Disclaimer - I, do not own the rights to the "Sparkling Diamond[s]" of a
movie, "Moulin Rouge" (If I did I would be a genius going by the name of
Baz Luhrmann). I am simply one of the "Children of the Revolution"
(Although one of "Elephant [Melody]" proportions) that writes fanfiction
"Because We Can". "Come What May", but please do not sue me or I will be a
"Sad Hindi Diamond". May this be "Your Song" and may you say "Some Day I'll
Fly Away"! (I do not own the songs used in this story or in the titles of
the chapters either.)
*A Bohemian Storm Is Brewing*
Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
~Casidy
§=Þ
*~*
"Quoi Qu'il Arrive"
~ Part XIII: Can You Feel the Love Tonight ~
By: Casidy
Satine and Christian came down the stairs hand in hand, to find complete chaos. Every servant in the house was rushing around. Satine was shocked, expecting to come down to a quiet breakfast like every morning. She looked over at Christian standing next to her. He just stood there with a wide grin on his face.
"Christian? What's going on?" She whispered, leaning close to him.
He looked at her, almost with tears brimming in his eyes, "It's the preparation for the New Years Party." He let out a little laugh before continuing, "Every year for as long as I can remember the day after Christmas Em and I would come down to find mother ordering around every servant she could find trying to ready the house for New Years Eve."
At that moment Emily came hurrying out of the kitchen with half a croissant in one hand and a notebook and cup of hot chocolate in the other. Reading something off her notebook she shook her croissant at one of the maids getting their attention, "Julia, the caterer will be here at ten. I need a count of the china and crystal, as well as the silver. Willis," a servant, a little younger than Christian jogged over to where she stood. "Has the chimney been cleaned?"
"Yes, miss."
"The linens pressed?"
"Yes, miss."
"The wood floors polished?"
"Yes, miss."
"The draperies cleaned?"
"Not yet, miss."
"Well, get to it. Only five hours, twenty six minuets, till the guests arrive!" The young man nodded his head and went off to do as Emily asked.
Christian tugged on Satine's hand and she followed him down the stairs. "Emmy," he said, "for a moment I thought I was ten years old again!" He smiled sadly, "I half expected mother to come out of the kitchen juggling *her* breakfast and notebook."
Emily switched her cup to her other hand and took a quick sip. "I always thought this would be hard but it's actually pretty fun!"
Satine and Christian laughed at her. "I hope you still think that a few days from now. You'll probably lock yourself in your room with your flute. We'll be hearing "Flight of the Bumblebee" over and over all night!" Christian laughed.
"Oh ye of little faith!" Emily said jokingly, as she walked away.
"Well Satine, while Emmy is deluded in her idea that this party will fall into place, why don't you and I go to breakfast?"
*~*
Satine sat in front of her vanity and ran her hand over her hair making sure it was all in place. She picked up her crystal cut perfume bottle and sprayed it over herself. Catching her breath on the rose scented perfume she coughed suddenly. Coughing again she struggles to get her breath back. She stood quickly from her seat, knocking it from behind her onto the ground. Her cough turned to a hack and she dropped the cut glass bottle to the ground and leaned on her vanity for support. She picked up a handkerchief from the vanity and pressed it to her lips. She panicked as a liquid pain seared up her lungs and into her throat, catching just before reaching her mouth. She could feel it sliding down, back to its place deep in her lounges, waiting to rise again.
Satine tripped on the back of her gown and fell to the ground. She sat there for a moment leaning against her vanity with her hand on her chest struggling to catch her breath. Finally taking a deep breath she pulled herself from the ground and checked her image once again in the mirror. Finding her image acceptable she picked her purse up off the bed and slipped on her shoes and rushed out of her bedroom.
Christian, meanwhile, sat in a chair downstairs in the library listening to his sister. Emily was on the couch, upside down, her feet dangling off the back and her curls bouncing on the floor.
"Do you have any idea how much I've spent on this shindig? Father is going to shoot me when he gets all the bills." Emily said, never moving her eyes from the ceiling. "I don't know how it happened - I mean - oh Christian, I don't know what I'm going to do. I just can't see how mother possibly did these parties, father couldn't have let her spend this much money every year."
