Mike yawns, picking his way around the beach. John is a few feet ahead of him, cheerfully humming as he picks up seashells, avoiding clamshells. He's jetlagged and groggy, but it's nice to be with his best friend. They've both been so busy, John with wedding plans and dominating the indy scene while he waits for Lucha Underground to resume, and Mike with touring and filming all the various shows he's involved in, it's hard to keep his eyes open even with his toes wiggling around in the sun-kissed sand.

"Whoa," John laughs, turning in time to get an arm around him and just keep him upright before he can tumble face first into the sand. "You ok, man? C'mon." He guides him over to a chair and eases him down onto it, slapping his leg with just enough force to cause him to stir. "Jetlag?"

"So tired," Mike mumbles as John stands up and adjusts the umbrella overhead to try to protect Mike from the harsh setting sun. He sighs and yawns. "But I'm too jittery to sleep too. I hate jetlag."

John nods, reaching out and grazing Mike's jaw with his knuckles. "Just relax," he mumbles, the soft glow of energy easing against Mike's skin, soothing him. He yawns and sinks into John's touch, eyes fluttering closed. "There ya go," he whispers, standing up and shifting the umbrella again as the sun rapidly moves towards its final moments shining over this part of the world.

Mike gets a nice couple of hours of sleep as the sun sets, casting a soft shadow over the beach. John doesn't move, arms draping lazily over his knees as he meditates quietly, seashells a steady, warm presence in his hands. He only shifts when Mike wakes up, blinking slowly. They stare at each other and Mike chuckles, stretching. "You did it again," he mumbles, feeling warm, more well-rested than he's been in months, years, decades. John acts oblivious as Mike scoots off of the chair to sit next to him on the warm sand, poking at some of the seashells scattered around his body. "So, the wedding," he says. "You're finally settling down. I'm proud of ya, man." He grins. "Maybe you two will have kids soon to join Sara and Monroe Sky, huh?"

John hums. "Maybe. Never know." He grins at Mike. "I know this is late, but I haven't formally asked you, just been kind of assuming at this point. Will you be my best man?"

Mike rolls his eyes and nudges him. "I assumed too," he says. "Seemed awfully convenient that your wedding was scheduled on one of my very rare set of days off." He chuckles and scrubs at his eyes. "You really don't have to ask, I'd have crashed it if you didn't. I always have a suit picked out and everything."

"Oh boy," John chuckles, resting his head on Mike's shoulder for a minute. "I'm kind of scared," he mumbles, surprising Mike. "I've never been great at a long term relationship thing. Melina, Star, it all falls apart eventually, but Taya... I've never loved someone as much as I do her and I... I don't want to mess it up again." He frowns, blinking when Mike brushes some of his hair away. "How do you and AJ handle it?"

"A day at a time," Mike says. "Not joking, man. It's not easy, there are times where it gets frustrating, especially with a toddler and how busy our schedules are. But then things quiet down and we look at each other at the end of another day and it's like a flood of realizations over just how much I love her, and then we remember, oh right, this is why we work through all of the bad times. It's frustrating, but also ridiculously rewarding. As long as you and Taya never lose sight of that, you both will be fine."

John breathes against his arm for a moment before sitting up. "Thanks. I needed to hear that." He picks at the seashells a bit. "If I ever have any other doubts or questions..."

"You come to me," Mike says with a sharp nod. "I'll help the best I can. I mean, I'm a marriage expert by now." He only pretends to be offended when John laughs at this, elbowing him. "Excuse you!"

John just laughs harder and tugs Mike into a hug, ruffling his hair before letting him go, his teeth flashing in the faint light from the moon overhead. Mike just shakes his head, slowly letting laughter overwhelm him as well.

-x

Mike qualifies for Money in the Bank that Tuesday. He's ecstatic, on cloud nine, until he returns home the next day to find AJ with a worried furrow to her brow. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asks, rubbing between her eyes with his fingers.

"I know you're proud of being in another Money in the Bank match," she says slowly. "I'm just worried. So much could go wrong." He kisses her palms as she cups his jaw, staring up at him. "You've had so many close calls with injuries already..." He shrugs, nuzzling into her soft skin as she struggles to focus on her concerns.

"I'll be fine. It's never caused me serious injury in the past, I'll make sure my good luck continues this year as well. And when I win and cash in, become world champion again, I'm dedicating it to you and Sara." He tugs her closer and kisses her on the lips. "I have too much to fight for, I'll be fine." She runs her fingers through his hair and he exhales softly, hoisting her up so he's supporting her against him, hand splayed against her lower back. "I'll be fine, sweetheart. I promise you."

"If you break that promise to me..." She cuts herself off, unsure how far to take her threat in the face of his soft smile, calm blue eyes.

"None of this for a month," he suggests, kissing a path down her throat to her collar and lower, and she trembles, warring with herself over that.

She hisses out a breath as he mouths at her, warm and pliant under his hands and mouth. "Fine," she agrees, though he knows there's little chance of her actually holding to it. She cups his face and draws him back until they're eye to eye. "Then you have yet another thing to fight for." She presses her lips to his, coaxing him until he parts his lips and allows her to explore gently, just to oof softly when he drops her onto their bed and hovers over her, fingers grazing along the edge of her shorts. "You'd better keep your promise."

He moans into her mouth and then pulls back enough to look at her. "I will," he promises, grazing her face. "I will. Don't worry."

But there's no chance of that, and they both know it.