A/N: Before we begin, I wanted to make a few notes for this. First, I want to thank TheCaptainandThePostulant. They very kindly let me adapt the "arranged marriage" idea after I was inspired by their story "Time Will Tell." Second, this is my first time writing a Sound of Music FanFiction and my first FF story in a very long time. Any constructive criticism or advice would be greatly appreciated!

The title comes from Taylor Swift's song "gold rush" off her album evermore.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except Hedwig von Trapp and Franz Rainer, although they are based on their real-life counterparts.

Hedwig von Trapp was a patient woman. She prided herself on that. She also thought that she was quite understanding. After all, she knew what it was like to lose a spouse. Grieving is a long and arduous process.

HOWEVER. Her son had been pushing the limits as of late – far too much. Putting down the phone with a huff, Hedwig walked out of the parlor and upstairs to the family side of her son's home. She supposed that it really should just be called a villa now. There was a massive hole in this place. Well, two holes at this point. There was no warmth, no bond between her grandchildren and son anymore, and hardly any life in this house.

The older, elegant woman headed to the playroom turned schoolroom in the nursery, and peaked her head in the room. A small smile grew across her face seeing her seven grandchildren quietly play during their scheduled free time. Hedwig concealed herself as much as she could behind the door as she watched them. Liesl was entertaining an extremely vocal Gretl who recently began talking up a storm as of late. Friedrich and Kurt were playing with their toy battleships, gifts from their last Christmas with their mother. Louisa looked like she was being tortured as an incredibly determined Marta dressed her up in an old dress-up collection Hedwig had pulled from the attic. Lastly, as usual, Brigitta was reading a book on the window seat, removed from the others. There was a permanent air of sadness surrounding the children, although the older ones tried to bring up the young ones' spirits.

The poor dears. They deserved so much more than the tragic death of their mother and an absent father. They needed him back and settled in this mansion along with some sort of mother figure.

Outside, things were not going well either. Hedwig knew her son was making bad decisions, not only for himself but for his children and their family standing in society. After hearing the tales of her son's adventures over the last few weeks, she knew it was time to take control.

With newfound resolve and determination, Hedwig went down the stairs. She found Franz, the butler, in the main hallway.

"Franz, please inform the driver to prepare the car."

Georg could not remember where he was or what he was doing. Everything was dark, and there was a distinct mixture of alcohol and sweat. His head hurt slightly, and he was dehydrated. As he sat up in a mess of sheets and clothes, everything came rushing back. Oh.

He had somehow ended up in a hotel in Vienna after spending the night doing rather unspeakable things in a club on the rougher side of town completely blacked out. Like the night before, and the night before that, and the night before that night. This had been the way.

He needed to numb the pain. He needed not to think anymore, he did not want to feel. It brought up too many painful memories and feelings he could not bear. There was a gaping hole in his chest, and it was suffocating. He knew it wasn't right, and it wasn't healthy, but he didn't know how else to handle it. This is how he was when he was younger, albeit with a much larger drinking problem. Before her, his beloved wife. Before she had helped ground him. Before their children. Before she left.

He needed another drink.

Just as he was about to stand up, there was a knock at the door, and it slightly opened, flooding where Georg was sitting on the edge of the bed with light.

"Uh, excuse me, Georg. You have someone here for you," came a disembodied male voice from the doorway.

Ah, Max. Georg thought. So that's how he got to the hotel instead of waking up in the back of a bar.

After processing Max's words, Georg winced. Who on Earth would be here for him? Who would even know he was here besides Max? He stood up, but that made the world spin, so he fell back into the bed.

"…I'll let her know you need a few minutes. She is waiting in the sitting room. Uh, make sure you put on your clothes," Max muttered before shutting the door, leaving Georg enclosed in darkness.

The tired widower opened his eyes once the door had been shut and sighed. There was only one woman he could think of that would be here to lecture him—his mother.

"Dear, you reek of alcohol. Couldn't you have showered? You look a complete mess," his mother sniffed.