Christian stood from his chair and walked over to his little sister, his hands in his trouser pockets. Standing over her he looked down at her until she looked up into his deep eyes waiting for reassurance. "You really have no idea how much money father has, do you?"
Emily's brows crinkled, this was not what she had been expecting. "It doesn't matter how much money he has, Chris. What matters is how frugal he is with it and how he's going to send me to Switzerland when he finds out how much of it I've spent!" She swung her feet around the couch and sat up.
Christian plopped down beside her, "I think father is willing to let go of more money than you give him credit for. Money isn't worth anything until you spend it. Mother taught him that. I think that by letting you take over mother's party he's given you the freedom to spend anything you want. If not he would have given you a limit."
Emily stared down at her hands and smiled slightly. Lifting her head she swung her curls over her shoulder and looked at her brother. "I guess you're right." She paused and gave him a devilish smile.
Christian knew that look "Em - I didn't mean - "
"Thank you Chris! That means that I can hire the - well…It's a surprise but I wouldn't be confirming their performance if it weren't for your words of encouragement! Thanks sweetie!" She kissed Christian on the cheek then hopped up from her place on the couch. Her curls bounced around her making Christian momentarily remember her when his dear sister was much younger and a bit more innocent.
Satine walked into the library, passing Emily skipping out. "Have a good evening, Satine." Emily said before pulling her skirts up and bounding up the stairs.
Christian stood from his place on the sofa and felt as if he couldn't breath. Satine looked amazing. Was this beautiful creature really his fiancée? Was it possible for someone as amazing as her to love someone as normal as him?
Satine smiled and slowly walked towards him, swaying her hips seductively. "I believe you were expecting me."
Christian let out his breath in a quick puff as he nodded. No word came to mind. He was in awe of the beauty before him.
Satine smiled happily, thankful to have someone that loved her so much.
"Are you ready, darling?" Christian asked, regaining a bit of his wits.
She simply nodded he head.
*~*
The restaurant Christian took Satine to that night was breath taking. Its huge windows and offered a beautiful view of the city's most famous landmarks. An even more amazing sight was the view of the star-studded sky.
The host had seated them at a quiet table in a dark corner. Satine and Christian sat quietly looking over the menu, taking in the beauty around them. After ordering dinner they began discussing the plans for their up coming wedding.
"A wedding supposed to be special for the couple getting married, isn't it?" Satine asked.
"Yes, of course it is." Christian responded easily.
"And aren't our friends and family supposed to be there?" Satine asked. He nodded, "It's just, I don't think your father would approve of our friends."
"You're right, Satine. I remember Philip's wedding. Everyone on the groom's side of the church were either family I'd never met or my father's business associates."
"Exactly. I want our wedding to be special Christian, and I want our friend to share it with us." She put her elbow on the table and leaned her chin on it, pouting her lips slightly.
Christian sat back in his seat. He hadn't given much thought to the ceremony itself, simply that a wedding would result in he and Satine spending the rest of their life together. That was all that mattered to him, but now that he thought about it he did want his friends there. "I've got an idea, darling." Satine brightened and sat up, waiting for Christian to continue. "Weddings take place on Saturdays, right?" Satine nodded, having no idea where this was leading. "Well, what if we do something completely revolutionary?"
"It wouldn't be the first time." Satine commented.
Smiling, Christian continued, "Why don't we get married on a weekday? Sometime in the morning. Then we can invite all of our friends and have a small wedding, just the people we really want there. What do you think, darling?"
Satine was a bit hesitant, "But what will your father think, Christian? Won't he want to be there? He'd surely be angry if he found out we eloped."
Christian shook his head, "We'll still have the big, public wedding, we'd just already be married. No one would know except those whom were at the first wedding, and I'm sure none of them would say anything if we asked them not to. That way we can have the wedding we want with the guests we want and then have another for everyone else."
"You're a genius Christian! I would never have thought of something as clever! When do you want to get married?" She asked excitedly.
"As soon as possible. How long do you think it would take for invitations to get to France?"
"A week, two at the most." Satine answered quickly.
"Then how about three weeks from now? The third Friday in January. That would be after the holidays." Christian's heart was racing just thinking about the wedding.
