Nini laughed as she walked away from the Duke. 'You can have him,' my mind
whispered, looking away from the Duke's scowl, and into the eyes of the
Argentinean. I really did love this play, everything about it, every
aspect. It was OUR story, after all, me and my sitar player's.
"I will love you!" I sand out to the Argentinean, trying to imagine Christian's face instead of this dark, bearded one. From the corner of my eye I saw him, with that big adorable grin on his face. "Until my dying day!"
At that moment where we all breathed as one, became one, felt out hearts as one, I knew we had gold. I knew that this was the best work I had ever been a part of – ever felt before. And starting tomorrow, our story would be told. That way, I can always be with you, Christian…
My mind was all wrapped up in my love, but the Duke's words brought me out of my trance.
"I don't like this ending."
I let go of the Argentinean's hands and crossed my arms. 'And WHY not?' I demanded, hating him with every fiber of my being. He wouldn't know a good play if it bit him in the…
"Don't like the ending, my dear Duke?" Harold asked. I knew he disapproved of my relationship with Christian, but he did feel the play was a hit. He could almost feel the money pile up when he had first heard of the story plan.
The duke stood. "Why would the courtesan choose a penniless sitar player over the maharaja, who is offering a lifetime of security? That's real love," he snapped. My heart almost stopped as I realized… he knows. But I pulled my face into its normal unemotional state. His eyes darted over toward Christian, and then toward me. "Once the sitar player has satisfied his lust, he will leave the courtesan with nothing. I suggest that in the end, the courtesan chooses the maharaja."
"B-But, sorry!" Toulouse exclaimed, coming down the stairs. "Sorry, but that ending does not uphold the bohemian ideals of trust, beauty, freedom-"
"I don't care about your ridiculous dogma!" the Duke snapped, his face turning red, his messy straw-colored hair flopping into his face. "Why shouldn't the courtesan choose the maharaja?"
"Because she doesn't love you!" After the words escaped Christian's lips, I knew he hadn't meant to say them. Everyone was looking toward him. It was all over – everyone knew. Christian took a deep breath and tried to shake off the many pairs of eyes on him. "H-Him. Sh-She doesn't love h- She doesn't love him."
"Oh, I see," the Duke whispered, looking at Christian, and then back at me. I did my best to not look at the man I loved, for an answer of what to do. I raised my chin, hoping I looked like I was clueless to what the writer was talking about.
"Monsieur Zidler, this ending WILL be rewritten, with the courtesan choosing the maharaja," the Duke snapped. "And without the lovers' secret song. It will be rehearsed in the morning, ready for the opening tomorrow night."
Harold's usual smile faded, watching his money blow away in the breeze. "M- My dear Duke, th-that will be quite impossible."
"Harold!" I said, feeling all eyes on me. I tried to keep my voice straight as I waved my hand at Harold. "Oh! The poor Duke is being treated APPALINGLY." I started down the stairs slowly and waved my hand again toward Christian. "These silly writers let their imaginations run away with them." Damn you Diamond… She moved her hips with every step and looked the Duke straight in the eye and her voice changed to that low, seductive purr. "Now, why don't you and I have a little supper, and then after words… we can let Monsieur Zidler know how we prefer the story to end." I raised my eyebrows. "Hmm?"
He looked past me at Christian and then back at me and nodded. I didn't even want to think what the Duke would do if I couldn't work my magic, how his jealousy would drive him mad.
Why did I say it? 'She doesn't love you!' Oh God… I rested my arm on the wall, my head in the crook. It's not supposed to be like this. The magical sitar gives the game away… it was written in the script.
Oh hell, Christian. This is life, not some play.
But if so, why does the maharaja know?
I had put me to death by killing our love. Our love, our sweet love, was the only thing keeping me alive, keeping me from going crazy in this place. I had just killed myself.
"I am falling," I sing quietly, the sad words suddenly familiar to me. "I am fading. I have lost it all."
"Thank you Elizabeth," I hear her say, followed by footsteps down the short flight of stairs. But her voice… it's breathless, sad…
"I don't want you to sleep with him," the words fall from my tongue. Satine turns to me with a startle and sighs.
