Sitting through Tough Enough, and then hosting Tough Talk, is brutal. Mike's not sure how Paige manages to handle all of it without screaming, focused so thoroughly on the rumors that are making the rounds about him and Paige that he actually misses his cue to go on stage for Tough Talk. Shaking his head, he walks forward just to be met at the entrance by Paige. She grips his arm and smiles wearily at him. "Ricardo's ok with everything, he understands. I'm sure AJ will too."
Mike nods at her, relieved at this news, before continuing on out to handle the duties for his show. It goes by quickly, he barely remembers any of it, and before he registers that it's over, he's out of the building and catching his breath in the cool Florida night air. Paige joins him after a few moments, hesitating behind him. It's clear she wants to do something to help him, but isn't sure what as he leans over and braces his arms on his legs, staring out over the dark street. "I'm ok," he mumbles, repeats it a time or two.
She sighs softly, sitting down next to him and crossing her legs Indian style. "Of course you are. We both will be. You'll be home tomorrow and will tell AJ, and she'll react like Ricardo did, and we can move past this with a quick laugh at the locker room's stupidity. You'll see." He nods blankly and she sits quietly for a few minutes. "Do you want to spend the night at Alberto's? I'm sure you have the first flight out to California and I'm not sure how much sleep you're going to get tonight, but you might as well be among friends while you're spending another night pacing and mumbling to yourself."
He smirks wearily, having spent most of the night before doing just that after Raw. "Sorry," he mutters. "But yeah, I guess that'd be alright." It also gives him the opportunity to see for himself that Ricardo really isn't mad at him, or believes what's making the rounds backstage. She stands and pats him between the shoulderblades briskly until he gets to his feet as well and follows her to the car, stumbling a little on numb legs.
Sofia greets them at the door and smiles sympathetically at Mike before stepping aside, Ricardo and Alberto sitting in the living room, talking football enthusiastically until they spot the new arrivals, Ricardo getting up and greeting Paige with a hug and a kiss before turning to Mike with a small smile. "So, trying to steal my girlfriend, huh, Mike?"
"Yeah," he sighs. "It was my dastardly plan this entire time, you got me, Ricardo." He laughs shortly when Ricardo rolls his eyes and claps him on the back, drawing him in for a one-armed hug. "Am I still welcome here?"
"Yes," the ring announcer says, dragging him into the living room, where Alberto eyes Mike.
"You look awful," the Mexican aristocrat tells him simply before taking a sip from his bottle of water.
"Thanks," Mike sighs, slumping down and closing his eyes.
"He didn't sleep last night, so obsessed with what AJ might think of all of this to lay down for more than five minutes," Paige offers helpfully, looking innocent when Mike pries his eyes open to glare at her. "What, it's true."
Ricardo shakes his head and stands in front of Mike, staring down at him until he peers up at him. "What?" Ricardo snaps his fingers at him, holding his other arm out to him, and Mike groans. "No, I just got comfortable..." But he obliges him, allowing Ricardo to take his hand and pull him up from the couch. "Your best friend's gotten pretty assertive lately," Mike throws over his shoulder to Alberto.
Del Rio smirks and watches as Ricardo all but drags Mike towards the bedrooms. "That's not a bad thing," he says, peering over at Paige as she settles onto the couch across from him.
Ricardo laughs vaguely as he leads Mike down the hall to the guest room, ignoring the fact that Mike's been here enough times to find his own way around, he opens the door for him and flicks a light on, waiting for him to sit on the bed. "You should get some sleep, Mike. I know you're worried, but being exhausted won't do you or AJ any good." Ricardo settles on the edge of the bed and smiles at him. "I handled it alright, I'm sure she will too."
Mike sighs. "You and Paige keep saying that, but I don't know..."
Ricardo stares at his hands for a moment. "I'll stay and we can talk until you fall asleep, how about that?"
Mike sighs, realizing that Ricardo's not going to let this go. "Alright," he finally agrees, kicking his shoes, pants and jacket off and squirming under the sheets. "How are things going with you, then?"
Ricardo swallows, then looks up at him. "They're good. Training at the dojo's going well, and... I think I'm making progress in the indy scene... but I... think I want more." He picks at his nails for a few moments, lost in thought. "I'm considering going back under the mask."
