Ava's eyes slowly opened. She looked around. She sat up. Christian appeared from his kitchen.

He averted her gaze. "Good morning." He said quietly.

"Would you like some breakfast?" He asked.

"No, thank you. I better be off." Ava got her things. She handed Christian his coat.

"Keep it. No use to me anyway." He said, facing the ground. Was Christian okay?

Ava smiled and put it on. She started to head out the door.

"Wait." Christian said, stopping her. He walked over to his typewriter and handed her a bundle of papers.

"It's the play. The Count destroyed your other copy so-"

"Thank you." Ava replied. Ava walked closer to him. She could hear Christian's shallow breathing. Ava leaned in closer. She softly kissed him. For a moment, Christian did not resist.

"Go away!" Christian said loudly, backing up.

"Christian I-"

"Go away! I don't feel that way about you, Ava. Please, don't make me- I just want- Go away!" Christian yelled.

Ava was shocked. She then realized she was in love with a man who could never love her back. For he loved a ghost.

Christian stood in front of Satine's grave.

"Satine, I miss you so much. I'm so…confused. Ava comes along, and I do not love her. I could never love anyone but you. It's just that…I miss having someone. But I don't want to have Ava. I just want you."

Christian cried. He kneeled down.

"I love you, Satine. Why did you have to die?" He said quietly, clutching the cool grass between his fingers. He felt he was caught in a web that he felt he never could get out of.

Ava returned to the elephant. She put down Christian's coat. She got changed into her gray dress with long sleeves to cover the bruises. Then, there was a knock. Ava opened the door to reveal Zidler. He was angry.

"Harold. Good morning."

"Where were you last night, Ava?" Zidler scanned the room for any evidence. He saw Christian's coat. He walked into the room and picked it up.

"What do you think you're doing?" He said angrily.

"Harold, it's not like that!" Ava said.

"Are you in love with him?" Harold said. Ava knew that Harold had a past with Satine, and that this probably hurt for him. Ava could only tell the truth.

"So what if I am? I'm sick of all this? I'm tired of the Count, and all the men, I just want to be with Christian!"

"You don't know his past! What he's been through! You have no idea what you're getting into! You'll end up just hurting everyone!" Harold yelled.

"I know all about his past!"

"Does he even love you? There's only one person in his life Ava, that no one, not even you could take place. Satine."
Ava grew angry. Was it jealousy?

"Satine. Satine! Satine! I'm always hearing about Satine! I know Harold! I know he still loves her! I wish--" Ava stopped herself. Satine and Harold were close. She couldn't say anything to hurt him.
"I just don't want to see you get hurt. He will never love you back."

This hit Ava hard. It was the truth. Hearing the truth from someone else made it so much more clear, and hard-hitting. Ava grew angry.

"Get out!" She screamed. Harold sighed, never leaving her gaze. He backed up to the door, opened it, and left. Ava grabbed Christian's coat and held it close. She sat on the bed.

The door opened. She lifted her head up from her lap. She stood and turned and found it was the Count. He stared at the coat in her hand.

"Count, what are you doing here?" Ava asked, frightened.

"I came to inquire you about supper. What is that?"

"Nothing." Ava put it behind her back.

The Count grabbed it out of her hands and read Christian's name inscribed. Anger rushed into the Count very quickly. He threw the coat down, and grabbed her.

"You were with him last night, weren't you!" He yelled.

"No, Count!" Ava cried.

The Count slapped her across the face. Ava fell to the ground. It stung.

He grabbed Ava forcefully and ripped off her sweater.
Ava tried to fight him, but it was no use. He stripped her of all clothes but her corset and other undergarments. He threw her on the bed. Ava decided to run. She ran off the bed, and realized she had no place to go. The Count was blocking the door. She ran up to the top of the elephant. The Count followed her up the stairs, grabbing her feet.

Ava tripped, but climbed up the stairs. She reached the top of the elephant. He took her again, and tried to hit her. Ava tried to fight back, grabbing his hands, but the Count was too strong.

Christian sat reading his book. Tears fell from his face, as he read all the memories he and Satine had shared. Christian had returned back to square one, it seemed. The beginning. Wallowing in complete depression. Christian couldn't live again.

He looked out his window. Ava was on top of the elephant. He looked closely. Was that the Count? He saw more clearly. The Count was hitting Ava! No one was around, so no one could see the crime he was committing. Christian had to help her. He quickly ran out of his room, out of the Hotel. He ran into the front gates of the Moulin Rouge.

"Hey!" He yelled. The Count saw Christian, as Christian climbed the elephant as fast as he could. Ava was holding her face, on the ground. She stared at the ground, not looking to the side.

The Count ran down the elephant stairs. Christian quickly ran after him, but the Count was way too quick. Otherwise, Christian would've hurt him greatly.

Christian walked up the stairs to Ava's aid.

Ava did not cry, for Christian knew she had run out of tears. Christian helped her and they sat in front of the canopy. Christian tried to comfort her. The Count would pay for what he had done.

Ava was led into Christian's apartment. Ava pulled her sweater closer to her chest. She was left with no thoughts. The Count had left her completely empty. Ava sat down. Christian handed her a cool cloth and she placed it on her cheek. It burned. Ava took Christian's hand. He tried to pull back, but Ava wouldn't let him. She needed Christian more than ever. Just for once. Then, she would leave him.

Ava leaned in closer and kissed him gently. Christian did not pull back. They both stood. Ava took Christian's coat off. It fell to the floor. Christian took off Ava's sweater, leaving only her corset and skirt. He gently placed his hand on Ava's shoulder. They kissed again.

"Satine." Christian whispered.

Ava didn't care. She knew, deep in her heart, Christian was only reliving a memory he once had with Satine. He wasn't with her now, but Satine. This was true to Christian, too.

But for tonight, Christian was hers, wholly and completely.