As the twins pull up to their shared driveway, Nikki reluctantly glances towards her sister; the look of sheer pain across her face, her teary brown eyes seeming so god dam heartbroken.. it's difficult to witness. Seeing someone she loves so much looking so distraught is one of hardest things Nikki's been forced to endure.
Their drive home was entirely silent, besides the first few minutes where Brianna couldn't help but audibly sob. She didn't reveal to Nikki what happened between herself and Stephanie, but it wouldn't take a genius to work out that it crushed the young woman; She simply couldn't bring herself to talk about it, or she'd break down all over again. Out of fear about saying the wrong thing, her twin also kept quiet.
The image of Brianna crying uncontrollably and desperately asking to be taken away from the building is one that'll be engrained into Nicole's mind forever.. she's seen her sister cry before, and sometimes it's been painful, but this time feels near enough horrific. Brie has never been like this before, and Nikki despises herself for taking Stephanie away from her all those months ago; seeing Stephanie as a villain is one of her deepest regrets.
"Brizee.." she quietly says, cautiously reaching out a hand.
Immediately shuddering away from her sister's touch, Brie clings to her baby bump as she hunches over, beginning to sob once again.
"Oh Brie.." Nikki whimpers, starting to well up herself. "Tell me what happened.." she half pleads.
And with that plea, the events from earlier today circulate around Brianna's mind, tormenting her like some form of nightmare. Except, this is much worse - because she can never wake up from it.
"She hates me!" Brie screams out, tears streaming down her face. "She hates me and I don't even blame her.. I hate me too.."
"But.. Y-you've done nothing wrong, why on earth would you hate yourself..?"
"Because I hurt her.. I ghosted her when she needed me the most.. what kind've monster does that?" She cries.
Becoming too overwhelmed, Brianna steps out of the car and instinctively runs into her house for safety. Following closely, Nikki runs in along side her twin; her eyes are met with Bryan and Artem, sitting on the couch, watching football, with a sleeping Birdie on Artem's lap. Both men instantly notice the anguish on Brie's face, although it isn't exactly hard to miss. While Artem's face displays a look of concern and comfort, Bryan's remains expressionless - almost as if the look of terror across his wife's face means nothing to him.
"Artem. Take Birdie to our house. Please." Nikki asks, quietly but sternly.
Recognising his fiancée's authoritative tone, Artem carefully lifts the sleepy little bird up into his arms, carrying her to their neighbouring house. Judging by the look of Brianna, this would probably result in some family drama that Birdie doesn't need to be caught up in.
Bryan chuckles to himself, turning off the TV as his emotionless expression remains - it doesn't go unnoticed by either twin, but Nikki's blood especially boils at the sight. This is his wife! And she's practically breaking down in front of him, whilst carrying his child; the least he can do is seem a little concerned. Hell, Artem looked more worried than Bryan does!
"I see your meet up went exactly how I said it would.." He says smugly.
"Bryan!" Nikki scolds.
The shouting causes Brie's heart rate to continue increasing, and she keeps crying despite how much she tries to keep her composure. Today has completely broken her, and perhaps nothing could piece her back together - not without Stephanie at least - but that's proven to be a false inevitability. Being here, in her own house, just feels so uncomfortable; it's almost like it isn't her home anymore..
"I did say in advance that she'd upset you.. do you really expect me to have sympathy when I explicitly warned you that this would happen?"
"She's your wife." Nikki spits, protectively wrapping an arm around her twin. "You should be the first one to comfort her.."
"Hey, I told her not to go!" He defends himself.
"Just stop!" Brie finally explodes, her emotions spilling out.
Nikki steps back, allowing her sister to say whatever she needs to. Recently, everyone's seemingly trying to make decisions for Brie; she never wanted to retire from the ring, it's questionable that she ever wanted another child, and she definitely never wanted to stop seeing Stephanie. Thinking back, Stephanie was probably the only person who didn't try and control Brie's life.. no wonder they grew so close.
"Don't talk bad about her! You don't know the first thing about her!" Brie emotionally shouts.
"I know enough." Bryan seethes.
"No you don't!" She defends. "She treated me better than you ever did! You don't give a dam about me unless I'm making you a kid!"
Keeping silent, Bryan stands up abruptly, clenching his fists. Instantly recognising an aggressive demeanour, Nikki steps in between the married couple, squeezing Brianna's shoulder on her way. Perhaps she's made mistakes with Brianna in the past, just like Bryan has.. but she refuses to make another one, ever again. Her sister needs support, and if her husband won't offer that, she'll do it herself.
"Look, I think everyone could do with a breather.." Nicole reasons. "Brie can stay with me tonight, and we can all talk it out in the morning.."
"And what would the point of that be? My own wife thinks someone as poisonous as Stephanie McMahon treats her better than me." Bryan says angrily, storming out of the front door as his fists remain tight.
As soon as the door slams, Nikki expects to hear another whimper from Brie; loud noises seem to shake her in such a fragile state. Looking to her though, Brie simply gazes at the door. Her eyes are still puffy - but she almost seems calmer now that Bryan is gone. Maybe that's always been the case..? Each second that goes by, Nicole simply becomes more convinced that Stephanie actually does treat Brianna better than her own husband.
"I need her Nikki.." Brie weakly admits. "My Steph.. she's not poisonous.. sh-she's beautiful.."
Sighing deeply, Nicole takes Brie by the hand and looks her in the eyes, smiling softly; Brie struggles to smile back, but she quietly appreciates the comfort from her sister. Despite craving Stephanie's affection more than anything.. having Nikki on her side is really sweet.
"I'm so, so sorry for taking her away from you.." Nikki whispers.
"You didn't know how much she meant to me.."
"But if I'd have listened to you, I would've known.. I should've known."
Falling into Nicole's arms, Brie takes some deep breaths to calm herself down - she honestly feels anything but calm, but the stress can't be good for her baby - or Nikki's for that matter.
"We're going to fix this Brizee.." Nikki says, stroking her sister's back.
"How..?"
"I don't know yet.. but we will fix it... I promise."