AN: happy monday!

welcome to italy! this is p1 of either 2/3 chapters i haven't decided yet how much i'm gonna write, we'll see next week ig!

TWS:
mentions of foyet
mentions of child abuse
mentions of vomiting

•

"i've a lot of feelings for you. you're kind. we'll kiss, grow old, walk around. light months will fly over us like snowy stars." -  anna akhmatova

•

"We're going to Italy on Sunday."

Delilah choked on her coffee, JJ shooting her a worried look as she pat Delilah on the back.

They were all gathered for a family meeting. They being Delilah, JJ and their boys, Emily, Liv and Ziggy, Dave, and Nora and Colin. Will was also here, but Delilah classed him with Mason and Henry at this point because he was acting like a twelve year old with how much Minecraft he was playing lately.

"Dad, what?" Delilah asked.

"We're taking a family vacation to Italy," Dave said, looking around at them all with a smile. "We leave on Sunday, we'll be back in a week. We're going to start in Rome, spend a few days there, then head down to Pompeii for a day, and then we're gonna finish with a weekend in Positano at Nora's nonna's house."

"No, I got that, I just mean, like, what the fuck?" Delilah said, shooting him a look. "The boys have school-"

"It's a week," Dave said. "They'll lean languages, culture, history, culinary skills, all sorts! It's worth it. And it's free, so, act a bit more excited, please."

Delilah rubbed her face.

"What the fuck?" she whispered.

"We all have another two weeks off work," Dave said. "At least us FBI ones do. Liv has already spoken to Julien and she can take the time off, same with Will and his boss. I know Haley and Jack not being here has been really hard on all of us and a family holiday to Italy will cheer all of us up. I think we need the time to really regroup and get ourselves in a good mindset to come back and get to work again."

Delilah's eye was twitching.

The fucking ring was supposed to take six weeks. It had been three weeks since she went to the jeweller. It was halfway through being made and Dave wanted to fly them to Italy for her proposal to JJ with a ring that wasn't even made yet?

Liv was going to have to invest in another rage house at this rate.

"I've already written lists-" Dave started.

"I wrote the lists," Nora said.

"Yes, she wrote lists of everything we're gonna need to pack based on the planned activities," Dave said. "They've been sent over to your laptops for you to use spreadsheets to keep track of everything."

"Why are you taking this so seriously?" Emily snorted.

"Because this is our first family vacation all together and we have eleven of us going, including an actual baby-" Dave said.

"Are the dogs coming?" Ziggy asked.

"No," Dave said. "But Steve the doorman has volunteered to take Shadow and Stella and Penelope has offered to take Noodle, Sergio and Nemo for a week."

Ziggy grinned.

"Zara's idea?" he asked.

"Of course," Nora laughed.

"Anyway," Colin said. "Lists have been prepared. We've got an itinerary in the making to plan for everything and we'll be flying in first class so we're all comfortable and well rested. It's a long flight."

The kids grinned.

"Are we really going to Italy for a week?" Mason asked. "Now?"

"Yeah," Dave said. "We're on a time crunch. I suggest you all go and start packing so you have time to buy things you don't have."

"C'mon, Mase!" Ziggy said, grabbing his hand. "Let's go pick outfits!"

Mason grinned, the two of them sprinting upstairs with the dogs on their heels.

"Will, can you-" Liv started.

"Yeah, I'll supervise," Will laughed, scooping Henry up and bouncing him for a moment. "JJ, you should start on Henry's stuff. We don't have many baby clothes for Italian summer weather."

JJ's face paled.

"No, we don't," she murmured. "We need to go shopping."

"Let's make a list of what we need," Nora said, getting to her feet. "I'll help you out. It'll be a long list for all of us."

JJ nodded, kissing Delilah's temple before following Will, Henry and Nora upstairs. Delilah waited until they were gone, then glared at Dave.

"Dad-"

"It'll be ready in time," Dave chuckled. "You underestimate me, Lilah."

"It's going to be ready?" Delilah asked. "How? He has three weeks left of working on it."

"You'd be surprised how much of an incentive some money gives people," Dave said.

Delilah raised her eyebrows.

"Look, before all of this happened, Haley told me to make sure we still went on this holiday even if she and Jack weren't here," Dave said quietly. "And this is the perfect time to cheer everybody up and to reinforce the family bonds. You need a break and you need some time to get your head on straight before we start looking for Foyet. We're all off work, and I think this will be good for you. It's some security. It's some reassurance for both of you that peace with each other is still a thing."

His logic wasn't wrong. This would be a good time to do things because it worked, except part of Delilah felt weird doing this without Haley, even if Haley had told her to keep working on her relationship with JJ and give her baby Halley.

It was also smart from a security point of view. If Foyet was watching them, leaving the country would put distance between them. It also gave them a chance to see if he'd dare try and break in to gather intel. If he broke in, he was likely still in the state and it would help them narrow down the search.

Except, it was still crazy.

"I would've appreciated a heads up," Delilah said.

"I know," Dave said. "I'm sorry I didn't give you one. We can push it back-"

"No, it's okay," Delilah said. "It's... It is a good idea. I think the kids need it, and I think we need it, too. It'll help clear our minds and focus before we start searching for him. It'll be good for us as a family."

"It will be," Dave agreed softly. "And I think it's important for you girls to focus on your children for a moment. Those boys have lost Haley and Jack, too, and they don't understand it, but they miss them. We all do, but it's harder for children to adapt. I think this break is something we all need, something that's important for all of us to take a step away from everything that's heavy and just... Live."

Delilah smiled, looking at Liv and Emily.

"Here's to Italy, then," she said.

"Here's to Italy," Liv said.

"Delilah!" JJ yelled from upstairs. "Baby, did you buy Mason swimming trunks recently? We're not sure when he got these ones!"

"I've never taken him swimming," Delilah said. "Why would I know that?"

"I bought them a few weeks ago," Liv said. "Because Nora has had the bright idea of a slip and slide for them during the summer holidays while she's babysitting."

"Right," Delilah said. "I will go and calm her down, then."

They laughed as she headed upstairs to Mason's room, poking her head in the door and raising her eyebrows.

Mason was sat on the floor with Will and Henry, the baby lying on his stomach as the three of them watched JJ throw clothes out of Mason's drawers and wardrobe at an alarming rate.

"Oh, thank god," Mason said when he saw her. "Mamma, fix her. She's going nuts."

"She is," Will said. "The excitement has turned into panic at takin' a holiday with kids. I think she forgets we outnumber the kids by one whole adult."

"It's still four days away," Mason said. "And we all have passports. We have time. She's freaking out."

"Really freakin' out," Will said.

"Why are you just as much a child as the twelve year old?" Delilah asked Will.

He grinned.

"I spend all my time with him. He's my pal."

Mason grimaced, but his cheeks were bright red.

"Pal is a really weird way to explain our relationship," Mason said.

"Fair," Will said. "How'd you describe it?"

