Chapter 2 - Daddy
Olivier walked up to the door and opened it. "Come on, Daddy," he said, bravely taking the man's hand and pulling him inside the house. Satine tried to say something, but no sound emitted from her mouth.
The man walked into the room with his head down. Satine just saw the top of his dark brown hair. And slowly, he lifted his head and Satine gasped. There was no doubt it was Christian, with his green eyes and brown hair, but there were many differences. He had a beard to match his hair and his eyes didn't have their regular sparkle, they were dark and sullen.
The three of them stood there in the small room, Christian and Satine looking at each other and Olivier looking at feet. "Are ya guys going to talk?" he asked.
"Olivier," Satine said warningly. "Christian…How long have you, um, been in London?" She mentally kicked herself for not thinking of a better question.
"I left the night of the show," he said, his voice gruff and hoarse.
Satine nodded. "So, we've been in the same city together for five years…"
"Six!" Olivier exclaimed. He turned to Christian. "I'm six," he said proudly.
"He is…your son, by the way," Satine said, holding onto Olivier's shoulder.
"Of course he's my daddy!" Olivier said. "Why wouldn't he be?"
Satine just shook her head, not wanting to explain.
Christian nodded, smiling slightly at Olivier. "Yes, he is. He's a very smart boy."
Olivier beamed and squirmed under the grasp of his mother.
"He realized who I was at the park," Christian said softly.
Satine's eyes widened. "That was - that was you!"
Christian smiled, nodding.
"I told you, Mummy!" Olivier said proudly.
"Yes, Olivier," Satine whispered.
"Satine," Christian said, stepping forward. "What I really came here for was to ask you…" He struggled to find the words. "Did you ever… actually love me?" The look on his face showed that he had practiced this speech for the longest time, but it still didn't come out right. "Was it all just an act? And I was just one of your… your clients?"
"What are you talking about, Daddy?" Olivier cried.
"Olivier," Satine said. "Hush, this between me and your daddy."
Satine looked back up to Christian. "Christian…"
"It's just a yes or no answer, Satine," he said shortly. "And if you decide not to answer, I can leave right here, right now. That works for me." By the look on his face, it obviously wouldn't.
"Christian…" Satine said after a moment. "Yes, I still loved you."
"Then why did you stay with the Duke? Why did you put me through all that pain?" Christian cried.
"Mummy, what is Daddy talking about?" Olivier asked quietly.
"Hush, Olivier," she said. She looked back up at Christian. "Christian, they were going to kill you! I had no choice! If you came back to the Moulin Rouge, the Duke was going to have you killed."
Christian turned his head, still looking hurt.
"I'm so sorry, Christian," Satine whispered.
Christian turned back around and looked at Olivier. "Come here, Olivier," he whispered hoarsely, kneeling down to his eye level.
Olivier slowly walked over to Christian, his head down, looking at his feet. Christian reached out, and with a trembling hand stroked Olivier's cheek.
"How did you know my name at the park?" Olivier asked in a small voice.
"That was the name your mother and I picked out a long time ago," he said softly.
"But how did you know it was me?"
Christian smiled. "Because…because you look just like me."
Tears began to flow down Satine's face as Christian pulled Olivier closer and wrapped his arms around his small body.
"Satine…" Christian began to walk towards her.
"No!" Olivier screamed, rushing over and wrapping his arms around his mother's waist. "You're making her cry!"
"Oh, Olivier," Satine laughed through her tears. She looked up to Christian standing across the room and ran into his arms.
"Christian, I've missed you so much," she cried into his shoulder.
Christian wrapped his arms around her, stroking her beautiful curls that were cascading down her back. He felt a little tug on his coat. Looking down, he saw Olivier trying to squeeze in between him and Satine. "Mummy told me that she loves you very much," he said to Christian.
Christian smiled, tears forming in his eyes and he ruffled his hair. "Well, can you tell your Mummy that I love her very much too?"
Olivier made a face. "Okay." He turned an inch to his right and faced his mother. "Daddy says he loves you very much."
Satine looked up at Christian and raised her eyebrow. "Oh, does he!"
Christian grinned. "Yes, very much so. I told you I'd love you until my dying day," he said before leaning in and kissing Satine.
All their worries disappeared as they kissed, their tears mingling together. It was just like the first night they met, magical, breathtaking… simply amazing.
"Mummy? Daddy?"
Christian and Satine looked down to see Olivier covering his face with his small hands. "Are you two gonna kiss s'more? 'Cause it's really icky."
