Disclaimer: I find it very depressing to say that I don't own The Sound of Music…so please don't make me say it again…

Author's Note: Hope you all like this next chapter! I can't believe it's already chapter ten!

Why-
-Chapter Ten: This Small World

Why is it that the best things in the world, the things that make us the happiest, always happen at the most unexpected, inconvenient time? One minute you're as blue as can be, just wishing that something wonderful would happen to you to pull you out of your sadness. But when it does, when that moment arrives, you wish it hadn't.

Liesl stared at the blue sky, letting her skin soak up the sun while it still could. Dark clouds loomed in the distance; it would rain in a few hours. She was sitting in a clearing upon a hill about ten minutes away from home. She had deemed this spot her favorite spot in the world. She came there to relax or to think. It was wonderful.

They had been in America for nearly three years now. In that time she had graduated from high school and started college. This coming semester would begin her second year. She had decided to study music and get a degree in teaching it.

Music had been something that helped get her through the past couple of years. She found it hard sometimes to express the way she was feeling, but through music she had no problem. For that she would always be thankful. She would always be thankful for the woman who had given her music. Fraulein Maria.

If Liesl could never thank Maria for giving her this gift then she would honor the woman by sharing it with others. It was the least she could do.

A gust of wind blew through the air as Liesl maneuvered slightly to remove a rock that had been jabbing into her back. She continued to think.

She would be turning twenty soon. Twenty! It was unbelievable. How was it that time had gone so fast? Friedrich had just graduated from high school, Louisa would start her last year, Kurt was now taller than everyone, Brigitta was turning into the girl that every boy wanted to take home to his mother, Marta was learning math at a faster rate than anyone else in her grade, and Gretl was beginning to lose her childish naivety. What had happened to time? What was happening to their young, carefree selves? Liesl knew the answer. They were slipping away…into a place that was unreachable.

"WHOA! AH! OUCH!" Liesl shot up straight into a sitting position just in time to see a young man fall out of a nearby tree. She gasped and quickly ran over to him.

"Are you alright?" she asked, crouching down beside him

He groaned and sat up, leaning against the tree. "Ugh, I think so." His hand covered his face as he rubbed his temples.

"Are you hurt? Anything feel broken?"

"Nope, don't think so." He looked up and met Liesl's gaze. Liesl felt their eyes lock and couldn't tear her eyes away. "But thanks for caring. Say, aren't you Liesl von Trapp?" He asked as he began to stand. Liesl grabbed his arm to help him.

"Yes," she said slowly, unsure of how he knew her. She took a better look at his face and realized that he looked familiar, but she couldn't think of how she knew him.

"I thought so. I'm Jeremy Jorgen, from your history class."

Liesl stared at him for a moment before it finally clicked. "Oh! Jeremy! You shaved your beard, I hardly recognized you!"

He laughed as he looked into the tree searching for something. "Yes, do you like it?" he asked, a bit playfully.

Liesl felt the blood rush to her face as she nodded slightly. Yes, for some reason she liked it a lot. Jeremy looked at her and winked before turning his attention back to the tree.

"Uh, Jeremy, if you don't mind me asking, what were you doing up a tree?"

Jeremy laughed a deep infectious laugh. "I was in the tree trying to get my little sister's cat down, but that failed horribly. So now I'm looking for it, which also seems to be hopeless."

Liesl laughed. "You mean that cat?" she asked, pointing to a tabby cat that was slowly walking away.

"That's the one! Come on!" Jeremy exclaimed, taking Liesl by the hand and running. The cat took off after it realized it was being chased, making it impossible for them to catch it. They paused to catch their breaths when Jeremy finally let go of Liesl's hand.

"I…have…an…idea…"Jeremy said in between breaths.

"Yes…"

"You go that way" He pointed to his right. "And I'll go that way," he pointed to his left, "And we'll cut him off."

Liesl nodded, not really knowing what to think. It was odd; she had barely ever talked to Jeremy before today. But now she was chasing a cat around the countryside with him. It was absurd, but for some reason she didn't care. All she knew was that she was having the most fun she had had in a while.

Quietly, they took of in different directions as the cat stopped to lick its foot. When they were close enough Jeremy nodded and the two ran forward, catching him off guard. The cat was focused more on Jeremy and ran away from him, running straight into Liesl. She caught him with ease as he nearly jumped into her arms, scared of Jeremy.

