was about to announce.

"Well?" Dec asked hopefully.

"Well" she sighed "of course she would love for you to come along Ant......"

"Really?that's brilliant" Dec interrupted.

"Declan" she scolded "don't interrupt.I've not finished yet.She said she would love you to come as you really deserve a holiday.She's going to try her best to sort things out with work,but she can't guarantee anything.If she can't get time off,then she's going to see if a friend will have Sarha in the evenings,she doesn't mind her being alone in the house for a couple of hours after school,but not late into the evening.That's wouldn't be fair on Christine,having extra worry with Sarha being at home all on her own,although I'm sure Sarha wouldn't mind,but your Mam would just fret about her Ant,which is the last thing she needs"

"So she's going to ask her friends," Dec enquired hopefully.

"Yes she is Declan,we can't say fairer than that" Anne smiled and turned to Ant who had kept quiet during the exchange "is that ok with you Ant?"

"Er....yeah of course" Ant replied "I know how it is and I know it won't be easy for her to sort it all out"

A look of overwhelming sadness came over him as he lowered his eyes.

"I just don't want to make things even harder for her"

"Now you listen here young man" Anne said affectionately as she sat down next to Ant and placed a motherly arm around his shoulder.

"You won't be making anything harder for anyone.You work so hard Anthony,your Mother knows that better than anyone,she really wants you to come on this trip,she knows it'll be so good for you to have some time out from everything,to just be a teenager for a while,you know,have some fun,what do you say?"

"Yeah I guess" Ant sighed "if she can sort it out"

"Well she said she'll know for sure in a couple of days,so don't you worry about it right now ok?all you need to worry about is whether you can put up with our Declan here for a whole two weeks"

"Hey" Dec snapped.

"Well,he can be a little full on Anthony,I'm sure you've noticed that by now?you sure you can handle that twenty four seven?" Anne joked.

"Don't worry Anne,I can handle him" Ant smiled back.

Three days later,Dec was beside himself with excitement when Ant turned up on the doorstep and announced that indeed Christine had managed to sort things out at home,managing to use some owed annual leave and arranging for Sarha to hang out at friends until Christine finished work the other days.

"Oh brilliant" Dec practically shouted out in excitement as he dragged Ant into the house "you could have phoned me though,instead of making me wait even longer"

"Yeah could have" Ant agreed "but i wanted to see your face when I told you"

"Mam,MAM,Ant's here,he can come Mam,he can come to Ireland with us" Dec announced excitedly as he hurriedly made his way into the living room.

"That's great" she smiled "I'm so glad Anthony.You'll have a lovely time with us,I know you will"

"I know I will too" he replied gratefully "thank you so much for this,it's so amazing"

"That's no problem,we're very happy to be taking you with us"

Almost three weeks later,Fonsey,Anne,Ant and Dec were being dropped off at Newcastle airport by Martin.

"Have a great time you guys" he said as he hugged them all goodbye "give my love to Nanna and Grandad and everyone else"

"We will" Anne smiled "keep an eye on things here will you sweetheart?especially Cam,no boys in the house"

Martin laughed "yeah of course,I'll drop in at the most unexpected times to try and catch her in the act"

"Martin,stop teasing me" Anne replied "we'll see you in two weeks"

"Ok,see you then,have fun" Martin waved as the foursome made their way into the airport.

They immediately went and checked in and got rid of their luggage before making their way to one of the airport restaurants.Their flight wasn't until 2pm so they had a couple of hours to kill.

"What do you fancy to eat boys?" Fonsey asked.

"Dunno,I'm starving though" Dec announced as he browsed through the menu.

"Of course you are Decky" Anne rolled her eyes "when aren't you starving?"

"What do you fancy Ant?" Anne asked the quiet boy.

"I think the fish and chips with mushy peas sound good" Ant replied politely.

"Northern boy through and through eh Ant?" Fonsey smiled.

