Cuddling into Artem's side while watching a random Netflix show was normally a happy way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but Nikki has other things on her mind - things that are more important than a fictional horror.
For the past few months, Nikki's twin senses have been going off, even if sh isn't sure why. At first, she put it down to their pregnancies; after all, twins being pregnant at the same time is bound to make them feel a little more connected. But whatever this feeling is, it just can't be their babies - this feeling was negative... it makes Nicole feel uneasy, and almost alarmed. It was like Brie needed help, and it feels awful.
Sometimes, when Nikki's trying to sleep, she's kept awake by the idea of Brianna needing her. While she's lying in her bed at night, there's this rush which goes through her, and it makes her want to desperately cry,mor even sob.. but she's perfectly happy? Nicole's never been smilier, so why would she want to cry..? And this is where her twin senses play a part.. Nikki doesn't want to cry; it's that she has a sort've instinct that her sister is weeping painfully.
Once Nicole realised what these inclinations were insinuating, she began paying incredibly close attention to Brianna; she would take note of the all the little things.. how Brie's voice sounded, how much she was eating, if she was still doing the things she once did for fun.
Since being more attentive, Nikki's noticed so many changes in Brie's personality - and not good ones. Her voice was seemingly becoming more monotoned; her meal portions were becoming smaller, and she's practically given up all hobbies. But most scary of all..? Brie's panic attacks. Both Brie and Nikki suffered with them as children, but Brianna's are quite clearly resurfacing, and it was worrying Nikki terribly. But she can't help her sister when she refuses to directly say what's wrong. Hell, she won't even admit to their being a problem in the first place..
Yes, they're sisters, and they'll bicker until the sun goes down - but they adore each other, and they tell one another absolutely everything. So now that Brie isn't actively telling Nikki there's something upsetting her.. Nikki can still feel it. And it's leaving the older twin with a really annoying headache.
"Oh, please don't go in that room.." Artem says, then he flinches. "Well, I did tell her not to.." he chuckles.
When Nicole doesn't react whatsoever to the on screen stabbing, he looks down at his fiancé, checking that she's alright. Clearly, she's off in her own world - her arms were wrapped protectively around her small baby bump, and her eyes were entirely spaced out. She didn't look sad.. just distant.
"Nicole?" He says, snapping her out of her trance.
"Oh.. sorry Artem.. I just don't really want to pay attention to a screen right now.."
Artem picks up the TV remote, switching their show off; he might've been invested in the stupid killer monster, but Nikki's tone was fairly serious, so he'll happily wait until later to find out who's underneath the mask. He allows her to sit up, and he kisses her temple before taking her hand.
"I'm really worried about Brie.." she reveals.
"Why..? What has she said..?"
"That's just it.. she hasn't said anything, but I just know there's something wrong.." Nikki explains. "Every time I try and ask her about it, she just gets really snappy.. like she's hiding something from me."
This wouldn't be the first conversation Artem and Nicole have shared about Brianna; being both Nikki's sister and their next door neighbour, she naturally comes up when they're talking.. but Artem could tell this was alot more serious. Nicole wasn't just slightly concerned, she's obviously scared.
"Mommy cries a lot." A small voice says from across the room.
Turning around, the couple are stunned to see a little Birdie stood in front of them. Bryan was out for the day, but Brianna was home - she wouldn't normally let Birdie come to her Auntie's house alone. But forgetting why she's here for a moment, what the young girl actually said was both shocking and heartbreaking.
"Wh-what do you mean Bird?" Nicole asks, reaching her arms out.
Birdie toddles over to her Aunt, allowing herself to be lifted her onto her knee. "When I'm playing with daddy.. or when I go to bed. I hear mommy crying in her bedroom."
Both Artem and Nikki look towards one another with concerned eyes - Nicole's instincts were spot on. Poor Birdie.. hearing her mother crying so often must be incredibly upsetting for her. But as much concern Nicole has for Birdie, her concern for Brianna has shot through the roof. She was right about her needing help.. if only she knew why.
"Birdie, do you know why your mommy cries so much..?" Artem asks, sweetly taking the young girls hands.
She shakes her head. "I cry when I'm sad, so I think Mommy is sad too.."
Hugging her niece a little tighter, Nikki racks her brains for anything which could be making her sister cry all the time. But no matter what, she can't seem to find an answer. They're both pregnant; this should be the happiest time of their lives, with absolutely nothing bringing them down. Nikki half feels guilty.. here she is, happier than ever, while her own sister is miserable.. and she doesn't even know why. To be truthful, she also feels hurt; why on earth would Brie hide anything from her twin?
"Bird, why don't you play with A for a bit? I'll go check on your mom.." She suggests.
Artem smiles as his fiancé places Birdie into his lap. Lifting Bird up and twirling her around, the pair begin to play a dancing game while Nikki makes her way next door. If what Birdie said is anything to go by, she prepares herself to walk in on Brie sobbing. It'll break her heart to hear something like that.. but if it's true, she needs to know.
When she reaches the front door, Nikki suddenly comes to a holt. She wonders if it's her mind playing tricks on her - but it feels incredibly real - Brie's crying so uncontrollably that Nikki can hear it from out here. It doesn't even sound like she's crying, it seems as though she's.. well, in pain? Like she's wincing, in absolute agony.
The moment this gut wrenching noise hits Nicole's ears, she breaks down too. Maybe hormones played a contribution, but hearing her own sister cry so desperately hurt her so deeply; yes, she prepared herself to hear this, but not in such a brutal way. This was her flesh and blood, and she doesn't have the first clue as to why she's so upset. Of course Nikki's going to be crushed by something like that..
"Nicole..?" A voice says from behind her.
She turns around to see a concerned looking Bryan, holding a grocery bag. Without thinking, Nikki throws her arms around him and cries onto his shoulder. If she's as devastated as this, how's Bryan going to feel about everything?
"It's Brie.." Nikki weeps.
"Brie? What about her? Is she okay? Where's Birdie?" Bryan flusters, dropping the groceries and hugging his sister in law.
"Birdie's with Artem.. you need to talk to her Bryan.. She needs help.."
Helplessly, Nikki clings to Bryan, while he tries to take in what she's saying. Brie was perfectly fine when he left this morning? But he can't just dismiss what Nikki's claiming, he obviously needs to keep an extra eye on his wife.. but for now, his main focus is calming Nicole down.
Hopefully, when she's a little more together, they can talk more about whatever's wrong with Brianna..
And they can work out a plan to get her better.