AUTHOR'S NOTES: In terms of size, this chapter is an absolute monster! Honestly, I really didn't think it would be this long, but there was so much that I wanted to happen in this chapter (and I hate splitting chapters midway through important plot points because I think it's a tad awkward), so before I knew it, I had pages and pages of writing! But, if it's any consolation, it doesn't feel heavy when you read it.
I took to Instagram to ask some of you guys if you'd prefer to have this as one long chapter or two short ones - with a week long gap between publishing dates, you guys decided that you just wanted one chapter (although, it was a close 60%/40% split)
Anyway, like I said, a lot happens in this chapter, but I really think you're going to enjoy it! :)
Better Than A Dream
Chapter Nine
Georg sighed deeply as he stood out on the balcony later that evening, his emotions lying like a weight in his stomach. He had never before experienced such a cruel mixture, he was overjoyed by the fact that Maria had returned to the villa, and that there was a chance that he hadn't lost his love forever…but at the same time, he utterly despised himself; how could he have been foolish enough to propose to Elsa? Especially after all that had happened. Sure, he'd had his reasons for it, but he was beginning to doubt himself. Still, he'd been in such a dark place after Maria had left, he'd been stripped of all his hope and Elsa had been his last chance for companionship, and in his desperation, he'd taken a hold of that chance and had hoped that he'd learn to be happy. For a while, he'd believed that it was possible. Then his mountain girl had returned.
He knew he had to make things right with Maria, if not for the sake of their love, then for her wellbeing at the very least, he knew he'd regret it if he ran away from this…but he'd never do that to her. However, he just didn't know where to begin! There was so much he wanted to say – so much that needed to be explained – but he had so many questions for her as well. He hoped that she would listen to him and that they could repair whatever damage had been done. After the weeks of separation that they'd endured, he knew that he could never be apart from her again. His brooding was interrupted by the soft clicking of heels and when he turned his head, he saw Elsa walking toward him calmly. He gave her a tight smile before turning away and letting his gaze fall back onto the lake – the moonlight of the summer evening whispering over its surface like a gentle hand. She stood behind him on the balcony, although she was far less interested in the nature around them, rather, her attention was more focus on the man to whom she was now betrothed.
"Lovely evening, don't you think?" she chirped.
"Quite"
"Are you okay, Georg? You seem a bit distant"
"Hmm? I suppose I'm just a little more worn out than usual, the children where quite excitable this evening"
"Yes, they were," she replied quietly, "I must say, I think I underestimated just how found your children are of Frauline Maria"
"They adore her…" he said truthfully, "…and she's wonderful with them"
"It could make one feel quite intimidated"
"Naturally"
She did notice that he Georg made no effort to try and comfort her. Perhaps he thought she wouldn't need it, or perhaps he thought she didn't really care?
"Will you start looking for a new governess soon?" she asked delicately.
"Huh?" was Georg's quick response – rather taken aback by her question.
Elsa could see the glimmer of offence in his eyes.
"Maria said she'd only stay until you found a new governess"
"Oh…well, I suppose I'll start looking soon…" he lied – his voice low with wavering defeat.
"Still, I suppose you won't need one for long, considering they'll be calling me mother in a month or so"
That just didn't sit well with Georg, and he had to fight to stop himself from visibly wincing at her words. He said nothing in response and the silence hung heavily between them, like thick, unbearable humidity.
"I think I'll go and find Max and see if he wants to have a drink – it'd be a shame to waste such a fine evening – you will join us, won't you?"
Oh, yes, I'll come down soon"
"Okay, Georg" she smiled.
She took another step towards him and titled her face up to meet his – hoping to initiate a kiss – Georg looked down at her for just a second before performing his duties; and as he did so, that exact word began to ring painfully in Elsa's mind. Duty. As he kissed her, she noticed that it was quick, stoic perhaps even regretful, she could tell that he was only doing it because he had to, not because he wanted to. And as she walked away, the entire course of their relationship began to flash through her mind, and she stumbled upon the painful truth that as gentlemanly as Georg had always been around her, he had always endured rather than enjoyed any physical expressions of their relationship. Had she been blind this whole time? He held her hand out of manners, never embraced her for longer than mere seconds and whenever they kissed, it had never been more than a chaste peck that was over as soon as it had started. There had never been anything more.
She furrowed her brow as she continued to make her way through the villa. For a moment she considered – spitefully – blaming it on Maria, but deep down, she knew she couldn't do that, Georg's reluctance to be with her fully had been there from the very start; such attitudes were far older than his knowing of the young Frauline. Maybe she had been the fool this entire time?
Georg couldn't help but feel relieved as Elsa left, the last thing he needed was her reminding him of the mistakes he'd made and the mountain he had yet to overcome. God, what was he going to do? He truly feared that he had caused irreparable damage…the only things he feared more were the repercussions of his actions, and how they would affect both him and Maria…as if on cue, Georg saw a dainty figure head out towards the lake and his heart stopped at the very sight.
'Maria'
She was wearing that blue dress again and he had to remind himself to breathe as he watched her slow, measured steps guide her across the grounds; even from so far away, she was still so breathtakingly beautiful – to the point where he could barely think straight – but he could also tell that she was deep in thought, no doubt fighting with her own turmoil. He felt so awful for sending such hurt towards her, she must have felt so betrayed. But Georg was determined to make things right. So, as he saw her turn and move towards the gazebo, Georg made his choice, the time was now. He moved away from the balcony and went to find her.
Maria had never known her heart to be so heavy, nor had she ever known such internal torture…had she really ruined everything? She loved Georg with everything she had, and yet he'd left her, just as she had left him. Really, that was the root of her despair. Yes, he had proposed to the baroness, and she'd never be able to eloquently explain how heart-broken it made her feel; but then again, she had run away from him, left without so much as a word to him or his children and had made it all too clear that they should never see each other again. If she had lost him, could she really be surprised? After all, her own stupid choices had lead her here. But she prayed that she would get a second chance, she wasn't sure if she deserved it, but she wanted it more than anything else in the world.
But she knew that she had to tell him the truth – it was what she'd come back for – and after knowing how painful it was to hide away from him, she vowed never to do it again. She knew that it would come as a shock to him, but she had decided to ask for nothing, no money, no support and nothing that he didn't want to give…and she wouldn't seek publicity either. Aside from repairing their relationship, her upmost concern was keeping Georg and the children out of harms way and ensuring that their reputations remained very much intact. Maria eventually came to the gazebo, and as she walked inside and sat down on one of the benches, she couldn't help but smile to herself; Liesl had revealed a few secrets about this place – usually concerning what had happened between her and the telegram boy – Maria let out a bittersweet sigh.
'At least some romance has happened here…' she thought, '…let's hope it stays alive'
As she had gotten into the habit of doing lately, she brought a hand to rest lovingly upon her stomach, she'd known about her child for weeks, and yet she still couldn't believe that there was actually a life forming beneath her palm. She let out a shuddered breath and allowed a single tear to scroll down her cheek, at least she would always have their baby…even now – after only a couple of weeks – she already loved it so much. If she and Georg were never to be, she knew that her love for their child would keep her going.
It was hard to believe that things had played out in such a way, and she spared a thought for other couples who were expecting babies, she assumed that most of them were overjoyed that something so precious had come from there love, yet here she was, alone on a bench wondering if the man she loved would ever be able to look her in the eye again after everything that happened. Whilst she would never regret their love, their relationship and all that they had shared, there was a part of her that wished it could've all been simpler, that they could have done things properly…but why wish for what you can never have?
"Maria" she heard from across the gazebo and her head instantly whipped around with slight panic. Of course, it was Georg.
