disclaimer: I make no money out of this and I own nothing.

warning: Lesser language compared to the first chapter, first bits contain implied violence.

a/n: Thank you so much to those who left their reviews! They're highly appreciated.

For the Guest who asked if it's a modern fic, no- this is directly months after the movie (which I think is 1938 so that'll make this 1939). Anyways, I was thinking of writing a modern version of this later in the future (if I'm lucky enough) and I'll try to publish it as soon as I can.

Aside from those, I don't think I have other stuff to say. Please leave a review and feel free to contact me for grammar/spelling errors. Thank you!

TWO

Maria,

You won the quarrel

We thought you dead

So give me the Schlüssel

Or we'll cut your family's head

Library, 2300. I'll wait, Blume.

- Alex

Georg looked around at their less-than-stellar train cabin and curled his upper-lip in disgust. This is the reason why he had never stepped on a third-class ride before this. He's only grateful now that his family is safe, and they have their ways of turning the horrific roomette into something worth staying with– even if it means singing various nursery rhymes and their favourite things for hours straight.

Watching his wife blend with the children, he found himself thanking the lord for bringing such a wonderful woman to their lives. For weeks she's been looking out for each of them, comforting everyone– including him– due to sudden changes.

Most of the time he feels guilty for being too busy, they've been spending less time with each other lately.

"Okay children, time for sleep," Maria told them as they finished the lonely goatherd. She looked around their cabin for the first time, face showing the same of her husband's just minutes ago. The two locked their eyes, the same question in their mind: how do we fit nine people to sleep in this dreadfully small place?

Liesl and Brigitta, who were thinking of the question for some time, began to move and arrange their siblings in a sitting position (one they knew most of them could sleep with).

Maria and Georg observed them as Friedrich and Liesl sat at either side, with Gretl lying on her eldest sister's lap while Martha sat beside them, her head on Luisa's thighs. Kurt sat between his mother and Friedrich while Brigitta rested on the floor, with a book in her hands as her eldest brother held a flashlight for her.

"Are you alright there, darling?" Maria first asked, letting Kurt settle his head on her lap as well.

Brigitta nodded without tearing her eyes off the book, "Yes, mother."

Maria glanced at Georg, silently asking him the same question. She knew he was restless for weeks. He made a lot of arrangements and connections just to solve the peaking financial issues, been busy conceiving deals with the English-Navy-People, and a tight third-class train cabin is not really an ideal place to have a well-deserved rest.

"I love you," Georg mouthed to her, leaning on the compartment door frame as he closed his eyes– trying to sleep despite the violent shaking from the train.

She giggled in silence when he raised his head and mocked glare at the metallic frame. "I love you too," she whispered back. Her gaze went to the children, who are all sleeping– or trying not to open their eyes. Even Brigitta, who was reading moments ago, has her head on Friedrich's lap.

We're all fine, she mused in relief, Alex was just bluffing…

Her last moments in Switzerland suddenly jumped in her mind:

"Mother, look!" Gretl said as the two of them stood waiting for the others from the restroom, "It's Herr Alejandro!"

Before she could say a thing, she turned and saw Alejandro swatting down to her daughter's height, "Grüezi, junges mädchen!"

"Grüezi!" the five-year-old beamed, "Are you going to England too?"

Ricardo stood up and smirked at the girl's mother, "No, I- uhm.. only here to- er.. accueillir un ami."

Gretl looked at her mother, clearly puzzled. "He said he's here to welcome a friend, darling," Maria whispered, unsure of his motives.

"Ooooh bon jeu d'acteur, Baroness."

"Qu'est-ce que tu veux de moi?" Maria glowered, taking small glances at the bathroom– hoping for any sign of Georg and the others.

Ricardo looked smug as he winked at Gretl, "C'est simple, Blume. Alex se demande si tu prévois de venir."

She snapped her head to him, her eyes filled with horror, "Enfoiré," she silently hissed, "Tu m'as menti."

"Everyone does, Baroness.." he smirked, patting Gretl's head, "Your mother's a smart woman kid. Don't be fooled."

Gretl hugged her mother and nodded to him, "Sure she is the most smart, I love her so much! I didn't know you could speak French, mother!" she said that last bit, excited eyes looking up at Maria.