"He could destroy everything," she whispered. "I…"
Two dancers walk by, laughing, talking. Having no care in the world. I step back into the shadows and she follows my action.
"It's for us."
I shake my head. You can't be his. It's not the way it's supposed to be…
She sighs, her eyes looking lost. "You promised…" She puts her cheek against mine, whispering, "You promised to me you wouldn't be jealous. You…"
She lifts her head and fights with words to say. I had always been the strong one, telling her things would end out fine, but I needed her to be the strength. "It will be alright," she whispered, taking my cheeks between her hands. I shake my head. "Yes, it will." She looks over her shoulder. "He's waiting," she said, breathlessly, turning.
I grab her arm. "No."
I can barely look at her. Any second now, I'll wake up beside her in my garret. Please, don't leave me. Don't leave me all alone…
Coconuts and flowers wash over me, and soft hair on my skin. "Come… what may," she sings into my ear.
I look at her. No, I'll never be alone. "Come what may…" I don't even want to think about what will happen to her in less than an hour, who will be this close to her… I force myself to take a deep breath and step back into the shadows.
Christian, I do love you. I'll love you until the end of time. Come what may, I will…
I stare off into space as Marie fixes my hair and her helper, Elizabeth, lays out my dress. The room was silent, thank you God. I didn't want to talk, didn't want to think, didn't want time to continue ticking. I can't do it. I can't sleep with the Duke… again.
I felt a tear start to form in my eye as I glanced at the mirror. I turned away, hating what stared back at me. If only it showed back what I was inside – scared, small, weak. No one would want me then, if I wore my ugliness on my sleeve for all the world to see.
I see the most beautiful face in front of my eyes and I weakly smile. "Come… what… may…" I sing under my breath, holding true to my promise forever.
She had gone to the tower to save us all. And for our part… we could do nothing but wait.
Toulouse offered me a drink, but I shook my head. I couldn't accept it. I couldn't make my problems disappear that easily. Satine…
Nini straddled her legs over my lap and roughly took my head between her hands. "Don't worry Shakespeare," she teased. I glared at her. "You'll get your ending, once the Duke gets HIS end… in."
I pushed her off me with all the strength I had. She fell to the floor, and then sprung up, pouncing at me. But the Argentinean grabbed her arms.
"You keep yer hands off me," she yelled at me, but like I care what she has to say to me.
The Argentinean kissed her shoulders and I wondered how he could keep a straight face doing that. He stepped in front of her, coming to me. "Never fall in love with a woman who sells herself," he said softly, but his face showed no kindness. What did he know about love? Nothing. "It always ends BAD!" he roared.
I looked away. I know our love is forbidden, but he makes it sound like an obsession, an infatuation, nothing. How wrong they all are.
"We have a dance," the Argentinean says, going down the stairs to the ballroom. "In the brothels of Buenos Aries." His shoes made a loud clicking on the hardwood floor. "It tells the story of a prostitute."
He raised his hands to Nini, and around the room the dancers whooped and hollered. I glared at the Argentinean, wondering what he was getting at. Nini cackled as she went down the stairs and struck a pose.
"And a man, who falls in love…" he continues, "…with her."
With a loud note on a violin, they started to dance, circling each other.
"First there is desire," the Argentinean said, his hands on Nini's waist and cheek.
"Then… passion!" His hands slid down her legs as she reached her hand to a male dancer. The Argentinean grabbed her hand and yelled, "Then… suspicion! Jealousy!" He took her hands and pushed her back. "When love is for the highest bidder, there is no trust. Without trust, there is no love. Jealousy!" He threw Nini aside and she fell into the male dancer's arms. "Yes, the jealousy will drive you… MAD!"
"Roxanne!" he sang, Nini dancing with her dancer. "You don't have to put on that red light. Walk the streets for money. You don't care if it's wrong or if it is right." Nini left her dancer to be with the others. "Roxanne! You don't have to wear that dress tonight. Roxanne, you don't have to sell your body to the night."
