"So what's the plan this week?" AJ asks, leaning in to kiss Mike as he drops a pile of suits down on the bed, her fingers working quickly as she sorts and folds for him, stuffing everything in his luggage.
"Hm," he sighs. "Well, Maryse and I have Raw to do, then I have some media here and there for Miz and Mrs, but not terrible. I should be home on Wednesday, all goes well." He kisses her back, nice and slow, and she hums, eyes fluttering as she cups his jaw in her hands, not eager to let him go too quickly.
"The kids will miss you," she tells him.
"Just the kids, huh," he teases. "AJ, I don't think I can ever thank you enough for allowing me to continue on with this act with Maryse. I know it's been going on for too long, and we've come so close to getting caught repeatedly. I'm amazed you haven't put your foot down on ending it before now."
She hums, kissing his forehead. "Honey, I told you I was ok with all of this when it began. Yes, it's complicated and sometimes it hurts, but I understand. No matter how long it lasts, I understand. You can't go back on it all now without causing big problems for you, Maryse, Heath, me and all of the kids, so it's fine. I promise you. It's all just fine. I'm ok. Really."
Mike watches her for a few moments and, not sensing any lie coming from her, gets his arms around her and hoists her up, sitting down on the bed and settling her in his lap. "I have such a fantastic wife," he says, pressing kisses against her flushed skin. "There truly aren't enough words in any language to describe it."
She giggles and huffs out a breath as his lips trail lower, his hands warm on her body. "God, Mike," she breathes out. "I love you."
"I love you too," he mouths against her and she groans, arching up into him.
-x
After an early morning of seeing Mike off to the airport, AJ spends the afternoon keeping George and Sara occupied, relieved to take them to the park and let them burn off some energy before supper. George eats his chicken and peas, Sara chewing cheerfully on mini ravioli, and after baths and a couple of stories, both kids are drifting, seeming as happy to be settled in their beds as AJ is to put them there.
She settles in on the couch with a glass of lemonade, turning the TV on to watch and wait for Mike's set aside time on Raw. She barely listens as Mike and Maryse talk up the TV show, distracted by Maryse's dress. "Damn," she mumbles, adjusting her pajama top uncomfortably. She does pay a little more attention when Riddle comes out and the match begins, just for Ciampa to come out and start attacking Riddle. AJ frowns curiously, wondering why Ciampa keeps involving himself in Miz's matches.
"Weird," she mumbles, before getting another glimpse of Maryse and her dress. "Please stop showing that," she whines, burying her face in a pillow.
-x
Wednesday comes along faster than expected and AJ leaves the kids with Taya and Morrison, thanking them for the last minute reprieve, and she spends the better part of the morning waiting for Mike's flight arrival time digging through her closet.
An hour before it lands, she looks at herself in the mirror and smirks. "That'll do," she muses, running her hands down her sides thoughtfully. "Yep, that'll do quite nicely."
She's in the perfect standing position as close as she can get to the doors to see Mike's face when he exits the airport and sees her, his eyes widening and his jaw dropping. "Whoa," he breathes out. "What- You look amazing, sweetheart."
She smirks a little, looking down at the slinky black dress she has on, with white swirls accentuating her figure, drawing the eye exactly where she wants it. "You like it, huh?"
"I love it," he says. "Best welcome home I've had in a long time."
She beams at him. "Well, this isn't all of it." She reaches out to him and he takes her hand, squeezing lightly as she draws him closer. "I know you're probably tired after a long day traveling, but I have a picnic in the car, and we can go to the park, if you want, and relax and just enjoy the whole day to ourselves."
Mike is still staring at her, unable to peel his eyes away from her. "Yeah," he breathes out. "I'd like that a lot. But oh, what about the kids?"
"They're with Morrison and Taya," AJ says. "I thought they'd like some time with their aunt and uncle, and I thought we could use some time to ourselves as well."
"Always ten steps ahead of the rest of us," Mike chuckles, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer. "I love the sound of all of that. Let's do it." He leans in and kisses her, humming into her mouth as she curls her arms around his neck.
Once they ease apart, AJ crosses the car and slides into the driver's seat, smiling over at him. "So how was your flight?"
"Oh, you know, the pilot was a little bit of a flat-hat, but..."