Notes: Here's chapter seven! I hope you enjoy it and sorry for making things move quickly, but I want to get to the good parts (some of this is good though!) Anyways enjoy!
Ch. 7: The Plan
"So now he will be here tomorrow with his seven children to watch me perform at my second to last performance and then he is going to take me back with him and we are supposed to get married." Maria sobbed to Aime. It had taken her hours to get the whole story out in the open.
Aime sat in stunned silence listening to her friend. She was positive the relationship might go on for a while, but she never considered her friend would be engaged to a Sea Captain upon her return to Paris.
"Aime what am I going to do?" Maria asked. "I just can't pretend anymore! He deserves to know the truth, but I can't tell him!"
"I think it is time you go and talk to the owners of this theatre. They are the ones that really drug you into this mess. Tell them you need them to fix it." Aime told her.
"They can't fix everything!" Wailed Maria. "Sure they can tell me to get it out in the open, but they can't do anything about Georg's reaction."
"True." Aime began. "But neither can you really. Maybe he will be understanding Maria." She told her hopefully. Maria sighed as she shut the door to her room to get ready to leave for the Opera House.
Maria marched into their office and told the two owners calmly of her many dilemmas. They both listened intently to her tale. They were shocked to hear of her engagement with a Sea Captain. Mr. Barret decided to tell them at the last performance.
"Well Maria we will tell everyone during closing night. You have my permission to tell the Captain as soon as you wish. However he must be sworn to secrecy, understood?" He asked.
"Yes sir." Maria replied timidly. "Thank you, sir. Goodbye."
Maria left quickly and quietly. She decided to tell Georg the first possible second they had together. Unfortunately for Maria the next few days were filled with parading the children up and down Paris to see all the sites. The second the von Trapp's had arrived they had wanted to see everything and Maria and Georg were determined to make that happen.
One thing Maria was thrilled to see was how in awe all the children were of Notre Dame. Liesl and Louisa had taken a great liking to it and were constantly begging to go back and see it.
Finally on the morning of Maria's second to last performance Maria and Georg had some time alone. The children were touring the Opera House with the owners and Aime. After all that trouble Mr. Barret thought it would be good to introduce himself to the family.
"Are you sure they are safe with them?" Georg asked.
"Well yes Georg unless the Phantom is still alive." Maria told him. Georg took her hand.
"I guess it would be more dangerous for them to tour with you." He muttered. Maria stopped walking and glared at him.
"Why do you say that?" She asked.
"Well because if I was the Phantom I would take the most beautiful girl and take her to the lake with me." He answered. "Have you ever seen the lake?"
"Well yes you see the Phantom has already taken me down there." Maria joked. Georg stared at her and realized she was joking so he continued.
"Don't worry Christine I will protect you…even though I am much weaker than the Phantom I have more money and that counts for a lot."
"Oh Raoul! What if he finds us here you must leave at once. I love you." Maria said as she flung her arms around Georg.
"Don't worry my dear Christine he won't find us, and if he does I will take that red scarf I saved for you in the sea and fling it at him and then he will leave us alone." Maria couldn't help, but laugh out loud. He brought his face close to hers and kissed her passionately.
"Have you always been on the Phantom's side?" She asked.
"I suppose so. I have always felt sorry for the man. Even though he did kill people I think he might have been the better person deep within his heart." He answered. Maria nodded.
"I think so too." She told him gazing lovingly into his eyes. "Of course if I had a choice between him and you things might be different."
"Oh really?" He asked.
"Ummhum. You see I would choose you before anyone in this entire world. Not because of your name or how wealthy you are, but who you are." Maria murmured, "I love you." He couldn't help, but kiss her again passionately.
"I love you too." He whispered in her ear as he brought his lips to hers and kissed her again.
Elsa grinned at the hotel room in Paris she and Renee were sharing. It was glamorous and she was thrilled Renee had promised to pay for it all.
Elsa had decided earlier to find Renee and tell her about what had gone on after her departure. That search took her clear to America and New York City where she found out that Renee was not having any success whatsoever. Naturally she met with Elsa hoping that somehow she would get some kind of role somewhere. Renee was less than delighted to hear about the little imposter as she called her being a bright star in her name. To Elsa's delight she had insisted that they go back to Paris and to reclaim Renee's rightful place immediately.
Even more to Elsa's liking was her insistence that she pay for everything as a reward for Elsa for bringing her the news. Eventually they arrived in Paris and to Elsa's dismay everyone was talking about the new and wonderful Renee.
