Disclaimer: Still don't own the Sound of Music, or its wonderful characters (ah well maybe Grace hihi)
Author's notes: I'm sorry I was so long to post the next chapter, but with school, the exams and everything, I have a hard time finding time to write. On top of that, I really had no idea where this story was heading, so I hope I made the right choices. You tell me!!!! Oups, by the way, I apologise in advance for all the spelling and grammar mistakes you will find, but English is not my native language, so be kind, lol.
This chapter is dedicated to my wonderful chum, who inspired me to write this story in the first palce: Charley.
Thank you to my wonderful reviewers: Broadwayluv, ForeverJulie, purplekirbyshaft, HMB, addlogcon, missqueenlilian.
Keep the reviews up everyone! Please!
PS: Guys, PLEASE don't shoot me, as I said before, a happy ending is ensured for our two lovebirds, so bare with me a little longer! Now on with the show!
Maria was sitting at the terrace, singing a lullaby to her tiny baby daughter who persisted in keeping her eyes wide open, kept awake by the laughter of her siblings who were playing an animated game of tag in the garden.
"Ah well!" Maria sighted. "I suppose it's hopeless for me to think you were going to fall asleep here." She smiled softly at her baby and tried to untangle locks of her hair that her daughter had taken in her tiny fists. The little girl screamed in delight at hearing another row of laughter a few meters away from them.
Maria stroked her daughter's soft cheeks and began rocking her in her arms to try and calm her down. This had, in fact, the opposite effect since the little girl started to scream enthusiastically again. Maria couldn't help but laugh. Grace was now 3 months old. She was the sweetest baby ever with her soft gold hair and her bright blue eyes. She was very smiley and people couldn't help but stop and admire her whenever Maria brought her for a walk or shopping in town. They would ask Maria all kinds of questions, the usual ones asked when admiring a baby: "What is this adorable baby's name? How old is she?" Etc. and Maria would answer politely, a proud smile forming on her lips.
She was so happy to have Grace in her life. She couldn't help but wonder how she had lived so long without this little human being occupying her day and night (especially nights when she stopped to think about it). Indeed, she wondered if her daughter had got the meaning of day and night correctly. She seemed to be content to sleep during half of the day, but when night arrived, she would not let her mother rest and kept crying. Maria was very glad the children hadn't made a fuss about hearing those screams for hours in the night. They had assured her it didn't bother them, and that after ten minutes they couldn't even hear them anymore. But Maria was certain they were only being nice, and she loved them even more for their quiet understanding and constant support.
The baby cradle was just next to Maria's bed, and when the tears would start, she would simply take the crying infant in her arms and go back to the warmth of her bed. There, she would rock her child, singing a soft lullaby, or just talk to her about everything and anything. Sometimes, she would just talk about Georg. She couldn't explain why, but she felt it was important to tell her about her father. She would describe how good he was with his children, how he could play for ages with them outside, take them tracking in the mountains. Georg knew a lot about nature to Maria's astonishment. He could describe every tree, every flower. He could even guess which type of bird was singing just by the sound they made. He was amazing. She had once told him how astonished she was that his knowledge extended itself even to the wild world. Indeed, she had always thought him very cultured, but on topics such as Politics, History and Geography, Art and Music. Somehow she had never thought that a baron would bother to learn so much about nature, plants or animals.
One night, after having said goodnight to the children, Georg had taken Maria's hand and brought her to the garden. There, he had shown her the stars, describing each constellation with great precision, showing her signs on how to easily recognize one star from another. She had been memorized on how passionate he was in describing each shiny dot.
"You see darling, recognizing stars can be very useful to find your way when you are lost. In the navy, it is a necessity to be able to recognize the most important ones."
"How did you learn so much about all this?" she had asked in admiration.
"Actually, my mother taught me a lot about nature. She loved to study animals, plants, stars. She always used to say she had missed her vocation. You see, she always wanted to be an astronomist or a veterinary." He laughed. "But of course, a woman of rank was not expected to study much. All that was required of her was to look beautiful and elegant and to attend social events with my father."
