Disclaimer: The Sound of Music belongs to 20th Century Fox. I don't own the characters, but I sure have fun messing with them! This story contains a couple of references to Jelpy's delightful Wedding Night Blues, which she was kind enough to let me use. Thank you!
Rating: PG-13 for adult themes
Warning: This story contains violence, a little swearing, a couple of threatening lines, and some other things that some people may not like in a Sound of Music story. You've been forewarned.
Gratitude: I must whole-heartily thank my betas: Jelpy and Ilandra. Jelpy, who suggested the Captain would be more 'manly' if he did a certain something a little differently, and made me change a scene truly for the better. She gave such wonderful encouragement as I struggled through this for what seemed an eternity. She also basically gave me the idea, in a roundabout way. Ilandra, who gave color-coded edits, and who gave helpful continuity pointers. Also, both of you provided me with excellent ideas which finally allowed me to like the Captain more in this story. So, to both of you, I thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart to the tips of my sore typing fingers!
Summary: Things get a little hectic when the family tries to escape from Salzburg. This is very A.U., so once again, you've been warned.
Streets of Salzburg
The nine von Trapps walked with Max silently through the streets of town. In the distance, the sound of the music festival could be heard.
"It breaks my heart that you're not there," Max sighed.
Georg shot him a dangerous look. "I think we have more important things to worry about than singing, Max," he said and looked behind him. Maria, escorting a terrified Marta, nodded at him.
They had driven the car into town earlier that day, surrounded by people. Staying in the city until well after dark, the Captain wanted to get lost in the crowds forming for the music festival. The telegram from the Nazis had left no doubt in Georg's mind that remaining in Austria was no longer possible for them. Not even a full day back from his honeymoon, he had arranged for he and his family to leave the country forever. As he surveyed the streets, he was pleased to note that they had not gained any unwanted spies.
Glancing anxiously around, he stopped suddenly. The family froze around him. He thought he saw a movement in the shadows to their right, and he motioned for the group to hide in an alley. Quickly dashing out of sight himself, he watched as a car slowly drove by.
Maria walked up next to him, putting her hand on his arm. She was unnerved that her husband had shut himself so fully from them, from her. He looked so distant, so calculating. While she understood their sudden dire circumstances, she couldn't help but remember how warm and caring he had been during the last few weeks. A part of her wished that loving man was with her now, instead of this intense stranger. She needed him to let her in. It hurt her to see such icy determination in his eyes, and she desperately wanted to help him with his burden.
"How much further to the train station, Georg?" she asked.
"It's not far," he answered.
"You know they'll be waiting there, don't you?" she asked, glancing back at the children. "How are we going to get on a train?"
"We're not," he corrected her. "You are. You're taking the children to Switzerland. You and Max. They'll be expecting me to be with you. If they discover I'm not there, it will throw them off."
She inhaled sharply, and he sensed a rebuke. "This is not open for debate, Maria," he said sternly. "You have to take the children to Switzerland."
"When were you planning on telling me about this? When we're standing on the platform, about to leave?" she asked, anger flushing her cheeks. "Where are we to go in Switzerland?"
"That's my responsibility," Max joined in, scanning the streets. "We have it all planned out."
"I'm pleased that you two decided our fates without any of my input," she said hotly.
"Maria, please," Georg said, and looked over his children, whose faces were white with fear. Seeing their parents fighting didn't help their nerves either. "It's the only way."
"For what?" she asked, fear combining with her anger. "For us to worry about you? For you to be captured by those monsters? No; we're a family. I will not allow you to —"
"The children, Maria," Georg snapped. "They can't stay here."
"No, they can't," she agreed. "None of us can stay here. But we can't be torn apart. That's what they want, Georg!"
The Captain was about to reply when another flash of headlights caused him to push her back against the wall. Nothing could be heard but the sound of ten uneasy breaths echoing in the alley. Once he felt the immediate danger had passed, he moved his glance to Maria, who was still pinned beneath his arm. Resolution was set in her eyes.
"Maria, please," he pleaded. "I'm leaving too, just separate from you to throw them off. I've got a friend on the outskirts of town. I'm going to his house tonight. I should be joining you within a couple of days."
"What if they close the borders?" she asked, feeling panicked. "What if you can't get through? What if we can't get through?"
"You'll be safe," he assured her and nodded to Max. "Max has it all worked out. As for me, I'll have papers doctored up. It'll be fine. You have to trust me."
She still looked uneasy. He leaned closer to her, and felt her warm breath on his mouth. "Don't you trust me?"
She smiled, despite the tense moment. "Of course I do," she said. "I just wish you let me in on planning our escape."
"You were too busy with the children," he reasoned and planted a quick kiss on her forehead. "Believe me, if we had more time, I would have asked for your opinion. This will work; it has to."
"Alright, then," she said, realizing that there was no other way. Pushing her herself off the way, she looked down at the children. "We have to get to the train station. Let's go!"
***
"As we thought," Georg said as they finally reached their destination. "They have it surrounded."
"How are we going to get in there?" Friedrich asked.
"Well, not through the front door," Georg said and raised his eyebrows. Scanning the far reaches of the track, he spotted the end of the fence guarding the tracks. "We need to get in that way."
Nodding, Maria grabbed Gretl's hand. "Do you know which train is heading for Switzerland?"
"Number 455, on Track 3," Max answered and held up nine tickets.
"I'm not sure I want to know how you got those tickets on such short notice," Maria said warily.
"No, you don't, Frau Mueller," Max said as he read the name on the ticket.
