Mike yawns and shakes his head, swatting at AJ's soft fingers as she strokes his face. "No, lemme alone," he mumbles sleepily.
She giggles faintly and nuzzles closer to him, whispering into his ear. "Well, if you want to sleep through your best friend's birthday, then fine. I'll just go back over to my side of the bed and read for awhile."
This gets Mike's attention and he squints at the clock, almost choking when he realizes it's nearly noon. "What the-?! Why's it so late?" He turns and stares at his wife with a bemused expression, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer. "Sweetheart, did you sleep in?"
She huffs and swats at him. "No, I can't say I did, as your baby gets hungry at really odd hours and wanted pancakes at like 6 AM. When I have her, you're gonna be responsible for early morning feedings when you're home."
He smiles and hugs her close, kissing her shoulder. "It'd be my pleasure, honestly." His lips and hands are warm and gentle against her skin as she leans back into him, closing her eyes. "I hate that I won't be as on-hands with her as I'd like... but I know you'll be a great mom, and when she's a little older, and you're a little more rested, you two can come on the road with me."
AJ wrinkles her nose but then smiles when he tilts her face up towards him and kisses her slowly. "Well," she sighs. "If you promise to kiss me like that, I guess we could work it out." She giggles when he nods eagerly, leaning in for another lengthy, leisurely kiss that makes her tingle all the way down to the tips of her toes. "It's not fair though," she muses once he's pulled away and they're just laying in each other's arms, enjoying the early afternoon silence of the house.
"What isn't, sweetheart?" he asks softly, already thinking of a way to make whatever's causing her distress better.
"That they take you away from me every week and they can't even use you on TV. Then on top of that they're making you leave for Saudi Arabia next week..." Her brows furrow. "For how long again?"
"We leave on Tuesday," he says, his fingers rubbing against her midsection gently. "We fly back to the States on Saturday. Then we have Raw in Chicago... and then I'll be back home in time for this little one's next photo opportunity..." She whimpers and he moves quickly, sitting her up and turning her until they're facing each other, his face falling as he realizes she's crying. "Hey, no, no, sweetheart, what's wrong? Huh?"
She sniffs as he lightly kisses the wet trails off of her cheeks. "It's just," she breathes, clinging to his tank top desperately. "It's just... that's a whole week I won't get to see you... and if you're not on Raw, then..."
He sighs, heart aching for her, before slipping his hands under her thighs and pulling her flush against him, hugging her. She gasps and rests her head against his shoulder, her breathing growing rough as his lips explore her throat and neck. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'll Skype and call you as often as I can. I know it's lonely for you, and I'm so sorry for that... but the money's good, and I'll never let my girls go without, so at least for now, try to hang on, ok?"
She grimaces and pulls back to look at him, running her fingers through his hair. "What if your girls don't care about the money, or the expensive things, and just want you? Hm?"
He smiles sadly at her and rests his hand on her stomach, searching her eyes. "In a perfect world, that'd be enough, sweetheart, but all of my work gives this little one a better chance at a secure future... and I know it's hard, but I promise you, it'll be worth it in the end. Especially when we have a doctor or something equally as impressive out there saving the world."
She laughs and rests her head on his chest. "I guess that is possible, huh?"
"Yeah. I mean any kid that's half yours and half mine is going to be amazing, right?" He tickles her sides when she giggles and mumbles something about his being so humble, causing her to gasp and squirm against him, both of them freezing as they stare into each other's eyes. "Sweetheart," he whispers, cupping her face and leaning in to kiss her as she shifts again, the two of them sighing as one. "I love you."
"I love you too," she breathes out, grazing his back lightly with her fingernails.
After a quick lunch that Mike puts together- macaroni and cheese, another of AJ's regular cravings, and BBQ sandwiches- they head out, AJ growing more and more accustomed to reaching for the maternity clothes right away the more she shows. They drive around, collecting some things for an impromptu birthday get together with Morrison and Star, and then sneak into his apartment while he's on the beach doing yoga. Star can't help, her arm still healing, so she watches with a displeased look on her face until Mike pushes AJ lightly towards the couch.
