"I think," Alberto says, voice thick with exhaustion and alcohol. Ricardo waits patiently, half-watching as Memo throws darts at a board across the room. "I think I'm going to leave Florida, get a fresh start."

Ricardo's eyebrows lift, his attention completely off of Memo now as he puts his full focus on his former employer. "Que? Why?"

Alberto's smile is sad suddenly, his eyes dark and pinched. "There is nothing for me there anymore, mi hermano." Ricardo feels a little breathless, pained for his friend, and Alberto clears his throat. "I will keep the house, of course, but I think it is time I return to Texas. Spend time in my residence there. Sofia will come with me, I assume she will be happy to be nearer to our culture as well." Parts of Texas, like California, has a sizeable Mexican vibe to it. Ricardo had considered, briefly, making it his new home, before opting to return to his own family.

But now... now he thinks about something. How well he and Alberto had jived tonight, as if nothing had happened. As if they'd been working together nonstop since their debut in WWE, with no drama, and no pain. Nothing coming between them. He eyes his friend and thumbs at his phone, staring at his Twitter settings. It still reads Florida as his location, but that's not right. Florida has never been home for him either. So he takes a breath, and he takes the leap. "¿Qué piensas?"

Alberto takes the phone from him and stares at the screen blankly, blinking a few times before looking up at Ricardo with a small smile. "Si?"

"Si. If you don't mind," Ricardo says, smoothing his hands nervously against the table.

"Mind," Alberto laughs brokenly, reaching out and resting his hand over Ricardo's, stilling his anxious movements. "Mi casa is su casa, mi hermano. Always and forever."

Ricardo nods, taking the phone back and pressing a few buttons, changing his location to now read California/Texas. He feels lighter somehow, now. Like a pivotal piece that's been missing just fell back into place. He smiles back at Alberto before they get up to challenge Memo to a proper game of darts.

-x

Ricardo returns to California after finishing up in Florida. He'd be flying out eventually for more indy events with Alberto, but for now, he's content to stay near home, play with his niece and nephew, and help Alicia with things, while eyeing his engagement ring, still in awe over it. She is busy with her own plans, setting up a trampoline and other low impact things she can do to keep in shape while recovering from her tailbone injury. He offers to test it out for her and she stands nearby, laughing as he hops up and down on the thing, flipping and spinning on it like a little kid.

Once he's good and flushed, breathless, he hops carefully to the edge and gets off near her, grinning widely. "I'd say it's good to go!"

She laughs again and cups his face with both of her hands, long nails scritching at his jaw and cheeks. "Yes, it is," she murmurs, kissing him warmly. He hums into her mouth, wrapping his arms around her, and marvels at how lucky he really is to have someone like her in his life after so long of being lonely and unwanted.

After leaving Florida, he'd been uncertain where exactly he was going to land. But he likes this place, their temporary rental slowly feeling more like home as Alicia puts more work into it, thanks to the landlord suggesting they make things more permanent as the trial period approaches its end and he finds himself liking having tenants who are low-drama and actually pay their rent on time. She'd taken his decision to divide his time between California and Texas well, a look of understanding crossing her face when he mentions Alberto choosing Texas as his new base of operations, and he loves her even more for not raising any objections or judging him for so easily returning to work for the man who'd cost him so much over the years.

He lifts her up onto the edge of the trampoline and kisses her, feeling her hum against him as he steps closer, her legs curling around him and pulling them flush against each other, her arms coiled loosely around his neck. She shivers when he rubs his hand over her back, the band of his ring cool against where her shirt tapers off down her shoulders. "Ok?" he whispers against her mouth, always careful, mindful of her injury.

She bites her lip, nods. "Perfect," she responds and smirks as he kisses her again and again, each time growing longer, hotter.

The trampoline is equally supportive and flexible around them and Ricardo thinks putting one out here might be the best idea Alicia's ever had.