Mike is still feeling off after witnessing Neville's injury and the after affects but, upon returning home, he feels the tension slowly easing. The house is dark and quiet, AJ catching some sleep during Sara Louisa's nap, so Mike takes the opportunity and, after peeking in at the peacefully sleeping baby, crawls into bed next to her, wrapping an arm around his wife's midsection, tucking her in close. She makes a deep, sleepy noise and he smiles. "It's just me, sweetheart."
She hums and rolls over, burying her face in his chest, still fast asleep. He strokes her hair before dozing off as well, relieved to be home. He's not sure how much time has passed when he feels the bed shift, faint little protesting noises a few feet away. He's just forced his way to consciousness when AJ slips back into bed, cooing and soothing Sara Louisa as she blinks lazily up at her mom, fists waving in a fussing nature. "Alright," AJ whispers, settling her and helping her to feed. "There you go, baby girl."
Mike is laying on his stomach, peeking up at them with a goofy, fond smile on his face, when AJ peeks over and realizes. "Oh, sorry," she whispers. "Didn't mean to wake you up... but someone was getting fussy, weren't they?" She adjusts Sara carefully and looks back at Mike. "I heard about what happened with Neville. Is he ok?"
"Broken ankle and shinbone," he sighs, voice thick with sleepiness. Sitting up, he brushes a finger along Sara's cheek, smiling when she looks up at him, distracted for a moment from sucking, before resuming hungrily.
"That's awful," she says. "This close to Wrestlemania too..." Mike nods, leaning back against the pillows. "Alicia said you went to the hospital with him."
"It didn't feel right leaving him to go alone," Mike sighs, closing his eyes for a minute. "Even if we hate each other most of the time. I'd have wanted someone with me if it was me."
They sit in silence for awhile, watching their daughter until she's had her fill, AJ handing her over to Mike to hold while she wipes her face off gently. Adjusting her clothes, she then takes Sara back and leans against Mike. "I'm glad it wasn't you," she says, stroking Sara's parted lips as the baby falls back asleep, content now that she's full. "You're such a good guy, Mike. I should've seen it sooner." She rests her head on his shoulder and dozes for awhile as he wraps an arm around her, supporting her and Sara Louisa as they sleep.
He smiles and kisses first AJ, then Sara. "You both make it very easy to aspire to do the right thing," he whispers, eyes bright as he listens to their soft breaths. "I love you both. So much."
-x
He has to pull himself away from his family and return to the road for Smackdown. He wrestles Ziggler to a loss, throwing a towel into the distance after finishing drying his hair.
"Temper, temper," Paige teases him, sidling up and hooking her arm through his, half-hugging him.
He frowns, taking in how happy she seems, how... she's glowing. "What's up with you? You're happier than I've seen you in..." It slowly clicks. "...months... Ricardo?"
"He's home," she says, almost singing the words. "We're... good. Like, really good. I didn't expect it, considering... everything. But he understands, and I'm done with Kevin, so everything's perfect." She beams up at Mike. "Alberto worked his magic and got him home a little early, I thought I would have to wait another month but, nope."
Mike chuckles and hugs her. "Well, I'm happy for you both. Now you need to have him call me so we can figure out a time for him to come meet Sara Louisa for the first time."
"Definitely," she nods. "I can't wait to see him hold her. He's so good with kids, she's going to love him."
"I'm sure she will," Mike sighs, going to retrieve his towel. "Hey, AJ's birthday-"
"Is Saturday," Paige cuts in. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. I'll call her when I think it'll be baby friendly."
Mike smiles at her. "I'd invite you over, and have a big thing, but Sara's still so young, and AJ gets tired easily so I think just this once, we're going to really keep things lowkey. But yes, calls are more than welcome."
Paige chuckles at him, shaking her head. "No worries, Mike. We all definitely understand. But next year, we're going to throw a huge party. I hope you realize that now. Hell, I'll probably start planning it now with Sofia."
He half-laughs, half-groans, squeezing her arm. "That wouldn't surprise me actually," he sighs.
She winks and sticks her tongue out at him before skipping off to handle whatever it is she does backstage when not actually booked on Smackdown. He watches her go before searching through his luggage, finding the item he'd gotten for AJ here in Ohio. I hope she likes it, he thinks nervously.
-x
After Mike flies in on Friday, AJ spends most of the day before going through her clothes, finding her maternity wear and putting it all in a bag. Once they settle Sara Louisa in her car seat, they' drive to a place that accepted clothes and donated them all, AJ looking content afterwards. Mike even stops and gets a hot fudge sundae for them both on the way home, AJ pursing her lips but accepting the treat once he promises to help her eat it. "You're beautiful," he tells her honestly as she spoonfeeds him some of the already melting ice cream at a red light.