She looked the picture of a put-together lady of Austrian society, settled on the couch in the front room of her son's hotel suite. Her long blue coat and hat brought out her startling eyes, remarkably similar to Georg's own, as he entered the room. The older woman glanced over him again, taking a more critical look at his disheveled appearance: hair uncombed, shirt and pants from last night crinkled.

Georg sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, his headache immediately worsening. His mind was still sluggish from his exploits. He didn't even know what time it was.

"I figured we might as well get this over with," he answered. "What are you doing here?" The retired naval captain moved further into the room to grab the coffee cup that rested on the table next to his mother's tea.

Hedwig rolled her eyes and stood up.

"I am trying to save you from yourself now, Georg. This must stop. You are out of control! Drinking day and night! Sleeping around and neglecting your duties as a parent," she exclaimed while demonstrating her distress by waving her arms around as she spoke.

Georg didn't know how to respond. Looking away, he sank onto a chair across from the couch and took a long sip of his hot coffee. The widower knew she was right. Truthfully, he was surprised that his mother had waited this long to confront him. Most of the time his mother couldn't help but stick her nose in anyone's business, especially his own.

"Darling, I've tried to give you space and let you deal with your grief, but now I realize you aren't dealing with it," Hedwig spat out. "You are galivanting around Vienna, not only to ruin yourself but the von Trapp name."

Georg opened his mouth to protest, but Hedwig held up her hand.

"You asked how I knew you were here, well, let me tell you! I heard from not one, not two, but three separate people about your exploits around the city these last few weeks, nay, MONTHS!"

Hedwig began pacing and waving her arms around the room again as she continued.

"Georg, people are paying attention. They know what you have been doing and will begin to talk. It's been almost three years; sympathy is running out. You need to settle down, and I have a plan for that," his mother finished with triumph.

Georg's eyes opened wide, and his mouth dropped open. His mother's plans never meant good news for him. What had she come up with now?

"Maria, this is the only way."

The young strawberry blonde stared back at her uncle with a blank look on her face. Had she heard what she thought she heard?

"I don't understand. How is this a possibility?" Maria asked, seeking some clarity.

Franz Rainer smiled and clapped his hands together.

"Hedwig von Trapp, an old acquaintance, reached out to me, knowing you have returned from your studies abroad. She needs someone married to Captain von Trapp to take care of his children, and due to our recent financial struggles, this is the perfect solution."

Maria continued to stare blankly. Her uncle's words were not processing. Marriage? She never wanted to get married. After returning from college, Maria wanted to devote her life to God, and her uncle knew that.

Why did she have to pay the price for her uncle's gambling and misuse of her inheritance? Her mind was racing, and she stood up. She did not even know this man, Captain von Trapp. What was his given name? How many children did he have? Maybe one or two, right? She remembered meeting his eldest, a girl, before Maria left for school four years ago.

"Are there any other ways to pay your debts, Uncle?"

The look on Franz's face went from one of joy to a dark, unsettling expression, and he slowly stalked over to where Maria sat.

"My debts?" he spat. "Don't forget you played a part in this as well. If I didn't have to worry about you and be responsible for you all of these years, I wouldn't have had the stress and even started gambling because of you. Don't forget what I've done for you. Getting married is the least you could do to pay me back if you wanted to be a grateful niece," he continued, his voice laced with malice. "You are going to do this; we have no other option unless you would rather take another less savory route."

Maria sighed and looked down, knowing that she had no other choice.

"I understand, Uncle."

"Excellent. You will be meeting the captain and his family two days from now. Please be on your best behavior. You will need to impress not only him but his mother as well."

"Maria, so lovely to see you. My word, you have grown into a beautiful young woman!"

Maria gave a small smile as she entered the parlor of 53 Aigen. She remembered Hedwig von Trapp, now her soon-to-be mother-in-law. She was always kind and welcoming at the societal events Maria scarcely attended before she went off to school.

"It is so good to see you, Frau von Trapp," Maria responded. Hedwig kissed her on both cheeks, after taking in her dark grey dress that admittedly fit her poorly. It was the best she could come up with on such short notice – she didn't exactly have the largest collection of clothes either, since her uncle controlled the finances.

