Disclaimer: Sigh….yeah, this will be my fifth SOM fic and I still don't own it…yup yup!!!

Author's Note: ALL RIGHTY!!! Well! Here I am yet again!

I must say that the entirety of this story line and plot ideas belong to jordananne, who came to me and asked me to write this out! I think it's a great original idea and am excited to be writing it! Thank you so much jordananne!!!

And thanks to dragoneye of TheMarauders3 for once again being my beta!!

Now on we go!!

Summary: The family's escape seems to be going fine. But when situations arise that result in the children getting on a different train than Maria and Georg all of their fates change. Will the family be together again? How will Liesl manage with keeping her brothers and sisters safe? Read on to find out!!!


Lost-
-Chapter One: At the Station

"What is it?"

"Berlin. They've offered me a commission in their navy. I've been requested

to accept immediately and report to their naval base at Bremerhaven…tomorrow."

"I knew something like this would happen. I didn't think it would be so

soon."

"To refuse them would be fatal for all of us. And joining them would be-- unthinkable…Get the children all together. Don't say anything that's going to make them worry. Just get them ready. We've got to get out of Austria and this house…Tonight."


The von Trapp car silently pulled into the train station parking area. Georg turned off the engine and turned to his family. "Get your things together, quickly," he said. The minute the words left his mouth the inhabitants of the car jumped to life and did as they were told.

Minutes later everyone stood outside of the car. Gretl clutched to Liesl who had a protective arm around her youngest sister. Marta hung close to Friedrich as he too held his sister, trying to protect her from whatever they were about to face. Louisa, Kurt, and Brigitta all stood close together, seeking comfort from one another. Maria and Georg stood close to their children, arms entwined, and hands clasped around each others. Maria held to Georg as if her life depended on it, in fear that if she let go he would disappear. Georg felt his wife's sweaty, trembling hand in his own. He had never seen this strong woman so frightened before and it was unnerving. He gave her hand a reaffirming squeeze, which she generously returned. Max stood, leaning against the car. All ten people stood in silence.

Max looked at his watch. "I must go," he said, breaking the silence and making a few of the children jump. "My train leaves in five minutes."

"Are you sure you won't come with us, Max?" Maria asked.

Max shook his head. "I'm afraid I would only be a burden to you. Besides, you both told me how wonderful Paris is this time of year, I can't wait to see it," he said, in his usual devilish manner. Maria blushed and thanked the Lord that it was dark so no one could see it, Georg cleared his throat. Max simply winked at the couple before putting his hat on and picking up his suitcase.

"I shall miss all of you," he said walking around a hugging each of the children briefly. "I shall miss all of the money I could have made." The children laughed as Maria and Georg smiled. Max approached Maria a kissed her lightly on the cheek. Finally he reached Georg. "Goodbye old friend," she said shaking Georg's hand.

"Goodbye, Max," Georg replied, firmly returning the hand shake.

"You have the number to where I'll be staying. Call as soon as you can."

"We will."

With one final tip of the hat Max walked towards his destined train platform and away from the von Trapps. None knowing if it would be the last time they saw their friend again, or not.

Silence consumed the family, no one not knowing what to do next. It seemed to be that the only logical thing to do was take this one step at a time. Only living in the moment and what was happening as each second passed.

The Captain looked down and checked his watch. 8:45. "Quickly, now, our train leaves in fifteen minutes." In one swift movement the von Trapp family left their car behind, never to return for it.


Georg led his family through the crowded train station, making straight for Platform Thirteen. They hadn't been walking for more than five minutes when a sight before him made him stop dead in his tracts. How was it possible? Maria was walking so close to Georg that she didn't have time to register the fact that he had stopped and walked straight into him, the children

walking into her and each other as well.

"Georg, what is it?" she asked, surprised that her husband had stopped. They didn't have much time to get on the train.

"They're here," he replied, pointing straight ahead to two Nazi soldiers standing just up the walkway. Without another warning his ushered his entire family into the shadows.

"You don't think they expected you to be here, do you?" Maria asked, fear etched in her every word. Everything had been going fine, she should have known that it was too good to be true. She should have known that something like this would happen.

"I don't know," Georg said thoughtfully, "But we can't take any chances." He looked at each of his children's faces and then his wife's. Each looked the same. Full of fear, uncertainty, a hope that was slowly fading, and trust. Trust, he knew, that was solely for him. They all trusted him to get him to safety. And he would, he had to. No matter what it took, he had to.

"We have to separate. Maria," he said, turning to his wife, "Take the children and get on the train, find an empty compartment and get comfortable. I'll find you once I get on the train."

"Father, are you sure it's a good idea for you to go by yourself. What if something happens to you, how will we know?" Liesl asked, speaking for the first time since they left the house.

"I'll be fine--" Georg started to reply, but was quickly interrupted by Maria.

"Georg, I agree with Liesl, I don't like the idea of you going off by yourself with them around. Take one of us with you."

