Cutting his holiday short with his friends to go compete at Survivor Series against Gunther is a little bittersweet. He has to leave really early to make it to Chicago, so the kids are still asleep, but AJ, Ricardo and John see him out.

He hugs AJ tight and kisses her as she squeezes him. "You've got this," she murmurs as he takes an extra minute just to breathe in and relax against her warmth.

"We'll be cheering you on," Ricardo tells him, the two of them quickly hugging.

"Now go kick that overly egotistical asshole hard for yes, yeah?" Morrison urges him, the chain of hugs ending with him.

"I'll do my very best to do just that," Mike promises with a faint laugh.

Leaving them behind sucks, but he takes their confidence in him and their positive words with him. Holds them close through the flight, before the PPV, and then during the match itself. Although he gets his ass kicked, and ultimately loses, his determination to see this through doesn't fade. He will, somehow, someday, win back the Intercontinental Championship. It's just the when and how that is the problem now, because he's not sure if the respect he'd gained during their match would leave Gunther interested in giving him another opportunity. Doesn't stop him from at least wanting to try, however.

So he confronts Gunther on Monday, angling for another opportunity. He's not terribly surprised when Gunther refuses him immediately, but the urge is in him now, and he doesn't think it's going to let him go any time soon. Out of everything he's done in wrestling, and out of it, the Intercontinental title is his favorite achievement, and just the thought of having it the most time, and the longest, strikes a chord with him.

It'll happen. Somehow, some way. He'll make sure of it. There's no other option, really.