It's been a long week. Ricardo is still doing amazingly in India, and the League of Nations continue to dominate Raw more and more each week, but Paige is left on the outside looking in. She's not used while Charlotte continues to brag around with her diva's title belt on her shoulder, laughing with Becky and using her father to help her win matches. Paige's teeth grit together so harshly that her face hurts from her jaw to her temple.
It takes everything in her to make it through Tribute to the Troops, where they greet the different soldiers and so many others that freedom is owed to. After everything, losing to Brie, Alicia, Becky and Charlotte eats at Paige like a festering wound. She's never been happier to return to Alberto's house, sink into Ricardo's things, and just try to relax. Gifts are being wrapped, food is being cooked for the next few days, but she can't move from Ricardo's bed, staring at his tree with tears in her eyes.
She hears more people arrive, Alberto's thick accent echoing through the house as he greets the new guest, inquiring over the person's family, their wife. She assumes she should get up, be polite, say hello... but she just can't find it in her. Tears filling her eyes, she sits up and kicks her feet against the bedframe, shoulders shaking as she remembers all of the times that her and Ricardo would sit here, talking softly about anything and everything before bed. She thinks she can smell pie, but it's still not enough. Rolling back into the pile of sheets and pillows, she closes her eyes and allows herself to sleep, eager to escape her turmoil. Her loneliness. Her heartsickness.
She's not sure how much time has passed, but it's dark in the room and quiet beyond it, so she sits up quietly and pads to the kitchen, stomach aching with hunger. She grazes her fingers against the cool counters leading towards the fridge when she hears a soft noise. Changing her course, she follows it to the living room and sees... soft black hair, the strong, wide shoulders that she loved to grab and dig her nails into whenever Ricardo kissed her. Gasping, she shakes her head and whispers, "Ricardo?"
As the person she's been aching for the last few months turns to face her, she races forward and leaps up into his arms, sighing softly as he grips her and holds her closer, this all of the encouragement Paige requires. She laughs, tears blurring her vision even more as she leans in and kisses him softly, then deeper, more desperately. He's frozen, he's not responding, but it's barely a hinderance as she digs her fingers into his hair and devours his mouth, whimpering and murmuring into his mouth... when he suddenly pushes her away, backing up against the glass windows and wiping his mouth. "What's wrong?" she demands, before blinking. Realizing. "No, no, no," she cries out, staring up at Memo Montenegro. "You!"
"I'm not Ricardo," he says ruefully, lips wet and dark with her affections for his brother's former ring announcer.
So many people said Memo and Ricardo looked like each other, that it was amusing that Alberto's brother and his best friend looked more alike than Alberto and Memo ever had, but the three men had just shrugged it off, accepting that it was all meant to be, then. That they would meet each other, and be close, and... She sobs hard, sinking against the wood flooors. "I've ruined everything," she chokes out, rocking back and forth. "Oh my God, none of them will want to look at me again."
Memo is sweet, even his temperment like Ricardo's, and he kneels down next to her, trying to catch her eye and failing as she sobs and reaches up with her hands, moving as if to tear her hair out. "No no," he says, gripping her wrists. "Stop this, por favor. This... this was an honest mistake. You wanted your amor, and I just happened to be here, and from behind... Ricardo and I look much alike. It's nothing- it's nothing, you see, I won't say anything. Neither of us wanted this to happen."
She sniffs and whimpers, staring up at him. "Thank you, Memo. You're right, of course... but I still... I feel awful." She hugs herself tightly and rocks back and forth, fingers inching back towards her hair, but he shakes his head, not allowing her to hurt herself because of this one moment of confusion.
He stands and pulls her to her feet as well, guiding her to Ricardo's bed. He settles her in and stays with her, making sure she won't hurt herself, but something about Ricardo's room, his slowly fading scent, helps her to relax. She seems less manic and he smiles down at her, smoothing the blankets around her before taking his leave. "You are a very lucky man, Ricardo. I hope you are aware," he murmurs before heading to bed himself.
Paige tries to interact, attempts to act normal during the holiday, she does. But all she can see through the meal, the gift exchange, and the Skype session with Ricardo that follows, is Memo's dark eyes widening in shock as she kisses him, all she can feel is his arms around her, unyielding but gentle as he kept her from hurting herself, all she can hear is his trying to sooth her, and all she can taste is hints of Sofia's candy cane cookies with vague hints of rum. That moment is haunting her, captivating her as she stares at him, skin itching with the disgusting need to relive it, to see if she's just over-analyzing the moment, or if it was really all that her brain is telling her it was.