"I bet you don't," Alejandro winked at his old friend, "I better go, my friend doesn't like waiting."

Maria rolled her eyes and brought Gretl closer to her, "I bet he doesn't."

After that conversation, her hands began to sweat. She's steaming with frustration and fright. Although the odds that Alex and Ricardo were bluffing are very likely, she can never forgive herself if any of the children or Georg are hurt.

She can never live with the guilt.

"Are you alright, Maria?" Georg asked as she finished counting their heads for the nth time.

Maria nodded, "Uh-huh… I'm- well… could be nervous," she said truthfully, though she knew he didn't know why. He doesn't need to know yet, she thought after numerous reconsiderations. She argued with herself regarding the matter, she convinced herself with the fact that she can't uncover a secret in the middle of relocation.

Before they entered the compartment, he cupped her face and planted a kiss on her lips. "Everything's going to be alright, mein Maria." He leaned in again for a peck and caressed her cheeks, "I won't let anything happen to us."

She held his hands tightly and took a deep breath. A month ago, when they were escaping the Nazis, he also said the same thing. Her eyes began to water, realising he didn't even know what she's stressing about– yet he stopped in the middle of the corridor just to comfort her.

"Maria?" he spoke in concern, brushing the tears away. He's aware it's a busy train, but his wife is more important at the moment, "Darling?"

Not having the energy to prevent more tears from falling, Maria flashed him a smile and embraced him tightly, her head resting on the place between his shoulder and neck, "I'm fine, darling. Just- nothing. I'm fine~ I'm completely fine.."

If it weren't for the conductor who sneered at them for blocking the way, Maria brushed her tears as they entered the cabin. She did a last headcount before letting relief flow through her veins. She thanked the lord for having a husband like Georg and for keeping her family safe.

Georg made a mental note on being a better husband for her. He can't believe they've been married for almost two months, yet the most thoughtful thing he had done for her was way back in their honeymoon.

The train began to move as the cold breeze of early January showed signs of light rain. The heat of their cabin is enough to keep the von Trapp family warm. Gretl and Martha waved on the window, as if 'bidding Switzerland goodbye' as the older one explained. The children had their own worlds before they all fell into an awkward silence brought by boredom, which was eventually solved by singing and playing 'train-games.'

The train stopped for the last time, and the von Trapp children were tired. For the past couple of hours– they stop at stations, change stations, carry their heavy luggages, place them on a different train, settle on an uncomfortable cabin, and repeat.

"Mother," Liesl called as they walked across the aisle, "Are we–" she trailed off, groaning when her baggage slipped off her gloved hand.

Maria looked back to quickly see if her daughter's alright, then she answered the unfinished question, "I suppose we are. Your father said an uncle of yours should be waiting for us somewhere on the platform."

"Probably Uncle Andrew," the eldest daughter mumbled. At the sound of the name, Kurt and Luisa exchanged amused looks– mischief in their eyes. Friedrich, who has Martha on his back, can't help but grin when he hears the name of his uncle. Their mother watched in fascination as how a name caused a sudden burst of energy among the children. Even Gretl, who's riding her husband's back, made walking harder for Georg by inquiring about this 'Uncle Andrew' to her older brothers and sisters (but mostly to Brigitta, who told her what she remembered of the man).

"They seemed excited," Maria whispered to Georg as they finally managed to leave the train and the crowd of people that surrounded it.

Georg, who's trying not to choke with his youngest daughter's arms, chuckled with her when the children could not contain their silence anymore, "Yes, your Uncle Andrew is picking us up." That only caused them to cheer enthusiastically, attracting some nosy eyes on the platform that their parents needed to shush them.

"Ah~ I knew it wouldn't be that of a challenge," spoke a tall man, whom Maria awfully recognized, "You're all behaving like chimpanzees!"

His eyes met Maria's with an equal amount of identification and surprise. Both are wondering why on earth the other is standing in front of them. "Well well well," he started, looking at her quite flirtatiously.

"Eyes off my wife, Andrew." Georg teased, noticing the way the other man looked at Maria. He turned to his wife and gestured, "Darling, this is Andrew Whitehead. He's...uh- Agathe's brother– the children's uncle. Andrew," he threw an authoritative glare at the other man, "She's my wife, Maria."

