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 XVII: I've Seen That Movie Too ~
1 By: Mariclair
Christian and Satine sat in silence inside the coach for several moments until Satine asked, "Christian, should I try talking to your father?"
Christian sat back, his eyes full of concern, "well, it's really up to you, darling. But we can't take out Philip until we've told Father the truth. And the sooner we can bring my brother to justice, the better."
Satine nodded, "I guess I'll get it over with when we get home. I don't want a task like that looming over me."
"All right, we'll tell him tonight."
"We?" Asked Satine.
"Well, of course, I wouldn't have you face him by yourself," Christian replied.
"But Christian, I have to do this myself. It's my past, he deserves to know the truth from the one who lived it."
Christian gently kissed her cheek, "you do whatever feels right. Just remember, nothing he says could change my feelings for you."
Satine smiled and the two sat snuggled together for the rest of the ride. Yet even in the cozy atmosphere, a nervous tension filled the air.
*~*
"Sir, may I speak with you?" Satine asked. She had found the Father sitting in the study at his large, wooden desk with a small lamp illuminating his paper work; accounts for the bank, no doubt.
The Father looked up at Satine, "why yes, come in, have a seat," he said, signaling towards a stuffed armchair.
"Thank you, sir," Satine said politely, as she took her seat.
"Now, what is it you wished to speak to me about?"
Satine was so nervous, she could feel her heart thumping in her head, but she knew she had to get this out and stalling wouldn't help anything. She let out a sigh and began, "sir, I love your son a great deal, and I'm honored that I will soon be his wife." Satine stopped, she swallowed hard and began to wring her hands together, nervously.
"Yes dear, I know. I'm very relieved that Christian found you. When he went off to Paris like that, I was sure he would end up running off with some can-can dancer from the Moulin Rouge," the Father said, making a disgusted face.
"Well sir, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." Satine could feel a cough trying to escape her lips, but she managed to suppress it. "Christian and I, we didn't exactly meet through an artist."
"I beg your pardon?" The Father asked, looking slightly baffled.
"We met at the Moulin Rouge," Satine said quietly.
The father gasped, "Now, what on Earth were you doing in such a wretched place?"
Satine gulped, it was now or never. "I worked there," she blurted out.
"Oh my God! You mean you were a-a…"
"A courtesan," Satine whispered, bowing her head in shame. She couldn't have possibly felt any lower. To make things worse, she could feel the father's hard gaze baring down on her neck.
An unbearable silence loomed thickly in the air. "My son paid for you to-"
Satine snapped her head towards his direction. "No, oh no, no sir. Christian wouldn't have done that! You see, well, it's quite complicated."
"Oh really?!" Snapped the Father. "Well, I'm listening!"
Satine was very thankful for the large desk between them because the Father looked as if he were ready to strike. "Well, the Moulin Rouge needed a financier and we were expecting a Duke-" Satine paused. It could have been her imagination, but it looked as if a large vein was pulsing in the middle of the Father's forehead. She decided it was time to get to the point. "But I accidentally mistook Christian for the Duke and it was my job to well umm…make sure he was pleased." When I found out that Christian wasn't the Duke, I wanted nothing to do with him or his 'ridiculous obsession with love'. But sir, Christian taught me how to love. I love him with all my heart and I left the Moulin Rouge, to be with him. He's the best thing that has ever happened to me."
The Father stood before Satine in a rage before he exploded, "I should say so! My educated young son came to your rescue! Damn right he's the best thing that ever happened to you!" He paused and lowered his tone, "and to think you had me fooled. But wait, that's your job, isn't it? To get the best of men? Well, I guess you succeeded."
Satine could feel hot tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Sir, please, don't be angry…"
The Father's voice rose to a thunderous roar, "don't be angry?! My son is engaged to a whore!!!"
Christian had been waiting nervously in the living room, but came darting into the study when he heard his father. Christian flung open the door and was taken aback by the sight of his shaken angel, looking completely crushed. "What happened?" He asked, coming to Satine's side.
"You're fiancée here just told me about her previous occupation."
Christian held Satine closer to him, trying to suppress the shame she was feeling. He should have known his father would react like this. But he had to make his father understand. "But Father, that's not who she is."
"You mean you're all right with this?" The Father snapped.
Christian sighed, "yes, I am. And we would have told you, we just didn't because we knew you would act like this!" He said, throwing his hands towards him. "And what kind of person does all this make you? Before you knew about all this, you were completely smitten with her, as well you should be!"
What Christian had said went in one ear and out the other. "I don't want my son marrying some lady of the night!" The Father fumed.
Satine buried her face in Christian's shirt, she was so embarrassed, she couldn't stand it. Christian could tell what she was being put through and fired back, "your children aren't perfect, you know!"
"You needn't put yourself down, Christian," he plainly retorted.
