A/N: Thanks all my wonderful reviewers!!! I love all of you, and you three, Satine, Tani, and SatineMaryKidman. Okay, hope you like this chappie (Tani, I stole that word from you!! LOL)

Christian held the picture close to his heart, keeping her lavish face against his chest. Her could nearly smell her long red hair, look into her deep blue eyes, hear her soft beautiful voice. He inhaled all these thoughts of her and exhaled the anger he had once had for her.

The creaking of the floor boards behind him shattered his memories and he turned around, face to face with the very person he hoped to never encounter for the rest of his life; the Duke.

"What are you doing here?" Christian asked bravely, a gun loaded and pointed to his head.

"Don't ask me the questions, boy, I'm the one with the gun." The Duke snarled in his usual high pitched tone. He backed Christian against the wall, his thin and grotesque hand gripped his jacket.

"Where is the girl?" The Duke asked, his face literally inches from Christian's.

"I........I don't know......." Christian softly replied. The Duke gripped him harder. "You get me the girl or else......."

The was a gasp from somewhere behind the Duke. Christian seized the opportunity, his fist meeting the side of the Duke's face. The Duke collapsed on the ground as Christian looked up to see Satine staring back at him, tears were in her eyes. He went up to her and wrapped his arms lovingly around her. Satine kissed his neck, breathing heavily in relief of his return. She cried in his arms.

Thomas and Anne emerged from the doorway, just as the Duke rose to his feet. They backed away as Christian softly let go of Satine. He turned to face the Duke, who glared at him with pure hatred. His fist swung at Christian, but he got him back in the stomach. The Duke collapsed with agony and sunk to the floor. "Leave, Duke......before you get yourself killed....." Christian pointed to the door.

The Duke looked that direction and then back at Christian. "You won't be so happy for so long.....it always ends bad......" The Duke grunted and staggered out, leaving Christian alone with his family.

Once he had left, Christian enveloped them all. Kissing Anne and Thomas on the forehead, tears dropping into their hair. They both hugged their dad, their hearts soaring cause he was finally home. Christian stroked his daughter's long black hair. "I missed you two so much." he said happily, gripping them tighter.

Then, he looked up, realizing his arms were around Satine as well. Their eyes met and the pain that they had shared came directly to them. They looked sadly at each other for a moment and then, both were able to see the love slowly breaking down that barrier, leaving it open to them. "Can I talk to you?" he asked her softly. She nodded, and stepped out of the hug. Christian looked at his children and nodded to them smiling. "I'll be right back, let me just go have a talk with your mother, okay?"

Thomas and Anne smiled sweetly and backed away. Christian let Satine go through first, coming behind her onto her balcony. He closed the door behind them and looked at her intently. Satine didn't hesitate to put her arms around him, putting aside their past hurts and troubles. Christian put his arms on her waste, allowing the love to settle over them.

"Christian, I'm so sorry......" Satine said softly, burying her face in his shirt. Christian took her chin in his hand and looked deeply into her eyes.

"Satine, no matter what you do, I will never stop loving you." Christian said this and kissed her forehead and then moved to her lips, kissing them tenderly. She kissed him back, so overwhelmed with emotion.

"I love you too....." Satine whispered into his ear, once they had pulling apart. Christian smiled and hugged her, holding her tightly.

"I will never let you go." He said to her, nestling his head in her hair.

The Children came out through the door and put their arms around both their parents.

Their life seemed perfect once again.

* * *

Christmas eve came, sooner than they expected. Christian had built a steady fire for the four of them, heating up the small apartment quickly. The tree was cleverly decorated with what little decorations that had and the presents Christian and Satine were able to scrap together with their little bits of money we laid neatly beneath the tree.

Christian and Satine sat together on her old soft couch. He had his arm tightly around her as the kids played on the floor with the puppy that Zidler had given them earlier that day. Snape hadn't been seen in weeks, but the thoughts of him been erased from all four of their minds.

The fire crackled from the fireplace, growing larger as it ate the firewood. He looked down at his pocket, a rather large lump in there with every intention of asking "the big question" on Christmas day.

A/N: Another sorta small chappie. Oh well. I hope ya like and please review!!

BTW: I have absolutely NO idea what Christmas and stuff was like in the early 1900's let alone in France. So, just pretend it's all accurate!! Thanks!! Love yall much!!