DISCLAIMER: Moulin Rouge fanfic. All are owned by Baz Luhrmann, Fox, etc. :D just DON'T sue!!! :P -It's not like you're gonna get anything out of it anyway…I can't work, I don't make money. The end. All lyrics to "The Way I've Been Feeling" belong TO ME. All characters are owned by the aforementioned, except for Chantal, Nicholas, who are my own, and Trey, who is owned by, well, Trey. :)
SUMMARY: It's 2 years after Satine's death, and a stranger appears one night at the Moulin Rouge to see the newest show – who bares a remarkable resemblance to Satine….
CATEGORY: Romance
RELATIONSHIPS: I believe it should obvious, but don't expect anything. This is definitely NOT a typical "I loved someone, but they died, so I'll just fall in love with anyone and I'll be happy" fic.
SPOILERS: Well, yes. Satine's death…some other aspects as well.
CHARACTERS: Christian, Chantal, and the rest of the cast
RATING: PG-13…for now…becomes R because of possible…well, if I said any more, I'd be spilling the end, which I DEFINITELY am keeping under wraps. :)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: THE OTHER ending. :) Yeah…I had fun writing the corresponding songs for both of the chapters. Stars in Heaven contains part of "Come What May", but "The Way I've Been Feeling" (feat. Here) is all mine. :) Note: title IS in French, it means Broken Promises.
Les Promets Cassé, by Misako
Chapter Six B – Stars on Earth
I can hear you whispering in the silence of my room.
My heart still surrenders like the sun to the moon.
I can barely stand this aching, burning endlessly.
"Love me now, forever" were your last words to me.
Heaven help us cross this endless sea with starlight above to guide you to me.
Waves crashing on distant shores.
They're calling out our names forevermore.
And I can still hear you whispering in the silence of my room.
My heart still surrenders, like the sun to the moon.
I can barely stand this aching, burning endlessly.
"Love me now, forever" were the last words you said to me.
-"The Last Words You Said by Sarah Brightman
Christian gaped at China Doll. "She's what?"
"She's returning." China Doll answered, her eyes sparkling and a small smile playing about her lips as she watched his rapidly changing expressions.
"May I see that?" He asked, gesturing at the letter she held in her hand. Silently, she held it out to him and he almost gingerly took it from her, as if expecting for it to spontaneously combust any moment. He walked over to a nearby chair and sat down heavily, raising a hand to cover his mouth as he coughed slightly. The cold was subsiding now, thanks to the doctor's medicine, and only the cough stayed stubbornly with him. He lowered his hand down to his side and read the letter silently. There it was. Written out there for him to see. Chantal was coming back. Happiness and anticipation surged through his veins, and all the pressure that he had felt ever since she had left, lift. He got up out of the chair and strode towards the doors of the Moulin Rouge. Almost roughly opening the door, he stepped outside into the cool morning, the bright light of the sun bathing his body in its warmth. He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply the cool air. He tilted his head back slightly and let the sun shine upon his face, the sun's rays bursting into fireworks behind his closed eyelids. He smiled, letting the letter flutter to the ground and enjoying the feeling of the sun upon his face and the hope surging though him.
******
Chantal stepped down from the car carefully, gazing up at the gigantic windmill that slowly spun over her head. It seemed almost reminiscent of the first time when she had arrived at the Moulin Rouge. She hoisted her luggage up with a small effort, then started towards the Moulin Rouge. The closer she walked towards the building that housed one of the most famous stages in the world, the more she felt that she was at home. She squinted into the morning sun at a tall figure that stood near the door of the Moulin Rouge, facing away from her and towards the sun. She smiled as she recognized Christian. A puff of wind blew past her, stirring her hair, which glistened red-gold in the sunlight. She set down her luggage once again and noticed wryly that she hadn't advanced much further than several feet. Her mouth quirked at the corner, and turned into a full-fledged grin. She left her luggage behind as she began walking towards Christian, then running, her shoes echoing slightly on the ground.
