"Really?" Dec asked tearfully "you're pregnant?"

"Uh huh" Ali smiled as she joyfully watched Decs reaction to her news "I knew you'd cry"

"Sorry" Dec mumbled.

"Hey" Ali laughed "don't be sorry,I was just teasing you and I cried too when I found òut"

"A baby?" Dec smiled as he wiped the tears of happiness from his cheeks "our baby?"

"Yes darling" Ali replied happily "our baby,we're going to be parents"

"I'm going to be a daddy" Dec grinned.

"Yes you are" Ali snuggled in close to her husband as they both stared at the plastic stick from the pregnancy test that Dec was still holding tightly in his hand.

"A baby" Dec stated "I can't believe it,when?"

"Don't know the exact dates yet" Ali informed him "it's pretty early days though,I'm only a few weeks gone,but I think it's due around the end of August or the beginning of September"

"That seems like such a long time off" Dec observed.

"Yeah" Ali laughed "it will seem like years for me once I'm the size of a house,with swollen ankles and my head down the toilet every morning"

"I'm sure it won't be that bad" Dec smiled.

"Of course a man would say that" Ali winked.

"They can tell this early?" Dec asked confused.

"With this particular pregnancy test they can" Ali nodded "but I'll make an appointment to see the doctor once Christmas and new year are out of the way"

"Thank you though" Dec smiled while finally placing the plastic stick down on the bed "this is the best Christmas present ever"

"Yeah,it is" Ali confirmed "for both of us"

A sudden knock on the door startled them both and Dec quickly hid the pregnancy test under the duvet.

"Ah,I thought I heard voices" Anne smiled as she entered the room "so I've brought you both a cup of tea"

"Thanks Mam" Dec smiled as he took both mugs from the tray that Anne was holding and passed one to Ali "happy Christmas"

"Happy Christmas to you too sweetheart" Anne returned the cheerful greeting.

"Yes,happy Christmas Anne" Ali chimed in "thanks for the tea"

"You're welcome" Anne replied "are you two going to come downstairs and join us soon?the kids are itching to open their presents"

"Yep,we'll be down very soon" Dec replied as he took a sip from his hot drink.

After Anne had left the room,Ali turned to Dec.

"You know we can't tell them about the baby yet don't you?" She stated.

"Yeah,I know" Dec sighed.

He wanted to tell the whole world about his and Ali's wonderful news,but he understood that,like any pregnancy,the first three months were the danger period and expectant parents often kept their news to themselves until they were in the safer second trimester.

"I know you're excited baby" Ali smiled "but it really is best that we make sure everything is going well before we announce it,especially as I'm a bit older than the average mum,I'm not in my twenties anymore"

"I understand" Dec smiled,as he placed his hand on Ali's still totally flat stomach "our baby is in there"

"Yeah it is" Ali grinned.

"Must still be pretty tiny" Dec observed "your belly is still as flat as a pancake"

"Not for much longer" Ali laughed "come on,we need to join the gang downstairs"

As was always was the way on Christmas day,Dec went downstairs still in his pyjamas,dressing gown and slippers.

As comfortable as Ali felt around Decs family,she just couldn't bring herself to do the same,so quickly got dressed.

"Here they are" Pat announced cheerfully as Dec and Ali walked into the crowded living room.

They observed that nearly all of Decs siblings and their families were already there,except for Cam and Dermott.

Cam was always one of the last to arrive on special occasions,so everyone expected that and Dermott obviously had commitments to the church on Christmas day.

He always told everyone to go ahead and eat their Christmas dinner and he would have his later when he was done with work,but Anne wouldn't hear of it,she refused to sit down to eat until her whole family were there,which they all totally agreed with,even if it did mean having a pretty late Christmas dinner every year.

It didn't matter though,as everyone was having such a great time opening their presents and watching the kids play with their new toys.

That was one thing that Dermott insisted everyone went ahead with,as it wouldn't be fair to the kids to make them wait all day for their gifts.

Eventually,after much joy and delight,especially from the kids,the large family were sitting down to dinner.

Martin cheerfully went around the table,pouring everyone a glass of wine.

"Not for me thanks" Ali smiled,as she tactfully covered her glass with her hand.

"What?" Martin asked surprised "it's not like you to turn down a drink Ali"

"I'm...um...I'm just not really in the mood for drinking" Ali replied nervously "I'm fine with orange juice"

"Not in the mood?" Martin persisted "but it's Christmas"

"Are you feeling ok?" Anne asked concerned,when she overheard Martin and Ali's conversation "you're not coming down with something are you?there's been an awful flu bug going around this year"

"No,I'm fine honestly" Ali smiled "I just fancied an orange juice"

"You sure?" Martin asked.

"For Gods sake Martin" Dec snapped "give her a break will you?she just doesn't want any wine,it's nothing to make a big fuss about"

"Ok" Martin relented,rather surprised at Decs reaction "it's just unusual for her that's all"

"Wait a minute" Anne suddenly stated "is there something you two aren't telling us?"

"Leave it Mam" Dec insisted.

"No Declan" Anne replied "I will not leave it,Ali,is there another reason why you're not drinking?"

Ali looked at her husband helplessly,not really sure how to react.

"You're pregnant?" Anne squealed in delight "that's why you're not drinking,oh Declan,Ali,congratulations,that's absolutely wonderful news"

"Might have known that we couldn't keep anything secret from you lot" Dec sighed.

"Why would you even want to?" Anne beamed "it's amazing,aren't you happy?"

