"NANNA" Dec called out as he ran into her welcoming arms.

"Hello,my dear Declan" Mary whispered affectionately as she held Dec tight,rubbing his back and inhaling his scent "it's so good to see you,I've missed you so much"

"I've missed you too Nanna" Dec smiled "it seems so long since we were last here,but what on earth are you dressed as?"

"A leprechaun of course,thought I might as well get into the spirit of things to welcome you all.Yes it does seem like ages,a year is a long time,especially when you get to my age Declan" Mary joked.

"Aww Nanna,you're just a spring chicken,you'll probably outlive all of us" Dec smiled.

He loved his Grandparents so much,especially his Grandads sense of humour and also the fact he could do no wrong in his Nannas eyes,she spoilt him rotten whenever she saw him,he was the apple of her eye and it made both of them sad that they didn't see each other more often.

"You're getting so tall Declan"

Now Dec knew his Nanna was taking the Mickey,although as she was a whole 5ft nothing,it was very possible it was a genuine observation on her part.Dec had been delighted when he finally grew past the 5ft height range, although he had no intention of stopping there,he had foreseen himself becoming a strapping 6ft 2 hunk for many years now,much to the amusement of his family.

"Hi Mam" Fonsey smiled,having decided Dec had kept his Mother to himself for long enough.

"Hi sweetheart" Mary smiled "Hi Anne" the family all greeted each other with warm hugs.

"Now who is this handsome chap loitering behind you?" She enquired.

Ant looked down at the floor bashfully.

"He's not loitering Nanna" Dec laughed "this is Ant,I told you all about him on the phone remember?"

"Ah of course" Mary grinned "your new playmate"

"We're a bit old to be playmates don't you think Nanna?" Dec giggled.

"You're never too old to have a playmate,eh Ant?" She winked playfully at the awkward teenager.

"Er yeah,I guess" Ant replied "it's very nice to meet you"

"And you Ant or can I call you Anthony?it's such a nice name,why would you want to name yourself after a bug?" Mary teased.

"Ermm,don't know" Ant shrugged.

"Ok Mam,that's enough" Fonsey ordered "stop teasing the lad,can we get inside or are you going to keep us on the front doorstep all night?me and Dad will bring the rest of the suitcases in,you lot go and relax"

"Come on in everyone" Mary said.

Before long everyone was sat around chatting,drinking cups of tea and Ant was beginning to relax more thanks to Decs familys friendly and easy going manner.

"Is everyone hungry?" Mary enquired "I've got a mountain of boiled bacon and cabbage on the stove" she insisted on keeping her leprechaun outfit on for the evening.She probably wouldn't get another chance to wear it until the following years paddys day after all,she only removed the hat.

"Aha told you didn't I?" Fonsey grinned "food of the Gods,can't go wrong with a bit of boiled bacon and cabbage,I knew you'd be making it"

"Your old Mam must be getting predictable in her old age" Mary smiled.

"Hardly a recent development Mam" Fonsey laughed "you've always been predictable to me,I grew up with it,I know you too well"

"I'm sure you do Alphonsus" Mary laughed.

They were all soon sitting around the dining room table tucking into the delicious,typically irish dish.

"This is lovely Mary" Ant smiled appreciatively "thank you"

"You're very welcome Anthony" she smiled back.

"So what are your plans for your time here?" Eddie enquired.

"Well I want to show Ant around" Dec jumped in before anyone else had a chance to speak "and of course I want him to meet everyone here"

"Ah yes,your cousins are looking forward to seeing you" Mary informed him.

"Which ones?" Dec asked.

"Well all of them would love to see you,but obviously some are working,but the kids are keen to get together" Eddie replied.

"Liam and Kieran especially" Mary interrupted.

"Oh God,brilliant,we always have such a laugh when we hang out" Dec grinned "you'll love Liam and Kieran Ant"

"Declan" Anne snapped "no blasphemy thank you very much,especially in front of your Grandparents"

"Oh yeah,sorry" Dec replied.

"Ah don't you worry about that for Gods sake" Eddie laughed "good God, our holy father and heavens above,what have we come to if we can't take our lords name in vain once in a while,he won't mind"

"Why do we bother?" Fonsey laughed while rolling his eyes at his Dad.

"Good question" Anne smiled.

"So Ant,did you bring your climbing boots?" Eddie asked.

"Umm no" Ant replied hesitantly "I don't have any climbing boots,only these trainers and school shoes"

"Those trainers have seen better days I think" Eddie pointed out,glancing under the table at Ants scruffy footwear.

"Yeah I know" Ant sighed.

"Well there are mountains to be climbed here,I guess they'll have to do" Eddie smiled "what do you think?do you fancy a bit of mountain climbing?"

Ant looked at Dec nervously who just smiled mischievously in return.

"I guess so" Ant replied,not sure how he would manage to climb a mountain,kicking a ball around the park or garden occasionally was just about all the exercise he could manage at the best of times.

"Good" Eddie stated "did you bring a backpack?you'll need it to keep water and food supplies in"

"No I didn't,never thought to" Ant said.

"Well this mountain we're going to climb will be no mean feat I'm telling you" Eddie informed him.

"What mountain is it?" Ant asked,now slightly intrigued.

"Slieve gallion" Eddie announced proudly "we call it Fonseys mountain,he was born at the foot of it"

"Well not literally" Mary laughed "I didn't give birth at the bottom of a mountain"

"Near enough" Eddie smiled "it's 1732 feet tall,I hope you've brought your walking legs with you?"

Ant glanced from face to face,did they really expect him to climb an almost 2000 foot mountain?but Dec immediately gave the game away when he let out a little giggle.

