A/N:  THIS IS NOT EDITED. BETA READER NEEDED. The movie Moulin Rouge, along with the characters used in this fanfiction, is copyrighted (©) to its respected owners (Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Productions, Baz Luhrmann, etc.). I do not take any credit for the characters from the movie Moulin Rouge that I have used in this fanfiction. All of the characters not from the Moulin Rouge movie are my own creations (Josilan, Henry, and others). Please DO NOT USE THEM without my permission.  This is collaboration between Viral Impact and Kalah Exclamation Mark so please contact one of us for any information. Thank you.

Chapter Two: Vanilla Clouds

She dreamt of vanilla clouds. Christian and her were merrily dancing on the rooftops, submerged in the sweet vanilla clouds until she tripped and fell and he continued on. She fell from the rooftops. She fell out of the vanilla clouds and landed in front of the dark, dank, unlit, and miserable looking Moulin Rouge. At night it sparkled, but in day it was the gates of hell. Clad in a black suit, Henry tilted his hat ever so slightly before opening the doors. Satine felt a rush of cold as Henry's cane was pointed at her and the slight swishing noise sent a powerful presence surging through her body. He snarled, "So whore, you come back like the little bitch you are? The writer didn't want to play your games any more? Well," he threw his heavy black cloak upon her, "as Zidler always said, no more vanilla clouds."

"Stop Henry!" Satine pleaded. "Stop! Christian loves me. He always will, he said so himself. He'll get me away from you and Moulin Rouge."

"Get up whore! Get up whore and please your master."

"Henry!" Satine sobbed and pleaded to Henry who was unwilling to listen to her childish pleads. "Please…stop and listen to me. It's the power, isn't it? I thought you promised…"

He pulled her onto her feet and close to his body as his hot breath was slapping against her cold and clammy face. Satine turned her head but listened as he snarled, "Satine, no matter what you say, I am your master and you will follow my every command because you have you choice. You're a whore and what man wants a whore, right?"

Satine whimpered, "Someone."

Henry released his iron grip on Satine and began to laugh madly as he whirled around. "Are you kidding me?" He turned to look at Satine but turned away to laugh. "You're a foolish woman. Get it together Satine…" Satine fell onto her knees and shook her head. "No? Well, until then, be a loyal bitch and go back to your room. Your sobbing will scare away our customers." He began to retreat back into the Moulin Rouge and the wild laughing began once again. She could briefly hear him mocking her in his high-pitched shrilly voice, "Someone will love me, the dirty whore of Moulin Rouge. Ha!"

The laughing still rang in her ears and she couldn't stand it any longer. Satine turned to leave but she bumped into a man. She gazed up and a pair of gray eyes that appeared like a storm either beginning or ending pierced her and haunted her. Her heart was still thumping from her encounter with Henry and as the man reached down and caressed her cheek, Satine, clutching to her chest and drenched in sweat, awoke from the nightmare.

          The train pulled up to the last stop and in the early morning, Christian could hear the businesses beginning to open in his hometown. He offered Josilan his arm and they cuddled in the cold as they walked down the main street. As they passed the shops in silence, Christian whispered, "Want some ice cream?"

"This early?" Josilan questioned with eyebrows raised. "I don't think I've ever had ice cream."

"Never had ice cream?" Christian smiled as her innocence and he opened the door to the ice cream parlor. "Ladies first. You know, a friend owns it and can fetch some ice cream really quick and I'm sure he can't deny fetching some for such a lovely lady like you."

As they sat with their scoop of ice cream, Christian watched her in awe and he felt his heart ring with joy. In the darkness that surrounded him, he had finally found his light. She had learned much about him on the train, but what of her? Christian knew little. Josilan squealed with a warm smile, "Christian, I love vanilla ice cream now. It has such a sweet and powerful taste, almost like tasting Heaven."

"I know what would taste like Heaven to me…" Christian silently mentioned.

"Hmmm?" Josilan pushed the bowl away as she finished and the thought of her made Christian light-headed, almost like Satine.

The thought of her Sparkling Diamond made his stomach lurch. He was disgusted with himself. How dare he compare Josilan to such scum! He shook the thought out of his head and murmured, "Nothing, let's go."

