Everything Changes

Disclaimer: I don't own The Sound of Music.

"How did you convince Father to allow dinner in Montpellier?" Liesl asked as they drove out of the small town of Stowe. Father had accepted Patrick… but escorting her to dinner that was several miles away was another think all together. Especially without a chaperone.

Patrick chuckled, which Liesl took time to enjoy. He was a serious man, and she was learning he didn't laugh very much. So, she particularly enjoyed the special sound now. "When I first met your father, I thought he was another General Patton.* But now he and I have learned to appreciate each other." He chuckled again.

Patrick's laughter was even more wonderful this time, as his green eyes danced while he drove onward. Liesl felt compelled to join him.

But as her giggles subsided, she couldn't help but ask, "Yes, but are you certain he approves of tonight?" Sometimes, Father was easy to read. Like the first time he'd met Patrick. Other times, he wore the aristocratic mask well. "Perhaps he's just hiding his... unease. He does that a lot."

Concentrating on the road, Patrick said firmly "I am absolutely certain, Liesl."

Then she caught a hint of a smile, and she relaxed. He obviously knew something she did not. She had no idea what it might be or how it related to her father accepting him, but she trusted Patrick.

There was a time where Liesl thought she could trust Rolfe, and she was quickly proven how wrong she was. But Patrick wasn't a naïve boy. He was a man who believed in doing what was necessary for his country and his family. A proper young man who understood the necessity of rules, and at the same time, the burden of trying to always do the right thing. A man who had trusted her with all his secrets during the war, just as she had him.

And now, Liesl knew she could trust him with her heart as well.

She smiled, enjoying the quiet moment between them. She loved her large, noisy family, but it was nice to be alone in a car with Patrick, simply listening to the motor as they moved. Especially considering how handsome he looked in his navy - blue suit and how interesting his bright red hair made him appear.

Finally, his Ford pulled into the driveway of one of Montpellier's fancier restaurants. Liesl's eyes widened in excitement and awe. He was making her feel so special. Dare she hope he loved her as well?

Patrick scanned the parking lot for several minutes as other guests entered the restaurant. Then he leaned over to Liesl, letting her inhale the musky smell of his after – shave, and whispered. "Do you think I could kiss you? Right here?"

Liesl smiled. She thought it was sweet the way he always asked before he kissed her. "Of course." Her heart fluttered as his warm lips landed on her cheek.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"This is so wonderful, Patrick," Liesl said as they waited for their meals. "I cannot remember the last time I ate at a nice restaurant. Was when we were living with my grandparents in England? No, they meant to take me, but they were unable to in the end. I think the last time I went was when we still lived in Austria, and my first Mother was still alive. I was twelve years old, and my parents took me out for my birthday."

Patrick nodded. "It's been a long time for me, too. I occasionally went to a bar, a dance hall or a party with the men in my unit. I had to keep those guys from getting into too much trouble, you know." His green eyes flashed with amusement, and Liesl's smile widened. She knew they were both thinking of one particular time Patrick had tried to keep a couple of his men from getting into trouble at a party. It was, after all the night they'd met. "But certainly not a real restaurant."

Smiling, Liesl looked deep into his green eyes as she did so. "I'm glad this is special for both of us, then."

Patrick nodded. "Definitely." He paused for several minutes before he finally said, "Speaking of your first Mother, I don't remember you saying much about her in the past. What was she like?"

Liesl thought for a moment as she tried to recall everything she could about her first Mother. "It's funny, out of all my siblings, I'm the one who remembers her the most. But she's been gone for so long…" she sighed. "Twelve years now."

Patrick nodded sympathetically. "Of course. Just anything you can think of."

Liesl searched her brain for memories she hadn't thought of in years. "She was quieter than the mother I have now," she said. "She was always instructing me how to behave properly. And she like to call me her 'young lady.' When my parents took me to dinner that night in Austria, that's when I felt like a real young lady."

Patrick nodded. "You are a young lady, Liesl. My young lady, if you don't mind saying so."

Liesl's heart fluttered again. "Of course. She spent a lot of time with us," Liesl continued, returning back to the subject of her first mother. "Even though she was almost always pregnant or caring for a baby, sometimes both, she always gave the rest of us children time. I didn't realize how unusual that was for a woman like her back then. But I do now, and I'm grateful for it." She paused for a moment and thought of how similar her mothers were when it came to loving their children. "It's a gift that I've received from both of my mothers, actually. They show their love for us very clearly."

