take me to church (emily prentiss)

3. twenty six

AN: hey guys! happy monday! :)

we have family fluff today and finally a liv and em moment, even if it's a phone call!

just a few TWS:

mentions of injuries
mentions of murder
mentions of abuse
mentions of drug addictions

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"someone who loves you wouldn't do this." - family line, conan gray

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Time moved slowly when trauma was taking over your life.

They were back in Virginia before midnight on the first of November, the same day they'd found Ziggy and Delilah. Liv barely managed to get Ziggy on the sofa and take his one shoe off before he was out cold, and Delilah was not far behind him. Ziggy's dog had plopped himself at the side of the sofa near Ziggy, and was snoring five minutes later.

Liv was alone, Dave having gone to check out some houses, and she started packing up the apartment in preparation for them moving. Liv knew they'd be out by next week. Liv knew they needed a fresh start.

She just hated the fact they were having to run away again, even if it was only to a different street in Virginia.

Delilah and Ziggy slept for a long time, almost three days. Liv moved them to her bed when Dave returned with equipment for the dog, waking them only for periodic medicine doses, wound cleanings, and bathroom breaks. She packed up the apartment, and Dave bought them a house bigger than they needed, with a big garden for the dog and Ziggy to run around in.

When Delilah and Ziggy did wake up, Liv was packing up the photographs in the living room, and Dave had made a spread of pasta and pizza for them to all pick at.

"You find somewhere, then?" Delilah asked, picking the pepperoni off her pizza slice.

Ziggy was already four slices in, pizza sauce and cheese smeared over his face. Dave was almost as messy. The dog, who Ziggy had yet to rename, sat at Ziggy's feet with his head tilted to the side. The three adults all pretended they couldn't see Ziggy feeding the dog meatballs under the table.

"I did," Dave said. "The papers will be in my name by Friday, and then we can officially move in by Monday. I'm having decorators come over during the weekend. I'm going to need you guys to pick colours for your rooms."

"I'm gonna paint Ziggy's room. Just do a white base coat," Liv said.

He wanted stars on his ceiling, which Emily had offered to come over and paint for Liv, and he was going to pick what he wanted for his bedroom walls and for decor. She would do the rest herself, try and get him involved where he could.

"You got it," Dave nodded. "Lilah?"

"Uh, anything," Delilah murmured. "I'm barely home, anyway."

"Oh, that reminds me," Liv said. "Jace said he'll meet with you in a week. He's waiting for me to confirm the infection is gone."

She'd sent him photos of the wound, and it wasn't looking hopeful. If he could do it, they'd have to take skin from elsewhere on Delilah's body, likely the inner thigh or buttocks. Liv wasn't sure if Delilah would go for that, but she also thought she may if it meant she could minimise the damage on her face.

Liv was desperate to know why Elliot gave Delilah that scar, but she wasn't going to ask any time soon.

"Is it gone?" Delilah asked.