She stood up instantly and simply stared at him – wanting to say so much but couldn't bring herself to utter a single word. Georg found himself in a similar state of silence. He just wanted to run to her and beg her for forgiveness, to apologise and assure her of his love. He hoped that he hadn't lost her trust. He felt his mouth open – as if some words may actually come out – but instead, there was just more silence, and he began internally scolding himself for his stupidity. He needed to sort this out, if he didn't say something soon, he knew that she would run back to the villa and he couldn't bear the thought of losing his only chance to put right his wrongs. He looked at her with a wild sort of intensity – a real longing – and he felt his heart beating furiously against his ribs, his head felt light and his hands even shook a little…
'Oh god…'
"Maria, I…" he croaked, but his voice failed him yet again, and he looked as if he might cry from the torment.
But then, Maria spoke suddenly – her stoic tone cutting through the silence like a ruthless blade…
"Did it mean anything to you?"
"What?" he choked.
"Us – what we had – did it mean anything to you, Georg?"
His breath caught in his throat and Georg was sure that he felt his heart completely shatter in that moment. He loved her more than anything in the world, and yet, here she was, looking at him – tears in her eyes – and asking if it even meant anything to him. Now, he truly hated himself, how could he have driven her to such torturous doubts?
"Oh, Maria, it meant everything to me" he practically whimpered.
A few more tears stained her cheeks as she processed his words – they had been exactly what she'd prayed she'd hear – but she was still so confused!
"Maria, I need to talk to you, will you please let me explain myself?" he asked with gentle desperation.
She nodded slowly. They remained standing at opposite ends of the gazebo – the few metres between them feeling like miles – but neither of them were brave enough to move; instead, Georg took a steadying breath and strengthened his stance – hoping to somehow gain some confidence.
"Oh, god…I don't even know where to begin…I suppose I should start with Elsa?"
"Please" she said weakly.
"Maria, you must know this: I don't love Elsa, and I know that it might not seem that way since we're engaged, but I don't…as you know, I've never loved her. Granted, she has been my friend…but there's only one woman I love, Maria…" she could hear his voice breaking more and more with each word, "…when you left it…it broke me, I haven't felt that devastated since Agathe passed away and when I lost you too…well, it was like torture. And then, when I went to the abbey, and was told that you didn't wish to see me, I was convinced that I'd never see you again – and I just couldn't bear that! I deteriorated more and more until I realised that I was on the verge of something horrendous – I was truly afraid of what I might do to myself – so I knew that I had to do whatever it took to pull myself back. I was so convinced that I'd never see you again, and so, at the time it seemed as though Elsa was my last hope for giving my children a mother…perhaps not the mother they wanted…but a mother all the same…"
She noticed that his eyes glistened with threatening tears…and one lone warrior slipped down and moistened his cheek.
"…I thought that I could learn to be content with my choice, but as time went on, I began to realise what a huge mistake I'd made and that there was only one person I wanted to be with…but she'd ran away to the abbey. I kept quiet about my turmoil because I wanted to support my children, and I wanted to give them a proper family – or at least try to – and that's why I didn't call it off."
He looked down for just a moment, and when their gazes locked again, she could see hope breaking through the tears and shining in his eyes.
"And then you came back. That's when I realised just how much of a fool I'd been and I cannot imagine how betrayed you must have felt when you heard that I proposed to Elsa, but I hope you can believe me when I say that I was only doing it to try and save my children…I knew that I'd soon turn into the monster I was before you arrived and I just couldn't bear to put them through that again. But your return has made me realise just how much I love you, how much I want to be with you and how I simply cannot bear to be without you. It destroyed me when you left, Maria…but I hope that you can also forgive me for the pain I've caused you too?"
Tears spilled from Maria's eyes and for a while, her sobs were the only things that filled the silence. They still stood so far apart, but their gazes never broke, and she could feel the intensity of Georg's look as he waited patiently – yet desperately – for her answer.
"I forgive you…" she sobbed, "…and I love you too"
In that moment, he had had the great urge to take her in his arms, hold her and never let her go, but there were still so many things he needed to ask and so many things he needed to know so that his heart could start to heal.
"Maria, why do you leave us? And why wouldn't you see me when I came looking for you?"
For a few moments, Maria simply continued to cry as she searched frantically for the courage she required to tell him the truth. She had never been so terrified. But no matter what, she was going to see this through to the end.
"I…I was scared" she whimpered.
"Scared?" he felt his stomach tighten and his throat close completely with dreadful apprehension.
"Scared that – that you would hate me" she wept.
"Why would I…? Oh, Maria, I could never hate you" he assured.
"Of course you could, and you will soon"
He took a few cautious steps towards her, but the large gap between them remained.
"Maria, please tell me what's going on"
Maria let a few more tears fall – her body jolting from the force of her whimpers – before finally taking a breath and whispering…
"Georg, I'm pregnant"
Within an instant, everything came crashing down upon him and everything suddenly made sense. His poor Frauline – pregnant with his child – had been utterly terrified. He understood fully now, she believed that it was all her fault and that he would despise her for the scandal she would cause. He had to let her know that he felt quite the opposite.
"Oh, Maria…" he breathed before striding towards her and taking her fully into his arms.
She melted into his embrace and continued to weep as he buried his face into her neck – soaking her soft skin with fresh, forceful tears of his own.
"Do you honestly think that I could ever hate you for such a thing?" he whimpered as he pulled away slightly so that he could look deep into her eyes.
"But I've messed everything up, Georg"
"Why would you say that?"
"Because it's true! Imagine what people would say about you when they found out that you'd had an affair with the governess and gotten her pregnant! I couldn't bare to leave your family with such a scandal"
"You were trying to protect us?"
"Yes"
"Oh, you amazing woman…" he breathed, "…but you must know that I don't care what people think, this whole thing has gone on long enough and I never should have made you wait…And, for the record, I don't hate you for this, in fact, I'm overjoyed" he whimpered with a tender smile.
"You are?"
"I am. Because the woman I love is carrying my child and, to me, that is just…incredible"
He rested his forehead against hers – drinking in their closeness. It was like a drug.
"I'm so sorry, Georg…" sobbed Maria, "…for running away, for nearly ruining everything and for causing you so much pain"
"I'm sorry for all that I've done too" he replied – still crying somewhat.
But, through their tears, they found strength in each other, and when they could stand it no longer, they leant into each other and let their lips meet. The kiss was instantly passionate – like a wildfire that burnt without mercy – their lips moved hungrily together, perfectly synced and their tongues fought in a battle that neither of them wanted to end. Georg pulled her closer – feeling every inch of her body – and held onto her with desperation, as if he might lose her again. She moaned into his mouth as he ran his hands up and down her curves, clearly reacquainting himself with the woman than held the key to his heart; Maria did the same, and as they continued to kiss feverishly, let allowed one of her hands to rake through his soft hair – leaving it handsomely dishevelled.
They parted only when heir need for air became too overwhelming, but they stayed close and let their rapid breaths mingle; after such pain and such a reconciliation, they were not prepared to leave each other's personal space. Maria was about to say something when she felt Georg suddenly sink down onto his knees so that his head was now level with her abdomen, and although he could see no visible proof of their child, the whole thing was just indescribable, and it filled his entire body with such a powerful sense of elation. He began to gently cry again.
He kept one hand on her hip whilst the other smoothed over her stomach in a feather-light caress that made his lover go weak at the knees. He spent a few moments simply grazing over where their child was growing as he tried to let the amazement sink in. He finally moved his hand away, but it was replaced with his lips and he placed a tender kiss on her abdomen. Maria began to cry too. When he heard her sobs, he looked up at her, and Maria responded by looking back with such adoration and brushed away his fallen tears with her thumbs; he nuzzled into one of her palms as she did so. The moment was truly beautiful.
"Marry me, Maria" he whispered.
All he heard was her sudden gasp.
"What?"
"I want you to marry me. I love you so much and I can't bear the thought of being without you. I've loved you for so long and I want a life with you"
"But Georg…the baroness…" she stuttered.
"No, that has gone on long enough. Through friendship and arguments, I've realised that I don't love her, and I'm certainly not going to marry her when I've been given a second chance with the woman I love"
"Are you sure this is what you want?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life"
"But –"
"—No, no buts. And I don't want you to think about Elsa, or the scandal or any of that nonsense, I want you to think about us, our love…and our child" he pleaded – still on his knees.
