CHAPTER 21: The wedding day

The sun rose as it always did, but for two people that morning it shone particularly bright. Today was a special beginning for a family.

Maria awoke earlier than usual, even though she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. It took her a moment to orientate herself, as sleep continued to cloud her senses, but as she looked around her room and saw the light peeking through the gap in the curtains, she suddenly remembered what today meant for her.

"I'm getting married today!" she gasped out loud.

Maria was surprised that it was excitement and not nervousness that was the first emotion to wash over her at this thought. She couldn't wait to see Georg and the children, but most of all, she couldn't wait until the whole affair was over, as it meant she would never have to leave her family like this ever again.

With that, Maria flipped back her sheets and threw her legs over the side of the bed, deciding there was no time to waste. The girls would be arriving soon to get ready for the ceremony along with her, so she had a lot to do before then. She changed quickly into a simple dress for the morning, decent enough to wear to breakfast with the Sisters, before she showered and was then helped into her wedding dress.

Excitement bloomed within her chest and stomach with every step she took going about her morning, trying not to let it overwhelm her before it was even time to walk down the aisle.

Meanwhile, the Villa was already bustling with activity, with hired staff coming and going setting up for the reception, and the household staff 'supervising'. The children were left to sleep in to aid in minimising the chaos for the morning. Georg, like Maria, had risen early, and had helped himself to a quick breakfast before locking himself in his study, not wanting to be drawn into the commotion already taking place.

He sat on the black leather couch, leaning against one of the arm rests with his legs resting atop the other, he read over his vows. He and Maria had decided that they would write their own vows to say to each other, seeing as their marriage was less traditional than most…they had the children to incorporate in their promises to one another and for the future.

Georg couldn't help the smile that seemed to be permanently present on his face from the moment he got out of bed this morning. Excitement ran from his head to his toes and back again every time he thought about the wedding, the reception, the honeymoon, the future and of course about Maria.

To see her again after being apart for so long, Georg knew that his memories and dreams over the past five weeks would not do her beauty and grace any justice, but that was all he had had to hold onto. Their time alone together on their honeymoon would be made all the more extraordinary...

Georg pulled himself from his daydream about him and Maria on their honeymoon before he got carried away, and looked at the clock on the mantle over the small fireplace, suddenly realising he needed to wake the children.

Breakfast was as chaotic as the preparations that were happening outside it seemed, as Georg tried to contain the excitement of the children in order to get through breakfast and get the girls sent off to the Abbey, before having the boys help him load the luggage in the car and get them dressed in their suits.

"I wonder what Fraulein Maria is doing?!" Gretl said excitedly, bouncing up and down on her chair at the dining table.

Georg gave her a stern look, indicating that he was not happy with her playing on the chair and for her to eat like the rest of her siblings. But just as he was about to scowled her, Kurt piped up and said "Probably running late as usual."

This elicited laughter from everyone but their Father. With that, he decided to take drastic action and went to reach for his whistle. When he came up empty handed however, he couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face, remembering the night Maria had made him promise never to have a need to use it again and to get rid of it.

The children's continued laughter broke through his reverie and he looked back at them with a stern, but not angry look, and said "Well if she is running late it will be no later than what you are all going to be if you do not stop bouncing around on your chairs, and eat your breakfast please!"

With that, all seven children sat back in their chairs correctly and returned to eating their jam and bread.

Twenty minutes later, breakfast finally finished and the children all washed and cleaned, the five girls were bundled into the back of the car, with Franz driving them to the Abbey.

Georg had sent the boys up to his bedroom to carry down the suitcases that were there, while he brought the other car around to the front of the house. Georg then went upstairs to fetch the two suitcases from Maria's old room that he had asked Frau Schmidt to pack for her.

As he stepped into the old Governesses room, Georg let out a sigh, as he thought about the fact that this room would no longer be needed as a room to house a Governess anymore. He looked around and pictured the children gathered on the bed nestled in Maria's arms, them jumping about in their nightgowns singing while a storm raged outside, but mostly he imagined Maria sleeping there dreaming about him as much as he had dreamt about her all those nights before they had confessed their love to one another.

Georg could have stood there all day but he was suddenly pulled back to reality when he heard the boys fighting about who should pack the car. He sighed again and rolled his eyes…'four weeks of no interruptions'…he thought to himself, and then he picked up the suitcases sitting at the end of the bed and headed out the door. Georg took one last look around the room and then closed the door behind him…closing it on a very dark and sad chapter in his and the children's lives...and then he walked down the hallway towards a brighter and happier one for them all.

The girls were led down the stone corridors of the Abbey to the Postulants quarters to where Maria awaited them, so they could get ready together. The girls didn't speak much as they followed Sister Margareta, but upon seeing Maria they all rushed toward her and hugged her profusely.

"Oh my! Well aren't we excited this morning" Maria exclaimed as she tried to wrap her arms around all the girls as they were doing to her.

"We just can't wait to get into our dresses and see you in yours Fraulein Maria!" Marta exclaimed more enthusiastically than was usual for her.

