George fusses and whines softly as AJ tucks him into his bassinet, leaning in to kiss him. "Shhh, love. It's ok. It's late," she consoles him as Mike leans against the wall and watches, rubbing her back when she steps into his warmth. "He's a very vocal baby," she murmurs. "Sara was always so peaceful. Do you think he's ok?"
"Yeah," Mike says. "I mean, the doctor's appointment went well, right?" AJ nods and Mike smiles at her. "Everything's fine, he just has his grandfather's temperment, I guess."
"Oh boy," AJ says with a breathless kind of laugh and Mike sighs, resting his hand on her lower back, guiding her over to their bed and urging her under the covers, tucking her in. "Mike-"
"I'll take over tending to the kids for the rest of the night," he says softly. "Just get some sleep, mama." She sinks into the warm sheets and closes her eyes as he lightly strokes her brow, leaning in to kiss her before easing back and wandering over to look in at George once more. "Sleep well, little guy. See ya in a couple of hours." He settles into bed after that, lightly wrapping an arm around AJ and sinking right to sleep.
He keeps to his word, when George fusses, getting right up and scooping the baby up, rocking him lightly in his arms as he goes down to the kitchen and fumbles with the bottles, reheating one and then sitting at the table to feed him. "I love you," he tells the baby softly, relieved when George takes right to the bottle, slowly drinking a fair amount of it as he lays in Mike's arms. "When you get older, you and Sara are gonna play and be so close." He smiles a little, leaning in to kiss the baby's cheek once he's done with the bottle. "I never had a sibling, you know." He exhales. "Sometimes I wonder what that would've been like. But I'm so thankful you and Sara get to experience it."
George blinks and yawns, pale blue eyes slowly slipping shut as Mike eases him onto his shoulder and lightly pats his back. Once done, he eases the baby back into his basinet and hovers for a minute, just watching him breathe. Slipping back out of the room, he peeks into Sara's room and finds her sleeping peacefully as well, before returning to bed himself. He watches AJ dream for a few moments before cuddling closer to her. "Thank you for giving me so many beautiful things," he tells her softly. Relieved when she doesn't stir, he closes his eyes and drifts off once more as well.
-x
"So we're gonna continue focusing on New Day," John tells him with a wicked sort of gleam in his eyes.
"Yeah?" Mike asks, picking at some lint daring to hang onto his gear. "What this week?"
"I'm gonna kick Big E's ass, and you're gonna be at ringside, helping me."
"Straightforward," Mike laughs. "I like it."
Endgame, John had told him a few days back, was to be tag champions heading into Wrestlemania. Mike likes the sound of it. He likes the sound of it a lot, especially if it washes away the bitter taste of his tag title reign with Shane McMahon. So when John says "helping", Mike does so with gusto, keeping John safe from everything that he can and allowing the man to do his showy offense and pick up the win against Big E.
John looks especially pleased with how things are going and Mike finds himself agreeing, still amazed at how quickly things are falling into place. "I think we can truly, honestly pull this off," he finds himself saying once they're back in their locker room, still amazed by the prospects of it.
"I think so too," John says with a small, fond smile as he looks at Mike, his eyes warm and happy.
It's not every day a tag team from ten years ago can get things moving and become tag champs together again, and have it feel as natural as breathing, after all.