Late Tuesday morning, Miz wanders through the simple apartment, smiling as he trails a finger along the DVD and books scattered around the living room, pursing his lips as he looks over his shoulder towards the bedroom, listening. Silence prevails so he continues to look around, wondering when AJ will wake up and want something to eat. There's not a lot of food in the kitchen, but he thinks he can make do with what is there, and go grocery shopping a little later for the next few days.

Alex is doing commentary again- a job which, considering all that's going on, Mike decided he can have, Alex much better at keeping his mouth shut on controversial subjects. After all, the last time Mike had commentated, AJ hadn't spoke to him for almost a week. And besides it gives him a few days off to spend with AJ, take care of her while she works through the afteraffects of these concussion symptoms. It's not how he would choose to spend his birthday, but that's ok- he's already had phone calls from Morrison, Alex and Ricardo, passing the time while she sleeps talking to his friends, so he can't really complain. Especially when he considers everything every one of them are going through.

Putting his own beatdowns aside, everything else- Alex's surgery, Ricardo's issues following Rob leaving and Del Rio snapping on him yet again, AJ's concussion- going on seems much more important at the moment. He's just sat down with a bowl of cereal, spooning through the milk that had just passed the sniff test, when he hears his name. "Oops," he mumbles, dropping the spoon back into the dish with a clatter, almost relieved at not having to risk it right this moment. "Hey," he says softly, padding into AJ's bedroom. "How are you feeling?"

She squirms slightly and rubs at her eyes, sighing. "Annoyed," she admits.

He smiles, sitting down next to her and rubbing her side soothingly. "It'll be ok. This'll pass, and everything'll be fine-"

"No, I- I don't even mean the concussion stuff," she says. "I mean... it's your birthday and I can't even stay awake long enough to do anything for you, and you're still content to stay here, taking care of me. I'm so sorry."

He stares at her, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it, sweetheart," he says softly. "Spending my birthday with you is all I would've wanted anyway. Though I will say," he adds, brushing some of the sleep mussed hair out of her eyes. "I wish it was under better circumstances. I hate that you're hurt."

She snags his hand and brings it down to her lips, kissing his palm gently. "I guess we'll just have to plan on doing something as soon as I feel better." He nods and smiles as she pulls him closer, stroking his face as he makes himself comfortable next to her on the bed. They're still settled against each other when he chuckles and she looks over quizzically at him. "What?"

"Just thinking," he says softly. "We're some pair, huh. You get to meet my parents after I've been beat up, and I get to see your place for the first time while you're concussed."

"I guess that proves we're perfect for each other. We both have terrible timing." She grins a little as he leans over and kisses her, nodding slightly.

Alex walks into the arena for Main Event that Wednesday, smiling at the few people he crosses paths with on his way to find Josh Mathews, discuss the evening's matches and topics of importance. He only stops when he hears his name called out from down the hall.

"Hey, bro!" Zack Ryder runs up to him, grinning in his usual way.

"Hey, Zack, how's it hanging?" He turns quickly to keep his still healing shoulder away from the broski, aware of how exciteable the man is, especially when he has a match, which has thankfully become more of a common thing for the man since all of this Best for Business crap had begun, Zack one of the superstars vocal in standing up against it alongside Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, RVD and the rest. Alex wonders momentarily what, exactly, the loss of RVD will do to the cause, but forces himself to stop considering it as Zack begins to speak again.

"Ah, it's going alright, bro. How are you doing? Heard you had surgery over the weekend," he comments, glancing towards Alex's shoulder.

The part-time commentator grins a little, unsurprised by the speed of the WWE locker room gossip. "Yeah, I'm doing ok, it was minor. Back to commentating within a few days, can't complain, right?"

Zack nods. "Right, yeah. That's good, bro."

"Ready for your match?"

"Getting there, yep." He makes a slight face and Alex considers who he's competing against- Big E is one of those superstars that, no matter how much someone loves competition, facing is always a bit of a crapshoot. He's big and strong and anyone would be a little wary.

"Well, good luck," he offers, grinning as he moves to walk past him. However, he barely makes a step before Zack holds a hand out, stopping him. "What is it, Zack?"

"Well," he hesitates. "I mean, um. I know I usually gave the guy a hard time, but... I saw what Del Rio did to Ricardo Rodriguez on Raw, and, um. Spent a little bit of time around him when he was with RVD before the elimination matches, and it kind of helped me to see him in a different light... you know, when he wasn't around Del Rio, he actually seemed... decent. So, uh. Is he alright, bro? I heard he's living with you now, so I figured if anyone knew, it'd be you..."

Alex pauses a moment and licks his lips, finally nodding, his face clearing as Zack's ramblings trail away. "He's hanging in there, you know. It's been a rough few weeks on him, but he'll be ok."

