"You aren't serious..? Nicole, trust me, it's a good thing that Brie hasn't talked to that woman in so long.." Bryan dismisses, flicking through his book.
Nikki's face drops - she was at least hoping for a better reaction than that.
After discovering quite how badly Brie's been suffering lately, Nikki reluctantly decided on taking her sister to Raw, so she can see Stephanie again; she knew how deeply Brie and Stephanie's bond ran, and she's honestly struggling to forgive herself for breaking that apart. Once she'd truly thought about it, Nicole realised that Brie's mental health has been on the rocks for ages, and it only got worse once Steph was gone.
To be completely honest, Nikki still isn't sure why Brianna found so much comfort in a woman she used to despise.. but regardless on the reason, Stephanie's friendship made her sister happy, and Nikki's willing to do all she can to repair what she broke. Bryan, on the other hand.. well, he's obviously not in favour. While she can understand his caution, Brie's turmoil can't be denied, and they have to be up for trying anything.
"Look.. I'm the one who told Brie to stop contacting Stephanie.. and I know you probably think I was right but-" Nikki begins.
"What do you mean think?" Bryan interrupts. "Nicole, I know that you made the right decision there.. that woman doesn't deserve to be in my wife's life.."
"She has a name, you know?" She responds, noticing how Bryan refuses to say Stephanie's name.
Bryan tuts, gazing back into his book. He truly has no interest in hearing this. Despite Brie, and now seemingly Nikki, moving on from all of Stephanie's wrongdoings - he hasn't, and potentially never will. Besides, part of him is too proud to ever admit that he's wrong about a person, and he'll refuse to entertain the idea of Stephanie being kind until the sun goes down.
"What I'm trying to say.. I really regret telling Brie to stay away.. and I want to fix it." Nikki explains.
"What's to fix? Brianna is much better off without her.. we should be celebrating that they've stopped talking."
"For God's sake Bryan, open your eyes! Brie's miserable!" She loses her patience, hunching over and resting her head in her hands, welling up slightly. "And wether you like it or not, Stephanie made her happy.."
Nicole's tolerance for Bryan was quickly wearing thin. Brie was his wife, and she wishes that he would take this more seriously. It almost feels like he's denying that Brianna's even sad, but any fool could see it; she's always hiding away in her bedroom, or having anxiety attacks, or crying.. Bryan should be the one who cares the most, but he won't even give Nikki's idea a second thought.
Stephanie did some hurtful things to Bryan, so Nicole can somewhat grasp why he's so against Brie seeing her under normal circumstance, but Brie's sadness wasn't 'normal'. When Nikki told her to stop contacting Steph, it was because she thought that Stephanie was the cause of her misery.. looking back, she was actually the only reason Brie was coping; without Steph, she was falling apart.. and Bryan needs to get his head out of the sand before it's too late.
Slightly taken aback by Nicole's aggression, Bryan sits back and sighs with defeat. "If you're so insistent, I guess I can't stop you.. but don't blame me when it goes wrong."
"When what goes wrong?" Brie's voice calls from the other side of the room.
Looking over and smiling warmly, Nikki notices how Brianna's eyes were red and puffy - she'd obviously been crying again, but she wouldn't want to draw any attention to it. Cradling her small baby bump, Brie walks over to her family and sits on the sofa with them.
"I'll leave you two to it.." Bryan says, obviously frustrated, walking away into Birdie's room.
"What's his deal..?" Brie questions. "Actually, I don't care.. Nikki, I need to apologise to you.." she says, seeming quite serious.
Nikki's face scrunches up with confusion - Brie has quite literally nothing to apologise for? Not that she knows of anyway. But at the least, the twins being alone is a good thing; it gives Nikki a chance mto mention visiting Stephanie, without Bryan's judgment. Hopefully, Brie isn't too against the idea herself..
"I didn't mean to snap at you at the photoshoot.." Brie says. "It was just a bad day, I was having morning sickness, my hormones were everywhere and I took it out on you, I'm so sorry.."
"Hey.. Brizee, it's okay, I understand the hormones thing, trust me.." Her twin chuckles, rubbing her bump. "How are you doing..?" She asks.
And with that one question, Nikki can vividly see her sister shut down; her eyes flicker downwards and she hunches her shoulders inwards, clear signs that she was going to avoid the question entirely. For months, Brie's been doing this - hiding away from comments of concern, or simply refusing to speak at times. It's terrifying to see, especially while she's carrying a little one, and it's the exact reason Nikki wants to do something about it straight away.
"Fine.." Brianna brushes off.
"Are you sure..?" Nikki pushes, only getting a nod in response. "Um.. I know this is kind've out of nowhere but.. I was thinking about going to Raw next week? I wanted to see Nia and the girls before I give birth.." She sets up. "And I wanted to know if.. if you would come with me?"
Looking up curiously, Brie instantly knows that there's more to come. If it really was just an invitation, Nikki wouldn't be making it out to be a big deal - so what's going on? Regardless, Brianna isn't sold on the idea as it is.. Raw holds quite alot of painful memories for her now, and she isn't sure about reliving them.
"I.. I'm not sure Nikki.. Just FaceTime me when you're with everyone, yeah?" Brie fakes a smile.
"Brie.. listen, I.. I really want you to come with me.." Nicole pleads. "I think that.. while I'm with Nia, you should go and see Stephanie.."
Her breath hitching and heart beginning to race, Brianna can feel herself slipping into another anxiety attack; simply hearing Nikki say Stephanie's name after all these months was enough to tip her over the edge. Why now? More questionably, why Nikki? She's the one who told her to stay away in the first place!
While seeing Stephanie again is all Brie's wanted from the moment they stopped talking, she wants that to happen within a fantasy world, not their own: a world where Stephanie would welcome her back with open arms, but what's the likelihood of that in reality? Stephanie was cruelly left waiting for someone who never turned up, only to be completely ghosted afterwards.. Brie just can't face having Stephanie, knowing that she's the one who hurt her that way.
"Hey, don't look so scared.. " Nikki comforts her.
"I can't do it.. please don't make me do it - she'll hate me!" Brie tears up.
Sighing deeply, Nicole wraps her arms around her twin, stroking her back protectively. This isn't the reaction she was hoping for, but she half expected it to a degree.
"I'm not gonna force you into anything Brizee.. But I'm your sister, I know that something is wrong with you.. I mean, look at you.." Nicole says, gripping her twin slightly tighter. "But I also know that Stephanie made you happy.. and I miss seeing you happy.."
"It's not that I don't miss her, of course I do.. I miss her everyday.." Brie whispers.
"Then why don't you want to see her..?"
"Because I don't think she'll want to see me.. she needed me that day, Nicole.. when I stopped talking to her, she needed me, and I let her down.."
Nikki begins to well up herself - seeing Brianna so vulnerable obviously has a part to play, but it was mainly regret. To an extent, Nikki caused this.. she doesn't know what Stephanie needed Brie for, but without Nicole's input, she could've been there..
"Brie, if you really don't want to go, you don't have to.. but if you miss her this much, and she's clearly important to you.. I think it's worth a shot.." Nicole pleads her case.
"I.. I don't know.. I don't want her to think I don't care about her.."
"Then tell her you care.. please, Brie.. I just want to see you smile again.."
Wiping her eyes, Brianna reluctantly nods her head in agreement - this isn't how she imagined their reunion would present itself.. but at least it's happening at all. Her head can't stop telling her to stay away, that Stephanie's a closed chapter in her life, but her heart wants nothing more than to hug her and tell her how sorry she is..
To be perfectly honest, there are so many things Brizee wants from Steph.. for too long, she's been separated from the one person who made her feel safe, and it's left her feeling completely isolated and exhausted. Deep down, she knew that Stephanie would be hurting equally as much, and she just needs to make that right. Without Stephanie, she just feels hollow.. and if Nikki will be there to hold her hand, maybe she can finally get her smile back.
"Okay.. Okay, I'll go see her.." Brianna agrees, shaking with nerves as she clings to her sister.