She shrugs. "You have to say that," she chuckles faintly, scraping some of the ice cream that had dripped onto his chin with the spoon before sticking it in her mouth.
"Doesn't keep it from being true," he says, lifting her hand and kissing her palm slowly. She closes her eyes as he moves to her fingers, kissing and sucking at the traces of ice cream and fudge there.
"Mike," she groans, closing her eyes and leaning in to kiss him. The waiting period is torture for them both, especially in moments like this, so Mike gently rests a hand on her collar and pushes her back before they get too lost in the moment.
"Soon," he promises, kissing her gently before pulling away and pulling away as the light turns green.
AJ looks back at Sara Louisa, who is cooing and looking around. "You're lucky we love you, little girl," she says fondly. "I wouldn't miss out on six weeks for just anyone."
Mike laughs and takes AJ's hand, squeezing it gently. "Me neither."
Saturday is started off lazily, AJ waking up to breakfast in bed, Mike serving her pancakes and scrambled eggs with cheese, grinning as her eyes widen at the syrup he pours liberally over the plate. "Happy birthday, sweetheart," he says, leaning over to kiss her as soon as she's settled in with a glass of milk and orange juice.
"Thank you," she says, pursing her lips while poking at the pancakes. "Mike, you know I'm still trying to lose weight..."
He leans over and kisses her shoulder, staring up at her with deep, calm blue eyes. "I know. But you only have a birthday once a year, and I'm not going to let you spend a day without eating at least some of your favorites. Now come on, eat up. You can go back to all of that nasty counting calories business tomorrow. Please?"
She sighs and laughs a little, cupping his face and drawing him back up to kiss properly. "Fine, since you asked so nicely." She takes a bite of the syrup smothered pancake and groans softly, closing her eyes. "So good."
He grins, turning to tuck into his own food. "So unless you had better plans, I was thinking we could spend most of the time here, in bed, or playing with Sara... just having a quiet day. I know neither of us have had much of that lately."
AJ nods, leaning over to softly kiss him. "Sounds perfect."
He melts into her and mumbles, "Not that I'm complaining, but you've been really affectionate the last couple of days... Something going on?" She smirks against his lips and slips her hand under the pillow, pulling out a piece of paper. "What's this?" he asks, taking it from her and skimming it. "Wait, what?"
"I had a follow-up with my OB GYN on Thursday," she explains, tracing her fingers along his knuckles. "She said I'm fully healed."
He blinks at the paper, then back at AJ. "Meaning..." At AJ's nod, he swallows and leans forward, drawing her into his arms. "Finally," he mumbles against her cheek, feeling her giggle.
AJ hesitates for only a moment. "But what about Sara Louisa?"
"Don't worry, I have an idea," Mike breathes against her jaw.
AJ decides, easily enough, to trust him, changing the subject for now. "Now, about that lazy day relaxing in bed..." He looks disappointed at first but she winks at him and goes to get the baby from the bassinet, settling her in her daddy's arms, his eyes lighting up at first glance of her. AJ grins at her family and leans forward, kissing first Sara, then Mike. "I love you both so much. I'm so lucky."
"We're the lucky ones," Mike refutes, beaming at her as she returns to her breakfast. "Isn't that right, Sara? We're lucky because of your beautiful, loving, amazing, intelligent mommy?" The baby coos and struggles, waving her fists around as she grabs at his shirt collar. "See, that's her way of saying yes."
AJ chuckles, eyes gleaming with love for them both as Mike proceeds to coo and babble at the baby in response to her own little noises.
-x
After a few hours spent doing little more than taking care of the baby's needs and talking about everything leading up to AJ's first year without going to Wrestlemania as a wrestler, Mike gets up from the bed and takes the baby from AJ, guiding her up with his free hand. "Come on, I have something for you," he says softly.
AJ allows him to lead her to the kitchen, swallowing hard. "How?" she demands breathlessly, taking in the dimly lit kitchen, roses and orchids filling a vase on the table. Mike smiles over at her, looking up as there's a knock at the door. Sara fusses but Mike shushes her as he walks into the living room. AJ watches by the table as he opens the door, ushering Star in. "Star!" she gasps, walking over to her friend and hugging her. "Where have you been? I've been so worried."
Star shifts around a bit, trying to catch a glimpse of the baby before turning back to AJ. "Lo siento, mami, I wanted to be here for you, it just..." She lowers her eyes. "Marty the Moth kidnapped me again, I was- I was able to get free, but he told me if I... if I didn't do as he wished, he would hurt those I love." She wipes at her mouth with a trembling hand. "He threatened John." Her eyes, desperate and wide, turn towards Mike. "I can't tell him. His sister, she is... she is cruel. She would target his weak points and... I cannot have that happen. He seems happy with Taya, I will... I will keep my distance. To keep him safe." She swallows. "You cannot tell him, either of you. Por favor," she pleads, tears filling her eyes.
