take me to church (emily prentiss)

4. three

AN: hi guys! happy monday! it's mostly family fluff today but a few trigger warnings before we get started!

TWs:
religious trauma
injured animals
discussions of death and ptsd

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"and if a double decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to do." - there is a light that never goes out, the smiths

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Nora and Colin came home a day early, interrupting their impromptu dance party in the kitchen.

Liv and Emily were dancing to Dave's loud Italian music on the radio, while Dave serenaded them into his makeshift spatula microphone. Ziggy was dying laughing at the three of them. It didn't take long for Colin to sweep Liv up into a dance, letting her stand on his feet like she used to when she was a little girl.

"Come on!" Emily said, tugging Ziggy to his feet off the chair.

Ziggy stepped onto her feet, letting her lead him in a dance like Liv and Colin's. Shadow's howls filled the air with Dave's singing, and then Emily joined in with a pronounced Italian accent that made Liv's chest ache with laughter.

She'd come home from work to a lovely scene of her dad, girlfriend and son getting dinner ready, and she'd come downstairs after a shower to their dance party. Nora and Colin made it better, but Delilah and JJ made it the best.

Liv grinned as she caught sight of the two of them watching in the doorway. JJ's head was resting against Delilah's shoulder, and then Delilah was tugging JJ over to dance with them, their hands tangled together.

"My girls!" Nora beamed, raising her wine glass. "We missed you, so we came home early!"

"Hi!" Delilah laughed, lifting her arm and spinning JJ around. "We missed you!"

JJ spun out of Delilah's hand to Nora, pulling the older woman into a hug. Nora laughed, cupping JJ's cheek as she pulled back. Liv grinned when she caught JJ's eye, the girl giving her a sheepish grin.

"Aunt Lilah!" Ziggy said, jumping off Emily's feet and running to Delilah. "Can I dance with you?"

"Of course!" Delilah said.

She held his hands as he stepped onto her feet, then waltzed the two of them around the kitchen. Dave clapped his hands merrily, standing near the island with the steaming pasta dish in front of him.

Liv laughed as she moved off Colin's feet to go and hug JJ herself. JJ hugged her back, holding on tight for a moment. Liv pulled back to study her, raising a curious eyebrow.

"You need some good food," Liv said. "It'll make you feel so much better."

"I do," JJ said. "Lilah's already made sure I showered and napped."

"Good," Liv said. "It's about time you two came home again."

JJ smiled at her, scrunching her nose. Liv squeezed her cheek gently, then kissed her forehead.

"Time for dinner!" Dave called, turning the radio down.

It was almost like clockwork how routine things were. Liv grabbed the plates to help Dave dish up. Ziggy and Emily grabbed the cutlery. Colin and Delilah took the drinks. Nora and JJ got the garlic bread and the extra cheese for the table.

"Wine?" Colin asked the room.

"Please," Liv said, Emily nodding her agreement.

"No, thanks," Delilah said. "Dad, where's that honey wine?"