Patrick nodded. "That's wonderful, and I think you've grown into the 'young lady' your first mother wanted you to be, Liesl," he said, reaching across the table to take her hand in his. "You know how to act appropriately, and you care for your siblings just as she did."

Liesl's heart swelled at that comment. She liked to think her first Mother would be proud of her today, but she loved that Patrick thought so as well.

Taking a deep breath, he looked deeper into her eyes than he already was. It was as if he could see all the way into her soul and beyond.

And then the waiter arrived with their creamy mushroom chicken and rice.

Patrick's eyes shot daggers at the waiter. They were rather similar to the ones Father often gave when he was angry. Liesl had never understood how her father could scare almost anyone with just his eyes, but somehow Patrick was doing the same thing.

It was unsettling.

"Thank you," she said to the waiter as he put her plate in front of her and poured her wine.

Patrick shook his head as the waiter disappeared, and the daggers vanished. "Before we eat, I have something I need to say," he said firmly.

Liesl put her fork down and nodded.

He took her hand in his again. "I'm really glad we decided to write to each other during the war, Liesl. I can't thank you enough for giving me someone to discuss things I couldn't with my men or my parents. Thanks to all those letters, I feel like I know you very well, and I'd like to think you know me, too."

Liesl nodded. "Definitely," she said, wondering where he was going with this.

"But since I've returned home, things have changed. We're becoming even closer," he smirked a little, and Liesl flashed to the several kisses they've shared.

Then Patrick's face turned serious again. "And becoming closer to you is important to me, Liesl. Because I love you."

Liesl felt her heart swell so much it might burst out of her chest. And it beat so loudly Patrick must hear a drum from across the table. "I love you, too," she told him, staring into his green eyes.

"I love that I can trust you with anything," Patrick continued, squeezing her hand a little. He sounded as if he were reciting something. "I love the way you listen to me. I love how devoted you are to your family. I know it means you'll be devoted to our family. And… I thought you might be interested in starting one with me. Personally, I am eager to put the war behind me, and I think starting a new family would be a great way to do that."

Liesl eye's widened in shock as he knelt down in front of her and pulled out a ring box. A stunning topaz ring gleamed. "Will you marry me?

"Oh, Patrick," she replied in awe, staring right into his green eyes.

"I spoke to your father about this before we left tonight. That is why I was so certain he was fine with the dinner plans," he said, flashing the same smile he'd given her earlier in the car.

"Of course, you did," said Liesl, although a weight she didn't even know existed left her body now that she knew Father approved of this proposal. Her smile widened as she looked from Patrick to the wonderful ring he'd chosen.

"I know leaving your family will be difficult in some ways, but I hope you will consider it worth it make a home with me," he continued.

Liesl sighed. Patrick really did know her well. She hadn't even been aware she was worried about leaving her family until he said that. But of course, she was. Her parents depended on her to help take care of the little ones, and Liesl loved doing it. She loved them. What would happen to her family if she left home?

Home. Her brother, Friedrich appeared in her mind, saluting the American flag. He considered America home now, but he was still a part of their kin. Didn't Liesl recently decide that they could have different "homes" and still be one family? "Yes, Patrick," Liesl finally said, knowing exactly what she was saying. "I think it would be worth it to make a home with you."

Patrick's whole face lit up and tenderly sled the ring onto her finger. "I hope you like the ring. It's not a terribly expensive stone but I thought since it was your birth stone, it was fitting."

"It's wonderful, Patrick. You know, lots of women don't even get stones on their engagement rings these days. Mandy didn't. And I think it's sweet that you thought to buy me a ring that represents my birthstone." Looking down at the lovely earth - gold ring on her finger, Liesl's heart swelled even more.

"As you know, things are working all right at the auto shop, and with the G. I. Bill,** I should even be able to buy us a house soon," he continued as he returned to his seat. "Perhaps by November?"

Liesl smiled at him, loving the way he was looking at her. They were engaged. "Marrying you and moving into a house would be a great birthday present." Everything in her life was going to change.

Glancing at her still untouched dinner, she suddenly giggled. "Can we eat now?"