Christian turned at the sound of approaching footsteps and blinked at the tall figure advancing towards him at a run. As the spots in his vision faded slightly, he could see the long reddish hair, and the slim figure. Chantal. He stood, watching her approach with his hands shoved in his pockets. She slowed to a stop in front of him, and their eyes connected for a moment. Both stood, facing the other, as a breeze whipped up past them, then Chantal smiled and took that one last step and they fell into a hug.
"I missed you." She said, her voice slightly muffled as she was pressed into his shoulder.
"I missed you too." He replied softly.
She pulled back from the embrace slightly, looking at his face. She raised a hand and brushed his bangs off his forehead, and smiled. "I couldn't live without you. I don't care whether you love me or not. I'm not forsaking everything I have here for no reason other than spite."
"I'm glad you think of this as something valuable."
"It is valuable, with all that I've gone though here." Chantal replied with a small smile. They smiled at each other again, and fell back into the embrace. They stayed that way for a while, cradled against once another in the morning light.
******
They had taken Chantal's luggage back up to her room and unpacked a few items before heading back down to the Moulin Rouge.
"It's nice to be back." Chantal said, but her voice had a slight apprehensive edge to it.
"I wish you hadn't left." Christian replied as he pushed open the door to the Moulin Rouge.
Chantal was greeted by all that resided there at the Moulin Rouge with warm smiles and words of welcome. She realized that this truly was her home – where people would welcome her if she left, and mourn her when she died. Had she been in London with Nicholas, she would've expected that everyone would've been rather stoic about her return. One of Christian's friends, Trey, stepped up to her and smiled.
"I was sent after you, only to discover that you had skipped the country." He smiled, holding a small piece of cake.
"Sorry. It was unexpected." Chantal replied.
"He seemed devastated." Trey replied, taking a bite of the cake.
"Who, Christian?" Chantal asked, puzzled.
"No. Lord Worchester. I arrived just a while after you had left, apparently. The man was in shambles." Trey said, waving his fork around.
Chantal raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"
"Yes. But it's much better now, that you're back. That way I don't have to go chasing after you again." Trey grinned at her and laughed. Chantal laughed at his joke. A pretty, tall blonde woman appeared at Trey's side. "This is China Doll." He introduced the woman.
"I've heard about you." Chantal said, smiling. "It's nice to meet you."
"I hope what you've heard is good." China Doll replied, grinning.
"Yes. I don't believe I've ever heard a negative thing about either of you." Chantal answered.
China Doll smiled. "It's good to hear that."
Christian appeared behind Chantal. "So, how's the party here?" He asked, smiling and eating a piece of cake.
"Wonderful." Chantal smiled at him.
"Absolutely delightful." China Doll agreed.
"The cake is great." Trey said, smiling mischievously.
Everyone laughed.
"It's great to have you back." Christian said, smiling at Chantal.
******
Chantal and Christian had retreated to his room after the party and were sipping shots of absinthe at his balcony. They watched the sun set behind the horizon, but did not speak. Christian coughed, and Chantal looked at him worriedly.
"Are you sick?" She asked quietly.
"I have a cold. It's getting better." He replied, taking another small sip of absinthe.
"Ah." She replied, falling silent again.
"I do love you, you know." Christian said quietly.
"I know. As a sister." Chantal replied, but the tone of her voice indicated she was still hurt.
"No. As something much more."
Chantal looked towards him, bewildered. "Something…much…more?" She hesitated on the words.
Christian turned his head and met her gaze, his eyes shining. "Yes. Something much more." He gently removed the glass she held in her hand and set their two glasses down upon a nearby table. He stepped closer to her and gently touched her lips with his own. She froze, but slowly began to yield to his touch. They broke apart and stared at him incredulously. He was breathing shallowly, trying to capture the needed air that was so essential to life, and she too, was having a difficult time breathing.
"What changed your mind?" Chantal asked, her breathing ragged.
"Satine came to me." Christian replied simply.
"Satine?" Chantal asked.
"Yes. She told me that I truly did love you. And that she thought I was foolish for not knowing it sooner." His lips trailed down her neck and onto the curve of her shoulder. Chantal leaned her head over, giving him more space. Chantal sighed, closing her eyes.
