A/N: Short chapter. Sorry. Internet troubles and not a lot to write for this week... I'll do better next week.
Mike decides, once he wakes up with AJ in his arms, to try to put everything behind him for a little bit. It's almost 2014, after all, and he wants to enjoy the last few hours of 2013 he has. It hadn't been a great year, really, for any of them, but he's successfully seen another movie through, made it through another year in WWE without major injuries, and gained a couple of new friends and, of course, AJ herself... Despite how annoyed he may be feeling over the fans' reaction to him lately, he can't dwell on that right now.
After growing bored of his own thoughts, he runs his hands along AJ's sides, smiling vaguely as she squirms and awakens slowly, wiping at her eyes. "What're you doing?" she whispers, leaning up to kiss his jaw. He smirks at her and she sighs, burying her face back in the crook of his neck, not all that interested in waking up.
"Hey," he whispers, blowing at her hair to keep her from dozing back off. When she whines and swats at him, he smirks and kisses her forehead. "If you sleep much longer, we're going to miss the new year." She squints up at him and he holds his phone up so she can see the screen and, more importantly, the clock on the screen.
Her eyes widen finally and she sits up, off of the bed and out of the room. He's just blinked and sat up a couple of inches when she dashes back into the bedroom, gripping his hand and trying to tug him out of the tangle of mattress and sheets. "What are you doing? Come on!" she pleads, sounding like a child on Christmas morning. He grins at her and allows himself to get pulled out of bed, following her through the halls to the balcony.
"Wait," he says, half-laughing, half-terrified at the thought that she might intend on going outside for New Years fireworks. But there's no stopping her, her fingers warm and insistent against his as she pulls the glass doors open and drags him outside, leaning against him as he shudders against the biting wind. Thankfully it's only a few minutes before midnight so he obliges her, sitting on a lounge chair and holding her in his arms as she plays with his fingers. It's not the best view of fireworks that he's ever had, but they flash against her hair and cause her eyes to gleam so he's pleased enough to be here, watching her watch them. "Happy New Year," he whispers into her ear.
She smiles and tilts her head, beaming. "Happy New Year." As the fireworks slowly begin to die away, neither of them notice as they share lingering kisses to welcome in 2014.
Another couple of days in New Jersey pass by so quickly that Mike barely notices the temperatures, surprised when he realizes they have to leave for the airport- both needed for house show duty and media events. Which seems to go ok until karma from a couple of weeks ago comes back to bite them- AJ loses a tooth in a similar fashion to Nikki Bella, and Mike winces as the trainer examines her mouth to ensure there was no significant damage to her jaw or face. Thankfully she's fine except for the lost tooth, and the trainer advises she take the following night off and get the necessary dental work done. Advice that she clearly hates but abides by anyway, looking far from happy as they return to the hotel that evening.
Mike says nothing as he examines a faint bruise forming along her cheek, stroking his fingers through her hair soothingly, when his phone rings. He sighs and answers it. "Hello?"
"Guess who's stuck in another airport due to this amazing weather?" Ricardo's voice greets him and he smiles faintly, shaking his head.
"You're not having the greatest luck with airports lately, are you?"
"No," he mumbles. "This winter's been exceptionally bad and it's only a few weeks in."
Mike nods. "This is true," he sighs, running his fingers down the side of AJ's face gently, avoiding the still growing bruise. "I don't think AJ and I will be at Raw either. She lost a tooth and trainer suggested she take the night off. I'll probably accompany her to the dentist, since we all know how well I've been used lately."
Ricardo pauses. "Oh, yeah, I don't blame you." He hesitates a little longer and finally sighs. "I suppose Alberto will be at Raw..." Despite how far they had come, Mike doesn't blame him for his continued reluctance. Being surrounded by other people you trust and know well while reconnecting with the man who'd attacked you so brutally only months earlier is much different than being all alone with him.
"Yeah, probably." He takes a soft breath. "If you need anything, Ricardo, you know I'm just a phone call away."
"Yeah, I know," Ricardo agrees quickly- almost too quickly. Miz wishes he could do more to make this all easier for him.
Thankfully the dentist appointment goes smoothly, and quickly. The dentist works his magic while Mike waits, surrounded by fussy children and frazzled looking adults, relieved when AJ appears shortly, looking a little numb from the medicine used, but all in all, in one piece.
They're relaxing in the hotel room afterwards, watching Raw, when sure enough, Alberto comes out for a match against Sin Cara. Some small part of Mike who had been amused by Del Rio's losing spree prior to his concussion flares up with disappointment when Sin Cara fails at a third win, but he forgets it, lips twitching slightly as Alberto makes it known that he's going to be in the Royal Rumble, along with a returning Dave Batista. "Well, this should be interesting," he murmurs, gazing down at the sleepy looking divas champion once more resting in his arms. He smiles.