CHAPTER 12: The Nun's goodbye

The children couldn't get out the back doors fast enough the next morning when their Father announced after breakfast that the weekend was free of study, as long as they behaved themselves in their play and did not cause him any trouble. The children had all just looked at one another and taken off, running from the dining room, all vying to be the first out into the early autumn sunshine while also trying not to trip one another up.

Georg couldn't help but chuckle at their enthusiasm and couldn't wait to also join them out in the fresh air, but he had some things to discuss with his beloved before they did.

As he looked over at Maria, she too had an amused smirk on her face after watching the children leaving without even waiting to give their Father a response. Georg couldn't love anymore than he did in that moment how adoringly she watched his children scamper out the door, and he knew for certain that he would marry this woman someday…'hopefully in not too many days' he thought to himself with a knowing smile.

He reached out at this thought and took her hand gently in his, lifting it to his lips to place a soft kiss on her fingers.

At his touch Maria looked around to face him and watched as he slowly kissed her hand, all the while keeping eye contact.

She couldn't help the loving sigh that escaped her lips and the hopeful and secure feeling that washed over her whenever he touched or looked at her like this.

"Well I'm not sure you could have said anything else to have made the children happier than they are this very moment" she said to break the silence, although it was not awkward.

Georg lifted his lips from her hand, but continued to hold it securely, while looking at her with an amused and somewhat secretive expression.

"O-ho I'm not so sure about that! I think there are a few other things that I could tell them that could make them just as happy."

Maria looked at him questioningly, while Georg muttered something that she didn't quite hear.

"But that will have to wait for future breakfast announcements…" Georg trailed off before changing the topic.

"Now my darling we have to discuss our talk with the Reverend Mother. As you know I have been writing and telephoning her since your accident to update her on your health and progress, and she has expressed her understanding of your need to remain here with us, but that was before she knew my feelings for you" he said while leaning in and resting his forehead against hers and looking deeply into her eyes.

"Or mine for you" Maria replied, with a gentle brush of her fingers to his cheek.

They stayed staring at one another for what seemed like hours before they were interrupted by the distinct calls and shouts of the children from the terrace, pleading the adults to join them in their games and activities outside.

Georg let out a small annoyed sigh before kissing Maria swiftly on the lips, then picking her gently up in his arms and carrying her with him to go join their family.

Their conversation would have to wait until later in the evening when there was no possibility of interruption.


While the children were planning a re-enactment of Romeo and Juliet (at Brigitta's insistence Georg was sure) down by the lakes edge, Maria and Georg stayed on dry land to practice her walking.

Maria was becoming increasingly brave with her attempts at standing on her own, with Georg still there to catch her when she fell.

After about an hour or so, Georg noticed that he was having to support her weight less and less, but he didn't say anything, wanting Maria to make this discovery on her own to boost her confidence in what they were trying to achieve.

On about the fifth time of Maria insisting Georg let her go, he decided to do something very bold and not only let go of her waist but also take a step back from her, making sure he was still close enough to catch her if she became unsteady but also far enough away that she would realise that she was doing it all on her own.

As he stepped back Maria stayed on her feet, wobbling slightly, but nonetheless remaining upright. Maria could feel she was staying standing longer than usual and thought Georg hadn't heard her.

"Georg let go of my waist, I want to try by myself again" she said.

And then she heard from a little distance behind her a voice say "I have Maria."

She turned her head slightly and saw Georg standing slightly back from her, smiling broadly. She realised what she was doing and then began to lose her balance, not because her legs could no longer hold her but from the shock, excitement and joy that it was working! All their hard work, persistence and Georg's support had gotten her to this point.

As she began to lose her balance both Maria and Georg reached out instinctively to one another and landed in each others arms. Tears of joy began to escape down Maria's cheeks and she held onto Georg to stop herself from floating away with the joy and happiness she was feeling.

"I did it Georg. And it wouldn't have been possible without you, you know that don't you?"

Georg shook his head and tried to say something to rebuke what she had said but she stopped him with a kiss on his lips, and he didn't even try after this, instead he just returned her kiss with the same joy.

