Baz owns Moulin Rouge. I own..Um..Nothing.

Thank you to my loyal reviewers I love you all!

A/N: Remember...this took place 4 months after the Gothic Tower incident. Everything past that...never happened. I don't think the Duke knows where Christian lives right? And yeah I forgot who asked but he does have a fireplace! Its right next to his door. I didn't really think I'd top the past few chapters..Really sucks cause I'm really out of ideas! Went into some stupid withdrawal cause I didn't think I could do it. But I did promise myself I wouldn't give up on this story...I'm gonna give it a go cause I don't wanna leave you guys hanging! You've waited long enough!Read this chapter before you decide to hunt me down for making you wait so long!

Chapter VIII: Breathe

Christian shot up in bed again, taken by another nightmare. This time, Satine appeared to him on a stage.

"Tell me you don't love me!!" Christian yelled with as much hurt and pain as he could. He looked up at the baffled audience as sat in shock. Why wouldn't he be yelling? Satine had just rid him of his ridiculous obsession with love and was on the floor, crying too much for herself, to stop her crushed poet from leaving. With some quick improvisions by the pretend maharaja, Zidler was able to win back the audience's attention, while attempting to comfort his little strawberry. "The show must go on..."

The penniless sitar player had just had his heart ripped apart and began walking out. "I've paid my whore..." He had just reached the halfway mark when Toulouse's voice screamed out the one line in the whole play he couldn't seem to remember. "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return!"

The whole theater fell silent upon hearing this. Christian stopped dead in his tracks. He paused for a moment and tried to think. Weather he should turn around and go to her and be loved once more or to keep walking. He had suffered enough. Love had betrayed him once already, what would stop it from doing it again? He just didn't want to be set up to be hurt again.

Satine on the other hand, felt those words go right to her heart. She knew it was right. Love and be loved in return. That all you needed was love. Christian heard a voice sing out from behind him.

It was Satine. She was begging him for forgiveness. Christian couldn't resist her chocked up, yet heavenly voice. He felt the words that he had written for their love show through. There was no use in fighting it. He did love her. The urge of walking out slowly left his mind, as he gave into his true feelings for her. 'Come what may' they sang together as their hearts reunited. Their voices fused in the most perfect harmony. The Children of the Revolution sang about 'Truth, Beauty, Freedom, but above all things, Love, that night.

"One day I'll fly away!" The courtesan sang to her lover. "My gift is my song," The poet sang back to her. Everything seemed so right in the world. He thought his heart would burst from all his happiness. But the dream soon turned for the worse when the jealous maharaja lost his nerves and ran down the aisle screaming.

A loud boom came out. Christian fell to his knees as a sharp pain forced its way into him. The next thing he knew, everything went red....

The Duke had killed the voice of the Children of the Revolution

XXX

It was obvious that Christian wasn't going to get anymore sleep for the rest of the morning. It didn't seem to bother him. He could stay right here and adore the angel next to him as she slept.

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing,
Watch you smile while your sleeping,
While your far away and dreaming,
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender,
I could stay lost in this moment forever,
Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure,

I don't want to close my eyes,
I don't want to fall asleep cause I miss you babe,
And I don't want to miss a thing,

Cause even when I dream of you,
The sweetest dream would never do,
I still miss you babe, and I don't want to miss a thing,

Lying close to you feeling your heart beating,
And I wondering what you're dreaming,
Wondering if it's me you're seeing,
And then I kiss your eyes and thank god we're together,
I just want to stay with you in this moment forever, forever and ever

I don't want to miss one smile,
I don't want to miss one kiss,
I just want to be with you right here with you,
Just like this, I just want to hold you close,
And feel your heart so close to mine,
And just stay here in this moment, for all of the rest of time

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I miss you babe
And I wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
And I'll still miss you babe
And I wanna miss a thing

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
And I wanna miss a thing

Christian took one more look at Satine before sleep decided to take him once more...

XXX

Satine's eyes slowly fluttered open. She was slightly startled at seeing Christian's face, so close to hers. He had an eye still halfway open, the other, lazily shut. His head was resting in his arms and he had the most adorable look on his face. Satine sat up straight and stretched out her arms. Christian stirred awake by the loss of contact of her warm body against his.

"Good morning my sleepy poet." She whispered, leaning her head back to his shoulders.

"Morning"

The two fell silent, staring at the ceiling, not knowing where to start. Christian looked to the floor as he scratched the back of his neck. He took a deep breath. "Um...Satine? About last night..."

"Mmmm?" Satine said absentmindedly as she faced him.

He was still trying to find some courage to continue. "Y-you know...about...last night. When I...um...I said I...h-hated you..." He kneeled and took Satine's hands. "I didn't mean a word of it. I mean I didn't mean to hurt you...it was just, well I thought you didn't trust me anymore."

Satine let out a small smile. She knew he didn't really mean it. She didn't mean to hurt him either. "And I'm sorry I hurt you like that Christian," She caressed his cheek with her soothing hand. A tear escaped from her eye. "It's not because I don't trust you..."

"Shhh..." Christian whispered, moving his finger to her lips. He moved even closer to her.

Today it's very clear
Cause we're both lying here
There's so many things I wanna say
Like I will always love you
And that I will never leave you alone
It's just sometimes I forget
I say things I might regret
And it breaks my heart to see you crying
I don't ever want to lose you, not again
I could never make it on my own

He sang to her, his vulnerability and honesty showing through. Satine couldn't help but smile at her adoring poet. He truly had a gift. He meant what he said to her, to the point where it hurt.

You keep me standing tall
You help me through it all
I'm always strong when you're beside me
I have always needed you
I could never make it alone

It was true. They did need each other. They were soul mates; one half of the other. Neither felt complete without the other. If it wasn't for Christian, Satine would probably still be the aspiring actress who'd dream of flying away by morning and the empty whore who sold her body and love by night. And without Satine, Christian would have still been that idealistic dreamer who believed in love but never knew it.

We'll live forever, knowing together
That we did it all for the glory of love

Christian sang, brushing a hand over Satine's fiery red hair. "I love you, Satine."

Satine was soon dressed in her velvet red dress with her hair pulled up in a loose bun. Christian took her hand and the two went through the door and walked towards the Moulin Rouge. The sun shining bright in the sky. A new day was dawning. The future still unsure, knowing only the dangers ahead of them. But both smiled tenderly at each other, knowing that they would face it, together.

XXX

Well what do you think? I'm back baby!!! Please rr tell me what ya think..Next chapter will be up soon...hopefully.

Song(s) used:

Don't wanna miss a thing-aerosmith

Glory of Love- Paul Centra?