It took several moments to convince Christian's father that Josilan was no harm to Christian or his father's home (more importantly, his wealth) and that they would stay only until Christian could find a home of his own. His father, weak with illness though unwilling to come to peace with his weakness, urged, "Christian, this is your home and I am still upset but happy that you have come back to your senses. However, bringing home this…girl…from Montmartre, I do not agree with but your mother always said to be willing to accept the things I cannot change. This is your home as much as mine. When you left, I realized this. Stay as long as needed but live on these rules. This is not a hotel for any of your other friends. Be expected to find your own food except for dinners. You must clean your own laundry unless the maids are willing to help. You are independent and you must ask with good reasons for any loans." Christian nodded in respect as his father hissed, "Now leave me be for the rest of the day."

Christian led Josilan up to his room and there she asked, "Oh Christian? What did you say about Heaven earlier?"

Christian paused and turned to Josilan with bright eyes and in one swift movement, he dipped her into his arms and planted a kiss with such force and passion, the two crumpled onto the bed. The unlacing, the unbuttoning, and the frenzy of their passion, their lust, began and when they parted for a moment Christian huskily gasped while trying to regain oxygen, "I said I wanted to taste Heaven and I just did. My angel, take me to Heaven once again. Take me and never let me forget."

Josilan pulled upwards and kissed Christian gently and the two lay in silence for a few moments, enjoying their moment shared together. Christian finally uttered, "Josilan, tell me who are you? Where are from and why were you in such a hurry to leave Montmartre?"

Josilan inhaled and she rolled onto one side to gaze at Christian, who in turn rolled on his side to gaze at her. "I wanted to escape from the Moulin Rouge."

Christian gasped and yelped in shock, "You're not a Diamond Dog are you?" Christian jumped out of bed and began to hastily put his clothes back on.

Wrapping the sheet around her, Josilan screeched as she tumbled out of the bed, "Oh Christian, this won't change things, will it?" Christian didn't reply as he picked up his articles of clothing and Josilan followed him around the room. He turned and slammed into her body but Josilan stood her ground. She caressed his cheek tenderly and shook her head in disapproval of her past, "I know I was a Diamond Dog, but don't let that stop us…this." Tears ran freely down her cheeks and when Christian turned to look away, she gently nudged him to return her loving gaze, "I chose to leave because something told me to leave. Something possessed me to actually go back to the train station and look! I found you and you found me. It's a sign. Didn't you feel it on the train?" Christian nodded; he couldn't deny his sudden feelings. "Then it shouldn't matter, no?"

Christian snapped again as he screamed and pushed Josilan away. "I don't need to fall in love with another Moulin Rouge whore!" He raced to the window and stood with his back to Josilan.

Josilan was struck and she with a paling face replied without any emotion in her voice, "If that's how you feel, like I'm some whore, pay up." Josilan held out her hand and Christian was also struck by her harsh reply as he glanced over his shoulder at Josilan. She stood with her head up high and she continued as she pointed at Christian, "I am a whore you say? Well, this wasn't some cheap thrill so show me the money Christian. Pay for your whore and your thrill if that's how you truly feel." She paused and finally pleaded in a whisper, "I really wanted us to work Christian."

Christian turned away once again and cried hoarsely, "You're only saying this. What? Did Satine hire you to ruin me even more?"

"No!" Josilan screamed. "Listen for once! Open your eyes! There's a whole another world than the Moulin Rouge! Not everyone that comes from the Moulin Rouge is a Satine. Look at me! I can still love! I can still live a life away from the Moulin Rouge. Why is so hard for you to believe?"

Christian turned to face Josilan and he whispered in disbelief, "And I suppose you'll say I'll learn to love again?"

"Believe me Christian." Josilan grasped his hands tenderly and made him caress her face lightly. "Like I took your hand, you have to believe me for once and take mine."

"Tell me what I need to believe. Tell me and I'll see if I can." Christian closed his eyes as a familiar warmth in his heart returned as she kissed him lightly.

