"You said you wouldn't laugh" Ant stated,annoyed as Dec dissolved into fits of giggles.

"You're scared of flying?" Dec grinned "ya big baby.You're at an airport,not the greatest place to be if you're scared of flying"

"Thanks for the understanding mate" Ant retorted sarcastically.

"Well,what do you expect?" Dec replied "you're being ridiculous,you've flown before haven't you?"

"Yeah I have,I went to Spain three years ago" Ant informed him.

"Well then" Dec was refusing to accept any of this nonsense.

"That's the reason why I'm scared of flying Dec" Ant admitted sadly "we had really bad turbulence on the way back and I'm not ashamed to say I was close to shitting myself"

"You do realise that planes go through turbulence every day don't you?it's a normal occurrence" Dec smiled.

"Yeah I know planes go through turbulence every day,but i don't,it's not a normal occurrence for me.It's not natural to be caged in a long,metal tube,thousands of feet up in the air,I don't like it and I can't help it"

"Why did you agree to come on this trip then?" Dec asked slightly annoyed.

"Because I hoped the fear might have passed by now,I've not been at an airport for three years,but it obviously hasn't" Ant was wringing his hands nervously "and I really wanted to come to Ireland with you,it's going to be great once we're actually there"

"Yeah,but then we have to come back again and don't forget,we're also flying down to Dublin" Dec pointed out.

"I don't want to think about that just now,one step at a time" Ant replied.

"I still think you're being stupid"

"Well planes do crash sometimes" Ant insisted.

"Well that's a nice thing to say when you're at an airport.Youre being stupid,you're more likely to get run over by a car crossing the road" Dec pointed out.

"I can't help it Dec,I know it might not be rational,but lots of people are scared of flying,it's not that unusual,a bit of sympathy wouldn't go amiss"

"Sympathy for being a big baby?yeah right that ain't gonna happen"

"You're a real arsehole sometimes,you know that Dec?" Ant was by now feeling rather annoyed and a little bit upset at his friends reaction.

Before Dec had a chance to retaliate,Fonsey appeared in front of them,seemingly out of nowhere.

"Come on boys,didn't you hear the announcement?we're boarding" he informed them.

"Yeah we're coming Dad" Dec smiled as he and Ant got up out of their seats.

"You ok Ant" Fonsey enquired,noticing Ants glum appearance.

"He's fine" Dec snapped.

Fonsey wasn't sure why Dec was answering for Ant but decided not to persue it,he was just keen to board and get comfortable in his seat.

Once boarded,Dec stealed a sideways glance at Ant who was sat in the window seat,gazing at the goings on at the airport.

"This is it" Dec grinned as the plane taxied towards the runway "do you need some loo roll?gonna shit yourself are ya?"

Ant hadn't said a word to Dec since their little conversation in the departure lounge.He expected more understanding from Dec,he never thought he would make him feel even worse about his phobia.

"Hope you can swim Ant?" Dec laughed "we'll be flying over the sea,did you bring your armbands in case we fall out of the sky?"

"Fuck off Dec" Ant retorted.

"What's going on boys?" Anne asked from the seat directly in front of Ant, having heard the end of their short conversation.

"Nothing Mam" Dec replied "we're fine"

The plane was soon speeding down the runway and as the force of the take off made Dec lean firmly back into his seat,he glanced over at Ant who was gripping the armrests,causing his knuckles to go white,eyes tightly shut and forehead sweating profusely.Dec wasn't sure,but he thought Ants breathing was faster than usual.

He suddenly started to feel really guilty.

"Ant are you ok?" He asked sheepishly.

"I will be in a minute" Ant whispered "not that you care"

Dec decided to keep quiet until the plane reached its flying altitude.

Once it did and the seatbelt sign was switched off,he pulled out a pack of playing cards from his jacket pocket and showed them to Ant.

"Fancy a game of rummy Ant?" He smiled "might take your mind off things"

Ant looked at Dec suspiciously "why are you being so nice all of a sudden?you've been a complete dick so far"

"Yeah sorry about that,I just wanted to wind you up,but I realise now I might have gone a bit far"

"You think?" Ant snapped.

Dec waved the pack of cards under Ants nose.

"Soooo.....game of rummy or what?" Dec asked again "it's only a short flight,few games then we'll be landing"

"Go on then" Ant sighed,he knew he couldn't stay angry with Dec for long and certainly didn't want to start the holiday off on the wrong foot,so was willing to forgive and forget.

"Good" Dec smiled "I might even hold your hand when we land if you like?"

"Shut up you will ya?you idiot" Ant laughed.

Halfway through the flight,the seatbelt sign lit up again as the pilot announced they were hitting some mild turbulence.Ant immediately tensed up as he tightened his seatbelt which he hadn't even unbuckled yet.

"Your turn" Dec smiled,now determined to make up for being so mean to Ant by distracting him from what was going on with the flight.He knew he would feel his Mams wrath if she found out exactly how he'd teased Ant,which he was obviously keen to avoid.

"Uh yeah ok,oh God" Ant stated as the plane trembled and shook and he gripped onto his seat tightly "oh God"

"Hey Ant,it's fine" Dec smiled "it's just turbulence remember?a common occurrence,don't worry about it,the pilots won't be,all they'll be worried about is it spilling their coffee"

"Not sure if you being nice is better than you being horrible?" Ant joked.

