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.

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Chapter Three: Same Question, Different Answers

        The Elephant was cold the night Satine shoved The Duke off of her abruptly. He, taken aback by such a strange behavior, fell onto the floor and almost immediately popped up and peeked over the bed to see Satine crawling out of the bed and attending to her face…again. The Duke muttered, "Satine? Dear? Love?" When she didn't reply, his voice grew in anger, "Satine? My lovely of lovelies? Answer me now!"

Satine turned around and shut the case of her face powder as she smiled warmly at The Duke, "Duke, you know anger makes you all red in the face and I cannot stand a man with a red face."

Satine crawled over the bed and propped her head up by her hands as she stared into The Duke's beady eyes. He began, "Why did you—?" but she brought a finger to his lips to silence him.

"Are you the man for me?" She asked and he nodded slowly and a feral growl rumbled from the depths of his throat. Satine jumped onto her feet and jumped on the bed as she shrieked with joy, "Then it's a decision! We'll marry and you will whisk me away from the Moulin Rouge!"

The Duke coughed and shook his head and flatly and quickly replied, "No."

"No?" Satine crumpled onto the bed and sighed heavily as she stuck out her lower lip in a pout.

The Duke stood slowly and walked over to his table where his gloves and hat had been tossed lazily. He began to put on his gloves and grab his cane when Satine pretended to whimper and cry. The Duke continued, "In good time you will understand, can't you see Satine? I knew this would happen some day…"

"What would happen?" Satine groaned. "That I wasn't pretty enough for you?"

"Jealousy."                                                 

"Jealousy?" Satine snapped and she almost broke character when a small laugh escaped from her lips. "Jealous of…you?" Satine buried her face deeper into the pillow and erupted in laughter.

The Duke shook his head and said before leaving her room, "Satine, you cry now but soon those tears will dry and you will understand. I'll talk to Henry about this before I leave."

The laughter halted. She murmured, "Talk to Henry?"

        Christian awoke to the smell of eggs, toast, and sausage and he heard Josilan's light giggle. He crept down the stairs to and peered into the kitchen to see his mother, Giselle, and Josilan talking in barely audible voices. He strained to listen.

Giselle spoke gently as she cracked the eggs into the frying pan, "Christian and you are close, yes?"

"I think." Josilan replied as she slapped some butter down onto the toast. "No, I'm…"

Christian heard the stairs beginning to creak behind him and his father's booming voice caused Christian to leap into the air and tumble down the stairs. His father erupted, "Christian! Put some clothes on boy! If you were…" His father's stern voice melted away into inaudible mutterings as Christian ran into his bedroom in a rush.

Unknown to the eavesdropper's confrontation with his father, Josilan continued, "I love him."

"Love is a powerful thing."

"And the greatest thing in the world." Josilan added as she smiled and Giselle hugged her tightly.

"Christian was always a sap for love and maybe you're the thing he needs." They paused and Giselle served her husband who waited impatiently at the table. When she returned, she added, "Christian seemed to loose hope when he came back from Montmartre." Josilan nodded solemnly and Giselle questioned, "Any family around?"

"No…" Josilan sweetly replied.

Christian's father almost immediately interrupted as he pointed his fork at Josilan, "I like you. You've impressed me and I wouldn't mind if you're the one."

Giselle dropped four eggs onto the floor and she heard someone tumble down the stairs and slam into a wall. It was almost unheard of that Christian's crusty elderly father would approve…and she was from Montmartre nonetheless! No one moved or dared to breathe.

        "Close the door and be out of my sight." Henry pointed at Marie who obliged and Satine shivered. She was alone with a monster.

"Sit." Henry with raised eyebrows and dry lips commanded. Satine slowly took a seat as Henry, tossing his gloves between his hands, approached her. "Satine…" His voice was sweet, sincere, but it turned into a hideous snarling, draped with anger, "What the hell were you doing when you asked The Duke to marry you?"

"I was being honest." She grimaced as she spoke the untruthful words, "I…love…The Duke."

