Alicia sighs and stretches, frowning down at her feet. She's already reaching the point where she can't see her toes, which makes putting shoes on nearly impossible. Makes it nice that she's been spending most of her time at home, then. She exhales and stands, walking towards the kitchen to investigate what Sofia is doing. "Good morning," she greets the woman cheerfully, and smiles when Sofia looks up from the stove.
"Ah, good morning, Alicia," Sofia greets her with a smile.
Alicia sighs and lowers herself carefully into a chair, tilting her head as she takes in the house without Ricardo. It feels different, quiet and glum, and empty in a way. She misses him, misses his presence next to her in bed, misses his touch against her stomach when the baby is particularly active late at night, misses his voice in her ear when hormones are more aggressive than normal. "What are you making?" she finally asks, deciding to distract herself from these thoughts, this yearning tickling under her skin.
"French toast and sausage," Sofia says cheerfully, wielding her spatula expertly. "We have fruit, as well, so I can put berries on the French toast or aside. Which would you prefer?"
Alicia squints, thinking about it. "On!"
Sofia smiles at her. "On it is," she agrees, flipping the French toast once more before plating it. Once it's coated with berries and a little syrup, she walks it over to Alicia and lays it before her, watching as Alicia's eyes brighten.
"Thank you!" she exclaims before gripping her fork and setting in on it, her hunger this far into her pregnancy still absolutely ridiculous after so many years of being careful due to wrestling and everything else. "It's so good," she gasps after a couple of bites, closing her eyes and rocking back and forth in her chair. "I wish I knew how to cook like this."
Sofia smiles at her. "I could teach you a few things if you wish, but either way, I'm here to stay, so any time you want something special like this, just let me know."
Alicia grins back at her and licks at the syrup pooling on the fork tongs. "I'm glad you're staying with us. It helps keep the house from feeling so lonely when Ricardo's gone."
Sofia squeezes her shoulder. "I'm glad I'm staying too," she says with a small smile before returning to the kitchen to begin her own breakfast.
After eating, Alicia ventures into the living room and settles in on the couch for a little TV watching- with Ricardo gone, she can choose what she wants to watch without feeling like she has to entertain both of them, so she turns on some mindless reality TV and sinks into the cushions to relax. She's barely through the first episode when she dozes off, fingers still stroking her stomach even in the half-asleep fugue she's fallen into.
She's not sure how much time has gone by when her phone goes off, startling her awake. She lets out a sleepy little squeak when she sees it's Ricardo, and accepts the video call. "Ricardo!" she exclaims, sitting up and wiping some hair out of her eyes, drool off of her face, the usual caught sleeping steps needed to try to look somewhat presentable.
He grins at her once she's able to focus on the screen. "Did I wake you? Sorry," he says, shifting around a little before falling still once more. "I just wanted to talk, now that it's kinda quiet around here. I think they were filming more things for Miz and Mrs. I can't believe that's still going on even with everything happening."
"That is pretty wild," she agrees sleepily, enjoying the sound of his voice as she leans against the couch cushion.
He smiles at her. "How is everything? Baby good?" He pauses a split second. "I really miss you both."
"Everything's fine. Baby keeps kicking at all angles and directions." Alicia laughs softly, wiping once more at her face. "I think it misses you," she says. "But not nearly as much as I do."
"I'm sorry," he says softly. "I will be home as soon as I know it's safe."
She smiles sadly at him. "You still feel ok, right?"
"Yep! I feel great," he tells her with a soft smile. "Don't worry, it's all going to be ok."
She sighs and closes her eyes, focusing on the sound of his voice. "I love you, Ricardo."
"I love you, Alicia," he whispers back and she smiles through the sadness of having to be separated from him at all right now.
Once off the phone, she heads outside but the air is nasty and she grimaces, stroking the side of her stomach, where the baby seems to be settled right now, and escapes back inside. "God, it's nasty out there," she cringes.
"I know," Sofia says, wiping at the counters absently while staring outside. She sighs sadly and looks over at Alicia with a small, pained smile. "Is there anything you want right now? I may go read for a little bit otherwise."
"No, that's fine, go ahead," Alicia encourages her. "I'm just going to go watch some more TV."
Sofia smiles at her and disappears down the hall, clearly eager for some time to herself.
Alicia sighs and returns to the couch, feeling unsettled and listless without Ricardo around to distract, to cheer her up. She watches drama unfold on the TV, eyes barely opened, as she massages her stomach. "I don't understand what kind of world I'm bringing you into here, baby," she says quietly. "But your daddy and I, and all of our friends, will do our best to keep you as safe as we possibly can. I promise."