"Auf Wiedersehen, Captain. See you in 2 weeks."
Maria and the children went back to the study room.
"Fraulein Maria, what are we going to do today?" Bored Kurt asked.
"Oh! I want to go to the market!" Brigitta suggested.
"We have to ask Frau Schmidt for that. Let see."
Just in time, Frau Schmidt enter to remind Maria of her appointment for today.
"Fraulein Maria, the flower shop wants to see you for the design."
"It's in the market, right?" Brigitta asked the housekeeper.
"Yes, Brigitta."
"Can we come? Please. Please." The witty girl begged with her charm.
"Okay. Then you can meet the dresser also." She said.
"Dresser? Are we going to have a new dresses for the wedding?" Marta asked.
"Yes, Little miss."
"I want to come too!" Liesl joined them who came from her room.
"Me too!" The other children implore.
"Then let's go now." Maria told them in her encouraging voice.
"Hooray!" They fix themselves and left the house. They walked until they reached the crossing then took the bus as usual.
"Fraulein Maria, can I buy a new book?" Brigitta asked first as they got on the bus.
"Can I go to the town square?" Liesl asked next.
"Can I check out the new bugs in the pet shop?" Louisa utters the third.
"Can we check out the new sports equipments?" The boys plea.
"Can we go to the toy shop?" Then the young ones' request.
"Uh children. I'll let you do what you want after we finish our real business there. We need to get you new clothes as your father ordered."
"Okay, Fraulein Maria!"
They walked to the Flower shop as they arrived in the town. Pepi and his wife, Clarine, are in their shop as well.
"Fraulein Maria and the children! Welcome! And congratulations! I'm sure you'll be a great wife and mother." Clarine smiled.
"Thank you Frau Clarine." Maria blushed.
"Oh. What do you need for the venue?"
"We want simple floral design for the reception." She suggested.
"What colors do you want?"
"Since the house is colored white, I think blue, yellow, violet and pink are good."
"How about the flowers of the girls?" The woman asked while taking notes.
"I want pink." Marta exclaimed.
"Mine is violet." Gretl said.
"Since it's a wedding, I'll go with white." Liesl said.
"Same with Liesl." Louisa was like her older sister who just want to be simple.
"Me too. But please add some colors like yellow." Brigitta told them.
"Copied! Fraulein, do you want a laurel crown? It's very good for young women in their wedding."
"That's lovely! Yes, please."
"So the bills will be sent to the Captain. As he said about the wedding, we will deliver the bouquets in the morning while the basket flowers will be in the afternoon." Maria confirmed everything.
After finalizing, they left the place and went to the clothing shop. Rosy, the dress maker, welcomed them.
"Fraulein Maria! And oh, the von Trapp children! Welcome back!"
"Good Afternoon Frau." The children greeted. Their last visit was when Maria asked for new materials for their play clothes.
"So what made you come here?"
"The Captain asks for new formal clothes of the children." She simply said. She doesn't want to let others know even though she's her friend because they want to escape gossips.
"Formal? What is the occasion?"
"Fraulein Maria's wedding!" Gretl blurted out.
"You didn't tell me! Oh my. I'm very happy for you Maria! You are very lucky, you will marry an Austrian hero. I will do my best to make the children very beautiful and handsome."
"Thank you so much. The Captain will be happy. The wedding will be in four weeks."
"So I'll send the bill to the Captain. We will deliver it in three weeks on the house. Now, let me measure you children. You might of grown a little especially the little ones." She joked. Gretl and Marta giggled.
After finishing their appointments, Maria allowed the children to do what they wanted to do. The five are together while the two separate since it's in the other street. Maria went with Gretl and Marta to the toy shop. Brigitta's destination is in front of the toy shop while the boys's are beside it. Louisa is with Liesl but she left her in the pet shop and went to the town square where she saw Rolf.
"Rolf!" He glanced to her between a busy conversation with a man but then snobs. She knew he heard her and was going to go to him when Louisa suddenly called her.
"What are you doing there?" She looked suspiciously to her older sister
"Nothing. I was looking for something to paint."
"Then why did you call that man?"
"The man? Uhh.. Oh.. Well, I want to ask the man if he can move a bit so I can fully see the whole view of the coffee shop."
"He looked like the delivery guy in the house."
"Really? Uhh, let's go back to Fraulein Maria now."
"Okay!"
Everyone bought something for themselves except Liesl, Louisa and Maria. The two youngest bought new clothes for the dolls, the boys bought a new soccer ball, while Brigitta treasures two new books.
The next few days, they made themselves very busy inside the house. Maria baked a cake with the children, taught the children a new song or a role play and made them present it to the house staffs, played a group game or their favorite, volleyball, in the garden. And for Sunday, they went to the church to attend mass.