She pondered for a few moments longer, but in the end, she couldn't fight it. She loved him, and she wanted this too. He watched as she smiled.
"Yes, I'll marry you" she giggled.
She had never seen a smile brighter than the one Georg wore in response. Soon, he had hopped back up onto his feet, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her languidly – the perfect kiss to go along with the perfect promise of his love.
"I love you so much" he breathed when they parted.
"I love you too"
"And please let me remind you one more time that and so thrilled by the fact that you're carrying our child…I cannot wait to expand our family with a child that has come from our love"
"You have no idea how glad I am to hear that" she admitted.
"I'm so sorry that you got so scared, my love, and I wish there was something I could've done"
"I just couldn't help it…" but she was holding something back.
"Maria?" he encouraged.
"There's something I've never told you about my past…"
"You don't have to if you don't want to"
Still, he was curious. During the nights they had spent together – whether they had made love or not – they would always end up talking to each other, they would engage in deep, meaningful conversations that did nothing but strengthen their connection and heighten their love. They had talked about their pasts in great detail, so Georg was nervously curious about what she'd withheld from him. How bad had her childhood really been? Part of him dreaded to think…
"No, I think I should. I told you that my parents died when I was young and was sent to live with my uncle…"
Georg nodded in affirmation.
"…well, he was a cruel man and…very abusive towards me…"
"Did he…?"
"No, he never hit me. But he abused me in every other way, he forbade me from following my faith, would neglect me and starve me of attention and above all, he never held back in telling me what he really thought of me. Even now, I can still hear his words so clearly…he told me that I was a nuisance, an evil little wretch that only ever caused trouble. He made me believe that I was worthless. He used to say that nobody would ever love me, and even if I managed to trick them into doing so, they would soon despise me as he did because all I ever did was cause problems…"
She paused for a moment, giving her sobs a chance to calm,
"…so, when I realised that I was pregnant, my uncle's words were all I could hear. I really believed them because, once again, I had just caused problems and ruined everything…"
Between fresh tears of his own, Georg remembered something from the day he'd first told her he loved her…
"Why are you so cruel to yourself, Maria? Who has ever given you a reason to believe that you're unworthy of a person's affections?"
Something in his stomach dropped into an abyss when he saw her tense at his words – a strange sort of fear beginning to crease her usually soft features. His jaw dropped ever so slightly as he became terrified that he'd unearthed something grim, something she'd never told anyone…something that she wanted to keep buried. But she said nothing.
"Maria?" he probed.
"Nobody" she said with a shake of her head.
All Georg could do was tighten his hold of her.
"Oh, my love, I'm so sorry that all of that happened to you…but do I really need to tell you that it's not true? You are an amazing and beautiful woman, and I love you with you everything I have"
"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you before, but it was just too painful to recall and…and I wanted to believe that someone actually loved me…"
He kissed her forehead.
"I do. I love you so much. But you have nothing to apologise for"
"No, I do, I should've trusted you and should have known better than to assume that you'd hate me for it"
"Well, even if I had, it would have been wholly unjustified, after all, you couldn't have made this baby on your own, could you?"
"I suppose not" she responded with a delicate chuckle.
"I promise that I'm never going to let any harm come to you ever again" he told her – his tone now more serious.
"I believe you"
"Good," he smiled before once again letting his hand rest on her stomach, "because you have no idea how much I love the both of you"
"Oh, I think I've got a pretty good idea" she teased before placing her hand atop his own.
He pecked her lips before they simply stood together in their embrace, revelling in the sheer bliss of it all. Things had been fixed and they were stronger than ever.
"So, what happens now?" she asked tenderly.
"Now, you are going to go back to your room and get some rest. I need to talk to Max and then finally get things straightened out with Elsa" he sighed.
Maria looked worried.
"Are you going to be okay? I can come with you, if you'd like?"
"No, I don't want any more stress put on you. I want you to rest, okay?"
"Okay" she obliged – almost reluctantly.
"I'm just hoping she won't take it too badly…it'll be hard on her"
"In spite of some of the things she's said to us, I wouldn't wish this kind of pain on anyone" Maria said lightly.
"Me neither…come on, let's go" he said as he wrapped an arm around her and they began to walk back towards the villa – beautifully framed by the moonlight as they did so.
They walked in silence, but in their defence, nothing else needed to be said.
"Will you come and see me once it's all over?" Maria asked.
"I will"
He gave her one more kiss before entering the villa. They parted silently – Maria heading up towards her own room and Georg beginning the hunt for the charming sponge that was no doubt trying to sniff out his best alcohol. As if on cue, he came waltzing proudly through the villa – like a feathered peacock – with a grin on his face the Georg didn't like.
"I hope you're not in search of my whiskey, Max" Georg warned.
The impresario jumped slightly.
"Oh, Georg, I didn't see you there. But, as a matter of fact, I was in search of something to drink; you don't happen to have anything, do you?" he teased, "I left Elsa alone and I'd hate to abandon her because I'm spending the rest of the evening hunting down a beverage"
Georg couldn't help but smile at his friend, a charming sponge really was the perfect description for him. Unfortunately, Georg would have to push his sentiment aside, for there were more important matters to deal with.
"Do you think you could postpone the search? I need to talk to you"
"Oh, sounds serious."
"It is, please, let's go into my study"
"You know, I have the strangest feeling that we've done this before" Max teased as they entered the room in question.
They sat down at his desk and that was when Max noticed the looked of trouble upon Georg's face. He began to worry. Georg was usually rather stoic and always seemed to have everything under control, to see him in the throes of torment sent paranoia pricking up his spine. This was serious.
"What's wrong, Georg?"
Georg laced his fingers together upon his desk and sighed minutely.
"I'm going to be blunt: I need to break things off with Elsa"
"Are you serious?"
"Deadly serious"
"I can't say I'm completely shocked, as a couple you've never really clicked. But I'm surprise that you're doing this now, it's been so long, and you did propose to her"
"I know. And I know it's going to be hard on her, but I can't let it go on any longer. I don't love her, Max"
"I respect that. But is that the only reason?" his friend asked with a slight twist of suspicion.
"No, it's not"
"What else is going on?"
"I want to marry Maria" Georg said bluntly.
"You what?"
"Maria. I love her, and I want to marry her"
Max rubbed his temples.
"Something tells me this isn't a rash decision?"
"No, it's not"
"Okay, tell me what's been going on"
He sighed again.
"Well, for the past month or so, Maria and I have been having an affair"
"An affair?" Max asked in exclamation – clearly shocked.
"Yes"
"With Maria?"
"Yes" he repeated.
"How did that happen?"
Georg could understand why his friend was shocked, after all, not only was Maria the governess, but she was also a postulant.
"It just did…" he said simply, "…we were having a meeting about the children as normal and then one evening things just escalated"
"I never perceived you as the sort of man that would bed the help"
"It wasn't like that, Max…" he scowled, "…we love each other"
Max looked at him questioningly.
"We both had all these pent-up feelings for a very long time, it wasn't until we…acted upon them, that we realised how serious they were. It wasn't just some passing fancy; believe me, Max, what Maria and I have is very real. I don't think I've ever loved anyone as much as I love her"
"I believe you, but if you love her so much, why have you waited this long?"
"When we first started the affair, plans for Elsa's party had already begun and even though I wanted to be with her properly, I thought things would be easier if we just waited until the party was over…obviously I was wrong"
"You thought a secret affair would be easier?"
"I didn't want people to ask too many questions, I knew that cancelling the party when invitations had already been sent out would cause a bit of an uproar" Georg explained with some reluctance.
"I suppose I can understand that…have you wanted to marry her from the start?"
"Yes, I have. And I would've proposed instantly if the situation had been different…or if my judgement had been better. Although, I think it's slightly more imperative now…"
Max raised an eyebrow at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Maria is pregnant"
"Oh…" Max breathed, "…is that why she left?"
