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-B: How Do I Live Without You ~
By Mariclaire

~*~

"What?" Christian whispered hoarsely, not willing to except what had just filled his ears.

"Satine is dying, she has consumption. I'm sorry," the doctor said.

"No! What are you talking about? Satine, she can't be dying…maybe you overlooked something…"

"I'm sorry, sir," the doctor repeated. "She has all the symptoms. Everything points to consumption. I'm surprised she's lasted this long."

"Well, then maybe it is something else!" Christian cried. "She can't have consumption. No…she can't die!" He felt all his remaining strength leave as he whimpered, "Please, I can't live without her."

The doctor let out another deep sigh and placed a strong hand on Christian's shoulder. "She has consumption. Here, give her this," he handed Christian a small canister, "if she starts coughing again. It will help for awhile, but I can't say for sure how long. There's nothing else I can do, I'm sorry." With that, the doctor, with his medical bag in tow, left the house as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. Just another job, another client, another life.

Back inside, Christian fell to his knees and cried hard, choking sobs that shook his whole body. This couldn't be real. Satine, his beautiful angel, who was so full of life this morning, had consumption. It wasn't 'just a cough'. It wasn't going to 'go away'. They wouldn't grow old together or travel the world or stay up late, talking and making love.

Satine was going to die.

Daphne stood a few feet away, several tears unconsciously dripping down her face. She hadn't even been with the couple more than a few days, but she could tell how much they were in love. Her heart ached as she watched the broken man on the floor, holding his head in his hands.

She brushed the tears off her cheeks and carefully approached Christian, afraid that he might lash out at her. She placed a gentle hand on his back and whispered, "go be with her, sir. She needs you now."

Christian, startled by her presence, slowly nodded and took Daphne's hand. She steadied him and led him to the bedroom door. "Let me know if you or Miss Satine need anything," she whispered.

Christian gave her another slow nod as she began to walk back down the hall and towards her room. He lifted his trembling hand to the doorknob and paled when he opened it to find Satine, her face contorted in pain, tossing in restless sleep.

He once again sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand in his. He brought her icy fingertips to his lips and tears continued to flow from his eyes as he watched her take a painful swallow.

Christian fell into a trance, lightly stroking Satine's body; willing her to come back to him and say she was perfectly fine.

"Chris-tian…" she finally croaked out. His entire body snapped to attention. He was glad to see her conscious, but the ache that filled him when he saw her like this was almost unbearable.

"I'm right here," he breathed, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm sorry," she cried.

Christian shook his head, "Shhh, there's nothing to be sorry for."

"I-I'm…going t-to die," Satine whimpered. "I don't want to leave you…" She mustered the strength to lift her hand and cup Christian's face, his hand instantly joining hers.

"There must be something…there has to be a way I can help you," he choked. "Li-like what we said, come what may."

"Oh Christian…" Satine started as she felt another coughing fit coming on. Her body rattled and the room seemed to shake as the coughing took over. Christian, terrified, fumbled through the pocket of his robe and pulled out the small medicine canister and lifted it to Satine's lips. She cringed as the bitter liquid ran down her throat.

After several nerve wracking seconds that seemed to last forever, the coughing subsided. Satine lay back down and rested her head on the fluffy pillow. Even though she had all the covers pulled around her, she muttered, "I'm cold," right before she drifted back into sleep.

Christian discarded his robe and got under the covers with her and pulled her close. He shivered when her cold, clammy skin touched his, but he soon put that aside and focused all his energy towards making her warm.

"We'll get through this," Christian whispered as he held her. He kissed her cheek and fell into a restless sleep with tears still rolling down his splotched face.

~*~

Sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, causing Christian's eyes to flutter open. He decided to go back to sleep, still exhausted and comforted by Satine next to him. Just as he was about to slip into unconsciousness, a flood of memories came back to him about the previous night.

Christian sat up, his heart starting to pound. He felt Satine's forehead and almost wailed when he felt her still raging fever. Anxiously climbing out of bed, he found his discarded robe lying on the floor. Christian searched through the pockets and his hand trembled when he felt the smooth surface of the medicine container. He sank to his knees as reality seeped into the core of his very being.

Christian slipped on his robe and began to silently curse himself for the little things he didn't fully take appreciate. The way she'd sigh happily when he kissed her. The way her smile lit up even the halls of his father's dreary house. The reassuring sound of her breathing beside him.

Satine stirred in her sleep and Christian was instantly pulled from his thoughts. He forced himself from the floor and brought a chair to the bedside. He took her hand and stroked her fingers and traced patterns across her palm. Satine soon rolled over, unconsciously pulling her hand out of Christian's grasp.

Christian sat back in the chair. He didn't want to believe that this was happening. He had been blessed with an angel. God couldn't take her away from him…

He looked out the window and quietly sang,

Oh no,

I'm not letting go.

I don't want to be alone,

In this crazy world.

Oh Lord,

How I love her so?

And I'll sacrifice it all to have her,

In my life.

Christian turned his attention back to Satine; whose ears, even when she slept, perked at the sound of his voice.

I found my girl.

I'll tell the world,

That heaven is missing an angel.

My dreams came true,

When I found you.

Yes, heaven is missing an angel.

An almost panicked tone filled Christian's voice as he continued to sing to Satine,

All that I do is for you,

Me without you girl just won't do.

Oh no,

Your love's all I want to know.

Angel don't you ever go,

Life won't be the same without you.

He choked out the last line,

Yes, heaven is missing an angel…

Wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his soft robe, Christian stood up and steadied himself before returning to his place on the bed; if for no other reason than to hold Satine. He settled himself and lifted her body onto his lap.

Satine let out a small groan from the movement, but soon found great comfort in being held in his strong arms. He leaned against the headboard of the bed, Satine's face nestled against the crook of his neck.

An hour later, Daphne knocked on the bedroom door.

"Come in," Christian whispered.

With unsteady hands, Daphne opened the door. When she stepped inside the room, she could barely make eye contact with the man holding his dying wife in his arms.

"I'm sorry if I woke you, I just thought that since it was getting late in the morning, you might like some breakfast," she said, meekly.

"Yes, thank you," Christian mouthed with as much of a smile that he could manage.

Daphne nodded, "Any special requests, sir?"

Christian thought for a moment. "Anything is fine, really," he whispered in reply. "You can bring the food up here, I'm sure that when Satine awakes, she won't want to leave the room." He looked down at Satine and ran a finger across her cheek and down to her throat.

Daphne nodded and turned to leave when Christian said, "Could you possibly get a pitcher of ice water for Satine's throat? I don't want it to get too sore."

"Of course, sir," she answered.

"Oh!" Christian remembered. "And a damp cloth to put on her head for the fever? She feels awfully warm."

Daphne nodded and turned once more to leave when Christian softly called, "Oh yes, and Daphne?"

"Yes sir?" She said, beginning to worry she wouldn't be able to remember everything.

"Thank you," Christian said softly.

Daphne's expression eased as she replied, "You're welcome, sir," and made her way down the hall to the kitchen to prepare his tray and requests.

After the door clicked closed, Christian sighed and slowly whimpered into Satine's hair, "You'll get better darling, I promise."

A sad smile seemed to appear on Satine's lips as Christian sang,

Come what may,

I will love you,

'til the end…of…time…

~*~

* "Heaven is Missing an Angel" is performed by 98°

* "Come What May" is from Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge