Stay (MxM)

Tying Up the Loose Ends

It was a heavy thud on the bed that woke Dec up and he blinks and squints his eyes to see one of his nephews above him, greeting with a smile that stretched from ear to ear.

"Good morning uncle Deccey!!"

Dec: "Wh-at?"

The kid frowns "It's morning! Come on, uncle Deccey let's go"

Dec: "Where!"

The kid sighs at that "To the church, uncle Deccey! Come on!"

Dec's eyes snap open at that and he sits up frowning "Church?"

The kid nods "Granny told me to call you! They are all waiting for you! Come down!!"

Dec doesn't respond to that but climbs down from the bed, causing the kid to do the same and run out of the room shouting "He's here!!"

Dec huffs at that and walks out of the room not bothering to even neaten his bed hair. As he entered the living room, as expected disappointed eyes fall on him, Anne's being laced with disbelief.

Anne: "Declan! You haven't showered! At least change your clothes and tidy-"

Dec: "I am not coming"

Anne: "Why not? Even Ant is coming with us...", she gestures to the taller man standing by the window still, visibly out of place.

Dec: " He is because you asked him to. He has never been to a church since he was a child and he likes to keep it so" he snaps

Anne's face falls at that while Martin frowned at Dec.

Martin: "Deccey, we are going to offer prayer...for tomorrow...you don't have to do anything, you just have to pray-"

Dec: "Well unfortunately, Martin...God doesn't listen to my prayers"

Eomenn: "That's not true, titch"

Dec: "Oh really? Because a few years ago this wasn't your opinion. What changed?!"

Martin: "Declan, that's enough!"

Dec: "I am not bloody done!"

Ant: "Dec!' He chastises, gesturing to the little kids who were looking between their parents' and uncle, who were fighting.

Pat: " Go to your room, Declan. And think about-"

Dec: "There is nothing to think!"

He turns around and walks back to his room while Ant follows him with a defeated sigh "I'll talk to him"

Anne: "It's fine, if he doesn't want to..."

Ant: "No, he does. I know he does..."

He then follows Dec to the bedroom and enters seeing the smaller man pacing along the room, frustrated.

Ant: "You should go"

Dec: "No I don't"

Ant: "Dec, you know you want to...then why not-"

Dec: "Because I don't want to!" He snaps

Ant: "Dec...?"

Dec sighs heavily and yields "When I came out and they- said all those things to me....one of the things were that- that how they are afraid that they have committed a sin by allowing me to be a part of the choir! Part of the church! They asked me never to sing again in there...never to enter again...they were even ready to talk to the pastor so that I could be-" his voice breaks "and now they want me to-"

Ant: "Times change, Declan....and so do people. The church is not the same it was and your family...they are making efforts. I say you do it too. I won't ask you to forget what you went through but maybe it's time you start forgiving..."