Early Friday afternoon, rumbles of news rocks through the wrestling world. Viral infection sweeping through the locker room, keeping Roman off of the road. Leaving TLC up in the air until Angle agrees to take Roman's place, Mike barely caring about that before he goes straight to the hospital to get examined. "I have a daughter," he grits out to a clueless man sitting a few seats away from him, waiting to be examined. "I can't be sick right now. Not to mention we're supposed to be holding a party for a friend of mine." He continues to talk until he feels a little more calmer, less prone to exploding in anger at the time, the situation. He was going to be one of the few to take out the Shield, add to his long lists of accolades but now that claim would have a huge asterisk by it thanks to Angle stepping up.
He grits his teeth, closing his eyes against the innoculation given to him to keep him healthy and able to fight off various diseases going around. Thanking the doctor once she gives him a clean bill of health, he hops off of the cot and moves to call AJ as soon as he's out the door. "Hang tight, sweetheart, I'm on my way." It's nervewhacking, getting the cake for Maryse and Heath's party and driving it home in one piece but he manages, gaping around at how his house's been transformed for this party in just the short time he's been gone. Black and white balloons, various frightening items scattered here and there. He laughs and bats away some of the balloons before making his way inside, carefully putting the cake in the fridge where AJ had purposely pulled out one of the shelves just to insure the towered dessert could fit.
He's still standing there, looking at it, when arms creep around his waist, a soft kiss pressed to his shoulder. "Close the door, husband," AJ lightly rebukes him, laughing when he jerks and does as she commands. "Everything go ok?"
"Yeah," he says, leaning into her. "I'm still amazed the damn thing didn't tip over in the back, but it transferred fine."
She arches up to kiss him and smiles. "I told you it'd be ok. You should listen to me more." He smirks at her before following her upstairs. There's a bit of a theme going on with the party tonight, Heath and Maryse dressing up like fairytale characters, so AJ and Mike had decided to follow along, Beauty and the Beast costumes waiting for them upstairs.
"You make a beautiful Belle," Mike tells AJ once she's in the blue and white checkered dress, her hair carefully brushed out over her back in soft waves.
"And you make a perfect Beast," she responds, kissing him lightly as he laughs at her.
John and Taya are dressed like skeletons, and the other random people- some friends of Maryse, some of Mike and AJ's, a few people there for Heath (John had thought ahead and invited PJ Black just so he wouldn't be entirely alone). All in all, it's the kind of party Mike loves to host. Then a soft hush goes over the room as Heath and Maryse, dressed up like Prince Charming and Cinderella, her hair done up in a delicate cascade of curls on top of her head, hover over the gender reveal cake.
Heath exhales nervously, gripping the knife as he looks from Maryse to the cake and back. "Ready?"
"Yes." She grips his hand, soothing his nerves some, and helps him to cut the first slice. The top tier is vanilla, the inside of it a bright pink, and she freezes. Stares at it while Heath gingerly lays it down on the nearest plate. "We're having a little girl."
"It's a girl!" he calls out to the room, leaning over to kiss her gently as she wipes at her eyes. "A sweet little girl."
AJ and Mike grin at each other, their fingers interlacing as they think about their own daughter upstairs, fast asleep. "Sara's going to have a best friend," AJ murmurs, resting her face on Mike's shoulder and hums. "I'm so happy for them."
"Me too," Mike sighs before swirling AJ onto the dance floor alongside Taya and John, his eyes twinkling as he spins his fiance around. "Been a few busy few months for all of us, huh?" Mike calls out to him, John nodding, moving Taya closer.
"No kidding, man. I'm kind of glad Lucha Underground is done for now. I need a breather." He has TNA now anyway to keep himself occupied during wedding plans.
"We still need to figure out a time for your bachelor party," Mike says, ignoring the looks Taya and AJ share.
John chuckles. "You have time, don't worry. We're taking our time, there's a lot to plan."
"Don't we know it," AJ says, remembering her and Mike's wedding. "If you ever need help, just give me a call."
"Thanks," Taya says with a soft smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
The party empties quickly once Maryse tires, far enough along in her pregnancy that she's not as nauseous all the time, but still needing plenty of sleep while her body adjusts to all of the changes it's enduring. Once everyone's settled in guest rooms, Mike and AJ wander the house, checking on their daughter and then getting ready for bed themselves. "I love you," AJ tells him softly, kissing him before tucking herself into his arms.
"I love you too," he whispers, not even bothering to think about strategy for Sunday as his eyes slip closed.
It doesn't matter either way, no matter what they throw at Angle, Seth and Dean, things fall apart between Kane and Braun after an errant chair shot and Mike's plans for the Shield slip through his fingers as Strowman becomes a liability, the group of them having no choice but to work together to toss him into the waiting dumpster that Mike had intended for the Shield members and Angle. Without the largest man on the team backing them up, they lose. He stares up at the lights and slaps his fist against the fabric, wanting to kick and scream at how badly everything went. The fact that he'd just proven Ambrose correct- that the three of them could take on four, or five, men and easily win- eats at him and he spends the rest of the night stewing over it.
News that he will face Baron Corbin in a shitty champion vs champion match at Survivor Series does nothing to improve his mood and he lets Angle know it, not caring about proving that Raw is the better show. He's been doubting that claim for awhile, especially considering how poor treatment had ultimately pushed Neville out of the door. He gnaws at his lips and tries not to completely lose his mind.
He's long gone when Smackdown invades, watching from his hotel room as the group of men and women slam through locker room after locker room, tearing apart the poor few who had remained that late in the event. Seeing Ambrose and Rollins get demolished, Angle forced to watch the best thing Mike's seen in awhile. He smirks and shuts the TV off, kicking his shoes off and settling in to sleep until his flight, until he can get home to be with his wife and daughter.