"You've done enough," he tells his wife, giving her a quick kiss. "I've got it from here." AJ sticks her tongue out at Mike but settles next to Star, the two of them talking in Spanish about overprotective significant others with fond smirks on their faces. He doesn't take offense to their chatter, only understanding a few words here and there thanks to the time he's spent with Ricardo the last few years.
By the time the sun is setting, the apartment is covered in streamers, balloons and all sorts of brightly decorated nonsense that John usually rolls his eyes at. Supper's just arrived from a local pizza joint that they all like, AJ's cravings once more dictating the menu, when John comes in, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Hey Star, what are-" He stops short upon seeing Mike juggling a pile of boxes with a sheepish grin, rushing over to save the topmost box before it crashes to the floor. "Mike! What the hell, man?" It dawns on him and he grunts. "Uh oh."
Mike laughs. "Nuh oh, happy birthday old man!" Once he's freed of all of the boxes, he leans forward and hugs John tight.
"Old man, my ass," he scoffs, squeezing Mike back. "So how's the daddy to be doing?"
"Doing great," Mike says. His smile is sincere, his eyes are bright, when John pulls back and examines him. "How have things been going on here?"
"Eh, Star's still recovering... it's going slow... but you know, she's agreed to stay with me, so it's progress." He smiles a little and claps Mike on the shoulder. "I smell pizza?"
"Yeah, you know, when the wife requests something, it's best to go along with it." He smiles up at his best friend and scoops the boxes up once more before continuing into hte living room where AJ first looks eagerly at the boxes, before spotting John.
"Well it's about time you came in to say hi," she chides him cheerfully, getting up and hugging him tight. Mike and John exchange glances and Mike shrugs with a smile, mouthing, hormones, before placing the food down by a stack of plates they'd put on John's coffee table. She immediately lets go of John and starts opening the boxes, hesitating for a moment to enjoy the smells that raft up.
"Geez, what all did you guys get?" John asks with a laugh, settling down next to Star and kissing her softly as she leans into him. He laughs and rolls his eyes again when he spots all of the decoration, shaking his head at Mike.
"A large pizza with onions, pepperoni and sausage, an order of lasagna, some breadsticks, potato wedges and caramel and cinnamon churros, with a slice of strawberry cheesecake for the baby." Mike grins when AJ grabs the dessert and hugs it protectively to her chest. "As for the state of your apartment, don't get fussy. I'll clean the decorations up before we go. No point in the birthday boy tiring himself out."
"Ha-ha," John says sarcastically. "Be glad it is my birthday or I'd kick your ass."
"Like to see you try," Mike says before pushing a place with a slice of pizza, some potato wedges and a breadstick on it into John's hands. "Now shut up and eat."
"Such a nice man," John laughs, putting the plate down and adding another breadstick and some marinara sauce to it before handing it over to Star. "Got it?" When she nods, he smiles at her and turns to serve himself while Mike fills a plate with a slice of pizza, half of the lasagna, potato wedges and a couple of breadsticks. When he hands it over to AJ, he locks eyes with John and they grin, not bothered in the slightest over how whipped they are now.
Once everyone has food and drinks, Hercules Reborn droning on in the distance, AJ and Star resume talking on and on in Spanish, John and Mike exchanging bemused glances. But there's something comforting about their significant others talking smoothly in another language so they don't bother to disrupt them, watching the movie and half listening to their soft voices while they eat. After all of the carbs and dessert, AJ starts to drift and Mike lifts her feet up into his lap, her head resting on Star's legs. While Star soothes her hair with her free hand, Mike massages AJ's feet up to her calves, and neither are surprised when she falls asleep within minutes, a relaxed smile on her face.
John gets up once the movie ends and starts to pick up, Mike gently putting AJ's feet down on the couch and getting up to help. "So did you have a nice birthday, all in all?" he wonders, quietly placing the plates in the sink with the rest of the silverware.
