"Are you nervous?" John asks lazily, body glistening as he leans over the side of Mike's pool, squiinting up at his best friend.
"Since when do I ever get nervous?" Mike wonders, bracing Sara as she paddles slowly in the shallow end. "And about what?"
"The draft," John clarifies, smiling at Sara as she tries to swim towards him. Once she's within reach, he grips her under the arms and glides her through the water at a fast speed, making her giggle and slap her fists, splashing herself, him, Mike.
Mike blinks, wipes the water out of his eyes and glances at John. "Am I? Not really. Should I be?"
John hums, remembering the draft all of those years ago that changed his life. How he'd cost Mike a match just for Mike to be the one drafted away, which paved the road for Mike to attack, spiking him into the mat with Skull Crushing Finale. He sighs and hoists Sara up, holding her over his head and making faces at her as she giggles and squirms, screaming in delight when he dives her back into the water, grip gentle but firm so she's never fully submerged. "No, not by me." He leans in and kisses Sara's nose before guiding her back to her daddy. "Should I?"
Their eyes lock and Mike shakes his head slowly. "No, John. You have no reason to be nervous. I'm not the same man I was back then."
John examines him for a moment and then smiles, pulling himself out of the pool and exhaling as the breeze tickles his damp skin. "Good." He chuffs Sara under the chin. "I like this Mike better anyway."
Mike smiles down at his daughter as she squirms and reaches out for John, who quickly hoists her up and tickles her lightly, poking her nose when she laughs herself breathless. "Unca John," she murmurs, pressing her face into his shoulder as he hugs her.
"Yeah, kiddo. I'm here," he whispers to her. "I'll always be here."
Mike strokes a hand down his daughter's back, hoping with every fiber of his being that it's true.
-x
"So the first year you two are working together for your birthdays in quite awhile," AJ says cheerfully, brushing her fingers through Mike's hair later that night. "Taya and I are in talks about what to do before you both leave for Smackdown. But you're the birthday boys, so what do you think?"
Mike wraps an arm around her, fingers toying against her hip, and she hums, closing her eyes as she presses into his touch. "Anything you want to do works for me," he breathes against her lips and she shivers, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Not fair, Mr. Mizanin." Sitting up to avoid the distraction of his fingers and lips, she straightens her clothes out and sits primly for a few moments, before the moment cracks and she giggles. "But seriously. Thoughts? Or are you two too much old men now to really want a party?"
He gasps, faux offended, and snags her, dragging her back against his chest and kissing her thoroughly, working a slow, deep moan from her as she clings to him. "Old men, my ass," he laughs as she pulls away, looking dazed. "But seriously I'm fine with it just being us and the kids. Things have been so wild lately between everything going on with WWE, and the kids, and everything else, I'm fine with a more low-key celebration. John will probably agree." He strokes his hand lazily up and down her back. "Have you heard from Alicia lately? How's she doing?"
"I get the feeling she's really close to having this kid, but hopefully not too soon, because Ricardo was booked for some events this week, so..."
"He'll be back in our guest house quarantining before too long," Mike finishes for her.
"Yep." She sighs and closes her eyes, leaning against his chest and curling her fingers around his hand. It had been difficult the last few months, letting Mike go so often to travel to WWE events, and then back home, never sure, always just waiting- but so far, so good. She's so thankful for it, but she can understand the hesitation and care Ricardo and Alicia both are taking every time he gets booked to something. You can never be too careful.
Mike kisses her softly and smiles when she pulls back to look him in the eye. "It'll be ok."
"I hope so," she murmurs, toying with his fingers as he traces her face with his free hand, drawing her closer for another kiss that deepens and lingers, eventually wiping all morose, uncertain thoughts from her mind as he eases her back against the bed.