She braided Brigitta's hair as the other children finished packing their bags, Liesl thankfully helping the little girls with theirs. The past week had been stressful, but the children were scheduled to board a train to their grandparents in just a few short hours, and the first part of their plan was in motion.

"And I'm the only one who knows?" Brigitta whispered as Maria finished a braid, tying it off at the end.

"Yes. And I need you to keep it to yourself, and only tell your grandparents." The girl nodded, brow furrowed with nerves as her mother began another braid on the other side of her hair.

"I'm scared." Maria hugged her from behind, forgetting the braid for a moment as she comforted the girl.

"There's no need to be scared, darling. You'll do perfectly fine, and I'm certain no one will ask a thing of you." She nodded, taking a deep breath. Maria placed a kiss to the crown of her head before returning to the second braid.

"I promise I can do this."

"I know you can, that's why we chose you." Brigitta beamed, and Maria couldn't stop the smile that graced her own lips as she tied off the second braid, completing the look of innocence. She felt a bit sick that using her daughter's innocent features was part of the plan that came from her own mind. She felt so corrupted.

"When will you come?"

"As soon as we can, I promise." They shared a hug as the others brought their suitcases into the hallway, and Brigitta gave her a smile to let her know that she was ready for the task at hand.

Maria had done her part as well, having invited Mia over for tea the day before so she could witness the children packing a bit. She, inevitably, asked what was going on, and Maria told her the children were visiting their grandparents for a couple of weeks. She felt that she played it off very well, as she was not lying at all, but something about the exchange didn't agree with her.

"We'll that's lovely! What will you and Georg do with so much time on your hands?" She smiled at Mia's question, doing her best to pretend she didn't notice the inflection in her voice.

"He suggested spending the entire time naked, so that's always an option." They laughed, and Maria did her best to behave like they did before she had any suspicions about her friend, before she kept her guard up so high.

"I suppose I'll phone before coming for a visit then. As much as I would love a filthy show." Maria smiled, taking a sip of her tea.

"Speaking of a filthy show, how are you doing since you spent the night here?"

"You mean with Hede?" Maria nodded, unsure if that was something her friend was ready to discuss. When she drove her home that morning, she was an absolute wreck about it. "Well, I've gotten past the shock of it all, if that's what you mean."

"How did your husband take it?" Mia laughed, looking at her as if she were insane.

"I could never tell him that! You must be mad."

"You haven't told him? Mia, are you sure that's a good idea to keep something like that from him?"

"Yes. He can't be upset about it if he doesn't know about it. And who is going to tell him, after all?" Maria shrugged, finding it likely that he really would never find out, but the idea of cheating on her husband would eat her alive. Even she had immediately rushed to tell her husband when she had shared a kiss with Baron Weber. The thought of hiding it from him had not once crossed her mind.

"Well, to each their own, I suppose. Though Hede did pay you great compliments, I must say." She sipped her tea as her friend took a biscuit from the tray in front of them, sighing.

"She certainly knows what she's doing, I can tell you that much."

"Don't worry, she has told me that much and more, trust me." Maria cringed at the details her sister-in-law provided at the most unexpected times.

"I never imagined what it would be like to be with a woman, you know? Did you know that women put their mouths on one another's…sensitive parts?" She opened her mouth and smiled widely with giddiness, still surprised by it all. Maria laughed wholeheartedly at her wording, enjoying the moments when her friend didn't have an agenda and was simply being herself.

"Oh yes, Hede has let me know in great detail." She smiled as if she didn't know, not wanting to discuss anything that would risk her husband's reputation. She was amazed that such a thing would be so taboo in their circle.

"Oh, Maria, it feels like nothing I've ever experienced before."

"You could ask your husband to try?"

"He would never! But I am glad to know there are still so many things that can surprise me in this world." Maria laughed, taking another sip of her tea. She did miss the days when their friendship was new and innocent, when she felt they really could trust one another.

She shook her head, bringing herself back to the current time as she helped Gretl carry her suitcase down the stairs. The girl skipped ahead of her with one of her dolls as she excitedly chatted about seeing her grandparents. Maria smiled at the excitement of the children. It was easy to pretend it was all a fun vacation for them, if only she didn't know the truth.