"For God's sake!" Christian exclaimed. His father had made him feel worthless for the last time. "I may not be perfect," Christian began, with fire in his eyes. "But at least I'm not conceited, abusive, and-and evil like your other son! That's right, Philip, I'm talking about Philip; the one you're forever doting on! Well, let me tell you, he didn't join the family business because of his love of facts and figures, he joined because he wanted a larger piece of the inheritance!" Christian was on a rampage, he had kept all this inside for way too long. "And you know what? Madeline isn't clumsy, Father, she gets all those bruises from Philip beating her!"
The Father tried to brush Christian's ranting aside, "that's absurd," he said, yet not with much certainty.
"Absurd! I'll tell you absurd!" Christian got up from beside Satine and marched his way straight into his father's face and continued in a heated, yet menacingly low tone, "absurd is my brother blackmailing my fiancée into sleeping with him. Absurd is you ripping Satine apart when she comes to you with the truth. Absurd? Absurd is yours and Philip's behavior." He left his father and took Satine's hand, about to leave. "I don't need this! If you want to keep making up excuses for Philip and his despicable behavior, that's fine with me. But at least you know the truth now, Father. It's up to you whether you want to believe it."
The room was completely silent. Satine and the Father sat staring at the usually calm Christian, who was now shaking with rage.
The Father slowly walked over to Christian and carefully placed his hand on his shoulder and asked, "son, these, these accusations of Philip…are you sure?" He asked, in utter disbelief.
Christian sighed and tried to calm himself, "yes, Father, I'm sure."
"Satine?" asked the Father, not wanting to believe any of this.
"Yes sir, it's true, all of it," Satine whispered. "Philip said he would tell you of my past if I didn't sleep with him. That's why-"
"You came to me with the truth," the Father finished. "My God, what have I done?" He faced Satine, "my dear, I'm dreadfully sorry. You came to me looking for understanding and I snapped at you. I love you and I don't care about your past. Can you find it in my heart to forgive me?"
Satine looked into his eyes that were full of guilt and begging for forgiveness. She let some of her tenseness slip away and replied, "of course I forgive you, sir. I'm just relieved that you understand."
At that moment, Emily walked in, her eyes puffy with sleep. "My goodness, it's loud down here! What's going on?"
Christian walked over to his little sister, "we told Father about Satine's past, Emmy. And we've convinced him to look into Philip's crimes."
A look of relief washed over Emily's face. "Well, it's about time! Oh Christian, Maddy won't have to be hurt ever again! She and Alex will be together-" Emily stopped short and smothered her lips with her hands. She couldn't believe she had let something like that slip in front of her father!
"Alex?" asked the Father, who was now feeling as if he had been the only one who hadn't been let in on this whole fiasco. "You mean, your friend Alex?"
Satine shot a startled look at Christian, hoping he could think of something to say. But Christian decided it was time to stop with the lies. "It's true, Madeline and Alex are together. But she didn't mean to be unfaithful. She was trapped in an abusive, loveless marriage, all she wanted was to be loved."
The Father rubbed his temples, never would he have guessed any of this was going on and all of it was being thrown in his face at once. He sighed, "I can get an officer to examine the case, but I doubt we'll get much attention without any proof."
After a few thoughtful moments Satine piped up, "what if I took Philip up on his offer?"
"Excuse me?!" asked Christian, horrified at the very thought.
Satine saw the confusion on everyone's faces. "No, I wouldn't have to actually go through with it. All of you could be just outside the door of his bedroom with the officer. That way, the officer will catch Philip in the act and I will have the reassurance that people will be there if he goes, well- too far." Satine shuddered, after being with Christian, the idea of sleeping with a stranger made her feel ill.
Christian, who didn't like the sound of this, asked, "but even if you were able to convince my Philip that you would-" he stopped, not even wanting to say what his brother wanted to do to his angel. "How would we be able to come in behind you?"
"Maddy could let us in," Emily suggested.
"But Em, I don't think Philip would try to commit adultery when his wife was in the house," Christian pointed out.
Emily, who was now wide awake, replied, "Philip hardly ever goes to church and doesn't expect Madeline home until after going out to lunch with her 'knitting circle'." Emily rolled her eyes at Madeline's lie, although she couldn't blame her for making it up. "Anyway, we could tell Madeline our plan when we see her there. That way, Satine could get into the house and once Philip had locked the door, Madeline would use her key to let us into the house."
"Em, you're brilliant!" Satine exclaimed.
"Wait, just a moment," boomed the Father. "You're saying you want me to go to church, get a police officer, sneak into a house and eavesdrop on my son who supposedly wants to commit horrendous crimes against my future daughter in law?!"