"A job well done," Jeremy said, coming over to Liesl. Liesl laughed and the cat purred snuggling into her arms.

"I think he likes you."

She laughed again. "Well, I like him." Jeremy smiled. "What's his name?"

"Gumby."

"Gumby," Liesl thought about his name. "He looks like a Gumby."

Jeremy smiled brightly and stretched out his arms to take Gumby from Liesl, but the cat hissed. Jeremy quickly retreated. "He's never liked me."

Liesl smiled. How come she couldn't stop doing that? "Apparently."

"I wish he wouldn't be so stubborn, I promised my sister I would have him back in five minutes."

"How long has it been?"

Jeremy looked at his watch, then whistled and rolled his eyes. "A lot longer than that, let me tell you."

Liesl laughed. Jeremy went to take Gumby again, but the cat hissed once more.

"If it isn't too much trouble, would you mind walking back with me, since I can't seem to get him away from you?" Jeremy asked as Gumby settled himself into Liesl's arms, ready to fall asleep.

Liesl smiled, but felt butterflies rise in her stomach, "Um, sure."

They spent the five minute walk to Jeremy's house in a comfortable, playful conversation.

"Well, here we are," Jeremy said as they approached a welcoming house.

"You're back!" A girl, no older than twelve, cried, running towards them.

"Sorry, Emma, but Gumby was too fast for me. MY friend had to help."

"Here you go," Liesl said, handing the cat to the girl.

"Thank you very much," Emma said, taking the cat. Gumby purred. "I'm going to go get him some milk. Thank you again!" she said as she ran into the house.

A nervous silence fell between Liesl and Jeremy.

"Well…I should probably get home," Liesl said a minute later.

Jeremy nodded. "I'll walk you back."

"Oh, no, you really don't have to."

"Sure I do, I'm the reason you walked here."

Liesl blushed a little but nodded. "If you really want to."

"I do."

The walk to the Trapp Inn from Jeremy's house would have usually taken someone fifteen minutes. But this simple fifteen minute walk slowly turned into thirty minutes for Liesl and Jeremy. With each step they took their pace slowed down. But they didn't mind. Neither wanted to leave the others company. They were talking about anything. Laughing. Simply enjoying the other's company.

All too soon they were standing at the door of the inn, just as thunder sounded in the near distance. The rain would be here within the hour.

"Thank you for walking me home," Liesl said, facing Jeremy.

"It was my pleasure."

Silence.

"Well, goodbye," Liesl said.

"Goodbye."

Liesl gave him a soft smile before turning around and opening the door.

"Uh, Liesl!" Jeremy called after her, making Liesl stop in her tracks. She turned around.

"Yes?"

Jeremy looked at the ground. Liesl noted the he seemed nervous. "Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow?"

Liesl smiled as she felt her stomach leap. How was it that even though she had only really known him for a day he was able to make her feel like this? What was this feeling? So sudden? So new? Was it new? Had she felt it before? She didn't know…but she didn't care.

"I'd like that."

"Really?" Jeremy asked, smiling a big smile.

Liesl nodded.

"Then, I'll pick you up at seven?"

Liesl nodded. "Seven."

Maria pulled on her coat, making it tighter around her body as the rain began to fall. She didn't move an inch as the small droplets slowly fell faster. It didn't matter if she got wet or not. Who cared? She didn't. The rain paralleled how she was feeling. So dark and unfeeling. Empty.

Charlie's body had been shipped back to the U.S. for a proper burial. After Maria had overcome her shock and she and Della had stopped most of their crying Maria reread the letter informing her of Charlie's death to comprehend what it said.

He had suffered a bullet to the left side of his chest. Another soldier found him and quickly pulled him out of danger and called for help. He was then taken to a nearby Army Hospital. The medics had tried to revive him but it was of no use.

So here Maria was, standing in the rain in front of Charlie's grave. The funeral was held in Stowe, where he had been raised and where all of his family was. They buried him under his favorite tree at the Madison's home, so he would always be close to home.

"You really are a scoundrel, you know that? Leaving like you did," Maria whispered to the grave.