Maria smiled down at their innocent faces when they finally released her. She leant down and kissed the younger ones gently on the cheek before leading them over to the corner of the room where their lacy dresses lay, carefully draped over the furniture that was free from flowers and accessories.

Louisa, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl all 'oohed' and 'arghed' as they delicately stroked the material of their dresses. They began to chat excitedly amongst themselves about how beautiful everything was and how pretty they would all look.

Liesl hung back slightly next to Maria, just watching. As the younger ones became distracted with their own conversation, Liesl turned towards Maria, wanting to express to her all that she was feeling.

"Fraulein Maria?"

Maria suddenly looked towards Liesl when she spoke, pulling her from her quiet contemplation while watching the girls.

"Yes Liesl, is everything alright?" She asked when she noticed the serious look on her face.

"Oh yes Fraulein, everything is fine. I just wanted to tell you…that is, I also wanted to ask you…that I…that we all…"

Seeing the struggle the young woman was having in expressing her thoughts and feelings, Maria placed a hand upon hers and gave her, what she hoped, was a comforting and encouraging look.

"We are all so thrilled that you will be joining our family today, although I think you became a part of it when you first stood up for us against Father that day" they shared a private smile at the memory. "I know that you have been concerned about how we would feel about you marrying Father, but we love you, and so much like we did our own Mother, that we were wondering if it would be alright if perhaps we…but only if you feel comfortable…maybe started calling you Mother?"

The other four girls had caught the end of the conversation between their older sister and their Governess, and all were now looking at their Fraulein with the same loving and expectant look in their eyes.

Maria looked at each of them, seeing the same expression of love and acceptance, and couldn't help the tears that once again made their appearance and tracked their way silently down her cheeks. She was rendered speechless for a good few minutes before she was able to express in words what she had immediately felt in her heart at being asked such a question.

"Oh my darlings. Nothing would make me happier in the whole world if you find me worthy enough to call me your Mother. I would love nothing more" she said, and then held her arms open to once again hold them all in a tight hug, expressing all the love that was possible through this small gesture.

After a few minutes had passed, and more tears were shed by them all, they all composed themselves as Sister Margareta and Sister Sophia entered the room to commence the task of making all six women presentable for the day.

Georg, Max and the boys had arrived at the Abbey an hour ago, making sure the guests were directed inside and seated, ready for the ceremony to start on time.

Georg had patted his left breast pocket no less than fifteen times since placing the ring there before leaving the house. He was sure it wouldn't be going anywhere until the right moment, but he was doing it more as a way of reassuring himself that this was all real and not just the same dream he had been having every night for the past week.

The boys had been told to wait at the altar so they didn't get lost in the crowd, and as they stood there in their full suits looking like the men they had grown into, Georg looked on with pride as Friedrich reached out and straightened Kurt's tie…'how did I get so lucky?'...Georg wondered to himself as a smile spread across his face.

As he was deep in thought, Georg failed to see his friend approach him. Max placed his hand upon his shoulder to bring him back from his daydream and said "It's time my friend."

Georg let out the breath he had been holding and then nodded, indicating that he was ready.

The girls had been dressed and their hair done with the aid of Maria and the Sisters, and then they stood watching as Maria was helped into her dress and the veil placed delicately atop her head. The silken material hugged her waist and flared out softly at the hips, falling into a long train that dragged smoothly behind her. The veil almost floated around her like the halo of an angel.

Maria couldn't help running her hands down her torso, nervously smoothing out the invisible wrinkles in the fabric, before she looked up at the open mouths and surprised faces.

"Oh Fraulein Maria you look absolutely radiant" Sister Sophia said truthfully as she helped Maria step down from the small stool she had been standing on.

Maria tried to pass off her compliment, but she was barraged with even more from the other women standing in the room.

"Yes Fraulein Maria you look so pretty" the two youngest girls said in agreement.

"Your dress is so beautiful Fraulein Maria" Louisa exclaimed, unusually for her.

As the compliments and exclamations died down and the Sisters began to fuss around the girls, straightening bows and handing around their baskets of flowers, Liesl stepped up to Maria and said, just loud enough for her to hear, "You look absolutely beautiful…Mother."

The two shared a private moment and squeezed one another's hands, not wanting to crease Maria's dress by hugging, before Sister Margareta came over to them and handed Maria her bouquet of pink roses and edelweiss.

Just then the Reverend Mother stepped into the room and announced "Maria it's time."

The Sisters led Maria and the girls across the courtyard in the centre of the Abbey before coming to the back gates that led into the Cathedral. Maria and the Reverend Mother shared one last reassuring look between them before Maria stepped beyond the gates from her old life to her new.

She turned to face the altar, which seemed miles away, and she could just make out Georg, Max and the boys standing there looking down the aisle towards them. She could see the smirk that adorned Georg's face and, just as she was about to wonder about his unusual expression, she realised that he was watching his younger daughters making their way down the aisle. Maria could only imagine the concentrated expressions that were probably adorning their faces…'I will have to remember to ask Georg about it later'...she thought to herself, before she looked towards Liesl and gave her a slight nod to indicate for her to precede her down the aisle.

