Manufacturing drama is Mike's specialty. At this point, he thinks he almost breathes it. Drama for WWE, drama for Miz and Mrs. It's all a constant loop in the back of his mind. Maryse is the same, so when he used her to protect himself against Edge, and she reacted so negatively, he knew they had something here. Edge, he knows, is too smart to fall for it for long, but Maryse agrees to try. First, though, Mike drives a further wedge between Omos and AJ on MizTV, after begging Maryse not to air out their private business on Cutting Edge. All a part of the performance and when he winks, she gives him a subtle nod before they go their separate ways.
Edge confirms he knows, but Mike goes with it anyway, allowing Maryse time to really get into her heartbroken housewife routine. It's kind of funny, even though Edge clearly is not buying it.
He's lurking in an empty part of the crowd, watching, waiting, and finally takes the opportunity to run out, slide into the ring, attack. Maryse helps- her slapping Edge distracts him just enough that Mike manages to slip in and Skull Crushing Finale him, the two of them laughing and mocking him as they take their leave. Considering AJ and Omos also finally split, Mike decides it's been a truly productive evening.
The best part of his week, however, is the next day. He flies home and is immediately by all the festive cheer one large house could contain- especially when it has two young children to entertain. He chuckles and flicks at the Santa waving cheerfully by the door before letting himself in. Immediately he hears a loud, "DADDY!" and before he's fully conscious of it, he's kneeling down, catching Sara as she tosses herself at him, already talking excitedly about Santa, and where the Elf on a Shelf was hiding this morning, and how AJ wants them to have a Christmas movie marathon later on, and...
She's so excited and happy that Mike can't help grinning too, pressing a kiss to her forehead s he puts her back down on the floor. "That sounds like the perfect start to Christmas," he tells her, taking her hand. "Is George down for his nap?"
"Yes, but Mama says he should be up soon." Sara beams as Mike leads her down the hall to the bedrooms, peeking in to find AJ already holding a half-awake George, murmuring to him.
"There they are," Mike hums, walking inside and resting a hand on George's back. "Sleep well, little guy?"
He blinks back at his father and AJ chuckles. "I think he did," she says with a smile. "Glad you're home, everything go alright?"
"Far as I can tell, yeah," Mike says, leaning in to kiss her. "A Christmas marathon sounds perfect tonight."
"Ah," AJ says, leaning in to tickle Sara. "Yes, someone was quite excited about it when I suggested it earlier."
"George was too, right, George?" Sara asks, peering up at her brother.
George's response is a yawn and to bury his face in his mother's neck, AJ and Mike giggling a little bit.
Mike leans back and watches fondly as his family continues to laugh and chatter about Christmas. He really is one of the luckiest guys in the world.