Mike blinks. "Chimaera? No kidding?" He shifts, sitting up. "I could see it. I bet you'd do great, man."
Ricardo nods. "I guess I just miss it, especially since I'm wrestling more in California lately. That's how they remember me best, so why not, you know?" Mike nods, settling against his pillows as he watches Ricardo. "Anyway, when's your flight out of here?"
They keep the topic light, Mike's eyes drooping more and more. He barely stirs when Ricardo gets up, patting his arm before turning the light off once more and leaving the room so he can sleep in peace.
Wednesday dawns bright and early, Mike grimacing and wiping at his eyes. He's still tired, not quite caught up from pacing Monday night well into Tuesday morning away, but it's not as bad as it had been, so he sucks it up and drags himself out of bed, collects his luggage and peeks in at Sofia, who is already at work, preparing breakfast for the household. Before he can leave, she snags him, pushing some toast and coffee on him, and he smiles at her. "Thanks, Sofia."
"You're welcome, Mike. Safe travels." She smiles back at him as he heads for the car, slinging the bags into the backseat and biting into the toast, closing his eyes against the strawberry jelly she'd spread upon it for him, before starting the car and driving away from Alberto's mansion, growing increasingly anxious to see AJ, tell her about the rumors, and rid himself of this tense guilt.
The flight is painful, slow, but finally he arrives back in LA, tapping his fingers against his steering wheel as he waits for the traffic to clear up. The drive feels like it takes hours but finally he pulls into his driveway, staring up at the house. He's about to unlock the door when he hears a soft breathing sound and turns to look, gaping at the familiar shape on the steps that he'd walked right past. "AJ?" Lowering his bags onto the porch, he turns back around and sits next to his wife as she dozes in the sun.
He's just brushed his fingers through her hair, lips pursed worriedly, when she stirs and yawns, stretching against his side. She opens her eyes and gazes at him before smiling, pressing a hand to his cheek. "You're home."
"Yes, I am," he whispers. "Were you waiting for me?" She nods, making a small noise as he scoops her up and carries her to the door, unlocking it and bringing her inside. As he settles down on the couch, resting her in his lap, she hums and presses her face to his neck. "Sweetheart," he murmurs, brushing his fingers through her hair, down her back. "I'm so sorry, but there's something I need to tell you. Are you awake?" He feels awful to do this to her, when she looks so peaceful and seems so relaxed in his arms, but he knows the longer he waits, the worse it'll be.
She blinks blurrily and looks up at him, that small smile still on her lips. "I have something to tell you too," she says, sitting up a little. She takes a good look at him, realizing just how wiped out he looks, her smile fading away. "You can go first though. Is something wrong, Mike? Did something happen in Florida?"
He shakes his head slowly. "It wasn't in Florida... Florida was fine." She looks so sleepy and young that he hates himself even more for doing anything that would cause these rumors, that could bring her pain. He cups her face and lightly kisses her. "Since you retired, Paige and I began rooming and driving to arenas together." She nods, staring at him. "It's purely innocent, we finish the shows, we get some food, we go to the room, and we fall asleep. But gossip has been going around..." He swallows. "They think we're having an affair."
AJ doesn't respond for a moment, tilting her head and staring up at him as he waits anxiously for the incoming blowup, freak out, something... but it never comes as she curls up against him and kisses his jaw lazily, nuzzling her nose against his throat. He gapes in confusion as she makes her way up to his ear, kissing it as well before whispering, "I think I'm pregnant."
He chokes on thin air. "What?!" She giggles into his ear and he lightly pushes her back, searching her face. "What? How?"
"You should know how, Mike," she smiles, tracing a finger down his chest.
Shaking his head, he releases a huff. "No, I- I mean, how did you find out? Have you seen a doctor?"
She licks her lips and takes his hands, stroking his palms. "I wasn't feeling great," she admits. "I thought maybe I picked up a flu or something in Florida. I was exhausted and kind of achy... but it just felt different, unlike any flu I've had before. So I called the office and my doctor had some free time on his schedule so I had an appointment with him yesterday and while he examined me and listened to my symptoms, he suggested pregnancy. They took some blood to run tests, but it's going to take time to get the results... and I couldn't wait so I bought a pregnancy test from a pharmacy on my way home."
