The house has returned to normal now, with Alicia once more within its walls. Sofia hums in the kitchen once more, the baby breathes loudly from his bassinet, and Alicia... Alicia is sewing and painting, mumbling under her breath as she designs and crafts new piles of things out of nothing but her own thoughts, and Ricardo smiles and oversees them all while lost in learning ASL and other new languages, trying to train his brain and his tongue not to confuse the myriad of words locked within his brain.

Everything is peaceful, everything is homey and comfortable and bright, but sometimes his brain works a little too quickly so he finds himself padding through the house late one night, careful and quiet not to wake anyone, and hovers over the bassinet, peering in at his son. Sprawled out straight on his back, little fingers curled into fists at his side, and a calm look on his face as he sleeps on, lips parted, that steady but loud breathing that had so freaked him out in the beginning filling the room.

He's still standing there, thoughtfully memorizing every inch of this little boy, when soft steps pad up to him and an arm loops around his waist. "Come back to bed," Alicia groans. "It's cold out here."

It is, a little, the tile almost unpleasant under his bare feet, but he simply guides her into his arms and holds her while they both look down at their son. "He's incredible, Alicia," he whispers into her hair. "Thank you for... for all of this. Our life together. Him." He touches her jaw, guides her up to stare into her eyes. "I love you so much."

She smiles up at him, eyes looking a little misty. "I love you too, Ricardo," she breathes out, cradling his face with her hand before leaning in to kiss him, softly, slowly. "But seriously, I am cold, can't we say all of this in our nice warm bed?"

He laughs gently, and nods. "Yes, yes we can." Ignoring a lifetime of injuries, he makes her gasp out a muffled squeal, giggling into his shoulder as he hoists her up and carries her down the hall to their bedroom. She's always been thin, but she's tall, and it's awkward, but he makes it. Deposits her gently onto the mattress, examining her flushed face, before dropping down onto the edge of the bed and crawling over to her. Hovering over her prone body, he brushes some hair out of her eyes and leans in to kiss her. "I love you," he repeats against her lips again and again, between each press of his mouth to hers.

She hums and sighs and runs her hands up and down his back, a gentle smile on her face. "I adore you, Ricardo," she responds after a moment and he closes his eyes, letting her take control with the kisses and everything else. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me."

He doesn't know how it's possible, but he feels even happier than he had before.