Late morning Thursday, AJ wakes up to find Sara cooing and making soft sounds in the crib next to the bed that she'd claimed as her own. The house is quiet so Mike's left again for Smackdown, AJ grunting as she forces herself up. The bed is comfortable enough, it's just not hers. It's not theirs. It feels wrong, she hates it. But while he puts on this little act with Maryse, she doesn't want to see him, or feel him, or be tempted by him. And she always is, even when eating meals across from him at night, her post-pregnancy inclination being to make up for lost time... but now is not the time, she has principles and won't let some physical need outweigh her mental well-being.
Leaning over to look in at her daughter, AJ smiles toothily down at the baby as she waves her fists around and starts making more insistent noises. "Alright, alright. You are definitely your daddy's little girl," she mumbles, ignoring the painful stab that sends through her chest. She leans over and picks Sara up, carrying her over to the rocking chair in the corner to feed her. "No matter what happens, sweetie, we're gonna be just fine," she says, smoothing a hand down Sara's stomach as she sits down and slowly begins to rock.
AJ has just settled Sara on a blanket on the kitchen floor so she can keep an eye on her and begin her own breakfast when her cell phone rings. Frowning, she grabs it and checks the ID, eyes lighting up when she realizes who's calling. "Tamina! Hey, what's going on?" They've both been so busy, there's been very little time to talk, catch up. She misses her silent, steady, loyal friend.
"How would you like some help with Sara?" Tamina greets her with. "Especially while Mike is off completely being a jackass?"
AJ immediately stands straighter, curious but worried too. "What's going on?"
Tamina releases a breath, aware that she's caught. "I injured myself during the European tour, tore some ligaments. I'm going in for surgery on Monday, but I thought maybe once I was cleared for flight, I could come down, spend some time with you and the baby. Beat Mike over the head a few times if you want me to."
AJ half laughs, staring down at the baby as she dozes off in her arms. "Maybe not in front of Sara," she says softly. "But other than that, sure, why not. When's your surgery?"
"Monday," Tamina says off of a sigh.
AJ purses her lips, thinking it over. "Alright. I'll be there for you."
"What? No, no, mama, you don't have to- I would never ask you to fly with a three month old, not up to Washington. I'll take care of myself and fly out to you-"
"Mike's barely home, if he wants to see Sara, he can come to Washington as easily as California. It isn't that big of a deal. I'll see you tomorrow."
Tamina is effectively silenced, knowing it's useless to fight AJ when her mind's made up. "Alright, see you then."
Calling Mike is the first thing on AJ's agenda as she rocks baby Sara lazily, frowning when the phone rings and rings. Finally he answers, breathless and sounding a little hopeful. "AJ?"
Just that one word makes her shudder, leaves her feeling much colder than she was while on the phone with Tamina. "Tamina's hurt," she says simply. "Needs surgery this Monday. I'm going to... I'm going to pack Sara up and fly out there, be with her. Make sure she's doing alright."
It's clear by Mike's deep inhale that his first inclination is to argue, to convince AJ otherwise, but something stops him. Maybe his common sense kicked in, but either way, he releases the breath and murmurs, "Alright, sweetheart. Can I come up and see her too, after Raw?"
"Of course," AJ says softly. She'd never keep the baby from her father, after all. No matter how rough things become between them, Sara needs her daddy. "I'll see you Tuesday then."
"See you," Mike says painfully. "Tell Tamina good luck for me."
"I will." AJ hangs up then and turns to look at Sara Louisa. "Well, baby girl, looks like we're going on our first big adventure together." AJ casts a quick glance around before picking up things here and there, stuffing them in a couple of bags. She then goes to the computer and looks for the first available flight out to Washington, booking it in relief that there were still seats available at this late date.
Tamina's manager picks AJ and Sara up at the airport the next day, smiling at them as she drives them over to the house. Small talk is sparse because the baby is asleep after some fussing on the plane- which had been mortifying for AJ, but most people had been sweet and understanding about it all, offering suggestions until one had clicked. An older woman had sung lightly to Sara until the turbulence had passed, allowing her to be lulled by the gentle words.
