The moon is soft overhead, faint noises coming from the roads, the beach, sometimes even from little George, cradled in Mike's arms. Mike hums and rocks and stares up at the inky sky overhead, lost in thought. Royal Rumble is rapidly approaching, and soon he'll have to decide one way or another regarding his briefcase, and it'll be real this time, no take backs or court cases or anything else would return it to him should he fail a second time. He's still sitting on the steps of their patio, absentmindedly staring upwards, when the door slowly opens and AJ's soft footsteps reach his ears.
He smiles a little turning just enough to look at her, and she smiles down at him, sliding in gently to sit next to him and George. "What's up, husband? Can't sleep?" she whispers.
"Not really," he admits. "Thinking too much about everything. And George was fussy so I thought maybe some fresh air would help."
She chuckles weakly. "Has it? For either of you?"
"Him, yes, me not so much," Mike grumbles, leaning into her and tilting his face to allow her to kiss him gently, slowly. He sighs against her lips and stares down at their son. "I just don't know what to do with the briefcase right now. It's all so unknown until the Rumble passes." He flexes his fist and grits his teeth, shaking his head.
She leans against his shoulder and sighs. "I guess all you can do is wait and hope for the best opportunity possible to come along so you can do what you need to."
"Yeah," he sighs. "Not that patience is my strong suit. Or knowing when exactly an opportunity is here. I'm out of practice." He whines overdramatically and rests his head against her shoulder.
Shes smiles at him. "I believe in you. You'll figure it out." She scrapes her fingers through her hair and leans in to kiss him. "Now, I dunno about you, but I'm starting to get a little chilly out here. Let's bring George in and see what we can do about distracting you and warming me up, hmm?"
"Alright," he says with a small smile, allowing her to take George once she's on her feet. He joins her and they head inside, quiet and a little giggly as they head for bed once George is back in his room, peacefully asleep.
-x
Raw is... well, it just is. John has a match against Sheamus, Miz accompanies him, and sometimes it seems to be going ok, but it always only ever takes one second for things to change, and John is down and out, the bell ringing to signify Sheamus' win, Mike immediately leaping into action. "Hey! NO, no no, this isn't how this is going to go!" and he yells and lectures and complains untiil a frustrated Pearce arrives, giving him what he wants- probably just to shut him up. Perfect. And it actually is, because they win. Takes awhile, the both of them doing what they need to, but they succeed.
Then their mouths get them in trouble again- Drew McIntyre returns to TV and Mike sneers at him, but- but then Goldberg appears and the next thing Mike knows, he's down on his back and a few feet away, John is struggling just to sit up as well, and oh shit, this is what he has to look forward to after the Rumble- either Goldberg or McIntyre, and he's really, really, really not sure if he can do this. If he can succeed. He's already lost the briefcase once, and it all just feels so real now, because he doesn't want to fail. He wants to be two time Money in the Bank holder, two time worlds champion, he wants it all.
It's just the more time passes where he holds onto the briefcase, and things at the top remain the same, or somehow even get worse with more challengers like Goldberg waiting in the wings, well...
He buries his face in his hands and breathes until finally his ribs hurt less and he can sit up. Meets John's eyes and shrugs. He can tell the Rumble isn't going to fix his problems. May just make them worse. But it is what it is, and he's still forever who he is, with Morrison by his side supporting and encouraging him, and for now. For now, it will just have to be enough.
The rest will work itself out later.