At the end of the USO tour, Mike and Alicia say their farewells as she flies back to Florida, and him to California. He hugs her tight and winks at her when they pull away. "Tell Ricardo hey for me. We'll have to figure out a time to get together. Maybe for Sara's birthday."
"He'd love that," Alicia nods, shouldering her carry on. News that Paige had gotten injured over the holiday tour had rattled them, left them both worried- Mike for her and Ricardo, and Alicia for the entire situation. "We'll call you once I'm settled, alright?" She smiles up at him. "Happy New Years, Mike. Give Sara and AJ hugs for me."
"Will do." He waves at her as she leaves to find her gate, Mike sighing as he closes his eyes, eager to get on the plane so he can sleep the rest of the way back to the States. It had been a great month away from everything, giving him time to decompress and relax, but he misses wrestling, he misses his girls, so he looks forward to setting foot back on American soil.
After being woke up unceremoniously from a pushy flight intendant reminding him to put his belt on, he staggers off of the plane and is still groggy when he sees AJ waiting with a wild smile, throwing her arms around him and kissing him. "I've missed you," she breathes out, resting her forehead against his. He grins back at her, dropping his bag, and hugs her tightly. "Come on, let's go home. There's a little girl there who refuses to go to sleep until she sees her daddy."
Mike smiles. "Really?"
"Yeah. I wonder where she gets her stubbornness from."
Mike laughs and tickles her as they walk towards the exit. "Gee, I wonder," he says teasingly as she elbows him. He's feeling the jetlag from flying from place to place between London, the USO tour, and then back home within a week, so he barely has the energy to hoist Sara up and kiss her, introducing her to a teddy bear he'd gotten for her, before sprawling out in bed with her curled up on his chest, listening to his heart beat and drifting into sleep herself. AJ peeks into the bedroom a few minutes later, hands full with a sandwich and glasses of water for him, when she sighs and lays the plate down, sipping from the water before she leans over, careful not to wake either of them. "I love you both," she informs her family with a soft smile. "Welcome home." She kisses Mike, then Sara, before gingerly curling up next to them.
The next day doesn't start off so great. Mike exhales as he stares at the wall. "You're really not coming over for New Years? I mean, I know we don't have much time to throw something together, but-"
"Sorry," John tells him. "We've been invited over by some TNA guys to a party in Florida. And besides, you've been running yourself ragged, and knowing you you'll be back on TV before long so just ... enjoy the time with your wife and daughter, ok? We'll see you soon, I promise."
Mike pouts as he hangs up, peering over at AJ. "Zack Ryder stole my best friend," he pouts. She laughs faintly and wraps her arms around him, kissing his shoulder. "Maybe we should invite Heath and Maryse over. Have a lowkey thing with them instead before he has to fly out for Raw."
"Hopefully he won't get locked in one of our bathrooms," she cracks and he smirks at her, already moving to place the call.
"He's in," he says after a few minutes of talking. "Think we can get something together before Sunday?"
Her eyes sparkle. "Oh I'm sure we'll think of something." And they do. Music and board games that rival most of the ones Heath has on his Game Night specials, food and drinks enough to cover two tables. Mike stares at Maryse when she arrives- in the time since he'd last seen her, she'd grown significantly, her pregnancy inching closer to the due date. "You look amazing," AJ says, covering for her husband's stare. Hugs Maryse, then Heath. "Welcome, welcome. It's going to be low key, John and Taya are in Florida, so it'll just be us-" She hesitates when Rhyno walks in, eyes immediately resting on the tables. "Us five. Hey, Rhyno."
"Hello," he says, moving right for the chips and dip.
Heath grins at her and shrugs. "Couldn't let him spend the holiday alone. I hope that's ok."
"Yeah, it's fine, the more the merrier." Mike claps him on the back. "Ready to share a locker room with me again?"
Heath's eyes brighten. "You're really coming back soon then?"
"Yep, next week."
"Great, then Bo'n'Axel can stop annoyin' everyone so much!" he exclaims before walking over to join Rhyno, Maryse laughing lightly before smiling at Mike and AJ, turning to follow her birthday.
AJ smiles and traces shapes in Mike's back as they watch their friends in bemusement. "C'mon, let's snack for awhile and then you can destroy Heath in Five Second Rule or something."
He nods with a large smirk, eager to do just that as he allows her to lead him to the table to get some food as well. It sounds like a good time.