Alberto stands in the airport terminal, tapping his fingers against his arm, impatient and still a little cranky after losing to New Day the night before on Raw. He's just turned to stare at the screen listing arrivals, the flashing green letters taunting him, before he hears familiar footsteps behind him. Turning quickly, his eyes light up, his lips twitch into a fond grin as he finally spots who he'd been waiting for after his own flight had landed. "Mi hermano!"

Ricardo steps forward and melts into his outstretched arms, releasing a tired breath. "Hola, El Patron," he sighs out, nudging against Alberto's collar sleepily. "I know you had somethin' to do with getting me home early... I was supposed to be there a little longer, but then they tell me I look worn out and send me home..."

Alberto chuckles softly, not bothering to confirm or deny this, and kisses the top of Ricardo's head, peering down as exhausted eyes meet his. "Someone needs to sleep for a week," he muses, pressing his hand between Ricardo's shoulderblades and leading him out of the airport after collecting his luggage. He's talking, more than he normally talks, in that mix of English and Spanish that always worked for him and Ricardo, telling him everything he can think of- about Sara Louisa, Paige breaking up with that perro, League of Nations getting a tag title match at Wrestlemania... and he's just moved onto speaking about Sofia when he finishes stowing Ricardo's luggage in the back seat and trunk, going to reclaim the driver's seat when he realizes that Ricardo is slumped against the window, fast asleep.

His eyes crinkle up and he smiles sadly, reaching over and trying to make Ricardo more comfortable while clicking his seat belt into place, before pulling the car into traffic. "Welcome home, mi hermanito. It has not been the same without you." Although he wishes Ricardo could've stayed awake a little longer, the car ride isn't awful. Ricardo's breathing is steady and comforting next to him and it reminds Alberto of many times in the past when they'd traveled together.

Ricardo stirs when Alberto comes to his side of the car, following on leaden legs as Alberto eases him through the house, giving him a minute to say hola to Sofia, accept a hug from her, before he tucks him into bed, pushing his sheets up to his chin and smiling down at Ricardo, who looks like a sleepy little boy as he blinks sluggishly. "Lo seinto," he sighs. "I... want to talk, I've missed you... El Patron... just so tired..."

Alberto tsks at him before leaning forward to hug him, pressing their foreheads together. "No worries, mi hermano. There is plenty of time for that. You need sleep, so take it." He presses a quick, affectionate kiss to the side of Ricardo's face before patting his hands and getting up. "I'll come back in a few hours when Sofia has supper ready. Rest well, hermano." He doesn't even need to turn around to know Ricardo is already, once more, asleep. Smiling to himself, he closes the door quietly and goes to spend a little time with Sofia.

-x

After Raw, Paige hangs around for Main Event, not seeing the point in flying to Florida just to fly back out the next day. She has a match against Summer Rae, which goes ok for a minute or two... until Lana decides to come out, distracting Paige briefly. Despite all of Lana's shenanigans, Paige succeeds at rolling through Summer's attempt at a pin and getting the three count herself, just for Lana to reinject herself, Summer keeping Paige from attacking Lana and leaving her vulnerable to a brutal kick from Lana that lays Paige out flat.

She grits her teeth and glares up at the lights, pounding the mat with a fist before rolling out. Oh, this is far from done, Lana. You won't be ravishing anymore when I'm through with you.

She has nothing on Smackdown or Superstars so now, yes, she gives in and goes home. She's still unsettled, displeased with everything going on with her career. The matches seem pointless, not at all a way to get onto the Wrestlemania card, and she hates it. She's still trying to get back on the card in a serious fashion after her concussion, and it's just so annoying. Sometimes she thinks she almost understands why AJ had just given it up and retired to go start a family with Mike, but she's still so young, and she's far from ready to give up on her career, understanding on some level that things ebb and flow so desperately with wrestling as a whole, that if she's patient enough things will probably spin back her way. It's just hard as hell to be patient when everything in her wants it all right now.