Christian winced, it was expecting a lot of his father to do all this to a son who had always been his favorite. "Yes Father, I think you just about summed it up. Will you help us?" Christian asked hopefully.
The Father bit his lip and sighed, looking around the room at three pairs of pleading eyes. "Well, I suppose I have to. I doubt that you would lie to me on such a serious issue. I will inform the authorities on our way to church tomorrow. Christian, you shall let Madeline know of the plan. And Emily, if all this about Philip is true, I don't want you around him. I don't want you coming into the house."
Emily was outraged, she was once again being punished because of her age. "But Father!" Emily whined.
"No," said the Father, in a tone that children know should not be trifled with.
When Christian saw the hurt on his sister's face, he said, "once you see the officer coming out with Philip, you can meet us in the house, all right?"
Emily still wasn't happy with being cut out of the action, but the important thing was finally bringing her brother to justice; so she reluctantly agreed.
After that, everyone filed out of the study, suddenly exhausted from such an emotionally draining scene. By midnight, everyone was asleep except the Father. All he could do was toss and turn in his bed, wondering how his own son could have possibly turned out as horrible as everyone had just informed him. In the quiet darkness of his bedroom, he also began to contemplate the way he had treated Christian. Maybe his Bohemian ideas weren't so crazy after all…
*~*
It seemed as if church had gone on for days. The pew where The Father, Madeline, Emily, Christian and Satine sat had been full of squirming, loud sighing and constant checking of pocket watches. On the far end of the pew, Satine had to draw calming patterns across Christian's palm, just to keep him from hyperventilating. As nervous as she was, she couldn't afford to look it. She knew that if Christian knew of the painful knot in the pit of her stomach, he would never let her go through with it; but she had to. If for no other reason than to save a brother and sister's relationship.
When the group reached the house of Philip and Madeline, Christian turned to Satine and stroked a loose curl from her face, "you don't have to do this."
Satine managed a smile, "but darling, I do. Your brother's acts must be punished, the suffering of all the people I love has to stop now." She gave him a reassuring kiss and nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck and whispered, "Come what may, I will love you, until my dying day."
Christian whimpered, wanting desperately to take her away from all this. But finally, he let her go and Satine bravely walked up the stoop and knocked on the wooden door with the intricately carved brass handle.
After Satine entered the house, into the clutches of Philip, Christian remembered only too well the night Satine had to sleep with the Duke. He had the same tearing pain in his chest then, as he did now. The only comforting thought he could give himself was that they had made it through that, and if all went according to plan, they would make it through this, too.
Inside the house, Satine and Philip stood in the foyer.
"Oh, you decided to take me up on my offer did you?" Philip smiled and kissed Satine's hand.
Satine turned her head away in disgust, "I'm doing this for Christian," she said, sharply.
Philip laughed, "oh, leave it up to Chris to marry a feisty little whore."
Satine ignored the comment and lifelessly followed Philip into his bedroom, praying that the plan would work.
Outside, Madeline silently unlocked the door for Christian, her father in law and the police officer. She led the three in and gave Emily, who had to wait outside, a reassuring wink.
Madeline then turned her attention back to the three men, "come along, they are upstairs, in the bedroom," she whispered, as she lead the way up the staircase.
Christian thought he would be sick when he heard his brother's voice coming from the bedroom. "What? Has the Sparkling Diamond lost her shine?" He paused and licked his thin, grayish lips. "Give me something to work with here. A pant, a moan, something."
"I wouldn't pant if you paid me and the only reason I would moan is because of how nauseated you make me," she said, flatly.
"Well, if you want me satisfied, and I think you do," he said slowly, reminding Satine of their deal, "you better work some of your magic charm and turn me on or Chris won't be seeing Em for a long time." Philip laughed coldly as his hand began to creep across the curves of her chest.
"You miserable little-" Satine started, sitting up against him.
"Son of a bitch?" Philip offered, not caring of the insult he brought upon his deceased mother. Outside, Madeline and the police officer had to hold Christian back because he was now in a fit of rage.
"Yeah, all right, if insults are some kind of foreplay, that's nice, but I'm ready to get started," he said, as his hand slid up her thigh.
"Christian is going to kill you," Satine hissed.
Philips eyes turned to menacing slits and threw Satine to her back. He loomed over her and started unbuttoning her dress, "now, now, there's no reason for threats." He came down on top of her and covered her lips in a sloppy kiss.
Christian thought he would go out of his mind when the officer finally pulled out his gun and whispered, "I've seen enough." He flung open the door and pointed the gun straight at Philip. "Get off her, you're under arrest," he said, sternly.
Philip got off of Satine and turned ghastly pale when his eyes met the audience of the officer, his brother and wife, and most debilitating, his father. Satine took this moment of his shock and shot off the bed and into Christian's arms. "Oh God, Oh God," she kept repeating against his chest.
