Jocelyn ran fast and far as her legs could carry her. She made it to her
dressing room and shakily opened the door. She tore off her dress and ran
into the bathroom. She let the water run a few minutes then splashed the
icy liquid on her face, letting all the make-up smear. Jocelyn grabbed a
towel and dried herself then walked back into the other room. She stood in
the middle quietly, a few droplets streaming down from her forehead. She
saw her reflection in the mirror but it wasn't her. She saw a stranger
with a ghostly pallor, dressed uncomfortably in a black corset shivering.
This wasn't her. She was staring at a stranger.
Peter peeked his head through the door and saw Jocelyn.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I should've knocked," he said quietly, his cheeks turning a little red. She didn't say anything, just stared at the mirror.
"Are you ok?" he asked. He walked in and closed the door.
"I don't know whether to scream..or whether to cry," she didn't turn when she said this. If she moved she might collapse, her whole body was shaking.
Peter moved a little closer. "I guess it didn't go well."
"I was an infatuation," she whispered, tears at the corners of her eyelids. "Silly of me, to think someone like him could fall in love with..someone like me."
Peter moved closer and placed his hand on her shoulder, caressing her icy skin. "It's his loss. He'll never be rich no matter how much money he has, he gave up the greatest treasure in the world..you."
She let out a forced laugh, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes..I'm fine," her voice was breaking.
"It's okay if you're not."
Jocelyn let a few tears slip but forced them away. Peter put his arms around her but quickly got out of them. She noticed a crystal vase holding a bouquet of dying roses. Their once vibrant red color was now a sick dark red.
"These flowers are dying," she said, picking up the vase. "Charlie gave them to me before he went away."
Peter said nothing. He didn't want to upset her and he was furious at Charlie. How could he do this to her when all she did was love him?
"You should get rid of them, I'll buy you fresh flowers," he offered.
"Just like he got rid of me." Jocelyn took a last look at the roses and threw the vase at the mirror and watched as the glass shattered into a thousand tiny little pieces then sunk onto the floor.
"Why?!" she said between sobs. "Why did he do this to me?! What am I supposed to do now?!"
Peter sat next to her and held her close. "It'll be okay, I promise."
"What am I supposed to do now?" she asked again.
"I'll take care of you," he whispered.
He held her until she stopped shaking and then when she finally stopped crying he helped her up and dressed and gather her things. Peter said it would be better for her to stay with her father than stay here. She was done with the Moulin Rouge forever.
"My father is going to kill me," she said quietly. Peter was carrying her bag and Jocelyn was holding onto him.
"Don't worry," Peter smiled.
"Why?"
"I have a plan."
Toulouse sat next to Christian in the crowded room below his own. He was quietly sipping his tea as his longtime friend slept uneasily. He would wince occasionally or let out a soft moan but then would resume his sleep. Some soup was warming up on the stove, some fighting spirit for Christian. The short painter turned his head when he saw Jocelyn and Peter walk in the room. Jocelyn didn't look so good herself.
"Hello my dear," he said softly.
Jocelyn sat on the bed next to her father. "What are you doing here Toulouse?"
"I'm afraid you're father is not so well. He has a very unpleasant fever and..well, this may be it."
"Isn't there something we could do, surely this can't be it," she said unapprovingly.
"The doctor's been and he said there's nothing he could do," Toulouse replied, tears streaming down his face. He put his hand on Jocelyn's and gave it a little squeeze. "I'm so sorry."
"Could I be alone with him for a little while," she said, her gaze intent on her father.
"Of course, I'll be outside if you need anything," Toulouse said. He picked up his hat and cane and walked out.
"I'll go," Peter said.
"No stay."
"Alright," he nodded and stood near the door.
"Daddy?" Jocelyn called gently. He pushed a few locks of hair out of his face and wiped it down with a cool face cloth. "Daddy can you hear me?"
Christian stirred a little and slowly opened his eyes. They were a little red but they had that same look when he saw her. That look of love when a father sees his baby. "Hello darling."
Jocelyn smiled. "I'm so happy to be home."
"Me too. I missed you so much."
"I know and I'm sorry. I should've been taking care of you and.."
"Don't worry about it love. I know you wanted to help but you had to do something for yourself," Christian smiled faintly. "Did I ever tell you that you look so much like your mother?"
"Yes many times," Jocelyn laughed, wiping his face down again.
"She was so beautiful, just like you. I suppose I'll be seeing her soon. And you'll be free and be a mother yourself."
"You have to stay with me first. I'm going to take care of you and you'll see your grandchild soon."
"Don't tell me the father is that richie boy of yours."
"Well you see.."
"No sir," Peter spoke up from his place by the door in the shadows. "I'm the father of the baby and I want to marry your daughter with your permission."
Christian laughed. "Well, it would be wise to get the young lady's permission first right?"
"Aye sir," Peter smiled.
"Well what are you waiting for? Go on!"
Peter got down on his knees before Jocelyn and took out of his pocket a gold ring with a little gem in the middle. "Jocelyn will you marry me?"
