A/N: Okay…this is it. The second to last chapter. Enjoy, laugh, cry…I hope this makes some impact on you. Please leave a review.

Ch. 9: The Final Day

Maria brought a priest in to bestow the final rights on her husband that night. After that was over Maria prepared for bed and made Georg soup.

"Georg?" Maria walked into their bedroom. "I brought you some soup for dinner. Do you want it now?" He nodded his head slowly. "You're not feeling to well, are you?" she asked.

"No. I feel really weak," he told he honestly.

"Well maybe I should leave you be tonight and let you sleep," Maria said.

"No!" he answered quickly. "I mean no, Maria. I need you to stay here. I think it might be…well I want to talk to you." Reading his face, Maria knew what he meant without him needing to say the words. Her eyes filled with tears as she sat gingerly on the bed next to him.

"Maria, do you remember the first time we met?" he asked. Maria's face broke into a sweet smile.

"How could I forget? Reverend Mother made it clear to me that I wasn't entering your ship; you wouldn't be strict. She was very wrong though. There you were trying to get me to whistle for the children. You really were impossible."

"You causing so much trouble and being stubborn made me irritated. Especially when you whistled at me!" he told her with a slight smile. "Then you were late for dinner and you just happened to sit on that ridiculous pinecone."

"See the Captain's a softy after all. Letting his children put pinecones on governesses chairs."

"Well you had to get punished somehow. I couldn't make you kiss the floor or anything…" he told her smiling.

"Of course I remember that, how could I forget?"

"Well I remember all that, but you know what I remember most?"

"What?" Maria asked grinning.

"You falling into the lake, putting my children's life at jeopardy and then having the nerve to tell me how to treat my children."

"I didn't mean to upset…I mean I was just trying…"

"No Maria, I didn't mean to make you apologize once again. I just wanted to tell you how much you have taught me since then. Every single day I have woken up by you and wondered how someone as annoying like me could ever deserve someone as beautiful as you. To tell you the truth, there have been few days since I married you that haven't been filled with happiness. Even now, as I sit here close to death, I'm happy. Your by my side…I wouldn't have it any other way."

With tears filling her eyes, Maria laid down by the side of him and kissed his cheek. Knowing that speaking would make her heart break even more, she allowed him to finish speaking.

"Do you realize what you have done for me, my darling? You have not only made me the happiest man on this Earth, but you granted me something far greater than that."

Maria glanced at him in a blank stare.

"You gave me life, Maria."

"Georg, I don't understand…you always believed…"

"After Agathe died, I couldn't, Maria. I tried so hard to convince myself there must be a God, but in a way I failed. I didn't believe with my whole heart, until you came into my life. Thanks to you I know where I'm going, Maria. I'm not going to die…death itself will die and I will live…forever. I fear I'll never be able to repay you for all you've done for me. I love you, Maria. I realize you know this, but I have to tell you anyways. I will love you, forever."

Tears rolled down Maria's cheeks as she found the courage to try to speak.

"Oh, Georg I love you too. So much…I know you understand that too, but I can't stop saying it," she lifted her face to his and kissed him as passionately as she could on the lips.

They laid closely together for a few minutes, deep in thought.

"Georg?" Maria asked.

"Yes, my love?" he answered as strongly as he could.

"Will you meet me there?" She asked.

"In heaven?" he asked as she nodded her head seriously. He gave her a smile and pulled her even closer into his arms. "Yes, my darling I'll meet you there. Then we can spend eternity together. Yes, I'll be waiting for you."

"And watching over our family?"

"Of course," he said with a slight laugh. "The Captain will still be running his ship, like you said earlier."

Maria laughed with him and then sighed deeply.

"Maria…"

"I'm sorry, Georg. I just don't want to loose you," she told him with tears beginning to fill her eyes. Georg hugged her even tighter and tried to brush her tears away.

"I'm not going to tell you not to cry, because if this situation were reversed I would be doing the same thing. I won't tell you it will be okay either…I know its hard. However, my darling, you know that I will never leave you, ever," he told her brushing her tears away then gently touching her heart. "I'll be right here. I'll never leave…and Sea Captain's never break promises."

Maria nodded and tried to smile.

"It's just going to be hard. Maybe not as difficult when I'm with people, but when I'm all alone…"

"Remember what I told you, Maria, please. I will never abandon you. I'll always be right here with you, even though you can't see me. Just like God is here with us at this very moment."

Maria nodded, content with his words and promises he made to her. She nestled close to him and squeezed his cold hands.

"I love you, Georg. Words can't express how much I love you."

"Yes, I feel the same way with you. I guess that's how it's always going to be, isn't it?" She nodded as his clear blue eyes looked at her. He brought her lips to his and kissed her passionately one last time. After a few moments they stopped and gazed into each other's eyes, realizing that it might be the last kiss on Earth they would ever share together.

"Goodnight, my darling I love you," Georg whispered as he held her tightly in his arms.

"Love you too," Maria murmured as she shut her eyes in hope of some peaceful sleep.

In the middle of the night, Maria awoke from Georg pushing her slightly. She realized he was gasping for breath.

"Georg, darling?" she asked. He didn't reply, but continued to gasp. She quickly sat up and grabbed his hand. Noticing the whiteness of his face she realized the end was quickly approaching. Maria shook off her tears and whipped the sweat from her husband's head.

"Darling, the end is here, but we both decided it's not an end, only a beginning. Do you accept the will of God and accept Jesus as your savior?"

"Yes," Georg gasped.

"The Lord is with you, Georg. He will not abandon you, even in death, I won't either." Maria began to pray as she watched him gasp for air. Finally he stopped gasping and turned to Maria. In a very clear, non-breathy tone he spoke to her.

"I love you, Maria. I always will. I'll tell you all about heaven soon my love. Know that I will always be with you. I love you." He looked deeply into her eyes, not looking away until his were closed. Before he closed them he looked peacefully at her and smiled, as he shut his eyes for the last time.