Mike lays on his stomach and waits patiently as Sara babbles, inching towards him. AJ chuckles as the baby eventually reaches him, slapping her tiny hands against his face before exploring, touching his nose, lips and eyes with some curiousity. Mike smirks at her and kisses her fingers when they're on his mouth, raising his eyebrows when the little girl giggles. "Is daddy's beard ticklish, huh?" AJ wonders, kneeling down by the baby and kissing the top of her head. "I think so too."
He looks up at her mischeviously, the only thing keeping him from saying what's on his mind being the baby a couple of feet away from him. He then sits up and scoops Sara up, causing her to squeal and fuss just a bit before settling in his arms, eyes wide and locked on his face as he bounces her gently on his knee. "You know what I think, Sara?" he asks quietly, leaning in to kiss her. She blinks and slaps her fists against his upper arms, causing him to grin. "I think another of your uncles needs to see you pretty soon."
AJ looks confused. "John sees her a lot," she muses. "Heath facetimes with her sometimes..." Her voice drifts, eyes lighting up in realization. "Is Ricardo home?"
"Yeah, he just got back a couple of days ago. I haven't had time to talk to him, but considering everything that's been going on, I think I'd rather see him face to face, you know? So what do you say, Smackdown's being held in Ohio next week, we fly you and Sara Louisa out, you guys can stay with Mom, and then once I'm done with everything, we can go on down to Florida and drop in on Ricardo and Alicia, see how everything's going for them."
"I'd like that," AJ says. "I've been worried about Alicia too, with this whole feud with Nia Jax she's wrapped up in." Smoothing Sara Louisa's little shirt down, AJ beams at her daughter. "You are the perfect excuse to go drop in on people. Who's gonna say no to this precious little face, huh?" AJ beams at him. "She'll also get to see Heath then."
"Yeah," Mike chuckles. "She'll have a big social week ahead of her."
"We all will," AJ murmurs, kissing Sara's cheek. "And that's ok. I'm finally done with all of the publishing preparation for my book, so I deserve a little time to relax and visit with friends I haven't seen in much too long."
"And to spend time with your husband, who doesn't get to see either of his girls as often as he'd like," Mike murmurs, leaning in to kiss her.
"That too," she sighs against his lips, cupping his face with her free hand and humming softly. They snuggle closer, enveloping Sara between them and smiling when she squirms and babbles.
-x
It seems like any other kind of week. Smackdown houseshows and promoting them and No Mercy takes up a lot of Mike and Maryse's weekend. He's content with it, though, aware that his wife and daughter are only a few counties over, spending the week with his parents. He still remembers the look on his mom's face when she'd first gotten to see Sara face to face, tears filling her eyes as she'd rushed forward to scoop the baby up and kiss her, automatically doting on her granddaughter.
George, of course, had been more gruff and stoic about it all, but he had held her and didn't seem too bothered when she fussed a little, his voice low and touch gentle until she calmed and looked up at him with bright blue eyes. "She looks so much like you at this age," is the most he says as he holds the little girl, and Mike's so floored he's rendered speechless, AJ's hand on his forearm the only thing grounding him.
Those moments, so opposing but still heartwarming in their own ways, are fresh on Mike's mind as he prepares for the Smackdown taping that night. Maryse is with him, of course, although he can tell her thoughts are elsewhere as well. In the trainer's room they'd just left, Heath biting down vague groans of pain as the trainer examines his knee, examines Chad Gable's knee. Rhyno and Jason Jordan are with them, supporting both of their tag partners, and Mike hadn't really wanted to leave either, but it's their scheduled time so it's go now or not go at all.
Mike settles comfortably into his cocky, egotistical champion role and gazes at the crowd until he finds his parents. It's Ohio so he knows Ziggler's parents have to be around somewhere. When he spots them, he calls them out too, letting them know what he thinks about their son. Dolph's dad doesn't do or say much, not that it matters- Mrs. Ziggler is animated enough for the both of them and Mike sees where Ziggler gets his hamminess from, rolling his eyes as the woman waves off everything he says, looking like she's trying to steal Maryse's "Talk to the hand" slogan in a clumsy sort of way. It doesn't take long for Dolph to come down, of course, and deflect the things he's saying to his parents.