"Yeah I guess" Ant replied "and this is...er...my treat,you know as a thank you for taking me with you.I've got a bit of money from Byker and Mam gave me some pocket money to spend"

"Absolutely not" Fonsey stated "your money is exactly that,your spending money and you keep it,you might see something nice you want to buy in Ireland,I won't hear of you spending any money on us.We invited you,so we will be paying for you"

"Ok,thank you,both of you,thanks" Ant whispered sheepishly.

"You're such a kind boy Ant" Anne smiled "did you hear that Declan?"

"Yes Mam,I heard" he knew exactly where this was going.

"Well,do you ever offer to treat anyone?" She enquired.

Dec thought for a moment and jokingly announced "I shared a packet of crisps with Ant once didn't I?"

"Yeah ya did Dec,but they were prawn cocktail flavour which I'm not too keen on so I only took two" Ant laughed.

"Well I still offered" Dec stated slightly offended.

"It's ok Dec,we're just messing with you" Fonsey laughed "now do you want the same as Ant?"

"Yeah thanks Dad" he smiled "but you'll see,one day when I'm rich and famous,I'm gonna buy you the biggest house in Newcastle,then you'll see who's best at giving treats won't you?"

"I don't doubt that for a minute" Fonsey laughed "and I'm very much looking forward to living in this mansion"

Dec poked his tongue out cheekily at his Father.He'd show them,he did indeed plan to work his way up the acting ladder and become so financially comfortable that he would be able to spoil his hard working family like they deserved.He didn't think it was such a crazy dream,it might happen one day,that's what he regularly told himself anyway.

After everyone had finished eating,the boys decided to go for a wander around the airport.

"Keep an eye on the departure board boys" Anne insisted "don't you dare be late,we'll be boarding at 1.15pm,so don't you be a minute later than that"

"Ok Mam,don't nag will ya" Dec moaned.

"Just be back in time,or we'll be going without you" Anne warned as she playfully patted his bum.

Ant and Dec had a wander around the shops,but didn't see anything they fancied buying,choosing instead to save their money for when they were in Ireland.

"Shall we just go and watch the planes?" Dec suggested.

"Yeah why not?" Ant agreed.

They were soon sat watching the planes taking off.

"No idea how they manage to stay in the air" Dec stated thoughtfully.

"Well..." Ant,forever the knowledgeable one,was about to explain it to him.

"It's ok Ant" Dec cut in "I don't need to know,was just thinking out loud"

"I'm really looking forward to this trip Dec" Ant smiled.

"Yeah me too" Dec replied "i told you how many places we're visiting didn't I?"

"Yeah of course...." Ant trailed off as Dec interrupted him yet again,that was a habit he really wished Dec would get out of.

"We're starting off in Londonderry to visit my Grandparents for a few days,you'll love them,my Grandad is hilarious,.Then we're gonna fly to Dublin,we've got tons of relatives there,before finally going to cork.Us Donnellys are everywhere in Ireland,got cousins,Aunties and uncles spread all over the country,can't wait for you to meet them all"

"All of them?" Ant asked surprised "how are we going to have time for that?"

"Well,maybe not all of them" Dec laughed "but as many as possible,it's going to be great,I'm so excited"

"I can tell" Ant smiled "and to think you didn't want to go at first"

"Yeah well,that was before I knew you were coming" Dec replied.

"Happy to oblige" Ant grinned.

As the time for them to board their flight was getting nearer,Dec noticed Ant had become quieter,chatting less and only giving Dec one word answers when he attempted to make conversation.

"You ok Ant?" He asked slightly concerned.

"Yeah I'm fine" Ant replied abruptly.

"You sure?"

"Yes I'm sure,just leave it" Ant snapped.

"Well you're obviously not fine then are you if you're jumping down my throat for no reason?" Dec observed "and why are you sweating all of a sudden?it's not hot in here,seriously Ant,what's going on?"

Ant sighed to himself,he obviously couldn't keep his little secret to himself any longer,so there was no point in trying anymore.

"Sorry,I didn't mean to snap at you,just don't laugh ok Dec?" Ant sighed miserably.

Dec nodded to his friend.

"But I'm absolutely petrified of flying!"