A/N:

BumbleB- Thanks for the review! AJ and Mike got together in 2013, just after she and Ziggler split, and then the Maryse drama started so I don't think she thinks much about Nikki Bella. Maybe if Nikki was still in Mike's orbit, something would come of it but she's with Cena now, and only a part time competitor as it is, so there's not much to explore there, I feel. Anyway, I'm glad you look forward to my stories and I hope that continues!

Finding a ring for Maryse is easy enough once Heath is actually free to do so- when he's not changing diapers and rocking Monroe to sleep, his eyes locked on her face as he feeds her from bottles. Her skin is soft and pink, and what Maryse has given him is the most valuable thing he's ever had in his whole life. So he gets her the biggest diamond he can afford on a rose gold band, and when she wakes up enough to realize what it is, tears fill both of their eyes as he gently pushes it onto her finger. "I love you," he breathes, smiling when she cups his face.

"I love you too," she tells him, glancing down at the ring sparkling on her finger. "So much... so very much..." He kisses her and they rest against each other, taking in just how thoroughly their lives have changed in a few hours.

They spend the next few days in this new baby, new engagement haze and Heath is loathe to leave even though he knows AJ will take good care of his girls until he gets back. But he can't leave Rhyno twisting in the wind this close to Wrestlemania so he holds Monroe as close as he can for most of the morning, kissing her soft fingers, stroking her cheek, and whispering to her. Maryse gets plenty of attention too as he cooks her breakfast, the pancakes and turkey sausage leaving her mouth watering as she all but inhales it, finally getting her appetite back now that she's given birth and the worst of the soreness from labor has left her.

Mike knocks much too soon, coming to pick him up, and Heath sighs, aggrieved even when AJ peeks her head in, Sara Louisa pressed against her shoulder as she sucks on her thumb, only lighting up a little when she sees Heath. "Baby girl woke up on the wrong side of the bed," she explains with a weak laugh, kissing the top of Sara's head. "Don't worry about a thing, ok? I will take good care of your girls."

Heath nods, giving one more kiss to both Maryse and Monroe before regretfully leaving, glancing over his shoulder as AJ introduces Sara to the baby, both women laughing at whatever Sara says. Heath aches at the sound, wishes he could stay but squares his shoulders and follows Mike out, trying to grin and act like his usual hyperactive southern self.

It's clear this doesn't work with Rhyno, a deep look of understanding on his face as he claps Heath's shoulder and smiles at him. Even when Heath loses to Elias and they discuss their placement in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, there's this understanding flowing beneath the surface and, not for the first time, Heath wonders what he'd do without his friend, his tag partner.

-x

Mike does commentary during Seth and Finn's match at Raw that week and he finds himself talking a lot about Monroe Sky, using his own experiences as Sara Louisa's father to distract from the fact he had nothing to do with Monroe's conception or birth. It's weird but it works, he thinks, hoping AJ nor Heath will be upset by anything he's said here.

Neither say anything, Heath quiet and lost in his own world when Mike gets backstage, and AJ her usual patient loving self when he talks to her later while at the hotel room. It's awkward but he's not sure how much of that is more him seeing things that aren't there, or actual discomfort due to the circumstances. Either way, it's a bit of a relief when he meets up with Asuka and they travel on to Smackdown's side of the tour to prepare for Mixed Match Challenge's finals. Asuka clasps his hands as soon as they have a quiet moment and beams up at him, her English still a little stifled but better than most give her credit for. "Congratulations on the new baby. Monroe Sky is a strong name, promises a lot of beautiful things."

He smiles at her, wishing he could tell at least her the truth, but it's still too risky so he squeezes her hands and shows her a couple of the pictures Maryse had kindly sent him to enforce their story. As she coos and smiles at them, he thinks about how complicated all of this will be as both Monroe and Sara get older, asking awkward questions and failing to understand the circumstances their parents have wrapped them up in.

When he looks up, Asuka has this sad, knowing smile on her face and Mike's lips twist, afraid his overly expressive face had somehow given up the entire thing, but no- she merely pats his arm. "You miss your baby girl," she says with a mix of understanding and sympathy. "Let us go win this thing so you can get home to her."

He nods, dazed and relieved that she'd not somehow seen through his weak lies. "Yes, let's." He holds his arm out and smiles when she brushes past him, already writhing around in her dance.

They do. And he does.