With Bryan and Birdie on a day trip with Nana, Artem at work and Nikki busy sat home, Brie has her own home to herself for the day. As much as she wishes she was taking the opportunity to do something productive, she's decided to dedicate this time to hiding in her bedroom and having a weep. So much emotion builds throughout her during the days - when she's alone, Brianna always takes the chance to cry it out of her system.
Rather than crying to her husband or sister, Brie would much prefer crying to herself. There's a life in her tummy, and despite already loving them, she has to face the fact that she doesn't want them. While her intentions are good, Nikki just wouldn't understand, and Bryan's way too excited to even listen. There's a reason she's always on the phone to Stephanie.. but after their last conversation, Brianna chose to leave Steph alone for the day.
Of course, Brie knows that Steph wouldn't mind her calling, but Stephanie's clearly going through a hard time herself and she doesn't want to add to that. Besides, the older woman doesn't even know Brie's pregnant yet, and she isn't up to revealing the news to anyone else just yet - her parents, siblings and extended family were too much to begin with.
Despite the many people who've been told about the pregnancy, it feels as though Brie's hasn't accepted the idea herself yet. No matter what, their family will have an extra member in nine months, but Brianna simply can't see it; no part of her mind has adjusted yet, and what of it never does? What if she's given her baby after labour and she feels as though it's not her baby?
Just the thought is making her panic intensely. Of course, she loves her baby, but that isn't something which makes her smile.
As her mind begins to race, her heart matches; suddenly, Brianna's heart was beating so ferociously that her chest was tightening and causing pain. She's only ever had a couple of anxiety attacks throughout her life - but they were in childhood - never as a grown woman. With that being said, she'll always recognise the feeling in an instant. Gradually, Brianna's breathing was becoming irregular, the pain in her chest making it much harder to breath.
In an attempt to calm herself down, Brie emerges from underneath her duvet and sits upwards; she tries counting to ten slowly, but her mind is too jumbled to count at any steady pace. It must've only beens seconds, but Brianna's next few panicked breaths seemed to last hours - it felt as though she was fighting to breathe underwater.
Acting by instinct, the scared young woman reaches for her phone and calls the first contact her fingers landed upon.
Before anyone could answer, Brie's head becomes dizzy from the lack of steady oxygen; no matter how hard she tries to concentrate on listening to the phone, she couldn't focus on anything but the overwhelming anxiety rush. Still under panic's spell, Brianna's eyes roll to the back of her head, and she slumps back onto the bed.
"Brizee! Brie!" She hears, lazily opening her eyes to see her sister looking incredibly concerning.
Nicole's sitting over her twin, shaking her in attempts to wake her up. Thank God she only lives next door.
"What happened..?" Brie asks, slowly sitting upwards, her heart still beating swiftly.
"You called me.. you didn't say anything, you were just breathing really loudly.. I think you might've passed out.." she answers, taking Brie's hand. "It's probably a panic attack.."
Still in a hazed and confused state, Brie tries to stand up, but her legs are too weak to support her weight. Thankfully, Nicole keeps her on the bed, not needing much strength to do so. To be honest, even Brie didn't know where she was going, she just wanted to get out; she loves her sister but Nikki doesn't understand quite how petrified she is, and probably wouldn't understand why either. There's only one person she wants right now, the one woman who knew how to make her feel safe.
"Stephanie!" Brie cries out, her emotions spilling out.
"Steph..? Wha-what about her..?" Nikki asks, then her eyes suddenly flash with anger. "Has Stephanie said something? Has she upset you?!"
"No.. Stephanie, I want Stephanie.." Brianna keeps crying, completely breaking down in her twin's arms.
Nicole holds her sister tightly; she might not be the woman she's crying desperately for, but she'll have to do. If Nikki hadn't read those texts, she'd be incredibly confused by this, but all she actually feels is pure guilt. Brie was obviously going through turmoil, and for whatever reason, she was asking for Stephanie McMahon as opposed to her own family.. Nicole just feels crushed that she can't be what Brie needs.
"Stephanie wouldn't make me do this.. she wouldn't make me have a baby, she wouldn't make me pretend.." Brianna weeps, not quite realising what she's giving away.
