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 XXXXII: I Say A Little Prayer ~
By: Mariclaire
~*~
"Christian, I'm scared," Satine said, tentatively grasping the handlebars of her new bicycle.
Christian placed his strong hands on her waist. "Shh, darling. I promise, I won't let go." Even after his reassurances, Satine still seemed unsure about her balance. "I have an idea," he whispered and helped her off the seat.
Satine followed him to a nearby bench, glad to have her feet on solid ground again. Christian sat down and pulled her onto his lap so she was straddling his waist.
"I think this will help you feel more comfortable with riding," Christian said.
Satine cocked an eyebrow at her husband. "Will I do that by riding…something else?" she teased.
Christian flushed scarlet, "I'm not going to answer that, you little minx." Taking one of her bare feet in each of his hands he said, "Now pretend my shoulders are the handlebars." He gave her a supporting smile and began to move his arms so she went through the motions of pedaling. "See darling, it's as easy as that! You're doing beautifully."
After few more minutes of her personal bicycle simulation, Satine laughed and collapsed into Christian's arms. "Thank you," she breathed.
Christian brushed Satine's vibrant red hair from her face, "It's my pleasure, my beautiful diamond." She splayed her fingers through the fine hair at his neck and drew him in for a heated kiss. Christian held her close as their lips danced across the others.
When they drew apart Satine said, "Are you sure the doctor wouldn't approve of this as exercise?"
Christian let out a soft laugh, his breath tickling her cheek, "Maybe you should recommend that he prescribe it to his patients."
Now it was Satine's turn to laugh. "Darling?" she inquired shyly.
"Yes?" Christian answered and rubbed the pad of his thumb across her face to sweep away an eyelash.
"I think I'm ready to try riding the bicycle."
"Are you sure Satine? You don't have to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable."
Satine couldn't help but fall in love with Christian all over again. His boyish grin was plain on his face from sheer excitement of getting to teach her something so simple. She answered by standing and taking hold of Christian's hand. She pulled herself onto the seat and gripped the handlebars, cautiously checking behind her to make sure he was there. The flash of worry in her eyes vanished as soon as it arose when she saw Christian's reassuring gaze at her back and his warm palms nestled on her hips, keeping her safe.
As soon as she felt her equilibrium return, she breathed deeply and took a tentative first stroke of the pedals. The bike crawled forward a couple of inches and Christian moved with it to make sure Satine knew he was there. A shy smile broke out on her red lips and a bout of confidence rushed through her.
Satine pedaled a couple more times, covering a full meter of sidewalk. "You're doing it Satine!" Christian cried.
She laughed and stole a quick glance at her supporter. "I am!" A couple strokes later she added, "Let go, Christian!"
Christian, who was now at a jog to keep up with the red bike, looked at her questioningly and panted, "But darling…are you sure? I mean, you just started."
"No no, I can do this!" The smile on her face radiated from her entire being as Christian gave an unsure nod.
"Alright, on the count of three! One…two…three!"
After an initial swerve when he first let go, Satine was nearly shrieking in delight, happily giving up any semblance of glamour. She rode down the wide sidewalk for a full 30 seconds before stopping by a shady tree to rest.
Christian ran up to her, worried she had over exerted herself, but all she did was tumble into his arms with giggles when he came to her side. She hopped off of the seat she was perched upon and let the bike rest against the tree trunk.
"I just knew you could do it. I'm so proud of you sweetheart," Christian murmured against her sweaty nape.
"Thank you," Satine whispered, still attempting to catch her breath. She felt as if she were free again. She had flown away from the confines of illness when Christian let her ride on her own. She'd proven that she was ready to escape from his parent-like care when she had pedaled away. She knew that even though Christian had let go, he would never be far behind.
~*~
Later that evening when Christian turned off the light and crawled into bed next to Satine, he felt the irregular flutter of her heart and quickened breathing. "Satine?" he whispered and wrapped a loving arm around her, "what's wrong?"
Startled at first by his presence, Satine gave a small jerk before whimpering and maneuvering herself to be cuddled against his chest. She felt the burning rush of tears come to her eyes and a single sob bubbled forth as Christian offered comfort by slowly caressing his fingers through her soft mane. "Please love, talk to me," he breathed.
Satine burrowed deeper into Christian, as if trying to hide from something. It was almost a full minute before she answered, "Tomorrow the doctor is coming for my check up."
Christian nodded as realization struck him. Their day had been so carefree and wonderful that he had totally forgotten about the day ahead. "And he said he would be able to see if there was any trace of the consumption…" his voice faded away. He didn't need to reiterate something that Satine already so deeply feared.
After they had fired Satine's old doctor, Sophia had suggested a fairly unknown man who had saved her from a particularly vicious bout of influenza. He had been making regular visits ever since.
Satine's lip quivered, "I finally felt free again, Christian…like a weight had been lifted off of my heart. I can't live like a caged bird again…I can't." She looked desperately into his eyes, pleading for something that he had no control over.
"Oh Satine," Christian breathed. "You're doing so well, don't jump to any conclusions. I love you," he nuzzled the side of her face. "And no matter what news the doctor brings tomorrow, I'll be right here, you know that Darling."