He lowered the shoulder of her silky white robe down further, slipping it down her arm. Her hands fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, she herself dizzy, the swirling emotions inside her joined with her need for his touch. Her skin tingled at his every touch, and heat rose inside her everytime his lips touched her skin. They stumbled together towards the bed, their lips and bodies tangled. Christian broke their kisses then, and looked down on Chantal with a question in his eyes. She nodded, and he smiled. They kissed feverishly, the absinthe in their systems charging the passion to greater heights, and they fell into a night of want, need, and love.
******
Chantal awoke the following morning, the sun streaming though the French doors at the balcony, and felt a sense of warmth. She looked over beside her and saw Christian, sleeping soundly. She smiled, and kissed him softly on the forehead. He stirred and his eyes opened at her touch, and a small smile touched his lips.
"That was nice." Chantal smiled.
"It was." Christian agreed, lifting a hand to brush a few errant strands of Chantal's auburn hair off her face.
"I'm glad that I returned. Otherwise, I never would've had this experience."
"I'm glad you –" Christian was cut off as Chantal placed a finger against his lips, silencing him.
"I'm glad that I got to experience it with you. And I'm thankful, for all that you have shown me. It means so much. Do you remember what I said?" Chantal asked.
"What?"
"About being loved wholly by a man, who loved me back?"
"Yes."
"Well, that man, would be you." Chantal smiled.
"Thank you." Christian whispered, before Chantal snuggled up against him. He placed his arms around her, and smiled. The two lay there, slipping together, into the fathomless depths of slumber, and into the eternity of love.
I'd never thought I would fall in love again
I didn't even believe it myself
Time seems to suspend
As an angel by my side
Is the one to tell me so
Eyes that gleam in the setting sun
Hair the colour of fire
Temperate Desire
It's the way I've been feeling
And I feel so strange
It's just the two of us...
What do I do?
I never meant to fall in love with you
I never meant to feel so good
I never meant to feel so alive,
Here in your arms.
I surrender myself to you
To the depths of your love
Changes in my heart
Frozen in my soul
Written in the stars
Forever you sparkle
A gem.
*FIN*
A.N. and Thank Yous:
Thank you to everyone for waiting so patiently. I did not mean to take this long, but I had prior duties to take care of in real life that kept me from writing this.
Thank you's to:
First and foremost:
Trey: You are like the comic relief in the beginning, and then the saviour at the end…*sigh* It's over. It truly is. I feel a sense of, well, sadness coming on…but I knew this had to happen. Plus, I have 4 billion other fanfictions to finish, and I would like to end those as well. You'll probably see a small side fic later…something with Christian's thoughts immediately after Satine's death, and Chantal's thoughts after Christian's death.
Liz- Sad that you had to see his death…*sigh*….I suppose nothing can be done…Ah well, it's the end of an era…and Toulouse is gone, so nothing could be done to cheer up anything…*sigh* I hope you liked it! :)
Kate-Whadya think? :P Very wacky eh? Well, there's Chapter 6B…:)
And all the rest of you that were lamenting over the lack of Moulin Rouge fanfictions on FFN. Here's something for ya! ;)
Thank you to all that reviewed on Fanfiction.net!
All my Moulin Rouge Whores at FF: (er, this is the old list…)
karabehr
Barely Pink
noah blue
Treyd13, our dovely man whore
*Caddy*
SmittenMitten
misery chic
sweetivy
PoisonIvyDiva
izzylizard
thorn
LizzyEvans21
TashaR
SSSliverrrz
Satine
ANGELforBUFFY
Lothuial
christinedechagny
Cora
Maria G
KervyQT16
mukooh
Behrdogz
katscar
altastarlet
ColorMist
Whiteotter
eM_au
LadyOphelia
last dance
thara
zine
Selina
giddy_up_lance
LimeWarp
tv_addict
dani_yelly
kathryn merteuil
Alymae1010
petiteprincess
oblivious
MegtheCanuck
Elflyn
angel_aguilera: Man Whore #2
Love Kills
limegreenli
Trory4Ever
artemis_pie
And to the most fabulous people on the screen: Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman for making this all possible. For bring love like Christian and Satine's to the bright light of the silver screen.
And a VERY GREATFUL thank you to Christian, who has been my muse all this time. :)
*mwah*! *Misako sails off into the deep mists*