Quinn couldn't remember the choir room ever feeling so cold. The hoots and applause that swelled up around her barely struck her consciousness. It was as though she was floating just under the water's surface and the sound was above her instead of how it usually was in this room - surrounding her and holding her in place.

Closing her arms over her chest to ward off a shiver, she forced herself to breathe.

"You okay?" Puck asked, curling his arm over Quinn's shoulder.

Had she been able to think more clearly, she would have thanked him for keeping his voice so low. It was, of course, unnecessary with everyone's attentions on the newly-engaged couple.

Quinn nodded dumbly and with an even tone, noted, "She's getting married."

Puck inhaled through his nose and pressed his lips together, his eyes focusing on the side of Quinn's face. He thought he'd seen the last of Quinn's "steely resolve" face when they last left McKinley together. He'd hoped, at least.

His arm tightened around her and he tried to ignore the muscle that jumped in her jaw as she clenched it closed, the squint in her eyes as she stared straight ahead and the way her lips pursed as if she was using all of her energy not to let any words slip out. It a mask he knew well. She wore it nearly every day in high school - it was the one she slipped on whenever feeling was too much for her.

"Stop staring at me, Puck" she said, her voice a mere hush against the din of the room. "I'm not going to have a breakdown, okay?"

"Then stop looking like you want to murder the brides," Puck challenged.

Quinn pulled her attention away from the crowd surrounding Santana and Brittany, her eyes searching Puck's for a moment. "Did you know she was going to do this?"

"I would have told you." He dipped his head to meet her gaze. "You know me, Quinn. I would have protected you."

"I know," Quinn answered, ignoring the quiver in her chin as she breathed out the two words. She wasn't going to cry - not here, at least.

Puck pulled her tightly to his chest and kissed the top of her head, cupping the back of her head when he felt her shoulders shake.

"Hey!" Santana shouted from across the room. "You better not be trying to steal our thunder, Puckerman!"

"Double wedding!"

Santana found herself being bounced along with her newly-upgraded girlfriend - now fiance - as Brittany hopped in place excitedly. She rolled her eyes and laughed under her breath. "Nuh uh," she said. "It's our day. I'm not sharing." She pointed to Quinn and Puck warning them, "So if you think you're gonna make some kind of announcement right now, think again."

The ridiculousness of the situation gave Quinn the little bit of support she needed to keep her tears in check. Leaning out of Puck's embrace, she looked at Brittany - careful not to make eye contact with her other friend - and calmly stated, "We're not getting married, Brittany."

"We could," Puck teased. He let his brow pop up as he smirked. It wasn't the time to comfort Quinn, not with everyone watching. Trying to navigate Quinn's emotions and pushing her from hurt to angry was something he was better at, anyway. "You'd make a pretty good first wife."

Quinn rolled her eyes and slapped her friend - hard - on the shoulder. She could tell from his mischievous smile that he'd achieved whatever it was he'd been trying to do. His proud grin didn't waver even as he tried to rub away the sting she'd left as a thank you for his efforts.