I turned away. I can't stand this. All this pain, all this anger… "His eyes upon your face. His hand upon your hand. His lips caress your skin. It's more than I can stand!" I sing out loud, pushing my fists into my coat pocket and heading for the door. Maybe some fresh air will clear my head.
"Roxanne!" the Argentinean sings out.
"Why does my heart cry?" I sing, wondering to myself as I walked past the other dancers doing the tango toward the stairs. "Feelings I can't fight. You're free to leave me, but just don't deceive me and please, believe me when I say I love you!"
I walk into the street, my shoes in the freshly fallen snow. I look toward the sky, and I see the Gothic tower. And there she is, my beautiful Satine, standing next to the window with the Duke's head against her neck.
Every ounce of me wanted to march up there and kill him. My arms tensed and I stood there, frozen, looking into her face.
The wind blew softly and sang a message carried from her lips. "Come… what… may. I will love you, until my dying… day."
I could have died from the pain of looking away from her alone and somehow built up the strength of walking down the street.
My footsteps slowed as I reached the top of the stairs. Oh God, I can't be there yet. I can't be. It's impossible!
But my feet have no where else to go but through that curtain. I take a deep breath. Christian, it's for us. Our story will not end – not by him, not by anyone.
I take another deep breath and push the curtain aside, holding my chin high. He stopped from pacing around the room, wearing a red velvet robe over his suit and a cup of wine in his hand.
"My dear Duke," I breathed, taking off the veil from my eyes. "I hope I have not kept you waiting."
He dragged a breath in, his lip quivering which made his moustache bounce. I knew he would like the dress, knew anyone with eyes would like the dress.
"M-my dear, I have something I must talk with you about," he whispers.
I wonder over toward the fireplace, knowing very well what he needed to talk about. I had practiced what I was going to say, and hated every word. "The boy has a ridiculous obsession with me. I mean, I indulge his fantasy because he's talented. We need him… but only until tomorrow night." I remove my glove, a simple action that bared more skin.
"And… me?" he asks.
Diamond runs her tongue across her teeth. "Why don't I show you after supper, my dear?" I cock my head and lean into him. I pull on his shirt collar and bring him closer to me and kiss him with my eyes open. I pull away and smile at him as he leads me to my chair, pulling it out and pushing it in as I sit. I whisper my thanks while he heads to the other end of the table, so far away from me. Thank you God!
We go through supper, and I don't even know what I eat. I just stick my fork into whatever is on my plate and rise it to my lips, watching the Duke through my eyelashes. We talk about nothing in particular – we used to talk about the production, but I suppose that subject will have to come up later. When we're done with supper, the waiters carry away our plates.
I try to keep my smile unwavering as the Duke rises from his chair and walks toward me. He comes up behind me and runs his arms across mine and I try not to shiver from the cold. He kisses my shoulder.
"You know, when this production succeeds, you will no longer be a can-can dancer… but an actress," he says. Is it really my dream anymore that he's offering for me? "I will make you… a star."
He takes my hand and I stand, and I see one of the waiters there with a box. He opens it and inside is a necklace with diamonds galore. Looping, crossing, dangling diamonds all draped over my neck.
"Accept it as I gift from this maharaja to his courtesan."
I don't care about the diamonds. Nothing he gives me makes me happy. But the story… "Oh, And-and the ending?"
The Duke pauses for a bit and then says, "Let Zidler keep his fairy tail ending."
My eyes close and I sigh. You hear that Christian? We WILL live on. I turn to the Duke, so happy, not even caring if it is the maharaja I'm with and not the sitar player and I kiss him softly, falling deeper and deeper in my act. No doubt he's totally convinced.
I lead him over toward the window. "The view is beautiful, don't you think?"
He growls low in his throat as he throws his arms around me. I'm almost taken off balance, holding onto the windowpane to keep from tumbling out the window. His lips trail down my arms, up to my neck, across my shoulders…
I look down, staring at the snow and see… Christian… down there. Suddenly all my fears are gone and I sing quietly, "Come… what… may. I will love you, until my dying… day."
