Fairy Tale Ending

by She's a Star

Disclaimer: Moulin Rouge belongs to Bazzie :) *gets oddly reminded of My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Marilyn Monroe for some reason...*

Author's Note: La dee da. I was watching Moulin last night, and at the part where Christian does the whole "She doesn't love you!" thing, I saw how the Duke and Satine kind of...looked at each other, and it interested me. This didn't turn out quite as I'd planned it, but ah well. I don't even bother attempting to order my brain around.

* * *

"Because she DOESN'T LOVE YOU!!!"

I hadn't really believed it, not until then. Yes, that whore with the heavily-lined eyes had made some little comment about the courtesan choosing the writer, but she'd always been jealous of my diamond. That could be the answer, the reason...it just couldn't be true.

She loved me...

"H...him," the writer corrected himself, sounding positively terrified. "She doesn't love...she doesn't love him."

My gaze flies to her instantly, and I find her studying the writer with numbed disbelief.

That glance confirmed my worst fears.

Everything had been a lie.

She'd never loved me at all.

Of course she never loved you, you fool, a voice in the back of my head spat at me. Look at her, she's so beautiful. A creature that beautiful would never look twice at you.

And oh, she'd drawn me in with her charms...made me believe that perhaps she could care for me...

It was a lie.

Her eyes left the writer at once and locked with mine, silently confirming everything.

I love him, her eyes said. I love him and I'm finally happy. Please, just let us be happy.

In that gaze, I felt so many of her feelings aching in my own heart. Oh, she'd always been trapped here when she'd wanted nothing more than to fly away. She'd been forced to always be who people thought she was rather than who she was inside.

Oh, I knew. I'd been there once or twice myself.

I'd written the book.

They all thought me to be naive, I knew that much. They thought I knew nothing of how Satine really was, but even I could tell. I do notice more than I let on, but why show it? They're all so set on having a stupid duke, a man they can twist around their little fingers with ease. Who am I to tell them they can't? I may as well fulfill their little fantasy.

Yes, Satine, you and I are more alike than you think.

....

I wanted her to be happy.

I know most consider me a selfish man, and in all honesty, I ususally am. But the vile creature had crept her way into my heart, and I wanted nothing more than what was best for her.

She still stared at me, sapphire eyes boring into my own.

I wanted to hate her for what she'd done to me. I wanted to cause her pain. And yet, at the same time, I yearned to let her stay with the writer...to live happily ever after, to ride off into the sunset on a great big white horse.

But I had never granted anyone happiness without receiving anything in return, and I knew I couldn't start. Surely everyone would lose respect for the big scary duke if he let his lead actress run off with the writer.

I wanted to give her her fairy tale ending, I almost yearned to.

But it simply wasn't possible.

Sighing inwardly, I make my tone even and respond lightly.

"Now I see."