Mike is booked on Smackdown this week. It's the first one on USA Network, and there's a vibe in the air that hints towards something special. He nods at the new commentator, Mauro Ranallo, and stands at the gorilla position to wait for his cue. When it finally comes, he walks out and smirks at the jeering crowd, before talking up the move to USA Network, talking up his show, talking up the Rumble until he gets interrupted. Of course he gets interrupted. First New Day, then Ziggler and Goldust.
Neville is next and Mike tilts his head, wondering if perhaps the man had been swayed by Christmas at Alberto's, if perhaps he was going to accept Mike's offer... but no, instead, he suggests he gives Mike his Slammy in exchange for Mike canceling MizTV. Miz grits his teeth and glares at them all until R-Truth comes out, determined to answer Del Rio's open challenge.
Mike rolls his eyes and corrects him that this is MizTV, and has nothing to do with Alberto or his US title. Truth hesitates after Miz suggests he buy a clue, then slamming the microphone against Mike's head. He rolls out of the ring, watching blurrily as New Day too is kicked out, and the next thing he knows an eight man tag match is sanctioned. It goes about as well as can be expected, although he and New Day work alright together at first. It falls apart eventually, and Mike is pinned by Ziggler... but the other four men quickly fall apart as Ziggler takes out both Truth and Goldust, explaining that at the Rumble, it's every man for himself. "No honor among thieves," he mumbles as he stumbles back up the ramp.
His role for the night is done, Del Rio had already lost his match, and Paige isn't here again tonight so Mike trudges back to the hotel, where he sits alone and thinks. Checks his email, gnawing on his fingernail while he considers what's next. What role he may play in the Royal Rumble, if any... He sits up a little straighter when he realizes that an email from his agent is waiting for him with a casting notice. It's for a show up in Vancouver, Supernatural. He'd watched a few episodes here and there, seems like a fun enough show, though pretty gorey sometimes and heavy on religious mythology...
But with his wrestling career being in a slump, the decision is easy enough. Before confirming with his agent, however, he finds his phone and makes a call. "Hey, sweetheart, I've received an offer to film an episode of Supernatural... it starts next week in Vancouver, so I was thinking... I come to California, we get clearance from Dr. Chi and then we go together to our favorite city once more before the baby comes?"
AJ sounds sleepy, and he feels guilty for waking her up, but once she registers what he's talking about, she immediately wakes up. "Vancouver? A third honeymoon? I'm in."
He laughs softly. "It can be whatever you want it to be, sweetheart. I'll be home in the morning."
"Great, see you then."
-x
So he returns home in the morning, they meet up with her OB GYN, who seems more than a little hesitant to allow the trip, but after recommending a decent OB GYN in the Vancouver area, she reluctantly clears it. "I'm only being cautious because you're now in the window where you could go into labor and the baby is developed enough to be healthy," she tells them. "This being your first pregnancy, the baby could easily come sooner than February 15th."
AJ and Mike exchange glances before looking back at the doctor. "What are the chances of the baby coming while we're in Vancouver?"
Dr. Chi purses her lips. "I honestly am not sure. But if you go to Dr. Williamson, she will give you the best possible care. Try not to worry, and enjoy yourself," she tells AJ with a small smile. "If you have any questions, call me at any hour. I'll see you when you're back in Los Angeles."
"Thank you, Dr. Chi," Mike says as they leave, his hand warm on AJ's lower back.
After they pack and confirm their flight out, they get a few hours to relax in bed, AJ dozing lightly against Mike, her nose pressed into his throat as he strokes her stomach and thinks about the next few weeks. It's all happening so fast, and now he's getting acting roles again, and... Sighing, he kisses her forehead. "I promise, no matter what, that it won't keep me from being by your side when it's time."
-x
They've been in Vancouver for a couple of days, Mike meeting Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki and the other cast and crew members while AJ relaxes at the hotel and explores the restaurants nearby that they'd visited frequently while he filmed his various movies. The managers and staff remember her and ply her with baked goods and free milkshakes, keeping her company as much as they can.
She's playing around with her phone, reading through her timeline on Twitter, when she reads something that makes her lose her appetite, the blueberry muffin she was currently inhaling sitting abandoned on the plate afterwards. She places a call, ignoring the international fees, and grits her teeth as it rings through. As soon as she hears it click, she barrels through, not even allowing enough time for a greeting. "My little English muffin," she says, a dangerous lilt to her voice. "What is this I read about you being concussed? For a few weeks by now? And why is it that no one I know seemed to be aware of this, or were they just keeping it from me because I'm pregnant?"
Paige hesitates. "No, AJ. No one knew. I didn't want anyone to know. Sofia isn't even fully aware, though I suppose now everyone will find out. I simply told Alberto and Mike that I needed time off." She breathes out gustily. "I have been enough of a burden to everyone, even before Ricardo left for India and it's not getting any better. I won't let a minor concussion cause more grief for people. You all have your own lives, I won't be-"
"You're not a burden!" AJ snaps once she finds her voice again. "You're our friend, Paige, and we just want to take care of you and make sure you're healthy and happy... I know Ricardo leaving has been awful for you, but he's going to be back in a few weeks, and he's going to hate all of us if we leave you to suffer alone. You need to tell us, and you need to tell Sofia, when something's wrong. We just want to help."
Paige's breathing is choked, a little rapid and rough, and it doesn't take long for AJ to realize she's crying. "I know," she wails, "but I can't barely help myself, and you're pregnant, and Alberto's still finding his footing in WWE after so long being gone, and we all miss Ricardo, and I just can't- I can't..."
"Yes, you can," AJ tells her softly. "And you will, or I'll get ahold of Ricardo right here, right now and tell him what you've been keeping from us. How do you think he's going to feel when he reads you've had a concussion for weeks and didn't even tell him?"
Paige shudders. "I know. I do, really. I just... I hate being hurt, I hate not being able to wrestle. Even if I wasn't winning the divas title back, or being voted as Diva of the year, still. It was a distraction while I waited for Ricardo to come home to me. Now I just sit at home and think about all of the ways I screwed up the last few months..." She sniffs and wipes at her eyes. "It's not a severe concussion, I'm nearly 100%, they'll probably clear me soon and then I'll be back on the road, and I'll be ok."
"Of course you will," AJ says soothingly. "You'll be strong and back at doing what you love, and then Ricardo will come home and you'll square things away with him, and everything'll be perfect once more. You'll see."
Paige sniffs. "I hope so," she whispers.
AJ looks up as Mike enters the establishment, his eyes lighting up as he sees her. She points to the phone before motioning him over. "Look, someone here wants to talk to you. Just... tell him, alright, Paige?" she says as Mike sits down, giving her a confused look as she passes the phone over to him.
"Hello?" His confusion turns into some sort of fearful worry as his brows furrow and he pinches his nose, listening. "What? Yeah... Oh... But you're going to be ok, right?"
As Mike questions Paige about what the trainer's been telling her, AJ picks at her blueberry muffin and listens to her husband, how sweet he's being to one of her best friends, and smiles softly. He's going to be such a great daddy, Sara Louisa...