Zack nods, still frowning a little. "That's good, bro. It's just... kinda weird, you know. Usually there's some word, the trainer will say something when prompted by the interviewers or guys, but there's really been absolutely nothing said about his condition."

Alex smiles wanly. "Well, you know, Zack, that's because there's not a lot to say, I guess. It is what it is." They stand there awkwardly, Zack surprised at the limited news, before A-Ri claps him on the arm. "Listen, it was great to see you, but I have to go find Josh Mathews. Again, good luck against Big E. I'll see you later."

"Yeah, sure, see you around, bro," Zack says, sounding about as subdued as he looks.

Mike and AJ watch some of Main Event together, though she falls asleep in his arms before Tamina's match even begins, something Mike's relieved about as his thoughts about Alex on commentary come back to haunt him when his former rookie talks about AJ, the word crazy being thrown in there somewhere. He winces and glances at her, relieved to find that she's still peacefully asleep against him, considering how best to yell at A-Ri when he has a minute to himself.

But he doesn't really blame him, too much is going on for all of them to be on their best behavior all of the time, and he winces when they re-air Del Rio brutalizing Ricardo yet again at the last half of the show, Alex dead silent throughout Josh discussing the recap. It was hard to watch the first time, but it's worse the second time, taking in all of the things that Mike had missed initially. He wants to call Ricardo, check on him, but AJ is still warm and snug in his arms and he doesn't want to disrupt her to grab his phone, so he makes a note to do so as soon as he's free, kissing the top of her head as the last ten minutes of the show tick past, showing Big Show knocking out their COO. He sneers.

Del Rio is the only one of them on Smackdown that week, Mike this time glad to receive the night off, spending the time with a still languishing AJ in her New Jersey apartment. He sneers as he watches Damien Sandow first own him on the mic and then cause him to scramble out of the ring desperately. His actions against Ricardo on Monday are fresh in the Awesome One's thoughts as their match starts later after some random tag match and a divas match, which AJ watches half-heartedly as she's still feeling the afteraffects of her concussion, the doctors directing them to limit how much TV she watches, or the amount of strain she puts on her eyes as she recovers, not wanting her to over-stimulate herself. He's a little unsettled as he finds himself cheering on Sandow, but it doesn't matter- Del Rio walks out with the win again and Mike shakes his head, sighing as he kisses the top of AJ's head, unimpressed. "Ugh."

Even so, things slowly start to turn around- AJ still has some problems with her memory, and a bit of a headache, so it's a reluctant Mike that accompanies her back to Raw in St. Louis that week, but the trainer allows her to stay, wanting to perform an IMPACT test on her once the symptoms ease more. So Mike stays with her, keeping her company as the show comes closer. To both of their relief, when the trainer finally goes through the IMPACT test with her, she does satisfactorily and is cleared to compete, though she doesn't have a match that night, to Mike's relief.

Almost as soon as the trainer declares this, there's a knock on the door, Mike barely realizing it's for him as he grins down at AJ, stroking the hair out of her eyes. "Eh, Miz?" the tech calls out a bit louder, breaking the spell that the two people are locked in, Mike looking up at him. "Brad Maddox wanted me to let you know that you have a rematch against Randy Orton tonight."

AJ stiffens next to him, her fingers digging into his palm, but he nods almost eagerly, eyes darkening as he considers. Competing against Orton in his home town would be a great way to get revenge for what he had done to Mike in Ohio. "Mike-"

"It'll be fine," he tells her. "It will. I promise you, it won't be like last time."

But she still looks worried, cupping his jaw and tilting his face towards her. "It better not be," she mumbles, frowning at him before kissing him intensely. "We really have to stop going back and forth on the injury thing, you better not continue it tonight. I may never forgive you."

He pouts against her lips. "You wouldn't?" Her small smile gives her away and he nods, running a hand up the side of her face. "Thought so." He reluctantly pulls away and kisses her once more before standing and heading for the door. "I have to go get ready for the match. I'll come see you as soon as it's over."

"Good luck," she says softly, hugging her title once more to her chest in nervousness.

"Won't need it," he responds determinedly. "But thanks, sweetheart."

He's standing at the gorilla position, watching as Orton interrupts Shawn Michaels, the two of them arguing back and forth before Orton tires of it and tries to RKO his former rival, only just ducking out of the ring in time to miss an answering Sweet Chin Music. Seeing his opportunity, Mike runs down and attacks him, taking glee in slamming him into the barricade, the steel post, kicking and hitting him, anything he can think of until referees intervene and separate them. When the match starts, he loses some of the momentum he'd started off with, but starts to think he might have some sort of a chance when-

The lights go off, familiar music echoing through the arena as the lights are brought back, Mike distracted by the Wyatts now sitting at the top of the ramp, Bray laughing at him. He's just remembered the ongoing match and turned around in time to take an RKO, costing him the match. As he leans against the bottom rope, watching the three men stare back at him, Bray saying a number of weird things that Mike can barely focus on through the haze of pain and anger caused by the loss of another match to Orton thanks to these three, his chances of paying him back for what he'd done a month prior slipping through his fingers. When the light flickers again, allowing the three of them to disappear once more, he huffs and makes his way slowly backstage, part of him relieved that all of that's over so he can go back to spending time with AJ.

She greets him with a smile once he finishes an interview for a exclusive, cupping his face as she examines him. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," he mutters, feeling much better in her presence now. "Friggin creepy hicks." She chuckles slightly and kisses him. "So everything's still going alright? No more dizziness?"

She shakes her head and trails a finger down his lips before sighing. "Tamina has a match against Brie later, so I'm going to accompany her for that but... beyond that, I'm all yours tonight."

He grins at her. "That's good, because Alex and Ricardo stayed in Florida to get some more rest after last week, so..."

"Poor baby," she teases him lightly. "Wouldn't want you to be too lonely, now would we?"

"Damn straight," he nods, lacing his fingers with hers. "Besides you promised to do something special with me once you felt better, since it was my birthday and all..."

"Ah, yes, right," she hums. "Well, let's see. What could we possibly do?"

He smirks as they walk through the halls to pass the time until Tamina's match, Mike standing by a monitor and watching as AJ talks to her title belt and laughs as Brie Bella loses, the tall woman attacking her over and over again when AJ enters, locking in her Black Widow submission hold, torturing the other diva until she cries out in pain and taps desperately, the two women finally leaving while Nikki runs down to check on her sister.

AJ laughs as she runs into Mike's arms, eyes fluttering as she kisses him, overjoyed with the end result of that match. "Let's go celebrate," she whispers against his lips. "I'll make it up to you for ruining your birthday."

"You didn't ruin anything," he sighs into her mouth. "But if you insist..." She giggles as he spins her around and rushes for the locker room to get their things so they can leave. However, when they arrive in the parking lot with their bags, she wraps her fingers around his, tugging the rental keys from his hand. "Hey, what are you doing?" he asks with an incredulous smile.

"Driving," she insists. When he raises his eyebrows at her, she grins. "Don't bother trying to work it out of me on where we're going. You'll see. Come on, don't you trust me?"

He examines her for a moment before rounding the car to the passenger side, dropping their bags in the back seat on the way. "Alright, you're not even going to give me a hint?" She just smirks at him before pulling out of the parking lot, driving through downtown St. Louis. When he begins to pout at her again, she reaches out and squeezes his hand.

"Patience, Mike. We'll be there soon," she says softly, turning left into a shopping court with various stores and restaurants scattered around.

He frowns, looking at the various dark buildings surrounding them, everything around obviously closed. "Um, AJ..."

She still doesn't say anything, coming to a slow stop in front of one of the many shadowy windows, turning to look at him. "Well, are you going to get out of the car?" she smiles, eyes flashing in the faint glow from the street light overhead. He still looks confused but he complies, AJ joining him in front of the car and slipping her hand in his as she leads him to the door.

"I don't know," he hesitates at the curb. "It looks... deserted. AJ-"

"Come on, have you known anyone who could say no to me?" she demands, pulling on his hand. "I promise you- this is fine!" She reaches out for the door and he tenses, expecting an alarm to go off, or something- but, no... the knob turns easily and she skips inside with a happy look on her face, leaving Mike outside to gape after her. "Are you coming?"

He groans and follows her, certain that they're going to get busted and arrested for breaking and entering, or trespassing, or something, but as soon as he enters, soft music greets him and he stares around at the soft ambiance of burning candles, blinking in shock. "AJ?" His hand is snagged when he walks by a table, the girl almost hidden perfectly in the shadows as she pulls him over and kisses him, pushing him into a chair. "AJ," he sighs into her mouth, smirking as she pulls away from him. "What is this?"

"I convinced the manager of this place to keep it open a few hours extra just for us," she explains quietly. "Happy belated birthday, Mike." He pulls her closer and kisses her, shaking his head in amazement. "Surprised?"

"Massively," he laughs into her hair as she settles on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "How did you have time to do all of this around the exams and...?"

"Magic," she smirks. "And... maybe a little help from Tamina." He suddenly understands why the manager had agreed to keep the place open past its hours, looking up when a server lays plates out on the table before them. "Thank you," she murmurs, Mike nodding in agreement as the man leaves them to their meal.

