A/N: I had to resubmit this chapter, because a reviewer kindly pointed out I had misnamed the black man that catches Satine when she falls off the trapeze as Le Petomane, he is actually called Chocolat. I got Le Petomane out of the credits, does anyone know who that is???

It wasn't for quite awhile, after our number, that I could make my way through the crowd of dancers to their table.

"Hello there gorgeous!" Toulouse called out merrily when he saw me.

"Into the Absinthe already?" I said critically, eyeing the several empty shot glasses in front of him.

"We're celebrating!" he replied.

"What are you celebrating exactly?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"We've found a wonderful new writer for Spectacular Spectacular!" he said happily.

"What about Audrey?" I asked, surprised.

"She left. But it doesn't matter, because our brilliant English friend Christian will be writing the show for us!" Toulouse exclaimed, indicating the man in the top hat who looked up, revealing a handsome face and gorgeous green eyes.

I watched his eyes travel up and down my body, but instead of the usual cheap lust and hunger I was so used to seeing in men's eyes, he looked amazed and a little awed.

I almost blushed.

"Pleased to meet you Christian," I said, remembering to be polite in case he was rich and important. "My name is Velvet."

"Nice to meet you" he replied, and he sounded like he meant it.

"Do you want a drink?" The Argentinean asked me suddenly.

I always men to find out his name, but every time I forget to ask, probably because I usually get so drunk when I'm with him, Toulouse and the other bohemians.

"Sure" I said, walking around to where he sat at the table, a large, half-empty bottle of Absinthe in front of him.

He poured me a drink and pulled me onto his lap.

I decided to let him get away with it, and stayed there.

"Thanks" I said, taking the glass of Absinthe from him and gulping it down. It burned my throat and all the down to my stomach.

"Have you got any customers tonight El?" Toulouse asked teasingly, using his nickname for me.

"Not unless any of you have any money" I shot back.

"You wouldn't do it for a friend for free?" The Argentinean asked, putting his hand on my leg.

I laughed and shook my head, "I need the money, plus Zidler would kill me."

Just then the dance hall fell silent, the lights all went out except for a single blue spotlight. A shower of sparkling bits of sliver paper fell from the ceiling as a trapeze began to descend.

I sighed; here we go again.

"It's her! The sparkling diamond" I heard Toulouse whisper in awe to Christian, who stared up at Satine in wonder.

I frowned and the Argentinean squeezed my leg.

"Don't from and pucker up that beautiful face. You're special too; I love ya!" he whispered in my ear.

"And that makes me feel so much better" I replied sarcastically.

He shot me a mock wounded glance and turned to watch Satine, who had begun to sing, I made a face at him and turned to watch her too.

"The French are glad to die...for love.

They delight in fighting duals." Satine sang in her honeyed voice.

"But I prefer a man who lives.

And gives expensive..." She leaned back on the trapeze, "Jewels."

"I have to go. I'm supposed to be in this number." I said to the Argentinean, getting off his lap.

"See you later boys" I said to the rest of the bohemians.

"Bye El," Toulouse called after me, "Come back later okay?"

I turned to him and nodded briefly before making my way to the platform where the rest of the cancan girls were assembled.

Satine was off the trapeze now, and dancing around, teasing various men and singing "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend."

I quickly joined Nini, Arabia, Baby Doll and the others on the platform where we performed in this number.

"Late again Velvet?" Arabia accusingly, "Too busy with that Argentinean?"

Our part came to sing then, so I just glared at her.

"'Cause we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl" We sang together and Nini blew a kiss to the crowd.

When the part came to dance I saw Satine glide over to Christian and promptly claim him as her partner.

"Merde" I muttered under my breath, I had taken quite a liking to Christian and had wanted to dance with him.

Just then someone came up behind me and put their arms around my waist.

"Would you like to dance?" I recognized the Argentinean's deep, rough voice.

He spun me around, "Yes," I replied, "I would."

We danced until Satine's big finale, back on the trapeze.

"Square cut or pear shaped

These rocks won't lose their shape.

Diamonds

Are a girl's best..."

Suddenly Satine stopped singing and gasped, I could see she was having trouble breathing.

I knew what was going to happen a split second before it did.

Satine slumped backwards and fell off the trapeze.

I gasped involuntarily; the trapeze was so high!

Zidler yelled as Satine streaked towards the ground.

I exhaled the breath I didn't realize I had been holding when Chocolat caught Satine.

A/N: For those who don't know, merde means shit in French. Thankyou WitchBitch! Please read and review.