John Morrison stares at the backstage monitor, watching Prince Puma compete against Big Ryck and the other two nobodies who kept jumping them since the very first week this wild ride known as Lucha Underground had begun. Something so ridiculous caused by pure greed, that hundred thousand dollar incentive bringing out the worst in quite a few people. Yeah, sure, the money would've been great to fund more of his projects like Boone the Bounty Hunter and whatever else he wanted to do while not holed up in this temple, training and competing, muddling his way through despite the biased leadership of Cueto... but he had come here for the love of wrestling, because of his respect of the business and those alongside him. Well, most of them, anyway.
He's distracted from the match when he hears a familiar voice loudly grousing in Spanish, his dark eyes shifting to watch as Chavo Guerrero storms past him, pushing away anyone who tries to talk to him. Morrison smirks to himself, a little pleased to see that the luchadora named Sexy Star has completely taken Chavo off of his game. She may not have beat him outright in their intergender match earlier, but she had definitely knocked him down a peg or two since his unnecessary attacks on her, Blue Demon Jr, and so many others. Speaking of whom... with Chavo out of the halls, John turns once more to watch as the blonde woman herself walks past the monitor, her hair and sequined wrestling gear gleaming even in this dimly lit dungeon. "Hey, Star!"
She's in the process of adjusting her mask when he calls out to her and it startles her, the resulting twitch making her mask shift against her face. She looks like she's gearing up for a fight until she turns to find him staring at her, realizing who exactly it was. "Oh." She relaxes and shakes her head, a small smile crossing her lips. "What is it, Mundo?"
He casts a quick glance at the monitor, relieved that, for now, Puma seems to be holding his own and Ryck's goons are staying where they belong outside before walking towards her. "What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Anything special?"
"Ah, no, I don't believe so," she murmurs, her English still a little stilted. "Why do you ask?"
There's no time to really discuss this, but he'd been hit with the impulse as soon as he'd seen her, and he'd never been the kind to ignore an impulse. So... "How about you come with me, and spend the holiday with my friends in Florida? It'll be at Alberto Del Rio's house in Florida, you've worked a few of the same events as he has with AAA, right?" It's then that he hears a commotion out in the ring and realizes that while he'd been focusing on her, things had truly broken down and Puma was getting brutalized. "Alright, listen, we'll talk about it later, but I have to go help Puma now." He pats her on the arm before taking off at a wild run towards the runway into the ring... deciding ultimately to get the advantage by surprising the three men. He leaps over the rail and into the ring from far above, relieved for his Parkour training as he lands without injuring himself.
Unfortunately his attempt to help Puma fails and the masked man is thrown viciously through a table while Morrison sprawls out at ringside, beat up and dazed as well. Once Ryck and the other two leave, he struggles into the ring and tries to figure out a way to help Puma but there's very little he can do, the man entirely unconscious. He sighs and rests a hand on Puma's chest, waiting for a trainer to help move him. He walks Puma backstage before allowing the trainer to take over, immediately turning to find that Sexy Star is still waiting for him, her arms crossed over her chest. "Unfortunate break," she says simply, watching Puma get walked into the trainer's office.
John nods, figuring that his failure had made her decision quite easy. "Yeah," he mumbles. "I was trying to help him, but it asn't enough."
He walks past her, almost lost in the shadows when her voice stops him. "If the invitation is still open, I would like to spend Thanksgiving with you and your friends. Muchas gracias for inviting me."
John laughs slightly and turns to look at her, raising an eyebrow. "Of course it's still open. Meet me in the parking lot in, say, fifteen minutes, and we'll figure out the soonest flight out to Florida." As she smiles and nods, he turns away and walks back to the locker room, a feeling he hasn't felt in a long time fluttering around inside of him.
-x
"Eh, are you sure we're going to survive this, mi amigo?" Alberto mumbles, looking around as Mike and AJ settle in at the kitchen table, Mizdow already hard at work mimicking Mike eating the sandwiches that Sofia had set out as soon as they'd arrived from the airport. "It's only just begun, and already..."
Ricardo glances at him for a moment before following his gaze to Mizdow, who is chomping at sandwiches in nearly perfect syncronization with Mike. Neither he or Alberto had been with WWE when the stunt double thing had begun, to see it first hand is really something else. He shakes his head fondly and chuckles. "Only Mike could get away with something like this..." Patting Alberto on the arm, he finally turns his former employer away and leads him into the living room. "Come, let's sort through your schedule for this weekend while they get settled. I'm sure everything will be fine."
