Disclaimer: No claim to ownership at all.
A/N: A different world.
The alarm beeped shattering the silence. A hand reached out and slapped at the top of the clock ending the ear piercing sound. The only sound in the room, breathing. Nervous, shallow breaths.
The sound of skin brushing against the cotton of the sheets almost deafening in the silence. Heartbeats almost audible.
"It's time," a quiet voice announced from the doorway. Dry, stinging, tired eyes flicked to the wooden barrier that was blocking out the world.
Shaking hands opened the curtains allowing the sunlight to brighten up the room. A deep sighing breath broke the continued silence. Eyes closed at the sound of knuckles knocking on the door. "Go away," echoed silently inside her head but she said nothing, just glanced at the door again, watching the handle. It remained still.
The shower did nothing to wash the weariness away. Hot, scalding water had no effect on the frozen emotions that were trying to bubble up to the surface. Frozen solid. Ice.
The gathering was larger than anyone had expected. She looked around at the faces, saw some tears, saw the curious gazes watching, waiting for the breakdown. She knew it wouldn't come, couldn't come, he was way stronger than that.
"Dearly Beloved," Pastor Higgins intoned, reading from his well worn bible. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of…."
She looked around again, watched everyone watching him. She was beside him, inside him as the single tear fell.
"…..Lucy Quinn Fabray," Pastor Higgins said, glancing at the beautiful, gleaming open casket that was adorned with flowers of every colour. "A life taken from us far too soon," he added, his gaze roaming the young congregation.
Puck couldn't stay. He stepped forward halting Pastor Higgins' words. He laid the single red rose on her chest, bent to kiss her cheek, then stood, his fingers gripping the edge of the casket. "I will always love you," he whispered before he turned and walked out of the church.
"I love you too," Quinn replied, inside his truck with him.
"I know you do Q," Puck nodded. He turned and glanced at the wispy, vague figure beside him. "Otherwise you wouldn't still be with me, would you?" he reasoned. "Rachel would prefer it if you weren't in our bedroom though," he added with a little laugh, then realised he had to ask. "You know you didn't manage to stop the wedding, don't you?"
Quinn's world spun into reverse. She saw everything at lightening speed and clarity. Puck with the rose. Rachel knocking on the door. The hospital with the bright lights, the beeps, the smells, the blood. The truck as it hit the side of her car. The text. *I'm marrying Rachel today, you can't stop us*. Everything went black.
"I will always love you Quinn," Puck repeated to the empty space beside him. "But I'm in love with Rachel, she's my wife, my life, you have to move on. Finn's waiting for you, in the light. He's always been waiting for you," his voice was a husky whisper, sorrow for the loss of his friend and the loss of his first love. "Go into the light Quinn, Finn's waiting for you."