"Oh please, dear, do call me Hedwig. We will be family soon after all!" the brunette exclaimed. "Hello, Franz. How are you doing?"

"Excellent, Hedwig. I'm thrilled we were able to come to this arrangement." Franz settled down into a chair in the bright room.

"As am I, Franz. I think this will be a wonderful solution to both of our problems," Hedwig responded with a knowing nod.

Maria averted her gaze as she sat down on the couch. At least someone was happy with this situation. She realized she did not even remember what Captain von Trapp looked like; it had been years since she had seen at her first ball. However, she knew he was not in the room yet, neither were his children. Where was he? This was not starting well. Maria began fidgeting in her seat and wringing her hands together. She still struggled with sitting still, despite being twenty-two years old, much to her uncle's chagrin.

"Forgive Georg for not being here yet," Hedwig noted. "He should be on his way down."

"I am, in fact, here," Georg stated as he brusquely marched his way through the door.

Maria's eyes widened once she got a full view of Captain von Trapp. He was tall, tanned skin, clean-shaven, and piercing blue eyes brought out by the grey-blue suit he wore. She also noticed he had a scar on his lower chin. She fidgeted in her seat again and averted her eyes once they met his.

"Fraulein Rainer," Georg murmured after approaching her. He took her hand in his and pressed a light kiss to the back of it. After letting go of her hand, he quickly glanced over appearance. She thought she saw his eyes narrow in slight disgust at her dress. She furrowed her brow. How rude! Maybe he was a snob. After all, his family was well established in Austrian society. His father was a knight for Lord's sake, and he was a Baron! Maria began feeling even more out of place than she already felt. He quickly moved across the room, not making eye contact as he settled into a chair next to his mother. "Wonderful to meet you again."

"Likewise."

Tension settled in the room as everyone waited for someone to break the ice. Hedwig glanced between the affianced and stood up while clapping her hands together, deciding to move this party along.

"Does anyone want tea while we discuss this arrangement?"

"Oh, yes, don't mind if I do, Hedwig," Franz responded, reaching for one of the freshly filled teacups Hedwig placed on the table. He moved to put some milk in his as Maria scooped three spoonsful of sugar. She had a horrible sweet tooth. Georg refused tea and sat back in his chair, avoiding eye contact from anyone in the room.

"Now, I believe that we should have the wedding within the next six months. I think it will be prudent for all of this to be settled relatively quickly," Franz began.

"I agree; we previously discussed that we should announce the engagement in two weeks with a grand and glorious engagement party!" Hedwig gushed.

As Hedwig and Franz continued to set plans, Maria's heart sank to her stomach. She had not spoken more than two words to this man, and the wedding was practically scheduled. She wasn't even sure what she thought of the captain. Indeed, he was handsome, there was no denying that. However, there seemed to be something brewing underneath the surface that she couldn't quite read. She didn't want to trust him.

At least he didn't seem to be too thrilled at the idea of being remarried to a young woman twenty years his junior. He hardly even looked at her after he greeted her. Despite this, she did think it was ridiculous he still needed to be guided by his mother. She was certain he wasn't quiet yet forty, but nearly there. Not to mention, what kind of father was he? Where even were the children? There had to be at least two from what memories she pieced together of hearing about the famous Captain von Trapp the last two days. When would she even meet the children? How would they react to her?

Suddenly feeling overwhelmed with all these questions, Maria stood abruptly. Hedwig turned to her with a look of curiosity on her face as the wedding discussion paused.

"Maria, dear, is everything alright?"

"Oh yes, of course. I just need some fresh air. Is it all right if I take a walk?"

Hedwig smiled. "Certainly! Georg do be a gentleman and show her around the grounds. Maybe she would enjoy seeing the garden as well."

"Yes, excellent, idea, Mother," came the Captain's curt response as he stood with one tense arm extended.

Maria looked at his arm as she stepped forward and reluctantly took it. Arm and arm, they exited the parlor and headed into the main hallway.

I hope you've enjoyed! xx