Chapter 9

"Lets drop the act Baroness. You're up to something aren't you?" Emily asked as she glared over at the Baroness who as well dropped her fake smile.

"What ever are you talking about Emily?" The Baroness asked with fake innocence.

"You said something to Maria that made her leave and I highly doubt it was the fact that my siblings and I like her way more than we like you."

"I did nothing of the sort and I can care less if you or your siblings like me because once I marry your Father. I'm going to send you and your brothers and sisters off to boarding school. He won't miss you children at all, all his focus will be on me." The Baroness said with an evil grin. "Don't you have to go to the abbey today?"

Emily shook her head while glaring at the Baroness, not believing a word she just said. "What does my Father see in this horrible woman?" She and the Baroness kept walking as they headed back towards the house but both were smiling falsely as they notice that the Captain was watching them from a distance. When they reached the back doors Emily went straight inside, not bothering to cast her Father a glance. She made her way up the stairs to her sibling's room where they all sat depressed.

"I can't believe she left us without saying goodbye." Marta said sadly and all her siblings mumbled in agreement.

For the next few months, they all tried to look happy but failed miserably. The Captain tried his best to bring true smiles back to their faces even Emily's but no matter what he did, nothing worked. Emily continued to busy herself with helping at the abbey and spending time with her best friend Amy who seemed to continue getting sick and each time she seemed to get worse.

"How are you feeling Amy?" Emily asked as she sat beside Amy's bed.

"As good as can be. You don't have to be here Em, I'm sure you have better things to do then sit here." Amy said weakly.

"I rather be here with you my friend, then be at home where everyone is sad and the Captain trying to cheer everyone up. Does the doctor know why you're sick?" Emily said worried for her best friend.

"No, they don't know what's wrong with me, but it isn't good Em. They think that I might not live for long. I overheard them last night when they thought I was asleep. If I do die, promise me that you will still visit my parents. They view you as another daughter and I view you as my sister. I know that it would mean a lot to them that you keep visiting."

"I promise, I promise that I will visit your parents, but they don't know for certain that you pass away. You're strong, you can beat this, you will live." Emily said with tears in her eyes as she held her best friend and sister's hand. After a couple of hours of talking, Emily had to leave for home. "I will see you tomorrow Amy, I promise."

"Bye Emily, see you then." Amy said softly as she watched Emily leave the room.

Emily walked out of the room and went to say goodbye to Amy's parents. "Good bye Mr. and Mrs. Castle. I will see you soon."

"Goodbye dear, get home safely will you?" Mrs. Castle said softly as she hugged Emily. Emily nodded as she hugged her back and after the hug she shook hands with Mr. Castle.

Emily rode her bike home slowly enjoying the last two hours of sunlight that was still out. By the time she got home so did her siblings, they went to the abbey trying to see Maria. "Any luck guys?" Emily asked as she put away her bike.

"None, they wouldn't even let us see her, no matter how much we begged. The mother said that Maria didn't want to see anyone." Liesl said sadly.

"How was Amy? Is she better?" Kurt asked as they all walked up the stairs and into the house.

"No, she got worse." Emily said sadly. When it was time for dinner they all sat around the dinning table depressed. The Captain looked at his children and noticed that they all seem even more depressed then usual. He cast a glance at Emily and he became worried for her, he knew that her friend was really sick. Before he was able to ask her how Amy was, Frau Schmidt walked in with a sad smile.

"Someone's on the phone for you sir." Frau Schmidt said softly and before she left the room she cast Emily a sad smile and Emily knew that something was wrong.

When the Captain walked back into the dinning room he slowly walked over his second oldest as if he was scared that she would run away from him. When he reached her, he knelt down on his knees and said sadly, "I'm sorry Emily, it's Amy. Amy passed away an hour ago."

Emily looked into her Father's eyes and saw truth in them, and she slowly looked away in shock about the sad news. "I can't believe it, I just saw her, and she was talking to me. I promised I would see her tomorrow." Emily stood up from her seat and she walked up the stairs to her room while her Father and siblings looked at each other sadly. Dinner was cut short and they all went up to their rooms.

The next day Emily sat at the table with Uncle Max sipping on pink lemonade while watching her siblings play a game with the Baroness. By the end of the game the Baroness quickly walked back to the table and Uncle Max offered her a cup of lemonade.

"I can hardly picture you as a mother of eight children, how are you ever going to do it?" Uncle Max said teasingly.

"Its called boarding school my dear friend, right Emily?" The Baroness said lightly. Emily looked at her and then looked away, too depressed over the loss of her friend to say anything back. After a minuet of silence, Emily's brothers and sisters walked up to the patio and Brigitta asked, "Uncle Max, where's Father?"

"I think he's somewhere in the house. What ever is wrong with you children? I never seen such gloomy faces. I understand why Emily is upset, but you all?" Uncle Max asked kindly.

"Nothing…" Gretl mumbled softly.

"I know what will make you all feel better, sing, yes let me hear you sing. Pretend that you are standing on the stage for the festival." Uncle Max said as he pushed everyone minus Emily in a group while they all protested.

Emily looked towards her siblings while they sang a sad version of "The Hills are Alive." She then noticed that her Father was coming and he looked saddened at the sound of the sad singing. He walked up to Emily and patted her shoulder and he then walked to the sitting Baroness and placed both hands on her shoulders and he called his children over.

"You all won't be having another governess, but a new mother." The Captain said smiling.

"A new Mother?" Liesl asked surprised.

"I don't want a Mother, I want Fraulein Maria back." Brigitta said as she looked towards her Father. The Captain gave them all a look and then one by one each Von Trapp children gave the Baroness a small kiss on the cheek. Emily stood up as well and begrudgingly did the same. After the torture was over they all went down to the garden to play.

"Remember what Maria used to tell us? Whenever we were sad we should sing what our most favorite thing is." Friedrich said as they sat on the cool grass. They all nodded and began to softly sing. Emily smiled softly as the song cheered her up, she then heard a familiar and comforting voice as she and her siblings realized that it was Maria singing. They all stopped and they ran towards Maria and had a group hug.

"I missed you all terribly. Emily I heard about what happened with Amy. I am so sorry." Maria said softly. Emily nodded and just hugged Maria tightly.

"We're glad you're back Fraulein Maria, it hasn't been the same without you here." Liesl said as they walked towards the house.

"Father is getting married to the Baroness." Brigitta said sadly and the rest of her siblings nodded to confirm what she said was true.

"Really? That's wonderful." Maria said sadly but tried to cover it up as if she was happy.

The Captain walked outside to tell his children that it was time for dinner when he noticed that Maria stood among them. "Fraulein, what are you doing here?"

"I felt guilty for leaving without ensuring that there will be a governess to take my place and I missed the children dearly. The children said that you were to be married to the Baroness. Congratulations Captain." Maria said as the children went inside to eat their dinner.

"You're more than welcome to stay as governess. Why didn't you say goodbye to us when you left?" The Captain asked sadly.

"Please don't ask me that, I left because I was foolish." Maria said as she walked inside the house and up to her old room to unpack and then head back down for dinner.

Emily stood outside Maria's room and waited for her to come back out. When Maria did, Emily quickly hugged Maria tightly as she cried, cried in happiness that Maria was back but also the fact that her best friend is dead. Maria quickly returned the hug and silently cried with her and said soothing things to help Emily calm down.

I hope everyone had a great New Years. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.