Satine had hocked all her things from the Moulin Rouge, the jewelry from her clients, the silk dresses, everything save the dress she wore now but that still wasn't enough to cover the price of living in London. She had gotten a job as a barmaid for a couple of months, but had been fired because her swollen stomach had made customers nervous.

  So now she stood on the sidewalk just walking with no where to go and a totally of ten pence in her pocket.  She looked at the store names as she past, Butcher Shoppe, Anna's Linens, Claire's. Now this stopped her, it wasn't the name more what she saw when she looked into the shop. Books upon books upon books, It would have given Christian such a thrill just to look at. She walked in and saw that it was a huge store, even bigger than she imagined. She walked in and found her favorite book of all time, Romeo & Juliet, by William Shakespeare. Christian had one day given her a copy and told her to read so she did and fell in love with it. She was also very sad to say that she had to hock it to.

  "Good book" said a voice behind her, making her spin on the spot. The person who spoke was a woman of around fifty; she had a pointed nose and high cheek bones. Her light brown hair was in a bun atop her head. She smoked a long cigarette through some kind of white stick holder and oozed sophistication from every pore. "What's your name love?'

  "Satine" she whispered feeling like a child who had just been scolded

  "No need to be afraid of me it's just I don't get a lot of normal people in here, mostly just some stuck up asses who think they know everything about everything" Satine laughed at that and oh how long it had been since she had laughed. There air of sophistication and intimidation was gone from the woman in that instance.

  "What no wanna be writers who speak of truth, beauty and love?" Satine asked feeling much better about the woman in front of her. The woman laughed

  "Plenty of those, you're alright kid" the woman said "The names Claire Watson, come upstairs and have some tea with me, rush hour isn't until after five so I don't expect a lot of people"

  "Okay" Satine answered and started to follow the Claire up a carpeted staircase, at the top was a rather cozy kitchen/ living room. Claire pointed to a chair for Satine to sit in and started to make the tea. She sat across from her and looked her straight in the eye.

  "So what's your story, and don't tell me any lies because I am the best lie detector in all of London" Claire looked her straight in the eye as she said this and Satine knew she wasn't lying herself.

  "You want the truth, eh?" Satine asked raising an eyebrow to Claire.

  "No matter how terrible, 'cause I can promise you I've most likely seen or heard worse" Claire answered with a smile.

  "Alright, you asked for it" Satine said and then the words flowed from her lips with such passion as she had never felt before. She told of her old job, of meeting Christian, of the duke and of his threats. She told how she felt, what she wondered, and what she thought. When she finished her cheeks were wet with droplets though she never remembered crying. She looked to Claire, whose face had yet to show an expression through the entire thing. The kettle whistled and Claire moved to get it and poured the steaming liquid into two pink china cups. Finally after handing Satine her cup did she say anything.

  "That all?" she asked her face impassive, Satine nodded. "Well like I said I've seen and heard worse, let's see I'll have to dock rent from your pay, you'll need to change your name and hair if you don't want the duke after you…" Satine interrupted her.

  "Excuse but what are you talking about?" Satine asked

  "Listen I may be pretty cool hearted and the outcast of the town but I'm not gonna let a pregnant woman with no place to live out on the streets. Hell, you'd most likely kill a man, and I can't be held with the burden of being the one to have let this menace out into London" Claire said her smile bright as ever, Satine laughed

  "No wouldn't want to have you responsible for that" Satine said her smile broadening each second.

  "Now as I was saying, you'll work here and live there" she said and pointed to a room by Satine. "There is an adjoining room next to it for your child. You'll need to change your, I'll buy some peroxide tomorrow, and your name will have to change to" Satine once again interrupted her

  "Would it be alright if I kept my surname, I always dreamed of my son to carrying on the family name" Satine asked her head slightly bowed afraid of the answer

  "Of course love" Claire said

  "You really are a sweet lady,' Satine said

  "Don't go telling anyone now, you'll ruin my reputation" Claire said

  "Don't worry I'll take it to my grave," Satine said smiling knowing that this was the best place for her and her child.

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  Toulouse had told him to take a walk that he had been held up in his room for far to long, it was just as well he was out of booze and needed to get some more anyway. He walked and walked with no amiable goal. He sat down on a bench in the park and looked up at the gloom of Paris. The dark sky was yearning to rain but still something held it back. Christian put his head in his hands, but through the spaces could see the glistening on the ground. It was the most wanted thing he could ever ask for and he took it as a sign from god. He pocketed the pistol and ran through the streets quick as the lighting that was beginning to rain down upon the city to his garret and slammed the door. He pointed the glistening pistol to his head, feeling the cool of the steel touch his scalp, soothe it. Soon it would all be over and he could join his Satine. He pulled the trigger…

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  OOOHH!!!!! Should I kill him off? Don't you just love cliffhangers!!! They're so much fun!!!!!! You all hate me don't you!!!!!!!! OK like I promised Christian clones for all my reviewers and for those who didn't review The Duke Clones!!!! *HISSSSS* WOW!!! There was no singing in this!!! How bad!! *BUNCHES OF CHRISTIAN SUPPORTERS (supporters of the character not the religion though they hate me to) COME AND BEAT ME UP FOR THE CLIFFHANGER* AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! OK nothing else to say *cough, cough* but review *Wheeze* and please don't beat me up anymore *keels over*