Mike grins as he bounces Sara on his hip, showing her Parma for the first time now that she's old enough to actually remember. "This is where I was born at," he tells her. She sticks her fingers in her mouth and blinks at him, sleepy after the flight from California. "It's ok, you'll enjoy it more after a nap," he promises her, carrying her to the car and settling in. "Hey, Mom."
"Hi, baby," she greets him cheerfully, smiling at him in the rearview mirror as he settles Sara in her carseat. "I'm so happy this all worked out, I've missed you all." She catches his eye at a red light and smiles. "We're so proud of you, son. You knew you were going to be something special, and you fought so hard to make it happen."
"Yes he did," AJ says, her smile bright, eyes gleaming as she looks back at her husband. "I'm a very lucky woman."
"Hey now," he says feebly, joking. "If you both keep this up, I'm gonna get an ego."
Mike's mom laughs, casting a mischevious glance with AJ. "That's not possible, is it, AJ?"
"Not at all," she says with a small grin, settling back in her seat and watching the streets go by, careful to keep her hand away from her stomach. They'd decided to tell their news to family face to face, once things quiet down with all of Mike's expected media events and other responsibilities regarding the day, but it means that for now AJ has to be very careful not to give it away too early.
After a short rest at home, Mike and AJ get Sara dressed and the group of them head back out to Mike's old high school. AJ's eyes are soft as they walk the halls that Mike spent much of his teen years in. She smiles at the yearbooks capturing her husband as a young man, growing up before her very eyes. Awkward, maybe, like so many other teenagers, but definitely with that old Mizanin spark staring up at her from the black and white pictures. She reads plaques and medals with a small smile, watching as Mike hoists Sara up and helps her to look at various photos from years long past on the walls, in glass cases.
"This is amazing," she says softly as Mike wraps an arm around her shoulders and draws her in, kissing her forehead. "You were into so many different things."
He grins at her. "Does that really surprise you?"
"No," she says after a moment of thought, resting her head on his shoulder. "It doesn't." They're about to turn down another hall, look into classrooms, when she lets out a faint little hiss. He looks down at her with a frown, shaking his head. Before he can ask, she grips his hand and eases it over her stomach, directing it to the spot where-
He gasps. "Is that-?"
"Yeah," she murmurs. "I guess the baby decided this trip was the perfect time to start being active."
Mike swallows and looks around. They're alone in the hall so he cups her face and draws her in, kissing her softly. "I love you so much," he tells her. "You're so amazing."
She smiles up at him and he rests his forehead against hers. "Later," she promises him and he nods, forcing himself away from her and continuing on through the halls until the tour ends.
There's a decent group of people, old classmates and friends, family and various officials watching as the town honors Mike a little later. AJ claps, grinning when Sara mimicks her, as Mike is called up to the stage by the mayor. His speech isn't too long or too short, talking about all of the work it took him to reach this point in his life, and how he attributes so much of everything he's accomplished to Parma, and the things his parents had taught him in this community. When he finishes, everyone applauds, some whistling and cheering for him.
He nods happily and thanks the mayor, shaking hands with everyone on the stage with him, before walking down to join AJ and Sara. He kisses her and AJ hums happily, rubbing his arm. "I think someone needs to eat," she informs him and he grins.
"You or Sara?"
"Ha-ha," AJ says sarcastically, before pausing. "Both."
He grins at her and loosely drapes an arm around her, enjoying the glide of the blue fabric of her dress under his fingers as he guides her to the car, his parents following them as they stop here and there to speak to people Mike grew up with.
After a quick meal of sandwiches at George's sub shop, the group of them return to Mike's mom's house and she sighs, reaching into the fridge. "What's everyone drinking?" Water, soda and beer are scattered around, and AJ catches Mike's eye as she sits down across from them, smiling at Sara when she slumps against the couch arm, falling asleep quickly after so many hours in the sun listening to boring adult stuff.
Catching the cue, Mike clears his throat and stands up. "Um, well, as fantastic as today has been already, we have some news." He takes AJ's hand and eases her up from the kitchen table, resting a hand low over her hip, fingers teasing along the curve of her stomach as he feels the baby fluttering and shifting. "Maryse isn't the only one pregnant, as it ends up."
George doesn't even seem to notice what Mike's saying, but his mom catches on immediately and lets out a faint gasp, leaping to her feet. "Michael Mizanin! Do you mean...?"
"Sara's going to have a little brother or sister," Mike says with a proud grin. "We've decided not to find out gender this time, so it's going to be a surprise for everyone," he says, trying to forestall that particular question. "We don't care as long as it's healthy, happy, all of that good stuff."
AJ giggles as Mike's mom rushes over, tears in her eyes, and rings her hands until AJ gets up so she can hug her. "Oh my God, I'm going to be a grandmama again," she gushes, before turning and swatting George. "Hug her! Say something! Dear God..."
He's gruff and quiet, but warm when he hugs AJ carefully. "Congratulations," he says to her, meeting Mike's eye. "I'm very happy for you both, and Sara."
"Thanks, Dad," Mike says, feeling a little choked up when George hugs him too. Things are better between them, but it's still shocking for him when George is so much openly affectionate towards him. It's the only benefit of teaming with Shane, he assumes.
That night, he and AJ are sitting outside, watching the neighborhood blow off unauthorized fireworks, his hands tracing gently down her stomach, trying to feel the baby some more, when she tangles her fingers with his and squeezes lightly. "If you keep touching me like that, we're not gonna be able to keep sitting out here," she tells him with a slightly naughty grin, causing him to laugh sharply.
"I wouldn't complain," he says, cupping her face and kissing her deeply.
She huffs a soft laugh and shrugs. "Me neither, to be honest, but neither of us are that great at being quiet..."
"Mom doesn't mind," he insists and AJ laughs.
"You're awful."
"No, no, you're close, I'm-" He waits expectantly and she rolls her eyes.
"You're aweeeeeeeesome," she says, pressing a kiss to his lips.
"That's the one!" He laughs and leans his head on her shoulder, watching as more blues and golds flicker across the darkening sky. "I can't believe today actually happened, it feels like a dream," he says softly.
"You deserved it," she responds, carding her fingers through his hair. "You've been a mainstay in reality TV, wrestling, and film for so many years. It's about time someone acknowledged that and rewarded you for it."
He shrugs, kissing her shoulder. "I was rewarded a long time ago. I found you, and I was given a beautiful child with another on the way. Everything else is just a bonus."
AJ's fingers pause against his cheek and she stares down at him. "Forget the volume," she says. "Let's go inside."
His eyes light up as she stands up, reaching down for his hand. "Really?" Pulling himself up, he follows her eagerly in, shutting and locking the back door behind them as they rush, giggling, to the bedroom that they always stay in whenever they visit his mom.
Nothing else matters to Mike- if he gets VIP in the baseball game on Sunday, what happens with WWE next week- nothing can best this moment as he hovers over AJ, eyes fixed and dark with desire, his lips warm and slick against hers.