As they sit side by side going through everything, Alberto keeps glancing over at Ricardo with a smile on his face until the former ring announcer raises his eyebrows and catches Alberto's eye, the Mexican aristocrat freezing when he realizes he's been caught. "Eh..."
"What's going on, El Patron? Is everything alright?"
"Oh, si, mi amigo, everything's fine..." He still can't stop smiling, however, adding to Ricardo's suspicion. "I may have something to talk to you about soon, but not quite yet. Be patient a little while longer, si?" He pats Ricardo's jaw when he nods and winks at him before turning back to the papers.
"Alright," he murmurs, a curious look on his face. When the doorbell rings, he's distracted from trying to figure out what Alberto could possibly be keeping from him. Knowing it could only be one of their friends, he gets up and walks to the door. "I've got it, Sofia," he calls, making sure that the housekeeper doesn't lose her place in the ridiculous holiday meal preparation that she'd insisted on handling by herself, despite the ridiculous amount of people that will be partaking of it.
It's Alex and Alicia and the former roommates beam at each other as Ricardo hugs him tightly. "C'mon inside, Sofia's already cooking for tomorrow, and there are sandwiches in the kitchen if either of you are hungry. Mike, AJ and... uh... Mizdow are here already, so we're really just waiting on John, which if he gets an early enough flight, should be in in time for breakfast, we're hoping." He hesitates, glancing over at Alicia. "Paige should be here too, soon..."
She stares back at him, unblinkingly, before disappearing into the kitchen, greeting AJ with a squeal as if they hadn't just seen each other a couple of days earlier during Raw. "Don't worry," Alex murmurs, smiling at him. "They won't kill each other, I encouraged Alicia to just ignore her for the holidays." As Ricardo releases a blustery breath, Alex laughs and wraps an arm around his shoulders, leading him into the living room where Alberto greets him with a nod before turning back to a conversation he's enbroiled in over his cell phone. Ricardo tries to catch what he's saying in Spanish but he's speaking so quietly, and Miz's telling a story loudly in the kitchen, so he doesn't hear enough of Alberto's half of the conversation to understand if perhaps it has to do with whatever secret he's keeping from Ricardo.
He pouts a little about this, catching the mischevious gleam in Alberto's eyes, but lets it go with a sigh when Alberto immediately disconnects the call and gets up to see if Sofia needs rescuing from Miz's rambuctious storytelling. All that accomplishes is bringing Miz into the living room for all of them to hear the latest adventures of the Moneymaker, Alberto looking like he's regretting his attempt at rescuing Sofia as he stares at Mizdow, not understanding it at all. Miz notices the look on his and Ricardo's faces as they watch Mizdow, bristling at his thunder once more getting stolen by his stunt double. "Hey!" he exclaims loudly, causing all of them to jump, including Mizdow. Turning sharply, he stares at Mizdow. "You have the next thirty-six hours off. Just be yourself, and don't mimic a thing I do, got it?"
Mizdow looks floored, gingerly reaching up to take off the sunglasses. "Are you certain?"
"Yes," he grouses, turning back to his friends to continue telling the story. He pauses yet again when he realizes that they're still all watching Mizdow slowly become Sandow once more, interested in what he'll do with this reprieve. "OH COME ON!"
AJ giggles helplessly and leans up to kiss him, shaking her head as Mike glowers around, Ricardo and Alex looking guilty when they realize they'd been ignoring him this entire time. After a little while, Miz calms down and stops pouting long enough to finish talking about being approached to film a guest role in Sirens, Ricardo relieved when there's another knock at the door. He opens it to find that Paige is waiting on the other side, his eyes softening as soon as he sees her. "Hola, mi fuerza," he greets her, hugging her before taking a dish from her. He looks curiously at it as she shrugs off her jacket and leans into him, tapping a fingernail against the foil on top of it.
"My mum's banoffee pie recipe," she comments idly, brushing past him to enter the house as he gapes down at the dish. "Thought you might like to try it."
