Flying back to Pennsylvania and immediately having to get back on schedule after spending Thanksgiving with Mike, AJ, and the rest of their friends is a chore. Especially when they have to jump right back into it with the kids, and the school, and Alicia's designing, and... just life in general.
Sofia is the only one who seems to flow with it, humming under her breath as she bustles around the kitchen and prepares breakfast for them all. Ricardo sighs, listening to her from down the hall, idly trying to tame his hair. "I should've brushed it out after I showered last night."
"I tried to tell you," Alicia chuckles, coming up behind him and hugging him.
He glances at her in the mirror, then makes a face at her before returning to trying to make sense of his hair. "You know, I was looking at calendars the other day," he says quietly after a few moments.
She hums. "Yeah? And?"
"2024," he says after a few moments. "Coming up on ten years since I was released from WWE."
"Huh," she says. "Yeah, I guess that's right, isn't it? Time flies."
"It does," he agrees, resting his head back against her shoulder. "It's wild to think about. So much has happened, so much of it probably wouldn't have happened if I had stayed there."
Alicia hums, stroking his side lazily. "Yeah," she says. "I've only had a little bit of time since my contract voided too, but I feel like that too. I can't imagine how I'll feel in ten years when I look back on it."
He turns and wraps an arm around her, drawing her in closer. "I'll be here for you through it," he promises. "No matter how you feel when that time comes up."
She smiles up at him, tracing a finger down his jaw. "I know you will," she murmurs. "I love you."
He kisses her fingers as they trace over his lips. "I love you too," he responds, resting his forehead against hers. "Now come on, I think we should go help Sofia with breakfast before the twins get fussy."
Alicia chuckles. "Yeah, you're right. C'mon."
Side by side, they head out to the kitchen, holding hands, looking forward to the future and what it will bring them both.