"Hey, man," Ricardo says cheerfully, staring into the skype screen. "Long time no talk. How has things been? Healing up from the surgery alright?"
Heath Slater looks back at him from the computer screen, brows crooked, lips twisting. "Hey, Ricardo," he says quietly. "Yeah, I mean doc says I'm on schedule for healin'. Just a waiting game from now on."
Ricardo nods. "Sorry it took me so long to check in on you with everything going on. You've probably heard Alicia had our son though."
Heath's face relaxes then, his eyes softening, and he even smiles a little. "Yeah, I did," he says. "Any pictures ya can show me?"
"Actually, I can do you one better." He shifts the camera and aims it downwards and Heath gasps softly when he sees Andre for the first time.
"Oh man," Heath mumbles. "He's adorable, Ricardo. I remember when my little ones were that age." He smiles warmly, thinking about his daughters' births, how strong and determined Maryse were that all of them would be healthy and whole each time. "He's not giving you both trouble already, is he?"
Ricardo laughs. "No, not at all. He's a perfect little boy, isn't he?" He rocks Andre back and forth a couple of times before looking back up at Heath. "Maybe once things feel safer, our kids can meet up somewhere and just... have a play date or something."
"I adore that idea," Heath says. "God what a year. Gettin' fired, needin' this surgery my first match in TNA, everything else." He exhales. "Maryse's been a blessin' through it all. Would be lost without her."
Ricardo thinks about Alicia, and how she's always dedicated to him when he's going through stuff. "I know what you mean," he says with a soft smile. They sit in silence for awhile, enjoying Andre's deep, steady breathing for a few moments longer, before Ricardo stirs. "Well, I should put this little guy to bed and see if Sofia needs any help getting supper together for the three of us." He looks at the screen, guilt teasing down his spine when he sees that soft frown slowly creeping back onto his friend's face. "Hey, Heath, I promise I'm gonna be better about all of this, alright? Gonna call more, check in more often. You'll get tired of me before you're healed, I swear."
He should also contact Mike, John, a handful of other people that he's been neglecting since COVID really spiraled out of control and Andre joined their world. He wonders if anyone would really want to hear from him and why exactly, before shaking that thought away, aware that it's just his depression talking.
"Sounds really good man, I'm lookin' forward to it," Heath says with a small smile. "Have a good night, will talk to ya soon then."
Ricardo smiles. "Good night, Heath." He closes the call out and leans back, looking down at Andre. "Yeah," he says softly. "Time for Daddy to reclaim parts of his life." He gently taps the baby on the nose and smiles when he huffs out and twists before falling back into a deep, peaceful sleep, thankfully not falling into a crying jag in Ricardo's arms and adding to his guilt.