Stowe, Vermont was a beautiful town - especially with all the winter scenery. Snow covering everything in sight made the town twinkle as the sunlight hit upon it.

Georg had spoiled his wife and youngest son to bits. In the store he had insisted they buy everything they tried on and modeled for him. Kurt patiently sat as his mother shopped and tried her clothing on first. He and his father sat on a bench near the dressing room as Maria came out with a new article on every few minutes or so, giving her a thumbs up and playful whistle with each new outift. When it was his finally Kurt's turn, he came out the first time to see his parents nestled on the couch, waiting for him to model a new suit. When the others finished their shopping in town, six more Von Trapps crowded the small dressing room to give their opinions. Finally, life was good.

-SOM-

Saturday afternoon and Maria laid out on the massive leather couch in the living room of the Von Trapp household. Georg was in his office tidying up a few things and the children were all upstairs, so Maria had the entire room to herself. She inhaled the sweet smell of the fire in front of her and took another light sip of her tea. As she placed the cup and saucer back on the coffee table, Kurt came strolling into the room, hands in his pockets looking a bit bored.

"Hey there." He plopped down next to his mother.

"Hi. Why aren't you upstairs with your brother and sisters?"

"Well Liesl is sorting through her things to pack up for when she heads back to school tomorrow and all the others are scrambling to finish homework assignments they've graciously put off until now due to all the excitement of you and I being home."

He turned to Maria and leaned his head back on the couch.

"Do I really have to go back to school on Monday?" He made a sad, puppy dog face, which made Maria laugh.

"Somehow I think it would be a problem if everybody else went and you stayed home."

"You know I thought of that, but I'm sure I could find something to keep me busy around here."

"Kurt, you're going to school. It's bad enough you've missed so much while we were traveling. And you're extremely lucky you're not behind for you age after the placement tests you took in New Hampshire over the summer."

Kurt merely nodded back in agreement and closed his eyes gently.

"I know, it just feels weird settling back into a routine like this you know?"

He opened his eyes and looked his mother in the eyes.

"It's like nothing ever happened. We're back to being a family and none of what we went through matters."

"It does matter, darling, but life goes on - moves forward. Just think of the adventures we'll have here in Vermont."

Maria gave him a peck on the top of his head as he leaned into his mother's embrace. They both sat there, gazing into the fire.

"It's just...well..."

"What?" Maria looked quizzically at her son.

"I suppose it's just going to take some getting used to having to share you that's all. I've been so spoiled it being just us for so long."

He smiled weakly at Maria, who reciprocated the emotion.

"I know exactly how you feel."

"Really you do?"

Maria nodded in response.

"Of course. As much fun as it is being with all seven of you, it was thoroughly exhausting keeping up with seven highly active children running around Salzburg back home. Not to sound like a terrible mother, but it was nice to be moving at a single pace with you for the time we had it, albeit a fast paced one moving constantly."

"That doesn't sound terrible to me at all. I will miss the closeness between us, the journeys we had to face together."

Maria sat up a bit and held Kurt's hands in hers.

"And I wouldn't trade any of those for the world." She reached up and held his face with her right hand.

"I owe you so much and am so grateful we went through everything together and I'll never forget a moment of it." Maria smiled and Kurt gave her a tight hug.

"Me too, despite all the bad, there was some good too. I'm glad to have things back to normal now I suppose. Feels good having a place to call home with father and everyone else."

The two settled back in on the couch, the rest of the house still quiet from all the studying going on upstairs. Georg walked into the living room to find his wife and son snuggling on the couch. He walked around the sofa and smiled down on them.

"Room for one more have you?"

Maria extended her free arm and her husband sank down beside her.

"Now this is what I call a perfect afternoon. Two of my favorite people on either side of me."

Kurt and Georg looked past Maria at each other.

"You know, Kurt, your mother's a lucky woman to have had you with her through the past three years. I'm eternally grateful to you for keeping her safe."

Kurt swelled with pride at his father's compliment. This is what he had been missing out on for the time they were separated. He took his father's comment with the highest regard.

"Thank you, sir. I just did what I knew you would have done. We just wanted to make it safely back to you and the others."

"Well you certainly succeeded...and Maria told me about the miscarriage this week, too."

Kurt's gaze shifted from his father to his mother. Maria nodded at him.

"It's okay. I told him everything...how strong you were...how brave you were...how you nurtured me and were at my side through the entire ordeal."

"I think that was the most terrifying moment of my entire life. I knew I wouldn't have been able to deal with losing two mothers in one lifetime so I knew I had to make sure she was all right, for everybody's sake."

"I know I speak for your mother and siblings when I say thank you for that, as well."

"No need, really. I know everyone would have done the same in my place. I'm the one who should really be thanking you. You had to look after six others besides yourself, I had it easy compared to you." A smile tugging at the corners of Kurt's mouth.

"Flattery will not get you out of accepting my gratitude, young man," Georg replied, a smile no on his lips as well.

In unison, the trio laid their heads back on the couch and propped up their feet on the table. Maria's hands were at her lap with Kurt and Georg clasping theirs around one of hers.

"I promise," Georg began. "To keep you both, as well as the entire family, safe for as long as I possibly can. I'll do anything to make sure we're never apart again."

"I think I like the sound of that, captain." Maria nestled her head onto her husband's shoulder, causing Kurt to do the same to her.

"Same goes for me." And Kurt stifled a yawn as they all snuggled in closer.

"After all, after everywhere we've journeyed thus far, it's high time we were able to settle down, in our home, with our entire family."

"You know, Maria, I couldn't agree with you more. What do you think, Kurt?"

But Kurt had already drifted off to sleep on his mother's shoulder as Maria and Georg glanced down at their son.

Seizing the opportunity, Maria and Georg stole a few quick kisses before closing their eyes for a slight slumber themselves.

Yes, life had thrown the Von Trapp family enough torment and hardship to last many lifetimes. They were content the way things were going, after all, it was a brand new year; a fresh start. From now on they would face any journey together, as an entire family.

* Well that's it! A HUGE thank you to all my faithful readers who supported this story from the very beginning. I obviously couldn't have made it this far without all your helpful comments and reviews =) I truly appreciate everything from everybody who commented along the way. Thank you, thank you, thank you! *