Christian turned the two of them around and helped her re-button her dress and smoothed her hair back. "Darling, shh, you're all right, I promise." Christian was never letting Satine out of his arms ever, ever again. He brought his lips against her ear and whispered, "you are so brave, Satine." Satine nodded tearfully and clung to Christian. She was now the one who needed comforting.
"Get up," said the police officer with his gun still pointing at Philip with one hand and with the other, he was pulling out a pair of handcuffs.
Philip looked around the room frantically for someone who would vouch for him. When his eyes met his father's, they were cold and unforgiving.
"Get up!" repeated the police officer.
Philip gave a wicked smile towards Satine and turned to his last resort, "Father, I thought you should know; your future daughter in law was a whore at the Moulin Rouge!" he stated. Christian placed protective hands over Satine's ears to block out his brother's words. Philip was practically blown away when his statement did nothing and his father didn't even flinch.
"Get up and go with the officer, Philip," he said with disgust. "And by the way, Satine is a lovely person. She had the courage to come to me with the truth. I can hardly say the same for you." He shook his head and continued, "you have brought this family shame and have dishonored myself and your mother. Now get up," he said flatly.
Philip was finally pulled up by the officer who tightly locked the handcuffs over his wrists. "But, but," he rambled. "I can explain."
"Oh, they'll be plenty of time for explaining while you sit and pass the time in your cell," said the officer, as he led him out of the room and down the stairs, to where he would take Philip to prison.
Everyone in the room gave a sigh of relief except Christian's father, who still stood with a look of disbelief on his face. Madeline took the moment of silence to walk over to him and said, "sir, I'm terribly sorry you had to see that."
He shook his head, "no, no Madeline, dear. I was blinded by my son's despicable antics. I'm just glad that you and Satine are all right," he said. And then, for the first time, he pulled Madeline into a loving embrace. He motioned to Satine, who was still standing with Christian, to come over to him. Satine slowly pulled away from Christian and went into the arms of his father.
Everyone's attention was pulled from the scene as Emily's giddy laughter could be heard traveling up the stairs. When she reached the bedroom, she jumped into Christian's arms and finally was able to control her laughter, "Philip was outside crying like a little baby as the officer took him away." She paused and said knowingly, "'don't do the crime, if you can't pay the time,' I always say."
Christian smiled and kissed the top of his little sister's head. But everyone's smile faded as Father let go of Satine and Madeline. He said quietly, "Yes, I would say that's a very true statement, Emily. Now, I've had quite a draining day and I would just like some time alone." He turned and patted his son on the back as he headed out of the room.
Everyone stood silent for several minutes until Christian piped up, "it's getting a little stuffy in here, I think a walk outside would do everyone quite nicely."
They took Christian's lead and headed outside where a bright, blue sky with puffy white clouds could be seen. Satine, who was still quite shaken, melted into Christian's arms and was content to just let him hold her.
Madeline was just catching her breath and collecting her thoughts when she saw someone peering from behind a lamppost. She craned her neck to see better and when she realized it was Alex, she lifted her skirts and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. When she reached him, Madeline jumped into Alex's arms and kissed him all over his face as he quickly began to do the same. "Oh God Maddy, I love you, I love you so much. Tell me he's gone. Please tell me he can't hurt you anymore."
"He's gone," Madeline said excitedly. "I love you, Alex," she sighed, she had never felt more free than she did at this very moment.
Alex took Madeline's two hands and gave them a light squeeze. "My darling, you don't know how badly I've wanted this. And-and, I know you have to work out all this mess with your marriage- but, I want-I want you to be my wife," he said.
Madeline squealed, "Yes, yes, Alex, me too! I want to be with you forever and I don't want to hide anymore. I'm yours now, yours forever."
Alex smiled and placed his hands on both sides of Madeline's face. The feeling that he could protect her now made him feel as if he could fly. He brought his lips to hers and kissed her deeply.
Across the lawn, Christian, Satine and Emily stood smiling at the couple, "they're so happy!" Emily said with a large smile. She had obviously taken after her brother and had fallen in love with love, too.
Christian and Satine smiled right along with Emily as she hurried down the street to meet with some of her friends.
Christian turned towards Satine and asked, "how are you feeling?"
"Shaken," she answered, "but relieved." Satine ran her finger along Christian's jawbone and temples. "Those Bohemian ideals never seem to fail, do they?" She combed her fingers through Christian's hair. "Truth."
Christian chuckled, "beauty," he said and playfully looked Satine up and down.
"Freedom!" Satine called out, spinning in circles and giggling, letting the wind brush against her skin.
Christian caught her right as she began to feel dizzy and kissed her tenderly. When they pulled apart, he whispered, "but above all things…love."
