Ricardo collects a couple of drinks from the fridge before returning to the couch, relieved to see commercials are still airing as he sinks down next to Paige, handing off water to Sofia and soda to Paige, sipping from his own water while the women dig into the popcorn and wait for Total Divas to come back. So far it had mostly been about the Bellas and Cena's drama, which makes Ricardo's eyes glaze over, but he'd seen Paige's introduction, which had mostly been inviting Natalya to a party. Everything has to do with around Summerslam, just after he'd left the business and they hadn't seen much of each other, both busy with their own careers- and Ricardo distracted by everything going on with Alberto...

He sighs slightly and she leans into him, staring up at him. "You ok?" she asks softly, Sofia glancing away from Brie and Nikki bickering over Cena to check on him as well.

"I'm fine, mi fuerza," he says. "Just thinking about the timing of it all... This all being taped just after I left..."

She nods, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his lips. "I know, but that's ok, right? I doubt either of us really want our relationship to be used as fodder for Total Divas... It's why I play up being single, I don't want to do anything to make you uncomfortable, love," she explains.

He smiles down at her and squeezes her side, kissing her nose. "Si, gracias for being considerate, Paige," he murmurs. "Oh, there you are with Natalya." Her eyes light up and, as she curls back up into his side, he presses his forehead to hers and stares at the TV as they arrive at the party, Paige talking with Fandango for a moment, Wade Barrett wandering around with a drink in hand. Sofia and Ricardo make similar noises of disbelief when Paige tells Natalya that the brownies she's working through have drugs in them, are pot brownies. "No way!" he chokes, laughing. "Did she really eat dosed brownies?"

Paige's grin looks a little uncomfortable and guilty but she doesn't say anything, quietly watching with Ricardo while Natalya's response to learning that they're having a wellness check is to run her car into a dumpster to be late for the event and try to figure out a way out of the dilemma she's in. The drama concludes with Paige showing up at Natalya's house a couple of days later with cold medicine and cat toys, explaining that she was playing a trick on Natalya, that the brownies were just... brownies, no drugs in them. The entire room falls quiet, Paige barely noticing as Natalya kicks her out of the house and, despite claiming that she's not mad, calls her a bitch to the cat in her hands once she's gone.

She's scared to move, but after a moment, she feels Ricardo shaking against her and finally looks up at him, surprised to find that he's laughing. "Lo siento," he gasps out, wiping at his eyes. "I can't believe you did that though. Of all of the divas you play a trick on, you pick Natalya?!" She pouts at him as he continues laughing, Sofia joining in with him after a moment. "It was cute, mi fuerza. I can tell you're definitely going to be the best part of this show..." He pauses, his hand warm on her lower back. "Isn't Alicia supposed to debut soon?"

"Her episode is next week," she murmurs. "We were technically still friends when all of this was filmed, it all seems so dated now." She sighs, pressing her face against his neck as he brushes hair out of her eyes. "But I'm ok with that..." she sounds sleepy, mostly because the show had been on later than any of them had expected, so Ricardo settles her on the couch before getting to his feet and leaning down to scoop her up, holding her securely in his arms. She mumbles and squirms a little but he holds her tighter, careful not to drop her as he walks her back to the bedroom.

"Buenos noches, Sofia," he says softly, the housekeeper whispering back to him similar sentiments before he nudges the door with his heel, shutting it behind them. He settles Paige down on the bed and smiles adoringly down at her before laying down next to her and wrapping an arm around her midsection, holding her close. "I love you," he tells her simply, wondering what she'll get up to next on the show, his eyes fluttering shut too as she breathes in and out comfortably next to him.

Total Divas is still fresh on everyone's mind, then, as Paige arrives at Raw the following evening and hums, adjusting her hat as she makes her way to the divas' locker room. No one looks at her differently, wrapped up in their own business, which is something of a comfort to her. She prefers to keep wrestling and Total Divas separate, although she knows that there's no way to keep one from influencing the other, at least on a personal level. Already things had changed vastly since she started on the show, for one thing she's gotten to know a lot of her fellow divas better, for better and for worse. For this reason, it's easy for her to head out to ringside when it's time for Natalya's match against Nikki, pleased to be there by her side and make sure Brie, still trying to make up to Nikki for what she'd done to her relationship with Cena, doesn't do anything to ruin Natalya's chances.

She succeeds because Natalya walks away victorious, though her celebration is cut a little short when it's announced later on in the show that Paige will be facing Nikki the following night on Main Event. Paige freezes, glancing over at her. "Eh-heh," she chuckles weakly, trying to look innocent as she considers what opportunities a match against the Divas champion could bring her way especially this close to the road to Wrestlemania... Maybe Total Divas isn't that bad after all, she thinks, considering how her career had seemed to be stalling out before it began airing.