For the past two weeks Maria had been in a zombie-like state. She did everything as if on auto-pilot, not really knowing what she was doing exactly. She found it hard to get herself through the days, and even harder to get Petra through them, which she felt awful for. What kind of mother was she being? Not a very good one, that was for sure. She needed to snap out of it, out of this daze, but she couldn't. She tried, desperately tried, but for some reason she just couldn't.

"Maria!"

Maria heard her name being called in the distance. She didn't move. She couldn't. She wanted to, to get away from the grave. She had to. But she couldn't. All she was capable of doing was standing there. Staring.

Suddenly there was a strong arm pulling her, and she turned to see Rupert guiding her out of the, now pouring, rain. At the entrance of the house the two were met my Della who stood shivering in the doorway.

"Dear, you'll catch a cold out there," Della said as she pulled Maria into the house.

"MOMMY! DADDY!" the voice of Etta called from up stairs. Rupert gave his wife a knowing look before looking at Maria then back at his wife.

"I'll see what she wants," he said before giving Della one more knowing look and leaving.

Maria began to shake. "Come here, darling," Della said, guiding Maria to the kitchen. She sat Maria down at the small breakfast table then left, returning a minute later with a towel that she wrapped tightly around Maria. She then quickly made some tea before sitting down across from Maria.

Maria stared at her cup of tea before she slowly took a long sip. She instantly felt warmth spread through her body, engulfing her in a small comfort.

'Maria," Della said after taking a sip of her own tea. "Maria, look at me."

Maria stared at the table at first, not wanting to look at Della, not wanting to see the look in her eyes. But as she sat there in the silence Maria could feel Della's eyes on her and she slowly looked up. When their eyes met Della sighed and grabbed Maria's hand for comfort, but didn't speak. She waited patiently for Maria to speak. She waited until Maria was ready.

"It isn't fair," Maria said after a few minutes of silence. "He shouldn't have gone. He shouldn't have had to go. It's not fair." Her voice was quiet and showed no emotion.

"Maria, I know this isn't fair, but let's at least be grateful that we got to see him more time."

"Grateful!" As Della spoke, something finally snapped inside of Maria and she felt all of her emotion coming back to her in one great blow. Rushing through her veins like fire. Everything she had been feeling, everything she hadn't known she had been feeling, sadness, anger, frustration, hurt. Everything surfaced, not ready to subside anytime soon.

"Grateful for what? For the fact that I had to look at the body of my dead husband? Your dead son? No, Della, we didn't get to see him again. Sure we saw him, his body, but we didn't see Charlie. So why should I get grateful to some God who doesn't even allow a man to see his own daughter? Who doesn't allow a daughter to know her father? If that's what I should be grateful for, then thank you!" As she spoke her last words Maria looked to the ceiling.

"MARIA! Hardly a thing for an ex-postulant to say!"

Silence filled the air as Maria let Della's words sink in. When they did she sighed in frustration and hunched over the table, placing her face in her hands.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry." A fresh wave of tears sprung to her eyes.

"It's alright, dear, you're just frustrated."

"It's just...

"It's just what?"

Maria sighed again. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Should she say it? She didn't see why she couldn't. These thoughts had been dwelling in her mind for days now. She knew Della would be able to help her with any problem. Why couldn't she tell her? What was stopping her from doing so? If she did she knew she would feel a lot better. So why wouldn't the words come?

Once again she sighed. She would force herself to talk to Della about his. She needed to.

"Back in Austria, when I left the abbey the Reverend Mother told me that I had to live the life I was born to live." Her voice was grave and tired.

"Okay." Della urged Maria on.

"Well, is this what she meant? A life full of pain and unhappiness? Oh, don't get me wrong. I was happy with Charlie. The time I had with him was the happiest I can remember being," she paused, feeling too emotional to continue. But she did. "But whenever I'm truly happy something seems to happen. Something horrible, that puts me back at square one." She felt like crying, but the tears wouldn't come. She was all cried out, nothing was left but that hole inside of her. "Am I never to live a full, happy life?"

"Oh, Maria," Della said, moving over to sit next to Maria and embracing her in a warm hug. Maria sobbed, crying without any tears. Her breathing was short and detached. She clung to Della for support, for if she didn't she was afraid she would fall into a bottomless pit. "It will be alright, I promise. You just have to get through the storm to find your rainbow."