"I think that sounds marvelous! Whom should we invite?" She asked.
"Well, let's see; Toulouse, The Doctor, and Satie, of course. Whom else would you like there?"
Satine bit her lip in thought, "Marie, Babydoll, Chocolat, Little Princess, and… Christian, would you mind if I invited Harold?" Satine asked nervously. She began to talk quickly trying to support her request. "I know you probably don't like him, and he and I didn't part on the best of terms but – he was always like a father to me. He was only pressuring me so because The Duke held the deeds to the Moulin Rouge and-" Satine stopped suddenly and went a little pale.
"Darling," Christian asked worried, "Are you alright?" He leaned across the table to get closer to her.
Satine pinched her lips together and looked as if she was holding back a flood of tears.
"Darling…Please tell me what's wrong. Really, I don't care who you want at the wedding, any one you want there will be there, I promise - I'll give you anything you wish if you just tell me what's wrong!"
"It's just…I've been so happy since we left France I never even gave a though to what may have happened to everyone. What The Duke did to everyone after I left him. He owned the Moulin Rouge, Christian. He probably had it shut down and everyone thrown out into the streets. Who knows where they are now!
Christian looked at her sadly. He knew she was right. "Even if he has, darling, there's nothing that could be done now. Why don't we send all of the invitations to Toulouse? I'm sure he would do his best to find everyone and deliver them." She nodded her head but he could tell she was blaming herself for not thinking about this earlier. Christian stood and walked over to where Satine sat. "Might I have this dance?" He asked just as the orchestra began a slow melody.
Satine couldn't help but smile up at him. He looked so dashing in his tuxedo, his face set, determined to put a smile on her face again. "Bien sûr, monsieur."*
Christian took her hand gently and helped her stand. Leading her out to the small dance floor. He put his hands around her waist and Satine stepped close to him needing to feel his warm body next to hers. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, sighing contently.
"Do you remember the first time we danced together, darling?" Christian asked closing his own eyes and resting his chin on the top of his love's head.
Satine smiled happily at the memory, "How could I forget? That must to have been the most embarrassing night of my life! I still can't believe you let me roll around on the floor like that! You must have thought I was a complete lunatic! I'm lucky you fell in love with me at all after that. I don't think I'll ever live down grabbing you and asking if I inspired you." She giggled at the memory.
Christian held back a chuckle, "I'm sure you thought I was crazy as well. 'It's quite modern what I do.', 'I prefer to do it standing,', 'it's quite long,'. Is there anything I've left out?"
"No, no. I think that's everything. Then there was my reaction to finding out you weren't The Duke."
"Ah, yes. I distinctly remember that little scene." Christian said tightening his grip on her waist.
"Well, I was terrified. For a few moments I thought that I could actually be happy. I was supposed to seduce a duke and I was expecting some old Englishman, only to fall madly in love with a 'young, handsome, talented, Duke' after only a few moments. Then I found out that you weren't the duke after all and I was terrified. I couldn't be in love! I'd seen too many girls destroyed by love. I was supposed to be unattainable but there I was 'scantly clad in the arms of another man, inside an elephant'."
Christian kissed the top of her head. "So it wasn't all an act!" He said with light sarcasm.
"Hardly."
*~*
Christian opened the front door for Satine and followed her inside the house. Everything was dark except for a glowing light coming from the library. Walking quietly by the door Christian looked in to see his little sister sitting near the fire examining papers spread out all around her.
Satine followed his gaze. "Christian, why don't you go up stairs? I'll be there in a few minuets. I have something I want to ask your sister."
Christian nodded and kissed her sweetly, "Make sure she goes to bed, will you Satine?" he asked, concerned for his little sister.
Satine nodded before walking quietly into the library. Emily heard her come in and looked up smiling as she entered the room. "How was dinner?" Emily asked looking back down at one of the papers in front of her.
"Wonderful…" Satine sat down on a chair, near the fireplace. "Um, Em I wanted to ask you something." Satine said nervously, she'd never done this before. Never really expected needing to do it.
Emily sat up, moaning softly as she pressed her hand to her back straightening it and trying to rub away the pinching in her back where her corset stays were digging into her back. "What is it?" Emily asked curiously.
