Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story except for the driver. I don't own Moulin Rouge.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed !!!!!!!!! Reviews make me feel warm and fuzzy. Thanks to Rebel Princess and Clones_for_breakfast for helping me w/this chapter.

I peeked around the corner of the windmill, saw that there was no one in sight, and hurriedly ran towards an empty carriage I saw. It had taken much effort to get un-noticed from my dressing room to the gardens of the Moulin Rouge, but I had done it. After all, it was 5:00p.m. on opening night, and they had not even rehearsed the new ending twice. The cast was in a panic, but I had hardly noticed. My poet had been hurt, that was all that mattered. I had intentionally hurt him, damaged him beyond repair and he would only find out why after it was too late. 'C'est La Vie' she whispered to the wind as she climbed into the carriage.

"Where to?" I heard a kind voice say. My mind reeled. 'Where would I find what I was looking for?' I thought, 'no one would in good conscience take me there, to find my own demise.' While Satine was lost in her thoughts the man came to her window and looked in on her.

"Miss? What....." the man suddenly trailed off seeing her face. "Say?" he continued, "Are you from around here?" he asked gesturing to the windmill and surrounding area. I stared at him and nodded an affirmative. The man smiled at the fact that he had managed to get through to his obviously disturbed passenger.

"I've seen you before......." he trailed off, and you could see the wheels turning in his head. Satine just looked at him with glazed eyes. As if the light bulb had just turned on, he put his finger up in the air and shouted, "Why, you're the Sparkling Diamond! I knew that I'd seen you before!" The man started rambling about how he'd been going to the Moulin Rouge for a long time, and she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen and how he couldn't have dreamed the he'd ever have the 'Sparkling Diamond' in his carriage.

I managed to quiet him by putting my hand on his arm and giving him a rather large, and rather fake smile. An idea had just decided to join me. "Yes," I started, "I'm looking for a place where I can buy some pills." The man gave me a quizzical look. "What kind of pills?" I stifled a laugh, for effect, and looked the kindly old man straight in the eye. "Why, poison ones." I put on an innocent look and watched the man's face change abruptly to a look of horror. If I hadn't learned to control my emotions so well, I would have burst out laughing at the sight. He started backing away and shaking his hands in front of him.

'Christian would have found it funny.' I found myself thinking. 'If Christian was here, I wouldn't have to do this. Things would be better everything would be better if only...........' I was brought back to reality by, you guessed it, the driver.

"I don't want to get involved in anything illegal, now." He stammered.

"No." I responded and giggled, "They're for the show. The new show at the Moulin Rouge?" Well, it was partly true, anyway. "You see, there are rats in the theatre they've been eating any and all food that's left behind. We don't want them to bother the ticket holders, so we were going to put the poison in some food and leave it out for them."

'Oh, great job' my brain responded, 'Wonderful excuse, rats! You can do better than that!'

I quickly banished the thought, as my pitiful excuse had seemed to get through to the driver. And his face filled with relief.

"Oh, well then, Miss, I'm very sorry." The driver said, "You just scared me a bit. I think I might know how to find what you're looking for." The man climbed back into his seat and we were on out way, without any more drama.

The ride seemed to drag on forever, and I was almost wondering whether the driver would take me to where he had promised or straight to the loony bin. I finally decided that sleep would be a wise thing to quiet my mind, but it would not come to my stressed and ragged body. Surprisingly enough, I was calm about what I had decided I would become. I knew it was the only answer, the thing I had to do, and I wouldn't look back.

The carriage stopped and I was jarred out of my thought. I paid the man and quickly walked into the shop, not looking back. I wanted to get this exchange over with as soon as possible. I found the shopkeeper, or, more correctly, he found me. I asked for my object of choice, and watched the flabbergasted shopkeeper, search for words. "It's for rats." I quickly covered up. 'God!', I thought, 'Why can't anyone just comply and not ask questions anymore!' Luckily, my emotions didn't show up on my face. The man relaxed noticeably, like the driver had.

He reached for his ladder and climbed up to a random shelf, and a random, non-discreet bottle. He climbed back down and handed me the bottle. I paid him the ridiculously high amount that he asked and headed towards the door to find another carriage.....