For Life

Part 48

"Pat" Dec cried out happily as he walked through the door of his Athens home "you're still here?"

"Well,of course I'm still here silly" she smiled as she hugged Dec warmly "you didn't think I'd come all this way then not even see you do you?"

"No,of course not" Dec beamed "and thank you for looking after Ant,he may not like to admit it,but even he needs to be taken care of sometimes"

Dec glanced at Ant with a cheeky grin on his face and Ant rolled his eyes playfully in response.

"It was absolutely my pleasure" Pat beamed "I've changed the sheets on your bed while Ant was picking you up and cleaned up a bit and there's loads of stuff in the freezer for dinner,so you can just relax and recuperate"

"You didn't have to change our sheets Pat" Ant said,feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Well,you didn't do it did you?" She winked at Ant playfully "and anyway,everyone loves getting into bed when clean sheets are on,don't they Dec?"

"Yeah" Dec laughed "how long are you staying?"

"You trying to get rid of me already little bro?" Pat teased.

"No,of course not" Dec replied seriously "you know I love having you around"

"Well,maybe I'll stay a couple more days" Pat nodded "then I'll give you kids some privacy"

"Kids?" Dec shook his head in mock despair "Pat,I'm gonna be forty in a couple of years"

"You'll always be my kid brother" Pat laughed "and I'll always love ya"

"Shut up" Dec laughed "where are the girls?I can't wait to see them"

"On the balcony" Pat informed him "it's not easy to mop a floor with them under my feet"

"Tell me about it" Dec frowned.

"Like you ever mop a floor" Pat laughed "you have a cleaner who does it"

"Yeah,we do" Dec agreed "but I've still done it when the girls gave traipsed mud everywhere after walks in the rain"

"You're not completely useless after all then?" Pat grinned.

"Not completely" Dec shrugged.

Ant was enjoying the lighthearted banter between the brother and sister,but Melachi and Amira had got a glimpse of Dec through the window and were desperate to get to him,barking and jumping up at the door.

"You'd better go and say hello to them" Ant smiled "they've missed you"

So Dec opened the door to the balcony and two excited golden retrievers with the energy of puppies bounded towards him,Jumping up and licking his face as he crouched down to give them the attention they were craving and it wasn't long before they had pushed Dec flat onto his back on the kitchen floor and were practically laying on top of him.

"Okay girls" he laughed "I missed you too,but calm down now"

He sat up and leant against the wall with Melachi and Amira still refusing to leave him alone.

"We can take them for a nice long walk later" Ant suggested "if you feel up to it?"

Dec looked at Ant seriously.

"Ant" he stated "of course I'll feel up to it,I'm totally recovered now,so please stop worrying about me okay?"

"Okay" Ant nodded sheepishly.

Dec immediately settled back into life back home after his health scare and Ant still made sure to keep a close eye on him after everything he'd seen and been through,but he did seem to be just fine and it wasn't long before Dec was inundated with work,which as usual,he was delighted about.