A/N: Well I finally got off my ass and updated. I hope it's appreciated! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas.

Chapter Six
The First Night

"Come on girls!" Zidler yelled from the front of the room, "Pick up the pace a bit."

What was gong to happen now, I had realized my feelings for the Argentinean bit I had felt something for Christian, even if it was just because Satine had him and-

"Velvet!"

"Hmm?" I said absentmindetly.

"When you're not being obnoxious you're not paying attention. You've done the wrong step about five times" he said in exasperation.

"Sorry" I muttered, too distracted to answer back.

After rehearsal I was walking down the corridor with Nini, when we passed the Argentinean's room I winked at Nini and said loudly, "What are you off to do now? Got any customers?"

"No customers, I think I'll go and see if old Shakespeare has written anymore of the play. What are you going to do?"

"I think I'll go and have a smoke in the alleyway" I said, still almost shouting.

"Okay, see you then" she said.

"Bye, say hello to Christian for me" I replied.

She nodded and walked away. I grinned to myself and as I walked out into the alleyway.

It worked, a few minutes later the door opened and the Argentinean joined me.

"You heard me and Nini?" I asked with a smile.

"I think the whole place heard you, you were loud enough. Do you smoke?" he asked.

"No" I replied with a laugh.

He walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling my body against his. He kissed my throat and I gasped when he slammed me against the alley wall. I recovered quickly and again we kissed passionately. I could feel the pattern of the stone wall imprinting on my back as he pressed me against it. I felt his hands slip up the back of my top and tumble with the strings of my corset. I pulled out of the kiss.

"It's not exactly private here, or too clean" I said.

"Fair enough" he replied.

"My room's closest" I murmured in his ear.

He took my hand and we made our way out of the alleyway and to my room, being careful not to be seen.

But we weren't quite careful enough.

"Velvet!"

"Oh shit" I muttered under my breath.

Toulouse hobbled over to us and seemed to take in my messy hair and slightly smudged makeup, and how hot and sweaty the Argentinean and I both were. I felt the Argentinean shift nervously next to me.

Toulouse gave me a look I couldn't read and said, "Um…I'll see both of you later then."

"Bye" I replied awkwardly.

Toulouse walked off down the stairs and the Argentinean and I went into my room, where we stayed for hours, doing things that would undoubtedly send both of us straight to Hell.

I woke up in the dark a few hours later, cold and slightly disoriented.

I sat up in bed, I had fallen asleep with the Argentinean, but now he was nowhere to be seen.

I heard a flapping noise and jumped, looking wildly around the room, my heart pounding. My eyes came to rest on the open window, the curtains billowing out and flapping in the cold wind.

I fumbled around on the floor and pulled on the first thing I found to protect me from the cold, which happened to be the Argentinean's shirt, and made my way across the clothes strewn floor to the window.

I glanced out of the window and saw a large, hulking figure, which I identified as the Duke's henchman, Warner. Whne he spotted me he beckoned menacingly.

I hurriedly pulled on some underwear and a coat and made my way quickly down to wear Warner was waiting.

"What have you done with him?" I demanded as soon as I reached Warner. He didn't reply, and turned to walk away.

"What have you done?!" I screamed, launching myself at Warner, who turned back and grabbed me, twisting my arm painfully behind my back.

"If you ever want to see your precious Argentinean again, you'll come with me" he muttered menacingly in my ear.

I stopped struggling and he let me go, I rubbed my arm, there would be an ugly bruise there later.

Warner led me through the cold streets of Paris. I was freezing, but determined not to show it.

Despite the fear and confusion I was feeling, something suddenly occurred to me.

"What the hell is the Argentinean wearing if I am wearing his shirt?" I thought. I found the thought of my lover being kidnapped naked so amusing; I had to stifle a giggle.

But the fear quickly returned when Warner suddenly turned off the street and walked down into an alleyway, I hesitated when we reached an open door, but Warner pushed me through.

The first thing I saw when I entered the dingy room was the Argentinean tied to a chair, he was wearing his long black coat.

I ran over to him, he had a cut on his lip and a nasty bruise on his forehead.

"Are you alright?" I said anxiously, "What's going on?"

Warner grabbed me from behind and pulled me away from the Argentinean before I could get an answer.

The Duke walked in and watched coldly as I struggled against and Warner hit me across the face.

"Don't touch her you evil bastard!" the Argentinean yelled furiously.

"Miss Velvet" the Duke addressed me, ignoring the Argentinean completely.

I glared at the Duke, "What do you want?"

"You are a courtesan, yes?" he asked.

I nodded, watching him mistrustfully.

"It's your job to sell you love to men for money. So I'm sure Zidler wouldn't be pleased to hear about your Argentinean lover now, would he? He would throw you out onto the street, a courtesan can't fall in love"

"What does it matter to you?" I demanded.

He stepped closer to me, I began to back away, but felt Warner's crushing grip on my arm.

"You are a beautiful girl Velvet," The Duke said, touching my face, I turned away in disgust, "And I want to make a deal with you."

"What makes you think I would make a deal with you?" I replied.

"Because I'll have your Argentinean lover killed if you don't!" he yelled, finally losing his calm, superior air.

"I want Satine," The Duke continued, regaining his composure, "But she is wrapped up in that ridiculous writer, Christian. I want you to lure Christian away from Satine so I can have her.

"What's in it for me?" I said, sounding a lot braver than I felt.

"If you agree, I won't tell Zidler about your lover," he replied," I will let you consider my proposal, meet me at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning by the elephant with your answer," then to Warner the Duke said, "Unhand her Warner, and untie the Argentinean."

Warner let go of my arm and untied the Argentinean, who ran to me and hugged me; I felt so safe in his arms.

"Let's get back to the Moulin Rouge, okay?" he murmured into my hair.

I nodded and we hurried out of the cold concrete room, my feet were bare and the cold seeped into them, making me shiver uncontrollably.

The journey back to the Moulin Rouge was a blur; all I remember is the bitter cold and the Argentinean's large, warm hand gripping my small, cold one.

When we reached my room I sat heavily on the bed and the Argentinean sat on the chair in front of the dressing table. It was deadly silent.

"What happened?" I asked finally.

"Well we-"

"After that" I interrupted.

"Well I fell asleep, and I woke up suddenly and Warner was holding a gun to my head. I didn't wake you up because I thought if I cooperated they would leave you alone. I grabbed my coat and walked out of the room at gunpoint. When we got to that room in the alleyway, Warner went to tie me to the chair, but I struggled. That's how I got this," he said, pointing to the awful bruise on his forehead, then he shivered suddenly, "The Duke was telling me all these terrible things he could do to you."

I reached out and took the Argentinean's hands, "But he didn't do anything to me, I'm fine." I said softly.

"You can't agree to his deal. Knowing you are with Christian will drive me mad" he replied.

"But if I don't The Duke will kill you!" I said desperately.

"I would rather die than have the knowledge that you are with another man" he said fervently.

I put my hand under his chin and raised his head so that I could look into his eyes. The eyes that made me fall for him.

"But I couldn't live without you" I told him.

He smiled sadly, "Let's get some more sleep."

We both took off our coats and dropped them on the floor; there didn't seem much point in hanging them up when the floor was already covered with clothes.

I lay in the Argentinean's arms until he fell asleep, then I let myself cry for the first time in a long while.

A/N: Wow, what a long chapter. Please review.