"Honest?" Henry slapped her hands playfully with his gloves. "I'll be honest with you. We're creatures of the underworld. We can't afford to love."

"Just like Zidler."

"Shut!" Henry backhanded her with his gloves so hard that it made a familiar slapping sound that reminded Satine of a whip. "Be honest with me Satine. Wasn't it to get away from your," he stroked her hair, "loving brother?" Satine sat at the edge of her seat and Henry suddenly kicked the chair from under her. She slammed onto the ground and rolled to her side to gaze up at him with pleading eyes. He snarled as he hovered over her. "Satine, I don't want to hurt you…" The gloves remained in his hand and he slowly raised them as if to strike her once again. "Be honest."

"You've already left me once bleeding and bruised." Satine whispered harshly. "What more is left? Go ahead and hurt me." She spit in his face and continued angrily, "I'll admit. I wanted to marry him to leave you and this hellhole."

"Poor girl, tonight you'll find out." Henry's strange statement hung in the air along with his devious chuckle.

"Find what?" Henry didn't listen to Satine's whisper. Louder she repeated her question, "Find out what?" Henry opened the door and turned to shake his head at the poor sight of Satine. "Henry?" He left and Marie scrambled in with a gown and makeup in her hands.

"Satine, we have to prepare. The show is about to begin. The show!" She stopped as she watched Satine slowly rise from the floor and wipe the blood from her newly broken lip. "Satine?"

Satine slapped Marie's hands away and she chirped, "I can do it myself. Just leave me alone…leave me be for just one moment." Satine wiped the tears from her eyes and Marie touched her shoulder gently. Satine slapped her hand away again. "Please."

        The Duke took an elegant gloved hand and held the wrist that was adorned with several diamond bracelets. The Duke kissed the hand and he shuddered as he felt the long slender fingers tickle his palm. He always loved hands. Holding his hat onto his head, Henry rushed out of the front doors of the Moulin Rouge to greet the lovely woman. She stepped out of the carriage, a nice touch by The Duke, and she appeared like a princess. Her white dress hung perfectly and the long gloves and sparkling diamonds made Henry's mouth slowly fall open. She was like an angel with her cerulean eyes and long golden hair. She was clean, almost innocent looking unlike the many women Henry was surrounded by during his life at the Moulin Rouge. The Duke's eyes never left the woman as The Duke murmured, "Henry Zidler, please meet my lovely fiancée Camilla Parker."

Camilla floated by The Duke and the scent of jasmine taunted his nose. She held out her hand and as Henry took it, she took her index finger to close his mouth with her other hand. "Harold Zidler? The Harold Zidler?"

"If you say so mademoiselle." Henry replied as he kissed the top of her hand. "I'm anything you want me to be tonight."

As he quickly pulled the two apart and interlocked his arm with Camilla's, The Duke corrected, "No dear this is Henry Zidler. Now, are you sure you want to come here?" The Duke questioned and smiled nervously.

"Ladies do not normally come with their men?" Camilla asked as she turned to Henry.

Henry chuckled, "Women occasionally but not ladies."

Camilla's laugh twinkled and caused the two grown men to wipe sweat from their brows and shiver with excitement. The Duke led Camilla inside and Henry could almost still hear her beautiful laugh. He quickly followed at their heels. He felt like an idiot as he fell into the role The Duke had played so many times over; the sniveling man who rode on someone's coattails.

The show had already begun as the trio sat themselves in a booth and Camilla was poured a glass of wine. Many men turned to gaze at the woman, and many inquired for her name. When the stares became too much, The Duke drew the curtains of the booth shut to give Camilla, Henry, and him privacy while they talked about money. When Satine appeared on her swing, she was faltered when no one was paying attention to her but was giving all their attention to a booth where the curtains had been drawn. Nini slid over to Satine and whispered, "Have you heard?"

"Heard about what? The whole dance floor is practically empty and all the men are over there…" She gestured to where the men were on their knees and they were holding up their gifts, originally for Satine, to the mysterious booth. Then it hit her. "That's The Duke's seat. What are doing there? Why? Why are the curtains closed?" She panicked and turned to Nini. "Is Henry there too?"