Mike laughs him off, however, ignoring his request for another match and confidently leaving the ring. It's not until Dolph calls him back, a strange tone to his voice, that Mike stops and turns to look back at him. All he needs to hear is that the man is willing to give up this sickness, give up his career, before he's turning back around and returning to the ring to look Dolph in the eye and see the truth there, underneath all of his blustering and phony claims to steal the show night in and night out. Ziggler looks exhausted, weighed down by the burden of everything and Mike thinks, although he's fighting tears, there's a little bit of relief in his expression now as they stare at each other, these words hanging between them, waiting for a response. Considering their history, considering everything Dolph had done to him, to AJ, to so many people before... it's tempting just to let him continue with this obsession, cling to this sickness like it'll ever make him happy, leave him satisfied.
But the very thought of having one more claim against the man who had broken AJ's heart, had almost ended them before they'd even begun, and had done so many other things to torment them... his ego takes over. He accepts the match. Title for career. Even more smug than he was when he'd arrived, Mike turns and leaves, listening absently to Maryse's French rambling behind him. He has no doubts. This will go perfectly.
AJ greets him backstage, Sara staring curiously up at Maryse as she grabs for the strands of blonde hair pooling down the tall woman's shoulders. "Are you sure that's wise?" AJ murmurs, handing the baby over to Maryse so she can address her husband.
"I couldn't pass up the opportunity," he sighs, adjusting the weighty belt on his shoulder. "After everything he's put us through? No. I will defend this belt with everything I have... and I will end Ziggler's career. And it will be sweet."
AJ shrugs, smiles faintly. "Alright, husband. If you're sure. I believe in you." His smile lights hers up and she leans in to kiss him, nuzzling against him. "Win or lose, I'm proud of you." They turn to watch as Heath and Rhyno join them, Heath still limping a little. All pain is forgotten, though, when he sees Sara, his entire face lighting up as he and Maryse chuckle over the little girl and her babbling.
Once Smackdown is over, Mike, AJ and Sara join his parents at the sandwich shop, George quickly making them all sandwiches and guiding AJ around the small kitchen in the back to warm up a bottle for Sara, who is half asleep by this point. They ease her into her carrier, allowing her to suck on her bottle lazily while they all catch up quietly.
"You're sure you can't stay a day or two longer?" Mike's mom asks, eyes beseeching as she peers in at Sara Louisa with an affectionate smile.
"Normally nothing could keep us away, Mom, but we have some friends going through some stuff in Florida, and we want to look in on them, make sure they're alright," Mike explains.
"Oh," she says softly. "Alright, well, at least we have you all for tonight." She struggles to smile before leaning in to look closer at Sara.
"I promise, we'll come for Christmas and we'll spend as much time as we can with you. Or maybe we'll fly you out, you can meet all of our friends," Mike suggests. "Whichever works out best for us all by then."
"Alright, son," Mike's mom agrees. "I'd like that." His dad remains silent through the exchange, which is unsurprising to everyone.
They sit and talk for awhile longer, eating the subs contentedly. When they finally decide it's time to go to bed, Mike shakes his father's hand and turns to leave just to find AJ not behind him like he'd expected. He turns to find her trapped in his father's embrace, looking a little confused and surprised. George's murmur is low but Mike just happens to be close enough to hear. "Thank you for taking good care of my boy."
Another painfully affectionate moment that has Mike struggling to swallow as he catches his mom's eye, seeing her own bittersweet little smile. He wraps an arm around her as they walk out, Sara's carrier snug in his other arm as AJ presses the button to unlock the car. Once Sara's strapped in securely, and Mike's mom is settled in next to her, AJ turns and cups Mike's face, lightly kissing him. "Are you ok?" she whispers against his lips.
"Yeah," Mike murmurs back, aware that his emotions are obvious on his face as they stare at each other.
"I love you," AJ tells him softly.
He smiles. "I love you too," he responds. Turning back to the wheel to guide them home, he exhales, vowing never to let Sara doubt how he feels about her.