"What's wrong?" Fonsey repeated.

"It's chuckles" Anne sighed.

"Chuckles?" Mary queried.

"Decs pet hamster" Anne replied "Cam found her dead in her cage this morning"

Fonsey didn't want to admit it,but he actually felt rather relieved,he was expecting something much more serious.

"A hamster?" Eddie asked.

"Yes a hamster" Anne replied sternly "and before you say anything Eddie,I know it's 'just' a hamster,but our Declan loved that little thing,even if he would never admit it"

"It is a shame" Fonsey said "but she was a good age,unfortunately they don't live for very long"

"So what do we do?" Anne asked.

"What do you mean 'what do we do?' Surely you're not expecting us to go home because of a hamster dying?"

Anne couldn't help but laugh at that idea "of course not you eejit,I meant should we tell Dec or not?I mean should wait and tell him when we get back?we don't want to ruin his holiday do we?"

"Yeah good point" Fonsey agreed thoughtfully "although i think he might notice himself if we don't tell him until we get back and she's not there.Maybe it's best we just tell him at the end of the trip then,before we leave,no need to upset the lad just yet"

They all agreed they would keep this information to themselves for now.

"That means you too Dad" Fonsey looked at his Father accusingly,knowing first hand of his Dads habit of putting his foot in it and blabbing about things he really shouldn't.

"Ok,ok,I won't say anything" Eddie moaned "I promise"

"You'd better not" Anne mumbled under her breath.

"What has Cam done with her?" Fonsey enquired.

"She's buried her in the garden" Anne replied sadly "next to Rufus"

"Ah yes,I'd forgotten about Rufus" Eddie smiled "Pat talked about him every time we spoke on the phone when she was a little lass"

"Yeah Pats first pet" Anne stated "such a sweet little Guinea pig,she was devastated when he died,cried for days she did"

"Well,she was only seven or eight at the time wasn't she?" Fonsey enquired "at least Declan is older,he'll be fine"

"I hope so" Anne replied "he is so sensitive about certain things though"

"Yeah" Fonsey nodded thoughtfully "unfortunately death is a part of life,we all have to learn that the hard way"

"Ok,that's enough of this morbid talk" Anne smiled "we'll deal with this at the end of the holiday"

The next day Ant and Dec were up bright and early.Dec had slept alot better as he was now getting used to Ants snoring and they were both excited at the day ahead.Some of Decs Aunts,uncles and cousins were coming over,including Liam and Kieran,who Dec had raved to Ant constantly about how brilliant they were.

Also visiting were Annes parents,who she couldn't wait to see and hoped this wouldn't be the only chance she got while they were in Ireland.

Soon enough the house was overflowing with family,chatting and hugging.Ant was introduced to everyone,but he knew it was very unlikely he'd remember all of their names.

"Come on,let's go outside" Liam insisted "I brought a frisbee"

"Great" Dec smiled as all the kids made their way out to his Grandparents spacious garden.

"Hey Ant" Kieran said "what do you call a blind dinosaur?-doyouthinkhesaurus"

Ant shook his head playfully at Kieran.

"The old ones are the best right?" He laughed.

"Come on guys" Dec called to Ant and Kieran who were dawdling behind everyone else "let's play frisbee"

Ant and Dec spent the whole day and well into the evening playing games with Decs cousins,only pausing for lunch and dinner.

"Fresh Irish air in their lungs will be doing them good" Fonsey stated.

The rest of the week in Londonderry was spent visiting family and friends,going for long walks or drives,a bit of sightseeing,mainly for Ants benefit and having meals out.Fonsey had saved hard for this trip,picking up extra shifts at work whenever he could.He wanted everyone to have a great time and not to be worrying about money.Luckily the love and affection coming from his family was free and that was what was really making this a special holiday.

Before long,Ant,Dec,Anne and Fonsey were in the departure lounge waiting for their flight to Dublin.

"How are you feeling Ant?" Dec asked sheepishly as Ant stared at the departure board.

"Not too bad at the moment actually Dec" Ant replied "as long as you don't decide to be a dick again"

"I won't,I promise" Dec smiled "at least it's only a short flight eh?"

"Yeah,can't complain about that" Ant smiled.

The flight went smoothly and Ant was alot more relaxed than he had been on the previous flight.Before they knew it,they were in a taxi for the twenty minute drive to stay with some of Anne's family.

They spent the next few days in Dublin as they had in Londonderry,mainly sightseeing and catching up with relatives.

Fonsey and Anne took Ant to the irish emigration museum,knowing how interested he would be in the history,Fonsey loved filling the youngsters mind with his knowledge.They also allowed Dec to stay home with his relatives,knowing he would be bored and probably make it miserable for everyone else with his constant whinging.Everyone was happy with the arrangement,especially Ant who had a day of having Anne and Fonsey to himself,it felt like it was his family and he was the only child of these amazing parents,he allowed himself to basically pretend for the whole day that they were his,of course he never told them what was going through his mind.Although he did have a slip of the tongue more than once when he accidentally called them mam and dad instead of Anne and Fonsey.

Their time in Dublin was now coming to an end and Fonsey had found a car hire firm where he could pick a car up in Dublin and drop it off in Cork.

"This is the best way to see Ireland Ant" Fonsey smiled as he glanced at Ant in his rear view mirror while driving.

"It really is such a beautiful country" Ant smiled as he watched the stunning countryside fly by the window "why did you decide to leave here?"

Fonsey sighed loudly "for work lad,unfortunately things weren't so great in Ireland back in the fifties,we didn't have any choice.I miss it here,but we've made Newcastle our home,we love it there too,it's home now"

"Yeah I love Newcastle too" Ant smiled "don't know any different"

"Proud Geordie lad you are Ant,just like our Declan here" Fonsey smiled.