*A Bohemian Storm Is Brewing*
Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
~Casidy
§=Þ
*~*
"Quoi Qu'il Arrive"
~ Part XVII: I've Seen That Movie Too ~
1 By: Mariclair
Christian and Satine sat in silence inside the coach for several moments until Satine asked, "Christian, should I try talking to your father?"
Christian sat back, his eyes full of concern, "well, it's really up to you, darling. But we can't take out Philip until we've told Father the truth. And the sooner we can bring my brother to justice, the better."
Satine nodded, "I guess I'll get it over with when we get home. I don't want a task like that looming over me."
"All right, we'll tell him tonight."
"We?" Asked Satine.
"Well, of course, I wouldn't have you face him by yourself," Christian replied.
"But Christian, I have to do this myself. It's my past, he deserves to know the truth from the one who lived it."
Christian gently kissed her cheek, "you do whatever feels right. Just remember, nothing he says could change my feelings for you."
Satine smiled and the two sat snuggled together for the rest of the ride. Yet even in the cozy atmosphere, a nervous tension filled the air.
*~*
"Sir, may I speak with you?" Satine asked. She had found the Father sitting in the study at his large, wooden desk with a small lamp illuminating his paper work; accounts for the bank, no doubt.
The Father looked up at Satine, "why yes, come in, have a seat," he said, signaling towards a stuffed armchair.
"Thank you, sir," Satine said politely, as she took her seat.
"Now, what is it you wished to speak to me about?"
Satine was so nervous, she could feel her heart thumping in her head, but she knew she had to get this out and stalling wouldn't help anything. She let out a sigh and began, "sir, I love your son a great deal, and I'm honored that I will soon be his wife." Satine stopped, she swallowed hard and began to wring her hands together, nervously.
"Yes dear, I know. I'm very relieved that Christian found you. When he went off to Paris like that, I was sure he would end up running off with some can-can dancer from the Moulin Rouge," the Father said, making a disgusted face.
"Well sir, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." Satine could feel a cough trying to escape her lips, but she managed to suppress it. "Christian and I, we didn't exactly meet through an artist."
"I beg your pardon?" The Father asked, looking slightly baffled.
"We met at the Moulin Rouge," Satine said quietly.
The father gasped, "Now, what on Earth were you doing in such a wretched place?"
Satine gulped, it was now or never. "I worked there," she blurted out.
"Oh my God! You mean you were a-a…"
"A courtesan," Satine whispered, bowing her head in shame. She couldn't have possibly felt any lower. To make things worse, she could feel the father's hard gaze baring down on her neck.
An unbearable silence loomed thickly in the air. "My son paid for you to-"
Satine snapped her head towards his direction. "No, oh no, no sir. Christian wouldn't have done that! You see, well, it's quite complicated."
"Oh really?!" Snapped the Father. "Well, I'm listening!"
Satine was very thankful for the large desk between them because the Father looked as if he were ready to strike. "Well, the Moulin Rouge needed a financier and we were expecting a Duke-" Satine paused. It could have been her imagination, but it looked as if a large vein was pulsing in the middle of the Father's forehead. She decided it was time to get to the point. "But I accidentally mistook Christian for the Duke and it was my job to well umm…make sure he was pleased." When I found out that Christian wasn't the Duke, I wanted nothing to do with him or his 'ridiculous obsession with love'. But sir, Christian taught me how to love. I love him with all my heart and I left the Moulin Rouge, to be with him. He's the best thing that has ever happened to me."
The Father stood before Satine in a rage before he exploded, "I should say so! My educated young son came to your rescue! Damn right he's the best thing that ever happened to you!" He paused and lowered his tone, "and to think you had me fooled. But wait, that's your job, isn't it? To get the best of men? Well, I guess you succeeded."
Satine could feel hot tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Sir, please, don't be angry…"
The Father's voice rose to a thunderous roar, "don't be angry?! My son is engaged to a whore!!!"
Christian had been waiting nervously in the living room, but came darting into the study when he heard his father. Christian flung open the door and was taken aback by the sight of his shaken angel, looking completely crushed. "What happened?" He asked, coming to Satine's side.
"You're fiancée here just told me about her previous occupation."
Christian held Satine closer to him, trying to suppress the shame she was feeling. He should have known his father would react like this. But he had to make his father understand. "But Father, that's not who she is."
"You mean you're all right with this?" The Father snapped.
Christian sighed, "yes, I am. And we would have told you, we just didn't because we knew you would act like this!" He said, throwing his hands towards him. "And what kind of person does all this make you? Before you knew about all this, you were completely smitten with her, as well you should be!"
What Christian had said went in one ear and out the other. "I don't want my son marrying some lady of the night!" The Father fumed.
Satine buried her face in Christian's shirt, she was so embarrassed, she couldn't stand it. Christian could tell what she was being put through and fired back, "your children aren't perfect, you know!"
