Alicia and Jinder lose Mixed Match Challenge. Ricardo feels bad for her, of course, and the lost opportunity of being #30 in the Royal Rumble in a month, but the bigger, less mature side of him is relieved his wife won't be going to some exotic place with Jinder and those Singh brothers. He's careful not to say as much when she comes home, pouting after both that loss and getting eliminated so early in the gauntlet match. He strokes her face and kisses her slowly, murmuring in Spanish to her until she smiles again, unsure of what exactly he's saying to her but sensing that it's loving and good as she leans into him and kisses him back.
He had gotten her favorite foods, stocked up on her favorite drinks, even bought one of those ridiculous romance novels she likes to dive into sometimes when she's got some free time. Which she has nearly a week off, even though Ricardo will be busy through some of it with charity work and a couple of events he's booked for. Indys never quiet down, even for the holidays, and he's just happy to be part of things again as she runs her fingers down his hand, kissing his knuckles. "I wanna come help," she says as she looks over the flier. "Have you heard from Alberto?"
"Yeah," Ricardo mumbles. "He'll be there." Had actually been a big help through a few charity things this season, some on his own, some alongside Ricardo. And now they're going to do an event together, though not partnering together. "It'll be good to see him."
Alicia nods, resting her head on his shoulder and staring at their tree. "I'm glad you two have worked things out well enough that you can spend time together. I know it was hard on you when things were still... difficult."
"Yeah," he mumbles. "Well, Paige isn't a factor anymore, and Alberto's not even in WWE any longer, and I have you now, so it's a lot easier to put all of that behind me."
She beams at him and leans in, softly kissing him. "Damn straight."
Once they feel like moving again, Ricardo takes Alicia out to the park and they practice soccer for awhile, Alicia laughing and running in circles around him as she protects the goal and he tries to get a few shots in past her, succeeding a few times until his knee and ankles start aching too much for it to be possible to continue. She leans down and gently helps him up then, cradling his face in her hands as he catches his breath. "Do you ever think you overdo it a little?"
"I'm not gonna stop living just because my body sucks," he tells her, resting his forehead against hers and breathing in as deeply as he can.
"I'll have you know, I rather like this body," she says, easing her hands up under his shirt and holding him close. He smiles as she leans in and kisses him, gently nudging him towards the car once they ease apart. "C'mon, let's go set up for tonight's show."
Alberto is waiting for them when they arrive, a few other people already milling around, and he beams, hugging Ricardo quickly before nodding at Alicia. "Hola, I've been wondering where you two were. Things are starting to pick up here." The ring is being set up, and other things for the event organized. "How are you feeling, mi hermano?"
"Pretty well," Ricardo says, ignoring the vague limp he knows Alberto is observing with his brows furrowed. "Hanging in there, at any rate."
"Si, I suppose that's the best any of us can do," Alberto murmurs, patting him on the back.
Ricardo nods, resting his hand in Alicia's as the three of them walk side by side into the thick of things to begin helping to put it all together. Santa and Mrs. Claus are at the event, and Ricardo laughs fondly as his wife races up to them, whispering enthusiastically to Santa, who listens, nodding every now and again.
Alberto casts a glance over at him and leans against the wall while they wait for Alicia to return. "So things are going well, mi hermano?"
"Si," Ricardo hums. "I'm quite happy." And he is, he has a nice apartment, life with Alicia and Harley is all he ever could've asked for, he's building a nice place for himself in this San Antonio community between Hybrid and managing Sabotage. Yes, he has insomnia really bad sometimes, and his body aches in ways he thinks bodies shouldn't ache even at double his age, but he tries his hardest to focus on the good.
"I'm glad," Alberto says, rubbing his back. "Sofia and I will see you both for Christmas Day then?"
Ricardo nods, eyes gleaming as he looks over at his former employer. "Si. We're looking forward to it." Along with that, they will be having Heath, Maryse and little Monroe over on Christmas Eve, so it'll be a nice, eventful holiday. Much better than some he's had in the past.
Alberto's grin is easy. "Perfect. We are as well."
When Alicia returns, bright and exuberant and laughing, Ricardo feels himself fall just a little more in love with her as she hugs him tightly and kisses him before turning to get right to work on everything still needed to be done to make tonight go off as smoothly as possible.
Alberto chuckles at the besotted look on his face before pushing him gently ahead so they can begin to help out as well, so much still needed to be done before people began arriving.