He shuts the door before following her, still amazed that she'd go to this much trouble for him. "Si, I will. Gracias, Paige." As soon as he sets the dessert in the fridge, smiling at Sofia on his way by while she works over pie crusts, her eyes sparkling as she looks up to smile back at him, he joins Paige in the living room and looks around at the growing group of people filling the living room, soft music playing from somewhere- he eventually realizes that it's from Alicia's phone, her and Alex leaning close together and talking quietly. In contrast, Sandow is talking enthusiastically to Alberto about something- Ricardo suspects it's the recent space mission where they landed a craft on a moving comet- without realizing how glazed over the other man's eyes are. Miz and AJ are standing in a corner of the room, slow dancing to whatever pop song is playing off of Alicia's phone now, and he smiles slightly before he moves over to rescue his best friend from Sandow. "Ah, El Patron, would you mind helping me figure out the guest room situation?"
They had figured it out days ago, with some suggestions from Sofia, but it's an excuse as good as any other, and Alberto's eyes widen as he all but leaps up from the couch. "Ah! Si, mi amigo, let's go do that. Lo siento, Sandow, but this needs to be handled." His walk is brisk and just shy of a sprint as he heads out of the living room to take advantage of Ricardo's excuse.
Ricardo fights his laughter as he holds his hand out to Paige and she takes it, her eyes lit with mirth too as she realizes what's happening, following them into the hallway leading to the bedrooms. They make a show of wandering around the rooms, pretending to figure out who should sleep where, but they're really just biding time until they feel like it's safe to return to the kitchen, to sit with Sofia and keep her company while she finishes all of the food that can be handled tonight for baking in the morning. "Ah, senors, Paige, you don't need to stay in here with me," she chides them when she realizes what they're doing. "Go, visit with your friends... I'm fine in here, cooking makes me happy. Especially being able to cook for all of you again."
She stares at Ricardo with a soft, affectionate smile, and he takes a deep breath, remembering that last year, they hadn't spent this holiday together. His had been spent with everyone at Alex's, and Sofia and Alberto had been here all alone... "I want to stay in here with you, Sofia," he says quietly, a meaningful look crossing her eyes at the tone of his voice.
She immediately drops the stuffing she's making for the turkey, wipes her hands clean and rushes over to hug him, nodding against his neck. "Of course, stay as long as you wish, Ricardo. Lo siento, I just thought..." Waving her towel around, she shakes her head, eyes bright. "Never mind what I thought." Cupping his face, she smiles at him until he smiles back at her. She releases him a moment later and rushes back to finish preparing the stuffing, checking off her to-do list as she goes. "Alright, I think I've done all I can for tonight... tomorrow morning, I will wake up early and complete the rest." She kisses the top of Ricardo's head on her way by, smiling over at Alberto and Paige. "Buenos noches, mi familia."
"Buenos noches, Sofia," they respond in kind, turning to smile at each other. "Come on, let's go see what madness is happening in the living room," Alberto suggests, waiting as Ricardo takes Paige's hand once more and the three of them approach the larger room, peering inside. Those inside all look like they're dragging, close to passing out asleep right then and there, and Ricardo chuckles, also feeling the welcome pull of sleep as he checks the clock, amazed to find that it's almost 11 PM. "Let's split up," Del Rio says, clearly eager to go to bed as well. "I'll make sure Miz and AJ get to their room in one piece."
Ricardo stares down at Paige for a moment before nodding. "I'll handle Alex and Alicia. Paige, if you could deal with M- I mean Sandow, his room is upstairs. Across from Alex and Alicia's, actually, so I can show you."
"Sure," she agrees, peering down at the absently mumbling Sandow, who keeps nodding asleep just to jerk awake, say another couple of words and then doze back off. She giggles and shakes her head before poking him. "Up you get," she tells him. "It's time for us all to go to sleep."
"That sounds incredible," he mumbles, trying to curl up on the couch.
"Ay, no," Alberto says, pulling him up onto his feet. "You are not giving my housekeeper a heart attack in the morning when she comes to bake the turkey." Pushing him towards the stairs, he waits until he's sure that Ricardo and Paige have him going in the right direction, Alex and Alicia a little more agreeable as they walk up the stairs as well. Turning to find AJ and Mike staring blankly at him, he sighs and shakes his head. "The things you've gotten me wrapped up in, mi amigo," he sighs, unable to resist smiling. It's worth it though... especially after last year. "Come on, your room is next to mine. And if I hear anything strange, you're sleeping in the garage..."
"What if we hear anything strange?" AJ asks, blinking innocently when Alberto peers over at her suspiciously, choosing not to respond as he leads them to the room and shuts the door securely behind them.