"You needn't put yourself down, Christian," he plainly retorted.
"For God's sake!" Christian exclaimed. His father had made him feel worthless for the last time. "I may not be perfect," Christian began, with fire in his eyes. "But at least I'm not conceited, abusive, and-and evil like your other son! That's right, Philip, I'm talking about Philip; the one you're forever doting on! Well, let me tell you, he didn't join the family business because of his love of facts and figures, he joined because he wanted a larger piece of the inheritance!" Christian was on a rampage, he had kept all this inside for way too long. "And you know what? Madeline isn't clumsy, Father, she gets all those bruises from Philip beating her!"
The Father tried to brush Christian's ranting aside, "that's absurd," he said, yet not with much certainty.
"Absurd! I'll tell you absurd!" Christian got up from beside Satine and marched his way straight into his father's face and continued in a heated, yet menacingly low tone, "absurd is my brother blackmailing my fiancée into sleeping with him. Absurd is you ripping Satine apart when she comes to you with the truth. Absurd? Absurd is yours and Philip's behavior." He left his father and took Satine's hand, about to leave. "I don't need this! If you want to keep making up excuses for Philip and his despicable behavior, that's fine with me. But at least you know the truth now, Father. It's up to you whether you want to believe it."
The room was completely silent. Satine and the Father sat staring at the usually calm Christian, who was now shaking with rage.
The Father slowly walked over to Christian and carefully placed his hand on his shoulder and asked, "son, these, these accusations of Philip…are you sure?" He asked, in utter disbelief.
Christian sighed and tried to calm himself, "yes, Father, I'm sure."
"Satine?" asked the Father, not wanting to believe any of this.
"Yes sir, it's true, all of it," Satine whispered. "Philip said he would tell you of my past if I didn't sleep with him. That's why-"
"You came to me with the truth," the Father finished. "My God, what have I done?" He faced Satine, "my dear, I'm dreadfully sorry. You came to me looking for understanding and I snapped at you. I love you and I don't care about your past. Can you find it in my heart to forgive me?"
Satine looked into his eyes that were full of guilt and begging for forgiveness. She let some of her tenseness slip away and replied, "of course I forgive you, sir. I'm just relieved that you understand."
At that moment, Emily walked in, her eyes puffy with sleep. "My goodness, it's loud down here! What's going on?"
Christian walked over to his little sister, "we told Father about Satine's past, Emmy. And we've convinced him to look into Philip's crimes."
A look of relief washed over Emily's face. "Well, it's about time! Oh Christian, Maddy won't have to be hurt ever again! She and Alex will be together-" Emily stopped short and smothered her lips with her hands. She couldn't believe she had let something like that slip in front of her father!
"Alex?" asked the Father, who was now feeling as if he had been the only one who hadn't been let in on this whole fiasco. "You mean, your friend Alex?"
Satine shot a startled look at Christian, hoping he could think of something to say. But Christian decided it was time to stop with the lies. "It's true, Madeline and Alex are together. But she didn't mean to be unfaithful. She was trapped in an abusive, loveless marriage, all she wanted was to be loved."
The Father rubbed his temples, never would he have guessed any of this was going on and all of it was being thrown in his face at once. He sighed, "I can get an officer to examine the case, but I doubt we'll get much attention without any proof."
After a few thoughtful moments Satine piped up, "what if I took Philip up on his offer?"
"Excuse me?!" asked Christian, horrified at the very thought.
Satine saw the confusion on everyone's faces. "No, I wouldn't have to actually go through with it. All of you could be just outside the door of his bedroom with the officer. That way, the officer will catch Philip in the act and I will have the reassurance that people will be there if he goes, well- too far." Satine shuddered, after being with Christian, the idea of sleeping with a stranger made her feel ill.
Christian, who didn't like the sound of this, asked, "but even if you were able to convince my Philip that you would-" he stopped, not even wanting to say what his brother wanted to do to his angel. "How would we be able to come in behind you?"
"Maddy could let us in," Emily suggested.
"But Em, I don't think Philip would try to commit adultery when his wife was in the house," Christian pointed out.
Emily, who was now wide awake, replied, "Philip hardly ever goes to church and doesn't expect Madeline home until after going out to lunch with her 'knitting circle'." Emily rolled her eyes at Madeline's lie, although she couldn't blame her for making it up. "Anyway, we could tell Madeline our plan when we see her there. That way, Satine could get into the house and once Philip had locked the door, Madeline would use her key to let us into the house."
"Em, you're brilliant!" Satine exclaimed.
"Wait, just a moment," boomed the Father. "You're saying you want me to go to church, get a police officer, sneak into a house and eavesdrop on my son who supposedly wants to commit horrendous crimes against my future daughter in law?!"
