"I'm really happy you're home," Ricardo tells Alicia, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
"I am too," she giggles, leaning into him. The house is quiet, Andre finally asleep, the two of them curled up on the couch waiting to watch Elimination Chamber. Sofia is tidying up the kitchen, humming under her breath, and... yeah, everything is just peaceful and calm. She shifts up, kisses his jaw, then turns to listen to the pre-show's opening moments.
Sometimes it's weird, Ricardo thinks. Watching his friends, how the company as a whole has changed since the last time he walked those halls. So many have come and gone since his release in 2014. He doesn't regret his time there, it had taught him, helped him to grow as an individual. Helped him to meet Alicia and actually keep her in his life once his time there had come to an end. Not to mention his inclusion in Mike's life, which continues to this day, although it's changed from how it was, less needy and more equal footing between the two of them.
They watch as Morrison wins a fatal fourway #1 contendership for the US title, Ricardo wincing when he realizes it means John will be facing off with Lashley later in the evening. Riddle too, but with the tear Bobby's been on lately, he's definitely the one to be concerned over. Alicia seems to realize it too because she snuggles closer and wraps his arm around her tighter, exhaling slowly.
The actual PPV starts and Sofia joins them, a small smile on her face as she brushes her hands off and settles into the chair that's de facto become hers. Ricardo looks over at her with a soft grin before turning his focus onto the show. Morrison's triple threat match for the US title goes about as well as can be expected. "Too bad, he looked pretty amazing out there," Alicia mulls it over once the match ends.
"He did," Ricardo sighs.
The event goes by very quickly, and they all rush to check the time when the main event begins almost an hour and forty minutes into the show. "Wow," Ricardo mumbles over the general confused sounds the women make. "This may be the earliest ending WWE PPV in a long time."
The Raw chamber is good, with fun character moments and some really brutal spots, but it's not until it wraps up that things get interesting. Drew is standing tall in victory as the chamber slowly creeps up, and then- Lashley is there, Lashley is pummeling him, knocks him out with the Hurt Lock, and then... "Oh my God," Ricardo mumbles, thinking he knows what's coming.
Alicia grips his hand, eyes wide, almost frenzied. "Do you think-?! Could he?"
"Yeah, I think so," Ricardo breathes out and they stare at each other until a couple moments have passed and...
AWESOME!through the arena. They all stare at the TV as Miz barrels down with a referee, making the cash in official.
Drew does attempt to fight back, but Mike is fresh, Mike is ready, Mike snags him, sweeps his feet out from under him, slams him forward into a Skull Crushing Finale, and that's... that's it, Mike "The Miz" Mizanin is your new WWE champion.
"Holy crap," Alicia says, gaping at the TV screen. "I wish I had been able to see him more last week! That was incredible."
"It was," Ricardo says with a nod. "Sneaky man."
Alicia sits for a moment, then giggles. "AJ must be flying high right now," she says wistfully. "I'll call her in the morning. You want in?"
"Yeah, maybe, but I'm gonna at least text congratulations to Mike right now," he says, grabbing for his phone.
She smiles at him and settles back in against his chest, a purely content look on her face.
This moment gives him pause. He glances from Mike's screen on his phone, to his wife in his arms, the baby asleep down the hall, Sofia humming happily from where she sits on the other side of the room. Everything else going as well as can be expected, considering.
Sometimes he's really amazed- humbled- that, after everything he's endured, this is his life. He sighs and kisses Alicia on the top of her head, all too aware that none of it would be possible without her. "Thank you," he whispers to her. "Thank you so much."