Andrew offered a hand to shake, smirking at the familiar woman before him, "How do you do, Baroness."

Maria raised her eyebrows and accepted his hand, "Pleasure to finally meet you, sir." Her tone surprised both her and Georg as Andrew waved his hands dismissively while balancing Martha on his arm.

"Please, call me Andrew- or Uncle Andrew. We both know I don't look older than- well.. uh- older to be called with such formalities."

The group started walking out of the platform as the children began gambolling towards their uncle while the railway helpers helped them with their bags. Georg, who's finally free of Gretl's murderous agitation, wrapped his arms around his wife as they follow behind– both watching the poor man deal with their children.

He took some time to look at his wife and noticed how she scrutinised his brother-in-law from afar. He could sense her uneasiness so he kissed her forehead and whispered to her, "You alright there, mein Maria?"

She leaned in on his touch and rested her head on his shoulder, humming in response. She closed her eyes and sighed, "I'll be. It's been a tiring day."

There's a comforting silence between the two before Maria spoke her mind, "Do you think the Whiteheads will accept me?"

Georg pursed his lips and thought for a moment. He knew the Countess would love her, but to explain further will be… hard. He can't describe in words the reasons why he thinks Gräfin Whitehead will like her, he just plainly knew it.

"She will," he ended up muttering.

"But I- uhh… wouldn't it be awkward or–"

"Maria," Georg interrupted her, stopping them on their tracks. He placed his hands on her shoulders and moved his thumb on circular motions against the fabric, "Don't you... ever doubt… your charm."

"Charm?"

He nodded, "Darling, you are the most genuine and thoughtful person I know. As much as I hate to admit that dear old John, may he rest in peace, would probably be grumpy and all to you like he was to me– I am sure his wife won't be. Gräfin Whitehead will adore you and I'm sure you will too once you meet her."

Maria seemed to be convinced, but her face still shows signs of anxiousness. She bit her lip, letting Georg wrap his arm around her once more as they caught up with the children and Andrew. She knew she could trust Andrew– despite having limited knowledge of him.

She remembered the conversation she had with Ricardo again:

"Everyone does, Baroness.." he smirked at her.

The bastard lied to her on the mountains, he tricked her with his false intentions. The whole scheme began to unfold in her mind, he asked her to meet him there to let his friend verify if it's really her.

She scolded herself for her foolishness. She should've known– she could remember the times Alex Couteau mocked her feelings for Ricardo, telling her that someday the enfoiré (as how Ricardo was labelled) will betray her.

"And when you do live the moment, just remember that I'm laughing behind your back– probably with a knife to stab you with in the future, or a gun (who knows)."

Back then, her madness won over– so despite being tied up and vulnerable, she managed to cackle maniacally; scaring him in the process. She swore that hell would freeze by the time Ricardo (who was her fiancé at the time) betrayed her.

Satan's probably wearing layers by now, she thought.

Her eyes found Andrew Whitehead again, who's waiting for them from below the stairs. The children were all seated on the limo with their belongings, everyone's just waiting for them.

Maria wondered again when and where she met Andrew before. It's obvious he's familiar with her as well, but she doubts he knows her name until now (and she also knew his name until Georg introduced them).

"Good Lord blessed you again with another slow walker," the man mocked Georg as the couple finally reached the limo. The three entered the luxurious car and they finally drove away, on their way to the Villa Whitehead.

Jesus bloody Christ, Andrew mused, trying his best not to stare at his brother-in-law's wife, Georg married the Kutschera girl. This is going to be a fucking interesting year.

a/n: I wanna finish this chapter with some clarification. Correct me if I'm wrong but John Whitehead died in 1902 from stomach cancer. I didn't know it until I searched it, so I guess the power of fiction keeps the man alive for some time now (not that I'm complaining).

I also discovered that Agathe was the first daughter and third child but in this fic, I'm making her the oldest child.

Andrew is someone I just made up, I don't know Agathe's real sibling's name so I made Andrew up. We'll know more about him in the future so hehe. Tysm! Again, please leave a review and stay safe!