"What Dec?what's so funny?" Ant asked.

Soon everyone was laughing at Ants expense,but he was getting slightly irritated at being the centre of amusement without knowing why.

"Alright that's enough" Anne smiled "stop teasing him"

"Don't worry Ant" Dec patted him on the back "you don't have to climb a mountain.Yes we can go up slieve gallion,but there's a road,we'll be driving up"

"Oh good,that'll be nice then" Ant was so relieved that his irritation immediately dissipated.

"You'll get used to them Ant" Anne joked "the Donnellys are a bit of an acquired taste"

"Well you acquired me" Fonsey laughed while kissing his wife on the lips.

"Eeeewwwww,old people kissing" Dec pulled a disgusted face.

"Jealous are you Decky?" Anne joked.

"Hardly" Dec replied "I can kiss any girl I like"

Everyone burst into fits of laughter.

"Hey,what's so funny?" Dec moaned "I'm a real catch I am"

"Of course you are sweetheart" Anne smiled while stroking his hair gently "any girl would be lucky to have you"

"Yeah and don't you forget it" he winked at his Mam.

As they finished their dinner,everyone agreed an early night would be a good idea after their tiring journey.

"Our Declan will show you where you're sleeping Anthony" Mary smiled.

They all said goodnight to each other before Ant and Dec made their way to one of the spare rooms.

"Here we are" Dec announced as he dragged his suitcase into the bedroom with the twin,single beds "the bed by the window is mine,I always sleep there.Bathroom is straight opposite in case you didn't notice"

"Yeah I saw" Ant replied while laying back on his allocated bed "no problem mate,this bed is right comfy"

Once they were ready and snuggled cosily under their duvets,the boys started chatting happily.

"So what do you think of Nanna and Grandad?bit nuts aren't they?" Dec asked.

"They definitely are" Ant laughed "they're nice though,you look like your Grandad,I can see the resemblance"

"Really?"

"Yeah,you've got the same long nose"

"I have not got a long nose" Dec insisted "I have a perfectly in proportion nose to the rest of my face"

"Ha" Ant laughed "are you forgetting all the times you've told me how much you hate your nose?"

"Well maybe I was exaggerating" Dec replied as he tweaked the end of his nose,Ant was right,he had moaned to him about his nose several times "my nose is perfect"

"Yes it is Declan" Ant laughed "and if it isn't,once you're a rich and famous actor,you can get it fixed"

"Shut up" Dec ordered playfully while throwing his pillow in Ants direction,but missing totally,it landed untouched with a gentle thud onto the cold,wooden floor.

"But seriously Dec" Ant smiled while changing the subject "I'm looking forward to going up this mountain now,I've never been up a mountain before"

"Well,it's hardly Mount Everest" Dec laughed "you won't need any breathing equipment or anything like that like,but it is very special to our family"

"We're going tomorrow right?" Ant enquired.

"Yeah,once everyone is up,dressed and had breakfast"

"Can't wait" Ant announced.

"Er you do know once you're up there,there's nothing to do right, except look at the view?" Dec asked.

"Well yeah obviously" Ant replied "but I bet the views are amazing,bit different from looking over Newcastle city centre and I bet your Grandparents know alot about it,it's history and all that"

Dec sunk further into his pillow that he had now retrieved from the floor "history?look i know you fancy yourself as a bit of a history buff Ant,but how much history can a mountain have?it's just a big hill"

"I wouldn't expect you to appreciate it Dec" Ant laughed "but I will"

"Yeah I'm sure you will" Dec replied slightly sarcastically,he'd never understood Ants fascination with history,he thought it was boring and made Ant sound like an old man when he talked about anything historical.It was Decs least favourite subject at school but Ants top subject.

"Don't worry Dec" Ant laughed "I'm sure there were no kings and queens living up there"

Dec groaned loudly,that was the one thing he hated Ant talking about the most,it was just so tedious.

"Let's try and get some sleep" Dec suggested "busy day tomorrow and you'd better not snore"

"I do not snore" Ant snapped.

"How do you know?" Dec shot back "you're asleep"

"I just know" Ant insisted.

"We'll see" Dec mused.

"Yeah we will" Ant agreed "now go to sleep"

The room was quiet for a good fifteen minutes.

"Ant?" Came a small voice.

"What is it Dec?go to sleep" Ant ordered.

"I can't sleep,I tried" Dec sighed.

"It's only been a few minutes,try again" Ant suggested.

"Maybe I'm just too excited to be here,I don't usually have any trouble falling asleep" Dec thought out loud.

"Yeah,well I wouldn't be having any trouble either if you'd shut your gob" Ant snapped.

"Charming" Dec replied with a sigh.

"Go to sleep Declan"

Ten minutes later and Dec was still watching the shadows dancing on the ceiling from the passing traffics headlights,but there was now some rather loud snoring coming from the other bed.

"Great,just great" he moaned to himself while rolling over and pulling the pillow over his head,attempting to muffle the sound.

At least he had tomorrow to look forward to,should he ever manage to fall asleep.

He was actually quite excited about it now.He was taken up the mountain regularly as a kid,but hadn't been for a good few years now.He loved it up there.It was such a beautiful,peaceful place and Anne and Fonsey especially appreciated the calming effect it had on Dec.

The whole family,including some Aunties,uncles and cousins would have picnics up there when Fonseys clan were over from England.Eddie would help Dec fly a kite and many happy memories were made.

Dec knew they were going for Ants benefit rather than his this time,but he was more than happy with that,Ant deserved it.

It really was going to be great!