Georg sighed, this was not a time to be arguing. "Maria, I refuse to put any of you in danger. It's me they want, not you. Here are all of your tickets," he said, reaching into his coat and pulling out eight of the nine tickets that resided there. "Now please, go."

"Georg, I really-"

"Maria," Georg warned.

"Georg," Maria fought back, her voice suddenly taking on an edge that meant she was ready to fight for anything. Georg had always been amazed how easily she was riled up and how outspoken she could really be. He also knew, that try as he might when Maria used that tone of voice she never lost.

The children watched their parents argue for the first time in months. They had never seen the two talk to each other like that since before their father left for Vienna that summer. Wanting to break the unwanted tension, Liesl voiced her idea.

"Father, why don't you take Mother with you. Friedrich, Louisa, and I could look after everyone. We'll get them to the train safely," she said, wanting to help more than anything. She was sixteen now, she could handle this. She had spent years looking after her siblings after their mother died, getting them onto a train would be effortless.

Georg looked at his eldest daughter, about to reply, but Friedrich beat him to it. "Yes, Father, we can do it." He was almost a man now, he was capable of guiding his brother and sisters safely onto a train. He would prove that to his father.

"We'll be fine," Louisa reassured her father.

Georg looked at the, now, determined faces of his children before glancing at his watch. They had eight minutes. They couldn't spend anymore time discussing this issue. With a frustrated sigh, he handed Liesl seven tickets. "You go straight to the train, stop for no one and don't draw attention to yourselves. Do you understand?" Liesl nodded. Georg sighed again, he wasn't so sure about this, but she was sixteen after all, almost seventeen. He supposed he needed to start trusting her with bigger responsibilities. But was now the time to start that?

He dug into his coat pocket and pulled out some extra money, handing it to Friedrich. "Take this just incase."

Maria watched the scene unfold before her, tears brimming in her eyes. They were no longer children, especially Liesl, Friedrich, and Louisa. They were being thrust into adulthood sooner than need be. But they knew it, and were taking on their responsibilities with grace.

She supposed she didn't like the idea of the children going off on their own. But she didn't like the idea of one of the children going with Georg either or her husband going off by himself. It was a lose/lose situation.

"Platform Thriteen is straight across that way," Georg told Liesl, pointing straight ahead of her. "Train number eleven." Liesl nodded in understanding. Georg pulled his daughter into a tight hug, remembering the moment, incase anything happened. But nothing would, they would all be safe on the train in minutes. They had to be.

"I love you, Father," Liesl whispered into her father's ear.

"I love you too, darling. Be safe." Liesl nodded, as the two pulled away and Liesl hugged her mother and Georg, Friedrich.

Georg and Maria quickly hugged all of their children, each placing a light kiss on their heads. "Once you get onto the train, find an empty compartment and wait for your mother and I," Georg said, as the children grabbed their suitcases. The children nodded in understanding. "The train leaves soon, off you go."

With one final wave the children left their parents behind. Georg and Maria watched them walk a little before picking up their own suitcases and heading in the opposite direction the children had gone. They would all be safe and together on the train soon. The thought was the only comforting idea about their new situation that made them able to push through the crowd.


Liesl felt Gretl's hand trembling in her own as she pulled her sister through the crowd. "Liesl," the little girl called above the noise of the crowd. "I'm scared."

Liesl stopped walking and bent down so she was eye level with her sister. "It's alright Gretl, we'll be on the train soon, and everything will be alright. I promise." She pushed a lock of hair out of her younger sister's eye, and brushed away a single tear that was falling down her cheek. Gretl lunged at her oldest sister, hugging her with all the strength her little body could muster. Trying to find some comfort in the hug.

Liesl picked up her sister, cradling her, trying to comfort her as best as she could. "Kurt and I will take your bags," Louisa whispered to Liesl. Liesl nodded and began to walk forward, Gretl secure in her arms.

Minutes later the seven siblings reached Platform Thirteen with Train Eleven waiting patiently for them to board. Liesl felt a knot in her stomach. Something felt off about the train. The way it looked, just something. But, it was right where it was supposed to be, sitting patiently for passengers to get on. Liesl shrugged off the dread, all that matter was that they had finally reached their destination.

"Get on, quickly," Liesl said to her siblings. They needed no further encouragement as they swiftly boarded the train.


Georg and Maria paused in their trek towards the train. In the distance they could see all seven of their children getting onto board. Simultaneously they let out a sigh of relief. Smiling towards each other they started walking again.

"Everything's going to be alright," Maria whispered to Georg, knowing that Georg was more nervous than he was letting on. Georg smiled, and placed his arm around Maria's shoulders.

"Yes, it is," he replied.


Author's Note: Well, there you have it!! I hope you like it so far! I don't know when I'll be updating again…hopefully I'll be able to update this (and Why) by the end of the week!!

Thanks again Jordananne for letting me write this!!!

More to come soon!
Until next time!
The Lonely Goatherd