"Of course we're happy Mam" Dec replied "we're absolutely over the moon,but we planned to keep it quiet until the first three months had passed,you know,just in case anything went wrong"

"Oh of course nothing is going to go wrong Decky" Anne beamed.

"You don't know that Mam" Dec sighed "miscarriages are very common"

"Yeah,they are" Ali nodded "look Anne,we just want to keep it to ourselves for now ok?it would be a nightmare if the press got hold of this news and then something bad happened"

"Well,none of us are going to go to the press are we?" Anne protested,feeling slightly offended.

"We know that Mam" Dec replied "that's not what we're saying.You know now anyway and once Ali is past the first trimester,we'll be telling the whole world"

"Well,I think it's wonderful news" Anne smiled.

"So do we" Ali replied.

"You know I literally only just found out about this myself today" Dec informed them.

"Well,what a lovely Christmas present that was" Anne smiled.

"Yeah,it really was" Dec nodded and looked towards his wife lovingly.

"Are we allowed to make a toast to the new baby?" Anne asked hopefully.

"Yes,of course you can" Dec laughed.

"Good" Anne smiled as she lifted her wine glass up "to my new grandchild,may he or she have a wonderful happy life having to deal with this crazy family,cheers"

"Cheers" everyone joined in.

Everyone had a truly great Christmas day and as Ali and Dec lay in bed that night,tired but happy,they soon got around to the subject of baby names.

"Declan for a boy obviously" Dec grinned.

"And Alison for a girl then" Ali laughed.

"It's a deal" Dec smiled.

"We're hardly being very original are we?" Ali pointed out.

"That doesn't matter" Dec smiled "as long as my son is called Declan,then all is good with the world"

"Let's hope it's a girl then" Ali teased.

"Then she can be called Declanie" Dec announced proudly.

"What?" Ali laughed "that's so ridiculous and anyway,we just agreed that a girl would be called Alison"

"Yeah" Dec smirked "maybe we should move away from our own names"

"So what names do you like?" Ali asked curiously.

"Ben" Dec stated.

"Ben?" Ali rolled her eyes sarcastically "because there aren't many boys in the world with that name are there?"

"I just like it" Dec shrugged.

"What about for a girl?" Ali enquired.

"Gillian" Dec stated seriously.

"Oh my God" Ali began to laugh hysterically "do you think I'm giving birth to a middle aged woman?"

"Hey,that's not fair" Dec moaned "I just like what I like,I can't help that"

"Maybe I'd better be in charge of naming this baby then" Ali joked.

"Nope" Dec replied "it's got to be something we both like,our child has to live with it for the rest of their lives after all"

"True" Ali nodded "so are there anymore names you like?or is it just Ben and Gillian?"

"There's a couple more" Dec grinned.

"Go on then" Ali laughed.

"Betty" Dec replied.

"Oh good God" Ali sighed.

"What's wrong with Betty?" Dec frowned "it's sweet"

"Is it?" Ali grinned "you've gone from a middle aged womans name to an old ladys name"

"Have not" Dec replied grumpily "I like it,it's short for Elizabeth"

"Well,Elizabeth isn't so bad" Ali smiled "what's the other one?"

"Well,for a boy" Dec beamed "I really like the name Julien,but spelt with an 'e' instead of an 'a' what do you think?"

"Ooh,Julien?" Ali nodded "it sounds very classy and..."

"French?" Dec offered helpfully.

"Yeah" Ali agreed "it sounds a bit french,especially with that spelling,but why do you want to spell it with an 'e' instead of with an 'a'?"

"Don't know" Dec shrugged "I just like how it looks when it's written down,kind of unusual,unique and maybe a bit exotic"

"I really like it" Ali beamed.

"We agree then?" Dec asked happily "Julien for a boy?"

"Yeah,we do" Ali confirmed "It's perfect for our son"

"Julien Donnelly" Dec stated with a grin.

"Or Julien Astall-Donnelly" Ali corrected him.

"Oh,that definitely sounds classy" Dec replied.

"That's settled then" Ali nodded "but no Betty or Gillian for a girl,although I could settle for Elizabeth as a middle name"

"It's a deal" Dec replied "so what girls names do you like?"

"Not really sure yet" Ali frowned "but there are a few I've been leaning towards"

"Which are?" Dec enquired.

"Daisy" Ali announced.

"Nah" Dec shook his head firmly "there's millions of Daisys out there"

"Louisa" Ali continued.

"Nope" Dec replied "don't like it"

"You're going to be hard to please aren't you?" Ali frowned.

"Apparently so" Dec laughed.

"The only other two that appeal to me are Carrie and..." Ali smiled.

"Carrie?" Dec interrupted horrified "like the horror film?"

"No,not like the horror film" Ali laughed "I just like the name"

"Everyone will still think of the film" Dec mused "what was the other one?"

"Isla" Ali smiled.

"Isla?" Dec was deep in thought for a moment "I like it"

"Really?" Ali asked,not quite believing that they actually agreed on some names already,she thought it would take months to get to that point.

"Yeah,I do" Dec nodded "it's pretty,yet strong,it's a lovely name for a girl"

"Looks like we've chosen our babys name then" Ali smiled contentedly.

"Yeah we have" Dec replied "Isla for a girl and Julien for a boy"

"Perfect" Ali muttered as she snuggled into her husbands arms,dreaming about welcoming their new arrival into their family later next year.

Dec was doing the same as a million thoughts filled his head about what it would be like to finally be a dad,he couldn't stop smiling as he started to drift off to sleep,but before that he couldn't resist echoing Ali's words to himself.

"It really will be perfect!"