"I see." Maria whispered, thinking she could never have done just that. There was so much more to see, so much more to do in this world than just look sophisticated and pretty.
Georg took her in his arms; his hands gently caressing her back, and inhaled the sweet and unique sent of her hair.
"But she could never be content to just do that." He had added. "She was too eager to learn more. When I was a boy, she used to wake me very early on Sunday mornings. Cook would prepare us a picnic and she would bring me in the mountains where we would watch the sun rise and observe nature awakening."
"She mussed have been a very special woman." Maria smiled dreamily, tightening her grip around Georg's waist. "I wish I could have met her."
"And I am sure you would have got on extremely well with her. I know she would have adored you my love."
But now, at the present time, one question kept coming back in Maria's mind: was Grace ever going to meet her father? A father who was a truly amazing and caring person. A man, whom Maria adored and would trust with her life. She knew she shouldn't think too much about the fact that he was fighting in the war, and the constant danger he was in. But at night, when she was in her bed, in their bed, she just couldn't stop her thoughts from drifting to her heart.
Why did men have to fight for such idiotic ideas? Why did selfishness and greed always win over love? This war was the best example of human stupidity.
She knew that they weren't the only ones to see their dreams and hopes shattered to pieces. How many families had been separated to satisfy one crazy man's dreams of power? On top of that, she was aware of how lucky she was that she still had her children with her, and Grace, her adorable Grace. She didn't think she could have survived without them. They gave her the strength she needed to wake up every morning to an empty bed, where her beloved husband should have been, holding her tight throughout the night.
Liesl, Fredrick, Kurt, Louisa and Brigitte were so helpful. They never complained, and kept Marta and Gretl happy by playing with them, reading or singing to them. The four eldest had grown up so much since Georg's departure. War had taken part of their youth away. And she felt angry for it. They were still children after all! They deserved to have their childhood like every other child! Liesl and Fredrick especially acted beyond their age. They were nearly adults to Maria's eyes.
Thank god Charlie was there for Fredrick. He needed a man's example. Often, they would take a walk together and just talk. Maria knew her eldest son needed that time alone, a man to man time to express his fears to someone older whom he admired and loved almost like a brother. In front of the rest of the family, he would put on a brave face and try to look though. But underneath this mask, lay a frightened boy, who only whished his father was there to guide him.
As for Liesl, her dear sweet Liesl, Maria tried to find some time for her too. She knew it was especially hard for her since she was the eldest, and Maria depended on her a lot, especially since Grace was born. She was so tired with the baby, that she felt guilty for asking Liesl to help her so much with the little ones. But her daughter never complained, and often, she would make sure that Gretl and Marta were bathed, and put to bed, and all that was left for Maria to do was to read them a bedtime story, or sing them a song before kissing them goodnight.
To Maria and the children's delight, Charlie, Eleanor and their mother, Ella, had come to live at the Von Trapp's villa. They had decided it would be easier this way, since they came here every day. Charlie had been stationed at the villa by the Nazis to keep an eye on the family, so it didn't look too suspicious when he had asked his superiors to let his mother and sister join him. Maria had arranged three rooms for them in the east wing, so that the two families could have some privacy, since the children and herself occupied the west one.
This was a relief for the young woman to have adults surrounding her. Ella, especially was very helpful concerning Grace. After all, motherhood was partly new to Maria since she had never had her own baby before. If she was afraid because Grace was ill, or if she had any questions concerning which baby food to use, or about the fact that the little girl didn't sleep well at nights, she could always turn to Ella for reassurance and guidance.
"Stop worrying Maria! Charlie didn't do his nights completely before he was 4 months old. As for Eleanor, well she slept her entire nights straight away. It varies from one baby to another really." The elder woman reassured her. "Grace is a happy looking baby. Just give her time, everything will be fine."
"I'm so sorry Ella. I just can't help worrying. It's silly I know" she laughed. "But there are so many things I don't know!"
"How could you? This is your first baby. Everything will be fine."
