After Paige flies out for Raw, Ricardo comes back down to reality, looking around his bedroom. Bites his lips and leaves the room, wandering past the kitchen and outside to the patio. Alberto is sitting in the white chairs, tapping a pen against a pile of papers, his brows furrowed together. "Eh, El Patron?" he asks quietly, sitting across from him.

"Si, mi amigo," Alberto murmurs, not looking away from the papers.

"Is something wrong?"

This attracts Alberto's attention and he looks up, lips twitching up into a smile. "No, no, Ricardo, I am just thinking. I perhaps will be signing with MMA, and I want to ensure that I can juggle it, AAA, Lucha Underground, and ROH successfully."

Ricardo stares down at the contracts with a new appreciation. "Sofia and I will start to think you've left home permanently," he jokes, scooping the papers up and scanning them himself.

"Never, mi hermano. You're stuck with me." Alberto grins as Ricardo peeks up at him, a flash of relief before he turns back to the contracts. "Did you have a nice weekend with Paige?"

There it is, what the ring announcer had been expecting for quite awhile. Ricardo swallows and sets the papers down in his lap, staring at his former employer. "Si, we did... erm, I have something I would like to talk to you about. Eh, I should've run this by you before I actually asked, and I don't mean to put you on the spot like this but..." He releases an anxious breath and leans forward, tapping his fingers against the papers. "I asked Paige to move in with me. It was abrupt, I hadn't been planning on it, but... Lo siento, I should've asked-"

Alberto holds a hand up to stop his anxious ramblings and chuckles warmly, resting his hands over Ricardo's. "Mi amigo, por favor. Relax." His dark eyes search Ricardo's face. "I don't see why not. She makes you happy, which makes Sofia and I happy... and I believe Sofia would be pleased to have another woman in the house." He squeezes Ricardo's fingers and tilts his head. "Soooo, you two are getting serious, hmm?" As Ricardo flushes, he grins and leans forward, hugging him. "It's nothing to be embarrassing about, mi amigo. It's sweet."

"So she can move in?" he asks, his voice thin, mouth dry. "Really?"

"Of course! Mi casa es su casa, and now it's her casa," Alberto tells him. "If she needs any help moving, let me know, I can hire someone-"

"No, no, you're doing more than enough by being so agreeable to all of this," Ricardo shakes his head. "She and I will sort out what we need to do to complete the move successfully. You have many things to ponder." He stacks the papers neatly before laying them back on the table. "I need to go talk to Paige, but if you want help sorting through these contracts, let me know, El Patron. I'll be happy to help."

Alberto pats him on the back as he heads into the house, a fond smile on his face while he leans back in his chair and watches the clouds drift by lazily, the Floridian wind soothing against his skin. It's a time of change for all of them, but good change. In comparison to a year prior, he can't believe how happy he feels, for himself and everyone he's closest to.

-x

On Tuesday, Ricardo squeezes in some time between his training at the dojo and everything else, driving out to Paige's apartment to help her begin the move. Alberto is wrapped up in his own business, preparing to tour Paris and other places that Ricardo is envious of, but he has responsibilities to Paige and to the event he's competing at in South Carolina so he keeps himself busy, following Paige's directions. The next couple of hours pass in a flood of wrapping delicate items, labeling and taking boxes out to the car, and half-listening to Paige and Summer Rae's dwindling conversation.

Within the second hour, Paige is quietly piling the last of her books into a box and Summer Rae's ducked into her bedroom when Ricardo sits down next to her, nudging her lightly. "Hey."

"Hey." Paige smiles at him, scribbling on the side of the box with a sharpie. "I'm almost done, we should be good to go before your training session tonight."

"Mind if I ask something?" he asks, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She looks over at him expectantly and he nods towards the bedrooms. "Every time prior when I'd come here, I could barely get a word in edgewise between you and Summer... not complaining, just saying," he adds hastily when she narrows her eyes at him. "But today, you two've barely been talking and now she's hiding in her bedroom. It's weird. Is everything ok?"

"Ok is debateable, but yes, things are ok. She's just sad because I'm moving out." Paige sighs. "Truthfully, I am too a little." She cups his face, kissing him. "I love the thought of living with you, but Summer was my first real friend in America..." Ricardo squeezes her hand. "I know that Summer and I will still see each other, especially since we work together. It's just an adjustment."

"Maybe we could have her over to the house," Ricardo suggests. "Sofia loves cooking for extra people, Alberto will be easy to convince I'm sure."

Paige leans against him and kisses the side of his face. "Thanks, love. I'll be honest, I was surprised he was so easy to convince allowing me to move in. He hasn't had you back for that long, I never would've wanted to intrude on you three... "

Ricardo tilts his head and kisses her back, smiling down at her. "He's just happy that you make me happy. That's why he had no problem with us all living together. Besides, you're no intrusion... you enhance everything. When Alberto and I became friends again, I thought life was great... but then you and I fell in love and I began to actually wrestle again, and now things are pretty much perfect." He lifts her hand and kisses her knuckles, beaming at her. She giggles and snuggles against him for a few moments before they quietly pull apart and resume wrapping up packing.

