Disclaimer: I do not own the Sound of Music. This is totally a piece of fiction.

Prologue

A baby was born to Augusta (Gusti) and Karl Kutschera; the young mother gave birth while traveling on a train from her parent's home to her husband in Vienna; she was named Maria.

In a southern providence of Austria, near Italy, a young navy man took command of an Austrian submarine. Shortly Georg Ritter Trapp found himself in the center of a war which involved many dangerous feats. The young Captain's heroic deeds did not go unnoticed; he was awarded the Maria Theresien Cross and became the object of celebrations in many cities. Georg von Trapp was paraded around for people to thank.

The young Maria, whose mother had died when she was two, was accompanied only by her father. Impulsively Maria rushed to the Captain, "sir, thank you for your bravery."

"Your name little girl?"

"Maria sir."

"Maria, thank you, I will never forget you."

Neither the decorated Captain nor Maria had any idea how their lives would be changed in the very near future.

Within the year, Maria was an orphan; no one ever told her what happened to her father. She was sent to live with an unreasonable guardian who showed nothing but malice towards the young girl.

For Captain von Trapp it was a scarlet fever epidemic that would bring death to his beloved wife, Agathe; leaving him alone with seven children, the youngest barely one. The first year had been the hardest; Agathe's mother and her sister had cared for the children.

The still grieving Captain moved his family to a new home, near Salzburg; in an attempt to heal the family. He was a loving father but he missed the companionship of his wife. He had met no woman who filled Agathe's desire; a woman who would love his children as much as him.

Chapter one

A startling find

Georg von Trapp remained very close to Agathe's mother, Alice Whitehead. Every summer the children had spent two weeks at her home north of Vienna. This summer was different. They would be there a month; Georg knew he would be gone for at least three weeks with some out-of-town business. Frau Schmidt was not able to stay with the children for more than a day or two; they were much too active.

Gromi, as the children called her, was a well educated woman. Her home had its own library filled with books of all kinds; classics to picture books for young children. She encouraged the children to read and also to write letters to their father telling him about their activities.

One of Louisa's letters was quite interesting.

Last night, Arthur (the gardener) found a young woman asleep in a tree. Yes Father, asleep. He was afraid to wake her, he thought he might scare her and she would fall. So he let her stay until morning.

He was up at daylight and found her dropping from the tree limb almost right on top of him.

You know how I like to be outside as soon as I wake up. I was the first to meet her. Arthur asked me to find Uncle Bobby and bring him outside.

I didn't stay and listen. I knew that wasn't proper.

Father, she was running away from her guardian – I had to ask Gromi. What was a guardian? She told me it was a person the court placed legally over a child without a mother or father. I believe that word is orphan.

Father, she hadn't eaten in days; her clothes were dirty and torn. Uncle Bobby asked the young woman to stay until he could talk to Captain Sidney.

Everything the young woman told Uncle Bobby was true. She was 21 years old and she didn't belong to her guardian anymore.

Gromi found Uncle Bobby and Arthur outside with her and invited her to stay with us. Captain Sidney convinced her that we were a nice family and only wanted to help her.

Her name is Maria, all of us really like her. She knows how to play all kinds of games. But best of all she is teaching us all how to sing. I hope you get to meet her and hear her sing.

I love you Father.

See you soon.

Louisa

Georg sat back in his chair. Louisa had never written this much before. He read the part about Maria again; the name Maria seemed so familiar to him. She really seemed to like Maria.

He even got a letter from Gretl, who was just beginning to learn her words. He knew Liesl had helped her but the writing belonged to Gretl. It simply read:

I like our friend Maria.

Love, Gretl

Georg was now anticipating his return trip to bring the children home. He decided that he would go two days earlier than planned and surprise his children. He didn't even ask Henry (the butler) to pick him up. It wasn't far to the Whitehead Villa from the train station. He paid a driver to take him.

He left his bag on the front steps and entered the back of the house by the side gate. The children were engaged in a game of tag with their new friend Maria.

She looked nothing like he had imagined. She was beautiful, dark strawberry blonde hair that was pulled away from her face and anchored by a hairclip. He stood watching. All of his children were really having fun. The "IT" person came running his way. "Father, Father," Louisa shouted. "You're early."

"I know. I missed every one." All the children surrounded him, receiving hugs and kisses.

Maria stood back and watched this wonderful family reunion, thinking, so this is a family. Liesl had turned to look back for Maria and saw her standing alone.

She walked back to her. "Maria, are you alright?"

"Yes Liesl, I'm enjoying watching everyone with your father. Something I never got to do."

"Come with me, I know he wants to meet you. Louisa told him all about you in her letter."

"Father, please meet Maria."

Georg took her hand for a kiss, "Pleased to meet you."

"Thank you sir, you have wonderful children."

"That's nice of you to say."

Their meeting was interrupted by a loud voice. "Ice cream everyone, on the patio – come before it melts."

The children all ran ahead, leaving Georg alone with Maria. "Walk with me Maria, Rosemary's ice cream is the best."

"I know."

Maria took a seat beside Louisa. Georg was on the other side by Friedrich. He was trying not to be obvious, but he had a hard time not looking at Maria. Once their eyes met and Maria shyly smiled. Georg wondered; have I seen her before? Her eyes are so beautiful. Similarly Maria thought, I feel like I have seen him before. It would be a long time before they would remember.

When everyone had finished their ice cream, "Come, children why don't we play a quiet game. We don't need to shake up our stomachs with all that ice cream in them; especially you Kurt."

"Maria, I only had three servings." Both Maria and Georg had a good laugh and their eyes met again; still searching for the answer to the same question. Where have I seen him/her? Maria and the children sat in a grassy area and played "hot potato".

Georg remained at the table with Bobby and Alice. "Alice what do you know about Maria?"

"Not much more than you do. I know Louisa wrote you about her. Some how she has found a deep faith; she believes God will help her find her way."

"What is she going to do after the children leave?"

"I'm not going to send her away, but I really don't know."