Georg nodded slowly.
"Yes, I only found out myself a few moments ago"
"And you're not just marrying her because of the baby?"
"No, absolutely not. I would have proposed regardless…I came so close to losing her and I knew that I couldn't go through that again"
"And are you happy?" he asked simply.
Georg smiled.
"I am. I've never been happier…and I just hope we can all work this out because I want to have a life with her"
Max could see the adoration in his friend's eyes.
"Well, then I really have no reason not to support you, do I?" he said somewhat cheekily before leaning over and shaking Georg's hand, "I'm happy for you, Georg. And even though Elsa is a dear friend of mine, I'm going to support you in this"
"Thank you, Max. You have no idea how much that means to me"
"Well, I want both you and Elsa to find happiness, and I must admit that I don't think the two of you getting married would be a wise decision"
"I'm glad you agree" he chuckled.
"Though, I must say I'm shocked, I thought you'd put your reputation as a swordsman to bed" he teased.
"As I said, it wasn't like that"
"Perhaps not, but you certainly didn't give Maria a conventional courtship, did you?"
"I suppose not"
"But, I digress, you're both happy and that's the important thing"
"But now I need to go and talk to Elsa…and I don't think she's going to handle it well"
"Can you really blame her? Still, she may surprise you"
"I doubt that"
"I suppose all I can do is wish you luck. Try not to be too hard on her"
"Don't worry, I'm going to try and make this as painless as possible"
Georg had expected himself to be nervous – to be overwhelmed with trepidation – but when he found Elsa seated out on the terrace, he was almost pleased to find himself with a newfound sense of confidence. He knew exactly where it came from: his determination to pursue a life with Maria. He had wanted it for so long, and after almost losing her, he knew that he wasn't going to let anything stand in his way. So, without looking back, and without having to think twice, he walked towards her in firm and measured steps.
"Oh, there you are, darling, please come and join me" Elsa smiled with a delicate gesture of her hand.
But Georg stood firmly beside her – not wavering in the slightest.
"Elsa, we need to talk" he said clearly – almost putting extra effort into his diction.
"Talk about what? I do hope this isn't more wedding talk, I told you that I know plenty of people who will sort that out for us"
"No, it's not about the wedding – well, not exactly"
Then, Elsa stood, and looked up at him with a unique mixture of curiosity and paranoia.
"Georg, what's this about?"
He gave her a slight sigh.
"Elsa, this isn't going to work – you and I" he said simply.
He watched as her expression twisted with confusion and stayed silent as he allowed her some time to process his words, but when they had finally sunk in, he saw the fury flicker in her eyes.
"What?"
"I think we should call off the wedding" he added.
She remained silent for a few seconds, simply glaring at him – almost scrutinising him – trying to work out if she'd heard him correctly and how he could possibly have the nerve to say such things.
"How could you do this, Georg?"
"Elsa, please let me—"
"—No, Georg, let me say something," she spat, "do know how hard this has been for me? We've been courting for almost two years now, Georg, you said it yourself that I was your saviour and that I was the one who'd brought meaning back into your life. Things were so lovely and then you throw it back in my face! For goodness sake, do you know what it was like waiting to see if you'd propose to me? I used to think about it all the time, wondering if you were ever going to ask me. And then finally, after all of the fighting, you eventually asked me and now you're throwing it back in my face less than a fortnight later? How dare you!"
"Elsa, I know that I'm being cruel to you. But I really can't see a future for us"
"Then what has all of this been for? Has it just been some sick game where you wanted to see how long you could string me along for before I finally had enough of you? Because it wasn't like that for me, Georg!"
"It wasn't like that for me either. But when we first started courting I was in a terrible state, and you did provide a great deal of comfort for me, but once I was brought out of my misery completely, I began to see things in a different light…I saw us in a different light"
"It's because of that bloody governess, isn't it?!" Elsa growled.
"Have I mentioned her name?"
"No, but you didn't need to. Things were fine between us until she came along…" the venom in her voice as she spoke of Maria was almost unbearable, "…and then suddenly, you're having second thoughts, all because some nun taught your children some songs"
He ignored her stabs at Maria. He knew she was trying to bait him, but he refused to fight with her about that; after all, he didn't want to make this harder than it already was.
"Maria didn't drive me away from you, but she did make me see some sense. When I finally reconnected my children, I finally regained my understanding of love and just how important it is…" he struggled for just a moment, dreading what he was about to say, "…Elsa, you have been a very good friend to me and I really did enjoy the time that we spent together, but I don't think I ever loved you; I think perhaps I thought I did, but I realise now that I was fooling myself. I wanted to believe it so I could give my children a mother and hope to fill the void that Agathe left me with when she died…"
"I can't believe that you would have the audacity to say this to me now!"
"I know that we've been through a lot, and I'm being utterly unfair to you. But would you really want us to enter into a marriage that we wouldn't be happy with?"
"Who says we wouldn't be happy? We've only been engaged for two weeks and things have been fine so far, haven't they? I think you're letting your stupid infatuation with that governess go to your head"
"Elsa, please, I know that you're angry –"
"— I'm furious!" she bit back.
"It wouldn't have worked, Elsa…I couldn't bear to be in a loveless marriage"
"Loveless? Open your eyes, Georg! Do you really think I pursued you for this long because of your money or your property? I have all of that! I…"
"Elsa?"
"Georg, I loved you" she admitted quietly.
"Elsa, I am so sorry. But I just don't feel the same way, and I couldn't bear to be with a woman I don't love. I need someone I'm crazy about and someone who loves my children…Elsa, I mean no disrespect to you, but do you really think that you could be that?"
She fell silent.
"Look back on our relationship, can you honestly tell me that you think things would work between us?"
Elsa did as she was told, and much like her revelation on the balcony, she realised the truth: Georg didn't love her, and she suspected that he never had. He had always been polite, always been a gentleman and had always made sure to put her interests first; he had entertained her, lavished her with gifts and shown her off proudly at parties…but the romance had never been there. There had never been any connection, at first she had blamed the chaperones or Georg's mourning for his wife; but when she looked back in retrospect, she knew that that hadn't been the case. He simply hadn't loved her. She suspected that he'd tried, but she knew that you couldn't force such things…and she had been too blind herself to notice.
The realisation broke her heart, but what could she do? Georg was right, if they went along with it, they would surely end up miserable, she knew that it couldn't be a one sided relationship, and Georg was much too companionate to pretend otherwise. She knew that he needed to be with someone he loved, and who was she to blame him? After all, she had pursued him because she had loved him, so could she really deny him that very same right? And yet, admits all of her anger and heartbreak, she couldn't help but be thankful for him. For how his intentions had always been pure and honest, he had never used her to cure his grief of for any of his on selfish desires. He had always been a gentleman. And she suspected that he had just saved them from a ghastly future.
"You're right" she admitted.
"I'm sorry, Elsa"
"You truly never loved me?"
"Perhaps as a friend, but never anything more. When we were together, I really did hope that I would end up falling in love with you, but I suppose that it was never to be. But please, you must know that I enjoyed every minute of your company, it was never a façade, Elsa, you have been a wonderful friend to me, and you brought me out of a very dark place…and in spite of what you may think, you really did bring some meaning back into my life…"
"But Maria just brought more?" she asked – this time without any hurt, or without any venom, but as a friend who was simply curious.
"Yes" Georg admitted truthfully.
"You love her, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. I cannot lie to you anymore"
"I think – on some level – I knew. Knew that we were never meant to be…perhaps that's why I was always so cruel…I didn't want to be left alone again"
"I'm sorry that it ended up this way, and if I could go back and change it – or at least make it easier for you – then I would"
"No, I think you did the right thing. We never would have worked, Georg, and I think we both know that now"
"You'll find someone too, and he'll love you in the way that you deserve"
"I have always been grateful for your friendship too, Georg. It's truly been wonderful. I hope you find happiness too"
"Thank you"
"You've always loved her, haven't you?"
