This is my contribution to the pro-boards fandom Advent Calendar. The idea was inspired by the 1940 movie by the same name. It's very AU/alternative meeting with zero research and LOTS of making stuff up because it sounded good. Please don't call me out on anything.

REMEMBER THE NIGHT

Captain Georg von Trapp stepped out of the wine shop and onto the pavement crowded with people trying to make the ost of the little time left for holiday shopping. He tucked the expensive bottle securely under his arm and paused to check the time when he suddenly felt someone bump into him. There was an unmistakable tug on his overcoat pocket and he would swear a hand reached inside to grab his billfold. He nearly dropped the wine turning to catch whoever it was in the act.

"Hold on," he demanded, reaching to see that his billfold was still secure without looking up.

"Excuse me, sir, I'm afraid I wasn't looking at where I was going," the culprit said breathlessly. Georg finally glanced up at the sound of a woman's voice. She stood there smiling apologetically, a guitar and carpet bag clutched tightly in her arms. Her smile dropped when she saw him frown at her.

"Likely. You were trying to pick my pocket!"

"What? I most certainly was not! I was simply walking down the sidewalk," she defended. "And you! You were just standing there in the middle of traffic! If I hadn't bumped into you, surely someone else would have." Her eyes flashed brightly at the accusation.

Passersby slowed their pace to watch the commotion, including a young officer that was policing the shopping district. He stepped into the fray with an air of confidence that his baby face and high voice betrayed instantly.

"What seems to be the trouble?" he asked, looking at Georg with interest. The young woman exhaled loudly and crossed her arms.

"This woman tried to steal my billfold," Georg explained calmly.

"I did not," she countered angrily. "How do you suggest I did it with a guitar in one hand and luggage in the other?!"

"I said you tried," Georg shot back. "I didn't say you are very good at it."

"And who are you?" the officer asked, looking her up and down skeptically.

"My name is Maria Rainer, and I'm – "

"And you, sir?" he cut her off and turned his attention back to Georg.

"It's von Trapp. Captain Georg von Trapp. I distinctly felt someone reach into my coat pocket," he repeated his story. He turned to Maria and added, "And strangely it happened at the precise moment she bumped into me."

"I am telling the truth, I didn't-" Once again she was cut off.

"Captain von Trapp, you say? Well, sir, I'm glad to be of service to a national hero!"

Maria's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

"Now wait just a minute," she sputtered. "Are you just going to believe him because he's a – "

"My father served under you in the war!" the officer went on, speaking over Maria once again. "Gilbert Pickler is his name. I'm sure you remember him, you saved his life!" He grabbed Georg's hand and began to shake it fiercely.

Georg quickly untangling his hand from the eager policeman. He was hard pressed to remember anyone named Pickler but he wasn't about to admit it and prolong that particular conversation. "Uh, oh right, Pickler, sure."

The officer continued in a quiet and conspiratorial voice. "You know how it is at Christmas, Captain. The pickpockets come out in full force. All these people walking around distracted by the festive season, pockets full of money... ripe for the picking." He turned back to Maria with a scowl. "You'd be surprised how often it's the quiet ones."

"I wouldn't exactly say she's quiet," Georg interjected, earning him a hot glare from her and a laugh from the growing mob of spectators.

"Well, we'll sort it all out," the officer said taking command and waving away the people standing around. "If you'll kindly follow me, there's a police post a couple blocks from here."

"Oh, uh... is that really necessary? I mean, I'm in a bit of a hurry." Georg checked his watch again.

"I'll need a statement from you, Captain, but it won't take a moment. Please," he gestured along the sidewalk, waiting for both to start moving. Both Georg and Maria rolled their eyes in resignation and allowed themselves to be escorted along.

When they arrived, the officer pointed Maria toward a bench and ordered that she wait there while he take the statement. Maria set her guitar case and worn carpet bag on the floor and dropped into the seat without a word. When Georg looked over at her, she crossed her arms and looked away in a huff.

"So, Captain," the officer said, sitting down at a small desk and scribbling lines on some kind of form. "I just will ask for some information and your version of events, it won't take very long. Your address, please?"