They managed the journey in just two and a half hours and were soon arriving at a hotel in cork city.They had decided at the last minute not to stay with relatives for this leg of the trip,none of them were very central to where Anne and Fonsey wanted to be,but of course they wanted to meet up with them if at all possible,but they soon realised that wouldn't be practical as they were only there for a couple of days.Of course their relatives were disappointed,but Anne and Fonsey both swore that next time they were over,they would definitely stay with them.

After dropping their luggage off at the hotel,freshening up and having a much needed cup of tea,they were leaving to explore the city.

They only had two days in Cork and wanted to make the most of it.

"Tomorrow boys" Fonsey announced as they ate lunch in a local cafe "we're going to Blarney castle"

"Oh I've heard of that" Ant replied "that's where you kiss the Blarney stone isn't it?"

"Exactly" Anne smiled "you up for that Ant?gives you the gift of the gab apparently,we did it years ago"

"Declan won't need it then" Fonsey laughed "can't shut him up as it is"

"Hey,that's not true" Dec snapped,but he knew it was true really,he liked to talk and didn't need any help from a stone of all things.

"It's a bit of a strange experience Ant" Anne smiled "you go right to the top of the castle,then have to lay on your back and pull yourself over a sheer drop and kind of have your head upside down so you're in the right position to kiss it"

"Er,sounds interesting" Ant replied.

"Sounds disgusting" Dec snapped "how many people have kissed that dirty old stone?"

"Ignore him Ant" Anne insisted "they clean it in between each person and they also hold onto you while you're doing it,you can get a bit disorientated when you get up"

"Great" Ant replied "can't wait to go,I bet it's a really interesting castle?"

"I bet it's a really boring castle" Dec whispered to himself.

The next day,all for of them were patiently waiting for their turn on the stone steps leading up to the top of Blarney castle.

Before long,they were at the front of the queue.Anne and Fonsey went first even though they'd done it before,that was many years ago and wanted to give it another go.

After they were done,they watched as Dec stepped forward,looking rather nervous.

"What is it Declan?" Anne asked.

"It...it's just a long way down" Dec replied.

"Oh yeah,not keen on heights are you?" Anne reminded herself.

Ant frowned at Dec,to think he'd given him such a hard time because he was scared of flying,this could be the perfect chance to get his revenge,but he decided against it,he wasn't that mean,instead he decided to encourage him.

"Come on Dec,you've got this" Ant smiled "you'll regret it if you don't,you don't know when you'll have another chance to do this,if ever"

"Yeah I guess" Dec bit his lip nervously.

"Come on,close your eyes if that's easier" Ant encouraged.

Dec was soon laying flat on his back,pulling himself into position.

"Don't let go of me" Dec ordered the assistant who was on duty.

"I won't" he casually replied "you're fine"

Dec bent his head backwards as far as it would go,puckered his lips and quickly pecked the stone,before pulling himself up way too quickly.

"Woe,head rush" he whispered.

"Take it easy" the assistant insisted "no hurry"

"Hopeless you are Declan" Ant laughed as he took Decs place "make sure you wipe that really well" he instructed the assistant "don't know where he's been like"

"Shut up you" Dec replied playfully as he brushed the back of his jeans down with his hands.

Ant kissed the stone before standing up and turning to Anne,Fonsey and Dec "won't be able to shut me up either now" he winked.

"Oh sweet baby Jesus,Mary and Joseph" Anne laughed "we've got two of them now"

Later on they were having dinner in the hotel restaurant on what was now the last night of their holiday.

"How have you enjoyed your holiday Ant?" Fonsey asked.

"It's been absolutely brilliant thanks" Ant gushed "I loved every minute of it,thank you so much for inviting me"

"It was our pleasure Anthony" Anne smiled.

"I missed me Mam though" Ant replied "and even Sarha a bit,annoying as she is"

Ant had spoken to his Mam at least three times while he'd been away,but he couldn't help missing her.

"That's only natural love" Anne smiled "hopefully Decky will have distracted you a bit?"

"Yeah he certainly did that" Ant patted Dec affectionately on the back.

"How about you Dec?" Fonsey asked.

"Yeah it's been great Dad" Dec replied "seeing everyone and hanging out with you guys and Ant.Even the history lessons were just about bearable"

Fonsey shook his head at his son despairingly "it wouldn't hurt you to have an interest in something like that"

"I have plenty of interests Dad,that's just not one of them" Dec shrugged.

"Come on boys" Anne interrupted "let's not worry about that now,we need to get back upstairs soon and get organised,early flight tomorrow"

"Yeah we do,let's get going" Fonsey agreed as he finished his meal.

As the four of them walked along the corridor towards their neighbouring rooms,Fonsey grabbed hold of Decs elbow.

"Son there's something we need to tell you before you go to your room"

"What Dad?" Dec asked curiously.

"Come into our room for a minute" Fonsey ordered.

Dec shrugged his shoulders at Ant "I'll see you in a bit then"

Ant went back to the room that he and Dec shared and immediately started packing his clothes neatly into his suitcase.Not that there was much packing to do,they'd only been in Cork for a couple of days after all,but Ant was nothing if not organised and wanted his suitcase to be perfect.He took all of his belongings out,admiring the souvenirs he'd bought for himself,his Mam and sister,before replacing them all meticulously back inside.

Meanwhile in the hotel room next door,Anne and Fonsey were trying to break the bad news to Dec gently.

"Decky" Anne said gently as she perched next to him on the king size bed.

"It's about Chuckles!"