Mason shrugged, tickling Henry's leg until the baby giggled. JJ turned away from the clothes, blinking at Delilah with wide eyes. Delilah shook her head, holding up her hand.

"I don't know," Mason said. "You're Henry's dad, and you're a better dad to me than my dad was. You don't rent me out to be fucking raped, for one."

Will's hand twitched at his side as Delilah's did. The two of them shared a look. Delilah knew Will hated Mason's dad. She knew he'd not asked for any details, but JJ had explained enough because a man being around Mason was such a sketchy subject at first.

They'd grown used to each other and now they had an actual relationship. Will had let Mason take it at his pace the entire time, never pushing him, only supporting him and loving him when he really did not have to.

He had no reason to take care of Mason. Nobody asked him to. He did it because he wanted to and Mason knew that. Mason got to define their bond, the same way he got to define the bond he had with his moms.

"Everyone at school knows I have two moms," Mason said. "And some kid in my class asked me last week if I had a dad, too, 'cause you have to have a mom and a dad to be born. I said yes. I meant you."

He refused to look up from Henry. His cheeks were bright red, eyes on his little brother. Will just smiled softly at him, eyes so wide and warm.

"I'm not gonna start calling you dad," Mason said quickly.

"You call me whatever you want," Will said. "Except redneck cowboy. I ain't a redneck cowboy. I won't stand for the slander. It's lies. False information is bein' fed to this generation and nobody even asks questions!"

Mason laughed, Delilah and JJ rolling their eyes. Will ruffled Mason's curls, getting to his feet and scooping Henry up.

"How about we leave moms to deal with the floordrobe situation and we get some ice cream?" Will said.

"I say absolutely," Mason laughed, jumping to his feet.

The boys left the room. Delilah raised her eyebrows at JJ.

"You think I should be worried Will's gonna replace me as Mason's favourite?" she asked.

"No," JJ laughed. "You'll always be Mason's favourite. I should be worried he's gonna replace me as second favourite."

Delilah snorted.

"At least you're Henry's first favourite," she said.

"Because he depends on me for his food," JJ said. "It's purely about survival for that kid. I won't get a look in as soon as he's introduced to pasta."

Delilah grinned.

"Yeah, I can't wait," she admitted. "I have so many recipes I need him to try. Wait until I introduce him to pastina. It's gonna blow his tiny mind."

JJ rolled her eyes.

"So, Italy," she said.

"Yeah," Delilah said. "I know he was thinking of a family trip in the summer. I think Haley... Well, he said he thinks it'll be good for all of us to just have a break before we come back and have to find Foyet. It's to strengthen the family. A whole week in Italy together? It'll definitely bring us closer."

"You're okay with it, right?" JJ asked. "I mean, a heads up might've been nice, but I've gotten quite used to Dave making spontaneous decisions about rich people things. You're okay that we're going and taking the boys?"

"Of course I am," Delilah said honestly, walking over to wrap JJ into a hug. "I'm excited. It's going to be great to introduce them to Italy. We're starting in Rome for a few days, then driving down to Pompeii for a day, then going to Positano to Nora's place for the weekend. We'll fly home from Salerno."

JJ nodded, a smile on her lips.

"Are we staying at your place?" JJ asked.

"We are, apparently," Delilah chuckled. "Dave's sorted it all out. I've learned not to ask questions when Dave and his money are involved because, chances are, the answer is yes."

JJ laughed, nodding her head. She tangled her fingers in the curls at the back of Delilah's neck, pressing three quick kisses to her lips.

"What's the soundproofing like?" JJ whispered.

"Excellent," Delilah whispered back. "What do you take me for?"

JJ grinned, pressing another kiss on the corner of Delilah's lips.

"I'm not pregnant, this time," JJ whispered. "We can actually have fun."

"We do also have two children in the apartment with us," Delilah laughed, dropping her head against JJ's shoulder. "Hold your horses, horn dog."

JJ pinched Delilah in the side. Delilah squeaked, laughing as she jumped away from JJ.

"No," Delilah told her, JJ's grin almost devilish. "No."

JJ stepped forward. Delilah shook her head, but JJ kept walking forward. Delilah squeaked and ran from the room, JJ laughing as she chased after her.

"Why are you chasing me?" Delilah asked through her laughter, running into their room.

"Why are you running from me?" JJ laughed, following her in the room.

She grabbed Delilah around the waist, shoving her back onto the bed and straddling her easily. Her fingers moved to Delilah's ribs, tickling her as Delilah wriggled beneath her.

"No!" Delilah laughed, tears burning in her eyes as she tried to move free. "Oh my god, I hate being tickled! I can't!"

JJ laughed, hands slowing as the laughter clearly took over for a second. Delilah took her chance, tucking her leg around JJ's knee and flipping them so JJ hit the mattress with a small grunt. Delilah giggled as she straddled JJ's hips, chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

"Laughter is a form of torture, you know?" Delilah said, voice high and giddy in her excitement at running around like a lunatic. "It's actually recognised as a form of torture."

"You've had worse," JJ giggled, then blinked. "Oh my god, what are you doing to me?"

Delilah laughed, ribs burning from how much she was trying to breathe through things. She shook her head, running her hands through her hair and moving it out of her face.

"I can't breathe, fuck," Delilah giggled, flopping down on the bed beside JJ.

JJ laughed, tangling their fingers together as they looked up at the blue stained glass window above them. Their giggles slowly faded out as they caught their breath. JJ brought their hands to her mouth, kissing the back of Delilah's hand.

"I can't wait for us to go away," JJ murmured, turning her head to look at Delilah.

Her pupils were dilated, cheeks pink, chest still heaving, and hair a fluffy mess around her head, but she had never looked more beautiful in her life. She looked almost young, in this moment, and Delilah could see every version of JJ she'd ever been shining through the smile she'd never outgrown.

Henry had that smile. She got to watch it grow on their son, got to watch it age on her future wife, got to fall in love with it every single day for what it meant when aimed in her direction.

"Me, neither," Delilah whispered.

•

•

Italy.

Rome.

The home of so much beautiful history, of wonderful people and culture and music and food, and tourists.

So many fucking tourists.

Though, it was less than there would be in July. It was also Rome. What did she expect?

Their flight had been an afternoon into evening flight so they could just get to the apartments, go out for dinner, then go to bed before they started exploring tomorrow.

Henry had been better on the flight than any of them had expected. He'd slept for a lot of it in Delilah's arms, sat on Nora's lap for the remainder of the flight as she whispered Italian folk stories to him and moved his little toys around to keep his attention focused.

Mason, Ziggy and Will were engaged in a game of Uno that simultaneously dragged Colin and Dave into the picture and ran for a concurrent four hours without a single win because Ziggy had bought ten packs of cards in the airport and they were playing with all of them.

It was a disaster.

It did make her laugh when one of the flight attendants joined in for a round because they were the only people in first class and nobody was asking for anything except another player to make the game go faster.

