Disclaimer: The Sound of Music belongs to 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG-13 for some, uh, mild explicit romance
Author's Notes: This story was actually the original ending to another fic which is still currently in progress. It was decided that something else fit that story better, and this worked best on its own. Huge thanks to Jelpy who practically drove me mad with various ways of stating "Okay, the end doesn't grab me…" and who also kept me in character by saying very acute things such as "that was very, very tacky." I think I finally got it right. Thank you again!
Summary: Little scenes of the wedding of Captain and Maria von Trapp. Part One is public, and Part Two is a little more… private
My Life to You
Captain and Baroness von Trapp climbed into carriage waiting for them outside the convent chapel. The crowd around them cheered and the fiddlers surrounding them played joyfully. The children edged their way close to the carriage, cheering the loudest.
"See you at the reception, you two," Max quipped and winked at them. "Try not to be too long."
Grinning broadly, the Captain shouted at the driver to depart. The carriage soon traveled down an isolated path, granting him a moment alone with his bride. Once he was sure that the half hidden driver was the only other person around, he turned and moved so near to her, he could smell her soft perfume.
"You are stunning, Baroness," he whispered to her and reached up to caress her cheek.
She blushed and leaned towards him, so that their foreheads were touching. "Thank you, Captain," she responded and shifted her face so her lips graced his. She felt his hand cup her cheek and pull her even closer, deepening the embrace.
Finally parting, he held her for a long moment, totally absorbed with her soft beauty. "You've made me whole," he told her, staring into her eyes.
She could only respond by hugging him tightly to her, telling him without words that she felt the same way. She closed her eyes and reveled in the glorious sensation of being in his arms. After nearly missing their chance to be together, she exhaled in contentment knowing that the past was behind them, and they had the rest of their lives to look forward to.
"I love you so much," she started but her voice caught and she couldn't continue.
He pulled back and studied her face. "No tears, Maria," he said, wiping the moisture away from her face. "We have forever ahead of us, and I only see it being happy."
She smiled. "I do too," she said softly. "I just am so happy, that I can't help it."
"Well," he stated, "as long as they're tears of joy, then I guess that's alright."
"Yes, they are," she said as she gazed down at her gown, still in wonderment that the day had finally arrived. "Thank you for such a beautiful day. I never imagined I would be sitting here, a bride…"
He laughed and hugged her. "Not quite the life you were imagining when you first arrived is it?" he asked.
She shook her head, looking at the ring she had placed on his finger just over an hour before. "No," she sighed and covered his hand with hers. "The Lord certainly knows better than I do."
He smiled. "That's usually the case," he admitted and studied the lines of her neck. Amazed that she was really his wife, he leaned forward and placed tiny kissed along her jaw line. "I'd say he knows what he's doing," he whispered as he raised his hand to caress the back of her neck.
"Just as you seem to," she said huskily. "Do we have to go to the reception?"
Surprised at her obvious intention, he laughed and brushed her ear with his lips. "I'm more than willing to postpone our arrival, if you chose, Baroness," he suggested.
Her hands rested on his chest. Staring into his eyes, she smiled slightly. "I believe the house is empty," she offered.
His mouth dropped open as he pulled back to stare at her. There was apparently a lot to Maria von Trapp that he had yet to learn. Excited about the prospect, he reached up again and pulled her to him. She glanced down at his uniformed chest and then back into his eyes, taking his face in her hands.
"I love you," she whispered before kissing him so fully, he forgot where he was. The only sensations he was aware of were the movements of his wife's hands about his face, neck, and shoulders. The sun was soaking them, making her feel unearthly warm beneath his hands. Reveling in the surreal sensation, he wrapped arms around her shoulders and turned them both so she was suddenly lying on his lap. His hand traveled down her side, causing her to slightly shift, and he felt a soft moan came from her throat.
The carriage jumped as it went over a hole in the road, forcing them to break apart. Laughing at the clumsy end to their romantic endeavor, she sat up and looked around. "I guess we're being told something," she said somewhat guiltily.
Georg didn't return her smile; he looked insulted that his pursuits had been interrupted. However, glancing at her dancing eyes, he, too, laughed.
"There is plenty of time for us, my love," he said and took her hands. "I guess we'll have to go to the reception after all."
"Well," she sighed, "after all those weeks planning it, I guess it would be unwise to miss it."
He leaned into the back seat of the carriage, bringing her down to rest against his side. "I don't know about unwise, darling," he thought. "A waste of money, perhaps, but not unwise."
They laughed. "The children will be happy to see us," she said, trying to consol both of them. "And there will be dancing and music, and food."
He stared down at her. "This day is all for you, my love," he said and rubbed her arm. "It will be perfect."
"No," she corrected and reached over to squeeze his hand. "This day is for us. And it is perfect."
***
"Georg, I must say that the caterer that you chose for this reception is just superb," Max declared as his dinner plate was taken off the table and he dabbed his mouth with his napkin. "I'm pleased that I had starved myself all day."
The Captain made no response. He was leaning close to Maria, their hands entwined and she was whispering something to him. The two laughed lowly at the private comment.
"Georg?"
