Mike exhales as AJ stirs and smiles sleepily at him. "Hey, sweetheart," he greets her, kissing her lightly. Bedrest had helped- her follow up with her OBGYN had gone well, and she was recommended to rest as much as possible in the last few weeks of her pregnancy, but she was out of danger as long as she did what she could to avoid stress. Because of this, Mike's switched around taping schedules for Miz and Mrs., and took over taking care of Sara's schedule. AJ had laughed the first day, seeing her dressed in bright, garish clothes, including a toddler version of Miz's very own #40 I'M AWESOME t-shirt from when he was world champion. "How are you feeling?"
She nuzzles into him and sighs. "Not too bad," she murmurs, stretching and pressing her toes against his ankles.
He rests his hand on her stomach and smiles as their child kicks and moves under his touch. "I love you."
"I love you too," she sighs, blinking sleepily against his shoulder. She looks intrigued when he pulls his phone out and fiddles with it for a minute. "What is it?"
He sighs and swipes at it, tapping at the screen, before handing it to her. She shifts and stares at the screen, wiping sleep from her eyes before making a soft sound. "Maryse had the baby," he says. "Madison Jade." The baby is small and perfect in Heath's arms, Maryse leaning against his shoulder, staring at the child, and he hopes that it goes as well for them when it's time as he leans in and kisses AJ warmly. "That'll be us in a few weeks."
She rests her hand on the side of his face and smiles, some anxiety in her gaze as she looks up at him. "Yes, it will," she says softly.
"Hey, one good thing is WWE is in California this week, so I don't have to go far." He rests his forehead against hers and searches her eyes. "You're gonna see a lot of me this week."
"Oh boy," she teases and he chuckles, adjusting the sheets around her to cover her more fully. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." He hears a soft shuffling at the door and sits up. "I think someone wants to see you." He stands up and peeks out into the hallway before chuckling and reaching out, scooping a sleep ruffled Sara up, spinning her around lightly before kissing her on the cheek. "Good morning, Sara," he says softly, carrying her over to the bed and settling her next to AJ. She makes a faint, sleepy noise before cuddling in close to her mother, and Mike smiles, taking a moment to watch them before joining them.
"Mommy," Sara says plaintively, not quite understanding why AJ hasn't left bed in so long. "Sick?"
AJ shakes her head, lightly tapping Sara's nose. "Not really, sweetie. Just, remember your little brother or sister is in here?" she asks, settling her hand on her stomach and rubbing it slowly. When Sara nods, eyes still dark with confusion, AJ continues trying to explain. "It makes Mommy sleepy, so the doctor advised me to take it easy, so that's why I've been in bed so much. Like when you're sick and I make you rest? Right?"
"Yucky med'cine," she says, scrunching her nose up and making both AJ and Mike laugh.
"Yes, you hate your medicine," AJ responds fondly, brushing some hair out of her daughter's eyes. "But I'm gonna be fine, and soon you're gonna meet your sister or brother, and everything's gonna be great. I promise."
Sara frowns, just a little, and Mike wraps an arm around her. "Hey, what do you say we leave your mommy to get some rest and we go see what your uncles are doing, huh?" AJ nods thankfully at him and he smiles, helping the little girl out of the mess of sheets and pillows before leaning in and kissing AJ. "If you need anything, just call. I'll ask Alicia to check in on you in a little bit. Ok?" He makes sure the phone is within reach of her and adjusts her sheets yet again before Sara begins tugging at his hand.
"Sounds perfect," she says with a soft smile, settling back into the pillows. "Thanks, Mike. I love you."
"I love you too." He kisses her quickly before letting Sara guide him out of the room, eager to find John and Ricardo and have some fun.
Ricardo's eyes brighten as soon as he sees them come outside and he hoists Sara up with an exaggerated groan, her giggles brightening the entire morning as Mike sits down next to John and sighs. "Everything ok?" John asks, resting a hand between Mike's shoulderblades.
"Yeah," he says quietly, glancing at Sara before turning to face his best friend. "I'm just worried, this is unchartered territory since everything went so smoothly with the first pregnancy, ya know."
John nods, rubbing his back slowly. "Yeah, I remember," he says. They sit quietly for awhile, watching Ricardo play with Sara in the yard, and Mike closes his eyes, some of the tension leaving him as John continues to massage and knead at his tight muscles.
"So what's been going on with you? You've been suspiciously mum about what's next now that you're out of Impact, and everything that's gone on since your stem cell treatments," Mike says after a few minutes, sitting back and trying not to look too disappointed when John lets his hand drop.
He smiles, an almost mysterious gleam in his eye. "Oh, I assume something will be whispered about before too long."
Mike frowns at him and John laughs. "Come on, man, I'm your best friend, spill it already."
He sighs and puts his sunglasses on. "I guess," he stresses teasingly. "If you can't wait a couple days..."
Mike shakes his head, pushing John over. "John, I swear to God-"
John glances at Ricardo and Sara, still engrossed in playing and giggling as Ricardo makes a show out of chasing her around in the grass, and leans in, a smirk growing on his face as he whispers, "In the Palace of Wisdom, we never say never."
All Mike can do is gape at him as the pieces slowly fall into place as to what John means. "Holy shit," he says, his voice coming out highpitched and shaky. "Really?"
John just chuckles and sits back, stretching his arms out over his head before getting up and catching Sara as she dashes past him, holding her up high. "Well, well, well, look what I caught!" he exclaims, Ricardo joining them and pretending like he can't quite reach her, causing her to giggle and kick her legs happily.
Mike slowly closes his mouth, still in awe as he stares at his best friend, his tag partner, the yin to his yang. For the first time in a long time, he feels like everything may just work out ok after all.