A year. A year of quarantine, of mounting stresses and horrors reflected on the TV screen, on the internet, as far as the eye can see if you knew where to look. But, somehow, one of the most rewarding years of Ricardo's life, because during that year, he'd become a father.
He closes his eyes, reaches out, gently tugs on Andre's toes and hears him fuss and giggle in the way only his son can. "I spent so many years," he breathes out, opening his eyes and staring down into the so similar gaze of the little boy before him. "So much time thinking something like this was so beyond my grasp." His hand rests on the little boy's chest and he feels him breathe in and out, the way his heart beats in that fast sort of way babies do that kind of worried him at first. "I'm so glad I was wrong. I'm so thankful I got to have you, help to raise you with your beautiful mama."
He senses her warmth in the room now, smells the soft waft of fruit and flowers that she'd never stopped wearing, even in the middle of the worst of things the past twelve months. When she curls an arm around him, he drops his head back against her neck and just smiles up at the ceiling as she cards a hand through his hair. "You ok?" she whispers to him and he nods slowly.
"It's been a year," he murmurs, and her fingers tighten in his hair slightly, sending a tingling kind of pleasure along his scalp. He thinks he likes it, but says nothing. "I've been thinking."
"Uh oh," she teases softly, gazing down at their son even as she listens to him intently. "What about?"
"We should do something." He turns to look at her when she guides her hands away from him and searches her face. "We haven't gone anywhere, except for wrestling related business, in a year. And I know things are still bad, but... I know exactly what we can do."
She nods slowly. "I trust you," she says, and the warmth that fills his chest then is so overwhelming and poignant that he almost has to sit down.
"I love you," he tells her softly once he has control over his emotions well enough to speak.
She grins. "I love you too."
-x
Ricardo's plans aren't anything special, and he nearly loses his nerve almost a half dozen times, but there's a small, abandoned cove near Morrison's apartment that he'd directed Ricardo to, promising no one ever visits it. There, he sets up a picnic- sandwiches, chips, soda and for dessert, these miniature brownie bites Sofia's been experimenting with and graciously allowed him to taste test here today.
Alicia is quiet, taking in the beach she hasn't seen in much too long, as they walk hand in hand towards the quiet area waiting for them. As soon as she sees it, she gasps- the sun is just starting to set, casting a soft, pink and purple gleam over the water, along their belongings, and she squeezes his fingers. "Oh, Ricardo, it's gorgeous."
He exhales slowly, smiling up at her once he's done. "You're sure? I was thinking it might be kind of-"
"It's perfect," she insists, drawing in closer and kissing him deeply. "It's amazing. Thank you so much."
He hums, wraps his arms around her, and gently explores as she melts against him. "You're perfect," he murmurs into her lips as she moans softly, digging her fingers into his jacket, fumbling for the warmth of his bare skin against hers. It's almost with regret that they pull away with unspoken agreements to continue this later when there's not this much sand around to make things uncomfortable and settle in to eat, as close as they could possibly be, sharing bites of sandwich and brownies until the sun has mostly set, and dark is slowly settling over the beach.
They then walk along the surf, Alicia delighting in the peace of the moment, while Ricardo watches the fading light reflect off of her hair. She smiles at him whenever she catches him staring and finally whispers, "Ready to go home?"
He nods, tracing the delicate curve of her wrist, before sliding his fingers back along hers as they turn and walk side by side back to the parking lot, to find their car, to go home to their son and all of the non-sand covered places they could ever ask for.
He lifts her hand before they part to get into the car and go home, searching her face. "You really did like that? I know it was nothing fancy, but- considering-"
She smiles, shakes her head, and pulls him in once more, kissing him softly, sweetly. "It was perfect," she says gently. "It was beautiful and intimate and just... the exact kind of date I needed. Thank you so much."
He beams at her. "Thank you. I love you so much, this is something I will remain doing for the rest of my life to show you."
She flushes softly at that, lifting his hand once more to kiss his knuckles. "Gonna hold you to that," she says with a soft giggle and he thinks if he wasn't already hers completely, this is the moment when he'd fall in love with her for sure.
He exhales and rests his forehead against hers, offering another kiss as promises of what's to come, before reluctantly walking to the other side of the car and getting behind the wheel, eager to go home and start the next part of their evening.