Mike hasn't seen or heard from Heath since. His face is still throbbing with the force of Heath's strike, though he thinks it's more of a guilt thing than actual pain. A frantic Maryse had stayed with them, biting her lips and pacing around the house, not even hungry enough to endulge her usual cravings. "My doctor says I need to stop traveling after this week," she says, eyes dark and wide with fear. "I hope... I hope Heath is at Raw, I need to see him. To try to explain."
Mike nods, having heard this a few times already this week. She whimpers and paces some more before AJ collects her and makes her sit down, pushing a glass of water into her hands. Maryse sips slowly, her gaze far away as she strokes her stomach with her free hand. AJ continues to whisper to her as Mike stares at his hands, wishing he could do something for her. For Heath. For the baby that's only a few months from being born. "We'll go together," he tells her quietly. "I have some business with Roman, but then if you need anything, I'll be available. Worst case scenario, we'll have Axel and Bo snag him and hold him hostage somewhere until he listens to you."
She smiles through her sadness. "Thank you, Mike. We definitely owe you one."
"Of course," he blusters, though he'd never hold her to anything serious. AJ smiles at him and gets up to get Maryse something to eat now that that's settled, Mike deciding to try one more thing just to make sure Maryse gets what she wants on Monday. He ducks into his office with his cell phone and dials a rarely used number. "Hey, Rhyno? Yeah, I need your help with something..."
-x
Monday dawns early, Mike groaning as he rolls over to find Maryse sitting against her pillows, stroking her stomach and murmuring to the baby in French. "Everything's going to be ok," he says, startling her. "Sorry, just. Don't look so sad, we'll get him to come around. I promise."
She sighs, fingers running in lazy circles over her belly. "I hope so."
He has to prod her gently into moving so they're not late, showers and breakfast and getting the car and driving to the arena eating up the rest of the morning. They arrive just in time and Mike is quickly pulled away to film something for Mixed Match Challenge, Asuka grinning at him as they prepare. Afterwards, he turns and almost runs straight into Rhyno, who stares at him stoically. "What was with that phone call you gave me over the weekend?"
Mike licks his lips, a little nervous with the intensity behind Rhyno's gaze as he explains. "... I know he's your partner and you don't want to betray him, but he needs to talk to Maryse, because the reality isn't what he's thinking. Can you help?"
Rhyno looks gruff but ultimately gives in, calling Heath when Mike's ready. "Hey, man. We need to talk about your match against Matt Hardy later. I'm at an empty locker room by the exit, you wanna come meet me so we can talk in private?" He hangs up and looks over at Mike. "He'll be here in a few minutes."
Mike immediately scrambles to the place where Bo and Axel are hiding just in case, the three of them watching until their fellow Marine 5 co-star appears. "I can't believe he outlived me-!" Axel starts to hiss when Mike slaps a hand over his mouth and Bo elbows him hard. They stand there tensely as Rhyno waits until Heath's inside the room to close the door tight behind him, wedging his hip against the doorknob and ignoring the harsh yelling and pounding on the door which slowly quiets.
Inside, Heath rests his forehead against the wood and breathes heavily. "Is this some way to toughen me up?" he grumbles, pulling away from the door and turning in time to come face to face with a very nervous Maryse. He freezes, his lips twisting, and then he looks away. "Wh... what are you doing here?"
"We need to talk," she says, touching his arm. She relaxes a little when he doesn't pull away immediately, but he also doesn't look her in the eye, and it breaks her heart as he drops down on the couch, burying his face in his hands. She sits next to him, lightly entangling her fingers with his. "I know this is hard on you, that Mike and I have continued pretending like we're married despite us, despite the baby." She pauses, licks her lips, and continues to hold onto his hand. "It's not easy on AJ either, but they make it work and I hope... I hope we can too."
He unfolds a little, even glances towards her. "I don't know."
She cringes and breathes softly, trying to keep calm. "I love you, Heath. Mike and I... We don't want to get in trouble with WWE, or USA Network, or E!, or any other thing that's tangled up in marketing our lie as something profitable. I know Miz and Mrs. was the last straw for you, I definitely understand, but I hope you understand. It's just business. We're not really married, I barely see him except for when I travel out to be on the shows. Or this week, when I came to talk to you." He finally looks at her and she smiles through trembling lips. "You heard me right. I came for you. No one else." She sighs and lays his hand over her stomach, letting him feel the life that they'd created inside kicking and fluttering around. "This baby, she needs you. I need you." Tears bead in her dark eyes. "Please, Heath... please..."
He eases his hand out from hers and closes his eyes, cupping her face and leaning in to kiss her softly. "I'm sorry," he mumbles. "It's just... not easy. I wanna experience all'a this with you, but sometimes it just feels like I'm on the outside lookin' in. He gets the pictures, he gets to claim her, and you, and I just... feel like an outsider in my own life." He's misty-eyed now and they lean into each other, emotional and sad at this unfortunate situation they find themselves in. "I'm sorry for leavin' you alone last week. I just needed time... time to focus on my school, 'n' on me, but... I shouldn't have been so selfish... if something happened..."
"It didn't," Maryse whispers, kissing him. "Everything's fine. We're fine." As if to prove her point, the baby kicks so hard that Heath's hand slips to the side of Maryse's stomach and they pause, laughing softly. "Are we ok?"
"Yeah," he mumbles, resting his forehead against hers. "If you wanna be."
"I do." She smiles softly and he hums, absorbing the feel of her, how she smells, after so long of being apart from her.
The moment fades when he gasps though, pulling away. "Oh shit, I punched Mike last week!"
She laughs. Pulls him back to her side, kissing him softly. "It's ok, he's forgiven you. No worries." She runs her fingers over the shorn sides of his head, murmuring gently into his mouth.
When they finally reappear, Rhyno is gone but Mike remains, looking uncomfortable as he comes face to face with Heath for the first time since the infamous punch last week. "So," he says, still uncertain what to say.
Heath hesitates too, then lunges forward and hugs him tightly. "I'm sorry, man. Was just being ridiculous and everythin' last week. Your face ok?"
"Yeah," Mike mumbles, hugging him back once he shakes off his shock. "I'm fine."
Heath's grinning toothily when he pulls away, relieved. "I'm glad, man." He looks up to find Rhyno hovering down the hall and some of his happiness fades away. "Guess we really should go prepare for my match against Matt Hardy. We'll talk later, Mike?"
"Sure will," Mike says with a nod, watching him go. He blinks after a moment and then peeks into the small alcove where he'd hidden earlier. "You guys can come out now. Fun's over."
"Oh thank God-" Axel grouses as he and Bo scramble out into the hallway, looking rumpled and disgruntled at being kept there for so long.
Mike rolls his eyes at them. "Come on, you both have a match of your own to prepare for." Doubts they'll be very effective, but whatever, it's one way to keep Roman busy and if they actually manage anything worthwhile against him, then all the better.