Although the proposal had felt like the finish to so much sadness and uncertainty in their lives, something drastically changes after it. Ricardo's quieter, he's lost in himself, and Paige aches to see it. She's not booked until Smackdown, she had called ahead to make sure, so she stays with him, strokes his hair, walks around Alberto's land with his hand held securely in hers, rubbing her thumbs over his knuckles, marveling at the ring sparkling in the sun. He smiles vaguely when she mentions it to him, the first and only smile she gets all week.
He gets like this sometimes, she knows. His life has been far from easy, he's suffered an unimaginable amount of pain and loss, and she hasn't exactly protected him from more of it all thanks to her immature, thoughtless decisions the last couple of years. Not to mention he's still readjusting to life in the States since so much time in India. She kisses his forehead, nuzzles against him, and heads out into the kitchen after the second straight day of Ricardo acting like this.
Resting against the kitchen counter, she watches Sofia pattering around, preparing supper, until the housekeeper looks up. "Ah, Paige! Lo siento, I didn't hear you come in." The woman looks mortified, dropping the meat she was tenderizing to walk closer, wiping her hands off on a towel. "Is there something you need?"
Paige licks her lips, glancing down the hall towards the bedrooms. "Yeah," she whispers. "Ricardo... you've noticed?" Sofia nods, her gaze darkening, and Paige releases a breath, relieved it's not just her. "Look, I know he hates missing dates, but he's been running himself ragged before, during, and after India. His hand never really fully healed, and I'm just... I'm worried. Can you convince him to take it easy? I know he had events in California, and Canada, this weekend, but... his health comes first. Please, Sofia?"
The housekeeper nods. "Of course," she says somberly. After so many years of working for Alberto and with Ricardo, she's well aware of what both men need, how to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. Patting Paige's arm, she smiles sadly at the woman. "I'll handle it, mi hija. No worries. I know you have a match tomorrow. Everything will be fine."
Paige nods. "I trust you, Sofia," she murmurs, hugging the woman before turning to spend a few more hours with Ricardo before flying out to Smackdown come morning. He hasn't moved and Paige winces before squirming back into the place she'd vacated a few minutes earlier, resting her face in his neck and breathing him in. "Whenever you want to talk," she breathes out, "I'm right here. Anything you need." She kisses his warm skin before settling in, smiling sadly when his arm wraps around her waist, holding her loosely.
The UK tour is coming at an awful time, she's loath to leave him, but it has to be done. Both of them had been aware that they'd be apart more than together when he left WWE two years ago, it's just harder than either realized. Leaning up, she cups his face and stares into his dull. exhausted eyes. "I love you," she breathes against his lips, releasing a breath as he meets her halfway in a soft, slow kiss.
"I love you too," he murmurs, Paige rubbing her nose against his delicately.