People notice, of course they do. Sofia, Mike, AJ, even Alberto notices. She brushes them off, claims she just misses Ricardo, and mostly they get this sad, sympathetic look on thier faces and leave her alone, but... AJ, over seven months pregnant, wearing a baggy red shirt and green maternity pants, stares at her once everyone's gone their own way after another meal, hands on her hips. She looks adorable, somehow, about to become a mother herself and standing there glaring at Paige like a six year old who's been refused her favorite treat. "What is it?" Paige finally asks, wiping her sweaty hands on her jeans and turning to face her best friend.
"You're not acting like yourself," AJ says. "And I understand you miss Ricardo, we all do. But even this is a little much for that. You barely said three words during dinner, Sofia thought she did something wrong with the British pudding she made to cheer you up!"
"No!" Paige gasps, aghast. "She did? Oh no..." She stands up to find the housekeeper, make things right, but AJ grabs her. "AJ-"
"Tell me what happened. Come on, Paige. I know it's something, and I won't judge you, but you need to talk to someone."
Paige stares at her, broken and so scared. "I ... I fucked up so huge, AJ. Ricardo probably won't ever want to touch me again if he learns," she whispers off of a sob. "Please... promise you won't tell anyone..."
"Our little secret," AJ promises softly. "Please tell me."
Paige sits down heavily. "I was heading to the kitchen in the middle of the night a couple of days ago, wanting to get something to eat... and I heard something so I went to investigate. I saw someone in the living room, I could only see their profile from behind, and it just... I thought it was Ricardo so I ran forward and jumped into his arms and kissed him. Just to realize it was Memo." AJ's jaw drops down and Paige buries her face in her hands. "I know, I know, I've screwed everything up-"
"Well, they do look an awful lot alike," AJ whispers, hugging her. "I could see why you'd be confused-"
"Confusion!" Paige yelps, sobbing and chuckling and all around sounding utterly broken and desolate. "There won't be any confusion when Ricardo learns this and breaks up with me. Bloody hell, AJ, I can still taste Memo on my lips... I can smell, and feel, and... why..." She rocks back and forth and cries.
AJ hugs her. "Don't underestimate what you and Ricardo have. It'll survive being a long distant relationship, it'll survive this. You'll see." They sit there, Paige sobbing into AJ's shoulder, when Paige freezes and pulls away, staring down at AJ's stomach. "Oh, guess Sara Louisa decided to wake up and join the party," she chuckles, rubbing soothing circles along her stomach. "Probably noticed we're both a little tense and wanted attention."
"May I?" Paige whispers, leaning forward when AJ nods and touching her stomach, pressing a kiss to the tight skin holding onto the little girl. "I hope you come out happy and healthy, Sara Louisa. We're going to play so much. I haven't even see much of you expect for wispy little sonogram pictures, but I can already tell you're a beautiful, special little girl."
AJ smiles softly, gripping Paige's jaw and staring her in the eye. "Sara Louisa needs all of the support she can get." Paige nods, looking confused. "This might seem like a weird time to ask, but it was going to be part of your Christmas present anyway... and I think you need it now... I also don't want to wait."
Paige shakes her head, confused. "What-"
"Would you be my baby girl's godmother? Help me to teach her how to be strong, self-sufficient, but with just enough heart to neet a great guy, fall in love, and have exactly the kind of life she'd dream for herself?"
Paige gapes. Shakes her head, then gapes some more. "What? Why me? Why not, like, Alicia... or- or, hell, even Star, or you know who would be great as godmother? Sofia! She already loves everyone, you totally should-"
"I adore Sofia," AJ says. "And she will be one of many on the long list of people to babysit this little girl once she's a little older, and spoil her with treats and all sorts of things when we visit. But when I think of who I want to be her godmother, I can't see anyone but you in that role. Please, Paige. Say yes. You don't want to make me sad by saying no, do you?" She starts to pout, not having to work too hard to make tears fill her eyes since her hormones still cause her emotions to be all over the place. "Please?"
Paige grimaces. "You do not play fair, mummy." AJ looks a little more hopeful, but dammit, tears are still pouring down her face and Paige groans. "Fine, fine, I'll be Sara Louisa's godmother. But if this fails and her first word is some naughty British slang, well..."
AJ laughs. AJ cries harder. AJ throws her arms around Paige and hugs her as tightly as she can. "Thank you so much," she whispers through her unending tears.
Paige is almost tempted to tease her for crying, but she refrains, hugging her close and stroking her back. "I said yes," she murmurs. "You were supposed to stop crying here."
AJ laughs and buries her face in Paige's shirt. "I'm sorry," she hiccups. "I'm just so happy. My little girl's going to have the best life..."
"Yes she is," Paige sighs, leaning in to kiss the top of AJ's head. I may not have control over much, if anything anymore, but I will make sure that this at least comes true for your baby girl, AJ.