Unwilling to face Alberto or Sofia right now, needing a minute to herself, she stands by the pond and breathes in the cool afternoon air, listening to the birds and other nature sounds surrounding her. She tenses up for a moment when the sound of the back door clicking shut echoes over the grounds, realizing that she will probably have company soon. The footsteps behind her don't sound like Sofia or Alberto but it doesn't click with her until the warmth of another human body is right against her and familiar arms are wrapped around her midsection, holding her close, and she realizes, starting to tremble. "Ricardo," she breathes, pressing her hands against the forearms, feeling the soft skin covering muscles there... down to his hands, gently stroking his poor, abused fingers and knuckles.

Twisting sharply in his arms, she comes face to face with him and immediately feels her knees go weak, tears filling her eyes. "You're home," she chokes out. "But- but... how?"

He shrugs, eyes locked on her face. "Alberto worked his magic," he says softly, his voice sounding like heaven to her ears after so long. "Don't tell him, but I think he missed me." His eyes are sparkling with a rush of so many different emotions that Paige feels like she's drowning in them. She throws her arms around him and buries her face in his neck, breathing him in... re-commiting his scent to memory, after so long of only having the fading fragments of it surrounding her in his bedroom. His hands are warm against her back, soothing and gentle, and she whimpers. "Your hair," he breathes, in awe as he plays with the strands of grey.

She chuckles brokenly and pulls back, tangling her fingers in his long hair. "Your hair," she retorts, closing her eyes against the soft, silky feel of it against her skin. When she finally opens her eyes, their gazes lock, the intensity ratcheting up, making it hard to breathe for both of them. "I've missed you so much," she breathes out, tears pricking her eyes once more.

He leans forward and kisses her eyes, lightly clearing the wet trails away, and she struggles to breathe as his lips linger against her cheeks, a faint moan slipping out of her lips. She blushes as he pulls back and stares down at her, expression gentle but eyes dark with longing and want. "Paige," he breathes. He cups her face and she grits her teeth against another needy noise threatening to escape her, her eyes fluttering as his lips move from her left cheek to her right, then presses against the corner of her lips, hesitating there, before moving to the other side and repeating the gentle, frustratingly sweet kiss.

"When did you become such a damn tease-" Her words die away as his lips finally find hers, pressing against her partially parted mouth, sweet and gentle giving way to base need and desperation, his hands holding her in place as he explores her mouth, his nipping teeth and curious tongue quickly ridding her of all cohesive thought. She's pretty sure by now the only reason she's still on her feet is because of the grip he has on her, her only focus trapped on where their lips meet, where her nails are digging into his shoulders, the soft whimpers and pleas swallowed by his mouth.

His fingers are drifting, she feels them teasing down her lower back and she groans, eyes fluttering as his lips leave her mouth and trail down her throat, biting and kissing. "Please," she whispers. "Please..." Her skin is flushed, the cool air feels nice against her as he eases her down into the dewy grass, the soft whisper of the pond next to them reminding them of the first time they came here, how naturally it had been then. How it still is to today, despite the pain and loneliness of the last few months. His hair teases against her midsection and stomach, tickling her and making her squirm almost as much as his fingers fumbling with her buttons. "Ricardo..." she sighs, reaching out to return the favor.

She sighs and shivers as his fingers brush against her skin, draw her flush against him, more kisses exchanged when she presses her forehead against his, staring deeply into his eyes while he finds her hands and woves their fingers together. "I love you," she breathes against his mouth, watching as his eyes darken, his lips twitch upwards. His body is warm against hers and she sighs, feeling life return to her for the first time in months, her heels digging into his ankles as she shifts under him, causing him to make a strangled little noise deep in his throat that makes her smirk.

"I love you too," he whispers to her, gritting his teeth as he tries to keep it together for a little longer, not wanting to let her go this soon.

She shakes her head with a soft, disbelieving laugh and frees her hand from his, pressing trembling fingers against his cheek. He instinctively leans into her touch and she moans, drawing her hand up and tangling her fingers in his hair, tugging at the long dark strands as she starts to get overwhelmed by it all too. "We have all of the time in the world, love," she whispers, getting a little choked up at finally being able to call him that in person once more, head spinning with everything that's happening.

"All of the time in the world..." he echoes, his breathing growing more ragged. She nods, their eyes locked before he presses more sloppy kisses to her throat and collar. "Mi fuerza."

Finally, the pain and uncertainty of the last year fade away entirely.