Mike swallows, stroking her ankles. "Wha... what'd it say?"
"Positive," she says with a hopeful look on her face. "We won't know for sure until the doctor calls, but I'm... thinking, yeah. Are you happy?"
He sits quietly for a moment, staring at her, before his hand drifts to rest on her stomach. "Am I happy?" he echoes quietly. "Sweetheart, there's not a word in the dictionary able to define how I feel right now." He grins at her before kissing her softly. "Is this why you were asleep outside?"
She nods, leaning against him. "I was trying to wait for you, but it was so warm and quiet out there... I guess I just drifted off. It's a symptom of pregnancy," she muses. "Exhaustion during the first trimester..." When he stands up, bringing her with him, she squeaks and grips him around the neck, gasping through her startled laughter. "What are you doing?"
"Taking you to bed," he tells her. "You need to rest. To be honest, so do I."
"I won't argue with you," she sighs, pressing kisses to his jaw, throat and shoulder as he walks down the hall. He's just pushed their bedroom door open when she asks, "What's this about you and Paige again?"
He tenses before laying her down on the bed, settling in next to her and rolling to face her. He explains it again, from how he and Paige began traveling and rooming together up to what Sheamus had said to him. She listens quietly, taking it all in before grimacing and gripping his face. "The locker room was always full of stupidity and pettiness," she tells him. "I'm retired now, and I'm trying to put it behind me... be a better person. I don't want to repeat what happened with us and Maryse, or Dolph, or anyone else. Especially if we are going to be parents, she or he deserves the best we can give them. I trust you, and I actually really do trust Paige."
"So we're ok?" he asks with the desperation that he'd been feeling the last few days clear in his voice. She stares into his worried blue eyes before nodding, drawing him in for another kiss. He releases a breath and presses his forehead to hers. "I'm glad. The last couple of days have sucked, I was so worried you'd doubt this... doubt us..."
"Is that why you look so wiped out?" She strokes his face tenderly. "I know you, and I know Paige. She's devoted to Ricardo, and I see no reason to doubt your devotion to me any longer. Besides, if there was really something to worry about, I have no doubt Alicia or Tamina would've been calling to let me know... but I haven't heard anything from either of them. So you're free and clear, husband," she tells him. "Let the locker room talk all they want, the people who matter know it's just talk. Now," she grips his hand and wraps it securely around her, his fingers resting around her waist, "I believe someone mentioned a nap..."
"Yes, I did," he grins into her hair, drawing her into the pillows. "Thank you, sweetheart." Her only response is a soft hum as they settle, fall into a deep, much-needed sleep.
Wednesday is spent quietly, neither of them leaving the house, content to read or watch TV. Thursday is similar except that it's Alicia's birthday so Mike sits nearby, looking over notes for Tough Enough while AJ calls her in the afternoon. "Hey, Foxy," she greets her, struggling to keep her own excitement out of her voice. Not that it matters, as soon as the phone clicks, Mike can hear Alicia talking excitedly, AJ unable to get a word in edgewise. Finally she squeals and puts the phone on speaker phone. "Repeat that for my husband's sake," she beseeches the phone.
"Alex and I set a date, we're getting married on August 12th!"
Mike and AJ exchange glances, both relieved- if she is pregnant, the wedding is close enough that she won't be showing, and most dresses will still be easy to fit in. "That's great, Alicia," he calls out from where he's sitting. "About time you got A-Ri to commit to an actual date." He laughs when AJ glares at him warningly. "Happy birthday!"
"Haha," she says mockingly. "Thanks, Mike. See you Monday!"
"Yeah, see you then," he answers before turning back to his work, listening as AJ puts the phone back on normal mode and continues their conversation. He smiles, aware of how hard it must be for her to keep this to herself. For one thing, they won't know for sure until the blood test results come in... and for another, both are aware most wait until after the first trimester just in case something unexpected and awful comes up. He swallows hard, hating the turn his thoughts have taken, but he can't help it- what if something happens? If the pregnancy...
