Although Ricardo falls asleep with Paige in his arms most nights, she still ends up leaving before morning so he finds himself alone and somewhat confused before the reality returns to him. They're still technically not a couple, no matter how much time they spend together, or what they do. Neither has said anything about it, but he can tell it's breaking her apart, just like it's eating at him every waking moment as well.

They had spent hours together at Disney, riding rides and eating overpriced food and having a great time, but upon arriving back at home, things had fallen quiet and subdued once more. Once AJ and Mike are safely in their bedroom, Alberto and Sofia quickly following to their own rooms, Paige reaches out for Ricardo's hand and interlaces their fingers. "Come on," she says quietly. He allows her to lead the way, blinking when she guides him into the bathroom. It's quiet, the lighting dim, as she reaches in and turns the water on, filling the bathtub. It had been humid and hot until the sun set fully as they were leaving, so they're both sweaty and uncomfortable, Ricardo watching quietly as she unbuttons his shirt and slowly guides it off of his shoulders.

He follows suit with her shirt, lifting it up from the bottom and slipping it over her head, and slowly they take turns shedding clothes until the tub is ready, then Ricardo holds Paige's hand as she sinks into the water with a soft sigh. He settles in behind her and she sighs as he wraps his arms around her, neither of them saying a word as the warm water soothes their bodies. "This is nice," she finally whispers, trailing her fingers up and down his arm.

"Yes it is," he murmurs, kissing her hair. It's just the right temperature and they both lay there comfortably, enjoying it and each other's presence. Finally he finds the soap and gently starts to lather her up, rinsing her off thoroughly before turning his attention to her hair. She hums, eyes shut, as his fingers massage her scalp, working shampoo into her black and blue strands. As soon as he's done, she sits up and he turns the tap on, scooping up fresh water and pouring it over her, washing the suds away until her hair is clean.

She turns her attention to him, returning the favor as slowly as possible. "Your hair is getting so long," she whispers, curling it around her fingers with a soft smile once she's finished washing it. "Will you let it grow while you're in India? I'll be eager to see what it looks like when you... when you come home..." She chokes back tears here and he watches her with overwhelming guilt.

"I may," he says softly, stroking the side of her face. "Paige..."

"I'm ok, really," she hastens to say. "It's just... something to adjust to. You've always been a big part of my WWE career and now, you're just... you're going to be so far away." She presses her face against his shoulder and sniffs loudly. "They'd better take good care of you over there."

He rubs her back and decides it's time to get out, pushing the stopper in with his heel and letting the water go. She groans but sits up, knowing that they've been in long enough. Easing herself out, she grabs a towel and wraps up in it before holding one out for Ricardo. He takes it but before he can finish closing it around his body, she grips the edges and draws him into her. They stand face to face before she arches up and kisses him hard, smiling when their hair dripping on the floor grows louder, a puddle forming between them. "Oh boy," he laughs too, realizing.

She hums and carelessly slings a hand towel down onto the floor, leaving it to sop up the mess before dragging him out of the bathroom. After pushing him onto the mattress, she settles atop him and strokes his jaw. "I have to say, today's been the best day I've had in awhile," she muses, her lips warm against his flesh. "Disney, and then a bath with you..." He nods through a shudder as she brushes kisses along his throat and chest, stealing his breath away when she moves. "But I think it's only going to get better..."

His words completely fail him for perhaps the first time in his life.

Now that Tough Enough is over, Paige is back on the road, traveling to Smackdown and then Raw along with Miz, which gives Ricardo more time to think. Consider what he's going to do in India, how he will train new students, and hopefully learn new things himself.

He does watch Raw Monday night, curious to see how the beat the clock challenge goes. Becky gets the early advantage but Charlotte takes it from her. When it's Paige's turn in a match against Sasha, her opportunity is taken from her at the 30 second mark when Naomi and Tamina pull the former NXT woman's champion out of the ring, leaving her no time to get in enough offense for a submission or pin. She's devastated, obviously, so he decides to do the first truly kind thing he's done since breaking up with her weeks ago.

He meets her on Tuesday at the airport and she looks at him blankly for a few minutes before walking up to him numbly and burying herself in his arms. He holds her close and kisses the top of her head before reaching down and collecting her bags, guiding her to the car. The drive back to Alberto's house is quiet, pensive, but once they arrive, he parks and turns to look at her as she fumbles around with a bracelet. "Paige," he whispers.

"I tried so hard, you know?" she whispers. "And I know it seems selfish to not want Charlotte to be successful, but AJ is... one of my best friends, you know? If anyone's going to help salvage her streak, it should be me. The things I would give to keep Nikki Bella from taking this too..." She drops her head back against the seat and grimaces. "I know AJ and I had problems while she was champion, because there's only so much room at the top, but... I love her. And I don't want this for her. It's too soon, it's just... too disrespectful..."

