Disclaimer - I, do not own the rights to the "Sparkling Diamond[s]" of a movie, "Moulin Rouge" (If I did I would be a genius going by the name of Baz Luhrmann). I am simply one of the "Children of the Revolution" (Although one of "Elephant [Melody]" proportions) that writes fanfiction "Because We Can". "Come What May", but please do not sue me or I will be a "Sad Hindi Diamond". May this be "Your Song" and may you say "Some Day I'll Fly Away"! (I do not own the songs used in this story or in the titles of the chapters either.)

*A Bohemian Storm Is Brewing*

Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love

~Casidy

§=Þ

~*~

"Quoi Qu'il Arrive"

~ Part XXXXIII-B: Save the Best For Last ~
By: Mariclaire

~*~

Try as he might, Christian couldn't read Satine's expressionless face. Her hands still rested softly against the door that she had closed behind the doctor.

"Please darling…please tell me what he said," Christian whispered.

Satine was in his arms in a moment, her face buried against his bare shoulder. His heart split in two when he felt the wetness of her tears drip down his chest and the gentle shaking of her body with her quiet sobs.

Trying his hardest to keep his voice from breaking, Christian murmured, "Oh…Oh Satine," he rubbed her back and kissed the crown of red hair atop her head, "Don't cry my love. We'll talk to other doctors…a-and we'll try different medications. Please don't cry, Satine. Please…we'll make it...we will. I promise-"

He was cut short when Satine locked eyes with him and pressed a single finger to his lips. Her finger was soon replaced with her mouth, covering his in helpless abandonment, giving into the freedom she had prayed for all her life. They separated and Christian stared at her, asking millions of questions with the confusion in his eyes, and she answered them all with her simple response.

"I'm better, Christian."

"Y-you're better?" Christian stammered. The smile that brought light into Satine's heart graced his face as he repeated 'better?' a thousand times to make sure the sweet truth was the same every time.

"No sign of the consumption," she laughed through her tears.

Christian let out a whoop of elation and threw his arms around Satine's waist. He picked up her small frame and swung her around, his face buried deep in the crook of her neck. "My beautiful girl…my darling…love…you," he muffled through kisses.

Satine felt as if she were floating on air even after her feet were planted on the ground. Emotions swarmed through her and she harbored a ball of unused energy that she never knew she had.

"Let's go out, Christian!" she stated abruptly.

"Wonderful idea, darling. Let me go get dressed," Christian replied, out of breath from excitement.

"You're fine!" Satine blurted out and ran her fingers across the suspenders stretched across his bare shoulders.

Christian laughed, "But Satine, I'm hardly presentable-"

Satine silenced him with a kiss, "Christian, I know now that looking presentable is not one of the things in life to be worried about! And besides, who are you presenting yourself to, except for me?" she finished with a seductive grin and rolled her hips against Christian's.

"Yes…yes you're right, come on!" Christian said, his breathing heavier from Satine's seduction.

With that, the lovers were out the door. Satine's loose dress was hiked above her knees as she and Christian sped down a grassy hill. Giggling helplessly like school children, they ran like mad the short distance to the beach.

Satine and Christian didn't realize it, but Sophia was outside hanging laundry when she saw them bolting out of the house. Their laughter warmed the old woman's heart and she let out a loving chuckle at the young couple that had become her adopted children.

The green grass caressed the lovers' toes as the scent of sea air grew stronger by the moment. Satine savored the salty aroma as if it was the first time she breathed; maybe it really was. The nagging worry that her lungs would be unable to take in air at any moment was gone now, and the ocean and pounding of her heart had her senses reeling.

In moments, Satine and Christian arrived hand-in-hand to the soft, grainy sand. Fingers tightly intertwined, they frolicked along the beach and Satine ultimately ended up on Christian's back as he sprinted towards the inviting water.

Once the water was calf depth on Christian's strong legs, Satine playfully rocked back and forth until they both went flying into the surf with a delightfully large splash. Satine resurfaced first and laughed as she wiped away the water blurring her vision. Christian popped up moments later and locked his arms around Satine's waist, causing her to let out a girlish shriek of surprise.

Christian loosened his hold on Satine just enough to let her turn to face him. Still smiling and with waves lapping at their feet, Satine kissed Christian and pet the soft hair at the base of his neck. Blue and gray eyes locked and Satine felt the warmth of Christian's love ignite a fire in her heart and inspire sweet song to roll of her tongue.

I was waiting for so long,

For a miracle to come.

Everyone told me to be strong,

Hold on, and don't shed a tear.

There had been crying for far too long. Finally they could live their days without the constant threat of loss tugging at their hearts. No longer would she have to be strong and emotionless when really she was dying inside.

