Disclaimer: Pretty sure I still don't own the Sound of Music…

Why-
-Chapter Four: Time Gone By

Why was it that when you didn't want it to, time flew by faster than ever possible? When you wanted time to stretch itself out, to last long, it didn't. A second turned to a minute, the minute to an hour, the hour to a day and finally the day to a week. The one week you wanted to prolong. To remember everything about . The way the air smelled, the texture of something, someone's laugh, someone's smile. The look in their eyes. It was soon gone, and you were gone. Leaving, never to return.

Maria stood in front of the door to the Trapp villa, her carpet bag in one hand and her guitar in the other. The entire family stood before her, even the Baroness and Max were there. All of the children were silently crying, except Kurt and Friedrich, who were doing the very best to keep their tears at bay. The Captain had a look of complete sorrow on his face, the Baroness had a look of guilt, and Max looked at a loss. Maria looked at the faces of the children. Kurt, Friedrich, and Louisa where looking at the ground while Liesl, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl all looked at their beloved governess. Maria hated to see them like this. The sight before her tore her apart more than the sight that had met her when she told them she would be leaving...

"Children, there's something I need to tell you," Maria said, six days earlier. Everyone had just finished with dinner. Maria knew that it was probably a bad time to tell them now, but she couldn't think of any other time that it would be better too. Being the bearer of bad news never presented a person with a good opportunity to say what they had to.

"Yes, Fraulein?" Liesl asked.

Maria looked at the children. They were all smiling. Looking at her expectantly and patiently. She gave them a small smile before her gaze finally settled on the Captain. He gave her a knowing look and nodded his head, urging her on. He then went on to cover the Baroness's hand with his. Maria inhaled deeply and looked at her plate.

"Children, I-I'm going to be leaving," she said quietly. She looked up. Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta and Marta's faces fell.

"Leaving?" Liesl asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Maria nodded.

"When will you be back, Fraulein?" Gretl asked innocently and Maria allowed herself a small smile at the little girls misunderstanding.

"Gretl, I-I won't be coming back," she said, her face losing the small smile. Gretl's face lost its smile as well.

"You mean you won't be coming back?" her small voice asked, quivering with tears.

Maria looked at her plate and nodded again.

"Don't you like us, Fraulein Maria?" Gretl asked.

"Oh of course I do, darling! And don't you ever think differently," she said, bending towards Gretl and stroking the girls hair. "I love you all very, very much." Maria's gaze unconsciously glanced at the Captain quickly as she spoke, quickly enough for no one to notice. No one, that is except the Captain, who caught her glance.

"Then--why?" Louisa asked, her voice slightly angry.

"I- well- you see…." Maria's voice trailed off as she looked to the Captain for help.

He smiled slightly at her. "You can't all expect Fraulein Maria to live the rest of her life with us?" his voice was soft and soothing as his children looked at him. "She has to go and live her own life. We can't be selfish and keep her from the world," he said, winking quickly at Maria, making her smile.

"And besides, I'll merely get in the way of your newly filled family." Maria added, looking at the Baroness. Georg felt Elsa's hand twitch uncomfortably under his, he patted it, misinterpreting Elsa's meaning.

"But I don't want you to go," Marta said, sadly.

"None of us do," Friedrich added.

"And I don't want to leave either," Maria replied, looking at each of them in turn. "But I have to."

The children sighed simultaneously and looked down at the table. They all looked like they were going to cry. The younger ones even let a few tears escape.

"When will you leave?" Brigitta asked.

"In a week," Maria said, looking at the girl.

'That's not very long," Kurt commented.

Maria nodded. "I know, but it will give us plenty of time to spend together before I leave."

"Then let's not waste anymore of it moping around," Liesl said, "Can we go sing something?" she asked, looking at Maria first and then her father.

"That's a wonderful idea, Liesl," Georg replied to his daughter. Maria smiled thankfully at Liesl for the girl's mature behavior. She received a sad, 'you're welcome' smile in return.

And now they stood in the foyer, the girls not bothering to hold their tears back.

"It's not like we'll never see each other again," Maria said, not knowing if she was trying to convince the children or herself. "You can visit me at the abbey anytime you want."

"And you're always a welcome guest here, Fraulein," the Captain responded. Maria smiled at him gratefully. "Don't hesitate to invite yourself."

"He really has no problem with it, I do it all the time," Max said, trying to lighten the mood. A small, bitter, sad laugh was the response.

"Well, I suppose I should be going," Maria said, not moving. Everyone just nodded. Finally, with a sigh, Maria walked up to each of the children, embracing them in a hug and whispering 'I love you' in each of their ears.

Finally she reached the adults.

"Who's going to help me convince Georg to let the children sing in the Festival?" Max asked, as he took Maria's hand and kissed the top of it, making her blush.