"Well, I was wondering if you would be my maid of honor at my wedding-er, *weddings*."
Emily's mouth fell slightly a gape before turning into a bright smile. "Are you sure? I mean, surly you have plenty of friend back in Paris. You don't have to ask me to be in the wedding party just because I'm Christian's sister." She tried to assure. Her brows furrowed suddenly, "Wait a minuet, *weddings*?"
"No, that's not it at all. I want you to be my maid of honor and by weddings, well, it's a long story but Christian and I have decided to have two weddings, one with our friends and then the second would be what you're father expects."
Emily smiled broadly, "That's a wonderful idea. And I would be honored to be your maid of honor!" Emily and Satine both stood from their seats and hugged excitedly. "You know this means I get to throw your wedding shower. You might want to reconsider asking me until after you see what kind of a mess New Years turns out to be!" she laughed.
"I'm sure everything will go perfectly. I'm going to bed now, but Christian made me promise to tell you to go to bed." Satine said with false airs.
Emily rolled her eyes, "Goodnight Satine."
"Goodnight Em. And thank you."
~*~
Christian sat in his room upstairs typing feverishly on his typewriter. He'd had a sudden inspiration thanks to a wonderful evening spent with his muse. He realized that he had not been able to write before because he had been without his inspiration. He wasn't sure if he would ever be able to write again without her. He sat in the dark room, barley able to see the keys, typing away as the ideas flew from his fingers. Finally he knew how to fix the song he had been working on weeks ago. Pulling the paper out from the typewriter with a flourish he lit a candle and placed the paper on his desk where he could read over it while removing his tuxedo.
Taking off his coat he checked the spelling. As he removed his white bow tie and collarbund he quickly scanned for any grammar mistakes than read over it a final time at he removed his shoes, socks, vest, and the top few buttons of his white shirt. It had to be perfect before he could give it to Satine.
A soft knock came at the door as it was opened. Christian turned to see Satine already dressed in her nightgown. She smiled at him thinking what an adorable picture he made standing in the middle of the room with no shoes and only wearing his pants, and a shirt that he was in the process of removing.
"Satine," Christian said happily, "I want you to hear this, I just wrote it." He smiled like a child, excited to show their mother a picture or mud pie they had just made.
Christian took Satine's hand and led her to the bed where she took a seat. Christian smiled at her again be fore beginning.
Ballerina.
Ya' must have seen her,
Dancin' in the sand.
Now she's in me,
Always with me.
Tinny dancer in my head.
Satine smiled, tilting her head slightly at the words, Christian sang on.
Jesus freaks out in the street,
handin' tickets out for gold.
Turnin' back she just laughs,
'the boulevard is not that bad'.
He was describing the priests that stood out side of Montmartre trying to save souls from entering 'The Village of Sin'.
Count on my hand,
It makes her stand in the auditorium
Lookin' on she sings the songs.
The words she knows,
The tune she hums.
Satine knew exactly what tune he was referring to.
But oh, how I feel so real,
Lying here with no one near.
Only you, and you can hear me,
when I say softly, slowly,
'hold me closer tiny dancer'.
Lay me down in sheets of linen,
Ya' had a busy day today
Hold me closer tiny dancer.
Lay me down in sheets of linen,
Ya' had a busy day today.
Tears were brimming in Satine's eyes. Every word that came out of Christian's mouth came straight from the heart. How did she ever get this lucky? To have a man so sincere and so loving.
Ballerina.
Ya' must have seen her,
Dancin' in the sand.
Now she's in me,
Always with me.
Tinny dancer in my head.
But oh, how I feel so real
lying here with no one near.
Only you, and you can hear me,
when I say softly, slowly;
hold me closer tiny dancer.
Lay me down in sheets of linen,
Ya' had a busy day today
Hold me closer tiny dancer.
Lay me down in sheets of linen,
Ya' had a busy day today
"Christian, that was wonderful!" Satine said excitedly, hopping up from her seat on the bed and into Christian's arms. "I love it! Of course, I love everything you write. It's a given."
Christian smiled proudly, "Thank you, darling. You're approval means the world to me."
You've never written anything that I didn't absolutely fall in love with. Your poetry is a part of you so I love it as much as I love you."