He leans over and uncovers the plates, staring down at the large plate of lasagna, pressing a kiss to AJ's neck. "It looks great," he tells her. "I'm starving." Unwrapping the silverwear, he finds the fork and spears some of the noodles, lifting it to her lips. She takes a bite, blinking at him. "What?"

"It's your birthday celebration, shouldn't I be feeding you?"

He smirks at her and shakes his head, kissing her nose. "Nope, you were the one with a concussion. I'm allowed to baby you a little bit."

"But you spent almost a whole week doing that alr-" He cuts her off with another forkful of lasagna and she glares balefully at him, chewing it quickly to continue speaking, just for him to interrupt again by kissing her. "Dammit, Mike," she breathes, slowly letting go of her complaints. "Fine, it's your party, if you want to spend it spoiling me, who am I to complain?" She closes her eyes as he nuzzles closer to her.

"Damn straight," he chuckles against her skin. They alternate feeding each other, Mike giving in when she grows impatient at his not eating until she's ate almost a third of the plate. "Happy now?" he murmurs to her once the food is gone barely ten minutes later, both of them content and full.

"Basically," she hums, carding her fingers through his hair. "Was it almost as good as that place in LA?"

He narrows his eyes at her before kissing her. "Better, I think, maybe," he whispers.

"Good answer," she sighs, pulling painfully slowly away from him. As he groans and reaches out for her, she dodges his clingy hands. "Mike, I can't get your gift if I don't get up," she laughs, grinning knowingly when he freezes in place, staring at her curiously. "I figured that'd do it."

He gapes as she skips away, blinking. "Hey, that's not fair!" But he stays in place, waiting as patiently as he possibly can, taking deep breaths as she rustles around with something out of sight. When she reappears, he reaches out for her again and this time she sinks into his arms, neither of them paying much mind as the server returns, removing all of the dinner plates from the table. "So what'd you get me?"

She laughs and kisses him, shaking her head. "You're like a big kid around your birthday."

"You should see me around Christmas," he murmurs, staring up at her affectionately as he realizes that... in a few short months, she will, for the first holidays that they'll spend together, as a couple. He hopes they go a whole lot smoother than last year's did, for both of them. "But seriously. What'd you get me?"

She sighs and pulls something dark out from behind her back, twisting around in his lap to stretch it out on the table. He stares down at her Breast Cancer Awareness shirt in some confusion, glancing at her. She rests her hand on the letters, gazing down at it with a soft smile. "You're probably wondering why I'm making a big deal out of this, or why it would be a suitable birthday gift for you..." Turning back towards him, she stares deeply into his eyes. "As you're well aware of, the original design of this shirt says Love Bites. When WWE merchandise people came to me, wanting to redesign it for Susan G. Komen, I agreed... and they had a few design options for me to choose from. But as soon as I saw this one, I knew it was the one." She leans closer to him and sighs softly. "See, before you, love did bite. But now, with you, I realize just how much I do love life. And I saw this design and it just... it fit so perfectly, described how I was feeling so well..."

Mike rests his head against hers, smiling in disbelief at how lucky he is to have her, especially after everything they'd been through. "I feel like that too," he mumbles, rubbing his hands up her back.

"So I was thinking about what I could give you for your birthday, and I wanted it to be something meaningful..." She reaches back and scoops the shirt up, pressing it against his chest and leaning back to examine how it looks on him. "So I thought, when I was in New Jersey, and you were in LA- or anywhere else- you could look at this and remember tonight, and how you make me feel."

He grins and shakes his head, pulling her closer once more, trapping the shirt between them as he kisses her. "It's perfect," he whispers. "So are you. I love you."

She sighs softly, eyes fluttering against his skin. "I love you too. Happy birthday."

"Thank you. For all of this. For everything." He smiles, nuzzling closer to her.

"So how about some cake?" she whispers into his ear after a few minutes, giggling when his face lights up even more.

"Just when I think this evening can't get any better," he murmurs back, the two of them looking up as the server brings in a marble cake lit up in a soft glow thanks to the candles flickering impatiently, waiting to be blown out by him. "All thanks to you."

"Make a wish," she urges him, leaning against his shoulder as he takes in the cake fully.

"But I already have everything I want right here," he tells her softly, grinning at the deep affection in her gaze as he leans over and blows out the candles.

"Smooth talker," she sighs as he scoops up some of the frosting with a finger and brushes it over her lips before kissing it off of her skin.

"Just the truth." He smiles down at her, eyes gleaming as she kisses him back. "Now let's finish this cake so we can get out of here and go back to the hotel already."

"Yes sir," she agrees easily, needing privacy as much as he does right now.