Christian winced, it was expecting a lot of his father to do all this to a son who had always been his favorite. "Yes Father, I think you just about summed it up. Will you help us?" Christian asked hopefully.
The Father bit his lip and sighed, looking around the room at three pairs of pleading eyes. "Well, I suppose I have to. I doubt that you would lie to me on such a serious issue. I will inform the authorities on our way to church tomorrow. Christian, you shall let Madeline know of the plan. And Emily, if all this about Philip is true, I don't want you around him. I don't want you coming into the house."
Emily was outraged, she was once again being punished because of her age. "But Father!" Emily whined.
"No," said the Father, in a tone that children know should not be trifled with.
When Christian saw the hurt on his sister's face, he said, "once you see the officer coming out with Philip, you can meet us in the house, all right?"
Emily still wasn't happy with being cut out of the action, but the important thing was finally bringing her brother to justice; so she reluctantly agreed.
After that, everyone filed out of the study, suddenly exhausted from such an emotionally draining scene. By midnight, everyone was asleep except the Father. All he could do was toss and turn in his bed, wondering how his own son could have possibly turned out as horrible as everyone had just informed him. In the quiet darkness of his bedroom, he also began to contemplate the way he had treated Christian. Maybe his Bohemian ideas weren't so crazy after all…
*~*
It seemed as if church had gone on for days. The pew where The Father, Madeline, Emily, Christian and Satine sat had been full of squirming, loud sighing and constant checking of pocket watches. On the far end of the pew, Satine had to draw calming patterns across Christian's palm, just to keep him from hyperventilating. As nervous as she was, she couldn't afford to look it. She knew that if Christian knew of the painful knot in the pit of her stomach, he would never let her go through with it; but she had to. If for no other reason than to save a brother and sister's relationship.
When the group reached the house of Philip and Madeline, Christian turned to Satine and stroked a loose curl from her face, "you don't have to do this."
Satine managed a smile, "but darling, I do. Your brother's acts must be punished, the suffering of all the people I love has to stop now." She gave him a reassuring kiss and nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck and whispered, "Come what may, I will love you, until my dying day."
Christian whimpered, wanting desperately to take her away from all this. But finally, he let her go and Satine bravely walked up the stoop and knocked on the wooden door with the intricately carved brass handle.
After Satine entered the house, into the clutches of Philip, Christian remembered only too well the night Satine had to sleep with the Duke. He had the same tearing pain in his chest then, as he did now. The only comforting thought he could give himself was that they had made it through that, and if all went according to plan, they would make it through this, too.
Inside the house, Satine and Philip stood in the foyer.
"Oh, you decided to take me up on my offer did you?" Philip smiled and kissed Satine's hand.
Satine turned her head away in disgust, "I'm doing this for Christian," she said, sharply.
Philip laughed, "oh, leave it up to Chris to marry a feisty little whore."
Satine ignored the comment and lifelessly followed Philip into his bedroom, praying that the plan would work.
Outside, Madeline silently unlocked the door for Christian, her father in law and the police officer. She led the three in and gave Emily, who had to wait outside, a reassuring wink.
Madeline then turned her attention back to the three men, "come along, they are upstairs, in the bedroom," she whispered, as she lead the way up the staircase.
Christian thought he would be sick when he heard his brother's voice coming from the bedroom. "What? Has the Sparkling Diamond lost her shine?" He paused and licked his thin, grayish lips. "Give me something to work with here. A pant, a moan, something."
"I wouldn't pant if you paid me and the only reason I would moan is because of how nauseated you make me," she said, flatly.
"Well, if you want me satisfied, and I think you do," he said slowly, reminding Satine of their deal, "you better work some of your magic charm and turn me on or Chris won't be seeing Em for a long time." Philip laughed coldly as his hand began to creep across the curves of her chest.
"You miserable little-" Satine started, sitting up against him.
"Son of a bitch?" Philip offered, not caring of the insult he brought upon his deceased mother. Outside, Madeline and the police officer had to hold Christian back because he was now in a fit of rage.
"Yeah, all right, if insults are some kind of foreplay, that's nice, but I'm ready to get started," he said, as his hand slid up her thigh.
"Christian is going to kill you," Satine hissed.
Philips eyes turned to menacing slits and threw Satine to her back. He loomed over her and started unbuttoning her dress, "now, now, there's no reason for threats." He came down on top of her and covered her lips in a sloppy kiss.
Christian thought he would go out of his mind when the officer finally pulled out his gun and whispered, "I've seen enough." He flung open the door and pointed the gun straight at Philip. "Get off her, you're under arrest," he said, sternly.
Philip got off of Satine and turned ghastly pale when his eyes met the audience of the officer, his brother and wife, and most debilitating, his father. Satine took this moment of his shock and shot off the bed and into Christian's arms. "Oh God, Oh God," she kept repeating against his chest.
