This story assumes that Maria and Georg had a little longer between returning from their honeymoon and fleeing the Nazis. Enjoy!

"It'll be lovely, Georg," Maria said one morning. "We'll take the children out to the mountain and I can show you one of my favorite places."

He smiled at her across the bedroom. "It sounds just fine. Only what will they wear?"

"They still have the play clothes I made for them a few months ago."

He pursed his lips. "I thought you might say that."

"And you hate them, don't you?"

"I wouldn't say I hate them. They were the work of your hands, after all, and they led me, eventually, to you."

"But…?"

"But they are ugly as sin."

Maria smiled. "Of course, darling, but we can buy them something else to wear."

"There won't be time today. You'll have to take them out shopping today and we'll all go out tomorrow."

"Oh, but the children have been so looking forward to the outing today. You wouldn't disappoint them, would you?"

"Then we're right back where we started," Georg pointed out. "I want to take my children-"

"Our children," Maria corrected him.

"Our children on an outing, but not in those hideous things you call play clothes."

"Well, perhaps they have something else they can wear," she suggested.

Georg suddenly looked at Maria from head to toe. "Wait a moment."

She looked down at herself. "What is it?"

"What's that you're wearing?"

"Oh, just a blouse. And my slip, of course. I haven't put on the dress yet that goes with it."

"I see that," Georg replied appreciatively.

Maria blushed. "Let me get dressed then." She went to the closet and pulled out a light-colored dress.

"And what is that?" Georg asked.

"You've seen me in it, darling. I suppose you could say these are my play clothes."

He tilted his head to one side and smiled. "Ah, yes, I remember. I believe the last time I saw you wearing that was when we had that terrible row."

She laughed. "Yes, you're right."

"You were soaking wet, if I recall correctly."

"Well, yes, I was. Of course you just had to point that out. You couldn't allow me to keep my dignity." She gave a dramatic sigh.

"Take it as a compliment, my dear. You were utterly charming."

Maria looked at him, surprised. "Charming? Looking like a drowned rat and shouting at you?"

Georg took a few steps toward his wife. "Perhaps you've never thought of it, but there's a…"

"Yes?"

"Hmmm, a lot more visible through a wet dress than a dry one."

Maria's eyes widened. "Georg!"

He advanced further on her. "You're scandalized, I can see," he observed. "But you won't be for long. You'll get used to it. Used to me."

Maria took a few steps back.

"You did promise to be married to me for the rest of your life."

"I did," she agreed breathlessly.

Georg stopped. "Now, Maria, I haven't frightened you, have I?"

She smiled a little. "Frightened? No. Confused, I would say."

"Then I will go slowly and explain anything you don't understand."

"Now I really have no idea what is happening."

Georg turned and went to the bedroom door. He looked at her over his shoulder. Click. "I've locked the door."

"Why?" she wanted to know.

He turned and took a few steps in Maria's direction. "Because I- that is, we have seven children."

"Yes?"

He moved closer. "Seven children who might try to come in here at any moment."

Maria's back was up against the wall. "And we don't want that?" she wondered.

Georg reached the place where she was standing and shook his head. He leaned in and kissed her once, then pulled back slightly. "Do you understand?"

"I might," she answered, her voice wavering.

He kissed her again, for longer this time. Then he took the dress, still in her hands, and tossed it onto a chair.

"But Georg," Maria protested. "It's nine-thirty in the morning!"

He laughed quietly. "Yes, my dear, it is."

"Isn't this sort of thing meant to be done at night?" she whispered, blushing.

"I think you'll find that this kind of play can happen at any time, as long as you lock the door." He kissed her again.

Maria nodded, her equilibrium returning. "I see."

"Do you? And you want to… play?"

She smiled mischievously. "What I understand is that there may not be time for an outing today after all."

His smile grew until he resembled, in Maria's mind, nothing more than a very handsome wolf. She prepared herself to be devoured. Georg leaned in again and took her earlobe between his teeth. Maria gasped and closed her eyes. He began to kiss her neck and his fingers crept under the hem of her blouse.

The bedroom door suddenly rattled. "Father! Mother!"

"We'll be out in a little while, Kurt!" Maria called out.

Georg whispered in her ear. "Impressive composure. But if he comes back in a few minutes, you won't be able to speak."

"Darling, have you ever seen me speechless?" she asked him.

"No, but there's a first time for everything."

She raised her eyebrows. He pulled her by the hand until they were standing beside the bed. She glanced at the sheets, still rumpled from the night before, before looking into her husband's eyes. "Well," she said. "Do your worst, Captain."

The end.