Through the darkness and good times,

I knew I'd make it through.

And the world thought I had it all,

But I was waiting for you.

All that time at the Moulin Rouge and Satine thought it was fame that she needed to be happy. She felt that she had to sell her body and her soul to the underworld in order to be loved. Christian's love was unconditional. She didn't have to worry that she was up to his standards, her pleasure was as important as his and he was always there in the morning.

Hush, now, I see a light in the sky,

Oh, it's almost blinding me.

I can't believe,

I've been touched by an angel with love.

"My angel," Christian breathed against Satine's neck. He was all she could have ever prayed for, and she would never know why she had been blessed with such a perfect love. She vowed to herself that she would never take advantage of that love for as long as precious life lasted.

Christian continued with his gentle worship and felt the sensual humming of Satine's vocal chords as she continued.

Let the rain come down,

And wash away my fears.

Let it fill my soul,

And drown my fears.

Let it shatter the walls for a new sun,

A new day has come.

Where it was dark, now there's light,

Where there was pain, now there's joy.

Where there was weakness, I found my strength,

All in the eyes of a boy.

Her darling enchanted boy who had left everything he knew to follow his dreams. She had no way to express how thankful she was and simply let her head drop as a silent sacrifice of herself to the man who had in every way saved her life.

Hush, now, I see a light in the sky,

Oh, it's almost blinding me.

I can't believe,

I've been touched by an angel with love.

Let the rain come down,

And wash away my fears.

Let it fill my soul,

And drown my fears.

Let it shatter the walls for a new sun,

Christian ran his poet's fingers across Satine's body and admired the way her dress clung to every curve. Her free-flowing spirit poured from her in the song's lyrics, and with twined arms and gentle whispers, Satine murmured the final line.

…A new day has come

Satine's soft, airy voice faded into the sound of the crashing waves. Her index finger found a drop of salt water at Christian's temple and traced it down his cheek. When the passionate fervor between the two became almost unbearable, Satine breathed, "Take me home Christian. Take me home and make love to me."

Christian took her face in his hands and kissed a straight line from her forehead until his lips touched hers. Satine rubbed her palms against his taut sides, the skin already covered in gooseflesh from the water that dripped down his skin in rivulets like a lover's touch. With a moan, he angled his hips so Satine could feel the evidence of his arousal pressed flush against her thigh.

Satine tilted her head back and let out a small whimper. Silently, she took Christian's hand in her own and the magnitude of desire between the two was naked in their eyes.

And then the lovers began the short journey homeward where they would personify love in the radiant afternoon sunlight.

~*~

Satine wrapped her arms around Christian's perspiring neck and kissed the salty skin. She could feel his strong pulse that was just now beginning to slow. They had never made love with such passion…such intensity as they had just moments before.

Christian was sleeping now; he was exhausted from stress, yet soothed by the knowledge of Satine's well being and the afterglow of their love making.

As Satine lay next to her husband, she rubbed her cheek against his chest, seemingly unable to get close enough. She felt as if she would simply burst from the greatness of the love in her heart.

Satine couldn't suppress the smile that formed on her lips as she remembered the 'silly love songs' that Christian had serenaded her with on a starry night in Paris that seemed like a lifetime ago.

Love is a many splendid thing, love lifts us up where we belong - all you need is love!

He had explained to her that love could overcome all obstacles. How very ignorant she had been not to believe him the moment his wise eyes locked with hers.

Christian had saved her. Without him, she would have been just a nameless whore who died of consumption. Satine shuddered at the thought and Christian instinctively brought his arms around her.

The doctors said that the air had healed her lungs, but Satine would never be persuaded that it was anything more than the never-ending love of her beloved husband.

He was the definition of true love. He was there through the jealousy of the Duke, the dangerous escape from the Moulin Rouge and even the life threatening illness that anyone else would have given into.

The sun was beginning to set and the golden rays reflected off of her hair that cascaded across the pillow. Satine ran her fingers across Christian's chest and basked in the fact that they belonged together. She was sure of that now more than ever. Her mouth was soon on his chest and pressing hundreds of tiny kisses to the glistening skin.

She felt Christian stir and looked up in preparation to apologize for waking him, but he instead brought his index finger to her chin so he could plant a kiss on her ruby lips.

Christian's puffy eyes squinted against the setting sun and Satine caressed his eyelids with feather-light touches. Her heart leapt when he touched his lips to her fingertips and lay down so that she was sprawled on top of him.

And then, so gently that Satine could hardly hear, Christian sang,

Come what may,

I will love you till the end of time…

The End.