A/N: I really must also thank Ilandra for this bit too. It was Jelpy's suggestion, when I was stuck for an extra scene, that I write about the Captain and the boys, as mentioned a little in Ilandra's superb Something Good. Even though Ilandra was never directly involved (i.e. beta-wise) with this fic, I would have never written this chapter if it hadn't been for Jelpy and for her, so I thank you both. ~ imnotacommittee
"How much further, Father?" Kurt asked, trying not to let his fatigue show in his voice. He, Friedrich, and their father had been walking for what seemed hours, but he wasn't complaining. Kurt cherished the rare moments he had alone with his father, and he was enjoying himself. An isolated afternoon with just the von Trapp men was an uncommon occurrence, and Kurt wanted to savor every moment.
"We're almost there," the Captain responded, smiling to himself at the patient strain he heard in his son's tone. "I hope you're working up an appetite."
"Kurt's always working up an appetite," Friedrich commented and dodged the stick thrown in his direction in response.
"I remember you having a bottomless pit for a stomach a few years ago, Friedrich," Georg said. "How one child could eat a whole steak is beyond me."
"Louisa dared me!" Friedrich said in defense.
"You should know better than to listen to Louisa," Kurt muttered and the Georg laughed aloud.
After a few more minutes climbing a steep hill, the Captain stopped and pulled back some branches which were blocking the view he wanted to show his sons. Kurt and Friedrich stepped forward and inhaled at the site before them. The alpine view seemed to stretch forever; all they could see at first were mountains. When they looked down, they noted that they were considerably higher from ground level then when they had started. Surprisingly, the air was still thick and warm, despite the higher altitude. The sky was crisp and bright, and the three von Trapps realized that they were the only people around for miles.
"Wow!" Kurt exclaimed, whistling. "When did you discover this?"
"A few years ago," the Captain said, resting his hand on his forehead to shade his eyes from the sun. "I had forgotten about it. When your mother took us on that picnic a few weeks ago, I remembered going for a hike and finding this spot."
Friedrich turned to look at his father. "Are we the first people you've shown this to?"
Georg met his son's stare and patted the boy's shoulder. "Yes," he answered and smiled. "Do you like it?"
"It's incredible," Friedrich said. "I could spend hours here."
"You're going to have to," Kurt replied, removing his knapsack. "It's lunchtime, and I'm starving."
Friedrich and Georg exchanged a wry smile. "I guess we're eating now," Friedrich commented and removed his backpack as well.
The trio sat on a relatively flat stretch of land and assembled the lunches Frau Schmidt had prepared for them.
"When is Mother expecting us back, Father?" Kurt asked as he popped a piece of bread into his mouth.
"I told her we'd be back for dinner," Georg answered. "She had wanted to come-"
"There's no way you would have let her," Friedrich said and the boys laughed at their father's feigned offended reaction.
"Whether I would have let her or not wouldn't have stopped her from coming," Georg said, trying to look annoyed but failing. "Your mother would have done what she wanted. But she actually is busy with the party planning."
"I'm glad we're having a party," Friedrich said, tossing a grape into the air and catching in his mouth. "Even if there's going to be a ton of Marta and Gretl's friends running around."
Georg rolled his eyes. "Part of me wishes we could go hiking on Wednesday instead of today."
"Mother would never forgive you," Kurt said.
Laughing, the Captain unfolded the wrap from a block of cheese and a small knife. As he sliced small pieces of the cheese, he shook his head. "No, the party will be fun. Maybe, later this summer, we could have a larger one with a more diverse crowd."
"Another ball, like last year?" Friedrich asked.
"Good heavens, no!" Georg said. "That ball was enough to last me ten years."
"That was the night Mother left to go back to the Abbey," Friedrich remembered, taking a piece of cheese his father had offered him.
"Why did she leave?" Kurt asked, squinting up at the mountains.
Georg shook his head. "That's for her to tell, if she's willing," he answered. "I'm just glad she came back."
"Me too," Kurt said and gulped some water. He stared at his father for a moment. "Do you think Mother would have liked her?"
"Who?"
"Mother."
"What?" Georg asked, completely confused.
The boy sighed, not knowing how to voice his question. Friedrich gave him a look and stepped in.
"Do you think our birth mother would have liked our new mother?" he interpreted.
Georg smiled at the thought. "Yes," he said without hesitation. "I believe that the two of them would have gotten along famously."
Kurt raised his eyebrows. "What makes you say that?"
"They both have a lot in common."
"Such as?" Friedrich asked, amused.
"Both are kind, patient, full of life. Both can sing, and both know how to push my buttons," Georg told them, and the trio laughed.
"That's what Liesl thinks too," Kurt said.
"That they both could sing?"
"No," his son said, laughing again. "That they both know how to push your buttons."
They laughed harder.
"She really said that they would have liked each other," Friedrich corrected after a moment.
Georg nodded, wondering what else his children discussed about their parents. "And does everyone agree with her?" he asked.
"Louisa said that our new mother is louder than our old one," Kurt said.
Georg grinned and nodded. "Yes, Agathe was not a yodeler."
"She would have liked the puppet show," Friedrich said. Looking out at the valley, he sighed. "Are you nervous about the baby, Father?"
