Posing in front of a camera has become second nature to Brie over the years - endless photoshoots for WWE left her completely comfortable in front of a camera. Although, today feels different; she just can't get into the motion of it, and every single pose feels unnatural.
Her and Nikki are finally going to reveal their joint pregnancy to the world, using the pictures taken today. Bryan and Artem were behind the camera, watching on with huge grins. As always, Nikki was absolutely thriving under the camera's attention. But no matter what smile Brianna plasters on; no matter the pose she does; no matter what direction their photographer gives her, she just can't get it to feel right.
To be truthful, hardly any of her pregnancy has felt right, whatever 'right' even is. When she was pregnant with Birdie, she woke up everyday with the biggest grin possible; she couldn't have been happier about being a mom.. but with this little one? She loves this baby the same way she loved Birdie.. but for whatever reason, that just doesn't make her happy. Being a mom again terrifies her, and she isn't sure she'll get over that fear.
"Do you two want to take a lunch break?" The photographer asks.
After some agreeing nods, the twins walk to the corner of the room and sit down; they'd brought their own lunch, so there was no need to go out. Artem and Bryan stay talking to each other, something Nikki's grateful for - she wants to have a conversation with Brie, and it's probably best done in private.
All of Brie's small snaps, her seeming anxiety attacks.. a few days ago, when Nikki heard her crying through the front door - it's all leading to something horrible. Nikki isn't sure what the right thing to say is, but of she leaves it too late, it could all become too much to manage. If anything happened to Brie, Nicole would never forgive herself - especially if she never even tried to make sense of it.
Looking up at her sister now, Brianna looks completely fine; their hair and makeup team have done a beautiful job. But Nikki can sense that Brie's on edge, she can see it in here eyes. This whole situation was breaking her heart, why can't Brie just open up to her? Of course, she doesn't resent her for keeping quiet - she just wishes that Brie didn't feel as though she had to. After all, if Brianna was keeping her troubles away from Nikki.. it's more than likely that she's bottling it up, away from absolutely everyone. And that's never healthy.
"Brianna..?" Nikki says softly, careful not to startle her.
"Yeah?"
"Do you.. do you want to talk..? About anything? I just.. I feel like you're distancing from me? And well.. we're both pregnant. I thought that we'd be closer than ever, but you seem.. I don't know. Like you're shutting yourself away?" She opens the conversation.
Simply with the way Brie looks, Nicole can tell that she's struck a nerve. Part of her feels somewhat bad for making her upset, but if it gets her to open up, she honestly doesn't care. This is her sister, and she'll do anything to bring her back to her old, happy self.
"I'm fine." Brie finally replies bluntly.
"I know that's not true.. Brie, you're my sister, whatever's going on, you can tell me.."
"I said I'm fine! This is exactly why I distance from you, because you're so goddam nosey!" She snaps, standing up and storming into the bathroom.
Nikki takes a deep sigh. "Well that went well.." she whispers to herself.
Even though she'd be within her rights to take offence at Brie's comments, she can't find it within herself to hold it against her. If anything, her outburst only proves to Nicole just how much help Brie might need. This person Brianna's turned into isn't Nikki's sister; she's somebody entirely, and she won't stop until the Brie she loves so much is back again.
Noticing his fiancé looking upset, Artem walks over and sits opposite Nikki, in the seat Brie was just sitting in. He knew that Nicole was going to have a talk with Brie - and by the looks of it - that talk didn't go as planned. Since being with Nikki, Artem has developed a close relationship Brianna, so he definitely shares the same concerns. Plus, he knows just how inseparable the twins are; if Brie was hiding away from Nikki, of all people, then there's no doubting that something is seriously wrong.
"She'll be okay, you know..?" Artem says reassuringly, resting his hand on Nikki's leg.
"I'm not sure, Artem.. I've never seen her like this before.." she replies nervously. "We've never kept secrets from each other, this isn't Brie!"
Suddenly, Artem pulls Nikki into a tight hug; there's honestly nothing worse than seeing his fiancé sad. But even worse? There's nothing he can realistically do about it. Nikki probably won't feel better until Brie's feeling happier, and it's not really Artem's place to get involved with Brie's personal life.
"Do you know what you're going to do?" He asks, pulling back from their hug and taking her hand.
"I.. I think I'm gonna take her to see Stephanie.." Nikki reveals, clearly unsure on what she's saying.
Artem raises an eyebrow. "I thought Brie and Stephanie stopped talking..?"
Her eyes fluttering downwards, a surge of guilt surges through Nicole's body. She knows exactly why Brie and Stephanie stopped talking - because she told them to. Brianna explained that her feelings for Steph were no more than a friend crush, and Nikki has always believed that.. but regardless, they needed to distance from each other, to give Brie the space she needed to get over it. Now, Nikki has every confidence that her sister is over it. But they never seemed to get back in contact..
Despite knowing that they needed the time away from one another, Nikki had to admit that Brie's mental health has seemingly become worse since she hasn't had Stephanie in her life. Although it kills Nikki to think that Brianna would rather seek comfort in Stephanie McMahon than her own sister... it's better than the alternative, of Brie having no one at all.
Plus, after reading the text messages between the two, Nicole should've known that telling Brie to stay away from Steoh wouldn't do her any good; Stephanie was her rock at one point, and Nicole despises herself for being the one who took that away. But seeing what Brie's become.. it's shocked Nikki into realising what she has to do. If she was going to make this right, she'll have to hope that it's not too late to reunite them.
"Besides, I thought you hated Stephanie..?" Artem adds, still mildly confused.
"I don't hate her.." Nicole replies sheepishly. "But even if I did.. Brie definitely doesn't.." she sniffles.
"If you think it'll help, you know that you have my support.. Bryan on the other hand, might not be too happy.."
"Yeah well, screw what Bryan thinks." Nikki shoots, rather bluntly. "I'll talk to him about it, it'll be easier if he's on board.. but wether he likes it or not, my sister's health comes first.."
Artem smiles, he's always admired how protective of her family Nikki is; it's a quality which he knows will make her the most perfect mother.
Resting a hand on her bump, Nikki's mind begins to spin, thinking of ways she can tell Bryan of her plan. But more importantly, her mind was racing with ideas on how to tell Brianna...