After they parted Georg looked down into her eyes and said "Oh my darling, it is only going to keep improving from here, I promise you. Now should we show the children our performance before they show us theirs?" He said with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

Maria gave a little giggle and then nodded her head while calling out to the children to come and join them on the grass.

The family spent the next few hours outside in the sunshine, the children watching Maria standing on her own and eventually taking one or two very tentative steps before falling, but they cheered and encouraged her on all the same. And then the adults watched the children put on their play, with Max joining them just before they started, with him giving a big stretch and a yawn, stating that he had just been awoken by some loud cheering and beautiful singing. The children giggled and Georg just rolled his eyes at his usual late-to-rise friend, as Max sat down next to the happy couple relaxing comfortably against one another on the grass.


After the children had put on their play, lunch was served out on the patio…much to Kurt's delight. The family sat around the table chattering about what they had planned for the rest of the afternoon and for their study free day tomorrow.

Max then piped in at this point and stated "Well children, I was planning on going into town in the morning and just do a little shopping and wandering if you would like to join me?" He then looked towards his old friend with a knowing look and a hidden meaning in his eyes as he said "I'd be happy to take them off your hands for the morning Georg" he winked when Maria looked up at him, which of course caused her to blush furiously.

Georg gave Max a stern look but then began to comprehend that it would mean time alone with Maria. The children were all talking excitedly about the possibility of going into town with their fun Uncle Max, and so Georg couldn't possibly disappoint them…or his own desires.

"Well alright! But you must all promise to stay together and not give your poor old Uncle Max too much trouble"

The children and Maria giggled at his statement, while Max said with mock indignity "Who are you calling OLD?!"

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the drawing room singing some songs and then reading quietly until dinner was served.


The next morning the children were up bright and early, and they didn't hesitate to wake up their Fraulein along with them.

"Fraulein, Fraulein! Wake up, we need you to help us do our hair to go into town!" the two littlest Von Trapp children shouted as they came crashing through Maria's bedroom door and jumped up onto her bed, and subsequently onto her.

Maria knew they were just excited about their rare outing into town, but she also knew she needed to calm them down, because if Max's waking hours were anything to go by the children would be lucky to be leaving the house by lunch time.

"Now now girls, it will be a few hours yet before you leave, and besides you haven't had your breakfast yet."

They stopped jumping up and down and looked a little sullen before Maria pulled them both to her and kissed them on the top of the head saying "As soon as you have finished eating I promise I will do your hair, alright"

The girls seemed pleased with this, and no sooner had Maria reassured them, they took off out of her room again, heading towards the kitchen hoping to convince Frau Schmidt to serve breakfast early...Maria knew they would have a hard time with achieving that.

She laughed at their excitement and also at the image of Max trying to handle another five of them with the same amount of energy. As she was thinking about this, another very excited body appeared at her door, but this person was excited for a different reason.

As Georg leaned leisurely against the doorframe admiring his Maria, he couldn't help breaking her reverie, wanting to know what she was thinking about.

"What could POSSIBLY be this funny at this time of the morning Fraulein?" he teased.

Maria hadn't seen him arrive at her room and so jumped at the sound of his voice, but instantly relaxed when she looked upon his mocking but loving face.

"Your overenthusiastic children and one very unprepared best friend" she giggled again.

Georg made his way further into her bedroom while saying "Well I cannot disagree with you on that one Fraulein, but I think you mean our children" he smiled down at her from the foot of the bed.

Although she was so incredibly humbled by what Georg had just said, Maria was enjoying their little banter this morning, and so continued to tease him.

"Well when they are this overactive and ready to explode with excitement I'm afraid, my dear Captain, that they are your children, and yours alone to handle and calm down" she smirked at him.

Georg could tell she was teasing him and so decided to give some back to her, approaching slowly and sitting down beside her, making sure to not make contact with any part of her, knowing this would drive her crazy with him being so close yet not touching.

"Well you do realise that when you accepted me you accepted my noisy children as well don't you Fraulein?" he said, leaning in closer to her and hovering mere millimetres from her lips. "Or are you reconsidering what you have entered into?" he said on a whispered breath, causing Maria to shiver at his proximity.

