ENDING TWO

"Father will be ecstatic to see you!" Gretl said as she took her turn in stomping down the elevator.

"I hope so," Maria said breathlessly. Maria was tired from getting the elevator to start she hated the thing. They should have just taken the stairs she thought to her self. However, she was thankful for Gretl's youthfulness and her eagerness to get Maria to the hotel that she was doing all the work to get the elevator down.

"He'll have to be!" Gretl said with one final stomp. This stomp sent the elevator down with no problem. "You never told me why you left. You never told any of us!"

"That's because I was avoiding it darling," Maria said flatly.

"Why?" Gretl asked.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes, I've been waiting to find out for a long time now," Gretl said as she started to tear up. "I thought it was my fault that you left."

"Oh, no! Not at all Gretl!" Maria gave Gretl a massive hug and held her tight to her chest.

"Then why did you leave without even saying 'Good-bye'?"

"I… I had to leave," Maria said.

"But, why?"

"I was in love…"

"In love?" Gretl interrupted, "With who?"

"With your Father," Maria sighed.

Gretl's jaw dropped. She knew it all this time that Maria was in love with her Father. But, hearing it from Maria was a whole different matter.

"Close your mouth Gretl, we are not a cod fish," Maria said with a warm smile.

"Sorry," Gretl said smiling back, "I knew it!" Gretl gave Maria another hug. The two had been in so deep of a conversation that neither had realized that the elevator doors had opened. There was a small group of five people standing in front of the elevator all of which were smiling. Maria and Gretl just grinned at the group and walked out together hand in hand.

"Which way?" Maria asked as the two walked outside into the evening light of the sun.

"This way," Gretl said as she pulled Maria along by her hand.

Maria wasn't led that far from her apartment when she saw the large hotel that Gretl pointed our as her own. The hotel was magnificent and Maria couldn't help but think that she could have been staying in hotels like this instead of her small compact apartment. Gretl pulled Maria harder once they were nearer to the hotel.

"Hello Gretl!" the doorman said as he tipped his hat to her. "And who is this?"

"This is my old governess, Fraulein Maria," Gretl said as she continued pulling Maria past the doorman and inside the hotel. She let go of Maria's hand. Leaving Maria behind to walk fast behind her, Gretl went straight for the elevator.

Maria stopped and looked around the hotel. Everything looked so rich, it reminded her of the Captain's villa and how she felt so at home there. She watched as a party of woman walked by her dressed up as if they had gone to a grand festivity. Maria felt a ping of jealousy wishing she could be in a dress as magnificent as theirs.

"He's gone!" Gretl came running to Maria from the front desk. "I forgot that I had to check in with the front desk when I come in and that's what I just did and I got this." Gretl gave Maria a letter.

"Children,

The search is over. I have gone back home, to Austria. Come back when you like, I'll be here waiting. I've left you all more then enough American currency to spend around town and to come home with.

I love you all, Father"

"He's gone," Maria whispered to her self. "Such a short letter… What did he mean "The search is over."?" Maria asked a bit confused.

"It means he's given up," Gretl answered simply.

"Given up on what?"

"You," Gretl answered again. Maria looked blankly towards the girl. "We're not going to let him though!"

"Darling, it's over," claimed Maria.

"No it's not!" Gretl shouted. "Come on!"

"Where are you taking us now?" Maria asked as Gretl pulled her arm and she started walking out of the hotel.

"I've got the money," Gretl said.

"You should go find your brothers and sisters to tell them what's going on."

"I will, after I get you on a boat," Gretl said as she pulled on Maria's arm harder.

"Gretl," Maria stopped walking to Gretl's pull, "This is going too far, you said your self that he's given up."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean that he's stopped loving you!" Gretl protested, "Come on!"

Maria started to say something to Gretl when she noticed two girls walking into the hotel that looked so familiar. They were each talking to each other and giggling together. The one with dark brown hair looked over towards her and gave her a look of recognition and then she saw Gretl and pointed at them to the other girl. The other girl had blonde hair and was now staring at Maria and Gretl. The two began to walk towards them and Gretl gave them a wave.

"What are you doing to this woman?" The blonde pone asked Gretl.

"Fraulein Maria?" the brown haired one questioned. Maria smiled as she recognized the voices to both the girls. It was Brigitta and Louisa.

"That's not Fraulein Maria! She looks to old!" Louisa stated to Brigtitta.

"Louisa, you shouldn't say such things," a boy said coming up from behind Louisa. Maria immediately recognized the boy, this time she remembered his name, Kurt.