"What the hell are you doing?" She jumped as Georg rushed up the stairs, taking the suitcase from her hands in frustration.

"I'm helping Gretl." She looked at him incredulously, but he shook his head and carried the suitcase down the stairs and out to the car. Eyebrows raised, she met Liesl's confused eyes. She shrugged, descending the stairs and moving on to the task of bringing the rest of the suitcases to the door so the boys could load them into the car.

"Maria!" She jumped, dropping the suitcase and clasping a hand to her chest in surprise.

"What?" She sighed, a couple of the children stepping back to pretend they weren't listening.

"Would you stop lifting things?"

"A little suitcase? Darling, it's not that heavy…"

"I'll tell you what's too heavy." She scoffed as he took the bags in front of her and carried them to the car. She knew he felt stress over the children leaving, and of course everything else going on at the moment, but choosing to take it out on her was not in his best interest. She felt the stress too, and she was equally looking for a place to direct her frustrations. It was not an ideal combination, and she was trying her best to tread lightly.

"Mother, are you alright?" Liesl placed a hand upon her arm, and she nodded her head, forcing a smile to ease her daughter's mind.

"Yes, of course. I think your father is just nervous about sending you off. You know how he gets."

"But why won't he let you lift a suitcase? The one you had was quite small."

"He's just being too much at the moment."She nodded, but was obviously not convinced at all. Maria rolled her eyes, placing a hand upon her stomach and wiggling her fingers a bit. Liesl's eyes lit up in excitement when she caught on, jumping forward to hug her.

"Oh, Mother, this is wonderful news!" Maria laughed as they hugged, Liesl nearly bouncing in delight. "How long have you known?"

"Not long, I'm only about six weeks. But let's keep it a surprise for your siblings. It's still very early, you know." Liesl nodded, smiling widely as she hugged her once again.

"I'm so happy! It feels like everything is finally falling into place, even though things are a little messy outside." Maria smiled, placing a hand against the girl's cheek and sharing a smile. Suddenly, Georg returned inside, barking orders at a couple of the children. Maria sighed, raising her eyebrows in annoyance.

"I saw that." His words were bitten to her, and she shrugged.

"Georg, what exactly do you want from us right now? I'm tired of getting snapped at." He quickly turned to meet her eyes, anger flashing for only a moment as he realized the children were their audience, all pretending they weren't paying attention. He cleared his throat, straightening his tie in the process.

"Please forgive me, everyone. I'm taking out my frustrations where I shouldn't be." He was met with disbelieving eyes as he carried another suitcase to the car. Maria was equally as stunned as the children by his apology, something that was very out of character for him, and she chose to follow him outside for a moment.

"Darling?" He turned to face her as she approached the car, ignoring the chill of the air, as she hadn't bothered to grab a jacket.

"I'm sorry, I'm just anxious about it all." She smiled, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss upon his lips, crossing her arms to keep warm.

"I am too. This is a stressful situation, it's okay to feel that way."

"Maria, they're going to call me to serve." She had a feeling, due to his background, but they hadn't discussed it. "You realize if I have to go, I will not be coming back."

"Don't say that." Her blood turned cold, and she shivered at the thought.

"We both know it's true."

"We will be gone long before that happens." He sighed, running a hand over his face.

"I don't want this to be the last time I see my children." She quickly pulled him into a hug, and he clung tightly to her for comfort. He didn't want to worry her with his own anxieties, but they were bubbling over and too much to bear alone.

"It won't be, Georg. It's going to be okay." They held one another for a moment, taking a break from their current task of packing the children. They would get some finances in order, leave a few months worth of wages for Frau Schmidt, and then they would be gone within days.

Maria was nervous, but she held such trust that God would guide their way and help them through. She knew the children would arrive to their grandparents safely, it was just something she knew in her heart. And she was confident that she and Georg would be safe too, but she also knew they would need to hurry. Georg was right, it wouldn't be long before the target on his back was zeroed in upon, and they needed to be gone before that happened.