Words spilled from her mouth, wrenching his heart and breaking his soul but mending at the same time, "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

Then, as the effect of her words still hung, Christian knew Satine didn't send Josilan to ruin him, she was sent by the gods to give him hope and life once again…

          Satine watched the moment when Henry flicked the power switch on and the Moulin Rouge came alive. His new investors clapped ecstatically and Satine soon followed with Henry. Outwardly she was a normal gentle kitten but inside the tiger in her was pacing back and forth with uneasiness. The Duke had paid for the new Moulin Rouge sign; it was brighter and bigger but still fit the Moulin Rouge's classic style. Nini laughed as The Duke escorted Satine away from the party and she hollered, "The Duke's gonna get his money's worth tonight! Satine, you dirty little--"

Satine could hear no more of Nini's vulgar comments as The Duke conversed silently with Henry before he entered the Gothic Tower. Henry nodded respectfully and he nodded to Satine. As Henry passed her, she felt him secretly slid a note into the palm of hand before The Duke anxiously sneered, "I have a big present for you waiting upstairs in my room. Shall we go?"

Satine forced a giggle and replied, "I can't wait my dear Duke."

Satine gazed out into the sky on one of the lonely balconies of Gothic Tower. The moon shone with all its glory and it hit its face behind a few vanilla clouds. She smelt the sweet fresh air while she wished for the azure skies to appear and wished the night would end. She turned to gaze at The Duke, passed out after too many glasses of wine and she shook her head at the pathetic man. She heard Nini catcall from below, "Satine…Satine…did The Duke do the deed or is he passed out after the little special thing I accidentally slipped in his cup of wine? Ha!" Nini's grating laugh echoed down the empty streets and Satine glared down as Nini pranced about. "I guess you won't be feeling that cold rock on your finger any time soon. Oh, and to think, you had a perfectly good man waiting for. What was his name? Chris something?"

Nini shrieked with laughter again and Satine screamed, "Go away you little miserable witch! No one cares what you think! No one cares how you feel! Go away! It's not true! Love is worthless! It isn't real!" Nini stopped and gazed up at Satine in shock. Satine raised her head in the air and tried to walk away with dignity. She retreated into The Duke's cold bed and she cried herself to sleep.

          "And pick up the pace." Henry motioned and spoke with passion. "Step up it up Nini! You're running to greet them not hobbling. I love the passion I'm getting from you Chocolat. And pause!" Henry pointed at the pianist. "Play the first notes at a slow pace…it is magical remember. Hit the lights!" The room dimmed. "Now Diamond Dogs, turn! Point!"

The swing was being lowered with the spotlight ready for Satine to sing but nothing came but Nini's snickers, "Ah boss, like this is real magical. Point at the ceiling girls and pray that the diva bitch will come back because she only comes down when she feels like it. You know, I thought you were the one who commanded everything around here but it seems Satine has her own…list of things to do."

One of the girls stood up from her position at the floor and pointed a finger at Nini in defense for Satine, "Shut your trap Nini. No one cares what you think so just shut your trap."

The noise of slamming doors could be heard and suddenly, in one of the terraces, Satine, breaking the tension, finally showed her face. Satine glanced around and snapped her fingers, "Lights." The lights shifted onto her and Satine ripped the top hat from her head and threw it down to the nonexistent crowd. "Sorry to keep you waiting boys." She flung off her robe to reveal herself barely clad in lingerie.

Henry snarled and commanded, "From the top, from the top." Henry pointed at Satine and then pointed up at the ceiling, "And I want to see you at the top on the swing." She shook her head in disagreement and Henry erupted. "Damn you Satine!"

"What?" She asked defensively as she closed the robe around her body. "I like this entrance much better than the old dull and boring one. I think you agree too Henry? Dear?"

"No." Henry snarled. "No Satine."

Satine pouted and turned her back to Henry pretending to sob. "Oh Henry, you never let me have anything I want."

"What do you want now?"

Satine turned, wiping the false tears away and asked in a serious and sultry tone, "Do you promise to give them to me?"

"Depends, so speak now."

"I want more lights, more color, more dancers, more me. I want to sparkle and light up the room. I want to truly be The Sparkling Diamond and to do that, I want this entrance and…maybe if I throw my hat down, a lucky man could climb up the wall and place a tiara on my head? Then I would really sparkle. Don't you think Henry? Darling? Handsome? I could really feel like a princess…a queen…The Queen of Moulin Rouge?"