She falls quiet as Ricardo gets out of the car and walks over to her side, pulling the door open and holding a hand out to her. She swallows hard before reaching out and taking it. He lifts her up and walks into the trees, her following with a baffled look on her face. He hadn't initiated contact like this in a long time and it makes her confused and tingle all at the same time. It's quiet here and peaceful, and he guides her into a sitting position. Meditation had never worked for her, her brain always too busy and loud for such things, but with him next to her, guiding her, she slowly falls into a sort of peaceful haze, the sounds of the birds and the wind enhancing what they're doing.

A kind of calm washes over her and she releases soft breaths in time with his, his fingers warm and still in her own. How long they sit out there, she's not sure, but the sun is setting when she opens her eyes to find him staring at her, a soft affection in his gaze. She flushes and rests a hand on his face, pondering. Total Divas will be on soon... but it's so lovely out here, and he seems so receptive, for the first time in awhile... She searches his face before leaning in and kissing him, realizing that somehow, despite everything they'd been through, it feels fresh, a new beginning of sorts. He groans out her name before wrapping an arm around her and drawing her closer, his hands warm around her waist.

She rests her forehead against his before digging her knees into his sides, listening to his startled gasp, eyes locked on her. "I love you," she breathes into his mouth, not caring if he's not ready, if it's too soon to go there again. It's the truth and she's tired of not saying the words, of not seeing the dawning look on his face as he realizes that yes, she means it, and she always has and she always will. "I need you, love." As he lays back against the grass to give her more room and she sinks down with him, she's not surprised that he doesn't respond verbally but his hands and his eyes give him away, and that's enough for now.

Alberto has gone on to compete all around the world, as usual, so Ricardo doesn't feel too bad about taking over the living room. He and Paige sprawl out on the couch as they watch Total Divas, both drowsy as she laughs exasperatedly at her own adventure with the motorcycle. Nearly getting fired because she'd assumed she'd been taken off of the card because of a disagreement with Cameron that had turned physical isn't quite as funny and Ricardo stares at her worriedly.

It says it all, doesn't it? She didn't mention Kevin once, not when she crashed the motorcycle... and not when she was thinking about throwing it all away and moving back to England. Of course she hadn't mentioned Ricardo either, but she had promised long ago to never do that to him, considering how he'd left the business. Besides, they had discussed it thoroughly as it was happening, and he had held her after the accident, drowning in the thought of her getting seriously injured. When she'd explained she was done with that particular daredevil act, he had breathed easier until the next thing came around.

They're both too exhausted, falling asleep in each other's arms on the couch before the show even ends, but when he wakes up, it's early and Ricardo gets an idea. Brushes her hair out of her eyes before whispering, "Paige. Hey, Paige..." When that doesn't work, he begins tickling her. She wakes up with a gasp and it's only his arms around her that keep her from rolling off of the couch.

"Not fair," she pouts, swatting at him as he laughs. Once they're oriented and standing, Paige combing her fingers through her hair, he finds her hand and stares at her. "What are you doing?"

"I have an idea but in order for it to work, you need to get into some comfortable clothes." She stares down at what she's wearing currently, PJ pants and a tank top, and he shakes his head. "I'm thinking jeans and a shirt with maybe a little more fabric." She wrinkles her nose at him but obligingly goes upstairs as he heads outside to talk the outside staff.

When she returns to the living room in a short sleeved t-shirt and the requested jeans, he's dressed similarly and she tilts her head at him. "What are we doing?"

He just grins and holds the door open for her, guiding her with a soft hand on the small of her back towards one of the garages. Her breath catches as she realizes- Ricardo had had Alberto's barely used ATVs brought out and as she gapes at them, he wraps an arm around her. "What do you say? I know they're not quite as dangerous as motorcycles, but wanna explore Alberto's grounds on them? Maybe race?"

"Hell yes!" she gasps, leaning against him in thanks before pulling free and rushing over to them with the eagerness of a kid on Christmas morning. He laughs and follows her sedately, watching as she scrambles all over the vehicle. "It's a beauty! I can't believe I didn't know he had these!"

"He never really has the time to use them but still has them maintained regularly. When I spoke to him, he agreed that we could use them, so here we are." Ricardo holds out a helmet to her and she makes a face but takes it, putting it on as he does the same with his own. They climb onto their vehicles and he grins over at her as they start the engines up, Paige already gunning hers a lot faster than he is. "Ready?"

"Set," she calls out, his lips twitching into a smirk.

"Go!" As she steps on the gas and floors ahead of him, he knows he has no chance in beating her to the agreed upon end of the race- the gate on the other side of the trees.

But the chase is half the fun anyway.