"Well," John says, leaning back against the counter while Mike fills the sink with warm water and some soap. "Yeah. I mean, I was able to spend it with some of my favorite people... and even better, the food was really good." Mike makes a face and sprays some water at him, John flinching back and then laughing. Together, the two of them quietly wash and rinse dishes, splashing each other with water only a couple of times.
Upon finishing, they return to the living room to check on the women, consider pulling the decorations down, when they realize that AJ is still asleep and Star had dozed off as well. "Huh." John leans against the wall next to Mike and watches them for a moment. "Does AJ get tired like this a lot?"
"Yeah." Mike runs his hands through his hair. "It's normal for pregnancy, of course. It's worse for some than others, hers just seems to really hit when we've been doing a lot of stuff. Today definitely counts."
"Well, you're both welcome to spend the night here, I doubt either of us wants to disrupt them."
"Thanks," Mike sighs, smiling over at his best friend.
"By the way, since someone has to go to Saudi Arabia and I probably won't get the chance to do this before that," John says, turning towards him. "Happy birthday." He hugs Mike tight and lifts him up, causing Mike to laugh.
"Idiot," he pouts once John puts him down. "It's not the same without the thick, fluffy coats drowning me."
"So particular, you brat," John sighs. "Well, come to a Lucha Underground taping in a couple of months and I'll see what I can do when I'm actually wearing one."
"I may hold you to that," Mike nods, smirking, before kneeling down by the couch and kissing his wife's forehead. She doesn't even stir so he leans in and picks her up. "Night, Johnny, catch you in the morning."
John nods, watching Mike walk down the hall to their guest room, before turning back to Star. "The best part of my birthday was you," he tells her, leaning in to kiss her softly before scooping her up in his arms and carrying her into their bedroom. He's so gentle when he lays her down and carefully takes her arm out of the sling that she doesn't even stir, his eyes locked on her face as he sits on the bed next to her and watches her sleep.
Mike is given nothing on Smackdown. On Raw, he's only around to help do things to promote breast cancer awareness month. He sees Paige here and there but it's obvious she's unhappy with everything still, and after her loss to Natalya, she can easily be heard in the male locker room, screaming and throwing things. Mike leaves his schedule for Saudi Arabia behind and goes to try to stop her, just to nearly get beaned by a bottle of water. "Whoa! Whoa, hey!" He grabs her by the arms and stops her, staring into her eyes. "What's going on?!"
"I can't win a bloody thing!" she screams at him. "Doesn't matter who, or when, or how, I lose, lose, lose, I've lost Ricardo to India, I've lost my best opportunity at helping my best friend when she needed me most, I've lost my teammates, and I just- I don't know what to bloody do anymore! Everyone hates me and I just can't- I can't stop being an outright bitch to everyone around me!" Her loud words turn into hard, body-wracking sobs, and he grabs her, pulling her in for a hug. "I don't know what to do!" She continues crying and slapping at his chest and he grits his teeth, wondering how she'll handle the upcoming few days when he's in Saudi Arabia and she will have to stay in the States, deal with everything on her own.
"I'm so sorry," he mumbles into her black hair. "I really am. But not everyone hates you... I like you, AJ likes you, Sofia likes you, and Ricardo loves you..."
"Not that it stops them all from leaving me," she sniffs, her face buried into his shoulder.
He's not sure what to say about that, so he hugs her tighter. "Ricardo will come back," he tells her. "And AJ, Sofia, me, we're all just a phone call away... or Skype. I know it's not the same, but sometimes... in this life, it's all we've got. You know?" He pulls back and stares into her redrimmed eyes, overwhelmed with sympathy for her.
"I know," she admits, wiping at her face with shaking hands. "Thanks, Mike." Her smile is forced, bitter, but he decides it's better than nothing. For now.
"You're welcome." He then wraps his arms back around her and squeezes her for a moment longer. "Let's get out of here, huh?"
"Yes please," she sighs, following him to the exit.