"I'm sure you'll find someone Max," she replied, laughing lightly.

Max sighed, "The money we could have made."

Maria laughed and turned to the next person before her. The two women shook hands lightly. "It's not too late to change your mind," the Baroness said. Maria merely smiled and let her mind wander back to the night before...

Maria sat in her room, quietly gathering her things, getting them ready to pack. She would be leaving after lunch then next day and she didn't want to spend the rest of her time at the villa packing. She wanted it to be spent with the people she loved most, and that's what she was going to do. She wasn't crying like she thought she would be. She figured she was all cried out. She just packed away her things, her mind blank, not trying to think. There was a knock on her door.

"Come in," she said, not stopping in her packing.

"Could I have a word?" the visitor asked. Maria turned around, surprised to see that it was the Baroness who was standing in her doorway.

Maria looked at the older woman, perplexed. "Um, I suppose," she said, stopping in her task at hand and standing up straight.

"I-I- don't think you should leave," the Baroness said, looking at the ground.

Maria laughed lightly. "You too?" Maria joked. Throughout the entire week people had been trying to convince Maria to stay, the children more than anyone. But Maria held to her principle. She couldn't live in the same place with the man she loved and watch him love someone else. "As much as I hate to say it, Baroness, I will be leaving." Maria was surprised that she didn't sound as sad as she felt. Perhaps it was because she had built up so much emotion to this situation that if had turned into a wall.

"Maria, I was wrong about what I had said before. And I really don't think it's wise for you to leave."

"Wrong about what you said before? I'm afraid I don't understand."

"About Georg- the he would ge-"

"I'm sorry Baroness, but there's nothing you can say to change my mind," Maria said, quickly interrupting. She didn't want to hear what the Baroness had to say about the Captain. She remembered all too painfully the last time that had happened. "Sorry for sounding rude," Maria quickly added, not wanting to offend the Baroness.

"Not at all my dear. But I don't think you understand-"

"Please, Baroness," Maria said, begging.

Elsa sighed and nodded. "Alright."

Maria sighed, "Thank you."

"Well, goodnight Maria," Elsa said, after a short silence.

"Goodnight Baroness."

"I know." Maria replied. After her brief conversation with the Baroness, Maria turned towards the Captain.

They stood, staring at each other, neither knowing what to do. "You'll be missed." the Captain said, quietly.

Maria nodded. "And I'll miss all of you," she replied. "Well, good bye Captain," she finally said, with a nod.

"Yes, goodbye."

Maria walked back towards the door and opened it. She, along with everyone else, stepped into the afternoon air. Rain clouds loomed above, covering the sun. "Good bye everyone," Maria said, once again.

"Goodbye Fraulein," the children called after her as Maria began to walk towards the iron gates. As she neared them, she turned back and offered everyone a sad smile and a wave. The children waved back, and the adults nodded. With a sigh, Maria walked through the gates, holding back her tears until she was farther down the road. She would hold them off as long as possible, hopefully until she was in the safety of her room at the abbey. The Reverend Mother had been kind enough to supply Maria with a room to stay in until she could find a place of her own. She looked to the sky to help keep the tears at bay. The clouds were darker than she thought they were. Another storm would be covering the land soon.

The Captain sat awake that same night. He didn't know what time it was, all he knew was that it was well past midnight. He wasn't in his room. He was standing on the balcony, soaking in the night air. The clouds that had been there earlier were still there, patiently waiting to open the world to the heavens. Georg sighed. He felt miserable and he couldn't understand why. Ever since he learned that She would be leaving he had felt this dullness in his body. Regret for this day to come, hope that She would change her mind. But She didn't. She was gone, and it tore him apart. He had experienced the same feeling when She left for the first time. But why?

He had felt so full when She had been around. Even if She wasn't in his presence, knowing that She was in the same house was enough. He wanted to be near Her. Hear Her laugh, see Her smile, let Her wonderful voice fill his ears, watch Her play with the children; seeing how happy they were together. She had had some sort of affect on the house. A spell. She filled the gap that was missing. In the children, in the family, in (was it proper to say?) himself. How could he have been so blind to it before? How could he had not seen what was planted plainly before him? There was no denying it. She completed him. He felt alive when She was near. Nothing was wrong when she was around. She made him feel young, free, and carefree. Something he hadn't felt since Agathe. He loved it when She was around. No, he loved Her-

The thought hit Georg like a bolt of lightening. Yet, he wasn't at all surprised. On the contrary, he smiled warmly, easily agreeing to the thought. There was no denying it, because he knew he couldn't. He knew it was true. He loved Her. Maria.

But then, she was gone. Gone from his life. Sure, he had said that he and the children would see her again. But that was besides the point. She wasn't around for him to tell her so. To tell her that he loved her. He loved her. Her. Maria.

