Alberto returns home after a couple of days spent exploring California with Ricardo, with promises to spend Christmas together in a couple weeks. Ricardo smiles as he leans against the front door and watches his friend's fancy rental drive off, looking out of place going down their simple street, but it's just the way things have always been with the other man- loud and extravagant and sometimes lofty promises and goals that the man couldn't keep, no matter how sincere he may be when he makes them.

Alicia joins Ricardo after giving him some time and lightly kisses his jaw. "Hey. Everything ok?"

"Yeah," Ricardo says, turning and resting his hands on her lower back, massaging along her spine gently. "Everything ok with you?"

"Yep." She pops her P, and he grins at her, shifting around until one hand is brushing along her lips, watching her eyes darken. "Ricardo..."

"Alicia," he intones back and she exhales.

"I'd never restrict you from having company over, but three days is a very long time for no privacy," she tells him and he nods.

"I'm aware. If only I could think of a proper way to make it up to you," he teases her and she huffs, immediately pulling away from him. "Hey, Alicia- wait-"

She ignores him, however, reaching back to grip his hands and draw him close to her as she marches purposely towards the couch. Adjusting pillows and cushions until it's more comfortable, she drags him in front of her and then pushes, sending him sprawling out over the couch awkwardly, his eyes widening as he looks up at her. "That's better," she decides, before sprawling out on top of him and kissing him, slow and gentle quickly turning hungry and hot.

"Ye- yeah, it really is," he gasps, hands trailing over her as she hums and breathes his name against his skin, Ricardo closing his eyes and absorbing the moment. "I love you," he breathes out and she smiles against his ribs.

"I love you too," she tells him tenderly before scraping her teeth down his sensitive skin, causing him to arch up in aroused surprise.

-x

"We wanna book ya for our holiday event next week," are always joyful words. Even more so when an even larger hook is cast out almost immediately following the first, making it nearly impossible to say no. "We're thinkin' for our title match. What do you say? Wanna give it a go?"

Ricardo's indy career's never been fantastic. He's had a few fun bookings, and always had his training to fall back on, but yet... title matches always ended up being few and far in between, and the most of his luck ended up being in Puerto Rico, if at all. So to get a title opportunity, this close to Christmas, in his home state... He takes in a deep breath, and lets it out slowly. "Yes, that should work out fine," he says as slowly as he can, trying not to sound too desperate or over-eager. "Muchas gracias."

They exchange a few more pleasantries before hanging up and Ricardo digs his knuckles into his temples, not quite believing this. Sometimes, it's hard not to feel the urge to give up. Find something else, anything else, with a little more stability, but nothing makes him feel as alive and whole as wrestling does, so he soldiers through, hoping for something, anything, to click. For another run like he had in WWE, when fans would echo his entrance to Alberto as best as they could, considering how he liked to mix things up and troll them in other languages and say different things just when they may have gotten comfortable with his usual declarations.

Now, maybe, he thinks... this will be it, this will give him that fire back, the urge to compete and find his place in somewhere else. Catch the right eye, gain the right notice. Anything along those lines would be fantastic. He sits back against the steps of his and Alicia's porch and stares up at the drifting clouds overhead and hopes.