"I beg your pardon!" Maria said shocked. "I know I've changed but I'm not an old woman!"

The two girls and the boy just stared at her in amazement. They each grew a smile and lunged at Maria for a hug. Maria more then willingly gave them a hug in return.

"Where have you been?" Brgitta asked with her arm around Maria's waist.

"Here and there," Maria smiled, "I've missed you all so much!"

"We've missed you, too," the three said in unison.

"We fill you in on the boat!" Gretl said agitatedly.

"What boat? What's going on here?" Kurt asked straightening himself out.

"Father went back to Austria," Gretl exclaimed, "We need to go find Leisl, Marta, and Friedrich."

"We're all going back?" Brigitta asked her sister.

"Like I said, we'll fill you in on the boat!" Gretl said again.

"I never said I was going to get on a boat," Maria said protesting to Gretl.

"What do you mean? Of course you are!" Gretl told her.

"Gretl, my life is here now. I have…" Maria was thinking really and truly hard of what she had here that was so important. She could think of nothing but her lazy boy chair in her apartment.

"You can have us, again," Brigitta said as she looked Maria in the eyes.

"I would love to have you kids back! But, I don't think you children need me anymore," Maria smiled.

"Maybe we don't, but Father does," Kurt said.

"It doesn't really matter what you say Fraulein, we're going to take you with us one way or another. You must have forgotten, there are seven of us," Louisa threatened.

"Well, what can I say to that?" Maria laughed.

"Just say you'll come," Gretl pleaded.

"I'll go," Maria told the children.

With that, Gretl sent Kurt up to go look in the hotel rooms for the other three children so they could all leave right away. Kurt left in a flash and was off in search for his brother and two sisters. The rest of the crew stayed with Maria and caught up with her. Gretl was still tense about leaving and was a bit jealous that all her brothers and sisters were getting all the attention from Maria that she was given to start with. So, she sat quietly next to her old governess and listened as she talked to the other children.

Kurt was back with in twenty minutes with his two sisters and his brother. Apparently Kurt didn't tell them what the emergency was as to why they were being rushed to pack everyones belongings to leave. However, when they saw Maria as they stepped out of the elevator just like before Maria was attacked with hugs from each of them. She held them close to her for along time and then let them go crying. They were all here and welcoming her with open arms.

Three were quickly filled in on what was going on and where Maria had been for so long. No asked any questions as to why she left and never returned, they were too busy thinking of ways that they could get on a boat and quick. It was Friedrich who came up with the plan of what they all were going to do.

Friedrich's plan was to get on board a Navy ship by telling them who their father was then they would ride to Europe and drive to Austria the rest of the way. Maria was skeptic of his plan but she agreed to go with it none the less. After hearing the plan being repeated for the second time and making fine details the whole group went off to packing clothes and other such things that they had bought for souvenirs. It took the children only fifteen minutes to pack all their belongings and get down stairs to the lobby where they agreed to meet Maria. Maria met up with the seven children about twenty minutes after they had finished all their packing and made it down to the lobby. This was an ordeal because the seven of them plus suitcases couldn't all fit in one elevator they had to take three trips down. Once Maria was there the children rushed her back out and into a taxi and off to the naval base.

The eight if them took four taxis, two people per taxi. The pairs went Leisl and Friedrich, Kurt and Louisa, Brigitta and Marta, and then Gretl called debs to be with Maria. It was going on ten o'clock when Maria checked her watch. She had figured with all the children's planning that she would be in Austria in about two days. Her excitement and fears intensified as they reached the naval base and her stomach was making cartwheels in her gut when she saw the huge ship she was to riding on.

Everyone was lead below deck where they were to sleep and put all their belongings. The man who led them was to be their Captain and he promoted that, "if you're not a big fan of ships or sailing then you should stay in your bunk otherwise you're free to roam pretty much where ever you little heart desires." Then he gave a wink and left to start their journey across the Atlantic.

Maria got settled right away in her bunk and even though the children had so many questions for her to answer she was starting to feel to nauseated to answer anything. She had never felt so ill in her life she had figured as she lay in her bed. Thinking back when she was younger she had been on plenty of boats and had never gotten sick on any of them. With that she figured that her illness was do to her nerves. So, she laid there all through the night and the next day and even the next night. It wasn't until mid afternoon, when the boat had docked that she was feeling up to get out of bed.

"Fraulein Maria?" A voice popped out from behind the cabin door.

"Yes?" Moaned Maria in as well of a voice as she could manage.

