Part 2 of 2

The warm air settled around the tiny boat as it floated absently across the lake. Its two occupants barely noticed the passing of time as they sat quietly, letting the lake's gentle current lead them wherever it suited.

            Georg shifted a little, which woke the dozing Maria who was lying against his chest.  She looked around in slight disorientation.

            "Good morning," he whispered into her ear.

            "I wasn't sleeping," she protested, but yawned immediately afterwards. "I was just-"

            "Resting your eyes," he finished for her. "Yes, you do that a lot.  I'm beginning to think my company bores you."

            Smiling wryly, she strained her neck to look up at him. "Never, darling," she strained a little higher to kiss his chin.

            Not satisfied with the small sign of affection, he leaned down to her and gently kissed her lips.  He smiled at her and pushed back a few strands of hair from her face.

            "Your hair has grown rather long," he observed.

            "I need to cut it," she declared. "It's too long. I barely have the time to even put it back, and that's just with seven older children. I can't imagine when.." she trailed off as his fingers moved lower to stroke her face.

            "I like it long," he murmured. "It's more fun to play with."

            "Well, then you can help me arrange it every morning," she said.

            "Your wish is my command."

            Her neck beginning to cramp, she lowered her head and looked out at the Untersberg.  She sighed as his hands began to message her neck.  How was it that he always seemed to know exactly what she needed?

            "It's so beautiful," she sighed.

            "Yes," he agreed, kissing the top of her head. "From what I hear, this is going to be the last nice weekend of the year."

            "Then I'm glad we're getting the chance to enjoy it together," she said and reached up to pat his hand. "I'm also surprised that this boat is not sinking with me in it."

            Laughing softly, he leaned back, bringing her back with him. "Now, darling, you know that statement is completely ludicrous," he said sternly. "I do notice, however, that we seem to be drifting a little too hard to port. Would you mind shifting-"

            She slapped his leg. "I'll thank you to keep those comments to yourself, Captain."

            He laughed heartily and moved the ore on the starboard side of the boat a little.

            "I thought you were joking!" she exclaimed and joined in his laughter.

            "I never joke about the sea," he declared.

            "I hate to tell you this, my love," she started. "But this is not the sea."

            "It's the closest we've got," he reasoned and returned the ore to its resting place.  A thought suddenly came to him. "Maria, have you ever seen the sea?"

            She shook her head. "No, I haven't," she said a little sadly. "The furthest I've been from Salzburg was Paris on our honeymoon."

            "We were in Paris?" he cocked his head. "I don't remember anything outside the-"

            "Georg!" she cried.

            He looked around. "What?" he asked innocently. "There's no one to hear me."

He glanced down at her and laughed aloud again at her flushed cheeks.

            "My, my, Fraulein," he whispered into her ear. "I'm pleased to know that I can still make you blush after a year of marriage."

            "I would think that you'd be shocked if I didn't- ow!" a sudden kick to her stomach surprised and left her breathless.

            "Are you all right?" he asked quickly, leaning closer to her.

            "I think someone is getting anxious have her say, Captain," she decided, rubbing her stomach and breathing a little heavier. She took his hand and placed it on the active spot, covered by her own.

            "Oh, yes," he nodded, a slightly silly grin covering his face when he felt the spastic movements. "He takes after his mother."

            "You mean 'she,' right, dear?" she joked and patted his hand.  He scowled but placed a quick kiss to her cheek.

            "There are enough girls in this family," he declared. Growing serious, he looked at her face again, noting its pallor.  "Are you sure you're fine, Maria?" he asked, caressing her cheek.

            "I believe so," she said, nodding. "This one has had quite the day."

            "And it isn't even dinner time yet."

            "Oh, shouldn't we be heading back?" she said, struggling to sit up a little.  Not surprising her, Georg gently placed his hand on her shoulder, prohibiting her from doing so.

            "Relax," he soothed and wrapped his other arm around her chest.  They leaned back down into the boat. "We've got some time left. The children said they have this big meal planned, and we are not to return until five o'clock."

            "What time is it now?"

            "I haven't the foggiest idea."

            "You're impossible!" she laughed.

            He joined her and slowly, their laughter floated away, and the two sat in quiet peace.

            "You'll never guess who I saw in the Market Place," she broke the silence.

            "You're right," he admitted after a second. "Who?"

            "Elsa."

            "Who?"  he asked.

            "Oh, sorry," she corrected herself. "Baroness Schraeder."

            "Oh, excuse me," he said, chuckling. "I wasn't expecting to hear you ever call her 'Elsa'."