Tears fall down Brie's cheeks as she buries her head into her sister's neck, weakly grabbing onto Nicole's arms. She's in too much of a state to comprehend that she's basically revealed to Nikki how she truly feels about a second child. Right now, there are God knows how many emotions running through her, and she needed to get them out, wether it be for better or worse. Crying on her own in an empty room can only go so far it seems..
Although she wishes she hadn't blurted it out, Brianna genuinely does believe that Stephanie would've noticed the signs.. granted, she never explicitly told Bryan 'no' to a new child, but she never jumped for joy either. Maybe Stephanie would've noticed that? No, she definitely would've - Steph could read Brie like a book, it's one of the little things she's completely fallen for.. and there are so many of those things which she's found within that one, beautiful, woman..
"How long have you been thinking that way, Brizee..?" Nikki asks, stroking her twin's back comfortingly.
"I.. I'm not sure when it happened.. I-I think I started having feelings for her not long after we met for coffee.. She just makes me feel safe, and secure, and-"
"Wait a minute, I meant how long you've been thinking about your baby that way?" Nicole interrupts. Her eyes widen when she realises what Brie's implying. "You have feelings for Stephanie McMahon?!"
Standing up abruptly, Nikki runs her hands through her hair, mumbling under her breath; does Brianna really have feelings for Stephanie? She was only just beginning to wrap her head around them being friends, and now Brie was seeing her as something more? But now the idea is in her mind.. she can almost see it. Whenever Brie talks about Steph, her eyes light up, like there's no one else she'd rather talk about; when Bryan asked they didn't see one another anymore, Brie looked almost as crushed as she does now.
Brie watches her sister pace to and from either side of the bedroom with frightened eyes. She didn't mean to admit her feelings - hell, she wasn't even sure they were real until she said it out loud.. but now it's out there, Brianna was coming to the realisation of how true it is. Stephanie really does cause her heart to feel warmer; she simply makes Brie happy and.. well, Stephanie feels like home. But all Brie can feel is disgust, all of it directed towards herself... because she's having these feelings, all whilst wearing someone else's wedding ring.
"I can't believe you.. Brie, you're married! You're pregnant with his baby!" Nikki shouts, tearing up herself.
"I'm sorry! I wish I didn't have these feelings!"'she responds, curling her feet up on the bed.
"You know I love you Brianna, of course I do but.. God, you've put me in such a fucked up position! Bryan's gonna flip!"
"No.. No, Nicole, please don't tell Bryan.." Brie begs.
She can't bare the thought of Bryan finding out - she's pregnant, this could ruin their marriage and the what would happen to their baby? Born into a family with such a complicated scenario against them from day one? Bryan might not be the knight in shining armour that Brie's always dreamed of; they might argue; they might want different things out of life.. but he's a good man. He's the man she promised to love no matter what, and he definitely doesn't deserve this.
"Brie, if I found out that Artem had feelings for someone else, and you knew about it, then kept it secret.. you know I'd never talk to you again.."
Brianna stands up, then strides to her sister's side, grabbing her hands. She knew that Nikki was right - if she discovered that Artem had eyes for someone else - the first thing she'd do is tell Nicole.. but this is different somehow. This wouldn't just be wrecking a marriage, this is potentially wrecking the life of a young girl and an unborn baby. Perhaps Brie deserves the punishment.. but the children certainly don't.
"Please don't tell him, Nicole.." Brie says. "They aren't even real feelings! It's just one of those stupid friend crushes that anyone can get.." she downplays the severity.
"Brie.. you're on the phone to her all the time.."
"I'm keeping it under control though! I'm doing something about it.. I.. I'm not seeing her again! I'll stop phoning her, I'll stop contact with her all together, just please don't say anything to Bryan!" She pleads emotionally.
The last thing Brie wants is the idea of not having Stephanie in her life anymore.. but despite how amazing she is, it's just a fact that Brianna's life would be simpler if she'd never agreed to that coffee date. Perhaps one day she'd get used to not having her around..? After all, maybe it's better that she learns to lean on her family as opposed to Stephanie..?
Who is she kidding? Brianna's heart was going to break without Stephanie.. but she isn't choosing Bryan over Steph - she's choosing her daughter, her unborn child, and the rest of her family.. no matter how much it hurts her, they have to come first.
".. I-if you promise you'll cut off all contact with Stephanie, I won't say a word.." Nicole offers, a single tear falling down her face.
Brianna gulps, holding back the loud sobs she can feel building up. "I... I promise."