"We're docking just now. So, you might want to start getting dressed," the same voice answered.

Maria gave a moan as a reply and the voice, along with the owner, went away. Maria climbed out of her bed and slipped a dress on over slip which she had fallen asleep in and she slid on a pair of shoes. Her outfits still consisted of the old ones that she had made with the fabric that the Captain had given her. She was a bit embarrassed to wear them, since they had gone out of style in America long time since and she was embarrassed to see the Captain in the same wardrobe as he last saw her in.

With much help from Friedrich and Kurt, Maria made her way off the ship and once on land she felt much better. She even claimed to feel well again once she was riding in the car with the windows down. The plans had shifted a bit once they had placed foot in Europe. Friedrich, who was taking care of all transportation, had managed to get them all a seat on a train. On the train they would ride all the way to Austria and spend the night on the train as well. The plan was to be at the villa by mid morning and Friedrich promised that he would get everyone there safe and sound and without any terminal illnesses.

Riding on the train was a nightmare for Maria's butterflies. They felt more like a mob of angry hornets pelting her innards. Her rest on the train was slim to none. Even though the children asked her questions left and right, she answered all them without fail, they couldn't distract her from the way she was feeling inside. Little by little a piece of her had been dying away or had gone missing all together without her noticing. She hadn't noticed it until the children insisted on a performance of "The Hills Are Alive". Once she heard their angelic voices again she had forgotten the butterflies for a few blessed minutes and had felt the love of the children all over again.

Maria didn't sleep on the train, in fact she didn't sleep at all that night. Her mind just kept racing and her thoughts just came flowing as if a flood gate had been opened. All her thoughts were on him and what his reaction would be to seeing her. Right now rejection was her biggest fear. Maria tried all she could to force all her negative away but deeper into the night they would slip back in to haunt her.

Train came to a halting stop close to 7:00 am and up all the still slumbering passengers. Maria held up her hand to shade her eyes from the morning sun and Looked out her through her window she could see her hill. It was the same hill that led her to the abbey and ultimately would lead her to the Captain. She loved that hill just looking at made her feel like she was at home again and she had been missing that feeling for a long time now.

Before Maria knew it she was walking on the streets alone. All the children had gone up on top of the hill for a short visit. Maria was traveling light, she was carrying her little carpet bag but she let the children take her larger suitcase in the car with them because they were going to go straight to the villa after they were through with visiting the hill. Having more important things to do, Maria made her way to the abbey.

Maria stood in front of the gates and just stared inside. She smiled when she saw Sister Margaretta walking to the gate to meet Maria. The old nun, that was like a mother to her, had grown old, frail, and walked in a waddle. Just seeing the nun brought tears to her eyes. The sister recognized her immediately and she tried her hardest to walk faster to open the gate.

"Maria, my dear! When did you return?" The sister asked as she stretched out the key and unlocked the gate letting Maria in. They embraced each other for only a short while when the sister pulled away from her to get a better look.

"I've only come back this morning," said Maria wanting to hug her again.

"Follow me, Maria," the sister said turning around and leading Maria up to the Mother Abbess office.

"I'm not in trouble am I?" Maria asked as a conditioned response.

"Oh no, darling! This is my office now I would never get you in trouble."

"You're the Mother Abbess?"

"You sound some what disappointed Maria."

"What happened to Mother Abbess?"

"She died a few years ago."

"Ohh…"

"It's quite alright dear, she's with the good Lord now."

Maria nodded her head in agreement that the old Mother Abbess would in need go to live her after life with the good Lord. She was sad to hear of the Mothers death but the woman was old and nearly on her death bed when Maria had left.

Sister Margaretta, the Mother Abbess, left Maria in her office and went to go get them each a cup of tea. Maria looked around it was the same office that she went into when she was in trouble. It was the same office that the old Mother Abbess had told her that she would be going to live with the Captain and his seven children.

Maria hadn't noticed the man facing the window at first but once he turned around Maria's eyes caught his movement. The stepped forward and Maria could make out his face much better now. His eyes were tired along with his face and his posture was slumped. He obviously couldn't see her because he just turned back around and faced outside again.

That's when it hit her. The eyes, those were the eyes that haunted her every night and every day. She walked over to the window and stood right next to the man. He seemed distracted and only gave her a nod of recognition.

"It's a beautiful day," Maria said looking out the window searching for what he was staring at. The man groaned and continued looking out the window. "What are you looking for?"

"Nothing… anymore," the man finally turned to look at Maria and he smiled and repeated himself, "Nothing anymore."