Ricardo and Paige return a moment later, Paige chuckling faintly as Ricardo whispers something to her, the two of them separating when they realize that Alberto is watching them. "Everyone snug in their beds, El Patron?"
"Si, mi amigo." Alberto hugs Ricardo quickly before pushing him towards his own room. "It's your turn, mi hermano. You look exhausted."
"So do you, El Patron." Ricardo smiles at him before turning to open his door. "See you in the morning, mi hermano."
"Si, see you then," he comments, slipping into his bedroom and shutting the door behind him, leaning against it while he ponders those words. It's the best thing he's heard in a long time.
The next morning dawns bright and early but Alberto can tell by the smells rafting into his room that Sofia has been up for hours already, the house full of delicious smells and still sleeping people. He slips out of bed anyway and wanders around his home for awhile, content to take in all of the peace and quiet while he can, knowing that once Miz wakes up and Morrison arrives, it all will be shattered. But it makes Ricardo happy, and that's the important thing. He makes his way into the kitchen eventually and is greeted by one of Sofia's motherly smiles, Alberto pleased to settle in at the table and watch her bustle around. "No word from Morrison yet?" he asks as she rests a mug of coffee in front of him, thanking her softly as he sips from it, closing his eyes at the delicious taste.
"I believe Senor Miz said he would be arriving around 8 AM last night," she says, casting a glance at him.
"See, I don't need to listen to him," Alberto defends himself. "I have you around to remember all of these little things for me." She tsks at him but his smile softens her and she shakes her head fondly, turning back to baste the turkey. He's just opened his mouth to compliment her on how amazing everything is smelling when the expected knock comes at the door and he hangs his head, sighing. "I'm coming, I'm coming." He wanders to the door and pulls it open, expecting Morrison with his lazy, confident smirk and obnoxious hair... but instead, what he sees stops him short. "You're not Morrison," he says dumbly, examining the female before him. She looks familiar, mask and all, but he can't quite place it well enough to remember her name offhand. "You work in AAA, si?"
"Si, I am Sexy Star," she says simply. "Johnny Mundo... eh, Morrison, is getting our luggage."
Only then does everything click with him and he sighs. "He invited you to Thanksgiving?"
She stares up at him, eyes dark behind her mask. "Si, is that a problem?" She looks like she's about to turn and leave, right then and there, but John appears then, holding their bags and staring at Alberto. "Mundo, I think-"
"Del Rio, does Sofia need to give you another lesson in manners?" he asks. "Making your guests stand on your porch, c'mon, man." He guides Sexy Star inside, despite her visible hesitation, and Alberto bristles even more. Which John apparently notices because he hands Sexy Star her luggage and guides her into the living room to put it up before turning back to Alberto. "Look, I'm sorry, I should've called to make sure that this was ok, but it just felt wrong, letting her spend the holiday alone. It is ok, right?"
Alberto runs his hand over his face, still unable to shake the memory of last Thanksgiving, when it had just been him and Sofia, unable to do anything but watch from afar as Ricardo spent the holiday far away from them physically and emotionally because of his actions. This year, he has his best friend, he has a group of people filling his house and keeping it from being as empty and depressing as it had been back then, and he can't possibly find it in him to turn someone else away, especially a fellow competitor from his new home in AAA. "Very well, she may stay. But next time you want to invite in some stray," he adds quietly, careful to not be overheard by the woman, some of his old temper flaring to the surface, "you tell me first. Capiche?"
John rolls his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Is everyone else asleep?" Alberto nods briskly before returning to the kitchen, John's face brightening before he slinks down the hall, taking a guess and letting himself into Mike and AJ's room. They're both still fast asleep, curled up in each other. John almost feels guilty as he approaches their bed and grips Mike's abandoned scarf, which he had clearly brought along to mock Del Rio with, and tickles the tassles under Mike's nose, watching as he shifts in his sleep, swatting at it for a moment before easing back into the pillows. Morrison resumes, fighting his laughter as Mike's swats disrupts AJ's sleep and she rolls away from him with a cranky look on her face, unaware of what's going on.
Finally Mike sneezes and sits up, flailing around with a shocked look on his face when he realizes that his hands are tangled up in his own scarf. "What the hell!" Looking up, it all dawns on him quickly and he groans. "John, dammit!"
Morrison laughs and moves to help free him from the scarf. "Good morning to you too, Mike. Morning, AJ." Miz turns quickly to find his groggy wife awake and glowering at them, her eyes barely opened. "Oops, someone may be in the doghouse."
