Disclaimer: I don't own Moulin Rouge or any of the characters, or sets, or costumes, or actors...ahem...anyway. *sniff* don't worry, I'll get over it. Just read my story. ;)

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Slowly I watched all of the things that had surrounded me since childhood melt away as the train picked up speed. I exhaled a long held breath as one thought filled my mind. Finally. Finally, after all this time, I am leaving. A simple human right that I never once thought possible in my suffocating life. Well, I never thought it was possible until I met Christian, that is.

I turned my head to look at Christian, now asleep but still holding onto my hand as if for dear life. It was that grip that had saved me, pulling me from the depths of the underworld and into the dream I now occupy. The life I'm living seems even more surreal viewed from a speeding train. I watch Paris fade away as my husband and I-my husband!-fly towards our new home.

This place I will call home often filled my dreams as a child, especially after I visited it with my family. At the time I was very young, may be only five, but the place certainly had an effect on me. It was the last happiness I was allowed before great tragedy befell my family and me. Four months after our vacation to the shore, my mother, Chantal, died giving birth to my younger sister Jacqueline. Poor Jacqueline only lasted six days before she left to join her mother, in the land that knows no pain. But for some reason, the sorrow did not end there. Almost a year later my older brother, Jean, died of tuberculosis leaving his new bride Madeleine alone in the world.

Tears well up in my eyes as I think of Madeleine's face when it happened and the grief she carried with her long afterward. I blot my eyes with my handkerchief and steal a glance at my sleeping husband. Silently I swear that I will never let that happen, never leave him alone in the world like Jean left Madeleine and I softly kiss his forehead.

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The steady rocking movement of the train caused me to fall asleep almost as soon as we sat down. There was nothing that could keep me from a peaceful slumber any longer. We were leaving the Moulin Rouge and the Duke, we were finally free to love and enjoy it, so I fell asleep holding Satine's hand. My dreams gave me a security of what the furture could hold. Through the fog of my sleeping mind I saw images as clearly as if I was living them. There, in front of me was Satine, sittin gon a chair in our new house, knitting.

"Satine," I asked, "why are you knitting? You never told me you could knit." She put down her knitting into her lap and looked at me matter-of- factly. "Well, our baby will need a blanket, won't he? Or she?"

"Our baby?" I asked, confused. "Yes, our baby silly. Don't tell me you've forgotten."

The images passed on to reveal a very pregnant Satine standing next to me. "Christian!" she said. "Put your hand right here, you can feel the baby kick!" Christian moved his hand where he was told. "Do you feel it?" He smiled and the pictures again flashed forward. There was Satine on a bed, sweaty and flushed holding a moving newborn in her arms.

"Christian, Christian..." she said, getting my attention, "You're a father." Satine smiled sweetly. "She has your eyes."

Christian smiled once again and waited for the images to move on, to see the rest of their future, but the image faded into black. Panicked, Christian searched everywhere for his love. "Satine!" he yelled "Satine!" there was no answer for a moment. "Satine, where are you, come back!" the only reply was the piercing sound of a baby's shrieks.

A whistle blowing and Satine nudging him on the shoulder awoke Christian. "Chris...wake up, we're here!" She said excitedly. "We're where?" Christian asked, his brain still fogged by sleep. "Marseilles!"

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A/N: Well, there it is. Another chapter. I hope that that wasn't too terribly confusing for you, with all the dream sequences, memories and such. This chapter is dedicated to Elsa for reading it on the way up to Ashland, Oregon. (Go Shakespeare festival!) Don't worry, Steph and Kim, the fic in general is dedicated to you guys. And thanks soooooooooo incredibly much for reviewing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!