They held hands as they left the dress shop, Maria waving to the owner as they shared a smile. After being pushed into buying so many new clothes when Georg had proposed fo her, she found that there was a shop she preferred. The owner was an older woman, and she had a grandmother kind of quality that Maria found incredibly appealing. She had spent quite a few afternoons chatting with the woman on her trips into town for various tasks, and at one point she had even thought about inquiring after part-time work in the shop. She wouldn't have minded at all helping with some dressmaking a few days a week. It would at least give her something meaningful to do, as she found the day-to-day life of the villa to be quite unfulfilling at times.

The doctors appointment had gone very well, and they were told to expect test results back within the next couple of days. Though she wasn't sure she even needed a test to tell her she was pregnant, she already knew in her heart that she was. She had always felt that kind of connection to her body, perhaps more likely it was God keeping her in touch, she wondered. Nevertheless, she knew a child was growing deep inside of her, and she could hardly contain her excitement.

"You're already glowing." She laughed at her husband's comment as they looked over the lunch menu, having been seated at a lovely table toward the back of the restaurant, just next to the window so they could see the sun trying its best to shine through the billowing clouds.

"That's impossible, I have to go through the months of feeling and looking disgusting before we get to glowing, I should think." He laughed as well, and they both remembered how sick she had been with her first pregnancy. It was difficult to know if they were supposed to discuss it or not, each afraid in their own way to breach the topic for fear of bringing back such painful memories to the other.

"You never looked disgusting."

"I think I washed my face twelve times a day to avoid it." They shared a laugh, and he felt relief that she didn't expect him to dig deeper into feelings at the moment. It was a happy occasion after all.

"The salmon is good here." She nodded, having been eyeing the dish for a moment herself. "By the way, I didn't realize you were such good friends with the lady at the dress shop."

"Oh yes, isn't she just lovely? She reminds me of what a grandmother should be." He laughed, closing his menu as he had decided what he wanted.

"I'm surprised she's still here. Things are feeling…tense around town." Maria shrugged, never having paid much attention to the fact that the woman was Jewish, but it was certainly obvious who was those days.

"Yes, well…I suppose she's in the same position all of us are. Nobody really knows what to do or expect." He nodded, and she took a drink of her water as the waiter came to take their order.

"Let's change the subject." She smiled, taking a roll from the basket on the table and pulling off a bite.

"How about we discuss the fact that you and I have never been out to eat together."

"I can't believe it's true."

"It is definitely true. Our courtship was spent in a bedroom." She raised her eyebrows teasingly, taking another bite of her roll.

"I don't recall you ever complaining at the time." He raised his eyebrows as well, and she felt herself blushing a bit. He laughed at her reaction. "It's amazing to me that I can still make you blush."

"It's quite easy, unfortunately. A game you and Hede both love to play."

"It's never a game with me. I love watching your cheeks turn pink."

"With embarrassment? Thanks." She sarcastically replied.

"Not always. I like when your skin is flushed for other reasons too." She bit her lip, stifling a smile as their waiter brought their food.

As they ate they chatted about many subjects, nothing too serious or necessarily meaningful, but it was relaxing and calm for the first time in a long time. They lovingly teased and flirted, feet touching occasionally beneath the table. The high of her pregnancy was enveloping both of them, making them feel excited for their next chapter. So many difficulties in their lives had tried to outweigh the good, and it had been a struggle to remain positive. She had to admit that her own life had always felt a bit like a whirlwind, but bringing a husband and seven children into the mix certainly heightened the intensity.

"Do you think the children are happy?" He smiled at her question, so innocent, yet so serious.

"Yes, I think they are. Aside from Friedrich's episode yesterday, they all seem to be doing quite well. Don't you think?" She nodded, taking one last drink of her water as they finished their meal.

"You mentioned taking a family vacation a few months ago. Perhaps it's time to start thinking about that?"

"That does sound lovely. Where would you like to go?" She smiled as the waiter brought the check, clearing their empty plates from the table.

"I don't know, really. I've never been outside of Austria."

"What about the beach? You've at least been to a beach."

"No, never. You could take me anywhere, and it would all be new to me." She smiled with joy, and he chuckled at her childlike excitement. He loved that quality about her, the innocent excitement she showed toward the simplest of things.

"I would love to see you in a swimming suit." She scoffed, but couldn't stop a smile from gracing her lips.

"Is that all you ever think about?"

"Right now, yes. You look stunning today."

"I do?" She looked down to her clothes, laughing. They were nothing special, necessarily, just a white blouse and a black skirt. Her hair and makeup were exactly the same as she wore them everyday, though she had been letting her hair grow out a bit out of curiosity.

"It's nothing to do with your clothes, Maria. When you're happy, your entire soul shines through your eyes. You look absolutely beautiful."

"Georg, honestly." She smiled bashfully as he took her hand that was resting upon the table. "Is this what a date with you is always like?"

"I should have shown you long before now, my love." He kissed her hand, and she felt her stomach warm in response. He always knew how to make her feel like she was melting.

Suddenly, she heard shouting from outside, screaming and yelling, a mixture of anger and panic. She turned her attention toward the window, looking outside to find the dress shop they had just left completely engulfed in flames. She gasped, Georg turning quickly to assess the situation, and he immediately stood from his seat to get a better look.

Thankfully, Maria could see the shop owner on the sidewalk, and she was relieved that the woman made it out of the building. There was obviously no way to save anything inside though, as the flames rose high, black smoke billowing from the windows and into the sky. Georg tossed some money onto the table for their food and grabbed her hand, pulling her with him as they exited the restaurant. She slid into her coat as they rushed down the sidewalk toward their car, looking back to see swarms of people rushing to the shop, sirens heard in the distance as the fire raged on.

