Disclaimer: The Sound of Music belongs to 20th Century Fox. No infringement is intended.

Rating: PG, for mild adult comments

Gratitude: to Ilandra, who was kind enough to look at this amidst a chaotic school schedule, work, and all sorts of other Real World curiosities. I really am a bad influence, asking you to beta a piece of fanfic while you've got essays and tests to do…

Thank you for making some nice character insights, as well as pick up on a semi-conscious effort on my part to reference a certain element of the film throughout the story. I really do appreciate all of your input; you always help me create the mood I'm searching for, even if it's just through a small suggestion. So, thank you!

Setting and A/N: This takes place during the family's escape from Austria. The idea came to me during some discussions (many moons ago) about the subject, so I thank people on the boards as well for unknowingly inspiring me.

I hope you enjoy!

Stowaway

"Once we reach that small gorge over there, we can rest," Captain von Trapp announced as he helped Brigitta step over a larger rock. The children looked at him wearily, but with complete trust. Friedrich shifted Gretl on his back as Louisa walked next to him, steadying the pair as they navigated the tricky path.

Georg waited for all of his children to pass, shading his eyes from the sun as the chillier Alpine air sifted by him. He offered his arm to Liesl, who was guiding Marta. Bringing up the rear was Maria, her calm presence soothing him in their family's arduous trek over the mountains.

He reached out his hand out for her. As he pulled her up, he felt her resistance as she didn't hoist herself as strongly as she had in the past. He stared down at her.

"Are you alright?" he asked, taking her other hand in his and squeezing both gently.

Maria smiled and nodded. "The air is thinner up here," she said. Seeing the disbelief on his face, she shook her head. "Although I must confess that I am looking forward to that rest."

He nodded. "It shouldn't be that much longer," he said, turning to study their projected path. "We're not too far up in the mountains, and there should be a farm or two within a few miles. I'm sure a kind soul will allow us a few days rest."

Maria looked over at the children. "God has been watching over us so far," she murmured. When he turned to look back at her, she reached up and caressed his cheek. "I'm sure He'll guide us to a safe haven."

Her light touch made his cold skin tingle, and her words brightened his spirits. "We're together; that's all that matters to me," he whispered.

He offered her his arm, but she shook her head. "Friedrich's back is probably killing him. I'll go and take care of Gretl," she said, starting to walk forward. Not surprising her, Georg placed his hand on her arm and stopped her.

"I'll carry her for a while," he said, worry crossing his face. The younger children weren't fairing very well, as he had feared. Crossing the mountains on foot had not been in his plans, yet there had been no choice. He prayed that his family would forgive him for putting them through such a test.

As if reading his mind, Maria placed her hand over his. "They're fine, darling," she said with a soft yet firm tone. He stared at her, her eyes filled with the assurance he needed. "They would follow you through much worse."

He gave an ironic snort. "What could be worse than this?"

Maria hugged him to her. "As you said, we're together," she whispered.

Withdrawing, he studied her, seeing the conviction in her pale face. He reached up to caress her cheek. Nodding, he winked at her before walking up to relieve his son for a while as they continued their journey.

"I feel as if we've been hiking forever," Louisa said with a dramatic sigh. Plopped on the ground, she leaned over her legs to stretch. As she rose, she looked over at her father, seeing the subtle despair on his face, and she immediately regretted her outburst. "But it's not so bad."

Friedrich looked over at her and nodded. "It's good exercise," he offered.

"How much further, Father?" Marta asked as she snuggled deeper into her mother's lap.

Georg sighed and gazed into the direction in which they were heading. "There should be some farms or a small village on the other side of that hill. We can make it by late afternoon," he said, rocking Gretl in his arms. He looked over at Maria, who smiled and nodded.

"We can rest there for a while," she said. "There will be a place for us."

Kurt stared out in the path his father had indicated and sighed. Another chilly wind flew by them, and he rubbed his bare legs. "Do you think they'll have some longer pants they might loan me?" he asked, looking over at his father.

Georg's jaw tensed as he saw his son's ill-prepared apparel, but he nodded. "I'm sure they will. How are your legs?"

The boy shrugged. "It could be worse. It could be January, and it's not that cold for the mountains."

Maria's heart tightened at her son's bravado. She could see the redness on Kurt's legs and how his constant rubbing of them was making them raw and exposed.

Georg sighed and glanced around at the rest of the children. They all looked tired and hungry. None of them had eaten anything more than the few berries and other edible plants they had found along their route for the past two days. He knew Maria was right; they trusted and loved him beyond words. But it was his duty to bring them all to safety, and to safely do it. He looked over at his son's legs again, and his stomach constricted.

A light sigh caught his attention, and he looked over at his wife soothing Marta's hair, breathing in deeply. She must have felt him watching her, as she glanced up, smiled tiredly at him, and gave him an encouraging nod.