Have you ever seen someone get hit with nineteen plus fours in a row?

Disastrous.

Delilah swore Colin cried in the bathroom before he came back out and ordered a whisky.

About halfway through, Liv got up to head to the bathroom. Delilah took her chance to go, too, handing Henry over to JJ for his feed because it was about time, now.

She waited outside the door for a moment, frowning when she heard retching behind the door. She grimaced.

Liv didn't fly often, and she never did long-haul flights. She had gotten travel sick every time they'd flown to Italy, had thrown up on the plane on the way to Spain back years ago. She was just one of those people.

Liv left the bathroom, pale and shaky. Delilah raised her eyebrows.

"You okay?" she asked.

"I fucking hate flying long-haul," Liv muttered, rubbing her face. "I stop feeling like a human about halfway through because I'm just breathing in other people's breath. It's... Ew. I need to sit down."

"Wait for me," Delilah said.

Liv nodded, leaning against the wall to wait.

Delilah helped her back to her seat, handing her over to Emily. Emily pressed a hand to Liv's forehead, frowning as Delilah headed back to her seat.

"Why don't you try and sleep?" Emily asked.

Liv nodded, rubbing her eyes as she shifted in her seat.

"She okay?" JJ asked.

"She gets travel sick," Delilah explained. "Long-haul flights. Anything longer than four hours is Liv's definition for long-haul, at least. She just can't help it. It'll stop as soon as we're back on solid ground and she can breathe fresh air. I think she's a bit claustrophobic, too."

JJ frowned, looking at Liv for a moment.

"I don't know," she said quietly. "She doesn't look travel sick."

"She looks pale, exhausted, she's sweating yet cold, her breathing is accelerated by-"

"Okay, Dr. girlgenius, calm down," JJ whispered. "No, I mean, there's a certain look when you're a certain kind of sick. It's kind of like knowing who has the flu in a room of kids."

"I do not want the flu," Delilah muttered, shaking her head.

"Nobody is giving you the flu," JJ sighed softly. "What if it's morning sickness?"

Delilah leaned over and grabbed Will's wrist, peering at his watch.

"It's actually about... Fuck, timezones. It's evening," Delilah whispered.

JJ just stared at her.

"You have autism. Did you know that? I knew that."

"We all knew that," Nora whispered from behind them. "Look at her."

Delilah stared at her, then looked at JJ.

"What the fuck?"

"Okay, let's use some logic here," JJ whispered. "Who gets morning sickness?"

"Oh," Delilah said. "Oh, no, I get it. Yeah, I see where I missed that. That's... Yeah. But no."

"Yeah, but no?"

"Yes autism, no baby," Delilah whispered. "They got a negative test. They haven't talked about it since Haley. And they did the insemination in March. It's May. I think she would've noticed morning sickness before now."

JJ nodded slowly.

"I don't know," she murmured quietly. "I have a feeling. Haley did say she'd find out when she needed it most. I think right now would be a good time. She's been losing it since Haley left. I know we all have, but... You know."

"I know," Delilah murmured.

Liv and Haley had a different bond to the rest of them. They were the same age, had grown up together in a way.

Delilah looked over at Liv and Emily. They were curled into each other, now, and Liv looked more at ease as she started to slip off into sleep.

"They need to get married," JJ said quietly.

"Because they're trying for a baby?" Delilah asked. "Baby, your priorities are so hypocritical if this is about the order or doing things-"

JJ slapped her arm lightly, rolling her eyes.

"Yes, I'm aware," JJ said. "No, because I want Liv to be happy. She deserves it. All she does is take care of everyone else, and Emily... She takes care of Liv so Liv can take care of everyone else. It just works. They work."

"Tell Emily to propose then," Delilah said. "Or Liv."

"No, I think it's Em," JJ said, studying the two of them. "She seems like the type to propose."

"Then tell her," Delilah said.

"You should say something," JJ decided.

"Me? Why me?"

"Liv is your sister."

"Fair enough," Delilah said. "Emily Elizabeth Prentiss."

Emily's eyes shot open before her brain seemed to wake up, eyes blinking at Delilah.

"What did I do?" she rasped. "I'm not in trouble."

"Propose to Liv," Delilah said.

Emily stared blankly at her for a moment.

"Wha- What?"

"JJ told me to tell you to propose to Liv. You seem like the one to propose and we want Liv taken care of, which you do. Woman up and marry her," Delilah said.

"You woman up and marry JJ, then," Emily said.

"Lilah doesn't seem like the type to propose," JJ said. "Took her three years to say I love you."

"Okay, I'll make minimal fuss over the height jokes and the autism, and the gay thing, but that's too far," Delilah said.

It was also exactly why JJ was not expecting Delilah to propose. Delilah was still so reserved with her emotions, even with JJ, and, out of the two of them, nobody would pick Delilah to be the one to propose to JJ.

That being said, there was also the fact that, if JJ was planning a proposal, she would want to be sure Delilah was okay with it before she did it. She would drop a hint to one of the others who would indirectly probe Delilah with questions until they could profile her emotions and tell JJ whether to go ahead or not.

She would say yes without question because she'd do anything JJ asked of her without question. She loved JJ.

Marriage was nothing to Delilah. It meant nothing to Delilah. It was a piece of paper that, truthfully, they wouldn't have anyway because it wasn't legal for same sex marriages to happen, yet.

It didn't stop Colin from marrying the gays and the theys, but legally, it was nothing.

It was nothing to Delilah, too. It was a contract declaring love. She knew JJ loved her even without it, but she knew it meant something else to JJ.

JJ's parents had divorced after Ros passed. JJ's father had ran off to make a replacement family and JJ had younger siblings out there, and nieces and nephews she'd never been allowed to meet because her father had left her behind, too.

JJ should hate marriage, but she idolised it in a way because of the prospect of breaking the cycle. If JJ and Delilah's marriage was stable, JJ broke the cycle of raising children in a broken family.

And it wasn't like Delilah would ever cheat on JJ or run off to make a replacement family. She hadn't even wanted JJ when she started falling in love with her, not until she got over herself and accepted that love was actually good sometimes, but, even then, it was JJ or nobody.

There was no point in love without JJ. It simply didn't make sense in Delilah's head when she thought of romantic love.

"You want me to propose to Liv?" Emily asked.

"Well, JJ does," Delilah said. "I do, obviously, but I'm specifically bringing it up because of JJ."

Emily squinted at JJ.

"Is this a projection thing or are you genuinely looking out for Liv?" Emily asked. "Like... Do you want to get married and plan a wedding and stuff?"

"This is me looking out for Liv," JJ laughed. "I know Lilah isn't bothered about this stuff and, honestly, planning a wedding seems like so much work."

"That's what I'm here for," Nora spoke up. "Dave pays, I plan, Colin decorates."

Delilah nodded her head with a grin.

"See?" she said. "Stress gone. Marry my sister."

"That sounds like a threat, baby," JJ said.

"Maybe it is," Delilah teased, smirking at Emily.