"I love you Satine, till my dying day."
"I love you too, till the end of time."
***
* "Tiny Dancer" is performed by Elton John (cuts made where desired)
* A/N: "Bien sûr, monsieur." Means "Of course, sir"
*A Bohemian Storm Is Brewing*
Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
~Casidy
§=Þ
*~*
"Quoi Qu'il Arrive"
~ Part XIII: Can You Feel the Love Tonight ~
By: Casidy
Satine and Christian came down the stairs hand in hand, to find complete chaos. Every servant in the house was rushing around. Satine was shocked, expecting to come down to a quiet breakfast like every morning. She looked over at Christian standing next to her. He just stood there with a wide grin on his face.
"Christian? What's going on?" She whispered, leaning close to him.
He looked at her, almost with tears brimming in his eyes, "It's the preparation for the New Years Party." He let out a little laugh before continuing, "Every year for as long as I can remember the day after Christmas Em and I would come down to find mother ordering around every servant she could find trying to ready the house for New Years Eve."
At that moment Emily came hurrying out of the kitchen with half a croissant in one hand and a notebook and cup of hot chocolate in the other. Reading something off her notebook she shook her croissant at one of the maids getting their attention, "Julia, the caterer will be here at ten. I need a count of the china and crystal, as well as the silver. Willis," a servant, a little younger than Christian jogged over to where she stood. "Has the chimney been cleaned?"
"Yes, miss."
"The linens pressed?"
"Yes, miss."
"The wood floors polished?"
"Yes, miss."
"The draperies cleaned?"
"Not yet, miss."
"Well, get to it. Only five hours, twenty six minuets, till the guests arrive!" The young man nodded his head and went off to do as Emily asked.
Christian tugged on Satine's hand and she followed him down the stairs. "Emmy," he said, "for a moment I thought I was ten years old again!" He smiled sadly, "I half expected mother to come out of the kitchen juggling *her* breakfast and notebook."
Emily switched her cup to her other hand and took a quick sip. "I always thought this would be hard but it's actually pretty fun!"
Satine and Christian laughed at her. "I hope you still think that a few days from now. You'll probably lock yourself in your room with your flute. We'll be hearing "Flight of the Bumblebee" over and over all night!" Christian laughed.
"Oh ye of little faith!" Emily said jokingly, as she walked away.
"Well Satine, while Emmy is deluded in her idea that this party will fall into place, why don't you and I go to breakfast?"
*~*
Satine sat in front of her vanity and ran her hand over her hair making sure it was all in place. She picked up her crystal cut perfume bottle and sprayed it over herself. Catching her breath on the rose scented perfume she coughed suddenly. Coughing again she struggles to get her breath back. She stood quickly from her seat, knocking it from behind her onto the ground. Her cough turned to a hack and she dropped the cut glass bottle to the ground and leaned on her vanity for support. She picked up a handkerchief from the vanity and pressed it to her lips. She panicked as a liquid pain seared up her lungs and into her throat, catching just before reaching her mouth. She could feel it sliding down, back to its place deep in her lounges, waiting to rise again.
Satine tripped on the back of her gown and fell to the ground. She sat there for a moment leaning against her vanity with her hand on her chest struggling to catch her breath. Finally taking a deep breath she pulled herself from the ground and checked her image once again in the mirror. Finding her image acceptable she picked her purse up off the bed and slipped on her shoes and rushed out of her bedroom.
Christian, meanwhile, sat in a chair downstairs in the library listening to his sister. Emily was on the couch, upside down, her feet dangling off the back and her curls bouncing on the floor.
"Do you have any idea how much I've spent on this shindig? Father is going to shoot me when he gets all the bills." Emily said, never moving her eyes from the ceiling. "I don't know how it happened - I mean - oh Christian, I don't know what I'm going to do. I just can't see how mother possibly did these parties, father couldn't have let her spend this much money every year."
Christian stood from his chair and walked over to his little sister, his hands in his trouser pockets. Standing over her he looked down at her until she looked up into his deep eyes waiting for reassurance. "You really have no idea how much money father has, do you?"
