Things change. Ricardo has a new focus, a new hope. Alicia's words echo in his mind, urging him on, and Alberto's goals are fresh in there as well. He works out more, he starts sleeping again. He's not sure how long it'll last, but it's nice. He feels nearly healthy as he stands outside in the morning and watches the dogs run around, playing in the dewy grass around their home. Alicia slinks up to him at some point and wraps her arms around him, pressing a soft kiss to the back of his neck. He smiles and leans into her, tilting his head and kissing her back, and she hums appreciatively, sighing as he pulls her into him and claims her lips in a gentle, toe curling kiss.

"I love you," she tells him, and his smile grows as he takes in the sun in her hair, how it reflects off of her soft, brown eyes.

"I love you too." He pictures it sometimes, their potential future child, and what could've been lost if not for her, if not for Alberto. His lifelines.

They watch for awhile until the dogs rush back to them, wet and happy, and Ricardo laughs as they shake themselves off, sharing the wealth with the both of them, and although Alicia huffs and scolds them, her voice is more teasing than angry and the dogs press against her, whining until she pets them, long fingers kneading between their ears and making them pant with happiness.

"Who're good puppies? Yes you are," she coos at them, laughing as they lick at her face when she kneels down between them and wraps her arms around their necks.

Ricardo watches, adoration on his face, as she laughs and teases the dogs for a few more moments before he grips her hand and helps her stand, the group of them going back inside for breakfast and to figure out what they're doing with their day.

That night, he meets with Alberto and helps plan. Place calls, confirm wrestlers for their first few shows. It runs late, they're playing with different time zones and different languages and it's complicated and Ricardo loves it all.

"I haven't seen you this happy in a long time, mi hermano," Alberto tells him with a small smile as Sofia brings them coffee, Ricardo's eyes lighting up as he curls his fingers around the mug. "It looks good on you." He pauses. "You look healthier as well."

Ricardo looks up at him, mulling over that as he savors Sofia's coffee. "I suppose life looks brighter now. Partially because of you, and..." He exhales, never quite saying it aloud before now, as if afraid it'd jinx it, leave it an impossibility or what have you. "Alicia is talking about us having kids some day."

Sofia gasps softly from where she's standing by Alberto, pouring his drink, and when she finishes, she stands close to him. "Mi hijo," she whispers, and he chuckles, looking up at her. "You would make a excellent father."

"I don't know about that," he says quietly. "I'd definitely try my hardest though."

She hums, cups his face, and searches his eyes. "Si, of course you would. Your child would never doubt how much it meant to you."

He chuckles softly, leaning into her touch. "I hope so, Sofia," he whispers. "It's... frightening, but hopeful all at the same time." He realizes then that Alberto hasn't said a word and looks over at his best friend. "Eh. El Patron?"

This seems to snap Alberto out of his fugue and he smiles at Ricardo. "Si, Sofia is right, your child would be quite lucky to have you."

Ricardo stares at him, almost feeling guilty. His career had spiraled the last few years, his relationships seem nonexistent, if not for Sofia and the other staff, Alberto would be all alone in this huge mansion. While Ricardo has Alicia and a hoarde of animals, and friends all over the place. "Uncle Alberto," he teases him and Alberto barks out a sudden laugh.

"Si, si. Your child would be quite lucky, between Alicia's fire, your intelligence, and my lavishing it with gifts as often as I could."

Ricardo's eyes soften as more pieces of his child's hopeful future falls into place. "It sounds incredible."

Alberto smiles at him, some of the weariness easing from his face. "Si. It does." He clears his throat. "But for now, we have to finish placing these calls."

Ricardo chuckles. "Si, we do." He pulls his phone close to him but allows himself one last, brief imagination of his child, with curly dark hair, piercing dark eyes, and soft brown skin. The child looks more like Alicia, but has some of Ricardo's better tendencies as well- his hair, his facial shape. He yearns for this reality and closes his eyes. I hope I get to meet you some day, he thinks before finally dialing the number set before him and listening to it ring in, all sorts of possibilities lingering before him, just waiting to happen.