"Fine. But I don't like the climbing idea. You can be carried down by the men and then have…" Henry scanned the ground by spinning around and when he faced Satine, he finished, "Nini place the tiara on your head."

"What?" Nini roared.

"Shut your trap!" the girl from before replied to Nini's shrilly scream.

Satine giggled, "I like. Begin again from the top."

Henry listened as Toulouse's lisp caused him to grind his teeth and flinch every now and then. Toulouse poured himself another glass of absinthe before laughing madly as Toulouse slurred and Henry did not understand a word. Finally Henry had enough of the tiny fellow and he stood up abruptly and left the room. As he stormed across the empty floors of the Moulin Rouge, where it was still bright from the night's excitement, he bumped into The Duke who immediately cried, "Where is she?"

"Where is who?" Henry questioned as The Duke stopped him.

"Satine…where is she?" The Duke muttered impatiently.

Henry pushed The Duke away in his sudden fury and began to stumble away while he hissed, "Waiting for you in Gothic Tower, you whining, muttering—"Absinthe always made Henry irritable, destructive and…

"What?" The Duke roared. "What did you say my friend? Are you sure you don't want to correct yourself?"

Henry turned around and sighed heavily, "I am exhausted. Satine said she was waiting for you."

"I've checked." The Duke corrected. "She's not there."

Suddenly, Henry heard the shrilly laugh of Satine and The Duke's head snapped up. There she was, up in the balconies, with another man. Henry lunged at The Duke before he could see and murmured, "I remember now…she was tired…I'll talk to her. Now, time to go dear Duke. You know, the night is young, so why don't you go looking somewhere else?" With that he shoved The Duke out of the Moulin Rouge.

He turned and heard Satine's shrilly laughter ring through the building, "Oh, you're too flattering. Oh!" She growled, "And very much in charge…"

Henry screamed, "Satine!"

With a thud, he watched Satine fall to the ground and the man quickly disappear. Satine peered over the balcony and peeped, "Yes Henry, dear?"

"Come down." He pointed at the floor and sternly slurred, "Now."

He watched as Satine disappeared and the soft whisperings and promises to return. Satine came floating down the stairs and soon the man exited through the front doors. Satine purred, "Yes master?"

"You whore!" Henry slapped her with such force that she fell to the ground. From the corner of her eye, she saw Nini and the Argentinean fall from behind a column and watched as they crawled away to Nini's room in a drunken frenzy. Henry continued, "Who do you think you are?" Satine stood up slowly and he pointed a finger at her, "Answer me! Answer me!"

Satine remarked snidely as she raised her head into the air, "The greatest actress to live on this earth."

Henry grabbed the front of Satine's blouse and pulled her towards him so he could laugh in her face, "An actress? Ha…ha…"

He slapped her again but Satine stood her ground as he violently attacked her. When she had enough she reached for his throat but he grabbed her wrists with such agility, it shocked her. They tumbled to the ground as she kicked and screamed and bit him to free herself. Nothing worked. He continued to beat her until finally Satine broke free and rolled into the middle of the dance floor.

She heard Henry's heavy footsteps as he approached and he finally picked her up by the front of her bodice. She hung in his arms and he cradled her as if she was a child. "Have you had enough?"

She whimpered as he flicked the bit of blood from the corner of her mouth, "Henry," gasp "stop" wheeze "please" cough "stop!"

He dropped her onto the ground and gave her a good kick in the ribs. She moaned as she held her side and curled into a little ball. He threw his overcoat over her as she uncontrollably sobbed quietly. He growled, "Go to your room." Satine shook her head the best she could and he murmured, "No? Fine then. Stay here like a dirty whore and wait until I will make you get up." She heard the thudding of his heavy boots until they became quieter and quieter and finally they were completely silenced by the slamming of a door.

Between sobs, she whimpered, "No more vanilla clouds…no more…vanilla…" She rolled over and gazed out of the tiny window where the silver moonlight cascaded down as if to caress her blood caked face.

She could almost hear the distant singing of Christian, "I hope you don't mind…I hope you don't mind that I put down in words…" She could almost see them frolicking in those sweet vanilla clouds, in her sweet vanilla dreams. "…How wonderful life is now you're in the world."