"Fuck off and let me sleep," Emily laughed, wrapping her arms tighter around Liv.

"Yeah, fuck off and let us sleep," Liv mumbled. "Thanks for the concern, Jayje. I'm not bothered about marriage."

"Really?" JJ asked.

Liv yawned, rubbing her eyes as she sat up more in her seat.

"No, sleep," Emily whined.

"I need to throw up again," Liv told her.

Emily dropped her arms from Liv like Liv was on fire. Delilah rolled her eyes, getting to her feet.

"C'mon, sick note," Delilah teased. "Let's go throw up."

Liv flipped her off, but let Delilah guide her down to the bathroom so she could throw up.

Again.

Maybe she was pregnant.

Nah.

•

•

The flight went faster than expected after that conversation. For one, Liv fell right back to sleep after vomiting what was left of her breakfast, and JJ was asleep on Delilah's shoulder with Henry asleep in her arms, and Mason was being entertained by Will, Ziggy, Dave and Colin, so, Delilah was off the hook to just read the book she'd picked up in the airport.

Dave had arranged transport for them to get into Rome from the airport.

They did have to walk to the apartment, unfortunately, but it was a two minute walk from the nearest road. Henry was secured on JJ's hip and Mason was secured at Delilah's side.

Everybody except Delilah, Dave, Liv, Nora, and Emily looked around in wonder as Delilah guided them towards the apartment building where her apartment was. Her apartment was between the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, so, the view was incredible, yet they were right out of the main tourist routes to still have some semblance of normal living.

Dave had managed to find another two apartments in the building on short notice to book for him and the others. They'd split into families, essentially. Delilah, JJ, Will and the boys, then Liv, Emily and Ziggy, and then Nora, Colin, and Dave.

Still, the sense of wonder on most of their faces was something to see. Delilah watched Mason gawk at Trevi fountain in the early evening sun as she guided him through the busy square.

"Is there history behind the fountain?" Mason asked.

"There's history behind everything," Delilah said. "I'll tell you all about it while we go around."

"If anyone knows the history of anything, it's Lilah," Liv said. "Ziggy, do not drink that water."

"I haven't gone near it!"

"But you were thinking about it," Emily said.

Ziggy pouted.

"You spend too much time with Shadow," Liv said. "We do not drink from random bodies of water."

"What if I'm going to die of thirst?" Ziggy asked.

"Well, in that case, you filter it if possible," Delilah said. "But, right now, you're not gonna die of thirst. Listen to your moms."

Ziggy stared at her for a moment.

"Our moms," he corrected, giving her a smirk. "You're Liv's first baby."

"She's my first baby, too!" Emily teased, wrapping Delilah into a hug from behind and pressing kisses all over her face.

Delilah laughed, wriggling out of Emily's grasp and elbowing her in the side gently.

"I'm never going to call you mom," Delilah said.

"You don't even call me mom," Liv said.

"She calls me mom," Nora laughed. "Now, hurry up. Mama needs a bottle of wine and some real food!"

"So do us dads," Dave grinned, patting Colin's shoulder.

They headed into the apartment building when Delilah pointed it out, Dave telling Delilah to head on upstairs with her lot while he checked the others in.

"We'll meet down in the lobby in an hour to go out for food, then have a little walk around before we go to bed. We've got a long few days ahead if we want to tour everything here," Nora said, looking between Liv, Emily, Delilah, JJ, and Will.

"You got it," Liv and JJ chorused, the other three nodding their agreement.

Delilah ushered Will, JJ, Henry and his pram, and Mason, towards the elevator.

"What floor?" Will asked. "Wait, no, lemme guess. Uh... Uh... Thirteen?"

"No," Delilah snorted.

"Damn," Will said. "I'm outta guesses."

"It's the top floor," JJ said, pressing the button. "Closest to the stars."

Delilah grinned as the doors closed. She'd never even told JJ that.

They got to the top floor in about three minutes. Delilah led them down the hall to the last of the three apartments up here, unlocking the door and disabling the alarm as she glanced around.

Nothing had changed since the first day she'd viewed it. She'd added some more touches after buying it, but the apartment stayed quite basic because she rented it out all year long for passive income.

She wasn't using it, and she had kids to pay for. It was a smart investment.

The living room was massive, sofas set around in a square in the middle of the room with a large grand piano in front of the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city down below them. There was also a fancy dining room, useless in Italy unless you lived here really, and a massive kitchen.

Delilah was lucky she'd only paid one and a half million for this. She'd paid the same for her villa in Florence. Rome was fucking expensive, but Delilah was rich.

Four years spent undercover earning your base wage on top of the extra pay incentive for risking your life by having sex with pedophiles had really boosted her bank account. She'd come home without her children, but to eighteen million dollars in her bank account because Dave had managed to almost quadruple her money through investments and stocks.

"Four bedrooms," Delilah said, pointing down the two hallways. "And then we all get a bathroom for each bedroom, and that's another bathroom, there." She pointed out another door closer to the front door in the left hallway.

"Holy shit," Mason said, doing a small spin in the living room. "Dude, you're so fucking loaded. I'm so lucky. My dad tried to sell me to a pedophile literally a year ago and now my mom is, like, ultra rich. Is this my inheritance? Can this be my inheritance? I don't want you to die, obviously. Do not die. Mom will be mad if you die. But, like, it's gonna happen eventually."

Delilah laughed as JJ shook her head fondly, lifting Henry out of his pram and sitting him on her hip.

"I think you'd prefer my place in Florence if you're trying to inherit anything out of my death," Delilah laughed. "You really levelled up."

"The character development and XP gain is off the charts," Will said.

Mason laughed as JJ rolled her eyes.

"Henry needs a change," JJ said.

"I got a cot put in our room," Delilah said. "And one in Will's. I don't know what Henry's routine is gonna be like around this."

Delilah nodded down the hallway to the room she'd picked for herself when she bought this place. JJ kissed her cheek, grabbing Henry's suitcase and heading down the hall.

"Which one is my room?" Mason asked.

"You can be opposite me and mom or opposite Will. Your choice," Delilah said, nodding down the other hallway.

"Will," Mason said instantly. "No offence, mama, but it's easier for us to play our games if we're closer."

Will nodded in agreement.

"We're in Italy and you're worried about your Minecraft game?" Delilah asked them.

"No, that's at home. You said I couldn't bring my Xbox or my PlayStation. I brought my game boy and my DS," Mason said. "So did Will."

Will nodded in agreement again. Delilah raised her eyebrows at the two of them.

"We're in Italy and you're worried about your games?" she asked.

"Well, what are we gonna do at night?" Mason asked.

"We're gonna be out exploring or sleeping," Delilah laughed. "You'll need your games for the drive to Pompeii and then Positano, and to the airport, and the flight. That's about it."

"That's good enough!" Mason said.

