Mike closes his eyes, lifting his arms in a deep shrug before letting them rest at his sides. Not that long ago, he'd had a vow renewal ceremony for Maryse and it wasn't that big of a deal because the crew for Miz and Mrs had worked with WWE to set it up, so he'd really just needed to show up. This time, however, ti's a birthday party and he thinks it deserves a more personal touch, so he tries to help work on it when he can.
He even selects a few of the presents, including a drawing of the both of them as a princess and prince. The gifts, excluding the brick, are kind of random but he thinks Maryse will be amused by them because her sense of humor is about as strange as his. Either way, it's national TV so she'll probably play along and act like she loves all of it whether she actually does or not.
Ordering the cakes are next, again an easy thing because he knows her tastes pretty well after years of eating out with her and absorbing things about her through Miz and Mrs and everything else.
By the time Raw rolls around, he's pleasantly surprised to learn they're getting the main event for the party. Everything is going smoothly, Maryse is acting exactly how Mike assumed she would, security is safeguarding them, and everything... everything's pretty perfect, Mike's thinking about taking this all home with a quick cake cutting and letting Maryse have the first slice- they'd probably offer the rest to the security once they were safe backstage- when it happens.
Edge's music hits and he and Bath immediately storm to the ring, taking out security left and right, but Miz and Maryse both beat a hasty retreat and watch in horror by the commentary table as the rest of security is taken out and Edge prowls around the presents, Mike screaming at him to leave them alone. Gag gifts, maybe, but he doesn't want anything to happen to them even so.
Everything's a blur after that, but they somehow make it backstage and Miz kicks at the couch in their locker room. "I can't believe this," he fumes. "First a vow renewal, now a birthday party, is nothing sacred to these people?!"
Maryse looks a little flushed as she reaches out to pat his arm, still catching her breath after the mad dash they took to get first out of the ring, then safely back here. "It's fine, Mike. It's ok. We know what kind of entitled jerks the Copelands are, we'll deal with it on Sunday."
Mike is still grumbling, however, Maryse's words barely breaking through. "... damn backwards, jerkwater people, I can't believe this, how dare they-"
He's still pacing and ranting to himself when his phone rings and he answers automatically. "What?"
"Hello to you too, husband," AJ greets him dryly and he immediately tenses up, standing straight.
"AJ," he gulps. "Shit, I'm sorry. I answered without looking."
She sounds humored when she responds again. "It's fine, Mike. I was watching Raw, I knew how you must be feeling when I called." Her voice softens. "Are you alright?"
He sighs. "Yeah," he mumbles. "I'm ok. Just... can't wait until Sunday's over, I guess."
"Me either," AJ says honestly. "You've been more obsessed than usual with this feud."
He exhales. "I'm sorry," he tells her again. "I know I'm not great company for you or the kids when I get like this..."
"Don't worry about it, we've all had those moments. I understand. Just do your best to get it done and put this behind you, alright?"
He smiles, filled once more with love for her. "Will do."
"I'll see you home tomorrow," she tells him sweetly.
"You absolutely will," he tells her, eyes lighting up at the prospect of getting back home to her and the kids.
"You guys are adorable," Maryse sighs, watching him with a fond gleam in her eye.
"Yeah?" Mike chuckles a little, sitting down across from her. "How are you and Heath doing anyway?"
She hums. "He's getting more bookings lately," she says. "Our schedules are quite busy. Sometimes I don't see him as much as I'd like. But we're good, you know. He's still the best husband and father for my children I could've asked for."
Mike smiles at her. "I'm happy for you both. We all should hang out more, only getting to see each other on the holidays or at work is kind of annoying."
"Yes," she agrees. "We definitely should plan something. I'd like that."
Mike smiles at her, relieved that, despite everything, their friendship is still as strong as ever. All he can hope is that that's still the case after this Saturday.
-x
Wednesday is the last day he has before he has to fly out to do in person media for Royal Rumble. Mike spends it surrounded by toys and laughing, shrieking children. He lifts George and spins him around, laughing and tickling him as he wave his limbs around and acts like he's really flying. Sara watches from the couch as she waits her turn and Mike beams, setting George down with a bouncy kind of thump that makes the little boy laugh and clap his pudgy little fists.
"Up you go," Mike declares, hoisting Sara up- and oh my god, she's getting so big, he realizes all over again, even as he spins her around over his head, making her giggle and squeal. Instead of putting her down like he did with George, he eases her back into his arms and hugs her, planting a kiss on top of her forehead. She blinks up at him with wide, blue eyes so similar to his own, and he smiles down at her. "Love you, Sara Lou," he tells her quietly.
"Love you too,, Daddy," she says, resting her forehead against his chest. Before too long, though, she begins to squirm, and he sets her down to chase after her brother, who's gotten down from the couch and is now moving to mess with the tea set Mike had recently bought for her.
Later that afternoon, AJ and Mike are curled up together in bed, taking every advantage of the kid's nap time, when AJ breathes out a gasp next to him. "What is it?" he wonders, blinking up at her.
"Look at this! You're trending!"
"Huh?" He squints at the list on her phone, scrolling up and down as if in disbelief. "Oh my god," he mumbles.
It says it clear as day, right there. People are talking- positively- about his being cast in Mortal Combat! Enough that the Twitter crew had had to write up a blurb about why he was trending. Yes!
"Oh my god," he repeats and AJ giggles, leaning in to kiss him. "This is... is incredible," he says, in awe of it.
She rubs her nose against his and smiles. "I hope you get the role," she tells him softly. "I know how much it'd mean to you."
He hums, dropping the phone and cradling her face, letting all of his overwhelming emotions go in a number of intense kisses that leaves her gasping and clinging to him. "I love you," he tells her. "So, so much."
"Love you too, Mike," she tells him, eyes shining and hands trembling against his sides as they both sink together again, the Royal Rumble and trending topics all but forgotten for a little while.