Mike sneers as he stares down at one of the many scripts sent his way from WWE Films. Tapping it against his knuckles, he looks up to find that Big Show is on the monitor, heading for the ring. He gets up and rushes out, his hoodie cape billowing around him as he approaches, his step slowing as some of his nerve fails. Stepping carefully, he holds his hands up to show he means no harm and holds the folder out to Big Show, waiting until he takes it before walking away, some smugness returning to his step.
Proof that he's a better actor than Show, that he's still receiving so many scripts that he feels confident in simply handing off scripts here and there. He smirks, Big Show's response to it meaningless in the long run. He'd proven his point. He's just walked around the halls to calm down before returning to the main locker room when he realizes Paige is standing there, a decidedly unhappy look on her face. He immediately stops and stares at her. "Hey, let me get my bag and we can get out of here," he tells her, aware that she's close to losing it because of her unexpected loss to Naomi earlier.
"Thanks," she mumbles, stepping aside so he can do that. They then walk side by side to the car and he drives them back to the hotel, glancing over at her at red lights. "I don't know what I'm going to do," she finally says when they're within sight of the hotel. He pulls into the parking lot and kills the engine, turning to look at her. "I can't win a damn thing anymore, Charlotte took my opportunity to save AJ's record off of a fluke because of Naomi and Tamina, Ricardo's leaving me and he barely wants to touch me anymore because of what I had to do to stay viable in Total Divas..." She stares up at the roof of the car. "I really feel like I'm going to lose it if this continues on."
Mike reaches out and squeezes her hand, trying to smile at her and failing in the face of her pain. "You're strong. If anyone knows that, it's me. I mean hell, it takes a special kind of person to keep up with me on a movie set and you did pretty well at it. Ricardo will come back and things will be alright, I have no doubt. As for your loss spree, trust me, it comes and it goes. I've been on the wrong end of win/loss records for so long, and I always find my way out. Don't worry about it. You're young with a long career ahead of you, and this will seem like nothing in a few months."
She looks oddly teary eyed at the end of this, wiping at her face. "Y'know, a lot of people say you're loud and annoying, and they're not wrong... but you're also a really sweet guy, and so maddeningly loyal..." She laughs at the look on his face before releasing a breath. "Thank you. AJ and your little baby are really lucky to have you."
He smiles and leans his head back against the headrest, staring up at the night sky visible through the windshield until Paige reaches out and grabs her door, pushing it open. Glad that she's finally ready to go inside, he pulls himself up and out too, following her into the hotel. Neither take their time in getting ready for bed, Mike letting her go first while he calls AJ just to check in. She's obviously sleepy so he doesn't talk with her for long, just to check in, tell her he loves her, and tell her good night before he heads into the bathroom to brush his teeth, wash the spray out of his hair and change into his sleepwear. By the time he returns to the main room, Paige has shut the lights off and slipped into bed, so he walks quietly over to his own and does the same, laying on his side and hugging the pillow.
"Ricardo's dojo is having a farewell party for him Saturday," she says softly, her voice drawing him out of the fugue he was slipping into. "I'm skipping the Saturday event so I can be there. It might get me in trouble, but I don't care." She says some other stuff before her voice drifts away, sleep claiming her too, and Mike buries his face in a pillow, considering it all.
He sighs and closes his eyes, deciding to skip the Saturday event too.
-x
AJ greets Mike with a smile, taking the flower from him and placing it in the vase full of violets that keep multiplying week by week. He hugs her close and kisses his way down her neck, feeling her nails lightly trail up and down his back. "I've missed you," she sighs as he guides her back to the couch and settles next to her, his eyes fixed on her face as he kisses her. After a few moments, she sits up and pushes him over onto his back, settling in his lap. His eyes flutter as she leans in and kisses his throat, jaw and mouth. Her fingers tangling in his hair, she groans softly and nips at his lips as he holds her in place.
"Hey, hey," he says, loath to stop her but needing to, his hands guiding up to her shoulders to push her back gently. "Ricardo's going to India on Thursday." She nods, disinterested, and moves in to kiss him again but he laughs, shaking his head. "In a minute, ok? I wanna run something by you first. I know I just got home, but the dojo's having a farewell thing for him tomorrow and I get the feeling Paige will need some support, not to mention I want to say bye to Ricardo myself, without imposing on whatever Del Rio or Paige might want to do for him closer to the time... so I'm thinking about getting everyone together in Florida tomorrow and having an impromptu get together. What do you think?"
Her eyes gleam at the thought of getting to see everyone again. "I think it's great. Can I put in a request for the menu?"
"Of course, mama. What do you want?"
She hums and shrugs. "You're going to laugh when you hear this, but I've been craving hot dogs lately." He purses his lips at her and she laughs. "I know, I usually don't care for them... but I guess it's just one of those things."
