Hours later, when it was nearly bedtime, Maria thought back of dinner. It
had been much more quiet now that Chris and Elsa were gone. Especially with
Chris gone. Sure, there had been conversation, but not as cheerfully as
usual, even with their new guest in their presence. The atmosphere had been
entirely different. Maria knew Chris had to leave some day and when that
day had come, she would miss him terribly. She assumed it would be the same
feeling as when he had left so many years ago. Yet this felt different, but
she couldn't quite put her finger on it. A part of her wanted her old life
back, the one where she and her mum lived in their little village, where
she could see and hang out with Chris whenever she wanted. Then she thought
of Georg and his children ... Their children. Every time that came to her
mind, she smiled. Her own little family. Now she knew why the feeling about
missing Chris was different. Back then, she had lost everyone who were dear
to her. Now she had a new family, a new home.
It only had been a few weeks ago that it occurred to her that she never would have a family like that if she would become a nun. Back in the abbey, she hadn't thought of things like that. But once she had arrived at the villa and having spend some time with the family, she wondered how she ever would be able to live on without it. The Von Trapps had become a part of her life, just as waking up every morning, eating breakfast with the family, spending almost the entire day with the children - with Georg joining them frequently after a while – singing whenever she felt like it, at night going to bed in that same familiar room ... Her conversation with the Reverend Mother came back to her.
"Maria, it seems to be the will of God that you leave us."
"Leave you?" Maria had asked surprised and somewhat shocked.
"Only for a little while ..."
'Seems the Reverend Mother had been right the first time.' When she had left the abbey and was on her way to the villa, it never had came to her mind that she mightn't return. 'Funny how things went.'
Maria was on her way to Rosemarie's room, Elsa's former room, in the other wing of the house with a nightgown in her hands. It would be the first time she'd be alone with her. All day Maria had been with Georg, and when Rosemarie had been around, the children mostly had been with her. Not that she complained ... she had enjoyed her alone time with Georg very much! Sharing kisses, feeling each other's touch, being close all day ... Still, Maria liked to meet Rosemarie properly, perhaps even talk a little.
Georg had only told her a little bit earlier that day. How she was Agathe's only sister and that there had been quite some years between the two, that's why Rosemarie only was 25. He had told her about their little family gatherings they had had every week. Rosemarie and Georg knew each other pretty well, since she'd come to visit the happy couple a lot. She had even had her own room at the villa. Georg had always seen her as the little sister he had never had, especially when she was staying at the villa again for a while.
Maria knocked softly on the door.
"Come in."
She heard Rosemarie reply. She walked in, still smiling and showed the nightgown. As soon as Rosemarie had seen it was Maria, she smiled genuinely.
"Thanks, you're my saving angel! And mine not alone."
Rosemarie took the nightdress and sat down on the bed. Then she motioned Maria to sit down next to her, who gladly accepted the offer.
"It's nice the house is so cheerful again, just like in the old days. Oh how I loved coming here ... Anyway," Rosemarie continued because she felt she was trailing off again, "I can't tell you how happy I am to see Georg so different from before, to see the one who has changed him. I truly believe you're an angel."
A pink fled came upon Maria's cheeks.
"I only made Georg realise how dearly he loves his children, he had just forgotten how much."
Maria didn't like to receive compliments, she never knew how to react, therefore she changed the subject.
"I don't want to be rude or anything, but I've never heard the children talk about you ..."
"Oh you aren't rude, Maria. I think that's because I haven't been here as much as before my sister died. At first it was too painful and awkward for me to come here. And George started to change, I didn't recognise him anymore, you know. It felt like I had lost a sister and a brother. I'd only come here once in 3 months at the most. Last time I've seen everybody was nearly 6 months ago." She looked at her hands for a moment, then sighed and continued. "Everyone was devastated. Agathe was a warm and loving person. It has been a great loss for everyone who knew her."
"I can imagine that." Maria said sympathetically.
She looked at Rosemarie's face, and could even feel her pain for a minute, then she saw her look changing into curious.
"So what felt it like being the children's governess? Because I understand you were a postulant. Had you done something like this before?"
"No ... And when the Reverend Mother had said there were seven children, I nearly fell off my chair. But they turned out to be such darlings, every single one of them." Maria smiled contentedly.
