"So are you sure this is ok?" Alicia asks, leaning over the back of the couch to talk to Ricardo while they wait for Heath and Maryse to arrive. "I mean, splitting the holidays? I know we said- it's for the best but I also know you're used to spending more time with Sofia and Alberto on holidays..."

Ricardo sighs and lets go of Harley, gripping Alicia's hand and kissing her knuckles gently. "Trust me, as much as I appreciate getting to spend holidays with El Patron and Sofia again, I also enjoy getting to spend it with you and our friends, especially since it means we get to see Monroe."

It had hurt to watch Heath the last few weeks, forced to fight Rhyno for his job, just to get demoted to a referee position, looking like he was dying on the inside a little more every time he was directed to officiate a match. But things seem better for him now with Corbin losing all power over Raw, Heath back on as a wrestler and Rhyno even getting rehired!

Alicis beams at him, leaning in to kiss him. "I love you, " she hums against his lips and he grins up at her.

"Love you too," he says quietly. "I'm really glad they held Raw early this week so I get you with me the whooooole holiday!"

She giggles and kisses him until they hear cardoor slams, parting with soft chuckles and going to greet their friends. "HI!" Alicia exclaims, hugging Maryse and Heath cheerfully before turning her attention to sweet little Monroe, scooping her out of her mom's arms and leading her into the living room to show her their small, eclectic but beautiful tree and all of the presents. "There may be a couple under there for you," she teases the little girl, beaming as Maryse clucks, smiling knowingly.

Ricardo turns to Heath and offers him a small smile, patting his arm quietly. "Hey, amigo, glad things are working out better for you than they were. Hated seeing what Corbin was putting you through."

"Yeah, man, it was real rough there for awhile, I was considerin' quittin' but... that's not my style'n' at least I was still gettin' paid, y'know? With Maryse and Monroe, that was the important part. I felt worse for Rhyno than myself to be honest."

As Ricardo nods, smiling faintly at just how Heath that comment is, they all settle on couches and continue their conversations in the soft glow of the Christmas tree, all taking turns holding Monroe. The rest of the evening passes quietly with gift exchange, snack foods and drinks replenished as needed. Monroe falls asleep in Alicia's arms and Maryse chuckles fondly, taking the baby and putting her back in her carrier.

They leave not long afterwards and Alicia hums as they stand in the doorway to see them off, curling Ricardo's arms around her, glancing up at him. "Think tomorrow will go as smoothly?" she wonders, blinking when he leans in to kiss her.

"I don't see why not," he murmurs, grinning down at her. "Sofia has calmed her drama queen tendencies greatly, after all."

Alicia rolls her eyes, turning in his arms to face him. "You're lucky I love you."

"I know," he says, eyes bright and calm as she threads her fingers in his hair and draws him back into the apartment, warm and gentle, slow and overwhelmingly gorgeous as he holds her close, still somewhat disbelieving that this lucky. Tomorrow will bring Sofia with tamales and gentle mothering of all of them, and Alberto with laughter and plans for future charity things they can do, neither of them interested in letting what they've been doing be held just to the holiday season.

But for now, it's just Alicia and Ricardo holding each other under the Christmas tree that is theirs, a mix of her bright ornaments and some that his mother had treasured since her days as a young woman, carefully transported from where she was fighting to survive in Mexico all of those decades ago, and sighing out each others' names as they marvel at their first Christmas as a married couple. "I love you," he breathes into her hair and she beams against his cheek.

"I love you too, so much," she says off of an exhale, kissing his jaw. They grin at each other before turning to stare at the tree, hands held warmly between them, peaceful and so in love that it's more than a little overwhelming for them both.