She tries not to show how excited she is at the prospects of it, especially since she's driving with Natalya to the next town, but she's sure it's clear when she's talking with Ricardo on the phone, her voice and eyes a dead giveaway of how pleased she is at finally getting another chance at maybe proving herself worthy of a divas title shot. Thankfully Natalya doesn't say anything, the two of them exchanging polite good nights as they prepare for bed at the new hotel. Paige isn't sure if Natalya gets to sleep easily but she herself is laying, staring up at the ceiling as lights from outside gleam through a sliver of the blinds. She misses Ricardo, certain that his presence would help with her rare insomnia, but she can't risk calling him again, not wanting to disturb him when he's in need of a decent night's sleep as well before training at his dojo the next night... Sighing, she rolls over and buries her face in her pillow, humming a song her mother used to sing to them when they were young under her breath.

She's startled when she wakes up to find the sun up, it officially Tuesday morning. Time to get ready for the arena, she thinks, hopping out of bed and bustling over to the bathroom. Natalya is still fast asleep so Paige quietly goes through her early morning rituals, showering and playing with her phone before returning to the main room. Nattie hasn't moved so the younger woman purses her lips, tossing her phone onto her bed before lunging towards Natalya's bed and leaping on top of her, laughing when Natalya wakes up swinging, Paige expecting such a reaction and successfully ducking aside before she gets a black eye or something worse for her trouble.

"Paige? What are you doing?!" Natalya demands, rubbing at her eyes sleepily. It's then that she notices the clock and, cursing under her breath, untangles herself from the bedding and rushes around, not bothering to wait for Paige's response, the clock working against her as well.

Paige tilts her head and smirks, going to retrieve her phone. Morning, love, she texts Ricardo, smiling fondly at the screen. Hope you have a good training session tonight... I'm going to destroy Nikki Bella and get another divas title opportunity. Time to get Natalya moving. Talk soon. After finding the blowing kiss emoji, she puts her phone away and moves to make sure that Natalya is almost done getting ready for Main Event.

Main Event is always more lowkey than Raw or Smackdown, less wrestlers and divas wandering around, which eases some of the tension. So the time before the event is spent on interviews, photo shoots, and visits to catering for those who are there. Paige hums, warming her hands on a mug of hot tea, when Natalya approaches her with a mug of her own, full of cocoa. They nod at each other and quietly sip their drinks until Natalya clears her throat. "About time to get out there and show Nikki Bella what you've got," she says. "You ready for this?"

"Always," Paige nods, adjusting her black gloves. "How do I look?"

Natalya gives her a cursory glance before tugging at her own shirt, making it fall a bit more flattering on her midsection. She looks different, as if trying a different look and Paige isn't sure how it suits her, resembling something AJ might wear: a shredded shirt and blue jeans, but she keeps her thoughts to herself, also guilty of trying different things out sometimes, just to realize later on they weren't her. "Like you're ready to kick some Bella butt," she finally says. "Come on, let's get out there."

Paige is relieved that Natalya is repaying the favor from the night before, proving that perhaps Natalya is going to forgive her for what she'd done on Total Divas... so when Brie tries to interfere, the dark haired diva isn't that surprised when Natalya interrupts and knocks her off of the apron, allowing Paige to keep the upperhand and finally defeat Nikki, her lips parting in happiness as she shakes her hair out of her eyes and grins happily at Natalya. She can't read the expression on her fellow Total Divas costar, but it doesn't dissuade her from celebrating the moment, certain that this will lead to a legit divas title match down the line.

When she calls Ricardo this time, he sounds sleepy but happy for her, obliging her as she talks excitedly into the phone about her win and Natalya's help, and everything else. Eventually she realizes he hasn't said anything in awhile and she pauses, smiling faintly. "Love?" The only sound she hears is the soft crinkling of breath against the phone and nods faintly, realizing he's fallen asleep on her. She's not insulted, relieved that he's getting some good rest. Considering how poorly he'd slept during his recent illness, and how bad his insomnia seems to get before a huge wrestling match, like what's waiting for him in California around the corner, it's the best thing she's heard in awhile. "Alright, good night, Ricardo," she whispers, hanging the phone up with a fond look on her face.

She notices Natalya's eyes locked on her but neither of them say anything and continue driving on, both eager to return home since being told that neither of them are booked for Smackdown. Paige looks out of the window and vows not to play any tricks on Natalya while they're both in Florida, biting her lip to hold in a chuckle that she knows won't be appreciated by the other woman.