"Hey," Ricardo murmurs, leaning over Alicia and kissing her lightly on the lips, smiling when she stirs and blinks up at him sluggishly.
"Are the kids ok?" she murmurs, struggling to wake up fully. "What's going on?"
"The babies are fine," Ricardo soothes her. "I just wanted to let you know I got a phone call. They wanna book me in Texas, I gotta leave in a couple days."
She squints up at him, yawns against her hand. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. You and Sofia be alright with the babies while I'm gone?"
"Of course," she says with a small smile. "We'll be fine. Miss you, though."
"I'll miss you all too," he says, kissing her again. "But I'll be back home before you know it."
Alicia hums, adjusting herself most comfortably against the pillows. "You'd better," she sighs. "I feel like the twins are more cranky when you're not here."
"Miss my presence, huh?"
"I think so," she says, nuzzling deeper against the bedding as she stares up at him. "I'm more cranky without you too."
Ricardo chuckles, leaning in and kissing her again. "I'll do my best to limit how long you all have to survive without me then."
"Good," she murmurs, already half-asleep again.
"I'll show you my schedule once you're awake," he promises, running his fingers through her hair as her eyes flutter closed.
Once she's fast asleep again, he leans back and watches her breathing in and out steadily, a small smile on his face. He doesn't like leaving his family, but he does love getting to wrestle in various places, knowing that even after all of these years and ups and downs, people want to see him and will pay for it as well.
Makes it all feel a little more worth it.