They split up to dump their stuff. Henry was napping in the crib beside the bed now he'd been changed and Delilah could hear the shower running in the en-suite. She made sure the baby monitor was turned on, grabbing the other half and carrying it into the bathroom with her.

"Baby?"

"Just me," Delilah said, closing the bathroom door behind her and setting the monitor on the side of the sink.

"I need to wash all this plane off me," JJ said. "Also, this is insane. You own this. This is... Wow."

Delilah laughed, stripping off her own clothes and slipping into the shower with JJ.

"You could fit sixteen people in this shower alone," JJ said, eyes closed as she stood under the hot water. "You have sprays in every direction!"

"It's a rainfall shower," Delilah laughed, wrapping her arms around JJ's waist from behind. "Never seen one?"

"No!" JJ said, turning in her arms to look at Delilah. "Just how rich are you? Like... As of right now, if we needed money, how much could you get?"

"If we're not counting the money I have tied up in investments and real estate..." Delilah hummed as she tried to think. "No idea. I haven't checked my bank account in... Ever, actually. I have no idea how much money I have."

"The fact you're rich enough to not know how rich you are..." JJ murmured, shaking her head.

"I've never had to pay for anything in my life," Delilah laughed. "Other than the things I wanted, Dave paid for everything growing up."

"If you had to estimate," JJ said. "How much money could you get in, like, twenty four hours if we needed it?"

"I think it's somewhere in the fifty-"

"Fifty?!"

"Million-"

"Million?!"

Delilah laughed. JJ just stared at her, the shock clearly breaking her mind.

"But... How?"

"Being undercover for four years pays extremely well," Delilah said. "Having a millionaire as an adoptive father pays better. I lucked out and have financial advisers making money off my money. I also have never paid rent or a bill in my entire life."

"Well, yeah, 'cause you can just buy the whole thing upfront," JJ murmured. "So, how much did this cost?"

"The shower?"

"Apartment."

"One and a half million, same as Florence."

"But that's a villa and this is an apartment."

"That's in the secluded mountains surrounded by locals and this is in the heart of Rome overlooking two popular tourist destinations."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

JJ groaned, resting her head against Delilah's shoulder.

"Please never tell Emily just how rich you are," JJ said. "The mommy jokes are bad enough without adding you being my sugar mommy into things."

Delilah laughed, kissing JJ's temple.

"You can be my sugar baby any day," Delilah said.

"Please stop."

Delilah just laughed.

•

•

"We're in Rome!"

Delilah looked over at Ziggy as he burst into the apartment the next morning, a massive grin on his face.

She took a moment to really notice how much he'd grown since they'd met. He was getting tall, now, would be taller than her, soon, and he looked so much healthier and happier. He was beaming today, and was wearing a t-shirt with Pavarotti's face on it.

"You know who Pavarotti is?" Delilah asked.

"I'm not that uncultured, aunt Lilah," Ziggy said. "Oh, a piano! Can I play?!"

"Where are your mothers?" Delilah said.

"We're here, sorry!" Liv said, pulling Emily into the room with her. "Dads and mom are getting ready. He wanted to come and get Mason and ran off before we could catch up."

"I'm not gonna do it outside," Ziggy promised. "Besides, our apartments are next to each other. It's not dangerous. Lilah can protect me."

"Mason is finishing getting ready, so is Will, and JJ's feeding Henry," Delilah chuckled. "Can you play piano?"

"No," Ziggy said. "I'm gonna go get Mase."

"Okay," Delilah said, watching him head down the hallway where she pointed him. "How are you today, sick note?" she asked Liv.

Liv flipped her off as she sat at the island in the kitchen.

"She threw up again this morning," Emily said, rubbing Liv's back. "I think she's sick."

"I'm not sick," Liv said. "I just have a horrible time flying and it's only now wearing off. I don't even feel sick right now. I just want breakfast and some good coffee."

"We're gonna head for breakfast, right?" Emily asked.

"Yeah," Delilah said. "Breakfast, then we're heading to the Colosseum to just get that right out of the way before the tourism really sets in at the end of the week. It should be quiet, considering it's a Monday. We'll finish in there by lunch, then eat again, then we can either go to the ruins, or we can just walk around and start ticking off the sights. I know we're not doing the Vatican."

"We aren't?" Will asked, walking down the hallway. "Mornin'," he added, dropping a kiss on Liv's forehead.

"Morning," Liv said, giving him a smile.

"No," Delilah said. "I mean, unless you're religious, looking at it is good enough. We'll walk by it, but we're not going in."

"I don't know," Liv said. "I think knocking the pope out would really help my religious trauma."

"That's a one way ticket to hell if it does exist," Will said.

"I'm going there anyway," Liv said.

"Might as well make it worth it," Emily laughed.

Will side eyed them as he sat at the island.

"Well, then," he said. "So, Colosseum, the ruins, what else?"

"Spanish Steps," Liv said.

"Trevi fountain and Pantheon," Emily said.

"There's a cool castle not far from the Vatican, too," Delilah said. "It's quite fascinating. We'll hit all the main attractions between today and Thursday, then we're heading to Pompeii on Friday for the day, then carrying on down to Positano."

"My home!" Nora sang, walking into the apartment with Dave and Colin. "You all get to see where my father was raised, and where I spent all of my summers as a girl. Oh, me and my cousins would run through the vineyards all day long in our beautiful dresses, or go swimming in the sea with the locals, or run around the streets for gelato like maniacs. It was true childhood."

"Idyllic," Delilah said.

"Peaceful," Liv added.

"Can't relate," they chorused, giving each other a grin.

"Are we ready?" JJ asked, carrying Henry down the hallway with a smile. "Mase and Ziggy are up, right?"

"All dressed," Mason said, dragging Ziggy into the kitchen with a grin. "Where are we going first?"

"Breakfast and coffee," Delilah said.

"Can I have coffee?" Mason asked.

Delilah blinked.

"Let me speak to the board of directors and we'll let you know," she said.

Mason rolled his eyes as the others laughed.

"You know, it's great having three parents, but the board of directors thing? Gets real old real fast."

Delilah snorted, ruffling his hair.

"Grab your jackets. And, remember, your phones stay with us or in your clothes' pockets zipped up. Pick pockets are everywhere and you cannot knock these people out because your moms will get mad," Delilah said. "I won't, but, you know, let's keep the peace."

"You can knock them out for us!" Ziggy said.

"Fair compromise in my book," Emily said.

"Nobody is knocking anybody out," JJ said firmly. "Come on. Breakfast!"

They got Henry in his pram and locked the apartment, heading downstairs.

They got breakfast in a little cafe in the square of the Trevi Fountain, sitting outside because it was a beautiful day. They drank real coffee, thank the Gods for Italian coffee, and ate their fill before starting their walk towards the Colosseum.

It wasn't that long of a walk, except they had a lot of people who'd never been to Rome with them, so, the walk took two hours. Mostly because the boys found a shop selling rubber ducks and spent an hour and a half deciding which duck to buy.

