Returning home feels weird. He kneels down by Sara's little blanket and makes faces at her as she squirms around, crawling towards him. Her gums are still bothering her so she's chewing persistently at a teething ring and he watches until she starts to whine and fuss, reaching out to pick her up and cradle her close. "What is it, huh? Yeah, you just missed your daddy, didn't you?" He kisses her cheek and smiles when she stares up at him, eyes wide and blue as the ocean.
He lays down on the floor and hoists her up, hovering her over him as she flaps her arms around, kicking at thin air. "You're too cute," he sighs. "I wish I could've seen your Halloween costume in person." Still a little too young for candy, AJ had dressed her up and taken her to Morrison's, where he and Taya had cooed over her and let her taste small pieces of marshmellows and other soft candies that AJ felt safe giving her.
He had laughed hard over the pictures AJ had sent him while he'd been traveling from one Smackdown event to the next. Baby Sara had been dressed as a starlet- small sunglasses covered in rhinestones, a sleek faux fur coat, and shiny red shoes on her little feet. He had then spent the entire evening running around, showing everyone backstage, even letting Ziggler have a glance when he and Zack Ryder had come over to see what the commotion was. Mike hadn't been that shocked when Ziggler opened his mouth as if to say something derogatory just to get pulled away by Zack, who clearly recognized the look on his best friend's face.
"Well, next year we'll have to work it out so you can," AJ comments, settling in next to him and tickling Sara's stomach as she squirms and giggles, her eyes crinkling a little when her teething ring slips. Mike quickly places her on his chest and adjusts the ring so she has it back where she needs it, kissing the top of her head.
"Yeah, we definitely should," he sighs. "At least the holidays are on a weekend this year so I can be with my girls to ring in the new year. And help someone open her presents."
"And I don't look big as a bus this year, that's always a plus," AJ adds on, poking Sara's side and grinning at the baby.
"You were a beautiful bus," Mike says jokingly, leaning in to kiss AJ. He pouts when she swats at him, turning to stare at the baby. "See, your mommy's been retired from wrestling for almost two years by now and she still likes abusing me."
"Well, you make it so easy," she says, gripping his jaw and drawing him back towards her for another, lengthier kiss. "Better?"
"Maybe," he mumbles. "Or maybe..." He holds her with his free hand, deepening the kiss until she moans low in her throat, his lips twitching into a smirk. "Now it's better."
-x
Mike's vague plans to perhaps go to Vancouver during the PPV are dashed. That Tuesday, he defeats Ziggler. He regains his title belt. He holds it high above his head and exhales shakily, smiles. Maryse is by his side, bright and flushed with happiness for him, and he hugs her, the two of them sinking into another quick kiss before turning to stare out at the crowd with mttching smug looks on their faces.
"Yes!" he crows once they're backstage, lifting Maryse up and spinning her around. "You're a genius, I never should've doubted you!"
She laughs and clings to his shoulders, her hair whipping all around them and adding to the feeling of it just being the two of them in the whole world right now. "Yes, you never should doubt me, I am intelligent and aware of what you're capable of, you know, Mike."
He puts her down, definitely not having Cesaro's stamina when it comes to swinging people around, and lifts her hand, kissing her palm lightly. "I owe you so much," he gushes, then making her laugh when he lets her go and kisses the title. "And you too." He pauses. "Aw, ew, it smells like Ziggler. Don't worry, baby, I'll disinfect you and get you nice and shiny before we go back to California... doesn't he ever clean you, look at all of these finger smudges all over you! Ugh!"
Maryse shakes her head, about to follow him down the hall, when she spots Heath leaning against the wall, watching them. She smiles and walks over to him, pulling his sunglasses off of his eyes and folding them into her sequin covered gear. "Oh," he swallows, smiling sheepishly at her. "Didn't know you noticed me. Was havin' so much fun with Miz over there."
She strokes his face, fingers tracing down his beard in a way that makes him shiver, and shrugs. "Maybe, but I was just happy for a friend, is all. There's only one champion I was really thinking about having some fun with."
"AJ Styles?" he asks weakly, eyes locked on her as her fingers continue to trace, explore.
"Not the southern accent I was looking for," she all but purrs, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing closer to him. He remembers his sunglasses and looks down, swallowing hard at the view. "Maybe you should rescue them before they get broken, Heath," she suggests, a look in her eye that makes him flush hot. She giggles and leans in, kissing him long and slow.