Maria took a steadying breath and then began to follow the others in the procession, all the while looking towards the altar and focusing on Georg as he came closer and closer Into view. When she was close enough to see his eyes, she could tell that he was looking at nothing but her in that moment.

As she reached him, Georg held out his hand to escort her the rest of the way up the altar to the Bishop. As their hands touched for the first time in weeks, an unbreakable connection between them was formed, and Georg squeezed her hand to reinforce this physically.

The Bishop started the ceremony in the usual fashion, but all that the couple could hear or see was each other. When it came time to say their vows, Maria had to nudge Georg when he didn't respond to the Bishop asking him to say his first.

Georg jumped when he realised what he was doing rather than what he was supposed to be doing and chuckled silently at the chastising look on Maria's face.

He then turned to face Maria, took her hands in his and looked her in the eyes as he said his wedding vows.

"I, Georg Johannes Ritter Von Trapp, take you Maria Augusta Rainer to be my beloved wife, soul mate and best friend. You have given me more than one person deserves, and I promise to attempt to give you back half of what you have given me and my family. I love you more than life itself and will continue to love you every day from this day forth." A tear silently slid down his cheek as he finished his vows of love and promise, and he squeezed Maria's hands as a reassuring gesture that it was all true.

Maria smiled broadly at him and almost missed the Bishop now calling upon her to speak her vows, caught up in the precious moment between herself and Georg. But she only hesitated a second before following Georg's lead and spoke her vows with strength and certainty.

"I, Maria Augusta Rainer, take you Georg Johannes Ritter Von Trapp to be my beloved husband, protector and confidant. You welcomed me into your family with open arms and a loving heart and that is more than I ever believed were in my future. I will love you and your children with all my heart and soul for the rest of my days and beyond." Maria gave his hands the same reassuring squeeze, and couldn't help the flood of tears that tracked down her face.

Georg gently reached up and wiped a thumb across her cheek, catching a fresh tear as it escaped her eye, and gave her a knowing and loving smile.

The Bishop then spoke up again, asking for the rings to finish off the ceremony. Friedrich stepped forward and handed them to Georg, who had taken them from their secure place in his jacket pocket just before the ceremony had commenced and given them to him.

Georg handed his ring to the Bishop but held Maria's ring to place it on her finger as the Bishop spoke the words to wed the couple.

When he asked the usual question, both Maria and Georg answered with a resounding and affirmative "I do."

When it was time, Georg gently slipped the ring onto Maria's hand, holding it securely in his, saying "With this ring I thee wed."

The Bishop then handed Maria the ring to place on Georg's finger so that she could reciprocate, also stating with certainty "With this ring I thee wed."

As they stared into one another's eyes, the Bishop pronounced them husband and wife to a cheering and congratulatory crowd. But Maria and Georg heard and saw none of this, only seeing the person standing in front of them, the person they loved.

It took the Bishop clearing his throat to get the couples attention before Georg looked away from Maria and heard him say he could kiss his bride.

Maria drew in a shaky breath at the anticipation she had been feeling all day for this very moment.

Georg once again gently ran a thumb along her cheek as he slowly drew her closer to him so he could kiss his beautiful bride. As their lips briefly touched, all of their spoken promises and words of love flowed through them with this connection.

All too quickly though they had to pull apart and face the society of Salzburg, and make their way back down the aisle as husband and wife.

Georg took Maria's arm in his reassuringly and led her towards their future. They made their way out of the Abbey, amidst applause and smiling faces, to the car that awaited them to drive them back to the Villa for the reception.

Georg helped Maria into the back seat, before walking around to the other side and climbing in beside her. As the car pulled away, they waved to the guests who had gathered outside already to see them off. The children stood their waving also before being gathered together by their Uncle Max and also driven back to the Villa.

When they were finally out of sight of the guests, Maria turned to Georg and let out a long sigh. Georg just looked at his wife knowingly before breaking into a fit of laughter. Maria, not knowing why, also joined in his laughter and leant against his shoulder before they both calmed down.

Georg wrapped his arm around her waist and they just sat there in companionable silence, before he shifted in his seat a moment later so he could look into her eyes, saying "Hello Baroness Von Trapp."

"Mmmmm I like the sound of that" Maria replied longingly.

"Well good, get used to it darling, because you will be hearing it a lot from now on" Georg affirmed, before leaning forward and placing another kiss on her lips, this time however, not so chastely.

Maria leaned further into Georg as he deepened the kiss, like he had wanted to do for the past seven weeks. She was still very aware of the driver in the front seat however, and after a few moments of barely restrained kissing, she reluctantly pulled back and reminded Georg of the same.

Georg groaned, but knew that Maria was right…they wouldn't want to make a scandal now after all their work in avoiding one. He kissed her gently on the cheek to show his annoyance at the need for their discretion, but he knew that it would not be much longer before they wouldn't have to show any restraint in their passions.

Maria giggled, sharing in Georg's frustration, and snuggled further into his side.

"I love you" she said for the first time in so many weeks.

"And I love you, my wife" Georg replied, pulling her into a tighter embrace.

The couple rode the rest of the way to the Villa in silence, only sharing gentle caresses and whispered words of love, knowing they had the rest of their lives together to be able to share in more.

To be continued…