Emily's brows crinkled, this was not what she had been expecting. "It doesn't matter how much money he has, Chris. What matters is how frugal he is with it and how he's going to send me to Switzerland when he finds out how much of it I've spent!" She swung her feet around the couch and sat up.
Christian plopped down beside her, "I think father is willing to let go of more money than you give him credit for. Money isn't worth anything until you spend it. Mother taught him that. I think that by letting you take over mother's party he's given you the freedom to spend anything you want. If not he would have given you a limit."
Emily stared down at her hands and smiled slightly. Lifting her head she swung her curls over her shoulder and looked at her brother. "I guess you're right." She paused and gave him a devilish smile.
Christian knew that look "Em - I didn't mean - "
"Thank you Chris! That means that I can hire the - well…It's a surprise but I wouldn't be confirming their performance if it weren't for your words of encouragement! Thanks sweetie!" She kissed Christian on the cheek then hopped up from her place on the couch. Her curls bounced around her making Christian momentarily remember her when his dear sister was much younger and a bit more innocent.
Satine walked into the library, passing Emily skipping out. "Have a good evening, Satine." Emily said before pulling her skirts up and bounding up the stairs.
Christian stood from his place on the sofa and felt as if he couldn't breath. Satine looked amazing. Was this beautiful creature really his fiancée? Was it possible for someone as amazing as her to love someone as normal as him?
Satine smiled and slowly walked towards him, swaying her hips seductively. "I believe you were expecting me."
Christian let out his breath in a quick puff as he nodded. No word came to mind. He was in awe of the beauty before him.
Satine smiled happily, thankful to have someone that loved her so much.
"Are you ready, darling?" Christian asked, regaining a bit of his wits.
She simply nodded he head.
*~*
The restaurant Christian took Satine to that night was breath taking. Its huge windows and offered a beautiful view of the city's most famous landmarks. An even more amazing sight was the view of the star-studded sky.
The host had seated them at a quiet table in a dark corner. Satine and Christian sat quietly looking over the menu, taking in the beauty around them. After ordering dinner they began discussing the plans for their up coming wedding.
"A wedding supposed to be special for the couple getting married, isn't it?" Satine asked.
"Yes, of course it is." Christian responded easily.
"And aren't our friends and family supposed to be there?" Satine asked. He nodded, "It's just, I don't think your father would approve of our friends."
"You're right, Satine. I remember Philip's wedding. Everyone on the groom's side of the church were either family I'd never met or my father's business associates."
"Exactly. I want our wedding to be special Christian, and I want our friend to share it with us." She put her elbow on the table and leaned her chin on it, pouting her lips slightly.
Christian sat back in his seat. He hadn't given much thought to the ceremony itself, simply that a wedding would result in he and Satine spending the rest of their life together. That was all that mattered to him, but now that he thought about it he did want his friends there. "I've got an idea, darling." Satine brightened and sat up, waiting for Christian to continue. "Weddings take place on Saturdays, right?" Satine nodded, having no idea where this was leading. "Well, what if we do something completely revolutionary?"
"It wouldn't be the first time." Satine commented.
Smiling, Christian continued, "Why don't we get married on a weekday? Sometime in the morning. Then we can invite all of our friends and have a small wedding, just the people we really want there. What do you think, darling?"
Satine was a bit hesitant, "But what will your father think, Christian? Won't he want to be there? He'd surely be angry if he found out we eloped."
Christian shook his head, "We'll still have the big, public wedding, we'd just already be married. No one would know except those whom were at the first wedding, and I'm sure none of them would say anything if we asked them not to. That way we can have the wedding we want with the guests we want and then have another for everyone else."
"You're a genius Christian! I would never have thought of something as clever! When do you want to get married?" She asked excitedly.
"As soon as possible. How long do you think it would take for invitations to get to France?"
"A week, two at the most." Satine answered quickly.
"Then how about three weeks from now? The third Friday in January. That would be after the holidays." Christian's heart was racing just thinking about the wedding.
"I think that sounds marvelous! Whom should we invite?" She asked.
"Well, let's see; Toulouse, The Doctor, and Satie, of course. Whom else would you like there?"