As they arrive home, a letter from the captain arrived also. The children's letter are separated from Maria's. They gather in the study room then Liesl reads it. After that, Maria left them for a little school work and went to her room to read the letter:
My Dear Fraulein Maria,
It's been a week since I left home, How are my children doing? Honestly, I worry about how you are doing the 's parents agree with our marriage. They are so glad that my children are very close to you and they said I shouldn't let you slip away. Also, they intended to attend the wedding so they can thank you personally for taking care of the children. They were so happy they I know some people understand us in Austria. I feel happy avoid the gossip from noble society, I am sailing on a yacht across the Mediterranian Sea with Max. I'll be home next week. I hope the children are fine. I'm looking forward to see you.
Georg
She couldn't keep the happiness when she read the letter.
"Agathe's parents agree with our marriage." She can't believe on what she knew. She felt a little excitement for the wedding. The children noticed it when she went back.
"Is there a good news from Father?" Liesl asked silently. She noticed her expression when she enters the room.
"Oh much better!"
"What is it?"
"Your grandparents agreed in our marriage and they want to come to the wedding."
"Really? I wish they will come. I'm so excited, Fraulein Maria!"
"Me too. I can't wait for that day."
Another week passed and everyone's anxiously waited for the Captain's return. After their chores were done, Maria, Brigitta and Louisa went to the lobby to check the doorbell. They saw Franz there, holding a big box of unknown.
"There's a package for Fraulein Maria." He said in his normal, serious tone.
"For me? From whom could it be?" Maria was confused. She has no idea where it could come from.
"From the Count and Countess Whitehead." Franz simply answered.
"Ah! That's Grandpa and Grandma in Vienna!" Brigitta said.
"Then it must be for you!" She thought. They went to the living room to see what's is inside of the package.
"Open it, Fraulein!" Louisa pleaded.
"Okay." When she opened it, she was surprised on what they saw. A sparkling white silk wedding gown made her speechless. She gets it from the box and it fall down beautifully. She put it atop of her to see if its fine on her. She doesn't expect to have a wedding dress as beautiful as it.
Am I really going to wear this on my wedding day?
"Wow!" The only word that came out from Louisa's mouth.
"Wow! It's wonderful!" Brigitta was amazed on how perfect it look to Maria.
"Fraulein Maria, it's beautiful!" Louisa continued her bewilderedness. Brigitta ran upstairs to call her other siblings.
"Here! Here!" The third daughter exclaimed in delight.
"Oh! Wow!" The other children's reaction. Even Frau Schmidt came and saw her.
"The parents of the late Mrs. Trapp hes sent me…" She told the housekeeper whose smile was bigger than before.
"It looks beautiful to you, dear. Good thing you haven't order yet." Frau Schmidt beam.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang again. They heard Franz as he opened the front door.
"Welcome home, Sir."
It took a second for the children to realize that their father came home.
"It's Father!" The young ones cried.
"Welcome home, Father!" As they run to him to kiss and hug.
"Were you good this time?" He asked laughing while carrying Gretl. He missed his children so much.
"Yes, Father!" They said in chorus.
"Captain von Trapp!" It caught his attention and saw her future wife in almost tears, standing in the middle of the lobby. The view of her wife in her wedding gown made him feel very happy.
"Welcome Home." She continued.
"I'm home, Maria." He smiled tenderly.
"Oh Georg!" She ran to him, still holding her dress. Georg opened his arms and embraced her tight. When he released her in a bit, he kissed her softly and fast, being aware of the surroundings. The children behind them was just happy as the two.
"You are so beautiful." He mean it.
"Thank you. You too in that new appearance." She laughed. She hands the gown to Frau Schmidt for fixing it.
"Do you like it? Then I will keep it until our wedding." She continued laughing at him so they continued teasing each other.
"Why don you ask your children?" Maria suggested.
"Our children? Children, do you like my new beard?" He corrected him that made her smile shy. The boys and the girls giggled on their father's question.
"Father, You look old. You're more handsome before." Marta told him. Gretl, who's standing beside Marta agreed too. Georg smiled at her honest daughters. He looked back to Maria who is also chuckling.
"Well, they're your children, right?" Maria repeated his sentence on her first night in the villa.
"Okay, you win." He whispered then stole her cheeks for a kiss. Everyone broke into laughter.
"You better prepare your things now. You'll leave in the afternoon."
"They're done, Captain." Maria assured him.
"Excited?"
"Nope. It's just that I want to have the morning with everyone than preparing my things." The children are aware of their reasons of leaving. The only thing that matters to them is the wedding where everyone is excited.
As the Captain returned, Maria was about to go to the Abbey to meditate for ten days. In a few hours, she prepared everything and left her duties to the staffs. That'll be her last time of staying in the Abbey.
"We'll see each other after 10 days." Georg said.
"Yes, Captain." She smiled.
"Take care of yourself." Georg advised in his caring voice.
"Don't worry, I am surrounded by caring people. I will miss you again."
"And so am I."
"Take care Fraulein Maria! Good bye!" The children from behind bid farewell.
"I can't wait for you to become our mother." Gretl told her.