"Yes" he nodded.
"Georg, if there ever was an affair between you two – or something more than extended glances – …then I don't want to know. I think I'd be happier to never know and to perhaps forget. But, I wish you both every happiness…I know she's the right woman for you"
Tenderly, Georg took one of her hands and brought her knuckles to brush against his lips.
"You're going to make someone very happy, Elsa. I know it"
"I hope so…well, I won't get in your way any longer, I shall return to Vienna in the morning"
"Goodbye, Elsa"
"Goodbye, Georg"
Then, Elsa turned around and walked away. For a while Georg was simply left standing alone on the terrace, he sighed heavily and felt the weights melt away from his shoulders; and once the adrenaline had melted away and he'd fully processed all that had happened, he finally realised something: it was all over! Finally, after so many lies, arguments and so much hurt and heartbreak, it was finally over! He was now free to live the life that he wanted…the life with Maria. As soon as that thought hit him, he couldn't help but find himself filled with a bursting sense of euphoria and a ridiculous smile on his face; at last he was free to be with the woman he loved.
Without wasting another second, he strode away from the terrace and made his way back through the villa, not bothering to quieten his steps or slow his pace – he couldn't bring himself to wait anymore. He took the stairs two at a time before all but running down to the governess' room, once there, he finally let himself calm just a bit before knocking on the door and walking in. He found Maria sat on the edge of her bed, and when she heard the door open her head whipped towards him. But when their eyes met, time stood still. She was clad in her nightgown, but she looked far from slumber.
Georg closed and locked the door behind him before moving further into the room, his methodical steps were torturously slow, and moved through with a firm thump, thump, thump. All Maria could do was gaze at him longingly, and she felt herself becoming utterly mesmerised by him; the way he moved with such grace and control was hypnotising, he was every bit the man she'd fallen in love with. He stopped only a few paces before her and looked at her with such smouldering intensity that Maria could feel the heat rise throughout her entire body and suddenly the silence was killing her.
"It's over" he breathed.
"Really?"
"Yes, Elsa will return to Vienna in the morning"
Tears sprang into her eyes, and without saying another word, she rose from the bed a bounded into his awaiting arms; he took her in lovingly and pulled her flush against him – savouring the feeling of her body against his and never wanted to let her go again. Maria wrapped her arms around his middle and buried her face into his chest before slowly soaking his shirt with tears; in response, she felt him tenderly caress her golden locks before humming words of comfort to her.
"I'm sorry…" she whimpered, "…but I just can't believe we can finally be together. I came so close to losing you and I don't want to ever go through that again – it just hurt so much"
"I know, my love, it hurt me too. But it's all over now, and I can finally give you the love and life that you deserve"
She pulled away slightly so that she could look up at him – her deep blue eyes shone with tears.
"I love you, Georg"
"I love you too"
He leant down and pressed his lips to hers, and the kiss held such meaning, it was a promise of his love and protection, a promise that he would always love he, stay by her side and support her, that he was never going to leave her, and he would never let her be hurt ever again. He tasted her tears when he kissed her, and it only made him deepen it, he was so desperate to convey his affections to her and to mend her broken heart. It was almost scary how much he loved her. But he pulled away before their kiss could get too heated, and just took the time to gaze down at her, to let his eyes roam over the details of the beautiful face that he was sure he'd never see again. His heart swelled with so much love at the very sight of her.
"You look tired" he said gently as he stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers.
"I'm exhausted" she admitted.
"Why don't you get some sleep"
"But don't you want to…?" she suggested as she blushed – but not before her gaze darted briefly towards the bed.
"I think today has been rather strenuous on us both, and I think we deserve a chance to recover. You know as well as I do that we both want to, but you look so tired and I'd hate for you to get ill…besides, you need your rest" he added with a slight smirk as he brought his hand down to rest lightly on her stomach.
"Yes, I suppose I do" she replied as her blush began to intensify – which caused Georg to chuckle affectionately.
"And I think we should tell the children tomorrow"
"You do?"
"Yes. The secrecy of our relationship has gone on long enough and I just want to have everything out in the open so that we can do this properly"
"Do you think they'll be happy?"
"Oh, Maria, they're going to be thrilled! They all love you so much"
"What about the older ones?"
"You'd think that they'd be more protective over me and the memory of their mother, but they just want me to be happy, and, like I said, they adore you"
"I hope so"
"I promise you they will be, and we'll finally be a family"
"I can't wait" she smiled before leaning up to kiss him softly, "Are we going to tell them about the baby?"
"I don't think we should" he said honestly.
"You don't?"
"No"
"Why not?"
"Well, you were lucky enough to find out about it so early, but it's usually advised to wait until the mother is about three or four months along before making any official announcements"
"Why is that?" she asked innocently.
"I really don't want to worry you, but during the first few months of pregnancy, the chances of…" he hesitated for just a second, "…things going wrong are higher"
"Oh, I see…I suppose I hadn't really thought about that"
Georg didn't miss the shudder in her breath.
"I understand. But I don't want you to worry about that because everything is going to be fine, okay?"
"Okay" she consented.
"But Max knows" he informed her.
"He does?"
"I told him just before I went to talk to Elsa"
"And what did he say?"
"Well, he was a little surprised…"
"Understandably" Maria giggled.
"…but he supports us and is happy for us"
"Are you not worried about Max knowing?"
"I did have my reservations about telling him, but I needed him on my side in this and so I thought it best to be truthful, that way he can at least be an ally. But he'll be discreet, and I'll let him know tomorrow that we don't want anyone else to know"
"Oh, I just remember that I told the Reverend Mother"
"You did?"
"Yes, she asked to see me and wanted me to explain the real reason for my departure, much like you, I thought it best to be truthful. You don't mind her knowing, do you?"
"Do you mind?"
"No, she'll be discreet too, and in spite of her disappointment, she will support us"
"I'm glad" Georg replied softly before pecking her forehead.
"And the Baroness?"
"I didn't tell her anything, in fact, she asked me not to. She took our separation hard at first, but eventually she too realised that it never would have worked. She wished us happiness too"
"It all seems too good to be true…it's like a dream!"
"Except it's better than a dream, my dear, because this is all very real" he smiled.
"Will you stay with me tonight? I felt so alone when I left, and I just want you to hold me"
"Anything for you" he said rather seriously.
Georg wasted no time in stripping to his underwear before crawling under the covers with Maria, and to have her back in his arms in this way was beyond magical. He was still amazed by just how right it felt. There was nothing more comforting than being able to hold her, to feel the soft curves of her body against him and to bask in the embrace of their combined warmth. It felt like home. It was all they'd ever dreamed of. He kissed the back of her neck softly before securing his hold of her – making sure that one hand lay protectively over where their child grew – and letting sleep slowly pull him into its own awaiting arms. And, for the first time in a long time, all was right in their world.
The day was as close to paradise as it could possibly get, the sun was high above the clouds, seeping through the trees and filling the grounds of the villa in a way that could only be described as loving. The heat brushed gently against Maria's skin, like the warm hands of a lover as they memorised her every feature, and she couldn't help but let her eyes roll back at the delicate nature of it's touch; as if it wanted to protect her. The wind of the season whispered shyly around them – tugging playfully at their hair – the they, of course, being Maria, her husband and their beautiful baby girl.
The tiny being – the proof of their love – was bundled in a thin blanket and wriggled experimentally within her mother's arms – gurgling happily all the while. With each sound that their child made, Maria felt her heart swell with the rawest kind of adoration and her eyes glazed over with love as she gazed down at the tiny miracle. She never thought she'd be blessed enough to have a child of her own. Georg – now her husband – wrapped and arm around her shoulders as he leant in to look down at their child, and he too was utterly enthralled by the life that they had created together. Even though she was his eighth child, he couldn't deny that it didn't feel any less magical, that every new child touched him in such a way that it always felt like the very first time. He concluded that nothing was more special than the wonder of parenthood.
