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 IXX: This Used To Be My Playground ~
By: Casidy
Christian stood for a moment before sulking up to his room. How could things have gotten so out of hand? How could he have said such horrible things to Satine? He walked into his room and slammed the door. Couldn't she understand that he was trying to put away a little something for them? Money to buy her everything she had ever dreamed of, everything she deserved.
He paced his room, hands shoved deep into his pockets. Stomping over to the window, he leaned his hands against the sill, his head dropping to lay on the frosted glass. What had he done?
~*~
Satine fell back against the door after it had slammed shut. The tears streamed down her cheeks as she slid down to the floor. She drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around them, hugging them close.
Her mind was swirling and her emotions were swinging violently from anger to despair and back again. How could he have said that? Satine had always been a daddy's girl growing up, especially because of her mother's running off. Despite their poverty, her father had always found a way to buy her pretty dresses to wear to school and every Friday he would come home from work with a bag of sweets for her. She could still remember how he would take her to the theater every year for her birthday. When he died, she'd been left alone to wander the streets, eventually ending up at the Moulin Rouge.
She had never told Christian all of that but the fact that she had never spoken to him about her father had to point to it being a very sensitive subject for her. But she had started the feud, questioning Christian's motives for working so much. She should have stayed quiet but she couldn't. She missed him so much. Her life was so empty without him. It seemed even worse with him there but the two of them angry with each other. They had been through so much, how could they be fighting over something to trivial?
Pulling her legs closer to herself she let out a sudden, strangled cough. Gasping for breath she put her hand to her mouth, trying to muffle the sound. After a moment the pain in her chest subsided. The crimson drops of blood that sprinkled the back of her hand went unnoticed. Her only thought was regret. What had she done?
~*~
The next morning, Satine was surprised to find The Father still eating his breakfast when she came downstairs.
Emily sat at his side peeling apart an English muffin when she looked up to see Satine walking into the room. She did not know what the fight the night before had been about but she'd heard the yelling. It was obviously their first fight from how upset Satine looked. Her hair was limp and she had apparently not spent as much time on her makeup as she usually did. To anyone else she seemed just as confident as ever but Emily noticed that she was not standing quite as straight and her head was not as high as it usually was. She looked as miserable as Emily could ever picture her.
Satine sat down beside Emily and The Father cleared his throat, "Satine, dear, how have the wedding preparations been going?"
"Fine, sir," She answered, not feeling like talking.
The Father, never one to pick up on a person's emotions continued, "When is the ceremony?" he asked curiously.
"The twenty seventh of this month, sir." She replied simply. After she had spoken, Christian walked into the room looking even worse than Satine, Emily noticed.
He had his hands buried deep in his pockets and he hadn't brushed his hair. His head was low and he sat down in his chair without meeting anyone's gaze. Not that he had to try to avoid Satine's. Ever since he had entered the room she had suddenly become very interested in the contents of her plate.
"Ah, Christian, good morning. Satine was just telling me about the wedding. I was curious as how many of your friends from the Paris would be attending. I'm sure we'll have a house full of them." The Father said suddenly.
Everyone's head popped up and looked at The Father then exchanged looks with each other. Satine, realizing she would have to handle this gently said, "Well, Christian and I had invited several of our friends." She forced a smile switching into bright and bubbly mood quickly, "I hadn't even thought of where they would be staying."
Emily bit her bottom lip attempting to smooth her smile as she remembered how she and Satine had spent an entire day scouting hotels for the bohemians to stay in.
The Father looked a bit uncomfortable but bravely pushed on, "Well, I thought they could stay here. We have plenty of room and I'd like to get to know them."
Satine felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. With only a few words, The Father had nobly taken a step to accepting Christian and Satine's friends. She no longer had to plan two weddings. "I'm sure they would enjoy that very much, sir." Satine said.
The Father nodded his head then suddenly stood from his seat, "Christian, I believe it is time we get going." He quickly exited the room with Christian close behind.
Emily could not stand the silence that followed for long, "Satine… Do you want to talk about what happened last night?"
Satine stopped chewing for a moment but then cleared her face of all emotion and asked, "I don't know what you're talking about, Em."
Emily rolled her eyes, "Look Satine, I heard your fight last night. I wasn't eavesdropping or anything, it was just kinda hard to miss. I don't know what it was about, but I can tell that both of you are pretty miserable right now." She paused before repeating, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Satine suddenly broke down in tears, "I don't know what happened. All of a sudden we both just snapped. He said that he had to work again today and I asked him why his job suddenly meant so much to him and he said that all I did was stay at home and obsess over the wedding preparations and I said that he was trying to win his daddy's affections and he said 'at least I have a daddy's affections to win'." Satine sucked in a full breath and let it out in another rush of tears.
Emily put her arms around Satine and patted her hair, comfortingly. She mumbling quiet reassurances until Satine had finally calmed down again.
