Ricardo breathes softly against Alicia's hair as she dozes in his arms, lost in thought. Heath's pure misery had rocked Ricardo, deeply, and he wishes there was more he could do to help the poor guy. Unfortunately, there isn't anything he can think of to do so, so he lays back and enjoys Alicia's body heat against his side, lightly running his fingers up and down her arm. They had made it through, at least, he thinks. Her dependence on alcohol has seemed to ease, and she seems more content with where she's at in life. He hopes, anyway, and it's not just her putting on a brave face for his sake.
He watches the sun creep over the ceiling overhead and smiles wearily, glancing down at her. Insomnia still hitting him at random times, he tries to console himself by holding her, letting her breathing wash over him. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but he's not going to disrupt her sleep just to move. She's got a busy day ahead, so his discomfort isn't that important.
He's leaning over in the kitchen, trying to see where one of the dogs had left one of their chew toys, when Alicia gasps loudly, then lets out a squeal that makes him stand up straight quickly, gaping at her. "What's wrong?!"
"Nothing," she says, rushing forward and jumping into his arms, a bright smile lighting up her face. "Everything's perfect!" She holds her phone up so he can see it, and he reads the email from WWE there informing her of flight plans, that they want her for Raw this week. "I guess they saw how hard I've been working when I was there for Wrestlemania weekend," she gushes, still clinging to him. "Oh my God. What if they want me to wrestle? I'm so out of practice, oh my God-"
And so he waits until a little later, when she's had a decent amount of sleep, before lightly shaking her awake. "Come on, Alicia," he says softly, kissing her. "Let's get started with the day. Hm?"
She makes a sleepy noise deep in her throat before snuggling closer to him, long legs and arms leaving him stranded for a minute as she rubs against him and kisses his jaw. "Noooo, let's stay in bed," she mumbles, and he exhales shakily as she kisses him again, slowly moving against him and leaving him struggling to remember why he'd been so anxious to get up anyway.
He hisses, spreading his fingers over her lower back and rolling, pressing her into the pillows. "If you're sure," he mumbles, his fingers trailing over her sleep-warm flesh and making her gasp and arch into him, eyes fluttering.
"Yeah, oh- yes..." she sighs sweetly and he smiles against her skin as she strokes at his hair. "I love you, Ricardo. So much. Thank you for never giving up on me."
He pauses against her, slowly sits up and stares down at her. "I love you too, Alicia." He cups her face, leans in and watches her shiver and tremble as he kisses her. "I will never, ever give up on you. I swear to you."
Once they finally dragged themselves out of bed, warm and saited, they eat a quick breakfast and take the dogs out for a quick walk before making their way to the car. Alberto's wrestling ring is nice and available to them whenever they should need it, Alicia pausing to hug Sofia before making her way downstairs, too focused to be truly sociable right now. "How is she?" Sofia asks, eyes dark with concern as she pats Ricardo's hand.
He hesitates over the answer. "I think she's good. Seems a lot better at any rate."
Sofia nods. Pats his face and smiles up at him. "You're a good husband, mi hijo."
He sighs. "God knows I try," he mumbles before smiling shakily at her and going downstairs to help his wife train for her return, shake off some of the ringrust before Monday.
After most of the weekend spent in the ring, trying to help Alicia get comfortable between the ropes once more, Ricardo is drifting, exhausted and still unable to sleep, when his phone buzzes. They've put me in a match against BECKY!
He stares at the text, reading the excitement behind it, and laughs softly. "Well, well," he murmurs. "What do you know..." He's not sure if it'll lead anywhere special for Alicia, but hey. Anything that makes his wife happy, makes him happy.
