Disclaimer: Absolutely, positively nothing.

Author's Note: Well, here it is. Please keep in mind that I wrote this on a tour bus around 9-10 o'clock at night while talking with my friends so it might not be the best, I already had to change the ending of the chapter because I didn't like it, so crosses fingers hope you like it. Enjoy!

Lindainsweden: You're getting your update right……….now! ). Thanks for reviewing.


Chapter 12

Maria and the Captain flew up the stairs towards the children's rooms. Simultaneously their hands grabbed the doorknob to Gretl and Marta's room, the Captain's covering Maria's. Time seemed to stand still as the two made eye contact. But their short moment was broken by the sound of Leisl's soft voice. Remember where they were Georg removed his hand from Maria's as she proceeded to open the door.

The two stood in the door way of the room to find Leisl sitting at the edge of Marta's bed with a sleeping Gretl in her lap.

"Father." Marta yawned with a smile before drifting to sleep.

Leisl carefully tucked Gretl back into bed before joining Maria and her father in the hall.

"Is everything alright, Leisl?" Georg inquired.

"Yes, the storm frightened them, but they're fine now."

"Thanking you for talking care of them Leisl." Maria said as she joined the conversation.

"It was no problem. Well, good night Father; good night Fraulein Maria."

"Good night, Leisl." the duo replied.

As Leisl walked to he room she couldn't help but think of how much her father and Fraulein look like a couple. Staning in the door way like husband and wife checking on the children. Leisl smiled as she laid down on her bed, that would be wonderful. They would be a whole family again and Fraulein Maria would never leave, she would be a permanent part of their family. Leisl wanted that more than anything.


Maria watched Leisl disappear behind her door. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the Captain turn towards her, but she didn't follow suit, she refused to.

All she could think about was what had happened, or what almost happened. The thing she wanted so much had almost happened. They had been so close, unprofessionally close. She could still feel his warm breathe on her skin.

She remember the look in his eyes. It was if he…..no he couldn't. He was her employer. He could never feel that way towards her, ever. Yet again, the words of Baroness Schraeder ran across her mind.

"And what makes it so nice is that he thinks he is in love with you."

Could the Baroness have been right? And not for the first time the next part of the conversation played across her mind. "Don't worry, he should get over it soon enough I should think, men do you know." If the Baroness had been right about him loving her, maybe he hadn't gotten over her, maybe he NO! How could the Baroness be right. He is your employer, nothing more, and her never will be!

"Fraulein, Fraulein?" His voice broker her thoughts.

"Hm, oh, yes Captain." She whispered.

"I was, well I, I just, um….good night Fraulein."

"Good night Captain." Maria watched as he too disappeared behind his door.


Georg swore and kicked his bed. He had been so close, yet he knew he shouldn't have been as close as he was (literally). He had almost told her how he felt. How he needed her every being. How her needed to know about her past, her present, hopes for the future. How he needed to hear her life, see her smile, feel her touch…..

He wanted so much to take her in his arms and never let go. With a sigh the Captain laid in his bed and fell asleep with thoughts of his love in his mind.


Maria jumped as she heard a crash from the Captain's study the next morning. Knocking and opening the door Maria found a newspaper and some books on the ground and the Captain sitting at his desk, back hunched over and head in his hands.

"C-c-captain?"

"Huh, oh Fraulein."

"Is something uh, the matter?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Sir?"

With a sigh Georg von Trapp spoke the words he never wanted to hear come from his mouth: "The Anschluss has happened."


Maria had to grasp the desk to keep herself in a standing position.

"It, w-what! B-b-but, no. It can't, no." she said, staring straight ahead of her and sitting in a near by chair.

"I'm afraid so." Georg watched as tears formed in Maria's eyes. He couldn't stand seeing her like this. He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her it would be alright, that together they could get trough this, but he couldn't. Tears slowly formed in his eyes.

"So, wi-will you be-e leav-ing?" She choked out as tears started to flow down her cheeks.

"Yes, I will begin making plans now, and when I feel we need to or I hear anything about them wanting me to join them, we will leave.

"I-I see." No, she thought, no, no, no. The only thing she had in her life, her family, was being torn away from her. She was going to lose them. The children she considered her own. The man she loved, they were going away and she would probably never see them again.

Why? Georg thought, why, why, why. The life he had here, the new life he had just re-established with his children was being taken from him, along with his home land. And Her, he would probably never see Her again…unless…

"Come with us."

"What!" Had He just said what she thought He did, or were her ears deceiving her?

"Come with us Maria, escape with us."

She wanted to, but could she be a tag along with this family, could she…..Did he just address me with out using the term Fraulein?

"I don't know if I should."

NO! She wasn't going to escape from them, from him. Not again. Georg kneeled in front of her chair and took hold of bother of her hands. Looking her straight in the eye her continued: "Please Maria, I beg of you. Come with us, you can't stay here with those monsters in charge, I won't let you. Please."

"I don't know what to say…."

He took one of his hands and ran it across her cheek, never breaking eye contact as he said: "Say yes, Maria. Say yes."

He was so close again, closer, closer. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't. She had to get away.

Quickly she stood and backed away. Feeling their hands part the Captain reached for them again, he needed to, holding her hand seemed to calm him.

"Well, are you coming?"

"I really don't know, this is my home."

"Maria I love this country too. But I can't be hear with them in charge especially if the expect me to join their navy. And I refuse to allow you to stay here."

"But escaping could be dangerous. With eight people it will difficult enough, I will just be a burden. I could never allow myself to be that."

"Maria you could never be a burden. Besides leaving here will be just as dangerous as escaping. It won't be safe. Please, this family needs you. I ne-please, come."

Once again their eyes met. How could she refuse him? She knew he was right they were no longer safe here, no one was. Once again she felt his hand graze her cheek and his other grasp on her hand tightened.

"You're right. I'll come with."

The Captain felt himself smile for the first time that morning. He squeezed both of her hands again.

"Thank you."

"What do we do know?" We….they were getting through this together. Maria let a small smile cross her face.

"Max and I will begin making plans after breakfast. You'll need to get all of the children together, don't say anything that's going to scare them, just get them ready. When I feel it necessary we'll leave Austria and this house."


Author's Note: I know that in the movie they don't escape till the end of the summer-ish. So let's pretend that Maria's departure and return happened later in the summer. Anywho. There it is. Came out pretty good I think.

Megandkatherine: I'm evil? Cool, being evils fun. Anywho, thanks for the update. And fal-dil-ral and fiddle-ly-dee of course is impossible! He he…Thanks again!

LizzyM87: I'm glad you liked the think about the storm. And it definitely does described Maria's internal struggle, as long as the Captain's. And also there shall we call it some form of "tension". Thanks for the review!

More to come! )

The Lonely Goatherd