Despite everything going on, Ricardo's been looking forward to Christmas. He knows Alicia will have to work on some of it, but still. Any holiday with her is something to look forward to... and then he gets the phone call. Her telling him that she's been selected to go on a USO mission with Miz. He's somewhere between exasperation and disappointment, wondering if Mike ever sleeps and how he does it if not. "When will you be home?" he asks.

"I'm not sure," she says honestly. "This tour's gonna take a few days, and then... I'll probably just fly in to Chicago for Raw."

"Right," he mumbles, closing his eyes. "Of course."

"I'm so sorry, Ricardo," she says, guilt and anxiety in her voice. "I'll... I'll call later, ok? We have to go tour this building..."

"Sure, Alicia," he sighs. "I'll talk to you later." He hangs up and stares at the wall for a few moments before standing up, disgusted with himself. "Oh come on, Ricardo. There are plenty of people you can spend time with.

But in the end, no matter how he racks his brain and searches his contact list, there's no one he likes who lives close enough to spend the holidays with. No one who would want to include him in their festivities. He sighs and buries his face in his hands, Puppy trying to nose at him but it not helping much as he struggles.

When he realizes what he's missing, he feels like a true dumbass, grabbing for his phone in shaking, uncertain hands. The number hasn't changed, of course, and he smiles when the phone clicks, Sofia's warm greeting washing over him like a warm blanket. "Hola, this is the Del Rio residence. How may I help you?"

"Sofia," he says, throat closing up with emotions as he dwells on how much he misses her. Hates himself for a moment for not trying to keep in contact with her more. "It... it's Ricardo."

Her laugh is breathless, sad. "I know. I know, mi hijo. How are you doing?"

He exhales. "I... I'm ok. I've missed you."

She smiles through her tears, he can hear the mix of sadness and affection in her voice. "I've missed you as well, Ricardo. It is a joy to hear your voice again."

"I'm so sorry," he whispers but she immediately interrupts.

"No! Never apologize to me, Ricardo, not for doing what you felt was the best for your own wellbeing." She's too sweet. Too pure, too good. Had never blamed Ricardo for anything that had gone wrong in his life, had just supported him, buoyed him up whenever the world was pushing him down, had loved and encouraged him through the bad times, had smiled and eased his uncertainties during the good.

"Is Alberto home?" he asks finally, voice trapped in his throat as he tries to choke down this flood of emotions as he thinks about what a God-send Sofia has been for himself, for Alberto.

"He is out," she says. "Perhaps if you call back later, or..."

Ricardo almost considers it. Then shakes his head, deciding to believe in himself for once. "What would you think if I decided to spend this holiday with you both? Would that be ok?"

Sofia doesn't respond for the longest time and Ricardo wonders if perhaps he's been reading her wrong this entire time, but then she breathes out, "That would be the best Christmas present either of us could ask for, mi hijo."

Ricardo smiles as some of the tension leaves him. "I'll be by in a few hours then."

"I look forward to seeing you, mi hijo," she says softly, before they hang up.

He exhales slowly. Then collects his stuff and dashes out of the front door, eyes gleaming and lips twitching up into a faint smile.

He has some shopping to do.