John's sigh catches Mike's attention and he peeks over at him, tilting his head. "What is it?"

"Huh?" John looks up, then lifts a shoulder in a shrug. "Nothing, I guess I was just thinking." George is laying sedately in his arms and Mike smiles at them before reaching over, brushing a hand over his son's cheek. "It's wild how so much has changed, and yet remained the same. I mean, you have kids now, and a wife, and this huge friggin house, but yet we're still by each other's side and back to going for tag titles. It's just kind of funny."

Mike smiles, a little. "Yeah, but I mean, we've pretty much always been friends, except for that little bit of time after I was drafted all of those years ago."

"Yeah," John says quietly, his eyes falling to rest on George's peaceful face. "I was always really glad we sorted through most of our issues before I left WWE. I imagine we wouldn't be here right now if we hadn't."

"Maybe not," Mike agrees. "But who knows, we'll never have to find out." He lightly taps his knuckles against John's shoulder before standing. "Gonna get something to drink, want anything?"

"Coconut water?" he asks, and Mike rolls his eyes, heading out to the kitchen. John chuckles and looks down, vaguely surprised to find George's large, blue eyes fixated on him. "Oh, hey, look who woke up." He coos over the baby for a second. "I always kinda wanted one of you," he says softly. "Just never really worked out, ya know?" He sighs. "But that's ok, I get to spend as much time with you and your sister as I can, and it's... it's really great to be Uncle John for awhile." He shifts George around, lifting him up carefully to press a gentle kiss to his cheek before laying him back down against his chest, feeling the baby breathe softly as he dozes back off.

"You're really good with him," Mike says as he returns. "I mean, you always were with Sara too. But I guess... since you have more time to spend with George, I notice it more, you know?"

John smiles, taking the coconut water with a nod. "Yeah. I guess so."

"So," Mike says, taking a breath as he sips from his own juice. "Big opportunity Friday."

"Yep," John says. "Five way tag matches. My favorite kind of messy."

Mike smirks at him. "Think we have a chance?"

"When have we not had a chance, Mike?" John chuckles. "We'll wipe the floor with those guys, especially since I still think people are underestimating us. We're gonna shake the tag division up big time."

"That's pretty much always been our goal," Mike observes and John nods, smirking back at him. "It's incredible that, after everything, I'm going to be tag team champions with you again."

"I know, right? Life is crazy." John laughs sofly. "I can't wait."

"Me neither," Mike admits, his lips softening into a smile. "Me neither."

Smackdown goes about as well as it can. They walk out number one contenders and, after posing and everything else, wiling up the crowd as best as they can, they walk backstage and stand just inside of Mike's locker room for a few moments, staring at each other. "YEAH!" Mike exclaims as loud as he can, the two of them highfiving.

"We did it," John laughs, his eyes twinkling as Mike shakes his head with a laugh of his own and grips John's shoulders, tugging him in for a hug.

"God, I'm glad you're back," he mumbles into his shoulder. Considering how, only a few weeks ago, he'd been drowning, lost in self-hatred and failure over everything that had gone down regarding The Fiend, this... this is better than he could've ever imagined for himself. "Thank you."

"Takes two to tango," John laughs softly. "So I should be thanking you just as much."

Mike shakes his head and pulls back. "I was in a very bad place after losing to The Fiend, so no, I just... I owe you a lot, man. You could've gone anywhere in the company after you signed, you could've waited until Royal Rumble and had a more impactful moment, but you chose to come back for me. It just... it means a lot."

John ruffles his hair, messing up the carefully gelled monstrosity he walks out with every week. "You need to stop ruminating on that, Mike. I made my decision and I'll never regret it. My best friend needed me, so I did what needed to be done, and now look at us. On the cusp of being tag champs again! What more could you ask for?"

Mike smiles. "Yeah... you're right." He exhales, tilting his head as John pats him on the arm and then walks off to begin choosing something to wear when they leave the arena in a little bit. What more could I ever ask for?