            She giggled too. "Me either! Actually, I never thought I'd call her anything."

            "Did you speak with her?"

            "Yes, we did speak," Maria said. "She's in town for Hans Weinmann's latest fashion show.  The two of us had a lovely little chat."

            Georg coughed. "Oh, yes? What about?" he asked a little anxiously.

            "Darling, you needn't fret," she said playfully and reached up to stroke his cheek. "We didn't trade stories about you."

            "I wasn't worried about that," he mumbled, but was glad she couldn't see his relieved expression. "I hope she didn't upset you."

            "Good heavens no!" she said. "As a matter of fact, she seemed glad to see me."

            "Really?"

            "Yes," she continued. "She said she was happy for the two of us.  She wished us the best."

            "Well, I would hope she wouldn't start throwing things at the site of you," he mused.

            Maria smiled, despite herself. "She said she was happy that things worked out the way they did."

            "I'll agree with that," he said and squeezed his arm around her chest.

            Maria wanted to mention that the Baroness had apologized for her actions at the ball, but didn't want to disturb Georg with any more negative emotions about that interlude between the ball and her return from the Abbey.

            "What else did she say?" he asked.

            "She said to give you all her love," Maria decided to say in conclusion.  After a tentative silence, she turned slightly to face him as best she could. "Georg?"

            Noticing her sudden change in mood, he shifted so they could see each other's faces better. "Yes?"

            She bit her lower lip, not sure how to phrase her concerns. "If I hadn't returned from the Abbey, would you have married her?"

            He held her gaze for a long moment, also struggling to find the right words to ease her heart. "Maria," he said softly. "It might have taken me a little while to realize it, but I would have gone after you.  It was you who made me whole again, and I just needed to realize that I needed you more than anything."

            He saw that the worry was not gone from her eyes. "Believe me," he insisted, holding her gaze and looking quite intense. "I would have barged into that convent and carried you away if it came to it."

            Giving a tearful laugh, she closed her eyes as he kissed her forehead.

"Never doubt that, Maria," he said adamantly. "We would still be here whether you came back to me or I went after you."

            She smiled. "Thank you," she said, feeling a weight lift from her mind.  She leaned into him and felt his arms around her shoulders.  "We're so blessed."

            "You've made me happier than I ever thought I could be, Maria," he said into her hair.  Tears fell from her cheeks, and she buried her face in his neck. He caressed her cheeks and wiped the moisture away.

            Unable to maintain the pose, Maria shifted so she was once again lying against Georg's chest. He wrapped both his arms around her and leaned into her neck.  Closing her eyes in a peaceful bliss, she inhaled the smell of his cologne and gave a contended sigh.

            "I wish we could stay like this forever," she said.

            "That would be fine with me," he agreed, lifting his hand to stroke her hair.  "Life is so much easier when all you care about is your wife and a boat."

            Laughing mildly, she opened her eyes to stare at the sky. "Although I guess it would be hard to give birth out on a boat."

            Georg was about to say something about giving birth being difficult no matter what the location was, but immediately thought the better of it. "Somehow, I think if anyone could do it, you could, Maria von Trapp," he declared honestly instead.

            "I would prefer not to test it," she grumbled, feeling a slow movement below her stomach again.

            In the distance, they heard faint shouts.  Both turned their heads reluctantly to see what must have been Louisa and Friedrich waving their hands and shouting, trying to get their attention.

            "Behold," Georg announced with a grand sweep of his arm. "Our children!"

            Maria laughed.  "Acting like hooligans right there on their own property," she said, acting aghast. "What will the neighbors think?"

            "I suppose we should go back," he said halfheartedly.

            "Yes, they've worked so hard on dinner," she agreed, sounding equally depressed.

            "Do you have any idea what they've prepared?"

            "I think steak," Maria thought aloud. "They wouldn't let me see their list."

            "I hope it's not still mooing," he quipped.

            "Now be nice," she chided, trying to suppress a smile. "I'm sure it'll be delightful."

            "Maybe they should test it first," he suggested, a hint of warning in his voice.

            "Stop it!" she laughed. "I'm getting hungry and my back is beginning to hurt. Let's go."

            "Aye, aye, ma'am," he saluted and gently helped her into a sitting position.

            Slowly turning to face him, she grinned when their eyes met. "Remind me to never let you do this to me again," she warned as she tried to gracefully get comfortable.

            "Oh, now, I can't promise you that, my dear," he said with a glow to his eyes that made her cheeks warm. "You have no idea what your yodeling does to me."

            The sound of their laughter echoed across the lake.

Fin