"Had they played any tricks on you? The last time I was here, they told me about a Fraulein, running through the house, screaming her lungs out." Rosemarie frowned. "Now what was it they had done?" She thought for a minute, then lightened up when she remembered what it was and how the children had told her that story. They even had showed her how she was running through the house. "Oh yes, a spider."
Maria shivered, just by hearing that word. She recalled how she had checked her bed her first night there for any, right before a scared Gretl ran in.
"They put a big, black spider in her bed. They told me Georg had fired her immediately after she had waken the entire house. It was midnight, and you know how he thought of shouting in the house, let alone screaming."
"I had no spiders ... Thank God I hadn't!" Maria sighed of relief.
"So what did you have?"
"Well first I had a toad in my pocket."
On Rosemarie's face appeared a disgusted look.
"Yes, well at least it's better than a snake." Maria said by seeing her face. Both giggled upon that last sentence.
"And later, at the dinner table, I sat right down on a pinecone."
"I know that one!" Rosemarie exclaimed. "Georg had told me he had done that one to chase his own governess away."
"Indeed, he had told me as well, later. He said he should apologise for putting that idea into his children's heads. Anyway, that were the only ones."
"Boy, you've been lucky! That's not what the others can say." She winked at Maria. "They've banded with you pretty fast then."
"I suppose so ... That night, the children were scared of the thunderstorm. So I sang them a special song to soothe them."
"That made all the difference. Others didn't even allow the children in their room and singing was out of the question as well." She paused for a minute, a little smile appeared on her lips. "I'm glad we'll have you in the family."
Maria didn't knew what to say, the only thing she could do was smile. Then Rosemarie bended over, and embraced Maria.
"Thank you." She finally was able to bring out. It meant a great deal to her, to be accepted by Agathe's sister.
The sound of knocking made both ladies look at the door.
"I hope I'm not interrupting your little girl chat ..."
Georg felt relieved the two got along so well.
"Not at all." Both women choired.
"I came to see if everything's fine."
"It is, thank you again Georg."
Suddenly Maria remembered it was high time to bed the children. She immediately stood up.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll go and put the children to bed. Goodnight Rosemarie. It was very nice talking to you."
"Indeed Maria. We'll talk some more soon. Goodnight." She replied cheerfully.
Maria had left the room. Georg was still standing in the doorway, with his hand on the doorknob.
"If there is anything you need, you'll find me either in my room, or my study." He hesitated. "It was nice of you to come. We really appreciate it."
"It was my pleasure, Georg. I'm just glad to have my big brother back."
Georg smiled. "Well ... goodnight."
"Goodnight."
-----
Maria was in Gretl's and Marta's room, closing the curtains. The two girls were already in bed.
"Maria, will we see Chris again soon?"
Maria walked over to Gretl's bed. She pulled the sheaths good over the little girl and sat down.
"I'm sure we will, darling."
Next, she bended over to kiss the five-year-old goodnight. Georg was standing at the door, simply watching. 'She's going to be a terrific mother.' He thought, pleased with how his life had turned out.
As Maria had moved to do the same with Marta, Georg walked in and gave his littlest girl a kiss on her forehead. Gretl looked up at the two adults, happiness visible on her face. Marta had the exact same look on her face, because they loved how their father and soon-to-be mother said goodnight. Both had been too little to remember their father doing this, they only had memories of those old governesses putting them into bed, without even saying goodnight. Now they had a loving father and mother kissing them goodnight. But what made it even more perfect, they'd be doing it every night like that from now on.
Maria and Georg were now standing at the door together, smiling at their little girls before turning the lights off. "Goodnight." They both whispered.
When they arrived at the boys' room, they came to a big surprise. Both Friedrich and Kurt were already lying in their bed with the lights off. The couple stood in the doorway for a minute, still perplexed at what they were seeing.
Even though they were already in bed, they were still wide awake and looking at the couple. Maria was standing first, with Georg half behind her. The boys reminded how their father used to stand there like that with their mother. As Marta and Gretl, they too got a warm feeling inside. Because even though they'll always keep loving Agathe, they felt like no one else could stand there now like that besides Maria.
"Goodnight Dad. Goodnight Maria."
"Goodnight boys." The couple choired before closing the door.
Then they moved to the elder girls' room. They too were laying in bed already. Only the light was still on. Brigitta and Louisa were already fast asleep. As Maria turned the light out, Liesl whispered "I love you two ... goodnight." She saw the smile on Maria's and Georg's face, then closed her eyes.