"It's all your fault!" Mike exclaims, grimacing when AJ looks even more murderous at his yelling. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to-"
She huffs and collapses back into bed, nuzzling into his side as he gapes at her. "I think she just wants you to shut up so she can go back to sleep," John offers with a laugh. Mike winces and leans down, kissing her gently before he pulls away and readjusts the sheets, trying to keep cool air from disrupting her rest, before gripping John by the sleeve and dragging him out into the hall.
The former tag champions stare at each other for a moment, John waiting for Mike to make the first move, which he finally does once he's woke up a little more. Throwing his arms around John, he thumps him on the back hard. "Friggin idiot... it's good to see you. Took you long enough to get here."
"Yeah, well, I thought it'd be a little sooner than this, but I had a slight change in plans."
"Oh? Like what?" Mike's about to guess what when he spots a blonde woman with a black mask covering her face, wearing a matching black sweater and simple blue jeans hesitating in the doorway to the kitchen. "Who is that?" he all but squeaks, eyes wide.
"She's my, eh, change in plans," John offers after a moment. "She works in Lucha Underground," he hastens to explain upon seeing the look on Mike's face. "She was gonna be all alone today so I offered for her to accompany me. But it was hellacious trying to find a spare flight to Florida and we ended up on different planes, so I had to wait in the airport and... ugh, we were lucky we got her a ticket at all."
"What does Alberto think about you randomly inviting people over?" Mike asks, his lips twitching at the very thought of Del Rio's reaction.
"He wasn't thrilled at first, but he's not going to just throw her out onto the street...besides, they work AAA together. He knows better than to start unnecessary drama this early on." Mike has no real response to that so they walk side by side into the kitchen, eager to see Sofia in her element, just in time to hear Sexy Star approach the woman.
"...may I help?"
Sofia turns to look at her and all of them freeze, certain that Sexy Star just overstepped, trying to assist Sofia in her own kitchen. They've all been close to the woman for various amounts of time, but none of them dare even suggest she can't handle meals on her own, no matter how many of them she's cooking for. John's about to pull Sexy Star away to safety when Sofia reaches into a nearby drawer and finds an apron, quietly handing it over to her. "How are you with tamales?"
"Mi madre taught me, I enjoy making them for myself when I have some free time."
This satisfies Sofia and she nods with a smile. "Very well, make as many of them as you can, and I will prepare the rest of the meal. Gracias for offering to help."
"De nada," Star tells her, quickly setting to work while the men watch on in surprise, the rest of them slowly wandering out from their bedrooms and sharing in the surprise as the two women successfully finish up the Thanksgiving meal only a few minutes after noon.
John shakes his head as the table, already bustling with all of the people surrounding it, grows even more busy as the food starts to cover its surface, waiting to be served and enjoyed. Along with the tamales and turkey, there's cranberry sauce, rolls, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, a vegetable medley, mashed potatoes and gravy. Pumpkin pie, Paige's bonaffee pie and a peach cobbler is waiting on the counter for dessert. All of them gape at it all, thoroughly impressed with Sofia and Star's handiwork, Ricardo beginning to clap for the women. Sofia grins sheepishly when the others beginning to applaud as well, fanning her skirt out as she quickly curtsies. "Por favor," she finally laughs when none of them seem eager to stop any time soon. "Sit and eat, enjoy yourselves, that is all the thanks I need."
They begin to take her advice, one by one taking their seats, but before Miz can grab a hot roll from the plate in front of him, Alberto lifts a hand. "Before we begin, I am relatively new to this Thanksgiving business, but as it is a holiday for gratitude, I feel like it is only right we go around and say what we are most grateful for." A pause drifts over the table and they all look at each other, waiting for someone to take that leap, be brave first to make it easier for the rest of them.
Mike takes the plunge first, standing up to get their attention. "Well, clearly, I'm most thankful for the moneymaker." He motions his hand over his face just to sputter when AJ pushes him and Morrison throws a crumpled up napkin at him, Mike huffing in exaggerated offense. "But in all honesty, I'm thankful for my wife, and I'm thankful for all of you having the patience to deal with me day in and day out for the past year. Thank you." Ice broken, he sits down and looks around, waiting for someone else to speak up.