Nini laughed maliciously, "The Duke got his money's worth and now he wants to check out."

"…No…" Satine felt light on her feet as she dashed up the stairs and ripped open the curtains to the booth. She saw Henry and The Duke shaking hands and Henry making at toast to their future. The other men crowded to peak inside to view Camilla who raised her hand and gave a little wave causing one of the men to pass out. Satine shook her head and Henry stood up, adjusting his shirt and replacing his hat onto his head. Satine pleaded, "Duke…dear Duke? It's not true, is it?"

The Duke took Camilla's hand and the two left the table as she gazed at Satine. Camilla stopped and touched Satine's soft hair and exclaimed, "You have lovely hair and a lovely necklace." Camilla touched the necklace that The Duke had given Satine. "I remember having one just like it. I gave it to my little Duke to give to charity." Satine pulled away in embarrassment. "Too bad most the diamonds are only glass. They do sparkle though…"

The Duke pulled Camilla away and urged, "Henry will walk to you outside. Wait there for me dear?" Camilla nodded and she took Henry hand as he led her away from the growing tension. The Duke continued, "Satine, since I am leaving Montmartre for England doesn't mean 'this' is over."

"Who is she?" Satine asked trying to look him in the eye but The Duke avoided any eye contact. "Who is she?"

The Duke ignored her question as he grabbed her arm violently and heard Henry tell the massive crowd it was time to leave. The Duke led her all the way to The Elephant. Satine ripped her arm away and The Duke stood in the doorway, "Henry wanted this to be a relaxing goodbye." The Duke paused. "He said I could have any thing I gave to you back. He said we should consider it a lovely engagement present from you and him. I choose this." He reached out and fingered the necklace around Satine's neck. "Satine?"

Satine pulled away and sobbed as she turned away from The Duke, "Who is she?" She felt her neck be released from the shackle-like necklace, as she murmured, "Aren't we going to be married?"

The Duke replied, "The lady is my fiancée. The lady isn't going to be you."

Satine cried not because of The Duke but because her only chance to be free slipped through her fingers. She had been embarrassed, led to believe they were going to be wed and now…left alone in the cold. The Duke wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him as he whispered in her ear, "When you think about it, why would the maharajah choose the courtesan when he can have the beautiful angel?" With that, The Duke released her and he laughed. "Camilla is right. I have grown into a witty man." The Duke gave a shrilly laugh as he nodded at Satine and closed the door.

Satine scrambled across the room and climbed to the top of The Elephant to watch as The Duke and Camilla climbed into the carriage. She spied and strained to listen as she saw The Duke emerge outside. Henry closed the carriage door and it disappeared down the street.

Once inside the carriage, Camilla leaned and kissed The Duke tenderly as she asked, "Dear, did you tell her everything I said?"

"Yes love."

Camilla kissed him again and they giggled, "A treat for a good boy. You did mention the little maharajah joke, right?"

"Yes love. Another treat?"

Camilla replied in a sultry voice, "A big treat this time."

The Duke shrilled as he tapped his fingertips together and his face was more smile than anything, "Oh goody!"

        Christian kneeled at his father's bedside and listened carefully to hear any signs of life. None came. Christian reached over the bed and grazed his fingertips across his father's face, closing his father's eyes and brushing a strand of his gray hair out of his face. The priest touched Christian shoulder and replied, "William was a good man. You know where I reside if you need to talk Christian…" The priest left Christian in silence. Hours passed and finally his knees went numb. He stood and found himself face to face with the lawyer. The lawyer made wide gestures as he spoke to Christian, "I'm in a rush but here's your father's message to you. Basically, you've inherited everything son!" The lawyer popped a cigar into Christian's mouth and motioned for the doctor and his assistants to enter. They carried Christian's father out and it was over. Christian sighed heavily at the strange handling of the death but he hastily ripped open the letter as he left the cigar fall to the floor.