AJ and Mike exchange glances before facing her. "I'm not sure if this is the best course of action," AJ says slowly. "But we'll support you. Anything you need, you know how to find us." Star nods, sobbing brokenly as AJ hugs her. "Now," she says softly, pulling away and wiping at Star's eyes. "What do you say, when you've caught your breath, you sit down for a minute and meet my daughter?"
Star hesitates, peeking at Mike for a minute. "I thought that was why I was here..."
Mike coughs and smiles, handing the baby over to her. "Busted. Star's going to take Sara into the nursery for a little bit, and you and I are going to have a nice dinner, then we'll... well, I guess we'll see where the night takes us, birthday girl," he says, grinning as AJ peers from Mike to Star and back. "This way, Sara will be close enough that we can peek in on her, and be close enough if she needs us. How's that sound?"
"You're amazing," AJ breathes out, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you. This is the best birthday ever."
He laughs into her hair, kissing her neck. "And we're not done yet, sweetheart," he whispers, causing her to shiver and hold onto him tighter. "Thank you, Star, you know where the nursery is, right?"
"Si, Mike. Have fun, you two," she says, walking down the hall with the little girl.
"Oh, we will," Mike nods, pressing his nose to AJ's and staring into her eyes as she blushes prettily. "We definitely will..." He leads her to the table and waits until she's sitting comfortably to duck into the kitchen and grab their plates- a hamburger, serving of macaroni and cheese, and some mixed vegetables. AJ grins as he pours her a glass of bubbly root beer, tears filling her eyes as she takes it all in. "The last meal we had together before our little girl came into the world," he comments needlessly, reaching over and taking her hand.
"Yeah," she sighs, taking a bite of the macaroni. "It tastes almost as good as that night." He grins at her, glad as she eats enthusiatically. He begins to tuck in to his food as well when she finds his hand and holds it. "At my appointment, I was told I've lost another five pounds in the last couple of weeks. So I only need to lose... say, ten more pounds, and I'll be at my goal."
He looks up at her, easing off into a soft smile. "I told you it would be fine. Either way, you're gorgeous." Lifting her hand, he kisses it gently, a shudder passing through her body at the feel of his warm lips against her skin. Noticing, he smirks and puts her hand down, patting it gently. "Finish eating, your food's going to get cold."
She pouts at him but does so, looking up after a couple of more bites. "Did you hear something? I think I heard Sara..."
Mike looks up and listens too, tilting his head towards the hallway. "No, sweetheart. It sounds quiet back there. And I'm sure if she needed us, Star would let us know."
"Can we look in on her after we eat though?" AJ wonders, yearning to see her little girl.
Mike smiles, his eyes softening. This is the longest AJ's been away from Sara, of course it's hard on her... "Of course we can."
After they finish eating and peek in at Sara, relieved to find she's taking to the crib quite well, Star gently humming and singing to the baby, they leave them to continue bonding. Mike leads AJ to the living room, his hand low on her back, and guides her to the couch. "First," he says, drawing out a cupcake with a candle waiting. "Now, this is up to you. Do you want to split this cupcake, or do you want all of it?" He rests his hand on her stomach, an instinctive action that he's not entirely broken yet, and smiles up at her. "I'm sure it won't affect your diet majorly, but it's entirely up to you, sweetheart."
"Splitting it sounds good," she says, eyes locked on how his fingers sprawl out across her midsection just right. It's just the esteem boost she needs, her eyes bright as she looks up at him.
He obligingly lights the candle and waits until she blows it out before sitting down next to her, cutting the cupcake in half. He plucks half of it up and holds it out to her, grinning as she eyes him warily, finally opening up to allow him to feed her... just to feel the frosting go all over her lips and nose. She sputters in protest, struggling to swallow the chocolate, but her payback comes when she gets ahold of the other half of the cupcake, smearing it all over his face. "I knew that was coming," he sighs, not losing his grin. His expression sharpens, grows a little lustful as she leans forward and kisses him, lightly licking the frosting and cake crumbs from his lips and chin.
He groans and tosses the plate the cupcake had been on somewhere out of sight, gripping AJ's face gently and kissing her slowly, heatedly. She clings to him just as desperatedly and he huffs out a breath as she goes after the frosting once more. "You'd better clean the Moneymaker," he whispers to her, catching a glimpse of the naughty smirk on her face as she kisses and nibbles at his cake-smeared features. His hands are rubbing up and down her back as she moves, leaving her breathless and whimpering, AJ finally pulling away enough to push him down onto the couch, straddling him. "You're sure the doctor said this was ok?" he asks after a moment, losing his nerve when he thinks about how it's only been a little over a month.