He exhaled slowly, looking at his children again. Clutching Gretl closer to him, he cleared his throat. "I know how hard this is for all of you," he began, "and it breaks my heart to see you all so tired and hungry. This wasn't what I had planned for us, but your enthusiasm and willingness these past few days means more to me…"

His voice trailed as he saw tears cause Brigitta's eyes to shine, and Friedrich sit up a little straighter. Liesl and Louisa smiled at him, and Kurt stopped rubbing his legs to mimic his brother's stance. Maria inhaled sharply, her love and faith shining through the fatigue in her eyes.

"It was the only thing we could do, Father," Liesl said after a moment. The older children nodded.

"We've been lucky," Brigitta added. "The weather has been nice, and we have found food to eat."

"Not really," Kurt mumbled, causing his sister to give him a reproaching look.

"We're not starving," Brigitta insisted. "We'll be fine."

"It's kind of like an adventure," Louisa offered. "And it's not that bad, really."

"No," Friedrich said. "We're not too far from Switzerland. Maybe just a couple of days."

"Do you know what they have over in Switzerland, Gretl?" Liesl asked.

Her interest piqued, the little girl sat up in her father's embrace. Following suit, Marta also straightened.

"Chocolate," Liesl finished, and the girls' faces beamed. Marta looked up at Maria.

"Really, Mother?"

Maria laughed and tapped the girl's forehead. "That's what I've been told."

"There's something to look forward to!" Georg exclaimed. With renewed energy and assurance from his children's declaration, he stood up, Gretl still in his arms. "Well, let's get going then! The thought of chocolate has rejuvenated me."

The children rose and smiled at him, their trusting expressions giving him even more vigor. He set Gretl down and waited for the children to pass. As they walked by, he looked over at Maria, who had stood up too quickly, it seemed, and was closing her eyes to steady herself.

Georg immediately walked over to her, grabbing her forearm and studying her. "Maria?" he asked quietly.

She slowly opened her eyes and seemed startled to find him so close to her. Shaking her head, she gestured to the children. "We can't let them get too far ahead of us, Captain."

He narrowed his eyes. "You're tired."

Not disagreeing, Maria exhaled. "Yes, but I'll be fine. It's been a busy couple of months."

Georg hugged her, allowing them a brief moment of solitude before they resumed their journey.

Or not so brief. Surprising him, Maria hugged him closer for a moment, and he could feel her shoulders rise and fall as she breathed deeply. "I love you," she whispered.

Squeezing her tighter, Georg buried his face in her neck, reveling in the feeling of her soft body against his. Wordlessly, they withdrew and he took her hand in his again, turning to follow their children.

The family walked in companionable silence, occasionally pointing out hawks and other Alpine oddities. Maria had insisted that Georg go ahead and help with the smaller children, while she remained quietly in the back of the group, watching for faltering steps or stumbling climbs.

With Gretl on his back, Georg tried to lighten his little girl's mood by occasionally bouncing her gently. Her giggles filled his head, and he felt his own spirits lift.

As they reached the top of a higher hill, Georg felt his heart start to beat faster when a small structure came into view. After days of blindly continuing forward, he was nearly floored with relief as his eyes fell upon a place where his family could rest.

"A house!" Louisa yelled, somehow finding the energy to sprint ahead of him. Friedrich followed suit and ran after her. Georg shifted his grip on Gretl, and he looked around as best he could to see his daughter's face.

"Do you see that, darling?" he asked her.

He felt her nod. "Yes, Father!" she exclaimed. "A house! Maybe we can live there!"

Georg laughed. "Maybe for the night," he said and turned. Kurt and Brigitta's faces were alight with hope, and Maria's smile seemed brighter than it had all day.

Nodding to his wife, he said, "God is with us."

"There's a stream!" they heard Friedrich shout. "With fish! With fish!"

That was the catalyst Kurt needed. "Dinner!" he yelled and ran ahead with Brigitta. Only Marta and Gretl remained with their parents.

Setting his youngest down to the ground, Georg paused and surveyed the farm. The barn itself was dilapidated and worn. The house didn't look much better, but the roof was solid, and there was a stern-looking chimney top peaking from the opposite side. The grounds about the house were overgrown and wild.

"It's abandoned," Maria said, reflecting Georg's thoughts. "Do you think it's safe, Georg?"

He turned and nodded. "It's the most welcome sight I've seen all day," he said. Grinning at her, he leaned closer. "Well, actually it's the second."

She smiled at him. "Let's get going then," she said.

To be continued…

More A/N: I don't think Alpine berries were still growing in the fall, but they work for this story. Just taking some creative license (and c.m.a.).

And for all the wonderful updates this site has done, I still cannot indent the beginnings of paragraphs. Oh, well.