Renee could sense it as well. Everyone around the town was always talking about how wonderful her many charities were and what a fantastic overall person she had become. Renee decided she wanted the spotlight back. Her and Elsa talked and decided on what to do. Their plan was simple, tell the owners that the real Renee was back and she wanted her role as Marie back as well.
Renee marched into the owner's office a few hours before performance time.
"Oh no it's you again!" Mr. Legard cried horrified.
"Yes. It is me and I am back to reclaim my part." She replied sharply.
"Miss Jetter please understand someone else has taken over for you and…"
"Yes I know. And I also know that you two gentleman have decided to make Maria…um…. I don't know her last name, that pathetic chorus girl pretend to be me just so you could get more money." She replied sassily. Mr. Barret stood up.
"We just did it to ensure an audience. We plan to tell them all on closing night"
"And what do you plan to do after closing when everyone is upset and wants their money back? Huh? What are you going to do when they realize that you are liars and have been misleading them into believing a real star was in the Opera as the lead? They are going to flip when they find out it is some nun slash chorus girl." She told them.
"So what do you suggest we do?" Asked Mr. Barret.
"Well let me go back to playing the part for the next two days and never tell them anything, except that I am never going to be that nice again. It will work." She told them.
"And Maria?" Asked Mr. Legard.
"Well since we almost look alike there is almost no problem. However I say make her go back to Austria where she belongs and never come back." Renee smiled evilly. "Or we can put her in jail for being a little imposter."
"Renee, I would never do that to her in one million years…" Mr. Legard spoke.
"Oh maybe this is the one millionth year Mr. Legard." She whispered.
"She has a point Legard." Mr. Barret told him. "All right it is settled you take your place back and she goes to Austria and no one will mention this to another soul ever or else we can convict them of something." The two of them laughed evilly while Mr. Legard shook his head.
After Renee had left Mr. Legard looked up.
"I can't believe you." He said loudly. "How can you do this to Maria? Why people would adore her with her real name or without it."
"That's ridiculous know one loves and adores chorus girls." Mr. Barret replied.
"They would if they only knew what she has done." Mr. Legard shouted. He formed a plan in his head. "Is it all right if I make the announcement to the cast today?" He asked.
"Why do you want to?" Mr. Barret asked.
"You are much to impatient and you will end up telling them all the truth anyways so I should tell them. I also know how to handle Maria." He told him.
"Fine it's all yours. Have fun making the cast unhappy." Mr. Barret replied.
"You see maybe we should both do an Opera together." Georg told her after they both sung the last note of a song. Maria looked at him curiously. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Well darling I think you would be better at those musical type plays over in New York that I keep hearing about. They don't have well quite as many high notes." She replied.
"I see…" Georg muttered.
"I love your voice anyway my love. It is so much better than any opera voice I have heard in my opinion." She told him.
"Even better than your counterpart?" He asked.
"Who…oh you mean Luke. Yes of course."
"Renee?" He asked. She looked over at him lovingly. "Are stage kisses awkward…I am sorry I know it is a little childish, but it seems like you are so in love with him on stage and…" He told her.
"Georg I love you and I can't ever love anyone else. When I go up on stage I imagine you there…that is the only way I can possibly act in love with him, when I love you." She told him. "I am counting the days to when I am done." She wrapped herself in his arms and kissed him affectionately. He held her for a moment not wanting to let her go ever.
"You are such an amazing person Renee. I can't believe I thought you were rude, arrogant and selfish. Now since I have gotten to know you I realize that you are amazing just because you are you. You have taught me so much Renee and I have finally found my purpose in life because of you." He told her. Maria's face lit up uneasily.
"Which is to?" She asked.
"To be your husband and teach our children to love God unconditionally the same thing you taught me." He told her while giving her a kiss. "I love you. Now what was it that you were acting so urgent to tell me about, my love?"
Maria's face froze. She did not know what to do especially after what he had just said about her. She tried to gather up courage to tell him, but was suddenly disturbed by Mr. Legard.
"There you are Miss. We must go and get you ready I have something important to tell you." He told her and motioned for her to come with him. Maria stared back at Georg and ran back to him and gave him a hug.
"I love you." She muttered lowly. He smiled.
"And I love you. Break a leg tonight my love." He told her. Maria smiled and walked quickly to her dressing room.
Notes: Please review and tell me what you think!