It's a weird feeling, he thinks. Failure. Because he's tried, and he's tried, and he's always worked so hard at everything. But, he knows, it still never protects you from standing on a hard wood floor, looking a panel of judges in the eye and listening as they all choose your opponent over you, forced to wear a grin even as Loser, loser, loser echoes in your head nonstop.
Witney is kind, and gracious, in defeat, and his father claps him on the back, his words a muffled blur in Mike's ear. Maryse, who is there for Miz and Mrs purposes, gives him a hug and kisses him on the cheek, searching his face for a minute when she pulls back, a worried look on her face, but it all feels meaningless and empty against his skin, nothing really registering until he's back in his hotel room for, well, probably the last time now. He'll be flying home after he films Good Morning America the next morning, and then. He guesses. Back at the grind with WWE? Maybe. He's not sure. The business moves so quickly, and everything has changed drastically since he left. Maybe, just maybe, the company has moved on without him.
It'd just about be his luck.
Flying back to California is sober. Witney gives him once last hug before they go, gentle and calm in the face of his quiet failure. "You did great, I am really proud of you for making it this far in a really touch field," she tells him and he closes his eyes in the face of her sincerity.
"Aw, Witney," he mumbles, desperate not to cry here in the middle of La Guardia. "I'm gonna miss you."
She beams through her own tears and hugs him tighter. "I'll miss you too. But hey, we'll be in contact, right? I wanna put together another play date between our kids!"
"I'd love that, and so would Sara and George," he tells her with a shaky smile.
"Then that's what we'll do," she responds brightly. She turns to leave, offering a quick wave to Maryse and Mike's father, who will also be making the trip back to California with him. Maryse to go home to Heath and their kids, and George to spend some time with his grandkids under the California sun before returning to Ohio and his day to day life.
"Alright, pops," Mike sighs, slinging an arm over his shoulders and leading him back through the crowd to get to their gate. "Let's get this show on the road."
He's still disappointed, it still hurts somewhere deep down inside that he hadn't lasted longer, that somehow he'd gotten thrown in with the show's favorite in the bottom two, that his dancing had fallen apart so badly so quickly. But still... getting off the plane in LA and catching sight of AJ and his kids as soon as he grabs his luggage and ventures into the main part of the airport feels like victory all on its own.
"Oh my god," he exclaims, his voice echoing throughout the room and making most people in the vicinity look up, startled. "Who are these beautiful children?" And then Sara is rushing forward as quickly as her little legs can, and he drops his bags to drop down and meet her half way, hoisting her up and spinning her around in an impromptu dance of his own, making her giggle and squeal.
"Daddy!" she cries out, clinging to his neck until he slows, holding her tight to his chest. "I missed you," she mumbles, and his heart breaks and soars all at once.
"I've missed you too, sweetie," he says, breathing her in, kissing her forehead. "God, Sara. I'm sorry it's been so long."
She pulls back and stares at him, very seriously. "George misses you too," she says somberly, and he smiles at her.
"Well, we better not keep him waiting then," he says, bouncing her with each step as he walks over to AJ and George, trading children. George is overwhelmed by all the people in the airport, fist in his mouth, and Mike's face softens even further as he stares down at his little boy. "Hey, Georgie," he says softly, kissing his nose. "You've been good for mommy and your big sister? Right?"
Their eyes meet and George smiles around his fingers, bumping his forehead against Mike's throat. "Daddy," he mumbles.
"Yeah, George, I'm home." He looks up and finds AJ staring at him, relief and heat in her gaze. "Hey, sweetheart."
"Hello, husband," she says, leaning into him when he wraps his free arm around her. "I'm sorry you got kicked off like that last night," she whispers to him. "But I'm so happy you're home."
He thinks about it for a minute, staring down at his little family. "I couldn't have said it better myself," he tells her with a small smile.
Yeah, the sting of defeat is still there, and he'll be licking his wounds for awhile, especially as he tries to find his way back into whatever state WWE is in right now. But damn, it's good to be home.