Like I said in the last one: I AM PLUMB TUCKERED OUT OF WRITING INTROS! So just read and review, please!!!!!
Part 10
January 21st, 1908
~Moulin Rouge, Montmartre, France
"Christian, please relax!" Harold coaxed as he, Lucie, and Christian stood in the hallway. Christian took an angry breath and stepped back. Harold cautiously bent down and held Lucie's face.
"Dolly, why don't you stay out here while Uncle Harold talks to this man, okay?" Lucie was about to object, but the look in Harold's eyes forced her to acquiesce. Harold then signaled Christian into his office.
When the door was firmly shut, Christian whirled around.
"HAROLD! What the hell is going on?" he demanded angrily. Harold stepped behind the desk and put his palms up.
"Christian, please..."
"Is that girl my daughter?"
"Christian..."
"God damn it, Harold give me a straight answer!" he roared, louder than even Harold. The windowpanes practically shook and then entire club was in an unnatural silence. Harold saw no choice but the truth.
"Yes. She is your and Satine's daughter." Christian's face contorted in disbelief and shock.
"How...is that possible? That would mean Satine was pregnant..."
"Yes, when you left. She was nearly five months along." Christian shook his head.
"That's not possible! Her and I...I was with her a few nights before I left...she was NOT five months along! I've seen five-month-pregnancies!" He ranted. Harold shook his head.
"Keep in mind, Christian, she was dying! Her body was deteriorating. If she hadn't been pregnant, weight loss would have been more obvious. But since the baby was in there, she probably did appear normal." Christian rubbed his forehead.
"But why did it take her so long to figure it out...I mean, the signs..."
"When she informed me, I asked the same question. She hadn't been having her...female ways...for longer than she'd even known you. The doctor than examined her when she passed out one night told her, but not us. That was only a few nights before you left. The night we found out she was dying." Christian blinked.
"Why didn't she tell me?" Harold shrugged.
"Who knows? Satine had reasons for everything she did. She didn't even tell me until after opening night."
"So you're absolutely sure that little girl is my child?"
"One hundred percent."
"Not the Duke's?"
"Satine didn't sleep with the Duke until after she realized." Christian leaned back on the chair he had occupied.
"Why didn't she tell me? I could've-"
"-done nothing. Satine had been dying for a long time. There was a little chance at the time she would even live to carry the baby full term. She actually didn't...Lucie was a month and some early." Christian sighed.
"This is unbelievable...why in God's name didn't you contact me?"
"Satine was in bad shape. She didn't want to cause you more pain by seeing her die. Besides, we weren't sure until the moment Lucie was born that she would in fact BE born. And we didn't contact you after her birth because we had no idea where you were! I didn't even try."
"Remind me someday to beat you black and blue for that."
"I thought I was sparing you. I was wrong, obviously, but I thought so at the time." Christian sighed.
"I have a...child." He repeated that to himself. Harold laughed.
"Yes, and quite a child, at that. More spirit and stubbornness than that body should hold." Christian smiled.
"And honesty, too."
"Charming, when she wants to be." Just then, the door opened and Lucie stood in the doorway, her little fists shoved on her hips.
"You don't have to shut me out if you're just going to talk about me." She informed them as she sat down on the chair across from Harold and next to Christian's. He studied her with more fascination than he had before. Her resemblance to Satine was more powerful now than ever.
"Christian, may I present Lucie Caroline DuBois." Harold held out his hand. Then, he turned to Lucie.
"And Lucie, may I present...your father." Lucie's eyebrows shot up as she studied Harold for sincerity. Then she averted her gaze to Christian. Their eyes met, and they clicked. Before Christian could utter a word, Lucie leapt from the chair and landed on his lap, flung her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek. Then she pulled away and put her hands on her hips once again.
"It's about time you GENTLEMEN got around to telling me!" Christian had to laugh at her serious scowl and scolding voice. He held her on his lap and kissed her forehead.