"Oh lovely,can't win can I?" Dec winked.

"Come on,let's get on with this bloody game then" Ant insisted finally,eager for the distraction.

After the flight,which seemed alot longer than it's one hour and twenty minutes,finally landed,Ant let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Come on" Dec smiled "let's get you off of this death machine"

Ant just shook his head at his daft friend,he was just glad he could forget about flying,planes,airports and turbulence for a few days.

"My Grandad is picking us up" Dec announced as they waited in the baggage hall to collect their luggage.

"Yeah you already told me that" Ant had to laugh at Decs habit of repeating the same thing over and over again,although this time he was just putting it down to excitement at being in Ireland and the fact he was about to see his much loved relatives.

As they walked through the doors to the arrivals lounge,Dec immediately spotted his Grandad on the other side of the barrier.

"Grandad,GRANDAD,we're here" he shouted as he dropped his suitcase and ran into his Grandads open arms,not even giving Fonsey a chance to hug his own Father first.

Eventually,after everyone had hugged and greeted each other while Ant stood back and looked on politely,Dec took his Grandads hand and led him to Ant.

"This is my friend Anthony Grandad,everyone calls him Ant" Dec announced "and this is my Grandad Edward,everyone calls him Eddie"

Ant put his hand out to shake Eddies hand "nice to meet you sir"

"Wow,sir?what a polite young man" Eddie laughed "never mind that formal hand shaking nonsense Ant,we all hug it out in this family,and call me Eddie"

"Ok Eddie" Ant said as he was brought in for a big bear hug,he should have known by now this was how the Donnellys did things "it's nice to meet you" he mumbled into the older mans woolly jumper.Eddie was hugging him so tight,he could feel the air being squeezed out of him a bit.

When Eddie eventually released Ant,he looked at both boys affectionately.

"Ah,my two little actors,I've been watching you on my television" he announced proudly "our Declan on the tele,I still can't get over it,your Nanna can't either.How are your eyes Ant?"

Ant shook his head,he could see Dec and his Grandad shared the same sense of humour,no wonder Dec thought Eddie was hilarious.

"They're fine thanks,always were"

"Ah well,should never take your goggles off when you go paintballing" Eddie joked.

"Yep,I'll bear that in mind" Ant laughed back.

"Come on everyone,your Nanna is waiting,we should be back just in time for dinner,she'll probably have prepared a feast fit for a king" Eddie informed them.

"Us Donnellys like to feed people Ant" Eddie smiled.

"Yeah I've already noticed that" Ant replied "I've had my fill of food a fair few times at Decs house"

"Glad to hear it,we Irish like to see a hearty appetite,can't be doing with any of that poncey food they eat down in London" Eddie laughed as he helped pile the suitcases into the car.

"Poncey?" Ant enquired.

"Yeah you know" Eddie replied as he started the car "avocados and all that posh stuff,herbal teas,I mean who drinks herbal tea?"

"Don't know" Dec joined in "not us that's for sure"

"Boiled bacon and cabbage" Eddie stated "now that's a good Irish meal boys.You keep away from London,that place will turn you into poofs"

"EDDIE "Anne snapped "don't say that,that's not nice or helpful and anyway,you've never even been to London"

"Don't need to either" he insisted "I like it just fine where I am"

"Excuse my Dad Ant" Fonsey said turning around to face Ant in the back seat "he's er...very set in his ways and doesn't realise he's being offensive sometimes,or care for that matter.He's old school,not that that's an excuse"

"You're not offended are you Ant" Eddie asked while glancing at Ant in the rearview mirror "well unless you're one of those trouser chasers?"

Dec fell about laughing,his Grandad never failed to make him laugh and Ants awkwardness only made the situation even funnier.

"Er well...if by trouser chaser,you mean am I gay?then no I'm not and no offence taken" Ant shrugged.

"Ah well,there'll be a nice gal waiting out there for you somewhere just like there is for our Declan" Eddie smiled.

"Our Declan has already got a girlfriend" Anne informed him "not that we've met her yet,never talks about her like"

"Oh really?Bet you've got girls dropping at your feet eh Decky?" Eddie enquired "a good looking lad like you,you definitely get your looks from my side of the family" he grinned teasingly at Anne who knew by now not to encourage her father in law.

Dec kept quiet on the girlfriend issue,he wasn't sure he could even call the girl he liked a girlfriend,he'd seen a her a grand total of two times,once going to the cinema and once taking her to Macdonalds and those 'dates' had been three weeks apart.

Ant looked out of the car window, admiring the stunning irish countryside,giggling quietly to himself at the banter that was still ensuing between Dec and his family.

"How's Nanna?" Dec asked,eager to steer the subject away from his love life "can't wait to see her"

"Yeah,she's grand lad" Eddie smiled "she can't wait to see you too and she will in about fifteen minutes,almost home"

Sure enough,around fifteen minutes later,Eddie pulled up outside his marital home and there outside the house,standing on the garden path,was his wife of many years,Mary.

"There she is" Eddie smiled.

Ant turned to look at the old lady and couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.

There was Decs Nanna,the woman he'd heard so much about,dressed from head to toe in a green leprechaun outfit,waving a little green,white and orange Irish flag excitedly.

"Yep,there's Nanna" Dec laughed.

Ant had decided by now that Decs family were truly crazy.

This was going to be an adventure indeed!