Mike lays in bed, AJ and the kids curled up around him. Sara is breathing softly against his shoulder, and George is blinking curiously from his chest while AJ dozes next to him, arm loosely wrapped around his waist. He smiles softly at them and leans in, kissing George's forehead. "I'm the luckiest guy in the world," he tells his family. Despite everything with Shane McMahon, and Daniel Bryan, The Fiend, all of his shortcomings and failures, they had never given up on him, never shown him disdain or disappointment. "I love all of you."
It's some work, inching over to kiss AJ softly, but he manages it without disrupting the kids too much. He then settles back down and stares up at the ceiling, lost in thought about the future- Saudi Arabia was coming up soon, they were officially #1 contenders for the tag belts, and Wrestlemania would be just after that. He sighs, closing his eyes, and relaxes further into the mattress, warm and content. He joins his family in sleep within moments.
"You know what I wanna do?" John asks the next time Mike sees him.
"What do you wanna do?" Mike asks.
John grins. "Is your dad available?"
The happy, warm feeling Mike's been overwhelmed by the last week or two fades sharply. "Why?"
John merely smirks at him, which does nothing to ease the dread he's suddenly feeling.
But it's ok, ridiculous but ok! They all meet up in Mike's huge house and discuss things, and Mike quickly warms to John's idea to spoof movies in their first big parody segment since John's return to the WWE. It reminds him of the old days of The Dirt Sheet and he says as much, watching as John bites his lower lip.
"Well- and I don't mean to disrespect MizTV, I know it has sentimental value and everything, but I was wondering if you'd mind bringing back the Dirt Sheet instead this week." Mike stares at him for a long, quiet moment until John begins to get nervous. "I- I mean, if not-"
"It's a terrific idea," he cuts into John's nervous attempt to reverse his suggestion. "I love it. The Dirt Sheet makes it triumphant return to Smackdown this week."
John laughs, his teeth flashing as he grins back at Mike. "Great, I can't wait!"
Mike realizes he can't either. For both that, and to be co-champions with John once more. "C'mon, we have some work to do!"
"Hell yeah," John says enthusiastically, following him back to the makeshift little lot they'd borrowed from one of John's friends.
As good as the spoof trailer is, it's clear they hit their true target when New Day interrupt after they air it on Smackdown that Friday. The Usos are less expected, Ziggler and Roode even less so, but it allows Mike and John the chance to escape from this mess and return to their locker room to watch the tag match that follows.
"Think we're under the New Day's skin?" Mike asks after a few minutes of silent focus between the two of them.
John glances over at him, lips twitching upwards. "Oh yeah, absolutely. They wouldn't have come out otherwise, right?"
"Right," Mike says, turning his attention back to Usos vs Ziggler and Roode still ongoing. A bit later, he nudges John. Once their eyes meet again, he smirks. "Have I mentioned I'm really glad you're back?"
"Oh, once or twice, but never hurts to hear it again," John teases him.
Mike nods. "Well, I'm really glad you're back. Things were... really boring without you."
John smiles at him, his eyes warm and soft. "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean," he says, reaching over and ruffling Mike's hair. "I'm glad I'm back too."
Mike exhales softly and turns back to the TV, a goofy smile on his face as he watches the rest of the match, barely focused on any of it as he once more maps out their road back to being tag team champions.