Maria smiled despite herself. Della's words reminded Maria of the Reverend Mother's all those years ago. "But Della, what am I going to do?" she asked, pulling away to speak. "I'm not going to able to support Petra on just my teaching salary. I don't make that much. I'll have to get two jobs. And then what? I'll hardly be around her." Thought after though, question after question ran through Maria's mind.

Della smiled and pushed Maria's hair out of her face. "Then you and Petra can come live with us."

"What! Oh, no, Della, I could never do that. I couldn't become a burden to you and Rupert and Etta."

"A burden? What nonsense!" Della exclaimed, completely shocked that Maria could think such a thing. "Maria, you know that I don't just consider you my daughter-in-law, but my own daughter. You'd be a blessing upon our house! Besides, Etta will love having you and Petra around."

Maria smiled as tears of happiness filled her eyes at Della's kind words. "Oh Della, what would I do without you?"

Della smiled, "I think you would get along quite well, actually."

Maria smiled, but shivered and realized that she was still soaking wet and freezing. "I think I should go change."

"Yes, you don't want to catch a cold."

"Would you mind checking on Petra for me, while I get myself cleaned up?"

"Of course dear, now off you go."

Maria smiled, clutched the towel tighter around her, stood and left the room, felling the best she had felt in weeks.

Maria hated herself for leaving New Hampshire. She hated saying goodbye to her neighbors, to her friends. The people she had grown to care about over the past couple of years. She was at least thankful for the fact that school wasn't in session yet, so she wouldn't be leaving the children she loved so much right in the middle of school. But she still hated herself all the same. She especially couldn't stand the fact that she was leaving behind their home. Charlie's home.

When Maria had first moved in Charlie explained that the house was his prized possession. He had always longed to have a place of his own. One day, he found the house and fell in love with it, despite the mess it had been. He put a lot of his money into fixing the house. He fixed it up with his own two hands, and the occasional help of a neighbor, friend, or family member. It was his. He put his heart and soul into it. And now she was leaving it behind. Probably never to return. Just abandoning it. Hardly a tribute to the man she loved.

Maria shifted Petra on her hip, as she stood in the front doorway looking into the house. She felt as if she were leaving him behind. But she wasn't, she told herself over and over again, he would be with her wherever she went, guiding her along the way.

She blew a kiss into the house. "I love you," she whispered before closing the door.

Three Months Later…November 1942

A chilly wind swept through the air making the hair on the back of Maria's neck stand on end. She clutched Petra tighter to herself, trying to keep her warmer than warm. She huffed as she bent down and picked up the bag filled with groceries. Why hadn't she taken Della up on her offer for assistance to the market? Why had she thought that she could do it by herself?

She was adjusting to life in Stowe quite well. She had found herself yet another teaching job teaching music at Etta's school. Della would watch Petra during the day. Every night Maria and Etta would come home. Both Della and Maria would help Etta with homework as Petra giggled nearby. The little baby already had an infectious high-pitched laugh. Rupert would come home and they would all have dinner. In the evenings Maria would teach Etta how to sing, or she would play with her and Petra while Della and Rupert sat nearby. Maria often forgot that the Madisons were her in-laws. She felt like she had always lived with them. Like they had always been there for her. It was a wonderful feeling.

The streets were crowded today, and Maria had to push her way through. Petra was crying slightly. Whether it was from the cold or the crowd around her Maria didn't know. A light snow began to fall. Maria hoped that the snow would cheer Petra up, but her daughter never noticed as she cried with her eyes closed.

Maria felt like cursing. Her shoulder hurt from the bag that was sitting on it, Petra was crying, and Maria could hardly make her way through the crowd.

"Shhhhh, hush darling, Momma's here," Maria spoke, trying to calm Etta down. She began to bounce on her heels as she walked. Maria suddenly felt someone run into her, knocking her slightly to the right. "Sorry," she called behind her shoulder, not stopping. She just wanted to get home. Petra began to cry louder. "Oh, please darling, Momma's here. There's no need to cry. Shhhh" Maria looked down at Petra, who was now reaching her arms out from the big puffy jacket she was wearing. "Oh no, you dropped your toy." Maria noticed that the small plush duck that Petra always had to have was now missing from her arms. "Uh," Maria looked around, trying to find the toy. There was a tap on her shoulder and she inwardly groaned. Why couldn't she be left alone? She was already going insane at the moment.

