Her stomach knotting with fear, Brie walks up to the venue Raw was being held in, with Nicole by her side. Being completely truthful, part of her wants to turn around and never come back - and if it wasn't for having Nikki encouraging her - she probably would.
Looking around the large halls, the young woman can't help but feel guilty; this is where she should've been months ago, where she should've visited Stephanie and been there for her like she promised. Hopefully, today will put that mistake to rights, but Brie is literally petrified at the thought of seeing her again. Of course, she's wanted nothing more than to spend time with her again for what feels like forever.. but she's scared at the thought of being rejected.
If Brianna is honest with herself, she knows that all of this is of her own creation.. if she'd only turned up that day, perhaps all of this turmoil could've been avoided. But that's why she's here now - to face the music and apologise. Originally, Brie was going to text Stephanie, to say she'd be coming today, but she eventually decided against it. After all, it would only give Steph an extra chance to tell her not to bother; if she's physically there, they'll have to at least talk, even if it's a difficult conversation to have.
"I'll be with Nia, okay..? Come and get me if you need to.." Nikki sweetly instructs, resting her hand on Brizee's arm.
Too overcome with nerves to say anything, Brianna nods her head silently, doing her best to keep the tears behind her eyes. She knows that Nikki wouldn't judge her for welling up - in fairness, she's the only person who seems to understand how important Stephanie is to her - but Brie also knows that it'd only make her worry even more.
Keeping her head down, Brie quietly makes her way to Stephanie's office, the route being etched into her mind. Despite having her eyes on the floor, she catches glimpses of people walking past her - most likely other superstars. It's not that she doesn't want to look up and say hello, these people are her friends, but she's arrived with an agenda, and she can't risk anything putting her off. With how fragile Brianna is, it probably won't take much to throw her entirely off balance.
Eventually, she reaches the hall with the door to Steph's office. Brianna's heart was pounding through her chest, and she felt like dashing into the toilets and throwing up, or simply leaving the building all together. If anyone saw her, they'd probably be perplexed; it must've looked incredibly odd to see a woman so anxious and apprehensive to knock on a door. Then again, being nervous to enter the CBO's office is a feeling that many superstars have become acquainted with over the years.
Brie takes a deep breath, preparing herself for every possibility that could possibly play out in the next hour. In a perfect world, she'd be welcomed back with open arms, and no questions asked.. but with the likelihood of that being close to zero, it's better to be ready for all the other responses. As long as Stephanie is a part of her life again.. Brie will be okay. Because that's all she really needs.
Before she could freak herself out of doing it, the nervous woman swiftly knocks on the door, then completely freezes as she awaits an answer. A surge of fear runs through her as the moments passing by start feeling like years.
"Come in.." a bitter-sweetly familiar voice calls out.
Hearing Stephanie's voice again sends shivers down Brie's spine. This isn't a dream, Steph really is behind that door, and they'll really be reunited in a matter of seconds. After attempts to compose herself with more deep breaths and patting down her outfits, Brianna finally musters up a little courage and pushes the door open.
Slowly, the older woman's eyes flicker from the paperwork on her desk up to Brianna, and their wide eyes instantly lock in a double state of shock.
Silence.
Suddenly, the speech Brie had stored in her mind vanished, and she becomes so emotional that talking feels unfathomable. In their shared silence, Brie takes note of Stephanie's appearance - she's clearly exhausted, and it seems as though she's lost a little weight, but to Brianna, she looks just as beautiful as always. Potentially nothing in the world could stop Stephanie from appearing perfect in Brianna's eyes.
Although this wasn't the predicted reaction, and the nerves are still rampant, the younger woman can't help but smile softly at the sight of Steph. She can't deny the fact that Stephanie simply makes her happy.. even if the circumstances are less than ideal.
"Hi.." Brie says quietly, the gentlest sparkle in her eyes. "I've missed you.."
In a split second, Stephanie's shocked eyes narrow, and her nostrils flair. Without a warning, she stands up abruptly and slams her hand on the desk.
"Get out!" She shouts.
Brie steps back, her heart feeling like someone's just stabbed her in the chest. The sweet smile on her lips dropped away, and she felt a tear roll down her face. This is exactly what she was scared of happening.. she's thought about this moment for so long, and she's feared that Stephanie would shout at her.. but thinking about it and hearing it are two different kinds of pain - the latter being much more gut wrenching.
"I mean it. Get out." Stephanie repeats.
"Steph.." Brie whispers, resting her hands on her baby bump.
"Stop! Don't say my name, don't say anything! Just get out!" She close to screams.