I can feel his eyes staring into me, and then he looks away, continuing down the street. And I feel him, feel his warmth, feel his sorrow. "No," I whisper.
"No?" the Duke asks, and I realize I had just said it out loud. I… I can't say anything. I can't fix it. I don't want to. I want to be with Christian, and not with you a second longer. The Duke glances out the window and sees Christian on the pavement. "Oh, I see. It's our very own penniless sitar player."
I go away from the window, shaking from head to toe. I have to recover, have to fix this. "My dear D-"
"Silence!" he roars, holding my wrists and pushing me to the floor. "You made me believe that you loved me."
"No…" I whisper. His grip on my wrists is so tight I think my bones are going to pop.
He drags me to my feet, his eyes fell of stern hatred. What is he going to do?
I don't want to find out and I run, to the table, around the corner, but he cuts me off. I run to the side but I can't run in heels and he grabs he again, sprawling me to the floor. I'm frozen as he circles me. His hands touch my neck and I begin to cry. Please don't kill me… please don't kill me… He yanks off the necklace and throws it to the ground and stands me up again.
His hands tear at my dress and it rips off my body, and I'm left with only my corset on. I cover my eyes with my hands as he kisses my shoulders roughly. I throw my head in the air. "No!" I scream.
He throws me on the bed. No, no, please…
And suddenly from the darkness there is a flash of light and the Duke falls to the floor. I look around, and slowly Chocolate steps out of the shadows. He helps me up and I fall into his arms, crying, so thankful.
I stare at my wall, tapping my fingers on the wood, glancing at the tower, and back to my wall with a snap. No, don't think about it. It… will… be… all right.
Damnit, what was I thinking. I close my eyes and rest my head on my fist. How can this ever be all right? She was with him… she was his.
The door bursts open and there is Satine, in a black corset, her hair scattered everywhere, tears running down her cheeks. Damnit, what did that bastard do to you?
She runs into my arms and I hold her cold body as close as I can to mine.
She sniffs. "I couldn't. I couldn't go through with it." She lifts her head, her words so fast it's hard to understand. "I saw you there and I-I felt differently and I couldn't pretend." She threw my hands off of her. "And the Duke… he saw and he…" She put her hand to her eyes again, and I gathered her in my arms. "Christian I love you…" she cried.
"It's ok," I whispered, not knowing what else to say.
"I couldn't deal with it. I didn't want to pretend anymore. I didn't want to lie I don't-" she lifted her head and touched my cheek, dragging in a breath. "And he knows. He knows and he saw you…"
"That's all right," I assure her, an idea suddenly struck with an idea. "You don't have to pretend anymore. We're leave." She becomes quiet. "We'll leave tonight."
"Leave?" she says under her breath. "Wh- The show? Wh-"
I touch her cheeks, her face looking so cluelessly adorable. "I don't care. I don't care about the show. We have each other, that's all that matters."
She nods, a smile coming over her tear-soaked face. "Yes, as long as we have each other."
I smile and kiss her. Nothing mattered as much as she did. Scrap the play out the window, and what did you get? You're real love story played out in your heart forever with her by your side.
I look toward the door and see Chocolate. Thank God he was there to save her. I walk toward him and shake his hand. "Chocolate, take Miss. Satine to her dressing room and get the tings she needs. No one must see you, do you understand?"
He nods. "I understand."
I go to Satine and give her my coat to put on. "Now darling, you go and pack, and I'll be waiting."
She giggles as she slips the coat on and kisses me, so sweet. Our life will be so different from now on. No maharaja's, no Zidler; nothing but you and me, forever.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Disclaimer: I do not own Moulin Rouge, not even Christian. ::sigh::
Author's Note: Ok… wow, that took a while to write. I hope you all liked it! I have about two more chapters planned out, so be waiting for them soon! And there will be a sequel (if I get around to writing it). Alright, but to stay with the present, um… I don't have anything else to write. I just hope you all really like it. I love you all!
SONGS USED:
'Duvet' by Boa
'Come What May' written by David Baerwald (thanks Isabella!)