Whether his friend was ignoring him or really didn't hear him, Max wasn't sure. He turned and studied the crowd. Hundreds of the finest couples in the region were seated about them, talking animatedly and enjoying themselves. He wondered how long the easy atmosphere would last, given the political events as of late. Turning to look again at the couple beside him, he allowed a private smile to form on his face as he watched Maria.
She was glowing. It was true that he had seen many brides, and they all carried an air of radiance to them on their special day. But Maria was different. Over the last few weeks, as the couple planned for their wedding, he had gotten to know her quite well. It was easy to see why Georg had fallen in love with her: she was absolutely captivating.
His gaze moved to Georg, and he was inwardly thrilled to see the spark return to the Captain's eyes. Georg had been emotionally dead for years, and Max was both elated and relieved to see his friend back to his old self. For that, too, he had Maria to thank. Max's heart was so full for both of them; they deserved every moment of happiness.
The leader of the band caught his attention from across the room. He nodded at him and leaned over again to his friend.
"Georg?" he asked and touched the Captain's arm. He still received no response as Georg was preoccupied with twisting the gold band on Maria's finger. "Captain von Trapp?"
Finally, Georg turned to his friend. He had the most curious expression on his face. "Yes, Max?" he asked.
Max gestured to the band. "I believe it's time to continue the festivities," he said. "Dinner is finished."
"Oh, so it is," Maria said and looked at her half eaten meal.
The Captain gazed up at the band and nodded. Taking their cue, they began to play more loudly than they had during the meal, and the guests perked up. He stood and turned to his bride. "I believe we have the honor of the first dance."
She smiled shyly and took his offered hand. He escorted her to the middle of the dance floor and the band started to play a slow folk song. Holding her close, he started to glide around the floor.
Peeling her eyes off his face, she glanced over at the children. She couldn't tell which one was smiling the broadest. She held him tighter and closed her eyes, thanking God that she was so blessed with such a perfect moment.
"This is so wonderful," she sighed.
"Wonderful," he repeated into her hair, and swayed her more grandly, causing her to giggle.
Finishing their dance in peaceful silence, Georg cocked his head to the band. Ready to liven up the beat, they went into a faster paced song and without warning, a crowd of women gathered around Maria, separating her from Georg. She looked over at him, and he laughed in defeat as he walked over to his children.
He scooped Marta into his arms and soon the other children stopped their activities to join them. Kurt stopped fidgeting with his collar, and Louisa and Friedrich ceased trying to throw napkins into some empty glasses. Brigitta and Gretl looked up from playing with Maria's discarded veil. They all bore similar expressions of excited happiness.
"Are you all enjoying yourselves?" he asked.
A chorus of vehement affirmations immediately rang out. "You all look so lovely," he said to his daughters. Looking at Friedrich and Kurt, he smirked. "So do you two."
"Father!" Kurt protested and pulled his collar away from his neck again. "This is too tight."
"You'll live," Louisa said and handed her father a glass of water. "It's a very nice party, Father."
He nodded in gratitude and took the glass. Looking over at Maria, he was bemused to see that she was still surrounded by the ring of women. "I wonder how long they'll keep her trapped like that."
"Until Uncle Max or someone breaks it, I guess," Liesl said. "I can't believe how much our lives have changed since the beginning of the summer."
He smiled. "Me too," he told her. "I feel as if everything is as it should be." Setting Marta down, he hugged Liesl. "Everything I need is right here, next to me. Well, either next to me, or currently being held hostage by a bunch of married, slightly inebriated women."
The children laughed. The circle of women surrounding Maria finally broke, and Max led the path of men to charge through it, seizing the ivy wreath from Maria's head. Max paused, took her hand, and pressed it to his lips in a grandiose gesture.
"You're no longer in need of this, Baroness von Trapp," he said and stole away, jokingly placing the wreath atop his own head.
Laughing, Maria stooped down as a woman placed a matron cap on her head. "You're one of us, now," she said, and Maria noted the woman's red cheeks. The circle of women danced away, singing slightly off key. She shook her head and clapped with the beat, enjoying the gaiety of the moment.
"My, my," a voice came up from behind her. "The bride cannot be alone on her wedding day!"
She turned and beamed at Georg, who triumphantly held in his hand her ivy wreath which he had stolen from Max.
"Max had suggested that I add this to my collection," he said, gesturing to his assortment of medals on his chest.
Her mouth dropped in embarrassment, and he smiled sweetly as he handed it over to her. "But I think it's yours to dispose of."
Her cheeks started to flush deeply, but she when she met his eyes, she was immediately put at ease. Matching his grin, she accepted the wreath and threw it over her shoulder. "I don't need it anymore," she said lowly.
His face grew serious as he wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to kiss her. Pulling apart, he smiled and stroked her cheek, the two of them enjoying the private moment.
The light, slightly mournful sound of a familiar dance started to play, and the Captain moved away to look at his bride. "Would you do me the honor, Baroness?" he asked and bowed.
Curtsying elegantly she took his hand. "I'd be delighted, Captain."
As they started to step to the music, he looked at the other couples moving in synch with them. The memory of the last time they had done this dance came to him, and he laughed softly. Catching her puzzled look, he paused and pulled her to him. "Do you think you'll remember the whole thing this time?"
She joined in his laughter and moved back so they could resume the steps. "I think it'll just come naturally," she told him.
To be concluded…