Georg raised his eyebrows. "Yes, I am a little," he replied. "Every pregnancy has its concerns. But the doctors have told us that both your mother and the baby are completely healthy, thank God."
"Do you think it's a boy or a girl?" Kurt asked.
"One of the two."
"I'm serious!" Kurt exclaimed. "You have to have some feeling. Personally, I want another brother. There are way too many girls in this family."
"As long as the baby's healthy, that's all I care about," Georg said evenly.
"That's not an answer, Father," Friedrich said, smiling.
Georg laughed. He didn't have the heart to tell them that he really didn't care which gender the baby was. He would be just as happy with a girl as he would be with a boy. The only thing he secretly hoped for was that the baby would have Maria's smile.
"Well, Father?" Friedrich asked.
"I think he wants another boy," Kurt told him.
"Yes, I want another boy," Georg told them and tried to look convincing.
"And if the girls asked if you wanted another girl, you'd say yes, right?" Kurt concluded.
"Maybe."
"You're not helping!" Kurt exclaimed. The three's laughter echoed into the air.
After a moment, Georg looked at his sons. "A lot has changed over the last year," he said. "I hope you don't feel overwhelmed by everything."
"It's alright," Kurt said, and Friedrich shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm happy," he said.
"Are you happy school is over for the summer?" Georg asked.
They both nodded their heads, and Kurt gave a smirk in his brother's direction.
"Yeah, but Friedrich's going to miss Kaethe," he said and Friedrich turned red as he three a piece of bread at his brother.
"Kurt!" he shouted angrily.
Georg laughed, despite himself. "That's enough of that, you two," he tried to say sternly but was unable to convey an ounce of authority. "Who's Kaethe, Friedrich?"
"His girlfriend," Kurt answered and dodged a second piece of bread.
"Kurt," Georg did manage to look austere and the boy fell silent, with the ever present twinkle of mischief in his eyes. Georg recognized that same spark from his own adolescence. Kurt, in his mischievous ways, was more like he was as a child. Friedrich, more sensitive and gentle, was closer to Agathe in temperament. He looked at his oldest son. "Does Kaethe live in town?"
The boy nodded, too embarrassed to look at his father.
"Well," Georg thought aloud, "maybe you can visit her some time this summer."
Friedrich looked over at him. "Maybe."
"I'm sure she's very nice," Georg said and gave Kurt a silencing look when the boy opened his mouth to say what the Captain was sure was going to be a mocking remark.
Friedrich shrugged. "She's alright, I guess," he muttered and picked at his bread. Georg noted, from his son's demeanor, that he really didn't want to discuss Kaethe just yet. Smiling to himself at how all of his children were growing, the Captain shook his head and popped the last of the cheese into his mouth.
"We should have brought our fishing rods," Kurt said, looking into the distance. "I can see a small lake not too far from here."
Georg followed his son's gaze. "That's further than you think," he said. "Maybe we can go fishing tomorrow."
"As long as Louisa doesn't go with us," Kurt said.
Georg couldn't help but grin. "Why is that?"
"She catches more fish than he does, and it makes him mad," Friedrich answered, smirking in triumph as his brother's face got red with indignation.
"Maybe she could help you with your technique, Kurt," the Captain offered.
"She shows off," Kurt muttered. "Besides, doesn't Mother want to start setting up for the party tomorrow?"
Georg nodded. "That's right," he sighed. "Well, maybe next week, then. That way, all of us can go."
"I can't see Brigitta putting a worm on a hook," Friedrich said.
"You'll have to be gallant and put it on for her then," Georg said.
"Yeah," Kurt added, that twinkle back in his eyes. "You have to start practicing being gallant for Kaethe."
"Kurt!" Georg said loudly, but couldn't help the corners of his mouth turning upward a little. He relaxed and lay down on the ground and heard his sons also get more comfortable. They lay in peaceful silence, not noticing the slow passing of time.
Eventually, Kurt raised his head and looked over at the Captain. "Father?" he asked, his voice thoughtful.
"Yes?"
"Seriously, boy or girl?"
"I told you I don't care," Georg said, laughing.
"How about one of each?" Kurt suggested.
Georg laughed even louder. "Your poor mother is nervous enough as it is!" he said. "If I tell her that you suggested that she's having twins, I think she would faint on the spot."
"I can't picture Mother fainting," Friedrich said.
"That would make her faint," Georg concluded.
"Is Uncle Max coming to the party?" Kurt asked.
Georg shook his head at the rapid change of subject. "I believe so, yes."
"Will he make us sing?" Friedrich asked, a little darkly.
"Only if you give him the impression that you want to," Georg told him and opened his eyes to glance at his watch. He slowly sat up. "I believe it's time to start heading back."
"Do we have to?" Kurt asked, refusing to follow his father's lead. "I was just getting comfortable."
"If you want to eat dinner, then we have to leave," Georg said.
"But we just ate lunch!" Friedrich exclaimed.
"And by the time we get back, it will be dinner time," Georg said. "Besides, we don't want to keep your mother and the twins waiting."
Friedrich laughed. "You're not going to tell her that, are you?"
"I think he should!" Kurt said. "I want to see Mother faint!"
The trio laughed as they started their journey back to the house.
To be continued…