Sofia waits until Paige has left to put her towel down and walk quietly down the hallway towards Ricardo's bedroom. She lightly taps on the door, waiting until he urges her to come in. She slips inside and pads to the bed, watching as he sits up against the headboard. "Hola, mi hijo," she says softly, sitting down on the mattress next to him.

He forces a smile and releases a breath. "Hola, Sofia." She examines him for a moment before resting a hand on his forehead, brushing his hair out of his eyes. He leans into her touch and sighs, eyes slipping closed.

"Well, you're not feverish," she muses, staring into his eyes. "What's going on? Hmm?" He shakes his head, looking lost and young, and she sighs. "It's ok, mi hijo. You've been through so much the past few..." she hesitates as he mumbles, "years", "that It's no wonder you're feeling a little off." She strokes his hand and smiles sadly. "You're still adjusting to life in the States after so long in India, it impresses me that you held it together this long."

He leans against her and breathes steadily, exhaling softly as she kisses the top of his head. "I hate feeling like this," he mumbles. "Especially now, when things are finally so good with Paige. It's just things were so tense in India, the amount of students growing day by day, and I was so afraid I'd fail them... and now Alberto's back in WWE, and I'm just so... tired... and I know I should be happy. I just... can't feel it." He stares up at her. "I miss my mom and sister."

She kisses his cheek and hugs him close. "I have an idea to help with that," she murmurs, rocking him back and forth gently.

-x

It's weird being in California just for the sake of it when he was supposed to come here for a wrestling event, but already he feels like he can breathe a little easier. Florida had become home, yes, but he's California born and bred, and wandering around Van Nuys with Sofia by his side makes him smile. His mom, sister, and the babies hug him and won't let him go for a long time, Sofia watching with a faint smile until the opportunity for introductions come.

Ricardo's mom hugs Sofia tight. "Gracias for taking such good care of my son while I can't," she says quietly, the two women glancing over as Ricardo spins his nephew around, the two of them laughing before he leans down to put him down, wrapping his arm around the little girl hovering impatiently nearby and kissing her cheek.

"I've missed you both so much," he murmurs, eyes lighting up even more as the children hug him on either side.

After spending a couple days with his family, Ricardo feels more secure than he has in a long time. He wakes up with a smile and stretches, staring out of the window at the yard glistening in the early morning light. It's beautiful, and he releases a breath, wishing that Paige was here with him. He gets out of bed and pads to the kitchen, making coffee for everyone. When Sofia comes out next, looking confused at getting beat to the early morning duties, he just grins toothily at her and hands over a mug, watching as she sits down and sips leisurely. "I have an idea for today," he says, the first suggestion he'd made since arriving in California.

She smiles at him. "Si? What is that, mi hijo?" He winks at her and turns to start some eggs and sausages, making French toast for the children. "Such a tease," she says, happy to see him with some light in his eyes again.

Later on, she finds herself in Ricardo's mom's car, traveling to a different, more expensive part of LA. She thinks she knows where they're going, although she doesn't know these roads that well. Her suspicions are proven when they park in a familiar driveway, Ricardo smiling at her before getting out of the car. Sofia follows him as they walk up the porch, his knuckles lightly tapping against the wood.

There's a few moments before there's any sign that he'd been heard, footsteps approaching and locks being undone before the door is pushed open, AJ standing before them with Sara Louisa in her arms, tilting her head. "Ricardo!" she exclaims, reaching out with a free arm and hugging him. "Sofia! What's going on, guys?"

She looks exhausted and pale, and Ricardo remembers hearing from Paige that Mike and AJ are having problems again, something about Maryse, but he'd been drowning in his own issues and can't recall every little detail. Just that Mike's on the UK tour with Paige and Alberto right now. "May we come in?" he wonders, eyes locked on what's visible of Sara's sweet face.

"Oh, yeah, of course," AJ says, flushing slightly as she realizes she's making them stand on the steps. "Come in." Stepping aside, she waits until they're inside to lock the door and guides them into the living room. Her fingers are soft against Sara's cheek as she looks at Ricardo. "Wanna hold her?"

He settles on the couch and nods, biting his lower lip as she hands over the baby to him, sitting down next to Sofia to watch as Ricardo finally introduces himself to the baby. "Hola, little girl," he greets her, smiling as she waves her fists around and grips his finger. "Oh, you're a strong one, aren't you? Of course you are... look at your parents. My name is Ricardo, and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get out of here to meet you properly." He leans in and lightly kisses her forehead, feeling as her small hands swat against the side of his face, a warm feeling of protectiveness joining all of the other emotions he's feeling in this moment. "I'll be around for a few days, so I'll have plenty of time to get to know you better," he tells her before realizing that Sofia and AJ are quietly talking.

"... don't have much free time," AJ is in the middle of explaining. "Sara is adorable, but it's hard taking care of her by myself. Especially when I'm still learning what her various cries mean..."

"You'll get it," Sofia promises her, gently rubbing her arm. "It just takes time. Don't be too hard on yourself."

After days of relaxing and enjoying his family's company, Ricardo feels strong, more self-assured, but now AJ is looking like how he felt prior to coming out here. He stands up and rocks Sara back and forth as she fusses, approaching the couch. "AJ, if you want, Sofia and I can take care of Sara for awhile. You can have a bubble bath, take a nap... go for a walk... whatever you want."

AJ hesitates. Stares up at her daughter as she dozes in Ricardo's arms, clearly calm and content against his chest. "Maybe," she says hesitantly.

"It'll be fine," Sofia comforts her. "We'll take good care of her. I promise you. And if anything goes wrong, we'll find you. But it won't, everything will be fine. She looks so happy in Ricardo's arms."

AJ hesitates for a few moments longer before nodding, running her hands over Sara's soft hair. "Alright, I trust you both with her. I won't be far away. Call if you need anything."

"We will," Sofia promises, waiting until AJ has slipped into the bedroom before turning back to Ricardo. She smiles, watching him with the baby. "You're a natural," she tells him, reaching out to gently ghost a finger over Sara's cheek.

"Sweet babies like her make it really easy," Ricardo sighs, nuzzling against Sara.

Sofia smiles, watching him with her, thinking about what a good dad he'll make someday.