Despite the match not going so well for Alicia, she'd held her own for awhile against the Champ Champ, Becky Lynch, and no one can take that from her, no matter what the outcome was. When she comes home, tired but bright eyed, he hugs her close, kisses her gently, and guides her to bed, sitting next to her and stroking her blonde hair softly as she talks herself to sleep recounting how it'd been to be backstage, who had been nice, who hadn't, and everything in between. Once she's asleep, Ricardo lays down next to her and listens to her breathing, slowly closing his eyes and drifting off too for the first time in he's not sure how long.
They've been awake for a little while, wandering around, trying not to trip over the dogs, getting coffee, staring out at the bright sunshine that makes them squint, when there's an almost tentative knock at the front door. Alicia is closest but Ricardo comes, mostly to help hold the dogs back, when she lets Heath in. He looks grim, exhausted as well, eyes wide and anxious when he takes his sunglasses off. "Hey, guys, sorry to just come on over without callin' or somethin', but-"
"No, no, it's fine," Alicia encourages him, hugging him tightly. "Come on in, we both fell asleep after I got home from Raw. You're always welcome. What's going on?" But Heath doesn't talk immediately as she guides him inside, just sits at their kitchen table and blankly stares at the wood grains, tracing the marks in it with dark, troubled eyes. They exchange glances but neither push, unsure what exactly to say until he speaks.
"Ya ever just feel like somethin's not done?" he asks weakly. "Like, somethin's on the horizon and there ain't much you can do about it?" He looks up at them finally, and Alicia swallows hard next to Ricardo as they stare into his tear-filled eyes. "I mean, Maryse is sick a lot- mornin' sickness again- and... and Mike, he's doin' all he can to keep us all protected from Shane, and all I can do is sit at home and worry and fret and... they ain't even been usin' me since Mania! I don't get it, I been a loyal worker, I just... I want more... feel like I deserve more, but they just... don't see it." He turns desperate eyes to Ricardo. "I get why ya lost your passion for the business, man. I really do. But I got Monroe to think about, and the new baby on the way, and... it's not that easy for me, but oh my God, I miss wrestlin'. I miss entertainin' people." His shoulders start to tremble. "N' Rhyno's talkin' about leavin' when his contract's up, and..." He shudders and sobs. "What happened, we were like the hottest thing in 2016, it was so awesome... I wan' that magic back..."
Ricardo aches for him, remembering all too well the complicated, frenzied emotions that had led him to leave WWE all of those years ago. He stands up and walks around the table to wrap his arms around Heath. "I'm sorry, man," he says into his soft hair. "I know it sucks, and I know it's rough. But hey." He eases back and cups Heath's face, staring into his miserable eyes. "You have your wrestling school, and you have so many people who'd be willing to help you out should the time come. If you're this miserable, it's not really worth it, now is it?"
"N-no," Heath admits, his eyes squeezed closed as he leans into Ricardo. "But I'm not sure I'm there yet." He sits back and wipes at his face, forcing a smile when Alicia hands him a kleenex and he begins to brush away the tears with it, almost sheepish. "Right now, Mike'n'I are on the same brand, and even though I'm not really at Raw anymore, if I ever get the chance... maybe... maybe I can help 'im somehow." He turns miserable eyes towards them. "Do you think?"
Alicia nods, her face soft with compassion as she takes his hand and lightly squeezes it. "I think whatever you decide to do, we'll do all we can to support you. I'm not on the road much yet either, but anytime you need anything, if I'm there, please come to me." She smiles faintly. "You know, this is the first time in a really long time all three of us are on the same brand."
Heath blinks and exhales softly. "I hadn't even thought'a that," he admits quietly, trying to smile at her. "Thanks a lot, Alicia. You too, Ricardo." He tugs lightly at his lower lip. "It ain't perfect, I still gotta lot to think about... but I do think I feel a bit better."
Once he leaves, they stare at each other, feeling horrible for him, for Maryse, AJ, Mike, the children. Everyone involved in that situation. Ricardo mulls over his plans for the afternoon, the evening, and finally reaches out for Alicia, tucking her close into his arms. "Hey," he whispers into her hair. "Let's go back to bed."
They lay side by side, facing each other, and Ricardo shakes his head. "I remember those days," he shares with her. "Barely feeling like getting out of bed because WWE was draining away the love I had for wrestling. Sitting backstage, hoping that this would be the day they'd do something with me. Pair me back up with Alberto, give me something else to do, return me to El Local, anything. I was so depressed, it was eating me alive. I grew to hate them. I grew to hate the business."
She nods, leaning closer to him. "I'm glad you got out," she tells him softly. "I am so glad you chased what made you happy, instead of falling in line with everyone else. And I know it frustrated you, how things went for you afterwards, but you were very brave. You have always been very brave." She hooks a leg around his hips and eases closer, kissing him. "You have been to India, and England, and so many other places, because of that bravery." Rests a hand over his chest and watches his eyes darken as he stares down at her. "You are a beautiful soul, Ricardo Rodriguez, and I love you so very, very much."
Ricardo feels warm, like everything slots into place for the first time in years, hearing Alicia say that, and he cradles her face, pressing soft, warm, affectionate kisses against her lips, along her jaw, down, down, down, slow and gentle, appreciating the curves of her body. "I love you, I'm so lucky to have you," he whispers an unceasing litany against every inch of her as she murmurs and strokes her fingers through his hair, encouraging him on. "I would be lost without you..."