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 XXXXI: Big Girls Don't Cry ~
By: Casidy

~*~

Sophia closed the door behind her, unable to look at the boy any longer. She had filled his head with optimism. Had she given him false hope with her talk of herbs and elixirs? The poor girl was half-dead and Sophia wasn't sure how much she could do, if she could bring her back.

She found her way back to the kitchen with little trouble. The one room was larger than her entire home. There was sure to be any plant or liquid she would need.

The house was awkward. The bright walls were meant for light and a bright morning sun shining through the tall windows, but the early morning only scant candles offered light to the starved yellow walls. Silence filled the grand area flouting in the air like a chilling wind enveloping the room and Sophia in the icy feeling.

Sophia knew that if the world lost the angel dying upstairs, then the house would be trapped forever in the feelings layering it now. The girl would take with her every bit of life and every dream young Christian had ever held.

~*~

Upstairs, Christian lay beside his angel holding her weak body in his arms. The night had been long but his mind would not rest. His thoughts began to drift and soon he was back at the Moulin Rouge with his healthy, Sparkling Diamond.

It's a little bit funny,

This feeling inside.

I'm not one of those,

Who can easily hide.

I don't have much money,

But if I did I'd buy a big house,

Where we both could live.

He looked at the giant, four-poster bed he lay on and around the comfortable room filled with expensive furniture. This was how he had been raised but it had never mattered to Satine. She would have been just as happy spending the rest of their lives in that tiny garret in Montmarte. As long as they had each other.

And you can tell everybody,

This is your song.

It may be quite simple,

But now that it's done.

I hope you don't mind,

I hope you don't mind.

That I put down in words,

How wonderful life is,

Now you're in the world.

How many times had he felt stranded by the thought of losing Satine? The idea of it made him feel alone in the world, deserted by everyone. He remembered the dream he had while still in London, that he had lost Satine and he had gone back to that little room across from the Moulin, sulking and drunk, trying to work up the courage to write their story for her. Trying to lock himself in that little world they had made for each other, frightened of the outside world. That was exactly what he would do if he lost her. He wouldn't bother going back to London, he would stay in Paris until the rest of the world collapsed as his had.

So excuse me forgetting,

But these things I do.

You see I've forgotten,

If they're green or they're blue.

Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean,

Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen.

"They're green." Satine said in a hoarse whisper.

Christian shot up and looked at Satine beside him. Her face was grayer than the porcelain white it had always been, and her nose was red and puffy, as were her bloodshot eyes. Her red hair was tangled and lay about the pillow in ever which way, but her eyes were open and her soft lips held a faint smile. Christian couldn't remember the last time she had looked so lovely.

"I know that darling, but you're so beautiful that sometimes I fumble a little and forget things." He said leaning over her and pulling the blanket closer around her shivering shoulders.

"I thought I had died." Satine said suddenly. Christian looked at her, his body tense and unmoving, he did not say anything. "Everything was black and I was all alone. I was so scared, but then I heard your voice…. and a woman. She was talking about honey."

Christian frowned at her puzzled expression. She had woken up and he hadn't been there. She had been alone and scared, after he had promised not to leave her! "I'm so sorry darling. You had fainted and I left to find the doctor but he wouldn't come and so I brought Sophia. I didn't want to leave but I needed to find someone to help you. I didn't know what to do. I'm so sorry I left you all alone."

Satine's head shook weakly and her eyes fluttered shut after the strain but all she said was, "I love you Christian."

~*~

The same routine went on for what seemed like an eternity to Christian. Satine would wake up enough to smile at him and maybe say a few words and he would comfort her with poetry. Then she would have another fit and cough until her handkerchiefs were soiled with blood and she fainted.

Christian held vigil at her bedside, never leaving the room. Sophia would have given up hope after the two weeks she had been nursing Satine, but she couldn't. How could she give up when Christian looked at her like an avenging angel whenever she entered the room?

Sophia had found a new doctor for the young lady but his visits were scarce. Consumption was highly contagious and even he was afraid of catching the ravaging disease. With this in mind Sophia also kept an eye on Christian and the servants of the household, but the thought of becoming sick himself had never occurred to Christian. His only thoughts were for Satine's well being.

Exactly two weeks after that terrible night, Satine awoke to find Christian sitting at his desk, staring blankly at his typewriter before him. His shirt and trousers were terribly wrinkled and his suspenders hung off his shoulders.

Her head felt clear and she was well rested. Seeing Christian across the room, she wanted to be near him. Standing from the bed she tiptoed over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He jerked, suddenly aware of his surroundings. His chair spun around and for a moment he was not sure whether he was awake or not.

"Satine? You shouldn't be out of bed!" he said standing from his chair.

"Really Christian, I feel much better," Satine gently pushed Christian back into his chair and crawled onto his lap. "I feel as if I've been sleeping for ages. How long was I asleep?" she asked curling herself around him.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her to keep her in place, "Well, it's been about two days since you fainted last and I guess you've been in bed a little over two weeks."

"Two weeks? How could anyone sleep that long?"

Christian brushed a stray curl out of her eyes. Her skin no longer felt clammy and cold with sweat. Her eyes glistened in the setting sun, shining red through the window and she felt alive in his arms for the first time in ages. "You were very sick," was all he could manage.

Will you read me what you've been writing?" Satine asked suddenly, changing the subject.

Christian pulled out a sheet of blank paper form the typewriter and handed it to her. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It seems that I am unable to write without my muse with me."

"You mean you haven't been able to write anything for two weeks?" She asked surprised.

"Exactly. Not a poem, a chapter, a story, or a play. Nothing. I am nothing without you Satine."

~*~

The doctor came to visit Satine the next morning and directed that she stay on bed rest. There she remained, under the close watch of both Christian and Sophia for seven weeks. Though she didn't mind all the attention Christian showered on her and all the wonderful foods Sophia offered with grandmotherly kindness.

At the beginning of the summer the doctor finally allowed her to leave the bedroom but it was the beginning of July before she was allowed outside. Then Christian would walk her down to the beach and they would have picnics or just lounge on the shore while Christian read his Sparkling Diamond the poetry he had written for her.

~*~

Early September Christian went into town for more paper and came home insisting that Satine follow him outside.

When she was standing in front of the house Christian asked, "The doctor said that exercise would be good for you, right?"

Satine's eyes followed her husband as he went to the side of the house and came back with a brand new bicycle. "Where did you get that thing?" she laughed as he wheeled the shinning contraption over to her.

"When I went into town I saw this red beauty in a shop window and it reminded me of your gorgeous hair." He said brushing a stray curl out of her eyes.

"I've never ridden one," she cautioned, running her hand over the black leather seat.

His smile widened, "Then I'll teach you. I taught Emmy."

"Christian, really, this is ridiculous, I'm too old to learn how to ride a bike now. I might fall off."

"This coming from a woman whom once sat atop a trapeze several dozen feet in the air," he reasoned.

"Yes, but if I fell Chocolat was there to catch me."

"And now you have me. I won't let you get hurt Satine." He brushed the side of her face and looked into her eyes, "My life would be over if anything ever happened to you."

~*~

* "You're Song" performed by Elton John