Delilah bought Henry a duck wearing yellow sunglasses to match his duck teddy which was back in Virginia because they were not risking losing any of his comfort items in a foreign country. They'd brought the spare baby blanket and left his usual one at home so Delilah could make another if he lost this one, but it was pretty tight in his chubby hands so she had no worries.

Finally, they got to the Colosseum. Dave headed to get tickets for them while Nora grabbed the boys, rummaging in her handbag for a moment.

"Aha!" she said. "Here we go."

She pulled out two disposable cameras, handing one to Mason and one to Ziggy.

"What's this?" Ziggy asked. "A plastic camera?"

"It's a disposable camera," Mason said, winding his up. "You take photos and get them developed. You can't see them until they're done. It's like a surprise."

He held his to his face, laughing as he snapped a photo of Ziggy squinting at him with his head tilted to the side.

"I can't see it?" Ziggy asked.

"What are they for?" Mason asked.

"We're making a scrapbook for the holiday," Colin said. "When we get back, I mean. It's Nora's newest project. I'll be painting the covers. We want photos of everything through your eyes."

The boys grinned.

"How many photos do we get?" Ziggy asked.

"I have enough cameras for an entire holiday," Nora laughed. "Go nuts."

"This is so cool!" Ziggy laughed. "Did gladiators really fight here? Can I fight here? I could be a gladiator. So could you, Lilah! Nobody else, though. I don't think they'd hold up well in hand to hand combat."

"Yeah, we're the toughest soldiers," Delilah laughed, ruffling his hair.

"I got the tickets!" Dave said.

"Nonno, smile!" Ziggy said, holding up his camera and pressing the button. "Did it work?"

"No, you have to wind it up, remember?" Mason said.

"Oh."

Ziggy wound it up.

"Nonno, smile!" he said again.

Dave smiled for the photo, holding the tickets in his hands like money. Ziggy laughed as he took the photo.

"Let's go!" Ziggy said. "Let's go see the gladiators!"

He was only entirely disappointed to learn that the gladiators were actually not here anymore, but the gift shop sold costumes, so, that was easily solved. Ziggy, Mason, Will and Colin wore gladiator helmets and brandished foam swords for the whole day, which was adorable until they started trying to duel over who got the last slice of pizza at lunch.

Nora grabbed the slice, taking a bite.

"Problem solved," she said, smirking when the boys gawked at her. "Now, are we doing the Roman forum or are we going to see some of the other sights today?"

"Might as well do the forum while we're here," JJ said. "What is that?"

"It's ruins of the old Roman towns," Delilah told her. "It's a tour. They explain all about how the Roman's developed two story houses, how they paved roads, why we drive on the wrong side of the road and such. It's very interesting."

"Sounds boring," Ziggy said.

"They tell you about Napoleon," Liv said.

"The ice cream?" Will and Mason asked.

"The dictator," Delilah said.

"Oh," Will said. "Way less interestin'."

"We can get gelato on the way back," Nora proposed.

"Way more interestin'! What are we waitin' for?" Will grinned.

•

•

Truthfully, Rome passed in a blur. It was kind of terrible how quickly the first four days in Italy went and, before they knew it, they were gathered in one of the plaza squares at a restaurant for their final meal before they headed down South for the rest of the week.

Henry sat on Delilah's lap as they ate, chewing on a teething ring for his bottom teeth coming in. He was perfectly content to just take in the atmosphere of the patio they sat on.

There were patio heaters around to keep them warm in the cooling evening air. Delilah was pleasantly warm as she sipped on her wine, watching her family laugh and talk over their meal.

Nora and Colin, and Dave, were drunk. They'd spent most of the evenings drunk and it just made them more hilarious. They had Will, Emily and Mason in tears with whatever story they were telling about one of their nights out back when Liv and Delilah were still little and they were only recently becoming friends.

The girls night where Liv, Delilah and Haley got tattoos and piercings and ended up vomiting in Hotch's bathroom until the early hours of the morning? They'd clearly taken inspiration from a date night that Nora and Colin dragged Dave along to where the three of them got matching tramp stamp tattoos and ended the night vomiting while Liv and Delilah took care of them.

Ziggy, Liv and JJ were deep in conversation about Pompeii. Ziggy had learned a bit about it in school and was telling them all the facts he could remember, the three of them now speculating about just how much they still didn't know because of how slowly they had to uncover the remains.

"The bodies we'll see aren't actual bodies," Ziggy said. "They're plaster casts. You see, when they were unearthing the remains, the bodies had decayed over so many years and they could just fill the empty space with plaster to make the moulds. That's why they're so accurate, because history was literally frozen the moment the volcano hit them."

They were having such a beautiful time, even with the bizarre difference in conversation. JJ's hand stayed on Delilah's thigh, stroking circles into the skin with her thumb.

She hadn't left Delilah's side this entire holiday, so far. It was entirely adorable and, the more Delilah thought about it, the more she realised JJ was actually this clingy all the time.

Whenever they were in any proximity, JJ would be touching her to keep her grounded. It was a subconscious behaviour to her, now, but it had started so early on in their friendship that Delilah didn't question it when they started their relationship properly.

Delilah wondered if she had a feeling about the proposal, but she'd given no hints that she suspected this holiday wasn't just to cheer them up after Haley and Jack went away. Delilah really didn't think she knew anything, prayed she didn't because she was still trying to figure out the right place and time to do it to make it special.

She was still trying to think of what to fucking say. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she wanted to do to prove how serious she was about having JJ in her life forever, and nothing was good enough.

It was JJ. Nothing would ever be good enough for her because she deserved more than the world had to offer.

Maybe just asking would be best, but that felt too simple after everything they'd lived through to be here.

Delilah almost died to get here. She wasn't just going to ask without a speech.

So, she needed to think of one, and fast, but nothing sounded good enough in her head.

It was a gay disaster. It was terrible, actually.

"How long is the drive to Pompeii?" Ziggy asked.

"Two and a half hours?" Delilah guessed. "Dad's paid for us to have a driver, though. We're leaving early so we can get there for about lunch time, eat something and head in for the afternoon. We'll be there about two or three hours and then we'll head up to Positano. That's an hour at most, and then we'll drop our stuff off and head for dinner."

"And we're staying at nonna's house?" Ziggy asked.

"Yeah," Delilah said. "It was her nonna's house. Nonno has a place in Sicily that belonged to his nonno and nonna."

"We hit the jackpot with this family," Ziggy said, looking at Mason and Henry. "Seriously."

"We did," JJ laughed, giving Delilah a smile. "You okay?"

Delilah nodded, taking another sip of her wine before putting it on the table and resting her hand over JJ's. JJ turned her hand, intertwining their fingers and bringing Delilah's hand up to her mouth to kiss her knuckles.

Delilah smiled. JJ's nose scrunched sweetly as she smiled back, dropping their hands back to Delilah's lap.

"Mamma?"

"Mase?"

"What's that man doing?" Mason asked, pointing a man near the fountain in the middle of the plaza.

"He's a busker," Delilah said. "He's setting up to sing with his guitar."

"Oh," Mason said. "Why do people do that?"

"Never seen one before?" JJ asked.

"No," Mason said.

"They do it to make money and get their name out there," Delilah said. "Some people just like singing."

"What song is he singing?" Ziggy asked.

Delilah listened for a moment, eyebrows furrowing as she translated the lyrics in her mind and tried to remember the title of the song.

"It's called A Chi by Fausto Leali," she said. "Listen to the words."

The boys squinted as they tried to listen harder.

"Can't hear it," Mason admitted.

"It's a love song," Delilah said. "You wanna go listen?"

"Can we?" Ziggy asked.

"Of course," Delilah said. "C'mon."

She got up, JJ standing up, too. The boys followed them over, Delilah shifting Henry on her hip as Liv and Emily joined them, leaving Will, Nora, Colin and Dave at the table to wait for the waiter to come back with the bill.

"What does it mean?" Mason asked. "I can pick up a few words. Who did I... Will I talk to.... What?"

"Who will I talk to, if not to you," Ziggy said. "Who will I tell about all my dreams? You know, you hurt me to leave me... No, it's you know, you hurt me leaving me alone like this. But... But it doesn't matter, I'll wait for you."

"Yeah," Delilah said, nodding her head.

"Looks like we have another language genius on our hands," Emily teased, ruffling Ziggy's hair.

Delilah looked at Mason, watched him look over at something. She followed his gaze, smiling when she saw he was watching an old couple dance across the plaza to the music.

"Baby?" JJ said, putting her hand on Mason's head. "Do you wanna dance with me?"

"Like, in public?" Mason asked. "Like, here?"

"Yes," JJ laughed. "C'mon. Mamma's holding Henry. Be my dance partner."

She held out her hand. Mason's cheeks were bright red, but he took her hand, letting her tug him over so they could dance to the song. Delilah laughed, bouncing Henry lightly as she watched Mason try, and fail, to spin JJ under his arm in her pretty blue dress.

The two of them laughed as JJ let go of Mason's hand to spin on her own, grabbing it again when she was done.

"Do you wanna dance, mamma?" Ziggy asked, giving Liv a smile.

"Oh, thank you, bambino," Liv laughed softly, taking his hand so they could dance, too.

Delilah and Emily watched the four of them dance around the plaza to the song, smiles on both of their faces at the laughter and joy flowing from their girlfriends and their sons.

"We really lucked out, didn't we?" Emily murmured.

"We really did," Delilah said. "You know, considering you're, like, my mom, now, that means Mason and Henry are your grandchildren."

"Liv, we're giving Delilah back to Dave," Emily said. "I am not old enough to have grandchildren! I'm- Delilah!"

Delilah laughed, Henry giggling along with her.

"Don't you take her side!" Emily told him, making him laugh even harder.

Delilah smirked at Emily.

"That's my boy," she said, kissing his forehead. "He's mamma's boy, right, bambino?"

Henry babbled something. Delilah nodded her head.

"Exactly," she said. "He's always gonna take my side over grandma Emily's."

"Delilah!"

Delilah laughed, holding Henry's head with her hand as she hurried away from Emily.

"If you weren't holding him right now-"

"You still can't do shit," Delilah laughed. "I would genuinely love to see you try and beat me in a fight."

"Is that a challenge?" Emily smirked at her. "I could beat you."

"No, you couldn't," Liv said.

"No," JJ agreed.

"I could!" Emily said.

"No, you couldn't," Delilah laughed. "But I'm happy to let you bruise your ego by proving you wrong."

Emily's eyes narrowed playfully.

"When we get back," she said.

"No," Liv said. "Neither of you are fighting."

"Unless she hurts you," Delilah said.

"Then that's free game," Emily said. "That's on me."

"I'll remember that," Delilah laughed.

They tipped the busker on their way back to the table to grab their things. Delilah set Henry back in his pram for the walk back to the apartment, all of them stopping to grab some gelato for the walk back.

"Is it gonna be like this in Positano?" Mason asked, slipping his hand into Delilah's as JJ pushed the pram. "Eating out every night and having fun?"

"Yeah," Delilah said. "Except there's a beach there, too. It's small enough to explore in a few hours and then you get to have all the fun you want."

"This is the best week ever," Mason beamed. "I'm having so much fun. Thank you, mamma."

"Of course," Delilah said, kissing his forehead. "But nonno paid for everything."

"Thank you, nonno," Mason said. "This is the best week ever."

"Anytime," Dave beamed. "I'm just happy to spend a week with family. Money doesn't mean anything."

"Bold words from a millionaire," Will said, laughing as Dave slapped his arm.

Delilah rolled her eyes fondly, but she couldn't not laugh because Will wasn't wrong. It was funny.

They headed back to the apartment, but it was only about ten. The boys still had energy and Nora had a few bottles of wine in the apartment to finish before they left.

They split up to get changed into comfy clothes. JJ made sure Henry was settled in his cot and took the baby monitor to the living room as the others came back.

Rome was alive outside of the window. The city glowed and illuminated them enough to not even need more than a lamp on to match the atmosphere. Dave found a music channel on the television for background noise, but it was drowned out by their conversations, anyway.

Delilah poured herself another glass of wine in the kitchen, taking a sip as she observed the others.

Liv sat on Emily's lap on the couch, talking exaggeratedly with her hands as Will nodded along to whatever she was saying, a look of disgusted curiosity on his face. It was clearly a conversation about surgery, considering Liv was mimicking sawing a skull open.

Emily just laughed as Will's face turned from more curious to more disgusted.

Mason, Nora, Ziggy and Dave were working on a Jenga game on the coffee table, taking turns of removing the bricks in the weirdest ways. Ziggy karate chopped one, sending it flying across the room to land on the floor.

"As if it stayed up!" Mason said. "What the fuck?!"

"Yeah, what the fuck?" Nora scoffed. "How did you do that?!"

"Physics!" Ziggy said.

"That's dark magic," Dave said, bending down to study the tower. He shook his head. "Dark forces are at work here, Nora."

"It's going to take us all down," Nora said, the boys laughing and rolling their eyes at them.

"Hi, baby," JJ said, slipping her arms around Delilah's waist from behind.

"Hi," Delilah murmured, dropping her head back against JJ's chest.

"You know, Colin was telling me about Positano," JJ said, pressing a kiss to Delilah's temple. "It's beautiful there, and everyone wears bright colours to match the town. Is that why you made me pack all my summer dresses?"

"Yeah," Delilah said, sliding her hand over one of JJ's to tangle their fingers together. "Easy access, too."

JJ laughed, pinching Delilah's side lightly.

"Of course," she murmured. "Still waiting for you to put me on my knees."

"Forgive me for caring about you while you were pregnant," Delilah laughed softly. "You know, your need to be dominated, while as hot as it is, has increased a lot lately. Do you want to talk about why?"