"Goodnight, darling."
As they were standing in the hallway, Maria turned to Georg and laid her arms in his neck as she felt his resting in her back.
"You have some wonderful children, captain." She told him, looking intensely in his eyes while feeling happier than she had ever felt before.
"We have some wonderful children." Georg corrected her before he kissed her deeply.
----- ----- -----
I hope you liked it. And Georg and Maria soon will have some time alone, I promise!
It only had been a few weeks ago that it occurred to her that she never would have a family like that if she would become a nun. Back in the abbey, she hadn't thought of things like that. But once she had arrived at the villa and having spend some time with the family, she wondered how she ever would be able to live on without it. The Von Trapps had become a part of her life, just as waking up every morning, eating breakfast with the family, spending almost the entire day with the children - with Georg joining them frequently after a while – singing whenever she felt like it, at night going to bed in that same familiar room ... Her conversation with the Reverend Mother came back to her.
"Maria, it seems to be the will of God that you leave us."
"Leave you?" Maria had asked surprised and somewhat shocked.
"Only for a little while ..."
'Seems the Reverend Mother had been right the first time.' When she had left the abbey and was on her way to the villa, it never had came to her mind that she mightn't return. 'Funny how things went.'
Maria was on her way to Rosemarie's room, Elsa's former room, in the other wing of the house with a nightgown in her hands. It would be the first time she'd be alone with her. All day Maria had been with Georg, and when Rosemarie had been around, the children mostly had been with her. Not that she complained ... she had enjoyed her alone time with Georg very much! Sharing kisses, feeling each other's touch, being close all day ... Still, Maria liked to meet Rosemarie properly, perhaps even talk a little.
Georg had only told her a little bit earlier that day. How she was Agathe's only sister and that there had been quite some years between the two, that's why Rosemarie only was 25. He had told her about their little family gatherings they had had every week. Rosemarie and Georg knew each other pretty well, since she'd come to visit the happy couple a lot. She had even had her own room at the villa. Georg had always seen her as the little sister he had never had, especially when she was staying at the villa again for a while.
Maria knocked softly on the door.
"Come in."
She heard Rosemarie reply. She walked in, still smiling and showed the nightgown. As soon as Rosemarie had seen it was Maria, she smiled genuinely.
"Thanks, you're my saving angel! And mine not alone."
Rosemarie took the nightdress and sat down on the bed. Then she motioned Maria to sit down next to her, who gladly accepted the offer.
"It's nice the house is so cheerful again, just like in the old days. Oh how I loved coming here ... Anyway," Rosemarie continued because she felt she was trailing off again, "I can't tell you how happy I am to see Georg so different from before, to see the one who has changed him. I truly believe you're an angel."
A pink fled came upon Maria's cheeks.
"I only made Georg realise how dearly he loves his children, he had just forgotten how much."
Maria didn't like to receive compliments, she never knew how to react, therefore she changed the subject.
"I don't want to be rude or anything, but I've never heard the children talk about you ..."
"Oh you aren't rude, Maria. I think that's because I haven't been here as much as before my sister died. At first it was too painful and awkward for me to come here. And George started to change, I didn't recognise him anymore, you know. It felt like I had lost a sister and a brother. I'd only come here once in 3 months at the most. Last time I've seen everybody was nearly 6 months ago." She looked at her hands for a moment, then sighed and continued. "Everyone was devastated. Agathe was a warm and loving person. It has been a great loss for everyone who knew her."
"I can imagine that." Maria said sympathetically.
She looked at Rosemarie's face, and could even feel her pain for a minute, then she saw her look changing into curious.
"So what felt it like being the children's governess? Because I understand you were a postulant. Had you done something like this before?"
"No ... And when the Reverend Mother had said there were seven children, I nearly fell off my chair. But they turned out to be such darlings, every single one of them." Maria smiled contentedly.
"Had they played any tricks on you? The last time I was here, they told me about a Fraulein, running through the house, screaming her lungs out." Rosemarie frowned. "Now what was it they had done?" She thought for a minute, then lightened up when she remembered what it was and how the children had told her that story. They even had showed her how she was running through the house. "Oh yes, a spider."
Maria shivered, just by hearing that word. She recalled how she had checked her bed her first night there for any, right before a scared Gretl ran in.
"They put a big, black spider in her bed. They told me Georg had fired her immediately after she had waken the entire house. It was midnight, and you know how he thought of shouting in the house, let alone screaming."
