Sofia adores baking. The peace of mixing ingredients and knowing what will come of it on the other side. She used to bake alone all of the time when she worked for Del Rio, while Ricardo tended to his random whims, and the rest of the house staff was busy with whatever else. Many hours were spent, quietly humming whatever song was in her head at the time, and... she liked it, truly she did. Always a caretaker, she enjoyed being able to do something to make the people of the house feel good. It was her job, after all, and it paid well.

But now she lives with Ricardo and Alicia, and little Andre, and it's Christmas week, and the instant she mentions beginning baking some of the desserts, Ricardo's eyes light up and Alicia jumps in with a happy smile, offering to help. It had thrown Sofia, never realizing- but Ricardo had grown up in a household of women, and he enjoys helping with baking, and Alicia finds baking as soothing as Sofia does, so the three of them are all doing various things- Alicia is mixing dry ingredients at the table, Sofia is kneading dough at the counter, and Ricardo is stirring chocolate and marshmellow cream together at the stove, waiting for it to begin to shift consistencies into fudge.

She pauses after a moment and glances around, her lips lifting into a soft smile as she takes in her family, helping her, making holiday baking so much more fun, and so much easier in comparison to years past. "Gracias," she says quietly, not expecting either to hear her over the Christmas music playing in the corner, but both immediately turn to look at her.

"Que?" Ricardo asks, his brows furrowing. "Why are you thanking us, Sofia?"

She flushes, slightly. Gazes down at the dough. "I..." She laughs weakly. "It is silly, mi hijo. I enjoyed many of the years I spent working for El Patron." Ricardo flinches, a little at this, and she smiles at him, aware he had it worse than most of the staff, constantly being in the man's presence, having to deal with his anger issues and... everything that happened with Paige, and whatever else. "But baking was a very solitary undertaking," she continues. "I often felt alone on holidays, having to bake so much for the staff, and El Patron's relatives, whenever he hosted, and everything else. Not that I minded, I loved baking, but..." She hesitates and glances around the room once more, her eyes resting on Alicia's attentive face, Ricardo's grim expression, and she smiles. "I much prefer it this way. With my familia."

Ricardo swallows and eases the large pan off of the heat, letting it sit on another burner. "Ay," he grouses, walking over to her with his arms out.

She smiles shakily and turns towards him, careful with her hands to not touch any part of his clothes, not wanting to get dough all over the place. "Mi hijo." She hugs him as best as she's able, and he breathes in deeply, squeezing her.

"Sofia," he says softly. "I know how isolating that position could be. The whole house was always... walking on eggshells, never wanting to offend or raise his ire. But our lives are different now, si? We have each other, and it's ... it's never going to be like that again." He pulls back slightly and smiles at her. "If you ever want to spend time with us, speak up. We enjoy your company, we always have, and we always will." He taps her nose gently, smiling at the small dusting of flour that appears on his finger. "Ok?"

She nods, lips trembling. "Muchas gracias, Ricardo," she says softly, and he beams at her. "Now," she continues, her voice becoming a bit more steadier, "I say we should all get back to baking because this holiday is going to be here before we know it!"

"Si!" Ricardo exclaims, rushing back to the stove to fix the fudge, which has begun to solidify too quickly due to being off of the heat prematurely.

Alicia and Sofia exchange soft smiles before turning their focus back onto their duties as well.

It's going to be a nice Christmas.