She nods, losing interest in the cake as she sits up and stares down at him. "You saw the note," she says softly, her fingers nimbly working up his shirt and tugging it off. Throwing it somewhere, she leans down and begins kissing along his throat and down to his chest, revelling in the noises he's making, how tense his hand is against her back. "Poor sensitive boy," she breathes out, feeling him shudder under her. "Imagine how I'm feeling..."
When his fingers tease up, taking her shirt with them, it's her turn to make a soft noise deep in her throat as the cool air brushes against her skin. She pauses to look down, analyze the look of awe on his face as he takes her in for the first time in weeks, a dopey smile on his face like the night she dropkicked him out of the ring and this entire crazy ride began. "I love you," she breathes, shifting in a way that makes them both melt into the other just a little more.
"I love you too," he whispers, his fingers trailing against her warm skin and making her eyes flutter shut. A couple of more moments like this, his fingers reintroducing themselves to her, and her breath is ragged and rough, her body trembling. "If this is too soon," he begins but she shuts him up with a fierce kiss.
"Not soon enough," she breathes out, almost relieved when he shifts and lays her down on the couch, hovering over her. "Mike, please." His fingers continue to trace here and there, his lips helping her to blank on important things, like breathing and, and... She presses a hand against his chest, suddenly stopping him. "No wait, Mike, we-"
He shakes his head and leans closer, kissing her gently on the lips. "I've got you. Everything's fine. Don't worry, sweetheart, we're good." His soothing voice reassures her as he brushes his fingers against her cheek, she melts back into the cushions and he resumes kissing languidly down her stomach, smirking as she moans faintly and digs her nails into the armrest, arching up towards him and making a soft, needy noise at the further contact this movement causes between them.
He wraps an arm around her to support her, pressing his forehead to hers and staring into her face as she bites her lips and digs her nails into his shoulders, gasping. "Mike," she whispers. "Mike... Mike...!"
"Too much?" he asks, worried until she shakes her head, their eyes finally meeting. The smoldering look in her eyes is overwhelming and he presses his face into her shoulder then, not wanting to lose this moment so early.
"Mike," she keens, cupping his face and pulling him over so she can look at him. "Please..." He presses against her forehead once more, staring down into her eyes, and she sighs, shivering at the intensity in his gaze. "Yes..." Their gazes are still locked when he kisses her, devouring and amazing, swallowing the noises she makes and losing his own in the actions, soothing her afterwards with lazy, gentle presses of his lips against hers. "I love you," she groans sleepily, smiling when he helps her sit up and look more put together, since Star is still down the hall.
"I love you too, sweetheart," he whispers, kissing her again. "Forever and ever." As if to prove the point, he finds his jeans pocket in the tangle of denim and pulls out a small box, holding it out to her.
She stares at him in confusion before pulling it open, her lips parting. "Mike... what is this?" she whispers.
He clears his throat and presses a hand over hers, smiling. "It's something of a family tradition, you see," he says slowly. "When my mother had me, my grandmother came to her with a necklace with my initials on it, my birthstone set into the golden letters. So, she and I discussed it and decided to do the same for you." He carefully undoes the clasp, holding it up so she could get a good look. "This is the chain my grandmother gave my mother. The initial charms are brand new, though." He smiles affectionately at his tearful wife. "Maybe, in about four decades, when our little girl has a child of her own, we'll do this for her."
AJ laughs, then cries harder, throwing her arms around Mike tightly. "Thank you, thank you so much for everything. I don't know what I did to deserve all of this, but I'm so grateful."
He kisses her cheek as he clasps the necklace in place. "Happy birthday, sweetheart," he whispers, pulling away and kissing her gently.
-x
Raw is just the continuance of Mike's rollercoaster career lately. He thinks he'll be in a triple threat match for the Intercontinental title just for Kevin Owens to put Stardust, Sin Cara and Zack Ryder in their places instead. He grits his teeth, watching this for a few minutes, before he follows Sami and Ziggler out to complain about their spots getting stolen. The match spills outside, then ends in a DQ when Owens attacks Zack... All six of them stand in the ring, glaring at Owens as he escapes, none of them certain where their future lies regarding the Intercontinental title or Wrestlemania.
Mike kicks various things in Alberto's locker room, hating all of that, when Paige runs in, babbling something about a seven man ladder match, and he realizes when he turns the TV on. Dammit. A ladder match with six others... sure why the hell not. He'd won the Money in the Bank before, with an injured leg, so what could possibly go wrong here?
That Intercontinental title is mine... again...