Jocelyn was a little shocked but found enough strength to say yes and kissed Peter, her new fiancé.
"Wait a minute here, how did you know about everything?" Jocelyn asked her father, looking at him suspiciously.
"I have my sources," Christian laughed, but started a coughing fit. Jocelyn gave him a little water and held the glass for him as he gulped it down. "Could you wait outside?"
"Sure," Peter said giving her a kiss on the forehead.
Finally the two were alone.
"Darling, I am dying. And there's nothing you can do or say that will change that. It's a part of life," Christian said, holding Jocelyn's hand close to his heart.
"I know Papa. I know," she said quietly. The tears were coming again.
"Don't cry, I'll always look after you and especially the little one. And I will finally be with your mother. I bet she's waiting for me right now."
"Give her a kiss for me when you see her," Jocelyn forced another smile.
"Of course."
Jocelyn felt so useless. Everything was so out of control. She curled up next to her father with her arm around him.
"I love you my little girl," he said before they went to sleep.
"I love you Daddy."
Christian died late in the night, in his sleep. Jocelyn had him buried next to her mother in the town graveyard. Jocelyn and Peter were married a few weeks later. Toulouse gave Jocelyn away, Harold arranged everything (who later confessed to be Christian's "sources" and claimed that it was a one father to another conference), Satie cried and the Argentinian went unconsious a few times during the ceremony. And although Jocelyn missed her father teribbly she knew he was in a better place. And as for Charles Bateson. He married and had a few children but reputation held him as a very miserable man and later disappeared in America.
Jocelyn published her father's book and it was a smash hit. All stores ran out of copies as soon as they got their hands on them. It turned out also that Peter was a very fine director and the book became a play and one of the biggest productions in France since "Spectacular Spectacular" in 1899. On opening night an understudy had to fill in for the star of the show whose character was the beautiful courtesan, the Sparkling Diamond. She was busy giving birth to her twin son and daughter.
"What should we name them?" Peter asked his lovely wife holding his tiny daughter.
"This young man will be Christian Peter," Jocelyn said, holding her newborn son.
"And how about Nicole Satine for this little lady," Peter finished.
"Nicole?"
"It was my mother's name."
"I see, it's perfect," Jocelyn smiled. "But should we tell them the truth? About what really happened?
"Dear, I know that truth is one of our essential beliefs but sometimes certain truths can be hidden. After all I am their father now and it doesn't make a difference."
"Right my love."
"I love you," Peter said.
"Come what may?" Jocelyn asked.
"Come what may."
The two lovers kissed and started their new life with their new family. The show would go on.
That ladies and gentlemen is the end of our story. And they lived happily ever after.
Author's note - - Finally finished! Thank you so much to all of you that have read and reviewed. It meant so much to me and I hope that you liked my story! Happy Holidays and remember..the greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
Peter peeked his head through the door and saw Jocelyn.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I should've knocked," he said quietly, his cheeks turning a little red. She didn't say anything, just stared at the mirror.
"Are you ok?" he asked. He walked in and closed the door.
"I don't know whether to scream..or whether to cry," she didn't turn when she said this. If she moved she might collapse, her whole body was shaking.
Peter moved a little closer. "I guess it didn't go well."
"I was an infatuation," she whispered, tears at the corners of her eyelids. "Silly of me, to think someone like him could fall in love with..someone like me."
Peter moved closer and placed his hand on her shoulder, caressing her icy skin. "It's his loss. He'll never be rich no matter how much money he has, he gave up the greatest treasure in the world..you."
She let out a forced laugh, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes..I'm fine," her voice was breaking.
"It's okay if you're not."
Jocelyn let a few tears slip but forced them away. Peter put his arms around her but quickly got out of them. She noticed a crystal vase holding a bouquet of dying roses. Their once vibrant red color was now a sick dark red.
"These flowers are dying," she said, picking up the vase. "Charlie gave them to me before he went away."
Peter said nothing. He didn't want to upset her and he was furious at Charlie. How could he do this to her when all she did was love him?
"You should get rid of them, I'll buy you fresh flowers," he offered.
"Just like he got rid of me." Jocelyn took a last look at the roses and threw the vase at the mirror and watched as the glass shattered into a thousand tiny little pieces then sunk onto the floor.
"Why?!" she said between sobs. "Why did he do this to me?! What am I supposed to do now?!"
Peter sat next to her and held her close. "It'll be okay, I promise."
"What am I supposed to do now?" she asked again.
"I'll take care of you," he whispered.
He held her until she stopped shaking and then when she finally stopped crying he helped her up and dressed and gather her things. Peter said it would be better for her to stay with her father than stay here. She was done with the Moulin Rouge forever.
"My father is going to kill me," she said quietly. Peter was carrying her bag and Jocelyn was holding onto him.
"Don't worry," Peter smiled.
"Why?"
"I have a plan."
Toulouse sat next to Christian in the crowded room below his own. He was quietly sipping his tea as his longtime friend slept uneasily. He would wince occasionally or let out a soft moan but then would resume his sleep. Some soup was warming up on the stove, some fighting spirit for Christian. The short painter turned his head when he saw Jocelyn and Peter walk in the room. Jocelyn didn't look so good herself.