The note read:

Christian,

        I understand we never fully understood one another but I understand this…you have something wonderful, don't let it go like I did so many years ago. –Beau

For days and nights the note plagued Christian and the vision of his father haunted him until finally, from physical and mental exhaustion, he locked himself into his room and allowed only Josilan to visit him. She urged him to open his drapes, to take walks with her or at least eat. For a week, Josilan forced Christian to eat, forced him to take walks, and forced him to talk until finally Christian snapped out of his trance. Slowly he felt alive and when Josilan was away, he felt himself waiting impatiently at the doorstep. Giselle left one night to visit her aging mother and that night, Josilan brought home a strange man. Christian was antsy and rude to the guest and especially during dinner when Christian broke the silence by bluntly asking, "So, you two are lovers?"

The man with the darkening scowl looked up from his soup and answered, "Yes."

Josilan smiled nervously and Christian threw his bowl of soup onto the floor. He stormed out of the room and Josilan quickly screamed, "John! My dear friend, stop protecting me." Josilan whirled around the room and screamed, "Leave! Go away! Go away!" When he wouldn't budge, Josilan screamed and opened the door, "Leave!"

Josilan raced upstairs and threw open the door to Christian's room. The door closed behind her and she scanned the room frantically. She noticed the open window and raced to it while she called, "Christian?" She fell onto the windowsill and cried, "Don't leave me. I love you! Christian! Christian?"

Suddenly she was tugged around and she was kissed so fiercely, she had to lean against the wall to keep her balance. They parted and she saw Christian's tear streaked face. "I don't want to lose you because now I know what Father was saying…he was telling me not to let you go." They kissed again and the two fell into a passionate entanglement.

Finally they paused and Josilan panted, "I love you so much it hurts Christian."

Christian broke into the widest smile Josilan had ever seen and he whispered, "Be my wife Jos, be my everything, be mine…why shouldn't we live our lives as one? Marry me? Oh Josilan," they kissed once again, "marry me!"

Josilan nodded her head wildly and squealed, "I will! I've waited forever…forever for you, for this, and…oh! Just let me close, let us be close."

        Satine twisted her hair around her fingers as she heard Nini's wild laughing from behind Henry's den-door. Nini sauntered into Henry's office with a newspaper in hand and her lipstick smeared across her face. She slammed it down onto the desk and she said as she hiked up her skirt and sat in Henry's lap, "The short man wanted you to read this."

Henry gazed at Satine who sipped her tea in silence and she looked at him from the corner of her eye. He picked up the newspaper and cleared his throat, "Why did Toulouse send me a bohemian, poorly brought together newspaper?" He knew that caught Satine's attention and he was right. With eyebrows raised, Satine turned her body around to face Nini and Henry.

Nini replied, "This." She pointed to an article and Henry raised an eyebrow.

He read aloud, "Beau Beaularie Dead, Survived by Wife and Son." He continued on, "Son No Longer a Bachelor." Henry rubbed his chin and continued on, "Announcing the marriage of Christian Beaularie and Josilan of Montmartre. The wedding was held at a local church near the Beaularie home in England. Christian is famously known in Montmartre for his writing assistance on the play Spectacular, Spectacular that had a long and glamorous run at the infamous Moulin Rouge. Congratulations to the newly weds from Toulouse, Satie, the Argentinean and the Diamond Dogs at the Moulin Rouge." Henry laughed, "Entertaining that Toulouse, en-ter-tain-ing!"

Satine's hand was shaking uncontrollably and she spilled half her tea onto her bodice as she tried to drink. Nini broke into an unpleasant laughing spell and Henry ripped the article out and tucked it in his pocket. He pushed Nini out of his lap and demanded, "Get out now little Nini and I'll see you tonight?" Satine turned to Henry when Nini left and he noticed the tears. "Satine, sister, don't cry because your last resort has been demolished." He paused. "You know you'll stay here forever…Do we have an understanding now?"

Satine nodded and she thought curtly, "I now understand I must work several times harder to escape you…and the Moulin Rouge. I have a complete understanding you idiot."