This week hasn't been too great for Ricardo. Or for Alicia. She has nothing to do at Raw that week, sitting bored and anxious in catering while the show carries on without her. Ricardo remembers those kinds of nights all too well and he aches for her, but he's busy with his own issues. The puppies are eager to tear the apartment up every time he turns his back on them, he doesn't feel too great, and day to day news is eating at him as well, leaving it hard to focus on anything else, or try to relax.

Especially considering it's not just himself he has to protect any longer, he has Alicia to consider as well, and the more it all eats at him, the more he knows he has to take some sort of action just to have a little security. Even if it goes against everything he believes in. Despite knowing why he's doing this, Ricardo can't hope but help to some degree that he gets denied, that this burden won't be placed in his hands, no matter what may come of it. He pinches his nose and sighs, turning his attention to other things now. Valentine's Day is in a couple of days but he can't really set the apartment up, since Alicia will be home early the next day. But he has other ideas which are easier to implement than anything else he could've thought of.

She greets him with a tight hug and a soft kiss before kneeling down to scoop up the puppies, hugging them too. "No offense," she tells him, seeing the look on his face. "I love you very much, but there's something about squirmy, soft puppies that just makes everything better."

He laughs. "No offense." Kneeling down next to her, he pets the dogs as well and smiles just a little. "I'm happy you're home."

She leans in and gently kisses him. "Me too."

Valentine's Day, for them, is quiet, and beautiful. Wanting a change of scenery away from the puppies, Ricardo had set up a table in the middle of one of the training rings at Hybrid Wrestling, and had lit a couple of candles, a bucket of wine chilling nearby. Supper isn't overly fancy, just spaghetti and garlic bread knots, but he can tell by the look on her face that she loves it. "This is perfect," she says, leaning in to kiss him.

They eat, talking about the puppies, or wrestling, or her clothes designs, softly whenever inclined to, but for the most part, they enjoy each others' company in comfortable silence. After Ricardo cleans the plates away, Alicia sprawls out in the middle of the ring and stares up at the lights. "I love this place," she confesses softly as Ricardo lays down next to you. "I know I should say this more, but I really am so proud of you, Ricardo."

He gives her hand a gentle squeeze, lifting it up to kiss her fingers. "I'm proud of you too," he says softly. "For never giving up on yourself no matter what WWE does. It's inspiring. I couldn't do it."

She rolls over and kisses him on the lips gently. "I like wrestling, but it was different for you," she says. "You knew what it felt like to wrestle outside of WWE, experience new crowds, different companies, being champion. WWE's all I know, and I don't think I'd ever want to try anything else. That could change, but for now..."

He nods, staring up into her soft brown eyes. "It makes sense. But anyway, I brought you something."

She beams at him. "Aw, you did? What?" He hands her a small jewelry box and she gapes at him. "Ricardo..."

"Open it," he teases her, watcing as she pries the leather box open and revealing a soft ring with different colored stones surrounding it. "Your birthstone," he tells her, brusing his finger over the soft stone in the middle. 'And littler stones circling it, one for every year you've been with WWE."

She gasps and throws her arms around Ricardo. "It's so beautiful," she gushes. "I love it, I love you."

He smiles into her hsir. "I love you too," he says softly.

That Sunday, Alicia's just flown off to get to Raw when Ricardo is woke up from a nap by someone knocking at the door. He groans and stumbles to answer it, blinking in confusion. "Heath? Is everything ok?"

Heath looks pale, even for him, breathing roughly as he grips the screen door like it's the only thing keeping him upright. "She's pregnant, Ricardo."

Ricardo blinks sleepily at him. "Huh? Who?"

"Maryse!"

Ricardo is suddenly wide awake, everything making a sharp kind of sense. "Oh," he mumbles, stepping aside to let Heath inside.