"Hello my dear," he said softly.
Jocelyn sat on the bed next to her father. "What are you doing here Toulouse?"
"I'm afraid you're father is not so well. He has a very unpleasant fever and..well, this may be it."
"Isn't there something we could do, surely this can't be it," she said unapprovingly.
"The doctor's been and he said there's nothing he could do," Toulouse replied, tears streaming down his face. He put his hand on Jocelyn's and gave it a little squeeze. "I'm so sorry."
"Could I be alone with him for a little while," she said, her gaze intent on her father.
"Of course, I'll be outside if you need anything," Toulouse said. He picked up his hat and cane and walked out.
"I'll go," Peter said.
"No stay."
"Alright," he nodded and stood near the door.
"Daddy?" Jocelyn called gently. He pushed a few locks of hair out of his face and wiped it down with a cool face cloth. "Daddy can you hear me?"
Christian stirred a little and slowly opened his eyes. They were a little red but they had that same look when he saw her. That look of love when a father sees his baby. "Hello darling."
Jocelyn smiled. "I'm so happy to be home."
"Me too. I missed you so much."
"I know and I'm sorry. I should've been taking care of you and.."
"Don't worry about it love. I know you wanted to help but you had to do something for yourself," Christian smiled faintly. "Did I ever tell you that you look so much like your mother?"
"Yes many times," Jocelyn laughed, wiping his face down again.
"She was so beautiful, just like you. I suppose I'll be seeing her soon. And you'll be free and be a mother yourself."
"You have to stay with me first. I'm going to take care of you and you'll see your grandchild soon."
"Don't tell me the father is that richie boy of yours."
"Well you see.."
"No sir," Peter spoke up from his place by the door in the shadows. "I'm the father of the baby and I want to marry your daughter with your permission."
Christian laughed. "Well, it would be wise to get the young lady's permission first right?"
"Aye sir," Peter smiled.
"Well what are you waiting for? Go on!"
Peter got down on his knees before Jocelyn and took out of his pocket a gold ring with a little gem in the middle. "Jocelyn will you marry me?"
Jocelyn was a little shocked but found enough strength to say yes and kissed Peter, her new fiancé.
"Wait a minute here, how did you know about everything?" Jocelyn asked her father, looking at him suspiciously.
"I have my sources," Christian laughed, but started a coughing fit. Jocelyn gave him a little water and held the glass for him as he gulped it down. "Could you wait outside?"
"Sure," Peter said giving her a kiss on the forehead.
Finally the two were alone.
"Darling, I am dying. And there's nothing you can do or say that will change that. It's a part of life," Christian said, holding Jocelyn's hand close to his heart.
"I know Papa. I know," she said quietly. The tears were coming again.
"Don't cry, I'll always look after you and especially the little one. And I will finally be with your mother. I bet she's waiting for me right now."
"Give her a kiss for me when you see her," Jocelyn forced another smile.
"Of course."
Jocelyn felt so useless. Everything was so out of control. She curled up next to her father with her arm around him.
"I love you my little girl," he said before they went to sleep.
"I love you Daddy."
Christian died late in the night, in his sleep. Jocelyn had him buried next to her mother in the town graveyard. Jocelyn and Peter were married a few weeks later. Toulouse gave Jocelyn away, Harold arranged everything (who later confessed to be Christian's "sources" and claimed that it was a one father to another conference), Satie cried and the Argentinian went unconsious a few times during the ceremony. And although Jocelyn missed her father teribbly she knew he was in a better place. And as for Charles Bateson. He married and had a few children but reputation held him as a very miserable man and later disappeared in America.
Jocelyn published her father's book and it was a smash hit. All stores ran out of copies as soon as they got their hands on them. It turned out also that Peter was a very fine director and the book became a play and one of the biggest productions in France since "Spectacular Spectacular" in 1899. On opening night an understudy had to fill in for the star of the show whose character was the beautiful courtesan, the Sparkling Diamond. She was busy giving birth to her twin son and daughter.
"What should we name them?" Peter asked his lovely wife holding his tiny daughter.
"This young man will be Christian Peter," Jocelyn said, holding her newborn son.
"And how about Nicole Satine for this little lady," Peter finished.
"Nicole?"
"It was my mother's name."
"I see, it's perfect," Jocelyn smiled. "But should we tell them the truth? About what really happened?
"Dear, I know that truth is one of our essential beliefs but sometimes certain truths can be hidden. After all I am their father now and it doesn't make a difference."
"Right my love."
"I love you," Peter said.
"Come what may?" Jocelyn asked.
"Come what may."
The two lovers kissed and started their new life with their new family. The show would go on.
That ladies and gentlemen is the end of our story. And they lived happily ever after.
Author's note - - Finally finished! Thank you so much to all of you that have read and reviewed. It meant so much to me and I hope that you liked my story! Happy Holidays and remember..the greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.