They were walking together in the garden; Ella was carrying Grace in her arms while Maria was holding Marta's hand. It was a warm summer day. A light breeze was blowing gently, making it cooler and much more agreeable in this heat. The garden looked beautiful and full of life. All the flowers had blossomed, leaving a sweet sent in the air. The rustling sound of the leave in the trees had a soothing effect on Maria.
The rest of the children were gone to town with Max and Elsa to see an opera. Eleanor was at school, preparing her lessons for the next school year which would begin in September. She was a teacher at one of the primary schools in Salzburg. Maria had signed Marta and Gretl to this school to their great delight.
Only Ella, Maria, Marta and Grace were at home. Marta had not wanted to accompany her siblings but instead had asked Maria to stay with her the afternoon. Unlike Gretl, who was always eager to follow her siblings everywhere they went, play their games and tried desperately to act like them, Marta was much quieter. She sometimes needed some time alone with Maria. She was always glad to be with her mother, and tried to help her to feed the baby, or play and sing to Grace.
"Can I go and pick some flowers mother? I want to make a nice bouquet to put in your room. And in yours too!" Marta quickly added to Ella, not wanting to hurt her feelings.
"That's a wonderful idea sweetheart! Just stay in the garden won't you?"
"Yes mother! Oh, you will call me when it's time to feed Grace, won't you?" She asked in a more serious tone.
"Of course darling! I know Grace will be happier if you do it!" Maria smiled at Marta's adult behavior. The little girl, reassured left them and ran towards the gazebo, where the grass was full of small white daisies.
"She really is adorable isn't she?" Ella said, watching Marta running.
"Yes she is! And she reminds me so much of Georg!" Maria sighted. "In all the children, she's the one that resembles him the most. Sometimes, I recognize some of his expressions on her face."
She took Grace back in her arms from Ella, hugging her tightly, needing to hold her daughter at this moment. The baby let out a cry of delight at being back in her mother's arms. Maria smiled at her display of affection and kissed the top of her head tenderly.
She caught the sight of saw Charlie walking towards them.
"Oh! Hello Charlie! I didn't know you were here. I thought you were in town."
"Well, actually, I just came back."
He wasn't smiling, and was fidgeting, clearly uncomfortable.
"Are you all right? You look very white. Are you thirsty? I can ask Frau Schmidt to bring us some refreshments on the terrace."
"No. No, I'm fine thank you."
"Oh Uncle Charlie! You're back!" Marta was running towards them a bouquet of wild flowers in her hand and a big smile on her face. "Can we go riding later on as you promised? I groomed my pony especially this morning!"
"Euh, yes, maybe." He wasn't even looking at Marta but had his eyes fixed on Maria.
A sudden chill filled her and she shivered, unconsciously tightening her grip on Grace.
"I have to talk to you Maria."
"Marta, why don't we bring Grace inside to feed her?" Ella took the baby from Maria's arms and Marta followed her inside, looking confused.
A short silence followed their departure, but it seemed like a life time to Maria. They just stared at each other, fear clearly written in her eyes, pain visible in his.
"Maria", he started gently, "I had a visit from Herr Keller, Georg's superior commander in the navy.
Maria backed away a few steps, shaking her head, her hand on her mouth.
"Georg is.." but he couldn't continue. His throat was too tight to continue.
"No. No." she choked, shaking her head, tears running down her cheeks.
"I'm so sorry Maria." He whispered, hating to have to be the one to tell her this dreadful news. His heart was aching to see her in so much pain. She looked so completely lost, so frail at this moment. He wanted to hold her and tell her it would be fine, but how could he lie to her?!
He approached her slowly, desperate to comfort her, but not knowing how to.
Maria felt like she was going to die. Her head felt heavy, her vision was blurry, and suddenly, she couldn't breathe anymore. The air just wouldn't fill her longs. The world was fading away slowly, like a dream …... like a nightmare. She couldn't see Charlie standing next to her, couldn't hear his voice anymore. She was blacking out.
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