Ricardo's life had always felt like it came in fits and starts. Every time he had something he was dedicated to, focused entirely on, something would happen and it'd go away before he was prepared for it to. His time with Alberto in WWE, the wrestling school in India, his relationship with Paige. It taught him to never depend on something for too long, because it'd barely last.
But now he's older, with children and a significant other, and a wrestling school in a state that's all his own, with no prior history to tie him down or keep him limited in what he could accomplish. It's... it's freeing, it's amazing. He stares up at the building they rent to train in and exhales slowly, turning as Alicia joins him, a small smile on her face. "Hey," he greets her. "Kids good?"
She nods. "Sofia sounds like she's having a blast. The twins are freshly fed and down for their nap, and she's teaching Andre how to make pumpkin spice cookies for that school bake sale."
"Oh great," he jokes, wrapping an arm around her as she settles in against him. "Pumpkin spice season already."
Alicia giggles, then pinches him lightly. "You know Sofia and I agree, there's no way that that can be too early."
"I know," he moans, over-dramatic and teasing. "It's a sad fact I have to live with every year."
Alicia hums, turning and draping her arms around his shoulders, leaning in teasingly. "You don't seem to mind around Thanksgiving when we make you that special pumpkin pie you love so much."
His eyes cross a little as he looks at her, envisioning the golden brown pie with the flaky crust, and a perfect amount of spices that zing against his tongue, warm and decadently sweet. "That is true," he concedes, leaning in to kiss her. "You're making me hungry," he complains against her lips and she beams.
"Guess we'll have to go home soon so I can make up for that," she murmurs, brushing a finger over his lips and winking up at him. "Are you about done here?"
"Yeah," he says. "Just had to drop off some paperwork to finalize renting this place for another year." He looks up at it. "Started to think about how much my life's changed." He gazes down at her. "This is the first time in a long time I really feel secure in the direction my life's taken, you know? Probably since... early days with Alberto. I guess."
She smiles and rubs his arms. "I'm glad. You deserve that."
He shakes his head, cradling her face in his hands and kissing her again. "It's all thanks to you," he tells her. "You gave me the courage to make this move, and trusted in me to stay by my side through all of it. I owe you so much."
She hums. "You've given me a pretty amazing life too, you know. Our house, the kids, the confidence to finally break ties with WWE and try to find my own path. I don't really know where I'd be without you right now."
He squeezes her hand and takes one last glance back at the building. "C'mon, let's go home," he says softly.
"Yeah," she agrees, already leading the way back to the car.
