Okay, here I go. I don't own anything except for Christian's sister Rebecca. Everything MR belongs to Baz Lurhmann.

Summary: When Christian left London for Montmarte, he left someone behind. Don't worry, this story has no romance between Christian and someone other than Satine.

I've had this idea for a little while and the other day I just wrote it all down, even though I really never planned to post it. Oh, what the heck, I thought. I'll just take a risk and post it. Well, I really hope you like it. Feel free to give constructive criticism or whatever you want. Oh yeah, my other story "Behind the Moulin Rouge" got deleted for all of those wondering why I haven't continued it. Oh well.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 1

I remember the way my brother used to be, before he went to Montmartre; before the Moulin Rouge; before Satine.

He was the only one I had after Mother died when I was four and he was nine. There was Father, of course, but the old bible-thumping, strict business man never showed any kind of emotion toward us whatsoever, except anger. If Father cared anything for us, he sure didn't show it. He worked hard at the company that he had founded and bought us everything we wanted, but he didn't care. He hired a nanny to take care of us, and she was hardly more loving than he was.

Father had always expected that my brother Christian would take over the company when he was older; hence the company's name, "James and Sons Inc." But Christian was not meant for that dreadful place. He was a dreamer even as a young child. He would spend most of his free time in the library, reading books from Father's vast collection. He was especially fascinated with the works of William Shakespeare.

"His works are so amazing," he would tell me with a distant, dreamy look in his eyes. "The way Romeo and Juliet express their love for each other...such wonderful poetry..." He trailed off.

That's where he developed his passion, his reason for living; his obsession with love.

He would go on and on about all the great love stories he read. He never stopped talking about it. He would even talk about it with Father, who would constantly ridicule him.

Yes, he was in love with love.

"Love is like oxygen," Christian declared one night at dinner. "We need it to live, it..."

"Nonsense," Father interrupted. "You and your ridiculous obsession with love. You're wasting your time, boy. Love doesn't get you anywhere in life. Only hard work and ambition can get you anything."

Christian stayed silent rather than get into an argument. He knew what Father was capable of when he was really angry.

My brother and I confided in each other. I would tell him about school and how much I hated etiquette lessons, and he would preach to me about love. He started writing when he was about twelve years old. He would write poetry, songs, short stories, and sometimes even plays, letting me read some of them. Most of them were about love. He was very talented, even at his young age. And he had a beautiful singing voice.

One evening, when Christian was twenty-two and I was seventeen, Father came into the library to find Christian and I chatting about some of the books.

"Son, I need to talk to you about something," Father interrupted. Christian glanced at me. "Alone," Father added.

"Yes, sir," Christian replied.

"Come to my office," Father commanded. Christian followed him out, turning his head quickly to smile and give me a little salute before going out the door. I figured they were probably talking about the company or something. I was wrong.

Christian came storming into the library awhile later. "Damn him!" he shouted, slamming his fist on the surface of the desk. I just stared at him wide-eyed, afraid to say anything, wondering what had happened.

"He's arranging my marriage! With some girl I've never even met before!"

"Oh," I said softly. "Well, didn't you know this would happen?" I asked carefully. "I mean, you didn't think he would just let you marry anyone anytime you wanted, did you?"

He stared at me for a moment. "No, I guess I knew. I was somewhat in denial, though. I didn't expect this to happen so soon. You'd think he would wait until I'm a little older."

"Well," I began, "I think he wants you to settle down. I think he's worried that you'll refuse to take over the company, and maybe you being married will force you to reconsider."

"You're right," he said, turning to gaze out the window. "But I won't marry someone I don't love."

"Give it a chance. Who knows? Maybe you will learn to love her," I advised.

He turned to look at me and smiled weakly. "How'd you get so smart?"

I shrugged. "Who is she anyway?"

"Sarah Walker," he replied. "Her father is supposedly extremely rich. She lives on the other side of town. I've never even seen her before." He sat down on the settee. "She and her father are coming over for dinner tomorrow night."

I said nothing. I just hoped that this wouldn't end up a huge disaster.

Christian was a nervous wreck the next night, even though he kept insisting that he didnt care. He and I hid behind the staircase when Sarah and her father knocked on the door. The maid answered the door and let them in while we tried to get a glimpse of the woman who was to become Christian's wife and my sister-in-law.

She was very plain looking, with her pale blonde hair pulled up tightly away from her face. I immediately noticed her stiff posture. I glanced at Christian, unable to see his reaction.

"Christian! Rebecca!" Father shouted all of the sudden. We jumped out from behind the staircase, trying to make it look like we came from the kitchen.

"This is my daughter, Rebecca," Father said, gesturing toward me, "and this is my son, Christian."

"Pleased to meet you," I said. Sarah glanced at me quickly, seeming uninterested.

"Uh...ah, yes...pleased to meet you," Christian stammered. I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. Sarah didn't seem to care. She just nodded.

"Well, shall we eat?" Father inquired (fortunate for Christian). Everyone agreed and we made our way to the dining room.

Nothing much happened during the dinner. After receiving many of Father's "looks", Christian tried to make conversation with Sarah, to no avail. She would either nod or give a simple one word answer. She appeared awfully bored and not interested in anything Christian had to say. I knew that she was also being forced into this marriage, and she didn't care who she married, as long as he had money. She was merely doing her duty, being the woman that she was brought up to be, accepting her fate.

She doesn't deserve Christian, I remember thinking. Christian is better; he's different.

But there was nothing I could do about it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Okay that's the first chapter. I might have trouble writing the second chapter cuz I'm getting pretty busy. Anyway, please review and tell me what you think!