'El Tango de Roxanne' originally sung by Sting, but now it's the Argentinean and Christian swoon!
"I will love you!" I sand out to the Argentinean, trying to imagine Christian's face instead of this dark, bearded one. From the corner of my eye I saw him, with that big adorable grin on his face. "Until my dying day!"
At that moment where we all breathed as one, became one, felt out hearts as one, I knew we had gold. I knew that this was the best work I had ever been a part of – ever felt before. And starting tomorrow, our story would be told. That way, I can always be with you, Christian…
My mind was all wrapped up in my love, but the Duke's words brought me out of my trance.
"I don't like this ending."
I let go of the Argentinean's hands and crossed my arms. 'And WHY not?' I demanded, hating him with every fiber of my being. He wouldn't know a good play if it bit him in the…
"Don't like the ending, my dear Duke?" Harold asked. I knew he disapproved of my relationship with Christian, but he did feel the play was a hit. He could almost feel the money pile up when he had first heard of the story plan.
The duke stood. "Why would the courtesan choose a penniless sitar player over the maharaja, who is offering a lifetime of security? That's real love," he snapped. My heart almost stopped as I realized… he knows. But I pulled my face into its normal unemotional state. His eyes darted over toward Christian, and then toward me. "Once the sitar player has satisfied his lust, he will leave the courtesan with nothing. I suggest that in the end, the courtesan chooses the maharaja."
"B-But, sorry!" Toulouse exclaimed, coming down the stairs. "Sorry, but that ending does not uphold the bohemian ideals of trust, beauty, freedom-"
"I don't care about your ridiculous dogma!" the Duke snapped, his face turning red, his messy straw-colored hair flopping into his face. "Why shouldn't the courtesan choose the maharaja?"
"Because she doesn't love you!" After the words escaped Christian's lips, I knew he hadn't meant to say them. Everyone was looking toward him. It was all over – everyone knew. Christian took a deep breath and tried to shake off the many pairs of eyes on him. "H-Him. Sh-She doesn't love h- She doesn't love him."
"Oh, I see," the Duke whispered, looking at Christian, and then back at me. I did my best to not look at the man I loved, for an answer of what to do. I raised my chin, hoping I looked like I was clueless to what the writer was talking about.
"Monsieur Zidler, this ending WILL be rewritten, with the courtesan choosing the maharaja," the Duke snapped. "And without the lovers' secret song. It will be rehearsed in the morning, ready for the opening tomorrow night."
Harold's usual smile faded, watching his money blow away in the breeze. "M- My dear Duke, th-that will be quite impossible."
"Harold!" I said, feeling all eyes on me. I tried to keep my voice straight as I waved my hand at Harold. "Oh! The poor Duke is being treated APPALINGLY." I started down the stairs slowly and waved my hand again toward Christian. "These silly writers let their imaginations run away with them." Damn you Diamond… She moved her hips with every step and looked the Duke straight in the eye and her voice changed to that low, seductive purr. "Now, why don't you and I have a little supper, and then after words… we can let Monsieur Zidler know how we prefer the story to end." I raised my eyebrows. "Hmm?"
He looked past me at Christian and then back at me and nodded. I didn't even want to think what the Duke would do if I couldn't work my magic, how his jealousy would drive him mad.
Why did I say it? 'She doesn't love you!' Oh God… I rested my arm on the wall, my head in the crook. It's not supposed to be like this. The magical sitar gives the game away… it was written in the script.
Oh hell, Christian. This is life, not some play.
But if so, why does the maharaja know?
I had put me to death by killing our love. Our love, our sweet love, was the only thing keeping me alive, keeping me from going crazy in this place. I had just killed myself.
"I am falling," I sing quietly, the sad words suddenly familiar to me. "I am fading. I have lost it all."
"Thank you Elizabeth," I hear her say, followed by footsteps down the short flight of stairs. But her voice… it's breathless, sad…
"I don't want you to sleep with him," the words fall from my tongue. Satine turns to me with a startle and sighs.
