Song Inspiration: Cough Syrup – Blaine [Glee Version]

One step.

Another.

The butterflies in her stomach fluttered, her nerve-endings tingled with each breath she took.

This was it. The moment that would start the rest of her life. The rest of her life with Finn. She felt the apprehension within her rise as she looked up to meet her loving fiancé's eyes.

Something wasn't right.

Unwittingly her gaze flickered to her right, in her peripheral she could see the rest of the Glee girls trailing behind her, Kurt following up at the rear. But they were one short.

Where was Quinn?

One breath.

Another.

Everything hurt. Everything, from the tips of her toes to the tips of the hairs on her head.

Pain was all she was, it was her world.

Faintly she was aware of voices, calling to her, begging her to respond. She was trying, trying so hard.

But the line between reality and her world of pain was non-existent; she was fading, fading like falling snow-flakes in the sun.

There was nothing left.

-warm brown eyes, sparkling with life and laughter-

-a wide bright smile, ivory white teeth contrasting with warm tan skin-

-a deep, belly laugh, the sweet sound causing a small lean body to shake-

-soft, sweet smelling rich chocolate brown locks, lying against smooth, soft skin-

The startling images flashed before her eyes as she struggled against the weight of her pain, bearing down upon her-

"Rachel."

The name slipped from between pale soft lips, breathed out like a reverent prayer.

Everything went black.

The thin gold band felt heavy in his palm. Like it weighed a thousand times heavier than it really did. Dark brown eyes that cut right into his heart trapped his gaze. Nervously he swallowed, the confusion and excitement in those brown orbs was palatable.

The heavy gaze of the girl walking towards him turned from him to his immediate right. He too glanced to his right, at the profile of his best friend who was too busy staring at the brown haired girl to notice.

They really did love each other, that much was obvious.

But why did it still feel so wrong?

The itching desire to speak was growing and he fought to contain, to hold it down. Realistically, what right did he have to stop them?

He could sense the apprehension of the entire wedding party, the quiet, hopeful belief that this was all a joke, that the two teen lovers would come to their senses and stop this charade before it went too far.

But Puck knew Rachel. And he knew his best friend. This was only going to end in tears. He could sense it.

And still he said nothing.

The empty tumbler felt heavy in her palm. Like it weighed a thousand times heavier than it really did. Breathing deeply, she placed it back on the shelf, her heart lightened as the glass was rested back down against the oak surface.

The clear ember liquid it might have once contained was but a bitter memory. She didn't need it. She had reclaimed her life, reclaimed herself. Green eyes twinkled as she glanced to the photos on the mantelpiece.

All she ever needed was right there, her beautiful daughter, the epitome of grace and charm, with a bright future. Yale.

She was startled out of her reverie by the ring of the telephone.

Sliding the glass door shut, she walked into the kitchen and picked up the phone from its cradle.

"Mrs Fabray?"

The tinny voice was polite, cautious.

But why did it still feel so wrong?

"Yes, this is she." Judy said hesitantly in reply.

"Mrs Fabray, your daughter Lucy has been involved in an accident-,"

The world went fuzzy around the edges. Everything was out of focus. This had to be a mistake, not her daughter, surely not? This is just an error, a fault in judgement, mistaken identity-

Her mind screamed at her to deny, to correct this poor unfortunate woman, who had called the wrong person, it had to be-

And still she said nothing.