"Uh, miss, I think you dropped this when we ran into each other." Maria turned around to see a very young man standing before her, holding out Petra's duck.

"Oh! Thank you!" she exclaimed, awkwardly reaching for the duck and placing it in Petra's hands. The girl instantly stopped crying.

"Thank you very much," she said, looking back up at the man. Maria was struck by how strangely familiar he looked, as if from a dream. His blonde hair, blue eyes mischievous eyes, he was taller than her, and skinny. He was looking at her with an odd expression on his face.

"Fraulein Maria?" He asked, slowly, his voice deep and masculine.

Maria stood there, shocked. How did he know her name? "Yes?" she asked, unsure of who he was.

He smiled a toothy smile, making him look like a little boy. Maria knew that smile. She knew she did. But where? Why was it so familiar?

"I can't believe it's really you!"

She bounced Petra on her hip, "I'm really sorry, but…do I--do I know you?"

He laughed. She knew that laugh. So familiar. But why couldn't she think of where she had heard it before? He was triggering something in the back of her mind, a long memory.

"I should say you do. It's me, Friedrich."

The minute he said his name it all came rushing back to Maria. That summer from so many years ago. Her eyes grew wide and a huge grin appeared on her face. "Friedrich?" She asked, still unsure if she should believe her eyes. He nodded eagerly, that nod she had seen so many times. She instantly grabbed him in a tight hug. "Friedrich! I can't believe it's you! I mean---my goodness--you're all grown up! I didn't even recognize you. Just look at you," she said, pulling back but keeping one hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry I didn't know it was you. I mean, you're taller than me now!"

"It's alright Fraulein." He laughed. She had missed that laugh.

"What---what are you doing here?" Maria felt dizzy as question after question ran through her head. She was trying to process it all.

"We all moved here after the Anchluss. Father was offered a commission in the Navy of the Third Reich-" -Maria gasped- "-So we left. We've been here ever since. We have an inn just outside of town."

We've been here ever since, that meant that they were here in America when Maria and Charlie were getting married. They had been in the same exact town! It had been Him. She had seen Him that day. It wasn't her imagination. She felt even dizzier.

Someone else knocked into Maria, "We should probably move out of the middle of the walkway," Maria said. Friedrich nodded and guided her to the side pavement by a building.

"Wait until Liesl and Louisa see you."

"Are they nearby?" Maria asked, looking around. Friedrich nodded and stood on his toes to see over the crowd.

"There they are." He pointed behind Maria "HEY! Liesl! Louisa! Over here!"

Maria didn't turn around to see them coming, instead she looked at Petra, who was now giggling at the snow falling on her nose. Maria smiled and placed a kiss on Petra's forehead.

"Where have you been?"

"Yes, we've been looking all over for you," Liesl and Louisa said as they neared.

"I ran into someone," Friedrich replied, hiding his smile.

"Who?" Louisa asked as the two passed Maria.

Friedrich pointed at Maria and his sisters turned.

"Hello girls," Maria said, smiling brightly.

"Fraulein Maria!" Both girls exclaimed. Maria nodded and received a bone crushing hug from both of them.

"I can't believe it's really you!"

"I can't believe it's you either. How have you been?"

"Okay."

"Fine."

"What about you, Fraulein?" Friedrich asked.

Maria didn't answer right away. "I've been as good as good can be," she replied, not really explaining what she meant.

"Just think what everyone else will say when they see you."

"Are they here?"

"No, they're all at home," Louisa answered.

"Why don't you come back with us, Fraulein?" Liesl said, "That way we can all talk and the four of us can get out of the cold."

"Oh, I don't want to intrude."

"Nonsense!" Friedrich said.

"Yes, please come back to our house and have dinner with us, Fraulein. Everyone would love to see you."

"Please?"

Maria felt like it was three years ago and she was standing before the children as they tried to persuade her to do something exciting. Maria could never say no when they did that. They held some kind of spell over her. But now, she wasn't standing before children, but grown people. Liesl would be around twenty now, Friedrich would be almost nineteen, and Louisa seventeen. My goodness, she thought.