Maria couldn't control her rapidly beating heart and unsteady breathing, as she so wanted at that moment for Georg to kiss her. She didn't want to keep up her charade any longer and gave in, saying "Never. I will always love you and our children."

Georg smirked a little, knowing it was his intoxicating control that had caused her to stop her teasing, and he was gald of it, because he was desperate to also feel her lips against his for the first time that morning.

It wasn't a gentle kiss either, as Georg wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her against his chest, moving his lips against Maria's in the most passionate kiss they had shared yet.

And Maria was only too happy to respond, throwing her arms around his neck and pushing her hands through his hair, kissing him with just as much force and enthusiasm. It was only when a small groan escaped Maria's lips that Georg knew they had to stop before they were caught by the other five excited children, and so reluctantly pulled away but kept her in his arms.

"Now that was the best good morning greeting I have ever had. I could get used to this" Georg said winking at Maria.

Maria slapped his chest playfully and said "Well don't get too used to it just yet, I am still technically training to be a Nun you know."

At this, Georg remembered what he had planned for their morning together and decided that it was best if they both got ready for breakfast and sorted out the children…and Max, and then sorted out their current situation with the Reverend Mother.


Surprisingly the children and Max were out the door and on their way into town by 10am. Maria and Georg had waved to them from the front steps, with Maria standing next to Georg being supported by his arm around her waist. As soon as they were out of sight, Georg pulled her fully into his arms and started to kiss his way up her neck, not wanting to waist a second.

"What would you like to do this morning Fraulein?" He asked between his light ministrations.

Maria was suffering under the effect he always had on her whenever he touched her, but she was able to draw on a couple of coherent thoughts to drag herself out of her daze enough to remember they had some important business to take care of before they could enjoy one another's company.

"Well when you are finished tracing the invisible map on my neck, I believe we have some things to sort out with the Reverend Mother."

At the mention of the Reverend Mother again, Georg stopped in his tracks, remembering that Maria had not officially withdrawn her intentions to become a Nun.

"Yes well…urrm…perhaps that is a little more important" he said, a little embarrassed.

Maria placed her hand on his cheek lightly, imploring him to look her in the eyes, and as he did she reassured him of her feelings by saying "I would have done it weeks ago had I known that you returned my feelings my darling."

Georg smiled broadly at this, before placing a quick kiss on her lips and then lifting her into his arms to carry her into his study so they could make the phone call that would confirm their future.


"Well my child I cannot say I am surprised. But Maria I must know that you are sure of your decision" the Reverend Mother said, without any judgement.

Maria and Georg sat holding hands on the leather couch in his study.

"Reverend Mother, I know that if we could be discussing this face-to-face right now you could see the certainty in my eyes. I have never been more sure about anything" Maria said, looking into Georg's eyes.

The Reverend Mother understood that Maria was physically still unable to come see and tell her all of this in person, but she had to be sure of both of their intentions and feelings.

"Captain, I can hear in your voice now and could interpret from your previous phone calls and letters about Maria's recovery and state that you truly care for her, but will she be accepted into the Aristocratic society that you were born into and immersed in?"

This is the one thing that had haunted Georg most nights since admitting to himself his love for Maria, but what he said to the Reverend Mother next was what he had come to realise weeks ago.

"This family accepts and loves her whole heartedly Mother, that is all that matters to us."

The Reverend Mother was pleased with the Captain's answer and gave them her blessing, imploring Maria, that as soon as she was physically able to do so, to come and visit her and the other Sisters at the Abbey to tell them her news and to say her farewells.

After saying their goodbyes to the Reverend Mother, Georg turned to Maria and held her hands, wanting to tell and ask her so many things, but before he had the chance to, Maria answered all of them in just a few small words.

"I love you, and that will NEVER change."

He pulled her towards him and held her in his arms, content to know that if nothing else was certain for their families' future, at least he would always have this moment.

After a short while of sitting in companionable silence, Maria gently moved herself into a sitting position and said "How would you like to help this ex-nun walk through the garden?"

Georg answered by swooping down and lifting her into his arms, kissing her lightly on the cheek, saying "MY ex-nun, my beloved…always."

They spent the rest of their time alone together re-teaching Maria to walk, albeit still on wobbly legs, but achieving great strides towards the future.

To be continued...