"Lucie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
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Author's Note: Wow, I bet you all are relieved. So if you are, REVIEW! Thanks bunches. Cheerio!
Part 10
January 21st, 1908
~Moulin Rouge, Montmartre, France
"Christian, please relax!" Harold coaxed as he, Lucie, and Christian stood in the hallway. Christian took an angry breath and stepped back. Harold cautiously bent down and held Lucie's face.
"Dolly, why don't you stay out here while Uncle Harold talks to this man, okay?" Lucie was about to object, but the look in Harold's eyes forced her to acquiesce. Harold then signaled Christian into his office.
When the door was firmly shut, Christian whirled around.
"HAROLD! What the hell is going on?" he demanded angrily. Harold stepped behind the desk and put his palms up.
"Christian, please..."
"Is that girl my daughter?"
"Christian..."
"God damn it, Harold give me a straight answer!" he roared, louder than even Harold. The windowpanes practically shook and then entire club was in an unnatural silence. Harold saw no choice but the truth.
"Yes. She is your and Satine's daughter." Christian's face contorted in disbelief and shock.
"How...is that possible? That would mean Satine was pregnant..."
"Yes, when you left. She was nearly five months along." Christian shook his head.
"That's not possible! Her and I...I was with her a few nights before I left...she was NOT five months along! I've seen five-month-pregnancies!" He ranted. Harold shook his head.
"Keep in mind, Christian, she was dying! Her body was deteriorating. If she hadn't been pregnant, weight loss would have been more obvious. But since the baby was in there, she probably did appear normal." Christian rubbed his forehead.
"But why did it take her so long to figure it out...I mean, the signs..."
"When she informed me, I asked the same question. She hadn't been having her...female ways...for longer than she'd even known you. The doctor than examined her when she passed out one night told her, but not us. That was only a few nights before you left. The night we found out she was dying." Christian blinked.
"Why didn't she tell me?" Harold shrugged.
"Who knows? Satine had reasons for everything she did. She didn't even tell me until after opening night."
"So you're absolutely sure that little girl is my child?"
"One hundred percent."
"Not the Duke's?"
"Satine didn't sleep with the Duke until after she realized." Christian leaned back on the chair he had occupied.
"Why didn't she tell me? I could've-"
"-done nothing. Satine had been dying for a long time. There was a little chance at the time she would even live to carry the baby full term. She actually didn't...Lucie was a month and some early." Christian sighed.
"This is unbelievable...why in God's name didn't you contact me?"
"Satine was in bad shape. She didn't want to cause you more pain by seeing her die. Besides, we weren't sure until the moment Lucie was born that she would in fact BE born. And we didn't contact you after her birth because we had no idea where you were! I didn't even try."
"Remind me someday to beat you black and blue for that."
"I thought I was sparing you. I was wrong, obviously, but I thought so at the time." Christian sighed.
"I have a...child." He repeated that to himself. Harold laughed.
"Yes, and quite a child, at that. More spirit and stubbornness than that body should hold." Christian smiled.
"And honesty, too."
"Charming, when she wants to be." Just then, the door opened and Lucie stood in the doorway, her little fists shoved on her hips.
"You don't have to shut me out if you're just going to talk about me." She informed them as she sat down on the chair across from Harold and next to Christian's. He studied her with more fascination than he had before. Her resemblance to Satine was more powerful now than ever.
"Christian, may I present Lucie Caroline DuBois." Harold held out his hand. Then, he turned to Lucie.
"And Lucie, may I present...your father." Lucie's eyebrows shot up as she studied Harold for sincerity. Then she averted her gaze to Christian. Their eyes met, and they clicked. Before Christian could utter a word, Lucie leapt from the chair and landed on his lap, flung her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek. Then she pulled away and put her hands on her hips once again.
"It's about time you GENTLEMEN got around to telling me!" Christian had to laugh at her serious scowl and scolding voice. He held her on his lap and kissed her forehead.
"Lucie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Note: Wow, I bet you all are relieved. So if you are, REVIEW! Thanks bunches. Cheerio!