AJ looks concerned. Which makes Mike even angrier. She's still pale and a little shaky from morning sickness, and now Shane's challenged him to a Hell in a Cell match. Which he can't exactly say no to, because the guy still knows their secret and could easily destroy everything for not only their family, but Maryse and Heath's too. This feud's been brutal- George was hurt, Mike's been busted open a couple of times already, and the children are catching onto their parents' tension, Maryse looking ragged and exhausted at the latest taping for Miz and Mrs, explaining that Monroe had regressed in her ability to sleep through the night.
He stares at Sara Louisa, whose wide blue eyes are locked on his, and struggles to smile at the little girl, just to falter when she looks down, tugging at her toes and feet in an almost anxious manner. "Hey," he says softly, gripping her gently and pulling her into his lap. He holds her close and rocks her, pressing his face into her hair and just breathing her in, baby soap and that soft scent that's just her that's been his favorite since she was first placed into his arms. "It's gonna be ok, sweetie. Daddy'll figure this out. Don't you worry about a thing."
She sniffs and looks up at him, something heavy in her gaze that he can never quite describe to anyone else, something he doesn't think should be in any child's eyes. "Mommy sick?"
Mike swallows, hard, and kisses her nose. "A little, baby, but it's just temporary." He turns her so she's facing AJ, who reaches out with a soothing smile, stroking her fingers through the little girl's soft, brown hair. "Have you ever thought about having a little brother or sister, Sara Lou?" he wonders and Sara blinks, confused. "You know, a baby like you were not that long ago? Someone who could grow up to be one of your very closest friends?"
Sara frowns, looking between her parents. "Now?"
He chuckles, just a little, and kisses her forehead. "In a few months," he tells her, taking her little hand and resting it on the soft curve of her mom's stomach, AJ only just barely showing at this stage. "See, right now, the baby is in here, and it's growing and getting nice and strong before it comes out to meet us. But it makes Mommy a little sick, sometimes, but she'll be fine before you know it."
AJ nods and reaches out for Sara, grinning a little when she eagerly moves into her mom's grip. "Yeah, baby girl, I'm gonna be just fine. I'm sorry I scared you." She looks up at Mike, pressing a warm, soft kiss to Sara's forehead. "You're gonna be such a great big sister."
Later, after putting her to bed, AJ leans against the kitchen counter and stares outside at their yard, Mike's hands wrapped around her and she sighs. "This tension can't continue," she breathes. "Sara's picking up on it, and it's not good for her, or for us." She looks over her shoulder at Mike and nods grimly. "You gotta finish this thing with Shane, Mike. Somehow, some way. We have to know that he's not going to tell our secret, or if he does, have a plan to handle the fall out so those little girls... so the babies on the way... are safe."
Mike nods, turning her slowly to face him. "I promise you. One way or another, I will make sure we're all taken care of. And I fully plan on ridding us of Shane come Money in the Bank." She cradles his face in her hands and searches his eyes for a long, pensive moment, before leaning up and kissing him, sighing softly as he fans his hands out over her lower back, holding her close. "I'm so sorry I got us into this mess at the worst possible time."
She chuckles wearily and nips at his lower lip. "I'm almost getting used to it," she teases him and he looks guilty as she brushes her fingers over his jaw. "I love you anyway."
He leans his forehead against hers and exhales slowly, needing to hear those words so badly that it almost hurts now that he has. "I don't deserve it a lot of the time, but I love you too," he tells her softly.
She shakes her head, digging her fingers into his jaw to get his attention. "You do deserve it, or I wouldn't be here, and our daughter wouldn't be asleep down the hall right now. Not to mention this." She eases his hand between them, allowing him to feel the subtle changes to her body already noticeable. "I say you deserve this, and a lot more, so don't even try to deny it, Mike Mizanin."
He nods, eyes suspiciously bright. "Ok," he whispers. "Ok." She tangles her fingers behind his neck and kisses him again, slow and deep and perfect, and he sighs, picking her up and carrying her bridal style back to their bedroom as she giggles, resting her head against his shoulder and enjoying being held like this until he settles her in their bed and hovers over her, hands and lips gentle against her as he reminds both of them one of the many things he's fighting so hard to protect.