"I suppose so. Now that I have said everything I planned," said Patrick, cutting a piece of mushroom chicken.

Liesl giggled again as she cut her own chicken. "I thought you may have memorized that speech."

Patrick placed a bite of chicken carefully in his mouth and wiped it with a napkin. Chewing for a few minutes, he swallowed and said, "Naturally. I had to make certain it was perfect. I've been practicing it for days now. As well as the one to your father."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX
OOOOOOO

Maria watched Liesl and Patrick happily drive away for their dinner. The other children pleaded for their older sister to tell them what dinner at a "real restaurant," was like when she returned. Marta helped Johannes wave goodbye. Georg stared at the empty road with for many minutes after they disappeared with a blank expression on his face. It was the expression he wore when he wished to hide his feelings. She knew even though he had accepted Patrick, he wasn't very happy with their dinner plans.

Touching his arm gently, Maria whispered, "I'm proud of you. It's wonderful that you are allowing Liesl to go to dinner with her young man tonight, even though it makes you uncomfortable."

Georg nodded silently and took her hand as they went back into the house. He sighed. "Actually, he's planning on more than just dinner tonight. Patrick asked me if could propose to Liesl."

Horror filled Maria as soon as she heard that. "Did you say he could?" she asked, her heart beating a mile a minute as they entered the sitting room. Without thinking, she dropped her husband's hand.

Georg shrugged. "What else could I say? Patrick explained that he knew he could provide for a wife with his job at the auto shop. He said he was certain he could get them a house with the G. I. Bill. He even bought her a topaz ring. He hopes to have everything set by sometime in November. There was nothing with which I could argue."

Maria turned on him, feeling her blood boil. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard you say. You can always find something to argue with if you want to. Especially if it's something like this."

Georg's face switched from confusion to anger and back to confusion again. "What is wrong with you, Maria? I thought you just said you were proud of me for letting Liesl go to dinner with Patrick!"

"That was when I thought it was just dinner!" She put her hands on her hips. "Now you tell me she's going to leave us and you're fine with it!"

Georg's eyes flashed dangerously, and he balled his fists. "I didn't say I was fine with it. I said I couldn't argue against it. Patrick is a good man who is responsible, and he makes Liesl happy. Didn't we have this conversation before when they first started courting? I suppose I should have told her to find a man who makes her unhappy."

Maria felt as if he slapped her across the face with that statement and she took a step away from him to lessen the sting. "I don't want to listen to your sarcasm right now, Georg. And I assume you know there is a big difference between courting and being engaged. The answer should be no. I can't believe you're allowing another one of our children to leave home. Don't you see how this changes everything?" Her blood boiled more and more as she spoke, and worse, she felt a rift was developing between her and Georg.

"I'm not going to take back my acceptance of Patrick's proposal, Maria." He punched his leg with one of his fists. "Our children are growing up. We've talked about this already. In fact, you are usually the one who must force me to see that. What happened to 'we can't stop them from becoming who they want to be?'"

"How dare you use my own words against me!" Maria screamed. The rift widened. "This situation is different than Friedrich and Kurt, and you know it. Marriage is different."

"Maria, I refuse to discuss with you anymore," Georg thundered, disappearing up the stairs and slamming their bedroom door behind him. The rift felt like it had become a gulf.

Staring at the stairs for several moments, Maria still burned with anger at her husband. How could he do this to her? To willfully break apart their family like this?

Throughout their relationship, she and her husband had more arguments than she could count. With their tempers and stubborn personalities, they'd learned early that such frequent arguments were inevitable. But with the underlying respect they'd always had for each other, they never lasted long, and Maria and Georg had certainly enjoyed making up.

But none of their arguments had ever felt like this. Like Georg had betrayed her with this decision. It changed everything.

*General for US Army during WWII. Known for trying to scare the soldiers on purpose, so they would be more afraid of him than of the battles they had to face.

**Law that allowed all soldiers who could prove they had served in WWII to easily buy a house.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the angst.

As I had said in the beginning, this story is based partly on RL Maria, who had a lot of trouble accepting her children's decision to marry at first. Part of that is because she was afraid what would happen to their singing group (because, of course the children's priorities would change if they married). But I think there were other reasons, too, which I hope to address indirectly in this story.