"He could destroy everything," she whispered. "I…"
Two dancers walk by, laughing, talking. Having no care in the world. I step back into the shadows and she follows my action.
"It's for us."
I shake my head. You can't be his. It's not the way it's supposed to be…
She sighs, her eyes looking lost. "You promised…" She puts her cheek against mine, whispering, "You promised to me you wouldn't be jealous. You…"
She lifts her head and fights with words to say. I had always been the strong one, telling her things would end out fine, but I needed her to be the strength. "It will be alright," she whispered, taking my cheeks between her hands. I shake my head. "Yes, it will." She looks over her shoulder. "He's waiting," she said, breathlessly, turning.
I grab her arm. "No."
I can barely look at her. Any second now, I'll wake up beside her in my garret. Please, don't leave me. Don't leave me all alone…
Coconuts and flowers wash over me, and soft hair on my skin. "Come… what may," she sings into my ear.
I look at her. No, I'll never be alone. "Come what may…" I don't even want to think about what will happen to her in less than an hour, who will be this close to her… I force myself to take a deep breath and step back into the shadows.
Christian, I do love you. I'll love you until the end of time. Come what may, I will…
I stare off into space as Marie fixes my hair and her helper, Elizabeth, lays out my dress. The room was silent, thank you God. I didn't want to talk, didn't want to think, didn't want time to continue ticking. I can't do it. I can't sleep with the Duke… again.
I felt a tear start to form in my eye as I glanced at the mirror. I turned away, hating what stared back at me. If only it showed back what I was inside – scared, small, weak. No one would want me then, if I wore my ugliness on my sleeve for all the world to see.
I see the most beautiful face in front of my eyes and I weakly smile. "Come… what… may…" I sing under my breath, holding true to my promise forever.
She had gone to the tower to save us all. And for our part… we could do nothing but wait.
Toulouse offered me a drink, but I shook my head. I couldn't accept it. I couldn't make my problems disappear that easily. Satine…
Nini straddled her legs over my lap and roughly took my head between her hands. "Don't worry Shakespeare," she teased. I glared at her. "You'll get your ending, once the Duke gets HIS end… in."
I pushed her off me with all the strength I had. She fell to the floor, and then sprung up, pouncing at me. But the Argentinean grabbed her arms.
"You keep yer hands off me," she yelled at me, but like I care what she has to say to me.
The Argentinean kissed her shoulders and I wondered how he could keep a straight face doing that. He stepped in front of her, coming to me. "Never fall in love with a woman who sells herself," he said softly, but his face showed no kindness. What did he know about love? Nothing. "It always ends BAD!" he roared.
I looked away. I know our love is forbidden, but he makes it sound like an obsession, an infatuation, nothing. How wrong they all are.
"We have a dance," the Argentinean says, going down the stairs to the ballroom. "In the brothels of Buenos Aries." His shoes made a loud clicking on the hardwood floor. "It tells the story of a prostitute."
He raised his hands to Nini, and around the room the dancers whooped and hollered. I glared at the Argentinean, wondering what he was getting at. Nini cackled as she went down the stairs and struck a pose.
"And a man, who falls in love…" he continues, "…with her."
With a loud note on a violin, they started to dance, circling each other.
"First there is desire," the Argentinean said, his hands on Nini's waist and cheek.
"Then… passion!" His hands slid down her legs as she reached her hand to a male dancer. The Argentinean grabbed her hand and yelled, "Then… suspicion! Jealousy!" He took her hands and pushed her back. "When love is for the highest bidder, there is no trust. Without trust, there is no love. Jealousy!" He threw Nini aside and she fell into the male dancer's arms. "Yes, the jealousy will drive you… MAD!"
"Roxanne!" he sang, Nini dancing with her dancer. "You don't have to put on that red light. Walk the streets for money. You don't care if it's wrong or if it is right." Nini left her dancer to be with the others. "Roxanne! You don't have to wear that dress tonight. Roxanne, you don't have to sell your body to the night."