Cutting off his thoughts, he sucks in a deep breath and puts his pen down, getting up and walking over to AJ, hugging her from behind as she stands at the window and looks out upon the soft blue sky. She smiles, still talking with Alicia, and settles back into his arms as he calms down, imagining playing in the yard with their children one day. "Ok, Foxy, have fun at Smackdown tonight, kick some ass, and we'll talk soon to discuss wedding plans. Yeah, I can't wait." She laughs. "Yep, talk soon. Bye." Hanging up, she tilts her head to look up at him. "Everything ok?"
"It is now," he murmurs, cupping her chin and kissing her warmly. "I love you."
"I love you too." She hums and digs her nails into his hair, grinning when he hisses slightly. "You know what I think?"
"What?"
"I think it happened in Vancouver." He stares at her and she grins. "The timing seems right, and it's our place... so of course our happiness would continue there, right?"
"It's a pretty incredible thought," he murmurs, kissing her forehead before making a face, pulling away from her. "Wait a minute... Does this mean our kid's Canadian?" She laughs and swats at him as he bemoans having to buy lots of Canadian bacon and figuring out how to make poutine. "I draw the line at Timmy Horton's," he exclaims before she rolls her eyes fondly and kisses him again, deepening it quickly to keep him quiet.
"Happy Canada Day, Mike," she says before pushing him onto the couch and settling in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and grinning mischievously at him before continuing to kiss him breathless.
After a quiet 4th of July, sitting on the beach with AJ, John and Star, watching the fireworks explode and reflect over the water, Mike wakes up slowly on Monday morning. AJ is laying next to him with her hair scattered all over his shoulder, the pillow. It's early yet, he knows, but she's seriously glowing. Having to leave her for Raw aches, truly leaves him disliking his career deeply for the first time in quite awhile. Especially when he can't really tell anyone yet, so the anxious puddle he'll be for the next few weeks will go on unexplained. He sucks in a deep breath and rests his hand on her stomach, lightly walking his fingers against the smooth lines of her abs, which will soon be filling out, preparing for the next few months.
She whimpers and shifts, squinting up at him. "Mike? What are you doing?" she whispers just to giggle when she looks down and sees his fingers 'stepping' on her stomach. "Ugh, you're going to miss my abs, aren't you?"
He shakes his head, leaning over to kiss her, quickly forgetting his exploration of her stomach. "Nah. They're great, don't get me wrong, but the next few months are going to be even better. And if you want, whenever you're ready, I'll help you get your abs back. I know how proud you are of them."
She smiles, resting her hand on the side of his face. "I'm going to have something even more worthwhile to be proud of soon." He grins at her, pressing another kiss to her mouth, longer, more intense this time, dipping her back into the pillows.
Both of them are loath to break apart a few minutes later, but Mike catches a glimpse of the clock and sighs sadly. "I have to go, sweetheart." She whines and wraps her legs around him, shaking her head desperately, but eventually- after a few more kisses- lets him go with a pout, not wanting to get him in trouble. "I love you," he tells her. "If you need anything, do not delay to call me. I will be on the first flight out. Otherwise, John's still in town, or call Star."
He clearly hates not being the one only a few minutes away to help her just in case, but she nods and sees him to the door, stretching out on tippytoes to kiss him once more, her lips parting as he rests his hand over her stomach lingeringly. "I'll be fine, and I will call you the second I hear anything," she promises, smiling up at him as he pauses, reluctant to let go. "I love you too." Tapping him on the chest, she holds the door and leans against it as he trudges out to the car and throws his luggage inside before turning to look at her once more. She blows him a kiss before he drives off, shutting the door securely. "Now what am I going to do?" she mumbles, thinking about the many hours- worse yet, days- that still stretch before her, waiting for news on her blood test.
Mike feels like he's in a fog through the flight to Chicago for Raw, looking around every time a baby fusses, the sound amplified in the relatively small area. There are a couple around him and he's fixated on them to the point that he's waiting for defensive parents to come clock him for being weird- or at least notify the flight attendants- but they're all too busy whispering and cooing to notice him. He swallows and catches the eye of the closest baby as it coos and squirms in its mom's arms, floored by the pure blue shade staring back at him curiously as the baby shakes its fists around. Closing his eyes, he turns to face forward and releases a breath. He'd felt the urge every time he and AJ had imagined it, but now, that it's more possibly a reality, he can't believe how overwhelmed he is by wanting to take this adventure with AJ, every step of the way, until they have a cooing, blue eyed baby of their own to hold and murmur to.
