It hasn't been that long since Mike was on Raw, but so much has changed since then. He stares down at his hands and wonders what his role will be. He was a big fish in an almost small pond over on Smackdown, there was always a need for him, but here on Raw, there are so many people, so much going on. He assumes Shane will be the coward he always is and avoid Raw, to stay away from Mike and his need for vengeance. Which leaves Mike with only so many options.
His thoughts are disrupted when AJ rolls over and softly kisses him. "Close your eyes," she chides him softly. "You need your sleep, husband. Your flight is at obnoxious o'clock tomorrow."
He mulls over her words. Nods slowly. "I know," he whispers back to her. "I'm sorry I woke you up."
She shakes her head, eases over to rest against him, eyes fixed on his face as she strokes his cheek. "Don't apologize. I'm fine. We're fine." She hesitates, the reality of the situation still surprising to them both. Her pregnancy so close to Maryse's, when everything grows riskier and riskier for them day by day. Shane could reveal their truth at any time and Mike is certain the only thing that has spared them for now is Roman Reigns attacking Vince last week, which is probably the first time he's thankful for the guy.
He exhales shakily and she grips his hand, resting it on her stomach. He sprawls his fingers out and opens his eyes, searching her face, soft and sleepy in the shadows. Still too early for it to be obvious to the touch, but the promise is there, the chance of another new life, Sara Louisa's little brother or sister. He stares up at her and murmurs, "I love you so much, sweetheart."
She leans in and kisses him. "I love you too," she tells him softly. She rests her forehead against his and shrugs. "I don't care what Shane McMahon does. None of it will change this. We will always succeed. No matter what." He swallows hard and she smiles tenderly down at him, nuzzling closer, pressing kisses along the line of his jaw as his hand shifts, traces over her stomach before he wraps his arm around her and smiles, feeling her soft gasp against his throat as he shifts her into a more comfortable position for them both. "Good?"
"Yes," she whispers softly, eyes fluttering as he cradles her face in his palms and kisses her. "Mike..."
He brushes his nose against hers, lips twitching. Even after all of these years, he can't believe he's been this lucky to earn her as his wife, get a beautiful daughter, and now a second child on the way in the bargain. "I don't know what I did to deserve all of these blessings," he tells her. "But I will do my best never to squander it."
Her eyes are warm, and welling with unshed tears, and he softly kisses her, hand resting low on her hip as she sighs and sniffs, the two of them fitting together as well as they have since their first kiss all of those years ago. She gasps out his name again and bites her lip as he wipes more tears out of her eyes, gripping his arms and shaking her hair back so she can look at him properly. "You're the best husband and father," she tells him. "You deserve- you deserve all of the good things in this world and so much more..."
He draws her back in and kisses her, swallowing each soft noise she makes, feeling her shiver against him as he touches her, the depth of love he feels for her still overwhelming him. "So do you, sweetheart. So do you."
He just hopes he can provide all of that for her, for Sara, for their unborn child. That he won't fail them.
In the morning, he gently eases out from under AJ's body, delicately covering her in the sheets, before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, watching to makes sure that he hadn't just woke her up, before glancing in at Sara. She's sprawled out, limbs all over the place, and he smiles, leaning down to kiss his daughter's forehead too before going to make a quick mug of coffee and grab his already packed bag to hit the road for Raw.
He loathes leaving them, dreams of plucking Sara out of bed and snuggling in next to AJ and having a lazy day at home, but alas, there are already too many opportunities just waiting for him to stumble and make a mistake, so he leaves for the airport.
He has a match for a potential #1 contendership for Seth's belt, but it's not the in cards for him. All he can do is watch as yet something else slips through his fingers, Corbin running away with the opportunity to face AJ later. Mike grits his teeth and tries to refocus on other things- Shane, for one, but as he'd assumed, the man isn't at the arena and Mike scoffs as he collects his things, eager to leave now that he has nothing else to do the rest of the evening.
He might ordinarily stay, watch the rest of the night, reconnect with the Raw roster, but he's exhausted, bone weary, so he bows out early, drives to the hotel and crashes, asleep almost before his head hits the pillow.