Once the last box is in Ricardo's car, he stands in the parking lot and watches as Summer Rae peeks outside, staring at him for a moment before joining Paige. The two friends stare at each other for a moment before Paige steps forward, Summer Rae's shoulders shaking slightly as she throws her arms around her, hugging her tightly. Paige responds quickly, soothingly rubbing her back as Ricardo smiles and turns away to give them their privacy. When footsteps approach him, he knows immediately that it's not Paige because she's wearing flats and the feet approaching him are clearly wearing heels, so he's not surprised to find that it's Summer Rae staring up at him, her eyes red rimmed and lips twisted sadly. "Oh, hola, Summer," he stammers.

She examines him for awhile quietly before resting her hands on his shoulders. "If you do anything to hurt her, I will make you sorry you've ever met her. Ok?" He nods and she immediately relaxes, offering him a bland smile. "But I know you won't. I'm happy for you both. Really."

"I'll take good care of her, Summer," he promises.

"Thank you," she sighs, stepping back and nodding at Paige, who quickly joins them. "Everything's fine." The divas hug again, Summer wiping at her eyes as she steps back. "Bye, Paige. I'll be calling soon, we can dish about everything."

"I look forward to it," Paige smiles at her before walking towards Ricardo. Waving at Summer, she slips into the passenger's seat and watches as Ricardo crosses the car to take the driver's side.

He hesitates in front of Summer. "If you want, we'll invite you to dinner at Alberto's soon. We just have to get Paige's things unpacked first, and settle into things. Alright?"

"Thanks," Summer agrees, watching him get into the car. She waves morosely as the car backs up and drives off, Paige waving at her until out of sight. She then sighs and returns to her now empty apartment.

-x

"How many black shirts do you own?" Paige laughs as she makes room for herself in Ricardo's closet, finding it all mixed between zubaz, dark shirts and his wrestling gear.

"How many do you own?" he volleys back with a chuckle as he approaches her and wraps an arm around her waist, peering inside to see what she's doing.

"Touche," she sighs, sinking back into his grip as she hangs up a few more shirts. "So... this is our home now."

"Si, it is," he nods, squeezing her. "Do you like it?"

"You're here, of course I like it, love," she murmurs, leaning her head back against his shoulder. "Now... where's my drawer?" He laughs as she drags him towards the dresser, stretching her fingers out against the warm wood. "Hmm? Hmm?"

His laughter fades away when she looks expectantly up at him. "Um, mi fuerza..." Her eyes flash as she turns towards him, raising her eyebrows. "Paige-" Before he can think of anything to say, she inches between his arms and begins to tickle his sides, causing him to gasp and writhe away from her. "No, no! Paige, stop! I hate being tickled!" But he's laughing so hard that it's nearly impossible to remain on his feet, stumbling back to collapse onto the bed as she follows him, still attacking his sides and ribs. "Paige, please!"

He's breathless and almost choking on his laughter when she finally ceases, hovering over him as he coughs and sniffs, tears pouring down his face from her unrelenting rampage. "Ay dios mio," he huffs as she smiles down at him.

"Welcome to life with me," she hums, wiping his eyes for him. "You alright?"

"I'm fine." They lay quietly for awhile longer as she strokes his neck and chest, listening to his breaths stabilize. "But honestly, I'll get my stuff sorted so you can have a drawer as soon as I can." He rests his hands on her lower back and lightly squeezes, smiling when she hums in response. "Alright?"

"More than alright." She leans up and kisses his nose. "Thank you, love."

"My pleasure."

-x

Alberto leaves for Europe on Thursday, Paige already gone for Smackdown. Ricardo and Sofia smile at each other as they approach the now empty house, the ring announcer's brows furrowing as he wraps an arm around the housekeeper and snuggles her against his side, realizing anew just how quiet the place is with everyone gone. Overwhelmed by an impulse, he peers down at her. "Hey, Sofia?"

"Si, Ricardo?"

"Since my next match is in South Carolina, I was planning on road tripping up there... no need being stuck in an airplane for a couple hours when I can just take in the sights and make it there on my own time." He tilts his head towards her and smiles. "What do you say you keep me company while I do so?"

Sofia gapes up at him before her lips part into a brilliant smile, eyes shining. "Si, si, Ricardo, I would love to. Gracias."

"It's about a seven hour trip," he warns her. "Are you sure?"

"Si, I'm sure. What else will I do but rattle around this huge house and cook for myself all weekend while you all are gone?" She shakes her head. "No, no, I'm more than happy going with you, Ricardo. I will bring pack plenty of food and drinks for us. When will we be leaving?"

As they walk into the house, discussing the trip, she smiles up at him, relieved that, for the first time ever, she can feel how settled he is. The anxious, desperate to please young man she'd first met when Alberto had hired him all of those years ago now seems more comfortable, confident that he's back in this house, with Paige, and is Puerto Rican heavyweight champion. He's sitting at the kitchen table, sorting through maps to figure out the best roads to take to reach Cayce, South Carolina, when she pauses in the midst of figuring out what she wants to make for the trip. Rejoining him, she hovers over him and presses a soft kiss to his forehead. He's staring up at her, confused and curious, when she strokes the hair out of his eyes. "I'm so proud of you, mi hijo. And I can't wait to see what you succeed at next."

Surprise melting into sheepish pleasure, he grins at her as she bustles back into the kitchen to resume preparations. "Gracias, Sofia."