"Because we don't have enough sex," JJ murmured, pressing a kiss to Delilah's neck. "I mean, we have kids and I work away constantly, so, we have enough according to our schedules. I just want you all to myself all the time. And the last time we were in Italy, we were going multiple times a day. Can you blame me?"

Delilah laughed, leaning more against JJ. JJ pressed another kiss to Delilah's neck.

"I don't blame you," Delilah murmured. "Maybe I should ask Evie for my own office."

"Now that is the best idea you've had in weeks," JJ whispered.

Delilah laughed again.

"How did you know I wanted you on your knees?" she murmured, looking up at JJ.

"You get this look in your eyes," JJ said quietly, shrugging as a sly grin spread across her lips. "It's like you remember just how much you need to be in control and something comes alive inside of you."

Her fingers slipped under Delilah's t-shirt, tracing circles over her stomach.

To anyone looking over at them, it looked like they were just having a moment. Delilah was grateful she could control her emotions because she did not need Emily to start the mommy teasing again.

JJ would make her sleep on the couch if Emily kept going. It wasn't in Delilah's best interests to encourage that. She loved sleeping with JJ, both definitions included in that.

Still, they were in an apartment with their entire family.

Bad idea right now.

They'd have two days to themselves, though. Everybody was going home on Sunday night, everybody except them. They were staying for another two days to celebrate the engagement, providing JJ said yes.

Delilah turned in JJ's arms, giving her a smirk now nobody could see her with her back to them. JJ's eyes stayed on hers the entire time as Delilah lifted one hand, curling two fingers around the chain of the star necklace she refused to take off.

"You keep bringing it up because you want me to do it," Delilah whispered. "Don't you?"

"Yes."

"What else do you want me to do?"

JJ blinked at her. Delilah tilted her head to the side, eyebrows raised curiously as her lips twitched into a smile.

"Think about it," Delilah murmured, leaning up to press a kiss to JJ's lips. "I'll do whatever you want, bambina. You know why?"

"'Cause I'm yours."

"Good girl," Delilah whispered, laughing softly when JJ groaned and dropped her forehead against Delilah's.

"You're sadistic," JJ muttered.

"Don't act like it doesn't turn you on," Delilah whispered, tracing her finger over JJ's collarbone. "I have the bite marks to prove it, remember?"

JJ's cheeks flooded bright red. She lifted her hand, tangling their fingers together. Her thumb traced over the scars embedded into Delilah's fingers, traced the scars on her trigger finger.

Delilah laughed softly, pressing another kiss to JJ's lips. JJ pulled her closer, kissing her again, and again, and again, until they were both giggling in each other's arms with Delilah's wine long forgotten on the side.

"Oi, lovebirds!" Emily teased. "You wanna join the family or just live off in your own bubble?"

"Oh, leave them alone, Em," Nora laughed softly, patting Emily on the arm. "To be young and in love again."

"We are young and in love, my darling," Colin said, giving her a dopey smile as he held his hand out. "I've convinced Liv to play our song for us."

"You didn't!"

"Of course I did!"

Delilah laughed as Liv sat down at the piano, cracking her knuckles as Colin pulled Nora to her feet and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Mason and Ziggy pushed the coffee table out of the way to give them room in front of the windows, bodies illuminated in the glow of the nightlife.

Liv started playing, Delilah smiling when the familiar notes of At Last by Etta James started playing through the room.

"Oh, I love this song," JJ whispered.

"It was their first dance song," Delilah murmured, turning in JJ's arms to watch them dance. "They dance to it on every anniversary. We used to watch them in the kitchen. The steps never changed. He'll dip her and kiss her at the end. It always makes her laugh like it's the first time and she's eighteen marrying him again."

"Their love story is beautiful," JJ murmured, resting her head against Delilah's. "I can't wait until we're old and can have our kids and grandkids around us watching us continue traditions like this."

"What song will our first dance be to?" Delilah asked.

JJ hummed for a moment.

"We'll find one that's perfect for us," JJ whispered. "This one works for now."

Delilah laughed as JJ turned her in her arms so they were facing each other, wrapping her arms around Delilah's waist so they could sway to the music. Delilah rested her head against JJ's chest, sighing softly as JJ pressed kisses against her hair until she was smiling.

"And..." Delilah whispered, "Dip."

Colin dipped Nora, pressing a kiss against her lips. Nora pulled back with a girlish giggle, rolling her eyes as her cheeks turned as red as her hair. He pulled her back up, laughing as he held her against his chest and kissed her again.

"Thank you, Liv," Colin said, turning to smile at her as she stood up from the piano. "That was as beautiful as it always was."

"It really was," Emily said, tugging Liv back onto her lap and kissing her cheek with a grin. "Almost as beautiful as you."

Ziggy made a gagging sound, all of them laughing as Emily flipped him off.

"Please don't flip our eleven year old off," Liv said.

"But-"

"You're the grown up."

"That's bullshit! It's not fair! I need to calm down!" Emily said, blinking a few times. "I'm calm now."

Ziggy laughed, Liv rolling her eyes.

"Bedtime," she said. "You're getting delirious and we all have a long day tomorrow. Bed!"

They said their goodnights, waving the others off as they left the apartment. Will and Mason pushed the coffee table back into place and tidied up the Jenga while Delilah washed the wine glasses and JJ dried them to put away.

"What time do we have to wake up?" Mason asked.

"We're leaving at half nine," Delilah said. "And, if we want breakfast first, we need to be up at eight so we've got time to get ready and go out for food."

Mason nodded, yawning.

"Okay," he said. "'M gonna go to bed. 'M tired."

"Okay, bambino," Delilah said, wrapping him into a hug. "Want us to tuck you in?"

"No, I'm okay," Mason yawned again, resting his head against her chest. "Night, mamma."

"Night, Mase," Delilah murmured. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

He hugged JJ and wished her goodnight, then headed down the hallway with Will to his room. Delilah watched Mason give Will a side hug goodnight before slipping into his room, Will going into his and closing their doors at the same time.

"No games!" JJ called. "Make sure they're on charge for tomorrow!"

"Thanks, mom!" the two of them called back.

JJ huffed, shaking her head.

"We have three children," she said.

Delilah laughed.

"Your baby daddy," she said. "C'mon. We should get some sleep before Henry wakes us up for a feed."

JJ nodded, stifling a yawn in her arm as she followed Delilah to the bedroom.

"I don't want to go home," JJ murmured, climbing into the bed with a pout. "Can't we just stay here forever?"

"I mean, logistically, no, but I wish we could," Delilah said, climbing into the bed after her. "We'll come back. We always do."

"Yeah," JJ murmured, resting her head against Delilah's shoulder. "We're retiring in Italy when we're older, right?"

"Oh, absolutely," Delilah laughed. "I can't wait."

"Me, neither," JJ admitted, looking up at her with a smile. "I love you."

Delilah leaned down, pressing three kisses to JJ's lips.

"I love you," Delilah murmured.

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