His hands trail lower as he kisses her. "I guess this kid has my appetite then. Frosties with french fries, and now hot dogs... I guess I should apologize." AJ smirks against his lips, shaking her head slowly, eyes fluttering. "But yeah, I'll convince Del Rio that a cookout is exactly what we all need. It'd also keep Sofia from running herself ragged to accomodate all of us..."
"Sounds great," she sighs as he nuzzles into her, finding all of her sensitive spots and causing her to melt more and more into his arms.
-x
"So he really thinks that you're in Puerto Rico?" Mike laughs, shaking his head at Alberto as they heat up the grill the next day. Paige, Ricardo, Sofia, Alex and Alicia are all at the dojo for the farewell event, leaving Mike, Alberto, AJ, John and Star to set up. It had taken some fast talking to get everything together, but as always, their group had come together when needed. Ricardo leaving for six months had definitely been all of the encouragement they'd needed to make the trip.
Along with AJ's hot dogs, there's hamburgers and potato salad, macaroni salad, chips and salsa, and for dessert, a cake because Star's birthday, John had explained to them, was the next day. Vegetable and fruit platters sit around to tide them all over, especially AJ, as they wait. Despite her still healing collar bone, she had insisted on coming out to see Ricardo off despite not knowing him as well as the others, so it had been the least they could do to include her birthday in this party. AJ, Star and John work together to get the inside food together while they wait for the event to wrap. It's almost 10 PM when they hear the car pull up finally, Mike quickly rushing in to pull out the hamburgers and hot dogs, getting them on the grill while Alberto goes inside to be part of the surprise for his best friend.
Mike's just gotten everything adjusted on the grill and runs inside as the front door opens, the group of them standing in the foyer. He rushes up and stands next to AJ just in time as Paige flicks on the light and stares at them all, Ricardo fumbling his bag as he gapes at them. "Que?!"
Alberto laughs and steps forward, wrapping his arms around his best friend. "Surprise," he mumbles into his hair. "Did you think we'd let you go with only letting the dojo be the ones to throw you a farewell party? Hm, no, no, mi hermano."
Ricardo tangles his fingers in Alberto's shirt as he hugs him back, reluctantly pulling away to grab Mike. "Idiota," he says through a laugh. "I thought you said you were too busy to come see me before Thursday."
Mike shrugs, smirking. "I lied." He hugs Ricardo tightly. "We all wanted to see you before you went, eat one last meal as a group together." He pulls away and searches Ricardo's face. "Dammit, man, you're not even going to be here for the holidays. What the hell is that nonsense?"
"I know, I'm sorry," he says sadly. "But it was too good of an opportunity to let go, Mike. You know that."
"I do, I'm not saying you shouldn't have taken it. Just gonna miss you, man."
"I'll miss you too," Ricardo sighs, patting Mike's back before pulling away from him and staring with a small smile at John. "Flew all this way just to see me, hm?"
John laughs too and pulls him in for a quick hug. "Yeah, man. Mike would've nagged me if I said I had other things to do, you know. Besides six months is a long time without being able to grace you with my presence."
Ricardo laughs and rolls his eyes, clapping John on the arm before heading over to the women. "Hola, Star, gracias for coming," he says, carefully hugging the woman from her good side. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," she says quietly. "Not how I wanted to spend my birthday, but eh. You know."
"Si, I definitely do," he says with a small smile. Turning to AJ, he holds his arms out to her and smiles when she hugs him tightly. "Gracias for coming as well, AJ."
"Hey, there were hot dogs, no one could keep me away." But she laughs and cups his face. "Take care of yourself over there, alright? My husband would be devastated if something happened to you."
"I will," he promises.
"You better." She taps his jaw before turning to the others with an expectant look on her face. "Now can we eat?" They all laugh at her, aware that it's a combination of cravings and hormones.
"Yes, sweetheart, we can eat," Mike says, leading them onto the patio to check the meat.
-x
Paige and the others fly out to Texas for Night of Champions, but Mike isn't booked so he decides to head home with his wife. It's another lengthy flight but neither of them complain once they're back in the comfort of their own bed, AJ's fingers carding through Mike's hair as he lays sideways on the bed, his head resting in her lap as he runs his hand over her stomach, feeling for the baby. "I think I'm going to take the week off," he says softly. "Not booked tonight, I doubt they'll have anything important for me Monday or Thursday... you alright having me here nonstop for a few days?"
She huffs and kisses him on top of the head, rolling her eyes playfully. "Of course." He grins up at her, about to say something when they both stop and blink, the baby letting its presence be known. "Guess this little one is fine with it too."
He smirks and leans up, kissing her softly. "Well then, it's unanimous I guess."