"So, Canada," Ricardo says, watching Alberto as he listlessly kicks a soccer around. "And you're continuing this feud with Johnny."

Alberto twists his lips into a sneer. "Of course I am," he says, kicking the ball towards Ricardo and watching him sending it back and forth from one ankle to the other before kicking it back, getting it past Alberto and sending it clean into the net behind him. Alberto huffs and goes to get the ball. "It's not been a good few months for me," he says, a darkness in his eyes. "At least I have a familiar target to take my anger out on now."

Ricardo doesn't say anything, mulling on it. The breakup with Paige, the failure of his restaurant, Impact moving to Canada possibly permanently and making everything more complicated for a lot of the competitors in the business. He sighs and kicks the ball again, watching as Alberto catches it this time, volleys it back at him with so much force that he has to dive or risk getting injured by the angrily spinning item. Alberto comes running over as soon as Ricardo hits the ground, kneeling down and resting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm ok," Ricardo mumbles, sitting up.

"Lo siento," Alberto says faintly. "I wasn't thinking." He massages Ricardo's shoulderblades briskly and, once Ricardo shifts to sit up, helps him to his feet. "You alright?"

"Yeah, I think so," he says, taking a few hesitant steps. When nothing hurts seriously, he moves to collect his balls. "What do you say we get something to eat? It might be a bit less dangerous than this."

Alberto looks guilty through his laughter. "Si, mi hermano. But please, no Mexican."

"Sushi?"

"Sounds fine." They walk side by side back to the car and Alberto smiles stupidly at his best friend. "I'm glad we're able to hang out like this again sometimes. I can't thank you enough for giving me another chance."

Ricardo nods, leaning against the car. "Wouldn't be a very good friend if I didn't give second chances, now would I?"

"Second, third, fourth,..." Alberto says, only partially kidding.

Ricardo chuckles. "Si, well. I suppose on some level I think you've deserved each and every one of them. So come, let's go get something to eat and make the most of this chance, hm?"

Alberto nods. "Si, let's."

After that meal and more training and more soccer and walking the puppy, who is steadily growing far beyond the puppy title, Ricardo is sitting on the couch, half-dozing through a show on Netflix, when Alicia returns home from the UK. She squeals as soon as she sees him and dives into his arms, kissing him all over the face and neck, beaming at him as she plays with his long hair. "I've missed you so much! But it's been such a good couple of weeks! I hope yours has been as well."

He smiles at her, hands warm on her hips. "Si, it was a pretty good week." He catches her in a warm, deep kiss, and she sighs, arching into him and lacing her fingers behind his head. "You look cute in that captain's hat," he tells her, plucking at the article of clothing as it flutters on her head, close to falling off as they make up for lost time.

"I think so too," she says, peeking up at it and laughing when it quietly flops off of her head and lands with a solid thump on the floor behind them. "I'm so excited for Sunday! Will you be watching?"

"Do you want me to?" he teases, melting when she pouts up at him. "Of course I will. Like I would miss watching you lead your team to victory."

He kisses her and she hums. "Good answer," she says, kicking her shoes off and pressing her knees into his hips. "Wanna make sure my stamina's up for this weekend?" He laughs and kisses her, lifting her up from the couch and carrying her out of the living room, her laughter in his ear, warmth against his body.

It's getting dark outside when Alicia sneaks out and gets some food, bringing sandwiches bck for herself and Ricardo. They're in the middle of eating when she traces his jaw, smiling faintly up at him. "So there are some rumors going around."

"What kind of rumors?"

"That Paige is finally going to be cleared to wrestle." Between her neck surgery and other issues, she'd been kept at home, not trusted enough to be back on TV, much less visible to fans while under the WWE's roof. "She may be back after Survivor Series, actually."

Ricardo isn't sure what to think about that. "I see," he finally settles for, stroking Alicia's hair away from his bare skin, which is getting chilly as the sun drops and yearning to be closer to her again. He grabs the blanket and pulls it up over both of them. "Good?"

"Very good," she says softly, kissing his chest. "Let's just stay here until, like, Sunday."

Ricardo chuckles at her. "At least," he agrees, kissing her forehead.

Things may not be going great for Alberto, and Ricardo does feel bad about that, but things are finally falling into place for him and he can't be more relieved about that.