Chapter 8

Around 3am that same night

At the Villa

" Lisel, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta, Gretl. Come downstairs right now. There is a special visitor here to see you. " said Max, hoping all the children would soon perk up and everything would be right again in their world. However, when only five of the seven children came downstairs, that was when he started to get worried.

" Who is here to see us, Uncle Max? " said Brigitta, looking at her uncle.

" Take a look in the living room. " said Uncle Max, hoping that it would soon put faces on their little faces.

" Father? Your home! Why didn't you come earlier. " said Brigitta, running to her father.

" Well, actually, how about I save that till morning and we have all gotten some sleep. Speaking of which, where are Marta and Gretl? " said Georg, noticing that his two youngest daughters were absent from the rest.

" They didn't come down with the rest of them, Georg. I'll go get them. " said Max, heading for the stairs. When he was suddenly stopped by a sudden but familiar voice.

" I'll go check on them. " said Maria from the doorframe of the living room.

" Fraulein Maria! Your back! We thought you weren't coming back at all. " said Brigitta

" Why don't you let your father talk to the rest of you children, while I go find your younger sisters. Besides, I think he has something important to tell you all. " said Maria, throwing a glance in Georg's direction as she left to check on the other two children.

" Father, what did Fraulein Maria mean when she said you had something important to tell us? " said Louisa, wanting to know what was going on.

" Don't you suppose this could wait till morning, when we've all had some sleep? " laughed Georg, looking over at Max.

" Don't look at me. Their your children. " laughed a half awake Max.

" No. We want to know right now. Then bed. Please. ' whined Brigitta.

" Is Fraulein Maria back to stay for good then? Is that the announcement? " said Friedrich.

" No that is not the announcement. But it does involve Fraulein Maria. " said Georg, as all five remaining faces rose to his level.

" Well then what else could it possibly be? " said Kurt.

" How you all feel about having a new mother. That is, how would you feel about there being a wedding after all? " said Georg, waiting for a response from his children.

" Father! " said Marta, running down the flight of stairs and straight into her father's arms.

" Someone wanted her father. " laughed Max.

" Someone picked the perfect moment to wake up. " laughed Kurt.

" Where is Gretl, Marta? " asked Georg, looking at Marta for answer.

" She was still sleeping in your bed so then Maria had to pick her up and she was just coming the stairs when....." said Marta before she was interrupted.

" When Marta decided to make a run down the stairs to her father. It's okay, Marta. I'm not mad at you. " smiled Maria, holding a sleeping Gretl in her arms.

" I guess she was sound asleep. " said Georg.

" In your bed, none the less. " said Maria.

" Alright, now its time for bed. " said Georg, sending six out of the seven children off to bed.

" You do realize that their not going to be able to go to sleep now that you told them, right? " laughed Max.

" I thought you left the room already? " said Georg, taking Gretl from Maria's arms.

" And just where do you plan on putting her, exactly? " said Maria.

" With Max. " Smiled Georg, who was joking around.

:" You can't do that to Max. You already stuck him with seven depressed children for most of the night as it is. " said Maria.

" I wasn't going to anyway. I was taking her to her nursery. " laughed Gerog.

" That wasn't very funny. " said Maria, heading upstairs, to her old room.

" I think its about time to call it a night. " said Max.

" Max, do me a favor and put Gretl in her nursery. " said Georg.

" Sure, why not. I have nothing else better to do. " said Max, taking Gretl.

" Thanks. " said Georg, heading for the governess room.

Knock: Knock

" What, now. " said Maria.

" And just where do you think your going? " asked Georg, as a sly smile appeared on his face.

" To bed. In my own room. " stated Maria.

" I think that needs to be changed, don't you? " said Georg.