Paige is waiting for him at O'Haire, her own flight landing just a little earlier. She stares at him as he joins her, shouldering his bag. "So how did AJ take it?" she asks with no preamble.
He stares at her, wishing he could tell her everything. But, even if he knew for sure himself, it wouldn't be his place. Paige should hear from AJ, so she can gush with the mommy-to-be. "She said basically the same thing Ricardo did."
Paige relaxes and follows him to the door. "Big relief, huh?" she asks, clapping him on the back.
He oofs, stumbles, then nods. "Yeah, huge." She doesn't seem to notice his veiled sarcasm, nor mind the quiet drive to the arena. He suspects she probably pushes it off as remaining awkwardness from their realization the week before, and he's glad for it, because he's sure if he has to talk much more, he'll be stopping the car on the side of the road and standing on the hood, yelling to the world that he'll be a daddy soon. Which AJ would probably kill him for the instant it hit the dirtsheets.
They enter the arena together and stare at the match board, Mike releasing a breath when he sees he has no match- but Ryback will be wrestling Big Show, and he decides to involve himself somehow. But he can't think of how, deciding against commentary. Again, give him a mic and he'll probably end up on the table, announcing to the world their news, so no... simpler would be better... A director's chair set up at ringside later, he's sitting there, watching his two opponents at Battleground going at it, screaming at them sometimes, trying to get them to destroy each other.
It's taking too long, he wants destruction, a defeat, so he can go backstage and try to think while the seconds pass all too slowly with no word from AJ's doctor. Neither of them doing what he wants, he ends up in the ring, trying to egg them on... but it fails when he ends up cornered by them both. His life flashes before his eyes, realizing that his stupid action may get him hurt before they even know if he's going to be a daddy or not, and then what would AJ do? He all but begs the two to let him go, stop cornering him, but it does no good. He ends up down on the mat after being Shellshocked and Chokeslammed, rolling out of the ring once he has some senses about him once more.
The trainer is exasperated but thorough and careful with his examination, Paige sitting with him until her match against Brie begins. He half-watches as she fights as best as she can, but the numbers game gets her too, Brie winning the match and watching on as her twin sister and Alicia proceed to beat Paige down afterwards.
They end up on separate cots, staring at each other grimly, when Mike's phone starts to ring. The trainer hands it over and he's not surprised to find it's AJ, so he places it on speaker. "Hi, sweetheart. You're on speaker," he adds quickly, flickering a glance over at Paige. "Paige is here. We're both going to be ok, just a little sore on our way to Tough Enough tomorrow."
She hesitates, digesting what he'd said. "I'm glad, husband. I just wanted to make sure."
"I know, sweetheart. No worries, we're fine. How's everything going for you?"
"It's fine, been quiet here." Her way of telling him no word from the hospital. He exhales quietly, leaning over. "Paige?"
"Yeah, I'm here," the diva says, still a little out of it from the attack she'd just endured. "Hullo, AJ."
"Hi, my English muffin." AJ pauses for a moment. "Paige, I'm really sorry I'm not there to help you. I guess I picked a bad time to retire and leave you alone, huh?"
"It's fine," Paige says quietly. "You weren't happy here, that's understandable. I know you're doing what you wanted to do, and that's what matters." She scrubs at her face before turning towards the phone once more. "I do miss you, AJ, though. We'll have to catch up soon, yeah? Maybe you can come with Mike to more Tough Enough stuff."
"Yeah, definitely, we'll work it out so I can," AJ promises her. "Take care of yourself, both of you, and I'll see you soon." He takes the phone off of speaker once Paige mumbles a tired bye, putting it to his ear. "No word from the doctor, as I'm sure you've guessed, but I think maybe tomorrow... it'll have been a week, and that's what he told me."
"Alright, sweetheart," he tells her quietly. "I'll have my phone with me before Tough Talk. Talk to you tomorrow. I love you."
"Love you too. Bye, husband."
"Bye, sweetheart." She hangs up and he turns towards Paige, almost glad for the distraction as she stumbles off of the cot, nearly faceplanting into the wall. He's by her side in a moment, gripping her arm and keeping her from hurting herself worse. "C'mon, let's go back to the hotel."
"That sounds nice," she mumbles as he guides her out of the room, towards the car.