"It's just 10 days, right Fraulein? I'm so excited!" Marta said.
"Me too." The rest of the children are can be heard with their excitement.
"I have to go now. Good bye!" She played her salute and the captain salute back. She left the gates and took the bus.
Within that week, the children's wedding clothes arrived and invitations are also sent. Georg had some bonding time with children. He restored his past wife's violin and gave it to Louisa, who is willing to learn to play it. He remembers Agathe so much in his second daughter.
Every afternoon, they will gather in the living room. Liesl plays the guitar, Louisa is with the violin, Friedrich uses Accordion where Georg bought for him as a souvenir, Brigitta plays her lyre and Kurt is on the flute. The youngest sings since they can't master an instrument in their age. Georg helps them to practice and prepare their presentation gift for their future mother.
Maria, on the other hand, is having her recollection and meditation in the abbey. She stays on the guests building and not to the novice building anymore. She studies about the sacrament of Matrimony and prays with the nuns.
The day that everyone awaits come, November 26.
Maria woke up early to prepare herself. Sister Bernice brought her breakfast in her room. After bath, Sister Catherine, Sister Sophia and Sister Agatha helped her in dressing.
"I am so happy for you, Maria!" Sister Catherine said with excitement.
"We will miss you so much!" Sister Agatha will surely miss her mischief which always make them laugh.
"Don't be worried, Maria. This is a very special sacrament. May the Spirit guides you in fulfilling your mission." Sister Sophia comforts her.
Franz took the family to the church earlier than Maria's arrival.
As she goes to the church, surrounded by friends and other nuns, Maria felt more nervous and yet excitement. She entered another room where the Reverend Mother is waiting for her. Sister Margaretta and Sister Berthe are also present.
Sister Margaretta crowned her with leaves arranged beautifully. Sister Berthe helped in putting her veil. She knelt in front of the Reverend Mother, and for the last time, kissed her ring where there is engraved "God's will Hath no why."
She felt happy as she gave her blessings. They exited the place, still escorted by them and then opened the gates. Liesl, who is standing there, gave her bouquet and then helped her in her long train and gown. Marta and Gretl are also there ready for their turn to walk. Louisa and Brigitta are already in the altar with their father. They escorted him in the beginning of the procession.
Maria was delighted in how beautiful her bouquet of Edelweiss is. Everyone's attention is at her as the procession start.
"At this moment, the big organ began with jubilant chord. Slowly and solemnly the procession marched up the aisle and up the many steps into the sanctuary, where Father Abbot stood waiting for us, adorned with his golden Ornate. Then the voice of the organ died out,"
His handsome Captain in his navy uniform holds her hands as she reach it. They bowed first with Max and Liesl and then they listen to the readings. The Bishop lead the wedding rites.
"Georg von Trapp. Do you promise to be faithful to your wife, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, till death do you part?"
"I do." In his strong voice, reflecting that he is very sure for this woman to be his wife.
"Maria Rainer. You are here to marry this man in front of God. Do you promise to be faithful to your husband, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"
She closed her eyes for a while and said it in teary eyes,
"I do."
Friedrich handed the rings and the couple inserted it to their fingers.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Maria's eyes expresses her happiness same with Georg. He unveil her slowly and laggardly, bring his face nearer to her. Maria put her arms around his neck where his is on her back. They kissed for about three seconds where the audience gives a round of applause. They looked at each other for a while after the kiss, realizing everything that happened. Maria can read his eyes that says,
"At last, we're now married. I love you so much."
"May this couple, joined today before God, never be parted." The priest ended the celebration as the couple walked the aisle after it.
"and in the great silence which hovered over the big church, surrounded by the seven children, we promised each other loudly and solemnly to "take each other for better or for worse… till death do us part. - Maria von Trapp
DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Sound of Music, Die Trapp Familie, Trapp ikka Monogatari, and The Story of the Trapp Family Story - it's dialogues, songs, and statements. I only own the idea of mixing the story.
*Italicized selections of this chapter are directly came from Trapp ikka Monogatari and The Story of the Trapp Family Story. Most of the dialogues of Chapter 9 and 10 are from Trapp ikka Monogatari.
AN:
Readers! Thank you very much for your lovely reviews and for reading my first fanfiction. I'm happy that I had a chance to express my idea and became a writer for a short time. My experience here is tough! I'm just 15, then English isn't my first language, but I had wrote ten chapters of a mash up story of 4 different versions. It's an achievement for me. I won't be able to complete this story without my friends who inspired me to write and also to my best friend who help me in completing the Chapter 10. I really had a wonderful time writing this. Unfortunately, I will say that, this will be my first and last fanfiction story. Schools is getting busier for the next year. But since I'm in school vacation right now, I'm still thinking of an Epilogue. I have 2 months to think and write. lol. As for now, I don't know when will I write again, I'll be a reader again. Again, Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy this story.
- LouisavonTrapp (I'm always available in Twitter & Instagram. My username is in my profile. Feel free to message me! ;D)