"I can't believe I have to go almost two whole weeks without seeing this face," Mike coos, bouncing Sara Louisa up and down on his knees. "It's just not fair. How could anyone in their right mind survive it?"
AJ chuckles, dropping a kiss to the top of his head before chuffing the baby on her chin, sitting down next to them. "Thankfully there's only a couple of overseas tours every year, and you'll be home before you know it."
Mike nods. "I still feel kinda bad, though. My girls gonna be alright?" He makes faces at Sara as she grabs at his lips.
"Of course we will. John and Taya are a phone call away, and our little girl sleeps quite peacefully through the night now, since she seems to be between teething fits, so everything should be fine. And even if it isn't, I know how to handle it. After a year, I'm an old pro at handling Sara's problems." She leans over and kisses Mike softly. "Don't worry, just go to Italy and have a blast. Send lots of pictures, and video chat so Sara can see you sometimes."
Mike nods, lost in thought as he stares into his daughter's crystal clear eyes. "Do you think... she knows me?" he mumbles, doubts rising up not for the first time. "I mean, you just said you know how to handle everything with her. I've been here for some of it, but you've been the rockstar dealing with the teething and the late night feedings and the random fevers and... just. I haven't done much of anything for her."
AJ clicks her tongue and grips his jaw, making him look at her. "Of course she knows you. You haven't seen how her face lights up when you come home every Tuesday, or how she cries for a little bit when you have to leave. She's your daughter, Mike, and she loves you, and looks forward to every moment like this one." They look down at her as she grips for his collar, Mike inally tucking her in close and letting her grab at him to her heart's content. "Yes, I did with some of the things, but when you're home, I barely get to hold her because you're always right there, attentive and focused and loving. It makes up for the rest of it, I promise you. She knows you adore her."
Mike nods, tilts AJ's face towards him. "You know I adore you too, right?" She beams as he kisses her until the baby fusses, wanting attention back on her. As soon as Mike kisses her cheek, she waves her fists happily and babbles at him. "WWE's in state for the PPV and Raw, you guys should come by, at least for a little bit. Say hi to Heath, Rhyno and Maryse. They'd like to see you all before we fly out too."
"Maybe we will," AJ agrees, blowing bubbles on the bottom of Sara's feet as she kicks and squirms. "Would you like that? Spend a couple of nights at your daddy's work?"
Sara squirms and squeals, Mike laughing. "I think that's a yes," he says, staring fondly at his girls as AJ claims the baby and kisses her loudly on the side of the head, talking about all of the things they'd see, and people they'd meet, and everything else at the arenas.
Sunday's only MizTV, which ends with Finn Balor taking Mike out and sending Maryse scurring, so Mike's glad AJ hadn't bought Sara for that one, but they're at Raw, Sara staring wide eyed at all of the people and the noises, and AJ stands by helplessly as Enzo Amore descends upon their baby, making funny faces at her and talking to her in this ridiculously goofy kind of voice, Big Cass standing behind him with the most epic of eyerolls dominating his face while his best friend fauns over Sara. "Dunno what gets into him sometimes," Cass tries to explain to AJ, who he just barely recognizes. "He just really likes kids."
"And they looooooooove me, ain't that right, sweet lil Sara?" he coos, beaming at her as she gapes at him, as if unsure what to make of this ridiculous creature before her.
AJ's never been so happy to see Heath in all of her life as he and Rhyno come up, neither looking too pleased until they catch sight of Sara, Heath all but shooing Enzo away as he scoops the baby up and holds her. "Uncle Heath needs a hug, you'll allow that, right, Sara Louisa?" he asks, holding her close while Cass thankfully corrals Enzo back down the hall, his voice loud and echoing off of the walls as he complains about Heath.
AJ chuckles and shakes her head. "Some things never change, Raw is still absolutely ridiculous," she mumbles as the three of them walk down to Mike's private locker room, where Maryse is getting her make up touched up before Mike's triple threat match to determine the Intercontinental Championship number one contendership later. She immediately pats excess lipstick off and joins Heath in cooing over Sara while Rhyno and AJ stand around, Rhyno staring suspiciously at Maryse while he shares his crackers with AJ.
Mike comes in just before the match to collect Maryse and gives AJ and Sara another quick kiss before waving at the TV, "Please, sit, watch, cheer me on. It's time to go kick some butt, isn't that right, baby?" He squeezes Sara's little hand before heading out to the ring.
He walks back the victor, of course, choosing to ignore Bray Wyatt and Samoa Joe's influence on the proceedings. Maryse sinks into Heath's arms as soon as they're back in the locker room, Mike taking the baby from AJ and letting her doze against his chest. "Well, I very well may be Intercontinental champion again soon," he says, smiling around at them all.
"Lucky," Heath says with some envy, the belt he's always wanted constantly out of reach.
"Hey, I win this and get Ambrose off my case, I'll try to talk Angle into giving you a title shot," Mike promises him, running his fingers through Sara's soft hair.
"I'd like that," Heath admits, Maryse patting his chest before as she sits up and looks around. "So what d'we all wanna do on our last night in the States before the tour?"
"Let's get something to eat and catch up with John and Taya," Mike suggests. "I feel kinda bad, before we were traded over to Raw, I was expecting to be there for his screening of Boone the Bounty Hunter. Now I have to wait to see it with the regular people of the world."
"Poor baby," AJ says, standing up and leaning over to pick Sara up off of his chest. "Go on and get dressed and then let's leave." She slips her free hand into Mike's once he's cleaned up and and dressed, Sara fast asleep against her shoulder.
"I'll call John and see if he and Taya want to eat somewhere to celebrate the screening," he says, fishing for his phone. As the others trail out in front of him, he pauses and looks the group over, smiling to himself. I really am lucky, he thinks, dialing his best friend's number before shutting the door behind him and going to join the others.