"Aigen," he answered wearily, shifting the bottle of wine from under his arm to his lap as he sat in a small chair across from the eager young man. "53 Hellbrunner Allee."

"Aigen?"

"That's correct, just outside Salzburg-"

"Salzburg?" Both men turned their heads toward Maria who looked at Georg with an almost hopeful look on her face. "Y-you're going to Salzburg? Today?"

"I'm certainly trying," he answered back, perhaps a bit too testily. "If I can get out of here and check out of my hotel before the new year begins."

"Which hotel, if I may ask?" the officer asked.

"Oh, uh, the Ambassador."

"Thank you, Captain, I'll try to speed things along now," The officer said as he wrote the information down. He shuffled a few more papers around and then looked up and nodded. "Now, please tell me what happened."

"As I already told you, I was standing on the sidewalk, checking my watch when this woman plowed right into me. I felt a tug inside my coat pocket where I keep my billfold. I reacted quickly and she failed in her attempt to rob me. I confronted her and, well... that is when you arrived." Georg threw his hands up as he finished the story. Maria cleared her throat loudly as she stood up.

"How many times must I say it, I did not try to rob you! I had both hands full, how on earth could I have possibly –"

"You'll have a turn, Fraulein," the officer waved at her back to her seat. "All in good time."

"Speaking of which," Georg said as politely as he could. "Are we finished? I would like to get on the road. You know Austrian weather, quite unpredictable."

"Yes, Captain. Thank you for your time." The two men shook hands and turned toward the door when Maria jumped up and hollered after them.

"Excuse me, don't I get a turn to tell what happened? I admit I wasn't paying attention as I was walking, and I did apologize for running into him, but that is all I did! I couldn't possibly – "

"Please, Fraulein! I told you, you will have your chance to explain everything, but for now I suggest you get comfortable, you're going to be here a while." Maria's eyes grew wide with concern and the officer clarified. "It's Christmas Eve, you see, and everyone has gone home. We won't be able to process anything at least until after the holiday."

"What?! You can't be serious! I didn't do anything wrong! This is just a misunderstanding, please, you have to believe me!" For a second, Georg thought she was going to cry. As annoying as the entire episode had been, he was not entirely sure he was comfortable with the idea of her spending the holidays in a jail cell. He interrupted by hooking a finger at the officer, indicating that he wanted to speak to him privately.

"Look, no harm was done and it's Christmas. Can't you just... forget about all this and let us both go?"

"I don't know, Captain," the young man said thoughtfully as his face became serious. "I've written the report... and how do we know she hasn't done this before? Maybe she has a long record. I can't just let a career criminal walk out of here because it's Christmas!"

"Look, doesn't she at least get a chance to post some kind of bail or something?"

"But I don't – "

"I know, I know but... surely you know how much it would be! A hundred? A hundred fifty?"

"Two hundred, I should think. But Captain – "

"Ok, how about this," Georg said quickly, pulling his billfold out of his coat and opening it up. "I'll give you... two hundred and fifty, all right? You take it, set the little Fraulein free and you... well, you have a very Merry Christmas, hmmm?"

The policeman looked at the notes in Georg's extended hand. Suddenly the young man's face lit as if he suddenly understood. Taking the money, the officer gave him a knowing nod and nudge with his elbow. "Understood, Captain, understood."

Georg shook his head and took his leave. Once outside and heading to his hotel, it occurred to him that perhaps the money was taken as a bribe which was not his intention at all. He simply wanted to speed things up so all three of them could put the matter behind them and get on with life. He contemplated turning back to clarify his actions, but in the end he was just running too late to do anything about it.

A/N 2 No, it isn't the end. I know I have two other WIPs and that I haven't written anything pretty much all year long, but this story is nearly finished, like 90% done. My plan is to edit and post all of it over at FF by New Years. I'm just to brain fried to finish it and time is up.

I think I speak on behalf of the pro-boards peeps when I say BIG BIG THANKS to mucwriter for organizing and putting this calender together. It has been so much fun to open a little surprise every day.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!