"You're sure they'll believe this?" she asked.
"There's no reason for them not to," Georg said and smiled at her. "They've never seen you or the children before. They won't know who you really are."
"But we're such a large group," Maria thought aloud.
"The trains are crowded," Georg reasoned. "You'll blend in. With the paperwork Max has, it will be all right."
She nodded, still a little hesitant. She did not like the idea of leaving her husband alone and surrounded by Nazis. The thought that the very streets she used to feel so safe on were now a hunting ground disturbed her beyond words.
"Georg, the train is leaving at any moment," Max said urgently. "We need to move."
"Alright," Georg said, getting ready to run. "We need to go…. now!"
They sprinted across the bus and taxi depot to the far corner of the train station. Reaching the end of the fence, Georg stopped and motioned for his family to run past him. Once all of them and Max were on the other side, he followed them. He searched the various metal boxes along the ground, looking for one marked Telefon. He finally located it, near a second box marked Telegramm. Grinning at the sight of them, Georg cocked his head for his family to continue to run to the train. Maria made a face in resistance, but obeyed.
Georg stooped down and pulled out the military knife he had brought for protection and uses such as this. Glancing around urgently, he jimmied the first box open and cut the wires. If the Nazis caught sight of the family leaving on the train, at least communication to their comrades would be delayed for a while. After slicing the wires, he shut the door and walked over and did the same for the second box. He made sure both metal containers appeared outwardly as they should, and ran off to join his family.
"Come on," he whispered as they were approaching Train #455. "The train is going to leave any minute!"
He scooped up Marta and gestured for Maria to do the same with Gretl. The family ran frantically down the track, searching for a way on board. He was grateful the train was blocking their exposure to the station itself, which he was positive was crawling with soldiers. They heard the announcement that the train was preparing to depart from the station.
Cursing, Georg ran faster. He regretted moving so quickly and so obviously, but he had not expected the trek through Salzburg to be so arduous. He prayed that no Nazis were standing guard around the tracks. He would feel more at ease once Maria and the children were safely on the train and heading away from Austria.
Running along side it, they finally saw a door still open, at which a conductor was preoccupied with travelers. He moved aside and motioned to Max to ascend onto the car. Once his friend was on board, Georg hoisted Marta up and quickly turned to Maria to hand him Gretl. He motioned the other children to follow. He was beginning to tire as Friedrich, the last one, climbed onto the car. He motioned for Maria to jump aboard, but suddenly a loud voice shouted from behind them.
"You there! Halt!"
Whirling around, they saw two soldiers running towards them, drawing their guns. Max quickly shoved the children inside the car, but remained on the platform, his arm outstretched for Maria.
"Georg!" she cried, looking frantically from her husband to the train. Turning to run, she stretched out her hand to Max. They were almost touching when a gunshot broke through the air. Max reflexively pulled his arm back and hid behind the doorframe of the train, and Maria ran to the far side of the gap between tracks 3 and 4.
Georg cursed loudly and grabbed her hand, and they ran away from her only escape from the city. Catching the horrified looks on the children's faces through the window, Georg and Maria watched with a mixture of dismay and relief as the train took them further and further away. A second shot rang through the air, and the two sprinted across the tracks. The shouts multiplied.
"Stop! Or we will shoot at you next time!" one yelled.
Georg and Maria dashed back to the end of the fence where they had first entered the train station. Not stopping to catch their breath, they ran into the alley besides the tracks. They caught sight of the train carrying their children to safety, and Georg felt a little peace settle over him for the first time that night. He scanned the streets around them; they seemed to have escaped for the moment.
"They're safe," Maria said once they finally stopped. They hunched over, completely winded.
The sound of her voice broke into his brief feeling of security. She was not supposed to be with him. He turned to her, and she smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry. I know this isn't how you wanted it to be, Georg," she said.
He nodded, his mouth a thin line as he tried to re-plan his strategy. "We have to make it to Nikolas's this night. He's expecting me to be there in a few hours. He won't stay in the area much longer."
"Well, maybe it will be better with two of us," she thought aloud and he rose his eyebrows at her. She squeezed his arm. "They're looking for one man. A couple will look less conspicuous."
He thought about her suggestion and smiled slowly. "You're right," he said and stole a quick kiss, allowing a fleeting moment of calm.
"Do you have a route you would prefer to take?" she asked, absently stretching her legs.
"I'd prefer it if we stay away from the river; it's too exposed," he said.
"Maybe we should take a car?" she offered, looking around.
He raised his eyebrows again at her suggestion of theft, but shook his head. "A car would limit our options if they catch us," he said. "Besides, driving is Salzburg is a nightmare."
"That's true," she whispered as they stood straight. "Would you prefer we find crowds to walk in, or being alone?"
"Alone," he answered and took her hand. "There might be someone in a crowd who could recognize us."
She nodded. He looked over at her, and offered a tight smile.
"Some homecoming, Baroness," he said and chuckled.
"At least you got to carry me over the threshold," she said, joining him in the brief lightness of the moment.
"It'll be alright," he assured her. "Just please promise me one thing, Maria."
She narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"Just do as I say."
She smiled again. "You're the expert on military operations, Captain," she said. "Don't worry. I trust you."
He was tempted to kiss her again, but the distant voices from the train station snapped his attention to the situation at hand. "We've got to move," he mumbled. "I hope you don't mind walking all night in the seedy parts of town."
"I don't think I have a choice."
"Good. Let's get going then, Fräulein," he said and they headed away from the train station into the streets of Salzburg.
To be continued…