"Is there anything we can do? Should we have stayed with her?" She tried to pull away, but Georg only tightened his grip upon her hand, forcing her to follow him to the car. As she looked back once again, she saw men smashing the windows of the building next to the dress shop, a few others pushing and beginning to argue and fight in the street. It had quickly become a riotous situation, and she knew the answer to her questions: there was nothing they could do, and they needed to get out of there. What she thought was an accidental fire was in fact started intentionally, and she felt sick at the realization.

Upon entering the car, Georg quickly put it in gear and sped away toward the villa, passing emergency vehicles along the way. Maria could hardly breathe from nerves, unable to wrap her mind around what she had just witnessed. Never in her life had she seen such anger, such violence from a group of strangers, and it felt haunting. She supposed Georg felt the same, as his face looked pale from across the car.

When they were about halfway home, he pulled off onto a side road, effectively hiding the car from view. She looked around, feeling nervous, but noting that they were in fact alone. He met her eyes, silence engulfing the car, and she took his hand in her own. They were both left quite speechless by what had just occurred.

"Maria, it's important for us to talk with no one else around for a moment." She nodded, her body tense from the severity of the past moments. "I think we need to leave Austria as soon as possible, but we need to not look suspicious about it. Do you have any ideas?"

"Oh, um…" She shook her head, not expecting him to ask her for a plan; he always made the plans. "I don't know…"

"It's okay, darling." He lifted her chin with his fingertips, giving her a gentle smile, and she sighed to release the tension from her body. "Are you alright?"

"No. I mean, yes, but…I don't know." She bit her lip, her body shaking a bit. "We need to get the children out first, immediately."

"School is out in a week's time."

"Yes." She sighed again, running a hand through her hair. "Okay, um, our family vacation."

"What?"

"We can leave as if we're going on a family vacation, only we don't come back." He nodded, finding his footing with her suggestion.

"Good, yes. Let's see, where are we going?"

"Anywhere, literally anywhere." He scooted across the seat, wrapping an arm around her in comfort, and she felt herself stop shaking.

"Well…the children do have grandparents in England."

"Didn't you say war would be there soon as well?"

"Yes, but it feels much closer to here than there at the moment. We could start by sending the children to England to get them out of here, then you and I can join them shortly after. Once we're safe for the moment, we can decide where we go next." She gave a short laugh, her mind racing and uncomfortable.

"Why can't we all go together?"

"I'm afraid it will be too obvious that we're not returning if we do that."

"This is completely insane."

"We can do this. As long as we're all together, we will be able to face anything." She smiled a bit, wondering when she rubbed off on him enough that he was the one speaking so positively. It was quite nice.

"So the children will go first. How do we notify their grandparents without raising suspicion. There's no form of communication that feels safe right now."

"You're right about that…perhaps I will phone their grandparents and let them know the children will be coming for a visit. That isn't anything out of the ordinary, really. And then we tell one of the children to notify them of our arrival. Perhaps Liesl." She nodded, but only agreed for a moment before realizing the trouble with his plan.

"It can't be Liesl, she may tell Rolfe."

"Rolfe, the telegram boy?" He looked stunned, unaware that she even spoke to the boy anymore.

"Yes, they've been courting."

"What?" He pulled away to look into her eyes, a look of pure shock upon his face. "Maria…"

"Let's fight about that later." He closed his mouth and nodded, his brow furrowed in frustration. "Brigitta."

"You're sure?"

"She is the most secretive of them all. I'll put braids in her hair to make her look even more innocent, and no one will ever think to question her." He raised his eyebrows at her words, surprised to hear them come out of her mouth, but nodded in agreement.

"Franz will be suspicious."

"Isn't he always suspicious?"

"Yes, but we need to be more careful, just in case he really is keeping track of us for someone." She nodded, sighing once more, and closing her eyes. "I want you to invite Mia to tea and bring up the fact that the kids are going on vacation."

"Why would I do that?" She felt puzzled, looking at him through her eyelashes in question. She didn't like the idea of discussing anything at all with Mia, and she hadn't much since she found out what her friend was doing for her husband.

"If you come right out and tell her what's going on, there will be less suspicion. Tell her you and I are using it as an opportunity to spend time together at home. Tell her we'll spend the time naked, for all I care." She rolled her eyes, his joke falling flat.

"I don't feel right about that. What if she asks prodding questions? I'm a terrible liar."

"Tell as much truth as you can. Then, when you have to lie, she won't suspect it. Tell her about the baby, change the subject."

"Pretend I'm telling her about the baby in confidence so she'll trust me." She shook her head, feeling frustrated. She was not excited about the idea of using their unborn child as a pawn in their escape, and she felt her blood begin to boil. "That is bullshit, Georg. I won't do it."

"You don't have to, Maria. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do." He pulled back a bit so he could face her, bringing a hand to her cheek in comfort. He hadn't meant to upset her.

"It's not you, it's this whole thing. I just want things to be calm and…safe. We could use some normalcy in our lives, you know." He smiled softly, nodding in agreement.

"Things have never been normal for us."

"Then let's make a promise right now. Once all of this is behind us, once we've settled down somewhere, let's build a life and be still."

"I would love nothing more than that."

"Promise me, then." He smiled, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss upon her lips.

"I promise."

Two days later they received the call that she was without a doubt carrying a child; the same day that word of the Anschluss was printed all over the newspaper.