"She's so perfect" he whispered in his wife's ear, and without looking away, she gently nodded with agreement.
The girl seemed to be the perfect mixture of the two of them, she had inherited her mother's stormy blue eyes and soft rosy cheeks, whilst the light dusting of brown hair and delicate lips they knew had come from her father. She yawned daintily – which caused her parents to (somehow) smile brighter – and they both realised that they'd never known such happiness. Georg snuggled against his wife and suddenly became overwhelmed by just how thankful he was, not only for her strength and for staying loyal to him during the more difficult times, but for returning the immense love that he felt for her, for being the bravest woman he knew and for blessing him with the gift of his eighth child. What he'd done to deserve her, he'd never know.
A tiny hand soon peered out from the blanket, and with a knowing and affectionate smile, Maria simply couldn't resist temptation; she reached out with her index finger and let her daughter slowly take hold of it – her tiny grip closing around the single digit softly like the graze of a rose petal. She was filled with motherly warmth at the depth of the connection, and she wished more than anything that she could capture this moment, put it in a bottle and keep it safe forever; for neither of them ever thought their life could be this perfect. For once, they didn't need to dream…
The couple seemed to wake up at the same time, and at some point during the night, Maria had turned so that she was now facing her lover. Their eyes met just as the sun began to creep through the break in the curtains, and when they both realised where they were, what had passed the night before and what the future held, they couldn't help but smile at each other in amazement. Much like the previous night, Georg had been unable to resit brushing his hand over Maria's stomach, but he was pleased to discover that the action still caused her to blush profusely. Oh, he didn't think he'd ever get used to the fact that she was carrying his child; so, he dealt with the euphoria in what he viewed as the most appropriate fashion, and he leaned in to gently kiss the woman that had agreed to become his wife.
"Are you nervous?" Georg asked Maria softly as they made their way towards the drawing room.
"Just a little, I know that you comforted me about all this last night, but I just can't help but worry"
"That's completely understandable, but I'm going to be right by your side. And if you want, I can do the talking"
"Please" Maria requested shyly.
"It's going to be fine" he assured her, "They love you"
She merely smiled in response, and although she both believed and trusted him, he could see the trepidation in her eyes. He returned the smile and slowly bent his head to kiss her, hoping that she could take at least some comfort from the gesture. Unbeknownst to them, Max – who had obediently rounded up all the children in the drawing room – had poked his head out the door to see what was keeping the happy couple; but when his eyes fell upon the sight of them kissing tenderly, even he couldn't deny that it warmed his heart. He smiled warmly at them both.
He had been shocked when Georg first told him what had been going on between him and Maria, and he'd spent most of the night trying to figure out how it could have possibly happened – even looking at them now, he was still somewhat baffled – after all, Georg had been all but promised to the Baroness (the sort of woman he was expected to marry) and Maria was a soon-to-be nun! So, the process that lead to the two of them beginning a clandestine and romantic affair was very bewildering to him…not to mention the fact that Maria had fallen pregnant.
But, he continued to look as the two pulled away from their kiss, and as they gazed at each other, the love in their eyes was unmistakable. Max had only ever seen Georg look at a woman that way once before' and in spite of the scandalous nature of their relationship, Max knew for sure then that they really were perfect for each other; and that, made him incredibly happy.
"Come on, you two," Max said to get their attention, "I don't think this lot are going to sit still for much longer" he laughed.
"Okay, we're coming" chuckled Georg in response as the two joined the rest of the family in the drawing room – a respectful distance between them.
"What's going on, father?" asked Brigitta before Georg had barely got his foot through the door.
"Well, there's something that Maria and I want to talk to you about" he said stoically.
No one noticed that he had dropped the 'Frauline' from her name…except maybe Brigitta.
"Are we in trouble?" Kurt asked wearily.
"No, you're not in trouble," Georg assured, "Right, as you well know, soon I am going to remarry"
"Yes, to Baroness Schraeder" Louisa grumbled.
"Well, we were wondering how you'd feel if I married Maria instead?" he asked as his lips turned up into a smirk.
Maria couldn't help but giggle as she watched the eyes of all seven children blow wide – as well as a few of their jaws dropping – but, to her delight, as the shock sank in, she watched as their faces became picture perfect examples of sheer joy.
"Do you mean it, father?" asked Liesl – who had been the first to find her voice again.
Georg looked over to Maria and without needing to think she made her way over to him; he wrapped an arm around her, pulled her into his side and kissed the top of her head lovingly – this time to the delight of his children.
"Yes, we mean it. Maria and I have been in love with each other for quite a while, and – with your permission – we'd like to get married"
That was all that needed to be said, for within seconds, all seven children had leapt to their feet and were bounding towards their father and soon-to-be-mother excitedly; each one exclaiming their own words of euphoria and congratulations. The couple both broke out into almost ridiculous smiles as they saw just how happy the children (their children) were. They were overjoyed, and they couldn't have wished for anything more…they really started to feel like a family.
"Wait, what happened to Baroness Schraeder?" Fredrich asked.
"Well, the Baroness and I both agreed that we were not right for each other and that we shouldn't get married because neither of us would be happy. She returned to Vienna early this morning"
"And you and Frauline Maria will be happy?" Kurt asked hopefully.
Georg sent another adoring smile at his betrothed.
"Yes, I think we'll be very happy"
"I'm so excited!" Gretl announced as she latched onto Maria's skirt in a tight embrace.
The other six all offered similar attitudes and Max decided to join in with the festivities.
"Did you know about this, Uncle Max?" asked Brigitta.
"You really are intuitive, aren't you? Yes, I must admit that I was informed of this last night"
"And are you happy too?" was Marta's question.
"Yes I am, sweetheart. Very happy"
"Thank you, Max" Maria said with a slight blush.
"Ironically, this would be a very appropriate moment for a toast and it's the one time I don't seem to have any whiskey in my hand…although I do believe it's nearing five O'clock in Japan…"
"Max, it's far too early" Georg scolded.
"Don't you worry, I'm going to stay dry until an appropriate time. But, I do want to wish you both all the best…in fact, I don't think I want to miss a single second of the process, so, how about I stay on as your chaperone?" Max suggested with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Uh, Max, don't you think it's a little late for us to have a chaperone?" Georg mumbled, and Maria turned positively crimson.
"Georg – my good man – you know just as well as I do that I've never really taken my duty as a chaperone seriously, so I'm sure that there are some things I'll happily overlook…" he teased before leaning in so that only Georg could hear him, "…perhaps a nice stroll around the grounds – just the two of you – or a cosy night in your study after the children have been put to bed…although, on the subject of beds, I think it would be wise for the two of you to remain in separate ones, lest the wrong people find out"
Maria managed the overhear the last part and her blush somehow turned even brighter and Georg sent his friend a warning look for talking about such things near the children…luckily, Marta saved them,
"When will you have the wedding?"
"Well, we're going to have it pretty soon because – uh – we feel like we've waited long enough," he lied convincingly enough, "So, we're hoping that we can have it within a few weeks
"That's so soon!" she gasped excitedly.
"Yes, it is, so you need to make sure that you don't cause too much trouble, okay?" teased their father.
"Frauline Maria?" Gretl addressed.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Now that you're going to marry father, does that mean that I can call you mother?"
Oh, how she wanted to cry at that moment. Gretl's words seemed to have awoken some dormant sense of love within her, and she suddenly felt overwhelmed by the whole thing. Her heart fluttered wonderfully at the mere thought of it and she had to blink ferociously to stop the tears from forming. She was going to be a mother not only to her own biological child, but to the seven others that she'd come to love so much since her arrival.
"I'd like that very much, Gretl" she replied sweetly.
"Can I call you mother too?" asked Liesl shyly.
"Of course you can"
It was at that moment that, one by one, each Von Trapp child requested that they too could call her mother and Maria just felt so overwhelmed by all of the loved that she had been gifted. It was like no other feeling that she'd ever known, a heavy and joyous sensation of acceptance and belonging, the Von Trapps had given her such a blessing, and soon, she would be part of it fully. Soon, everything would be perfect. They'd be a family.