Satine sniffled and buried her face in Christian's neck. He was her haven. The only place she could truly feel safe. When she moved to look into his eyes again she slowly traced the features of his face, "you deserve so much better than me."
Just then, he took her face in his warm hands and kissed her fiercely, "I don't want anything more than you, Satine. I couldn't possibly ask to improve upon perfection. I'm so in love with you, I fear sometimes that my heart will just burst from the intensity of it."
The only response Satine could manage was to snuggle further into Christian's embrace and place a soft kiss on his shoulder.
"Now sleep, my love." He murmured, "even angels need their rest." He set his chin on Satine's crown of red hair and held her close as they drifted into sleep.
Despite being cradled in Christian's comforting arms, Satine's dreams were filled with haunting images of death. In one, the Grim Reaper himself clasped his ice-cold hands around her wrists and tried to pry her away from everything she loved. Yet even in her most terrifying nightmares, Christian was always there to save her from harm. His warm, familiar scent was synonymous with safety. And every time she woke with a jerk, she breathed deeply and angled her neck to kiss Christian's chin before falling back asleep.
Little did she know that every breath and movement registered with Christian and he would stay awake until he was positive Satine's breathing had slowed and her long eyelashes were gently pressed to her cheeks.
~*~
The risen sun cast long shadows against Christian's body as he awoke. He stretched his stiff muscles and sat up to find that Satine was already awake. Wrapping her pale pink robe around herself, she jumped when she saw Christian staring back at her. Her anxiety had only become worse during the night and now she was a walking bundle of nerves.
"Morning," Christian mumbled, still groggy.
Satine broke a smile at his droopy eyes and disheveled hair. She sent him a shy look and closed the small space between them and crawled back into his arms. Nuzzling against his bare chest she sighed, "can't we just stay like this?"
"Oh darling," Christian said softly. He swept Satine off of her feet and started out of the room and down the stairs. "The doctor's visit will be quick. And I can just feel that the news will be good," he added a reassuring smile to mask his own concern.
"And if the news is bad?" Satine breathed.
Christian had to swallow and watch his step to keep from losing control, "then we will keep fighting." They reached the bottom of the stairs and he let Satine's body slide down his, "you're going to beat this, Satine." He took her trembling hand in his own and brushed his lips against her palm, "you're so strong."
Satine nodded and hastily wiped away the tears that were threatening to drip down her face. Clearing her throat and managing a smile she said, "well, the doctor-he should be here in half an hour. I suppose we should have some breakfast."
Christian could plainly see that she was trembling with the strain of keeping her emotions in check. Trying to make things easier on her, he placed his arms around her stiff shoulders and kissed her temple, "good idea," he whispered.
~*~
Breakfast crawled by and the couple sat in deafening silence, nervously picking at the food prepared for them. Their maid, Isabella, looked on, anxious as well. She had been hired a short while after the couple had moved into the villa to help with the cooking and cleaning. She had become close with them during the duration of their stay. She also was well acquainted with Satine's condition after coaxing medicine down her throat and staying up with her when Christian was too drained to sit up. Satine seemed worlds healthier, but like the doctor had warned, it would take a miracle for her to ever completely recover.
The silence was broken with a loud rap at the door and the entire room seemed to jerk back into reality. Everyone sat staring for a moment and only moved when the knock repeated. In a rush, Isabella moved to clear the dishes and Satine was up to get the door with Christian close behind.
Satine halted for a moment with her hand on the doorknob and Christian took her face in his hands.
"I want you to hear me Satine…I don't care what this doctor says. You're going to get better, I swear it. And no matter what revelations he makes in there, you're still my beautiful Satine. Everything will be all right darling, come what may."
He captured her lips for a kiss that, although fleeting, was comprised of all the passion and love they held for the other. They broke apart and Satine abruptly swung open the door to reveal the ever solemn doctor with his medical bag in tow.
Satine cleared her throat and put on her "bright and bubbly" façade. "Can I get you anything, Signor?"
"No, no, I'm fine," the stern-faced doctor assured. "I see no reason why we can't start now."
"Yes…of course," Satine replied. She stroked Christian's face and now felt like she was the one who needed to do the reassuring. He had been so strong for her and she could tell the strain was taking its toll.
Her fingertips dropped as she walked towards the small, adjacent room where the doctor usually performed his multiple tests and assessments. Their eyes were locked for as long as possible, but all too soon, the doctor closed the door to begin. It was time.
~*~
Christian nearly made himself sick with worry as he paced the foyer during Satine's examination. In a way, he wished that the doctor hadn't put such finality on this visit. But then again, her "treatment" was over. And according to all the dozens of books filled with medical research that he had drilled into his brain, recovery from consumption was unlikely in and of itself, but if the patient hadn't recovered after attempted cure, revival was very unlikely.
A swarm of what-ifs clouded Christian's thinking. What if he had worked harder for Satine's health? What if this had been the entirely wrong approach for her? What if everything he had done for her amounted to nothing and -
"Good day, Satine," the doctor said as he exited the small room. He tipped his hat in greeting to Christian and was out the door before he could as any questions.
Christian frantically searched Satine's expressionless face for any clues as to what the doctor said. But her firmly set gaze and straight-lipped appearance revealed nothing.
Taking one tentative step towards her, he whispered, "Well, what did he say?"