As Stephanie runs her fingers through her hair, she too begins welling up, silent tears falling from her eyes. She looks down, not feeling courageous enough to look Brie in the eye.
Apprehensively, Brianna walks towards Stephanie. Yes, she's falling to pieces.. but she's also determined. She can't just leave this office knowing that Steph wants her gone forever. Cautiously, she lifts up her hand and delicately wipes a tear off the older woman's cheek, looking at her with hopeful eyes; Stephanie shudders at her touch, but not in an angry way.
When Steph looks back up, the look in her eye near breaks Brie's spirit.. she's never seen anyone look so somber before.
"How could you do this to me Brie..?" she asks, but quietly this time, beginning to sob.
As Stephanie breaks down into tears, Brie's crying also becomes more forceful. All of the guilt returns, and she hates herself all over again for ghosting the most amazing woman she's ever known. The easy thing would be to blame Nicole, but Brie can't bring herself to do that - not when Nikki convinced her to come today.
"I needed you more than ever.." Stephanie weeps.
"Oh Steph.." Brie cries too, leaving her hand on the Brunette's cheek and cupping her face.
"No!" She emotionally protests, shaking Brie off her.
Stephanie slams both her hands against the desk again and paces towards the other side of the room - resting her weight against the windowsill, her back to Brianna. Honestly, she didn't have the strength to look at her.. not when it hurts so much. Looking at Brie genuinely feels like she's being betrayed again, and she can't hack it.
"Please just let me explain.." Brie pleads from across the room.
"Why should I? Hell, maybe I should explain to you!" Stephanie turns back around, shouting in an emotional frenzy. "After you decided not to show up, I went into Paul's office and caught him screwing some receptionist red handed! And rather than wanting my mother, or any of my family, the one person I wanted was you!"
Brie's remains guiltily quiet as her face becomes even more wet from crying. Paul cheated on her..? Deep down, she doesn't blame Stephanie for reacting so angrily.. in fact, she completely understands it. But that doesn't make it hurt any less; if anything, it makes everything hurt a whole lot worse.
"I missed you every day.." she manages to say, desperately wishing for even a hint of forgiveness.
"How can you say that? You missed me?! I kept calling you, texting you, everything! You're the one who blanked me! And now, you just turn up out of the blue and expect everything to be like it was?!"
Sobbing intensely, Stephanie falls back down into her office chair and hides her face in her hands. This almost feels like some kind of humiliation; her heart was only just starting to accept Brie's absence, and now she's here again, conjuring up all of the old feelings. Angry doesn't even begin to describe it..
"You know.. for the first time in years, you made me feel like I actually mattered.." Stephanie sniffles before letting out a heartbreaking chuckle. "How stupid could I be..?"
Brie's entire body tenses up, and she looks at the woman before with more sadness than she's ever experienced before. Stephanie crying so depressingly was enough to break her.. but knowing that's Steph's sadness is mostly her own fault is the worst feeling imaginable. Brianna absolutely hates Paul for betraying Steph so cruelly - but what right does she have when she's basically done the same thing?
Not knowing what to do or say, both women allow an uncomfortable amount of silence pass, filled only with whimpers and sniffles. Brie leaves her eyes firmly fixed on Stephanie, desperate for her to look up, but she never does; Steph just knows that Brie's big brown eyes would push her over the edge, if she isn't already there.
"I love you.." Brie admits tearily.
Stephanie lets out an audible whimper - that was a line she simply wasn't mentally prepared to hear. Brie can't love her.. not after all that's happened. She shakes her head, continuing to run the fingers through her hair with frustration.
"Stephanie, I love-"
"Get out!" Stephanie yells, even louder than before, gripping tightly at the strands of hair either side of her head.
With her heart being in absolute agony, Brianna chooses not to fight Stephanie's pleas - she just doesn't have the strength. Weeping uncontrollably, the younger woman turns around and practically runs out of the office, protectively clinging to her bump. Brie feels as though she's falling into another panic attack as she runs away; her breathing is incredibly irregular, and her vision was blurry from the tears.
The moment Brie leaves the room, Stephanie suddenly becomes freezing cold; despite her anger, being without Brianna's presence leaves her feeling extremely unsafe.
Standing up and stumbling towards the door, a crying Stephanie watches on as Brie strides further away from her.
"Brie, wait!" Steph calls out, but she's too choked up for even herself to hear. "Pl-please come back.. please don't leave me again.. I-I need you.." she whispers, sorrowfully pressing her forehead against the doorframe.