Walking Fragile Lines

Fighting's All We've Got

"They're with my folks", he told her simply.

"Why?", Liv raised her eyebrow at him. Brian sighed, slapping his hands against his upper thighs as he stood up and approached her.

"Cos you and I are going out tonight", he told her as-a-matter-of-factly.

"We are?", Liv questioned. Brian nodded. Liv sighed as she tied her hair back into a messy bun. "I don't know if I feel like it Brian", she told him honestly.

"C'mon", he protested, taking her hands within his as he sighed once more. "I - I know you've been real pissed with me a lot lately but - but I thought this would do us some good", he told her. Liv gave a breathy chuckle as she shook her head.

"Brian, it's not that, I just - I really don't feel up to it", she tried to explain.

"Please Liv? The guys are gonna be there, but so are Bessy and the girls! It'll be fun", he fought. Liv knew there was no way of getting out of this, and maybe it would do them some good. Maybe it would her some good.

After reluctantly throwing on a simple black dress and putting on a little makeup, Liv and Brian headed out to the club where their friends were already waiting. Brian gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before heading over to the bar where Joe, Murr and Sal were waiting to order drinks when Bessy spotted her from their booth and called her over.

"I didn't think you were coming!", Bessy squealed excitedly as she hugged her friend.

"Neither did I", Liv chuckled as she turned to hug Melyssa and Francesca.

"What are you drinking? Next rounds on me", Melyssa smiled as she got up from her seat.

"Just a water. I'm not feeling so great", Liv told her. She was grateful that Melyssa didn't probe any further as she made her way over to the bar, but of course Bessy had to fuss.

"Are you okay?", she asked.

"Yeah, think I'm just a little stressed", Liv admitted.

"Well, I'm glad you came out tonight", Bessy smiled warmly as she placed a caring hand on her knee. "Maybe we can help you de-stress", she grinned. Liv nodded as she smiled warmly at her best friend before taking the glass of water Melyssa had offered her upon her return.

A couple of hours passed by and despite having a nice time with her girlfriends, Liv still felt dreadful and Brian hadn't actually said two words to her since they got to the club. The guys had been stood at the bar the entire time, with the exception of Sal coming over occasionally to say hi, check that everyone was okay and explain that they didn't wanna bore them with work stuff.

"Honestly, who comes to a club for a business meeting?", Francesca joked as she rolled her eyes.

"You know what they're like - once they get an idea in their heads there's no stopping them", Melyssa chuckled. The girls continued chuckling over the guys whilst Liv sat silently frustrated. She wasn't mad about spending time with the girls, but she was mad that Brian had made her go out under false pretenses that they would be spending time together too. Without a word, she suddenly stormed towards the bar to order herself something alcoholic, hoping it would calm her down a little as she ordered and downed her Jameson in one shot upon being served it, perching herself upon a barstool as she ordered another three drinks and drank them in the same fashion.

"Liv? Is everything okay?", Bessy approached her as she furrowed her brow in concern. Liv lifted a finger up at the bartender, signalling that she wanted one more drink as she turned face Bessy.

"Y'know how he got me here tonight? Said it would do us some good", she scoffed as she took her seventh drink. "Sal comes over to apologise and make sure everyone's okay, Mel keeps blowing kisses to Murray, and don't think I don't know that you've been texting Joe back and forth - and what do I get? Nothing", she spat before downing her drink. "Tells me he cares and that this is supposed to be for us", she continued as she scoffed. But then Liv took a moment and truly felt the ache she had in her chest. The ache that always seemed to be there these days, no matter what she did. "He hasn't even looked at me Bess", her voice broke as she spoke. Bessy gently rubbed her friends back, clearly unsure of what to say but wanting to do something to comfort her. But Liv had had enough as she swallowed the lump that had begun to form in her throat. She jumped down off of her bar stool and made a beeline for Brian, his distant laughter with the guys only fueling her rage.

"Hey babe - Everything okay?", he asked as she approached them.

"Can I have a word?", she asked sternly. Brian nodded, raising his eyebrow suspiciously before following Liv to a nearby corner. "What was this?", she immediately asked.

"What do you mean?", he asked in return. Liv scoffed as she shook her head.

"You really want me to believe that you brought me here so it would do us some good? We haven't even shared eye contact tonight Brian!", she raised her voice at him.

"What? Liv, I'm sorry! We were just about to come over, we just - we just got talking about the show and-"

"Don't give me that bullshit! You brought me here so you could make it look like you were including me! Or - or that you were trying or something. Using my friends as some sort of distraction so you can ignore me all night!", she fought back.

"Liv, you're being ridiculous", Brian said, his own tone sounding a little aggravated.

"Am I, Brian? Am I really?", she chuckled sarcastically. "I didn't even wanna come here tonight - I told you that! But y'know why I did? Because I thought we'd at least get to spend some sort of time together", she admitted.

"Do you even wanna be with me anymore?", he suddenly asked. Liv was taken aback by his question. She couldn't believe he had the audacity to ask such a thing when she had constantly fought for them and their marriage and she had even told him she was terrified of losing him. Heck, she had literally just explained that she was angry because she wanted to spend time with him!

"I don't fucking believe you", she said in almost a whisper before heading towards the exit.

"Liv? Liv! Where the hell are you going!?", he called after her.

"Don't worry about it!", she called back as she continued outside. Liv felt like she couldn't breathe as the cold air hit her, tears streaming down her face thick and fast as she propped herself up against the wall. She suddenly felt an arm around her shoulders, flinching at first when she thought it was Brian, but relieved to see that it was Bessy as she collapsed into her arms.

"C'mon. Let's get you out of here", Bessy spoke softly as she hailed a cab.

Bessy took Liv back to her place, wrapping her up in a blanket and making her a cup of coffee as she sat cross legged on the couch. Her eyes felt heavy and sore as she replayed the fight in her head.

"I didn't know things had gotten this bad", Bessy finally spoke. Liv sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"I didn't mean to make a scene", she said quietly, taking a sip of her coffee. "I just - I don't know who we are anymore!", she admitted. "These days we just constantly fight and when we're not fighting it's probably because the kids are around or we're at work", she continued. Bessy looked at her sadly as she drank her own coffee, allowing her to continue. "I love him so much Bessy", Liv told her, her heart aching in her chest as she thought about the possibility of losing him and what they had once had. Bessy quickly shuffled up to her side, placing her hand on her lap as she sighed.

"If you love him? Then you've gotta keep fighting! Because - I know he loves you too Liv. And you know that too", she told her. "Stay here for tonight and then tomorrow? Go home and talk. Please", Bessy encouraged her, "I hate seeing you so cut up like this and Q's probably back home right now feeling just as terrible as you". Liv smiled sadly at her friend, patting the top of her hand gently as she sighed. Bessy was right; she had to keep fighting. Even if it felt like she was the only one in the ring.