Christian turned the two of them around and helped her re-button her dress and smoothed her hair back. "Darling, shh, you're all right, I promise." Christian was never letting Satine out of his arms ever, ever again. He brought his lips against her ear and whispered, "you are so brave, Satine." Satine nodded tearfully and clung to Christian. She was now the one who needed comforting.
"Get up," said the police officer with his gun still pointing at Philip with one hand and with the other, he was pulling out a pair of handcuffs.
Philip looked around the room frantically for someone who would vouch for him. When his eyes met his father's, they were cold and unforgiving.
"Get up!" repeated the police officer.
Philip gave a wicked smile towards Satine and turned to his last resort, "Father, I thought you should know; your future daughter in law was a whore at the Moulin Rouge!" he stated. Christian placed protective hands over Satine's ears to block out his brother's words. Philip was practically blown away when his statement did nothing and his father didn't even flinch.
"Get up and go with the officer, Philip," he said with disgust. "And by the way, Satine is a lovely person. She had the courage to come to me with the truth. I can hardly say the same for you." He shook his head and continued, "you have brought this family shame and have dishonored myself and your mother. Now get up," he said flatly.
Philip was finally pulled up by the officer who tightly locked the handcuffs over his wrists. "But, but," he rambled. "I can explain."
"Oh, they'll be plenty of time for explaining while you sit and pass the time in your cell," said the officer, as he led him out of the room and down the stairs, to where he would take Philip to prison.
Everyone in the room gave a sigh of relief except Christian's father, who still stood with a look of disbelief on his face. Madeline took the moment of silence to walk over to him and said, "sir, I'm terribly sorry you had to see that."
He shook his head, "no, no Madeline, dear. I was blinded by my son's despicable antics. I'm just glad that you and Satine are all right," he said. And then, for the first time, he pulled Madeline into a loving embrace. He motioned to Satine, who was still standing with Christian, to come over to him. Satine slowly pulled away from Christian and went into the arms of his father.
Everyone's attention was pulled from the scene as Emily's giddy laughter could be heard traveling up the stairs. When she reached the bedroom, she jumped into Christian's arms and finally was able to control her laughter, "Philip was outside crying like a little baby as the officer took him away." She paused and said knowingly, "'don't do the crime, if you can't pay the time,' I always say."
Christian smiled and kissed the top of his little sister's head. But everyone's smile faded as Father let go of Satine and Madeline. He said quietly, "Yes, I would say that's a very true statement, Emily. Now, I've had quite a draining day and I would just like some time alone." He turned and patted his son on the back as he headed out of the room.
Everyone stood silent for several minutes until Christian piped up, "it's getting a little stuffy in here, I think a walk outside would do everyone quite nicely."
They took Christian's lead and headed outside where a bright, blue sky with puffy white clouds could be seen. Satine, who was still quite shaken, melted into Christian's arms and was content to just let him hold her.
Madeline was just catching her breath and collecting her thoughts when she saw someone peering from behind a lamppost. She craned her neck to see better and when she realized it was Alex, she lifted her skirts and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. When she reached him, Madeline jumped into Alex's arms and kissed him all over his face as he quickly began to do the same. "Oh God Maddy, I love you, I love you so much. Tell me he's gone. Please tell me he can't hurt you anymore."
"He's gone," Madeline said excitedly. "I love you, Alex," she sighed, she had never felt more free than she did at this very moment.
Alex took Madeline's two hands and gave them a light squeeze. "My darling, you don't know how badly I've wanted this. And-and, I know you have to work out all this mess with your marriage- but, I want-I want you to be my wife," he said.
Madeline squealed, "Yes, yes, Alex, me too! I want to be with you forever and I don't want to hide anymore. I'm yours now, yours forever."
Alex smiled and placed his hands on both sides of Madeline's face. The feeling that he could protect her now made him feel as if he could fly. He brought his lips to hers and kissed her deeply.
Across the lawn, Christian, Satine and Emily stood smiling at the couple, "they're so happy!" Emily said with a large smile. She had obviously taken after her brother and had fallen in love with love, too.
Christian and Satine smiled right along with Emily as she hurried down the street to meet with some of her friends.
Christian turned towards Satine and asked, "how are you feeling?"
"Shaken," she answered, "but relieved." Satine ran her finger along Christian's jawbone and temples. "Those Bohemian ideals never seem to fail, do they?" She combed her fingers through Christian's hair. "Truth."
Christian chuckled, "beauty," he said and playfully looked Satine up and down.
"Freedom!" Satine called out, spinning in circles and giggling, letting the wind brush against her skin.
Christian caught her right as she began to feel dizzy and kissed her tenderly. When they pulled apart, he whispered, "but above all things…love."