The rain began to fall.

Georg sat in his study, two days later. It was just after dinner. He had gone to get a book to read while he and the children spent the time before they went to bed in the salon. But when he got to his study he sat down in his chair, rubbing his eyes with his hands.

He felt horrible. For two days he had tried to talk to Elsa, tell her that they needed to call the wedding off. But he never got a chance. All day yesterday he had spent time with the children, trying to cheer them up after Maria's departure. He had planned on talking to Elsa that night, but she retired to bed early, earlier than the children. Then all today, he had once again tried to cheer the children up. He was prolonging something that shouldn't be prolonged and for that he felt awful.

Besides that, events in the country had depressed him beyond belief. The Anchluss had finally happened. Austria was under German control. Georg hadn't known what to think and when he wasn't trying to cheer the children up he was trying to cheer himself up, to no avail.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," He called, sitting up straight. Elsa came into view. She was wearing her traveling coat and hat.

"I just came to say good bye," she said, opening the door to its full capacity and standing in the door way.

"Good bye?" Georg asked, completely perplexed and caught off guard.

Elsa nodded. "I'm going to go back to Vienna, permanently."

"But, what? Elsa, I don't understand?"

"Oh please, Georg. Don't play the fool. You know just as I do that we aren't meant to get married," she said. She didn't sound angry, sad, or displeased. She was just…blunt with the truth.

Though Georg agreed with her, he was still confused. "I- well. Yes, but I must say this isn't how I planned on this going," he said, joking in the slightest manner.

Elsa laughed slightly. "Yes, well…it's not that I didn't enjoy my time with you Georg. But I believe your far to independent for me. I need someone who needs me desperately. Or at least my money desperately." They both gave a small laugh. "While you-" her voice trailed off.

"While I?"

"I think you know. And if you don't, well, there's no hope left in the world."

Georg laughed quietly, knowing exactly what she had been talking about. Had it been so obvious that he hadn't seen it? "You have got to be the classiest woman I have ever met Elsa," he said, standing and walking over to her.

"Thank you. Now, I think it's time I leave," She said, reaching up and kissing Georg on the cheek. "Auf wiedersehen, darling." She turned to leave. "Oh, I almost forgot." she turned around and walked back towards him, handing him a piece of paper that was in her hand. "A telegram came for you, Franz asked me to give it to you when he saw me walking towards your study."

"Thank you," Georg replied, taking the telegram. "Goodbye, Elsa."

"Goodbye, Georg." With that being said Elsa turned and walked through the doors of the house, disappearing from sight.

Georg looked down at the telegram before walking into the salon where his children were waiting. His mind was in a whirl. He was free to love Maria, free to express it. But what did he do now? Did he go to the abbey at this moment, or wait until the morning? Could he wait till morning? What did he tell the children?

He sat down in a chair and opened the telegram. As he read its contents the smile that had been on his face turned into a scowl. His body tightened, his blood boiled. He had a feeling something like this would happen, but so soon? The Third Reich wanted him to join their naval forces and report to the base in Bremerhavan tomorrow.

What did he do now? To accept them would be unthinkable, but to deny them would be fatal for him and the entire family. If he wanted to get out of it he would have to move the family, tonight and no later than nightfall, which was approaching quickly. But then there was Maria. He couldn't leave without her. But to go, find her, then find out if she loved him in return would take time. Maybe too much time. And time was something he didn't have. What would She have done? What would She have wanted him to do? The answer was easy, albeit a painful one. But what to tell the children?

"Children, I want you to listen very carefully to me," he said, standing up. The children all looked up from the large game of cards they were playing. "I need you all to go to your rooms and pack one travel case full of clothes."

"Why Father?" Gretl asked, not liking the tone of her Father's voice.

"Let's just say we're going to go on a big adventure, darling. Now, off you go," he said, moving his hands towards the door. "Liesl, will you help Maria and Gretl?"

"Of course, Father. But--why are we--?"

"I'll explain everything in a little bit. I just need you to go pack, while I find Uncle Max, he said.

"Father-"

"It will be alright, darling. I promise." Liesl sighed, but left the room after her siblings. Once the children were gone Georg stood, "MAX!" he yelled. He and the children would leave. Max could come along if he wanted. They would drive quickly to the train station and purchase tickets for the next train leaving the station. It didn't matter where it was going, as long as it wasn't Germany. Then there, Georg would call for or send a telegram to Maria. Hopefully she would still be at the abbey. Hopefully he would see her again.

Hopefully.

Author's Note: Don't kill me! I have a perfectly good reason for doing this! It's the whole point of the story. I promise.

Thanks to my beta, TheMarauders3!

Thanks to anyone who reviewed the last chapter! It's muchly, muchly appreciated! Well, I'm off to work!

Until next time
Your humble author,
The Lonely Goatherd