Maria sighed contently as she slid into bed that night – immediately greeted by the warmth of her fiancée's body (which was clad only his pyjama bottoms). Although Maria was still technically supposed to be staying in the governess' room, Max had turned a blind eye to the fact that the former governess had snuck into the master suite shortly after changing into her nightgown…'Just this once' he had thought to himself with a smug smile. For a while, the couple – and their chaperone – had wondered if they should postpone their nightly activities until after the wedding, lest they unknowingly give off the wrong message to their children or delve deeper into their own scandal (after all, they certainly didn't condone their own actions).
Furthermore, their relationship had been going on for so long, Maria was already pregnant, and there was little 'harm' left to be done, however, the had decided that it should stop until after they were married. Maria and Georg had come to realise that they had managed to keep their secret for so long because no one had been watching them and there had been no reason for anyone to raise suspicion; but now, as an officially engaged couple, they knew that they were in the spotlight. But, much like Max, the couple had secretly allowed themselves one more night together. Maria knew deep down that the Reverend Mother certainly would have disapproved (and probably suggested that she stay at the abbey until the wedding), but she also knew that she loved Georg far too much to ever be apart from him for too long. Besides, she'd missed him, missed his words, his touch and his kisses…she'd missed everything about their more private moments.
"Thank you for today, Georg" she said tenderly as she lay facing him – one of his arms wrapped lovingly around her middle.
"There's no need to thank me, my love…I'm just glad that we could finally share our relationship with everyone"
"Me too…I just can't believe that it's finally official, it seems like so long ago that we first…you know"
He chuckled at the fact that she was still a little bashful. Whilst she seemed to have no trouble expressing her love and desire for him physically, when it came to talking about it, she could still be rather shy…but it was one of the many things he adored.
"I was foolish to not have given you this at the very beginning"
"We all make mistakes, and even if it wasn't the wisest decision, I can still understand why you did what you did"
"I hope you can forgive me"
"There's nothing to forgive, darling," she assured, "We've both made some rather foolish decisions, but the most important thing is that we're through the worst of it now, and we can finally be together"
"I never thought I could ever be this lucky" he gushed.
"Me neither…it's starting to feel like a really family"
"We are a real family…and soon, there will be one more joining us"
"I can't wait…" she said giddily, "…although, part of me wishes that it wasn't so far away"
"Patience has never been your strong suit, has it?" he teased, "but I know how you feel…and I too cannot wait to meet our baby"
Our baby.
She felt herself being drawn into his gaze and the fidelity that sparkled within his eyes.
"I love you" she whispered.
"I love you too"
Without another word, Maria leaned in and pressed her lips to his, only this time, neither of them bothered with gentility, instead, the kiss was immediately fiery, and their lips moved together frantically as it became clear that their separation had hurt them both so much. Light moans of desperation filled the air as the kiss deepened – their tongues dancing sensually – and they attempted to get as close as possible. She raked his hand through his hair as Georg shifted his weight so that he was hovering over her. Suddenly the broke apart, gasping for air, but never letting their intense gaze break.
"I missed you" Maria breathed.
"I missed you too"
They both knew what they wanted, what they desired, and soon, their lips had reconnected. The familiar sensation of flames erupting in her stomach crashed over Maria almost violently, and it was all they could both do to not join their bodies then and there – they wanted to savour every second of it. Unbridled lust pulsed through both of them intensely and it awoke every single nerve and allowed them to prickle to life with the reawakening of their passions; being apart had cut deep, but now the wounds were healing and they wanted nothing more than to bask in the euphoria of their desires one more time.
With a surge of said passion, Maria managed to steel her hands against Georg's shoulders and push him onto his back so that she had the control; he raised a questioning eyebrow at her, but all he got in return was a look of ravenous longing – her eyes half-lidded with desire.
"Please…" she exhaled, "…let me please you…let me make up for the pain I caused you" and without another word, she bent down to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses across his collarbone.
He shuddered involuntarily at the first touch of her mouth against his skin – he was hot all over, completely scorched – and he began to groan deeply as her supple lips heightened the frustration of his unsatisfied lust. Soon, her kisses began to move across his chest and he could feel the flickers of longing as they lapped at his groin; he was unbearably aroused, and it took a herculean effort on his part to keep himself still and enjoy the pleasure that Maria wanted to give him. Her affections inspired yet another moan from him.
She let a hand join her ministrations, and she almost gasped at just how hot his skin was, as if he might actually scold her should she hold the contact for too long, but the realisation did nothing but heighten her need for him. She ran her fingertips in whispered touches up and down his chest – touching every sensitive spot that she knew he had – and took great pleasure in the sounds he made in response; as well as the rapid contractions of his muscles. Much to Georg's dismay, she pulled her lips away but let her hand skate gently across his abdomen and across his hips – which he bucked slightly in response – she smiled to herself before hooking her fingers in his pyjama bottoms and pulled them off to free his arousal.
As much as she wanted to please him, she couldn't resist a bit of teasing, so she took the time to let the very tips of her fingers to smooth over his erection, and she felt a surge of feminine pride as he hissed with the perfect mixture of pleasure and impatience. His head was positively spinning, and his eyes were squeezed shut. But, she eventually granted the wish that he had not uttered and took her hand and closed it around the velvety flesh of his manhood.
"Oh, Maria…" he rasped as he fought to still himself.
She watched as he reacted to her touch, his mouth agape as he panted and his hands clawing at the bedsheets – not to mention the way that his arousal twitched against her fingertips – and yet she couldn't ignore that touching him in this way gave her a heavy sense of longing and weightd down her own feelings of arousal. Pleasing him seemed to give her just as much pleasure as if he were touching her. Of course, she had taken his arousal in her hand before, but there was something about this moment, something so heady and wonderful, that threatened to undo her. Sharing such an intensely intimate moment – where all they wanted to do was selflessly please the other – was indescribable. She allowed her touch to grown firmer and she gave him an experimental squeeze that caused him to gasp for air as if he were drowning; she knew exactly how to please him.
Through heavy breaths of her own, Maria began to contemplate her next move, but before she knew it, Georg had sat up at manoeuvred them so that she was once again on her back and he was hovering over her.
"Georg…" she began to protest, but she was cut off by a soft – yet full – kiss on her lips.
"You have suffered more than I have, my love…" he explained hoarsely, "…let me please you too"
She was about to protest again, but when she felt him press a kiss to her neck, she lost all sense of time and place. He sucked hungrily at her soft flesh and even bit down occasionally – something they had both been surprised to learn was a favourite of hers – but was careful enough not to leave a mark; and whenever his teeth sunk into her, he always made sure to let his tongue dip out ever so slightly to soothe the wound. He reached down for the hem of her nightgown, and in one fluid motion, the garment was over her head and tossed carelessly to the floor – exposing her beautiful body to him. Even now, he was still so taken aback by just how breath-taking she was. Much like Maria had done with him, Georg let the fiery trail of his kisses move down over her collar bone, but he stopped before he reached her breasts…
"Maria, your breasts, do they – do they hurt?" he panted.
"They're a bit sensitive…" she responded breathlessly.
"May I touch you there?"
She almost wept at the fact that he was considerate enough to ask.
"Yes…please…"
Tentatively, he let his fingers dance softly over her breasts, and the gentility of his touches made Maria's heart swell with affection; he was treating her with such kindness – protecting her as if she were precious china – and if she'd been capable of coherent speech, she surely would've thanked him. But she wasn't, instead the whispers of his touches made all thoughts seep from her mind, and all she could focus on was the way he was caressing her – worshipping her – and how she craved more, craved it like oxygen. Her wish was granted when Georg's lips moved to her breasts and he let his tongue swirl around one of the rosy peaks until Maria was squirming with need beneath him; he felt her lace her fingers into his hair to encourage his actions and he couldn't help but give a little smile at her brazenness.