Alicia takes the opportunity to follow Miz's lead, glancing around at them all. "I'm thankful for the best boyfriend anyone could ask for," she says, smiling down at Alex. "And I'm thankful for forgiveness." Her eyes rest on AJ for a moment, choosing to ignore Paige entirely as she settles back down, her grin growing as Alex kisses her palm.
"I am grateful," Star offers, her accent thick as she considers how best to word this, "for the ability to do the job I love the most, and for fellow competitors willing to welcome me into their homes on days like today." She smiles at Alberto, then at John, before sitting down.
Alex stands up next, staring at Mike, then Ricardo. "I'm thankful for the fact that, no matter where our careers may lead us, we still find ways to spend holidays like this together. And usually succeed at not killing each other when we do."
John laughs with the others at Alex's concluding comment, pretending to wipe tears from his eyes before he too stands up. "I'm thankful for new opportunities. And for the support of all of you during all of it."
AJ takes her cue then, Mike's eyes locked on her as she ponders how to say what's on her mind. "I am thankful for everything this year has brought me. Through all of the good and bad, I know I'll make it through ok whatever comes next because of that." She smiles lovingly down at Mike before taking her seat.
Sofia stands up next and everyone stares at her, eager to hear what she has to say. "I am thankful for the ability to work here, be a part of all of your lives... and thankful will never fully describe my level of gratitude that you are back with us, Ricardo," she says softly, reaching out and gripping Ricardo's hands, squeezing them gently.
"Gracias," he whispers to her, shifting as Paige takes her turn.
"I am thankful for all of the success this year has brought me," she says, careful not to look at AJ as she says it. "And I am also thankful for all of the disappointment and pain, because each has been a learning experience. And I wouldn't trade any of it for the world." She smiles at Ricardo as she sits back down next to him.
It dawns on them at the same time- Ricardo and Alberto both are the only ones who haven't yet spoke and they stare at each other, waiting for the other to stand up and say his piece. "Go ahead, El Patron," Ricardo finally offers, his eyes wide when Alberto shakes his head slowly.
"You go, mi amigo." They freeze, still at this impasse, when finally Ricardo leans over and whispers something to him. Alberto listens for a few moments before nodding slowly, accepting whatever Ricardo is suggesting. "Very well," he concedes. Both stand at the same time and exchange small smiles before turning to face the rest of the table.
"I am thankful for every place that has booked me since I left the WWE," Ricardo says slowly.
"And I am thankful that now mi hermano and I can work together like we always should have," Alberto adds.
"And we are thankful for unbreakable friendships," they say at the same time, smiling as they sit down, noticing that the others are all nodding in agreement with them. "Now," Alberto says, looking relieved that that's over, despite his blatant pleasure. "Let's eat, mi amigos."
"Yes!" Mike cheers, AJ swatting him again. This time, though, he's allowed to grab that roll he'd been eyeing minutes earlier, along with decent servings of pretty much every other dish on the table.
Two hours later, they're all sprawled out in the living room, the TV droning on with no one paying much attention to it while they all try to let the massive meal they'd just ate settle. "Ugh, I'm never moving again," Alicia sighs from where she's stretched out on the floor, Alex leaning against the couch next to her. "But it was all sooooo good..." Alex lazily strokes her hair, unable to verbally respond as his eyes flutter sleepily.
Mike grunts and stares up at the ceiling, tilting his head to catch a glimpse of his wife. "Anyone get the name of that food truck that hit me?" She giggles but doesn't offer any help to him, unwilling to move away from where she's snuggled against his neck.
They all lay there in a half doze for what feels like days until the first signs of life in the room, Alicia making it to her feet and padding over to the window to look outside. "It's beautiful out tonight," she comments softly. "Anyone else up for making a bonfire by the lake and sitting under the stars for awhile?"
Morrison sits up and looks around. "I'm in, what about you all?" They're all still a little sluggish but agreeable, following Alberto and Ricardo through the shadowy yard until they reach the glistening water. John and Mike head off to find sticks and whatever else useful to burn while Alicia makes sure there's nothing around that would easily catch fire and put Alberto's land at risk. Once they return with the sticks, John smiles and piles them up properly. "So are we rubbing sticks together, or...?"
Alberto huffs before holding up a grill lighter, shrugging. "After a meal like that, can anyone complain if we cheat a little?"
"No," most of them chorus so he presses its long wand against the wood, lighting it almost immediately. As he pulls away, the flames lick higher and help to ease some of the bite in the slightly chilly wind. They surround the fire and AJ smiles, leaning against Mike. "Today has been really nice."