I turned away. I can't stand this. All this pain, all this anger… "His eyes upon your face. His hand upon your hand. His lips caress your skin. It's more than I can stand!" I sing out loud, pushing my fists into my coat pocket and heading for the door. Maybe some fresh air will clear my head.
"Roxanne!" the Argentinean sings out.
"Why does my heart cry?" I sing, wondering to myself as I walked past the other dancers doing the tango toward the stairs. "Feelings I can't fight. You're free to leave me, but just don't deceive me and please, believe me when I say I love you!"
I walk into the street, my shoes in the freshly fallen snow. I look toward the sky, and I see the Gothic tower. And there she is, my beautiful Satine, standing next to the window with the Duke's head against her neck.
Every ounce of me wanted to march up there and kill him. My arms tensed and I stood there, frozen, looking into her face.
The wind blew softly and sang a message carried from her lips. "Come… what… may. I will love you, until my dying… day."
I could have died from the pain of looking away from her alone and somehow built up the strength of walking down the street.
My footsteps slowed as I reached the top of the stairs. Oh God, I can't be there yet. I can't be. It's impossible!
But my feet have no where else to go but through that curtain. I take a deep breath. Christian, it's for us. Our story will not end – not by him, not by anyone.
I take another deep breath and push the curtain aside, holding my chin high. He stopped from pacing around the room, wearing a red velvet robe over his suit and a cup of wine in his hand.
"My dear Duke," I breathed, taking off the veil from my eyes. "I hope I have not kept you waiting."
He dragged a breath in, his lip quivering which made his moustache bounce. I knew he would like the dress, knew anyone with eyes would like the dress.
"M-my dear, I have something I must talk with you about," he whispers.
I wonder over toward the fireplace, knowing very well what he needed to talk about. I had practiced what I was going to say, and hated every word. "The boy has a ridiculous obsession with me. I mean, I indulge his fantasy because he's talented. We need him… but only until tomorrow night." I remove my glove, a simple action that bared more skin.
"And… me?" he asks.
Diamond runs her tongue across her teeth. "Why don't I show you after supper, my dear?" I cock my head and lean into him. I pull on his shirt collar and bring him closer to me and kiss him with my eyes open. I pull away and smile at him as he leads me to my chair, pulling it out and pushing it in as I sit. I whisper my thanks while he heads to the other end of the table, so far away from me. Thank you God!
We go through supper, and I don't even know what I eat. I just stick my fork into whatever is on my plate and rise it to my lips, watching the Duke through my eyelashes. We talk about nothing in particular – we used to talk about the production, but I suppose that subject will have to come up later. When we're done with supper, the waiters carry away our plates.
I try to keep my smile unwavering as the Duke rises from his chair and walks toward me. He comes up behind me and runs his arms across mine and I try not to shiver from the cold. He kisses my shoulder.
"You know, when this production succeeds, you will no longer be a can-can dancer… but an actress," he says. Is it really my dream anymore that he's offering for me? "I will make you… a star."
He takes my hand and I stand, and I see one of the waiters there with a box. He opens it and inside is a necklace with diamonds galore. Looping, crossing, dangling diamonds all draped over my neck.
"Accept it as I gift from this maharaja to his courtesan."
I don't care about the diamonds. Nothing he gives me makes me happy. But the story… "Oh, And-and the ending?"
The Duke pauses for a bit and then says, "Let Zidler keep his fairy tail ending."
My eyes close and I sigh. You hear that Christian? We WILL live on. I turn to the Duke, so happy, not even caring if it is the maharaja I'm with and not the sitar player and I kiss him softly, falling deeper and deeper in my act. No doubt he's totally convinced.
I lead him over toward the window. "The view is beautiful, don't you think?"
He growls low in his throat as he throws his arms around me. I'm almost taken off balance, holding onto the windowpane to keep from tumbling out the window. His lips trail down my arms, up to my neck, across my shoulders…
I look down, staring at the snow and see… Christian… down there. Suddenly all my fears are gone and I sing quietly, "Come… what… may. I will love you, until my dying… day."
I can feel his eyes staring into me, and then he looks away, continuing down the street. And I feel him, feel his warmth, feel his sorrow. "No," I whisper.