She whimpered in frustration when his mouth moved away from her breasts, but she was reassured almost instantly when his lips – which were still burning into her like molten lava – descended down her body. Georg stopped momentarily to place a kiss on her stomach, and when Maria registered this, she was utterly consumed by the tenderness of his actions; as for Georg, he'd never been more in love with her, and he couldn't wait until he could see and feel the proof of their child. Still, he didn't dwell on such thoughts for long, for the sounds of her panted pleas still filled the air of the master suite, and he was reminded of how strong his desire for her was.
Another burst of arousal shot through him, but he was able to ignore the throbbing need to be one with her for just a while longer…he still had some pleasure to give. His mouth continued their blazing trail down her body until they reach the junction of her thighs – not even an inch away from where she ached for him – only this time, he didn't tease her. He was almost desperate to please her, and so, without wasting a single second, he let his lips descend onto her need.
As soon as she felt the contact, Maria's head was thrown back onto the pillows and a forceful cry of ecstasy tore from her lips, and for a brief moment, she thought she would come undone right then and there; but she fought through it and succeeded in gaining some control in order to experience every ounce of pleasure that Georg was gifting to her. The warm strokes of his tongue were all but unbearable against her aching arousal and each one brought about a violent shudder that wracked her entire body. She was also unable to stifle her array of moans, but to Georg the were the most beautiful and most erotic sounds he'd ever heard…they were the sounds of a beautiful and passionate woman – the woman that he loved. He responded to said moans and allowed his mouth to blaze a trail up to the sweet spot where her pleasure and need all churned like the heart of a violent wave, and at the first touch of his mouth there, Maria had to bite her fist, lest her response be loud enough to escape the confines of the master suite.
Georg continued to make love to her with his mouth and the rapid flicks of his tongue positively set Maria on fire as she felt a familiar and delectable pleasure begin to build in the pit of her stomach, growing and taking root within her. She gripped harder at his hair – now desperate for her release – and was secretly thankful that Georg wished to waste no time, for he was now intent on sending her to the heights of rapture. The pleasure did nothing but grow, each new layer building upon the last, it reached delicious new heights, growing higher and higher – stronger with each touch – until finally, it reached a blinding level and with one final flick of Georg's tongue, everything burst, and Maria arched her back and let her orgasm shatter through every inch of her. The world went white as she rode it out – shuddering through each new wave – and when she finally came back down to earth, she could barely breathe; all she could do was let her chest heave and her limbs tremble as she recovered from the ecstasy of it all.
She became vaguely aware of some movement, and when she regained her vision, she saw the adoring eyes of her fiancée looking down at her. She could've cried at the sight of him. She reached up to caress his cheek with her fingertips and wanted desperately to tell him just how much she loved him, but she couldn't form the words. However, the gentle smile he gave her told her that he knew.
He nestled himself between her thighs and positioned himself at her entrance but waited for just a moment so that she could wrap her arms around him in preparation, and, with one final kiss, he slid into her with one long thrust. He buried himself into her beautiful body, and the delicious – even scorching – heat of her arousal, and couldn't help the deep, baritone cry of pleasure as they were finally joined after so long. He could just about feel her nails biting into his back, but all he could focus on was just how perfect she felt around him…how perfect she'd always felt in these moments.
He was breathing hard, his heart thundering almost painfully, but he was still so overwhelmed that they were back together as they were meant to be, and with that thought, he began to move his hips in a languid, yet delectable rhythm that had them both gasping with pleasure from the very first thrust. The emotions painted across their faces were almost primitive – the most intense kind of lust – as they moved together in perfect sync, basking in the euphoria of their union and perhaps still slightly wallowing in the disbelief of their reunion. However, unlike some of their earlier encounters, there was no vulnerability, no fear, instead the was wild and passionate gratitude that they'd been given so many blessings, and through their intimacy, they were able to thank each other; as well as express the copious amounts of love that lived within their hearts.
Maria began to eventually arch her hips towards him, begging for more of the friction that only he could give, and he gladly complied and began to quicken his movements and increase the pleasure for them both. There was something so profoundly beautiful about it all, to be so close to another person, to feel so in love and so connected…they knew that they were blessed. It wasn't long before the pace increased yet again, and the once leisurely movements made way to grant entrance to something much more raw and intense – something almost urgent. Maria clung to him desperately as – once again – she felt the white-hot pleasure begin to crescendo within her, and from the gruff whimpers that came from her fiancée, she knew that he was close too.
She encouraged him with moans of her own and soon she knew of nothing other than the whirlwind of pleasure that was taking over her in that moment. As it had done before, the pleasure took root within their bodies, crackling through every limb and stimulating every nerve until they were twitching to life and constricting around them like vines. It grew to intense heights, to levels that they never thought they could experience and they knew that they were on the edge of something glorious. Then, after only a few more thrusts, Georg drove them into the abyss and they tumbled together – crying out with sheer elation as their climaxes shot through them with blinding intensity, drugging them as they soared to the heavens.
For a while, all they could do was lie there – still joined – and try desperately to regulate their breathing and bring themselves back into reality; together their chests heaved, and Georg rested his head on Mara's bosom – lacking the required strength to pull himself up. He heard nothing other than the blood rushing in his ears, and he was almost sure that he'd never felt so spent yet so blissful in all his life. He felt a hand delicately begin to stroke his hair in gentle twirling motions and it brought him great comfort, not only that, but it reminded him of just how close he was to this amazing woman.
With his heart still thundering in his chest, he managed to lift his head and looked deep into Maria's eyes, god they had such depth, endless like the ocean and more beautiful than any star that ever graced the night sky; they drew him into some kind of endless hypnosis, but he never wanted to escape it. She was truly mesmerising. He found the strength to lean forward and capture her lips in a delicate and languid kiss before finally separating their bodies. Maria let out a soft whimper at the loss of him, but he lay on his side, and whilst facing her, invited her into his arms.
When she was finally in his embrace, he was able to look at her, and from her rose-tinted cheeks and half-lidded eyes – staring at him almost dreamily – he could tell she too felt utterly enraptured by their lovemaking. Their legs tangled lovingly beneath the sheets, one of Maria's hands stroked his chest whilst one of his ran a gentle caress up and down her arm; it was now, during the afterglow, that the amazement reached new and tender heights. The fact that they could still be so connected during their post coital euphoria was simply incredible. And it was in these moments that they became so aware of the fact that they were truly made for each other.
"I love you…" she whispered to him – her tone brimming with adoration, "…so much"
For a short while, the only thing he could bring himself to do was smile at her with such amazement that he was sure he looked an absolute fool…but then he mirthfully concluded that any man who was lucky enough to be the lover (and now fiancée) of Maria Rainer would wear such a ridiculous expression.
"I love you too" he eventually replied – his voice still hoarse from their shared passion.
Then, with one more smile, she snuggled further into him – her head buried into his chest – and they let themselves get carried off by their awaiting slumber. And they knew that when they woke up, their life as a family could truly begin…
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Oh, so many emotions! I could easily end this story here, but believe me, there is more to come!
If you're interested, the word count for this chapter - excluding the author's notes - is 14,185! This is the longest chapter I've ever written! (The longest chapter in "Come What May" didn't exceed 10,100 (or thereabouts). Insane!
(Including the author's notes, this chapter is 15,046! XD)
Anyway, I really hope you enjoyed all of that, and if you read it all in one sitting, then bravo!
I would like to take the time - once again - to say a huge thank you for all of the wonderful reviews you have left (especially on the last two chapters) they honestly mean the world to me and never fail to brighten my day - as well as motivate me to keep writing. You guys are all so lovely and supportive and I really can't thank you enough.
So, I'm going to round off now. I really, really hope you enjoyed this chapter and hope that you approve of the way I dealt with all of the problems that needed to be solved; plus, for some reason, I really struggled with the love scene at the end, so I hope that was okay?
Also, I'd really love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, criticisms (anything, really :P)
See you soon! xxx
