Mike's been awake for a little while, pondering over what to do for the next few days, when AJ rolls over with a soft, sleepy smile on her face and stares up at Mike, a soft, adoring look on her face. "I can't believe I get you all to myself for a week," she says, tracing her fingers over his chest lazily. "I can't remember the last time that's happened."
"Me neither," he says, cupping her face and kissing her gently. "I'm really glad it shook out this way. I mean, part of me feels weird because I'm champion and I should be at Smackdown, but Shane had other business to contend with, so he was kind enough to give me a few days off, and what kind of idiot would I be to refuse it, when it means I get to spend more time with my girls?"
"Exactly," AJ giggles, sighing softly as he eases over her, kissing her as she rubs his back, scraping her nails over his spine teasingly. "I love you," she breathes out, and he nods, his lips working down her throat as she hums and arches up into him.
"I love you too," he says before sucking at her pulse point, causing her to moan low. He smiles and gets his arms under her, hoisting her up before settling her in his lap, teasing her warm skin with his hands. "I'm gonna make sure you and Sara Lou both have the best week," he promises, trailing lower, kissing past her collar bone, feeling each breath she takes as he smiles against her.
She groans softly and runs her fingers through his hair, staring up at the sunbeams playing over the ceiling as his hands and mouth work over her beautifully, leaving her gasping and breathing out his name. "Please," she murmurs and he looks up at her for a moment before kissing down her stomach, feeling her abs quiver and twitch under his ministrations. "Mike..." Enjoying the sound of his name on her lips, he teases her, feeling her tense up and groan out his name, toes digging into his ankles. "Mike... Mike...!"
Later, she's tucked in his arms, breathing slowly returning to normal, and he chuckles softly, kissing the top of her head. "Alright?"
"Yeah," she sighs out, eyes fluttering shut as he rubs her back gently. "Better than alright." She's so sleepy though that she can't even protest when he lays her down and tucks her in before gingerly getting up to check on their daughter.
Sara hops up when she sees him, slinging her arms around excitedly before running along the toddler bed into his arms, squealing when he grips her and spins her around. Kissing her forehead, he chuckles and hugs her, nosing at her soft hair. "Morning, Daddy!" she chirps and Mike kisses her on the cheek.
"Morning, sweetie," he says, walking down the hall to get them both breakfast. He makes pancakes and puts a plate together for AJ, holding his finger to his lips when he sees Sara staring at him. "Mommy's still asleep so we have to eat quietly today, ok?"
"Ok, daddy," she says from her booster seat and he smiles at her, slicing a few berries before flipping the first couple of pancakes, placing them on a plate and slicing them in fours, piling a few of the berries next to them. A little butter and some syrup and he puts it in front of Sara, her special fork in hand as she awkwardly works at eating them. His plate and AJ's are put together quickly and he sits down next to his daughter at the table, helping her when she needs it, but mostly letting her carry on at her own speed.
"Would you like to play with Uncle Johnny today?" he asks her once she's done with the fork, painstakingly pinching pieces of fruit and getting them to her mouth to chew on them, still figuring out what she likes and dislikes. So far, she likes blueberries and bananas, and tolerates strawberries and apples. He grins, watching her eyes widen as she claps happily in response.
"Yes please!"
"Perfect." John's actually free today too, so once the kitchen is cleaned up, a note added near AJ's plate to explain where they're going, and Mike's let Sara pick out her own outfit to wear over her swimsuit- bright, striped leggings and a dark purple dress with pink sneakers, with a white hairtie for her soft brown hair- they're on their way, Mike holding Sara's hand as they walk to the car, Sara kicking her feet as he straps her in, already looking around excitedly.
"Beach beach beach beach," she chants happily until Mike gets into the driver's seat and turns on the radio, allowing her to get distracted by the soft music playing there from some kid's show he's never really heard of before now. He peeks at her in the rearview mirror and grins, so pleased that this all has worked out.
John greets her cheerfully, sweeping her up and kissing her on the nose as she giggles and grips at his shoulders. "Well, who is this young woman here? I thought you were bringing baby Sara," he tells Mike with a stern look on his face.
"I am Sara!" she chirps. "But no baby!"
"Oh!" John gasps, staring down at her. "You're right, I'm sorry. Didn't recognize you, you've gotten so big since I last saw you."
She giggles and flaps her arms around before looking up at Mike. "Swimming?"
He shrugs. "Maybe, a little." She keeps looking between them hopefully and he quickly caves in. "Fine, fine. Come on." He kicks off his sneakers and shrugs out of his shirt, John already in his swimming gear, as they walk Sara to where the waves are gently lapping at the sand. They don't take her far in, just enough for her ankles to get wet, and she splashes happily, leaning over to examine random little sea creatures scuttering here and there under the water.
While keeping an eye on her, the best friends talk lowly. "Nice to work with the boss, huh?" John cracks. "Get a day off every now and again."
Mike shrugs. "I don't really care about that, I would've been there right now, but I've been running myself ragged and I miss my girls, so when Shane suggested this, I took him up on it. We'll be back next week to host McMizTV, it's fine. A week off every now and again won't kill me."
"Wow," John says with a soft laugh. "Mike, the workaholic, never thought I'd hear the day when you'd say something like that."
"Honestly?" Mike asks softly, waiting until John motions for him to continue. "I think I was overcompensating just a little. Shane, he went to all of that trouble just to get my dad to come out and say he was proud of me, and it... it was nice to hear it, but I realized I didn't need it when he did. The words just... felt empty. Everything I've accomplished, it was with the support of AJ, of guys like Sandow and Alex, and Ricardo, and... well, you, clearly." John smirks but says nothing, watching him with calm, patient focus. "His pride was fine, but the fact that it took this long into my WWE career, after I was married and gave him a beautiful, incredible grandchild, main evented Wrestlemania and had a hit reality TV show of my very own... just reminded me thatI've been fine without his pride for this long, and I'm glad to have it now, but I don't need it. I've been successful without it."
John nods, clapping him on the shoulder. "Damn straight, man. Still nice of Shane to try, though, huh?"
"Yeah. It was." Mike smiles a little, his gaze distant as he thinks about that moment in the ring with his father and Shane, how just reacting to his father's words at all was a struggle when he felt so numb the entire time. "Think he would understand if I tried to explain this to him?"
"Probably," John says. "I mean, he's 49 years old, he's got a wife and three kids, and been fairly successful himself in and out of WWE, but I think if Vince chose this moment to go up to him and tell him he was proud of him, Shane would be pleasantly surprised, but ultimately it'd be one of those 'Ok, why now' moments. Like with you. Hard to fully believe it, or feel it after so many years of struggling to prove yourself, and probably just waiting for the next shoe to drop."
Mike nods, turning to scoop Sara up and hugging her close, feeling ill at the thought of ever making her feel even a fraction of how his father has made him feel his entire life. "I promise, Sara, no matter where your life takes you," he whispers into her ear. "I am proud of you, and I love you so much. Never forget that."