"I had no spiders ... Thank God I hadn't!" Maria sighed of relief.
"So what did you have?"
"Well first I had a toad in my pocket."
On Rosemarie's face appeared a disgusted look.
"Yes, well at least it's better than a snake." Maria said by seeing her face. Both giggled upon that last sentence.
"And later, at the dinner table, I sat right down on a pinecone."
"I know that one!" Rosemarie exclaimed. "Georg had told me he had done that one to chase his own governess away."
"Indeed, he had told me as well, later. He said he should apologise for putting that idea into his children's heads. Anyway, that were the only ones."
"Boy, you've been lucky! That's not what the others can say." She winked at Maria. "They've banded with you pretty fast then."
"I suppose so ... That night, the children were scared of the thunderstorm. So I sang them a special song to soothe them."
"That made all the difference. Others didn't even allow the children in their room and singing was out of the question as well." She paused for a minute, a little smile appeared on her lips. "I'm glad we'll have you in the family."
Maria didn't knew what to say, the only thing she could do was smile. Then Rosemarie bended over, and embraced Maria.
"Thank you." She finally was able to bring out. It meant a great deal to her, to be accepted by Agathe's sister.
The sound of knocking made both ladies look at the door.
"I hope I'm not interrupting your little girl chat ..."
Georg felt relieved the two got along so well.
"Not at all." Both women choired.
"I came to see if everything's fine."
"It is, thank you again Georg."
Suddenly Maria remembered it was high time to bed the children. She immediately stood up.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll go and put the children to bed. Goodnight Rosemarie. It was very nice talking to you."
"Indeed Maria. We'll talk some more soon. Goodnight." She replied cheerfully.
Maria had left the room. Georg was still standing in the doorway, with his hand on the doorknob.
"If there is anything you need, you'll find me either in my room, or my study." He hesitated. "It was nice of you to come. We really appreciate it."
"It was my pleasure, Georg. I'm just glad to have my big brother back."
Georg smiled. "Well ... goodnight."
"Goodnight."
-----
Maria was in Gretl's and Marta's room, closing the curtains. The two girls were already in bed.
"Maria, will we see Chris again soon?"
Maria walked over to Gretl's bed. She pulled the sheaths good over the little girl and sat down.
"I'm sure we will, darling."
Next, she bended over to kiss the five-year-old goodnight. Georg was standing at the door, simply watching. 'She's going to be a terrific mother.' He thought, pleased with how his life had turned out.
As Maria had moved to do the same with Marta, Georg walked in and gave his littlest girl a kiss on her forehead. Gretl looked up at the two adults, happiness visible on her face. Marta had the exact same look on her face, because they loved how their father and soon-to-be mother said goodnight. Both had been too little to remember their father doing this, they only had memories of those old governesses putting them into bed, without even saying goodnight. Now they had a loving father and mother kissing them goodnight. But what made it even more perfect, they'd be doing it every night like that from now on.
Maria and Georg were now standing at the door together, smiling at their little girls before turning the lights off. "Goodnight." They both whispered.
When they arrived at the boys' room, they came to a big surprise. Both Friedrich and Kurt were already lying in their bed with the lights off. The couple stood in the doorway for a minute, still perplexed at what they were seeing.
Even though they were already in bed, they were still wide awake and looking at the couple. Maria was standing first, with Georg half behind her. The boys reminded how their father used to stand there like that with their mother. As Marta and Gretl, they too got a warm feeling inside. Because even though they'll always keep loving Agathe, they felt like no one else could stand there now like that besides Maria.
"Goodnight Dad. Goodnight Maria."
"Goodnight boys." The couple choired before closing the door.
Then they moved to the elder girls' room. They too were laying in bed already. Only the light was still on. Brigitta and Louisa were already fast asleep. As Maria turned the light out, Liesl whispered "I love you two ... goodnight." She saw the smile on Maria's and Georg's face, then closed her eyes.
"Goodnight, darling."
As they were standing in the hallway, Maria turned to Georg and laid her arms in his neck as she felt his resting in her back.
"You have some wonderful children, captain." She told him, looking intensely in his eyes while feeling happier than she had ever felt before.
"We have some wonderful children." Georg corrected her before he kissed her deeply.
----- ----- -----
I hope you liked it. And Georg and Maria soon will have some time alone, I promise!