"No?" the Duke asks, and I realize I had just said it out loud. I… I can't say anything. I can't fix it. I don't want to. I want to be with Christian, and not with you a second longer. The Duke glances out the window and sees Christian on the pavement. "Oh, I see. It's our very own penniless sitar player."
I go away from the window, shaking from head to toe. I have to recover, have to fix this. "My dear D-"
"Silence!" he roars, holding my wrists and pushing me to the floor. "You made me believe that you loved me."
"No…" I whisper. His grip on my wrists is so tight I think my bones are going to pop.
He drags me to my feet, his eyes fell of stern hatred. What is he going to do?
I don't want to find out and I run, to the table, around the corner, but he cuts me off. I run to the side but I can't run in heels and he grabs he again, sprawling me to the floor. I'm frozen as he circles me. His hands touch my neck and I begin to cry. Please don't kill me… please don't kill me… He yanks off the necklace and throws it to the ground and stands me up again.
His hands tear at my dress and it rips off my body, and I'm left with only my corset on. I cover my eyes with my hands as he kisses my shoulders roughly. I throw my head in the air. "No!" I scream.
He throws me on the bed. No, no, please…
And suddenly from the darkness there is a flash of light and the Duke falls to the floor. I look around, and slowly Chocolate steps out of the shadows. He helps me up and I fall into his arms, crying, so thankful.
I stare at my wall, tapping my fingers on the wood, glancing at the tower, and back to my wall with a snap. No, don't think about it. It… will… be… all right.
Damnit, what was I thinking. I close my eyes and rest my head on my fist. How can this ever be all right? She was with him… she was his.
The door bursts open and there is Satine, in a black corset, her hair scattered everywhere, tears running down her cheeks. Damnit, what did that bastard do to you?
She runs into my arms and I hold her cold body as close as I can to mine.
She sniffs. "I couldn't. I couldn't go through with it." She lifts her head, her words so fast it's hard to understand. "I saw you there and I-I felt differently and I couldn't pretend." She threw my hands off of her. "And the Duke… he saw and he…" She put her hand to her eyes again, and I gathered her in my arms. "Christian I love you…" she cried.
"It's ok," I whispered, not knowing what else to say.
"I couldn't deal with it. I didn't want to pretend anymore. I didn't want to lie I don't-" she lifted her head and touched my cheek, dragging in a breath. "And he knows. He knows and he saw you…"
"That's all right," I assure her, an idea suddenly struck with an idea. "You don't have to pretend anymore. We're leave." She becomes quiet. "We'll leave tonight."
"Leave?" she says under her breath. "Wh- The show? Wh-"
I touch her cheeks, her face looking so cluelessly adorable. "I don't care. I don't care about the show. We have each other, that's all that matters."
She nods, a smile coming over her tear-soaked face. "Yes, as long as we have each other."
I smile and kiss her. Nothing mattered as much as she did. Scrap the play out the window, and what did you get? You're real love story played out in your heart forever with her by your side.
I look toward the door and see Chocolate. Thank God he was there to save her. I walk toward him and shake his hand. "Chocolate, take Miss. Satine to her dressing room and get the tings she needs. No one must see you, do you understand?"
He nods. "I understand."
I go to Satine and give her my coat to put on. "Now darling, you go and pack, and I'll be waiting."
She giggles as she slips the coat on and kisses me, so sweet. Our life will be so different from now on. No maharaja's, no Zidler; nothing but you and me, forever.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Disclaimer: I do not own Moulin Rouge, not even Christian. ::sigh::
Author's Note: Ok… wow, that took a while to write. I hope you all liked it! I have about two more chapters planned out, so be waiting for them soon! And there will be a sequel (if I get around to writing it). Alright, but to stay with the present, um… I don't have anything else to write. I just hope you all really like it. I love you all!
SONGS USED:
'Duvet' by Boa
'Come What May' written by David Baerwald (thanks Isabella!)
'El Tango de Roxanne' originally sung by Sting, but now it's the Argentinean and Christian swoon!