"Yes, it has," he agrees, stroking her hair.
They're all still sitting there quietly when Alberto notices something is off. It takes a moment to click that Paige is sitting alone, her gaze far away as she peers off into the shadows. He follows her line of sight until he spots a familiar outline in the darkness and he quietly gets up, walking towards it. "Mi hermanito?" he whispers, joining Ricardo. "Are you alright?"
He's staring over the pond, a thoughtful look on his face. "Si," he murmurs. "Just thinking. Last year's Thanksgiving was so different..." Alberto nods slowly and Ricardo sighs. "I'm glad that things are back to how they're supposed to be, mi hermano. Alex and everyone did their best last year, but it all still felt so empty... that is, until I went to the porch and found pies waiting for me..." He casts a quick glance over at Alberto and grins. "We were so stupid, we were all so busy trying to get the main course prepared we completely forgot dessert... you and Sofia saved the day and probably didn't even realize it."
Alberto laughs at this, warm and comforting, and Ricardo chuckles too, Alberto wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "I'm glad I could do something to help you, mi hermano, despite all of the stupid decisions I was making back in those days." They stand there for a few more minutes, listening to their friends talking behind them before Alberto tilts his head, looking into Ricardo's face. "And I still intend on helping you, Ricardo. So now, I suppose I will tell you my surprise."
"What, El Patron?"
Alberto beams and turns to face him, needing to see his reaction to this. "I was making some calls yesterday, as you observed, and... AAA are interested in signing you, mi amigo. They want us to work together this weekend, if you are agreeable. If you don't mind continuing to ring announce me, that is. I am sure they will be more agreeable about allowing you to wrestle than WWE ever were in the future. What do you say?"
It's a soft whisper, Alberto barely hears it at first, so Ricardo repeats it until his voice is stronger, until it registers with Alberto. "Si," he nods. "Si, si, si. I do, yes, El Patron. Muchas gracias."
Alberto smiles, sighing into Ricardo's hair as he hugs him. "De nada, mi hermanito. Happy Thanksgiving."
"Happy Thanksgiving," he murmurs into Alberto's shoulder.
-x
The next morning, Ricardo's bedroom door inches open and soft footsteps pad closer to his bed, stopping at the side of it. Alberto's hand rests against his hair and strokes the long dark strands out of his eyes, the younger man stirring slightly. "Meh," he sighs, shifting until Paige wakes up next to him and looks up, confused. She relaxes when she sees who it is and between the two of them, they prompt Ricardo to wake up, warm coffee helping to keep him upright. "Our flight is soon, mi amigo," Alberto explains to him softly.
"I know," he whispers, eyes still mostly shut. "I'll be there." Paige and Alberto both chuckle fondly and he glances at them suspiciously before taking another deep pull of the coffee. This seems to help and by the end of the drink, he's out of bed and wandering around, getting ready for the flight.
Alberto grimaces and reaches into the closet, trying to help him... even if it means offering him his ridiculous jersey for the team that has inspired many 'friendly' wagers between the two of them during sports events. "Come on, mi amigo. We have to go, Miz and AJ will be coming with us because they have to go to Smackdown. And Sexy Star is coming to Mexico City as well, so we're all going to the airport together."
He nods, kissing Paige quickly before rushing to join Alberto. "Alright, let's do this." Most of the others are asleep still, but Sofia is waiting for them, making sure they all get the right luggage on their way out of the door, and Ricardo smiles at her. "Gracias for all you've done the past couple of days, Sofia. Holidays prepared by you are always amazing."
She pats his face. "You are too kind, Ricardo. Have fun in Mexico City, si?"
"Si. I'll be home in a few days. Perhaps we'll go to the dojo together and you can watch a training session."
"I'd like that," she agrees with a smile.
As Mike and AJ bid Sofia farewell, thanking her as well, Alberto and Ricardo step out onto the patio, glancing at each other. "Ready for this, amigo?"
"Si, I believe so," he says, glancing over at Alberto. "Thank you for the opportunity, El Patron."
"Oh please, mi amigo. You proved yourself to me from the moment I met you. There's no need to thank me for anything." Alberto smiles at him before walking towards the car, adjusting the luggage on his shoulder. "MIZ! MOVE IT OR I'M LEAVING YOU HERE!"
Ricardo laughs and sighs, staring up at the sky. As he walks towards the car, he can't help but feel like he's heading home... in a number of ways.