AJ is relieved to see Tamina's house, feeling almost guilty as she walks up to the front door with the peacefully sleeping baby in her arms. When she had retired from WWE, Tamina was just returning from injury and now, here they are again. She's barely made it to the door before it's pulled open, her friend standing there rigidly, crutches in hand. "Oh," she says softly, getting a glimpse of the sleeping baby. "Come in, come in." Holding the door, she waits until AJ is safely through to shut it. Hobbling over to the couch, she sits down slowly and reaches for the baby, smiling when AJ hands Sara over quietly. "Ah, she is a precious one, isn't she?"
"I think so," AJ chuckles, ghosting a hand down her daughter's forehead. "She was pretty good on the plane too. A little fussy but I don't blame her. Planes make me want to cry as well." She winks when Tamina looks up at her, her former bodyguard shaking her head with a vague laugh before leaning back over the little girl.
"Your mama's silly, but you already knew that, didn't you, little Sara Louisa?" Straightening up, she eyes AJ. "So. Tell me about Mike."
AJ swallows and sits down heavily, eyes locked on her daughter as she does just that, Tamina listening with an intensifying glower as AJ grows more and more choked up.
"Men are stupid," Tamina murmurs, leaning over to hug AJ with her free arm, Sara cradled against her other arm. "You both are going to be just fine. I'll make sure of it." Kissing AJ on the forehead, she pulls away and teases Sara's hand with her finger as she wakes up, making cute little yawning faces.
"Thank you, Tamina," AJ breathes out, struggling to smile down at the baby. "Thank you so much."
-x
Tamina's surgery, thankfully, goes well early Monday, and AJ sits with her, relieved to know Sara is safe at the house with Dany Garcia. When the medicine starts to wear off and Tamina blinks awake slowly, AJ takes her hand and squeezes lightly. "Well, look who decided to join the world of the living." Smiling down at her, AJ gets up and calls for a doctor, relieved when the response is prompt.
By the time Tamina is released from the hospital the next morning, Mike has arrived after another night of pretending with Maryse and he's met with cold indifference when the women return to the house, though AJ softens a little upon seeing him with Sara Louisa, feeding her a bottle. He hands the baby over and moves to offer his assistance to Tamina, who accepts with a grimace, gripping his arm a bit tighter than he thinks is necessary until he gets her to her bed, settling her in and raising the sheets to cover her more thoroughly. "You know I don't love Maryse," he says. "It's just an act I got wrapped up in and can't find my way out of."
"It doesn't change the pain that AJ's in," Tamina tells him simply, eyes already half closed. "If you do anything to hurt her further in front of me, I do have crutches and I know how to use them."
"Noted," Mike grimaces before heading for the door, shutting the lights off and leaving her to rest. He leans in the doorway to the living room and watches AJ tend to their daughter until she looks up, their eyes locking. "I love you, AJ."
AJ's lips part like she's about to say something but then she twists back towards Sara and finishes changing her diaper, kissing her on the nose before lifting her up. "There we go," she whispers, placing the girl in her carrier. "Sweet girl."
Mike approaches carefully, resting a hand on Sara's squirming body before turning to face AJ once more. She stares at him before gingerly wrapping her arms around him, flushing slightly as he hugs her back. "Are you ok?" he whispers to her.
"I saw what happened to Enzo Amore," she mumbles. "It just made me think, that kind of an accident could happen to anyone at any time." She pulls back and stares at him, nails lightly scraping up and down his jaw. "I'm still not happy with you. And I probably won't be for a long time... but I don't want you to think I don't love you. Because I do, even when it hurts. Even when I'm mad at you."
He squeezes her and lightly kisses her on the lips, waiting for any kind of response. When she eases up on her tippytoes and kisses him back, his eyes soften and he picks her up, carrying her into the next room, laying her down on the guest bed that Tamina had pointed him towards when she'd first seen him. She scoots up against the pillows and stares up at him, eyes dark and shadowed in the dimly lit room, releasing a breath as he settles over her. "This ok?" he asks.
She nods quietly, resting a hand against his chest, slowly unbuttoning his shirt as she goes. "I can't promise long term, but for tonight, it's perfect," she whispers, her nails biting into his jaw as she pulls him closer and kisses him.