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 XXX: Fantasy ~
By Casidy

~*~

Everything seemed to be an old brown shade, even the out side world had turned dull and dingy since Satine left the world. Not that Christian would notice. He never left his garnet unless it was in search of more Absinth.

He sat in a corner, his head resting on his knees, a half empty bottle in one hand. He looked up and gazed out the window. Montamart itself had turned gray after Satine left as if the city somehow knew that its Sparkling Diamond was no longer there to shine.

He went over to his typewriter as he did often, trying to find the courage to fulfil his last promise to her. Why had he promised to write their story? Because he would give her anything she ever asked for, that was why. At the time it would have been a magnificent story of love over coming all obstacles but now…now it would be a story about the pains to acquire the greatest thing in the world, only to have it stolen from him. He was bitter and lonely.

Christian stood up nervously, unable to even look at the cobweb-ridden typewriter that seemed to exist only to mock him. Maybe if he had one glass of Absinth it would help him…

He stopped himself before his hand connected with the bottle. One drink would lead to another and he would not be sober again for some time. If he could just get started he knew the words would begin to come effortlessly. If he could just find the words.

Scratching at his beard distractedly he sat down again. After brushing the cobwebs out of the way he looked around his desk for a fresh sheet of paper and put it in. He rubbed his hands over his face then finally placed his thin, white fingers over the black keys.

The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return. This story is about love. The woman I loved is

He had never said it, God knows he had cried over it, but he had never actually thought the word.

dead.

How could one life ended cause so much grief, heartache, and pain? How could his life have ended the exact moment hers had, yet his broken soul was still forced to walk the earth alone? How could she be gone?

~*~

"Hey, Chris, get up!" Emily said shaking her brother.

"What? Where am I?" Christian asked dazed.

"You fell asleep on the couch, what's wrong? Where's Satine?" Emily's forehead crinkled as she looked her brother over. He looked absolutely exhausted, like he had recently lost everything. Something was obviously wrong, this was his honeymoon and supposed to be one of the happiest times of his life but his eyes looked dead- void of any emotion, save for pain. "Chris, what happened?" Emily asked sitting down next to him on the sofa. "Did Satine make you sleep on the couch already?" she asked with mock sympathy.

"No Emmy, it's nothing like that." He paused for a long moment and Emily wondered if he was going to tell her what was wrong or not. "Satine's dying, Em. What am I going to do?"

Her mouth dropped open, "What do you mean she's dying?"

"The night I met her she fainted during her routine. She was on this trapeze and when she fainted she fell from probably about twenty feet up. Chocolat caught her and everyone thought it was just part of the show. Even then I knew something was wrong but I never really thought about it after that. For as long as I've known her she's been coughing- but I never noticed. The other night I woke up and she was coughing. She fainted right there in my arms. She's so weak all of a sudden. What am I going to do without her Emmy?"

"I can't believe you Christian! I can't believe you're giving up so easily! You're not going to loose her! Not if I have anything to do with it."

"Em, she has consumption, the doctor said there's nothing that can be done." Christian said sadly.

"That's ridiculous! Where did you get this quack anyway?"

"Do you even know what consumption is Emily? It's incurable!" Christian shouted at his baby sister.

Emily narrowed her eyes slightly, her brother rarely called her by her full name and was never one to raise his voice to her but looking at him she quickly overlooked the offense. "Of course I know what consumption is, Chris-tian. Consumption, common name for the infectious, inflammatory, reportable disease tuberculosis, is chronic in nature and commonly affects the lungs, although it may occur in almost any part of the body. Within the body it can lie dormant for decades and then become reactivated years after an initial infection. This secondary tuberculosis infection can occur at any time the patient's resistance is lowered-"

"Any time the patient's resistance is lowered? You mean like if they got a cold or something?" He asked looking up suddenly.

Emily thought for a moment, "Yeah, or any other virus, really, but especially a cold since it effects the lungs."

Christian put his head in his hands then without looking up he mumbled to himself, "It's all my fault! I didn't even think…"

"Christian what are you talking about? How could this be your fault? You said she's been coughing since before you met her."

He shook his head and looked up at his sister, "No, you don't understand Em. She got sick Sunday night, that day we went for a walk in the park. It was snowing and cold and when we came home-" he paused suddenly, "Well, she was burning up and her skin was clammy. It was my idea to go to the park. I made her sick!" He seemed to crumble right before her eyes. He was broken and had no hope that Satine would even recover, and now he was blaming himself for her illness.

"Chris, that's ridiculous. This is not your fault, one walk outside didn't cause this. It's not like it's the first time she's ever gone outside."

"I guess it doesn't matter. I'm going to loose her."

"Haven't you ever heard of Hermann Brehmer?" He looked at her blankly, "In the 1860's he came back from the Himalayas cured of consumption. Chris, if you took Satine to Green Sky the healthier climate might make her better."

Suddenly Christian looked at his sister with hope, "How do you know all of this?"

"Consumption's a pretty common disease, especially in large cities like London because of the pollution and the weather I've learned about lots of common illnesses in my health studies." Emily said offhand.

"Do you really think taking her to Italy will help?" Christian asked his sister.

Emily looked at him calmly, "What do you have to loose?"

~*~

Information on consumption came from the web sites www.webmd.com and www.goshen.edu