Satine bit her lip in thought, "Marie, Babydoll, Chocolat, Little Princess, and… Christian, would you mind if I invited Harold?" Satine asked nervously. She began to talk quickly trying to support her request. "I know you probably don't like him, and he and I didn't part on the best of terms but – he was always like a father to me. He was only pressuring me so because The Duke held the deeds to the Moulin Rouge and-" Satine stopped suddenly and went a little pale.
"Darling," Christian asked worried, "Are you alright?" He leaned across the table to get closer to her.
Satine pinched her lips together and looked as if she was holding back a flood of tears.
"Darling…Please tell me what's wrong. Really, I don't care who you want at the wedding, any one you want there will be there, I promise - I'll give you anything you wish if you just tell me what's wrong!"
"It's just…I've been so happy since we left France I never even gave a though to what may have happened to everyone. What The Duke did to everyone after I left him. He owned the Moulin Rouge, Christian. He probably had it shut down and everyone thrown out into the streets. Who knows where they are now!
Christian looked at her sadly. He knew she was right. "Even if he has, darling, there's nothing that could be done now. Why don't we send all of the invitations to Toulouse? I'm sure he would do his best to find everyone and deliver them." She nodded her head but he could tell she was blaming herself for not thinking about this earlier. Christian stood and walked over to where Satine sat. "Might I have this dance?" He asked just as the orchestra began a slow melody.
Satine couldn't help but smile up at him. He looked so dashing in his tuxedo, his face set, determined to put a smile on her face again. "Bien sûr, monsieur."*
Christian took her hand gently and helped her stand. Leading her out to the small dance floor. He put his hands around her waist and Satine stepped close to him needing to feel his warm body next to hers. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, sighing contently.
"Do you remember the first time we danced together, darling?" Christian asked closing his own eyes and resting his chin on the top of his love's head.
Satine smiled happily at the memory, "How could I forget? That must to have been the most embarrassing night of my life! I still can't believe you let me roll around on the floor like that! You must have thought I was a complete lunatic! I'm lucky you fell in love with me at all after that. I don't think I'll ever live down grabbing you and asking if I inspired you." She giggled at the memory.
Christian held back a chuckle, "I'm sure you thought I was crazy as well. 'It's quite modern what I do.', 'I prefer to do it standing,', 'it's quite long,'. Is there anything I've left out?"
"No, no. I think that's everything. Then there was my reaction to finding out you weren't The Duke."
"Ah, yes. I distinctly remember that little scene." Christian said tightening his grip on her waist.
"Well, I was terrified. For a few moments I thought that I could actually be happy. I was supposed to seduce a duke and I was expecting some old Englishman, only to fall madly in love with a 'young, handsome, talented, Duke' after only a few moments. Then I found out that you weren't the duke after all and I was terrified. I couldn't be in love! I'd seen too many girls destroyed by love. I was supposed to be unattainable but there I was 'scantly clad in the arms of another man, inside an elephant'."
Christian kissed the top of her head. "So it wasn't all an act!" He said with light sarcasm.
"Hardly."
*~*
Christian opened the front door for Satine and followed her inside the house. Everything was dark except for a glowing light coming from the library. Walking quietly by the door Christian looked in to see his little sister sitting near the fire examining papers spread out all around her.
Satine followed his gaze. "Christian, why don't you go up stairs? I'll be there in a few minuets. I have something I want to ask your sister."
Christian nodded and kissed her sweetly, "Make sure she goes to bed, will you Satine?" he asked, concerned for his little sister.
Satine nodded before walking quietly into the library. Emily heard her come in and looked up smiling as she entered the room. "How was dinner?" Emily asked looking back down at one of the papers in front of her.
"Wonderful…" Satine sat down on a chair, near the fireplace. "Um, Em I wanted to ask you something." Satine said nervously, she'd never done this before. Never really expected needing to do it.
Emily sat up, moaning softly as she pressed her hand to her back straightening it and trying to rub away the pinching in her back where her corset stays were digging into her back. "What is it?" Emily asked curiously.
"Well, I was wondering if you would be my maid of honor at my wedding-er, *weddings*."
Emily's mouth fell slightly a gape before turning into a bright smile. "Are you sure? I mean, surly you have plenty of friend back in Paris. You don't have to ask me to be in the wedding party just because I'm Christian's sister." She tried to assure. Her brows furrowed suddenly, "Wait a minuet, *weddings*?"
"No, that's not it at all. I want you to be my maid of honor and by weddings, well, it's a long story but Christian and I have decided to have two weddings, one with our friends and then the second would be what you're father expects."
Emily smiled broadly, "That's a wonderful idea. And I would be honored to be your maid of honor!" Emily and Satine both stood from their seats and hugged excitedly. "You know this means I get to throw your wedding shower. You might want to reconsider asking me until after you see what kind of a mess New Years turns out to be!" she laughed.
"I'm sure everything will go perfectly. I'm going to bed now, but Christian made me promise to tell you to go to bed." Satine said with false airs.
Emily rolled her eyes, "Goodnight Satine."
"Goodnight Em. And thank you."
~*~
Christian sat in his room upstairs typing feverishly on his typewriter. He'd had a sudden inspiration thanks to a wonderful evening spent with his muse. He realized that he had not been able to write before because he had been without his inspiration. He wasn't sure if he would ever be able to write again without her. He sat in the dark room, barley able to see the keys, typing away as the ideas flew from his fingers. Finally he knew how to fix the song he had been working on weeks ago. Pulling the paper out from the typewriter with a flourish he lit a candle and placed the paper on his desk where he could read over it while removing his tuxedo.
Taking off his coat he checked the spelling. As he removed his white bow tie and collarbund he quickly scanned for any grammar mistakes than read over it a final time at he removed his shoes, socks, vest, and the top few buttons of his white shirt. It had to be perfect before he could give it to Satine.
A soft knock came at the door as it was opened. Christian turned to see Satine already dressed in her nightgown. She smiled at him thinking what an adorable picture he made standing in the middle of the room with no shoes and only wearing his pants, and a shirt that he was in the process of removing.
"Satine," Christian said happily, "I want you to hear this, I just wrote it." He smiled like a child, excited to show their mother a picture or mud pie they had just made.
Christian took Satine's hand and led her to the bed where she took a seat. Christian smiled at her again be fore beginning.
Ballerina.
Ya' must have seen her,
Dancin' in the sand.
Now she's in me,
Always with me.
Tinny dancer in my head.
Satine smiled, tilting her head slightly at the words, Christian sang on.
Jesus freaks out in the street,
handin' tickets out for gold.
Turnin' back she just laughs,
'the boulevard is not that bad'.
He was describing the priests that stood out side of Montmartre trying to save souls from entering 'The Village of Sin'.
Count on my hand,
It makes her stand in the auditorium
Lookin' on she sings the songs.
The words she knows,
The tune she hums.
Satine knew exactly what tune he was referring to.
But oh, how I feel so real,
Lying here with no one near.
Only you, and you can hear me,
when I say softly, slowly,
'hold me closer tiny dancer'.
Lay me down in sheets of linen,
Ya' had a busy day today
Hold me closer tiny dancer.
Lay me down in sheets of linen,
Ya' had a busy day today.
Tears were brimming in Satine's eyes. Every word that came out of Christian's mouth came straight from the heart. How did she ever get this lucky? To have a man so sincere and so loving.
Ballerina.
Ya' must have seen her,
Dancin' in the sand.
Now she's in me,
Always with me.
Tinny dancer in my head.
But oh, how I feel so real
lying here with no one near.
Only you, and you can hear me,
when I say softly, slowly;
hold me closer tiny dancer.
Lay me down in sheets of linen,
Ya' had a busy day today
Hold me closer tiny dancer.
Lay me down in sheets of linen,
Ya' had a busy day today
"Christian, that was wonderful!" Satine said excitedly, hopping up from her seat on the bed and into Christian's arms. "I love it! Of course, I love everything you write. It's a given."
Christian smiled proudly, "Thank you, darling. You're approval means the world to me."
You've never written anything that I didn't absolutely fall in love with. Your poetry is a part of you so I love it as much as I love you."
"I love you Satine, till my dying day."
"I love you too, till the end of time."
***
* "Tiny Dancer" is performed by Elton John (cuts made where desired)
* A/N: "Bien sûr, monsieur." Means "Of course, sir"