Epilogue:

Disclaimer: Don't own. Never have. Never will. You get the picture, yes?

Satine's POV

Time passed.

Her mother recovered from her shock.

Her father forgave her for the disreputable time she'd spent in France.

Both her parents eventually accepted Christian as a son-in-law, once they realized there was no changing her mind.

Satine expected that Nini would come back eventually. Sometimes she hoped for her return, others she dreaded the day she did. But as days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and finally, months into years, she gradually began hoping more and dreading less – over time she stopped expecting her altogether.

Then about two years after Nini had left, Christian decided to rewrite Spectacular Spectacular into a play called The Moulin Rouge. It was set in France and much more true to the actual events, if romanticized and kept as a musical. Satine, of course, would play the lead, but they held auditions for the other parts.

And there she was, in a group of girls auditioning to be dancers. Her hair had grown out and she'd dyed it blonde, but to Satine, Nini's face was unmistakable.

Unless . . .she suddenly remembered a young therapist who had shared Nini's features and experienced a moment of doubt. Nini – or Diamond, Satine wasn't sure anymore – turned toward her, laughing at something a fellow dancer had said and her eyes landed on Satine. Her smile flickered. Then it returned, as mischievous as Satine had ever seen it. Nini, it had to be Nini, raised a finger to her lips and shook her head. The meaning was clear. You don't know me. She returned to her conversation.

After the auditions – during which Nini easily became the lead dancer – she approached Satine and Christian, grinning broadly. "I'm Roxanne Atwood, by the way." She said.

"Roxanne?" asked Christian.

"Sure, you can't deny the Argentinean everything."

Satine was having trouble containing laughter, but she said, "Atwood? Any relation to a therapist named Diamond Atwood?"

Nini feigned surprise. "You know her? Yes, she's my sister – twin sister. We were separated at birth, but I recently located her and we've being living together. With her therapy and my acting, we get by."

"Isn't it dangerous for you to be acting, Roxanne?"

"Not at all." Nini lowered her voice. "You heard Inspector Moreau – he hates anything to do with the stage. I'm perfectly safe as long as I don't use my real name. I've been using this disguise for the past year and a half, and he hasn't found me yet."

"And if he does?"

"Then I'll move to – Australia. I'll move to Australia and change my name again, to Caroline O'Connor. I sort of want to anyway. Satine?" Satine raised her eyebrows – Nini hadn't called her by name for . . . a very long time. "Thank you."

"What for?"

"For – I don't know. Not being able to convince Moreau of your innocence, I suppose." She laughed. "It's silly, I know, but – I would've gone back. If I could've, I would've gone back to the Moulin Rouge and I'd probably still be there, unable to look in a mirror without flinching. So, thank you, for forcing me to become something better than that. And," her eyes flickered toward Christian before continuing. "About what I said – I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Satine nodded slowly. "I'm not sure you were wrong - not entirely. Besides, it's been two years – I can't hold grudges that long, Nini, you know that. It's forgiven." Nini grinned and suddenly hugged her happily. Satine smiled and briefly hugged her back before pushing away.

"We can't have this, Roxanne – the lead dancer hugging the lead actress? The scandal! What will they think?" Satine laughed. Nini rolled her eyes, and they embraced once more.

A/N: Yay! It's over! I hope you liked it! If you want me to write Chapter 9, which would go more into what happened to Nini during those two years, I totally can. Otherwise I can just answer any questions you might have.

The first chapter of the prequil, which I haven't titled yet, should be posted in the next few days (in others words, as soon as I think of a title). Please read it, yes? Thanks!

And thank you to everyone who has read this story - I love readers, I really do, especially when they review. Thanks again!

Now, for the last time (on this story), please review!