"Georg why isn't the baby--suddenly a loud piercing cry breaks the silence. Georg smiles and looks at Maria. He takes the baby and wraps it in a blanket.
" Well I guess our son has your voice" Georg said as he placed the baby in Marias arms.
Maria looked at their son. He has Georgs eyes and his hair is dark. He stops crying when Maria starts to sing softly to him.
Georg sits next to them on the bed. He takes his hand and touches Marias cheek.
Maria looks at their son and says to Georg" Thank you, I don't know what I would have done had you not been here".
Georg reaches down and touches his sons head. "He is so beautiful Maria it is you I want to thank. You were so brave and you did do most of the work" he laughed.
Georg hears a quiet knock at the door. Georg gets up and opens the door.
"Father is Mother alright? We heard a baby cry" Is it a boy or girl? asks Liesl.
"It's a boy and Mother and your new brother are fine. Give us about an hour and than all of you can come up and see them" Georg says. Liesl smiles and runs down the stairs.
Georg closes the door and walks over to the bed.
"Well what name shall we give him?" Georg asks. Before Maria can answer someone knocks at the door. Through the door Liesl tells Georg that the doctor is there. Georg lets him in. The doctor examines Maria and then the baby. "Well Captain they are both fine. Your wife should stay in bed for a day or so and then she can slowly get back to her routine. Oh and Captain any time you want to help me at any future births I could use the help. You did a fine job" said the doctor as he was putting on his coat.
" No thanks , once was enough" Georg says as he opens the bedroom door.
Georg walks back to Maria and sits on the bed next to her " Have you thought of any names?
Maria looks down at her son sleeping peacefully in her arms," What about the name Johannes Maxamillian?
Johannes for your father and Maxamillian for Max.
Georg looks at his sleeping son and says "that's a big name for such a little baby, but if he's anything like Kurt and Friedrich he will grow into it. Georg bends down and kisses him on the cheek. The baby stirs and lets out a big yell. This time Maria sings to him but he won't be quiet.
"I think he's getting hungry" See how he is sucking on his hands. Friedrich would do that when it was time for him to eat" Georg says.
Maria positions the baby so he can nurse. Georg watches Maria as she cradles their son. She looks so beautiful. The soft glow from the light in the room reflects off both her and the baby. He looks upward and silently thanks God for giving him a healthy son and for keeping Maria safe.
Maria looks at the baby and then at Georg. She thinks about the events of the day. When she woke up she didn't know where Georg was, didn't know if Rolf was safe. Now as she holds her newborn son in her arms and gazes upon her husbands smiling face she also thanks God for their safe arrivals.
Georg sits on the edge of the bed and watches Maria. The baby now done nursing yawns and slowly closes his eyes. Georg takes the baby from Maria. He cradles his son and smiles down at him. Georg goes to the door and calls for the children to come up.
Maria laughs as she hears the children bounding up the stairs. As they enter the room they quiet down. Georg sits down on the bed .
Liesl walks over to Georg and looks at the baby. Georg gives him to Liesl to hold. Liesl looks at the baby " Mother he is so little. I don't remember Gretl being this small." All the other children take turns holding him.
Friedrich goes into the nursery and brings in the cradle he made. Georg takes Johannes and places him in the cradle.
"Children say goodnight to Mother. She needs to get some sleep. You can come back in the morning" says Georg.
The children go to Maria and hug and kiss her goodnight. As they leave they say goodnight to Johannes.
Georg closes the door and walks back to Maria. He smiles as she yawns. Georg gets ready for bed. Before he gets into bed next to Maria he moves the cradle next to Maria. Maria looks down at Johannes who is sleeping soundly. She then holds her hand out for Georg to come over to her. Georg joins Maria in bed. He puts his arm around her and she responds by putting her head on his shoulder. He kisses her on her head and he can feel her breathing become steady. He closes his eyes content that his family is safe and that he has a healthy new son.