Notes: Okay I'm finally updating. You'll be happy to know I have four chapters uploaded right now. So if you review and tell me what you think I'd be happy to post more soon! I'd like to thank my two wonderful betas again for helping make this story flow and sound good!

Ch. 5: Calm Before the Storm

Maria had the strangest feeling as she walked into her house, with Georg. She was happy that their last trip to New York together had been full of happy memories, but she didn't want to think of what was going to happen in the near future. He was there with her now, but soon he would be gone. Maria couldn't bear the uncomfortable feelings welling up inside her. What was she going to do after he died? How was she supposed to live?

She couldn't picture her brave husband weak enough to die, but that was what was going to happen. Maria could sense his fear as well. They both knew the truth without ever discussing it; they were both terrified of the future. Tears welled in her eyes as she realized that no matter how much one believed in God, there would always be fear of death.

The doctors had told her that Georg was getting weaker. Even if she couldn't see it, he was. They had also said that it was possible for him to grow weaker and die abruptly, without warning. Maria hoped with all her heart it wouldn't be too painful for him. The doctors said there was little chance of him dying with little pain, but according to them it had happened occasionally.

As she got ready for bed and climbed under the covers she prayed for a peaceful death for her husband. While praying she wondered, could one really die peacefully? She turned over to look at her sleeping husband. To her surprise he was wide awake, his sparkling eyes staring straight at her.

"Darling, are you all right? I thought you would be sleeping by now," Maria asked him.

"I was waiting for you," he replied softly. "You see I don't know how many more nights I have to be with you. I want to make the most of each one."

"But Georg, you really need to rest, darling," Maria protested.

"No, I just need to be with you, Maria," he whispered as he kissed her. Maria gave in and kissed him back passionately; amazed that after twenty-five years they could still be so deeply in love.

A while later Maria awoke in Georg's arms. Neither of them had gotten much sleep, but she was wide awake. Seeing the Statue of Liberty the day before made her think back to how much her life had changed since when she first entered the Abbey. Before she had met Georg she had never thought it was possible to love someone for so long, but once she met him everything had changed. However, she was amazed that she still felt so lucky to be in his arms. After twenty-five beautiful years of being with Georg, she was even more in love with him than before. Knowing that someday she wouldn't be able to wake up like this, she made a mental note of everything around her. She never wanted to forget how it felt to lay in his arms, as his wife.

"Maria?" Georg asked, "you awake?"

"Yes, I am. Are you awake too, darling?" she laughed. He opened his eyes wider and he broke out into a smile.

"Let's go eat breakfast!" he cried. Maria smiled at his seemingly high spirits. She got up and picked up her robe from the floor.

"Sounds good," Maria answered.

The week went by quickly for Maria and Georg. Maria was surprised by the end of the week that Georg still was holding up well. He hadn't had, as many spouts with dizziness and nausea recently and he didn't seem sick. The thing that scared Maria was that a month was nearly up and the doctors had only given him a month, if that, to live.

The children were due back the next day. That meant that Georg and Maria had only one more day completely to themselves. The whole week they had done things with each other that they loved to do, it had been wonderful and both had enjoyed it immensely.

Later that evening, they sat down on a blanket on one of the hills behind their house to watch the sun set over the mountains. Everything seemed peaceful and nearly perfect…if only that awful tumor in Georg's head just didn't exist. Thoughts flashed threw Maria's head. 'He is going to die,' she thought. She had not let herself come to that complete realization until then. She didn't understand was he seemed so healthy.

"Is this just the calm before the storm?" Maria wondered out loud without realizing she had. Georg looked at her strangely, noticing her far off look.

"Maria, are you all right?" he asked. She didn't answer.

"Maria?" he called again.

"Yes?" she jumped, his voice bringing her back to reality.

"Are you all right?" he repeated again. "You were mumbling something about the calm before the storm. I don't think it's going to rain anytime soon so what were you talking about?"

"Oh, darling I don't know. It just seems like you're not in any pain right now. You're not hiding it from me, are you, Georg?"

"I would never hide anything from you, Maria. You know that. Just being near you has helped," he told her. She looked at him questionably; not sure she was doing a good thing.

"Georg, if I'm making you worse by doing things with you…"

"No, Maria," he interrupted. "You're not making anything worse. If anything you've made me stay healthy longer. There's no other way I would rather spend my last month than with you beside me." Tears filled Maria's blue eyes.

"Oh, Georg I do love you so," she said softly as she buried her head into his chest. He smiled and hugged her tightly.

Georg just sat for a minute content with his wife in his arms. 'How am I supposed to leave her?' He wondered. 'I love her too much to leave.' A sudden fear overcame him; he was afraid to die. He didn't want to leave Maria's side, ever. He put his hand gently on her shoulder and replied to her.

"I've noticed. Thank you for taking care of me and being here for me, Maria. I love you so much, too." Maria smiled and picked her head up.

"I've noticed," she said as they both began to laugh, before their lips met in a passionate embrace.

After the sun had set and Maria and Georg had dinner and read together they climbed into bed. Maria looked over at Georg who was turned over so he wouldn't face her.

Georg was deep in thought, worrying about the children coming home and his inevitable death. He knew the children would not take the news easily, no matter how much they softened it for them.

Maria knew he couldn't be sleeping yet, but she was curious; because he had always wanted to at least put his arms around her before they went to sleep.

"Georg?" she asked quietly.

"What?" he whispered.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes," he answered. She wasn't too sure she believed his answer. He didn't sound very convincing.

"I don't believe you," she replied bluntly. "Tell me the truth; are you not feeling well?"

"No I feel fine…"

"Georg," Maria began gently.

"The children are coming home tomorrow," Georg said with a sigh. Maria stared at his back, confused. Didn't he want them home?

"Yes aren't you happy?" she asked. He didn't answer and Maria began to get slightly impatient. "Darling, please turn over and speak to me," she said. She grabbed his hand and caressed it tenderly. He rolled over slowly to face Maria. She gasped in shock as she saw his usually sparkling blue eyes filled with tears. "What is it, my love?" she asked wiping the tears away with her fingers and then kissing him gently on the cheek.

"What if they turn away from me? What if they're so scared that they don't even want to talk to me anymore? What will I do? I couldn't bear not being able to see and talk, really talk to my children one last time," he confessed.

"Darling that will never happen. They might be sad and a little scared, but they will certainly want to be with you as long as possible. There're going to be distraught at the prospect of losing you, but there's no way around that," Maria told him.

"But Maria, even you became distant for a little bit after you told me. We the closest couple in the world and still…"

"Georg, that was different. I had to give you terrible news that I didn't know how you'd react to. This time you will tell them and they will do everything in their power to make your last days special," she told him.

"Are you sure, darling?" he asked.

"Almost positive. I know because that's what I would've done to my Mother if she hadn't die so suddenly. They'll probably be scared and shocked at first, but they love you too much to distance themselves from you for the last days we'll all be together."

"Thank you, Maria," he told her. "Have I mentioned today that I love you more than anything?"

"I think you have a few times," Maria answered.

"Only a few? I guess I'll have to show you how much I love you and tell you a hundred more times; so you'll always remember."

"I'll remember, Georg, for the rest my life," she murmured as she kissed her husband zealously.