*~*
Christian sat slumped back in his chair, with his feet on his desk. He truly had no idea why his father had insisted on coming to the bank, there was nothing to do. Satine had been right and he sighed miserably, realizing where disagreeing with her had gotten him. He missed her so much. Even back at the Moulin, when they had to be so careful not to be seen with each other, they had still been together more than they were now. Taking his feet off the desk, he went to talk to his father.
*~*
After the incident in the dinning room, Satine and Emily had gone into the library where Emily listened patiently, as Satine talked endlessly, shifting quickly from anger at Christian to anger at herself.
When Satine had seemingly run out of things to say, Emily stood up. Slowly walking across the expanse of the couch Satine sat on, she began to sing, more than a bit sarcastically,
Forget about that guy,
Forget about the way you fell into his eyes.
Forget about his charms,
Emily wrapped her own arms around herself,
Forget about the way he held you in his arms.
She began to walk with a definite bounce in her step and swung her arms,
Walking on air's obnoxious,
She shivered and adopted a disgusted look.
The thrills, the chills- will make you nauseous.
As she continued she shrugged her shoulders at the next line.
And you'll never get enough,
Just forget about love.
She put her hands over her heart and fluttered her eyelashes,
Forget about romance,
Forget about the way your heart begins to dance.
Emily crunched up her face,
Then you feel the blush,
When he's spouting out some sentimental mush.
Love really is revolting,
It's even worse than when you're malting.
Enough of this fluff,
Just forget about love.
Emily had not even finished her line before Satine began to sing as if no one else were in the room.
I had almost forgotten the way it felt,
When he held out his hand for mine.
My heart all aflutter-
Holding back a giggle Emily shouted out,
Oh how I shudder!
Satine giggled before singing dreamily,
The fist time we kissed…
Emily interrupted,
It won't be missed!
Forget about his touch.
Shaking her head Satine sang,
I can't forget about his touch!
Emily sang,
In the scheme of things it doesn't matter much.
Satine disagreed,
It matters so much!
Smiling happily at Satine as she stood from her seat, Emily sang happily,
You're better on your own,
A meal becomes a banquet when you eat alone.
Satine joined hands with her future sister-in-law and the two began to dance about the room singing together,
Love's filled with compromises.
Emily wiggled her finger at Satine knowingly,
And don't you hate those big surprises?
Satine smiled wishfully,
A cozy rendezvous.
Emily tried to sound disgusted,
Oh, please!
Satine giggled then sang,
Candle light for two!
Laughing again, Emily interrupted,
Oh, geez!
Satine held her arms out and sang,
Look, you're callin' my bluff,
I can't forget about love!
The two girls began giggling helplessly and collapsed onto the couch.
"You're right Em. How did you ever learn so much about love?" Satine asked.
The young girl smiled, "I had a pretty good teacher. Don't let this fester, Satine. Go to the bank and talk to him. Someone has to take the first step."
*~*
An hour later, with directions to the bank in hand, Satine hastily put her coat on, preparing to go find Christian. She opened the door and almost ran into the person on the other side,
"Christian!" She said, startled, "What-what are you doing here? Why aren't you at the bank?" she suddenly felt very nervous.
Christian walked into the house, "I told Father that it was ridiculous to be there on a Saturday and that I was going home to my fiancée.
Satine gasped slightly, "really?" she asked, taking a step closer to him, no longer nervous.
"Of course, I love you Satine and I'm so sorry for everything I said yesterday. I didn't mean a word of it. I've just been so busy lately that I didn't even think of how hard you've been working to put our wedding together. You've been doing it all alone when I should have been helping you. I'm-"
Satine had stepped closer to him and did not stop until she was right in front of him. Putting a finger to his lips she silenced him, "No Christian, it's not your fault. I shouldn't have said the things I did. I'm the one that should be apologizing." She said, looking down.
Christian put his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. "What if we call it even. We were both at fault and we forgive each other. How does that sound, darling?" Christian asked, looking into Satine's eyes for a sign that she forgave him.
Satine nodded happily before beginning to sing,
I can't forget about my heart.
Christian echoed her words,
I can't forget about my heart.
Putting her hand on Christian's cheek Satine continued,
And how it felt to fall for you right from the start.
Holding his hands out in astonishment Christian sang,
I'm still falling!
Satine sang,
Whatever we may do,
Christian once again echoed her words,
Whatever we may do,
Satine continued,
You'll be here for me and I'll be there for you!
Christian assured her,
I'll be there,
Happily they sang to each other,
To wish to want to wonder
To find the sun through rain and thunder
Christian sang happily,
A cozy rendezvous?
Satine smiled excitedly,
Yes, please!
Christian then asked,
Candle light for two?
Suddenly Emily's voice sang out from the doorway to the library, broken up by giggles,
Oh, geez!
Enough is enough!
Christian and Satine laughed at the young girl, as she rolled her eyes good naturedly and returned to the library, closing the doors behind her.
We can't forget about love!
The two met in a strong kiss, their lips passionate after being apart so long.
"I love you Christian." She said breathlessly.
"I love you too, Darling." Christian responded before kissing her again.
*~*
* "Forget About Love" is from "Aladdin and the Return of Jafar"