Petra squealed as a snow flake landed on her mother's nose. Friedrich, Liesl, and Louisa all turned their attention to the girl. It seemed that they hadn't noticed Maria was holding her before.

Liesl gasped, "Who's this?"

Maria smiled as she looked down at her daughter, who was looking at Liesl, stretching out her arms. "This is my daughter, Petra."

"Daughter?" Louisa asked. Maria nodded.

"Oh, she's beautiful Fraulein. May I hold her?" Liesl asked.

"Of course." Maria handed Petra over to Liesl. When she did Petra reached out and grabbed Liesl's nose, touching the snow that had fallen on it. She giggled with joy.

"She's so adorable," Liesl said, rocking the girl back and forth.

"How old is she?" Friedrich asked.

"Almost four months."

A comfortable silence fell between them as they all watched Petra try and grab the snow.

"So, will you come have dinner with us Fraulein?" Louisa asked, after a minute.

"Well, I suppose I could." Everyone beamed as they began to walk down the road. Liesl still held Petra, cooing over her; Friedrich took Maria's shopping bag; and Maria put her arm around Louisa. They talked animatedly as they walked joyously to the Trapp Inn.

"KURT! BRIGITTA! MARTA! GRETL!" Louisa yelled as they all entered the back door of the inn, the door that only the family used, which led to the kitchen.

"WHAT?" the unmistakable voice of Gretl called from somewhere upstairs.

"Come here!"

"Why?" Marta called.

"Just come here!"

The sounds of shuffling feet were heard as the four siblings came bouncing down the stairs. "What do you want, we're right in the middle of a game of rum-" Brigitta stopped mid-sentence as she, Kurt, Marta, and Gretl all stopped in the entry way of the kitchen. They started at Maria with their mouths hanging open.

Maria looked at them with a shy smile. She couldn't believe it was really them. Gretl was as tall as Brigitta had been when she first met the children, Marta was as tall as Kurt had been when she first met them; both she and Gretl had a few teeth missing. Kurt was a tall, lanky, awkward teen who stood just taller than Friedrich; he was no longer the stout boy Maria had known. Brigitta was in the midst of beginning to bloom into a very pretty young lady, she was just as tall as Louisa. If Maria had seen them in the street she was sure she wouldn't have recognized them.

"Hello," she said, quietly.

Gretl was the first to break the still air as she ran towards Maria. If Friedrich hadn't been standing behind her Maria would have fallen to the ground. Thank goodness Liesl was still holding Petra. Maria clutched Gretl tightly to her.

She couldn't think another thought before Brigitta and Marta were clutching onto her, followed closely by Kurt who stood as near as he could. Maria gave the three girls tight hugs before pulling Kurt into a tight embrace, making him laugh.

The kitchen suddenly erupted with noise. Each of the children, including the three Maria had met in town, were talking at once. Question upon question was asked. Maria didn't know who to respond to, she could hardly hear any of the questions they were all talking so fast. So she simply stood there opening her mouth not knowing who to answer. Through all the noise Petra began to cry. Liesl handed her over to Maria. Petra's crying made the room quiet and Maria could finally speak, "Children I'm so happy to see you all!" she exclaimed, bouncing Petra to calm her.

Everyone began to talk at once again, though this time a little bit softer, but not by much. Maria didn't find it odd that the other children hadn't asked her about Petra yet, she could tell they all had millions of thoughts running through them, just as she did.

"What in the world is causing all this ruckus!" One voice yelled above everyone else. Maria felt her stomach tighten and her throat close. She held Petra tighter to her body, as if trying to find support from her infant child. Everyone in the room turned their attention to the entryway of the kitchen where the Captain stood. Thankfully the children were all standing in front of Maria so he couldn't see her just yet. He looked at them expectantly.

"Well?" he asked.

No one said anything; the children merely stepped to the side to allow their father to see their visitor.

Maria watched as the Captain's eyes widened at the sight of her. She blushed.

"Hello, Captain."

Author's Note: I'm SO sorry this took forever to get up! Both my beta and myself have been two extremely busy people. But here it is! Tell me what you think!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE! YOU'RE ALL AMAZING!

Until next chapter,
Your humble author,
The Lonely Goatherd