Disclaimer: Once again, nothing….:sigh:
Chapter 10
For the first time in fifteen minutes Georg reluctantly tore his watering eyes from Maria. The Captain didn't like the idea of showing weakness in front of her even is she couldn't see him at the moment. In fact he didn't like showing weakness at all, but to do it in front of the woman he loved was something he would never do. And yet, was she not the one who took him out of his darkest time, his true weakness? He took a steadying breath and closed his eyes.
"C-c-c-captain?" His eyes shot open at the sound of someone talking and he whirled around to look back in the car.
Maria had propped herself up on one elbow and was rubbing her temple with her other hand. "I'm here, Maria."
"What?" she looked behind her. "Oh Captain."
"Are you alright?" he helped her sit up more. She closed her eyes and smiled as he lightly touched her shoulders and maneuvered her so that she was now facing him.
"I think I am." she opened her eyes and met his gaze. "I know I am."
Georg let out the breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding. They held each others gaze and for the first time, since the fire, Georg allowed himself to smile. Together they smiled and looked into the other's eyes.
Suddenly a million sounds came rushing to the Captain's ears. Reluctantly he pulled his eyes from Maria's and looked around. He had been so absorbed in helping Maria that he hadn't realized anything else around them. There were bystanders, victims of the fire, medical help, and a fire engine. Finally Georg's gaze landed on the apartments. Where there was once dozens apartments was now the remains of a burnt building. He hadn't realized the severity of the fire and his face fell.
Maria followed his gaze and her face also fell. Her home, her shelter was now gone. She felt a lump in her throat and her eyes water.
"Perhaps we should have someone make sure you're alright."
Everything went by in a blur. First she was in the von Trapp car going on a picnic, then she's in her apartment getting he guitar, then she's clutching Gretl as she ran down the hall, then they ran into the Captain, then she's on the street being asked questions by the children, then she looks up to see her apartment in flames. Next thing she knows she's waking up in the Captain's car, then being checked by a medical attendant and know she stood before the burnt building, clutching the necklace she wore in her hand. It felt like days since Maria was frantically trying to get the children ready for the picnic when actually it was merely an hour.
Where was she to go? What was she to do? Her belongings, all of them, were gone. Not that she had a lot. The only thing that she had of sentimental value was her necklace and her guitar, thankfully both were safe with her. But still, her possessions: her radio, chair, everything, even the close made of the material she got over the summer at the villa was gone.
One minute you're driving in a car to go on a picnic with the people you love and everything is perfect. Then you're standing before the remains of you home not understanding how life has to be so cruel when everything was fine…perfect.
Georg stood a few feet behind Maria. Her back was to him, her head was done, and her shoulders were hunched, even though she wasn't facing him he could tell that she was most likely crying. It broke him to see her in such a state, so helpless. This happy, strong, independent, carefree, life loving, absolutely beautiful woman was now scared, alone, sad, and helpless. He knew the feeling all to well and he knew that he had to save her before she did what he had once done, what she had saved him from.
But then again, he didn't exactly know what to do. Was he to offer her words of comfort. Was he to take her in his arms and hold her like her desperately wanted to. But then, how would she react to that? There was now doubt in his mind that if she acted against it there would could be awkwardness in the friendship that they had built. How would a bystander react to that? Seeing Captain Georg von Trapp holding his former governess in his arms, definitely the cause for gossip and it wasn't exactly proper either. "Damn propriety and damn awkwardness." he thought.
Carefully and slowly he closed the gap between them and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. She didn't do anything but stayed in the position she was before. He could feel her shaking. She took a deep breath and just as slowly has he had moved, turned to face him.
A lump formed in his throat at the sight of her. Maria's face was completely covered in her tears, her eyes were red, and her body was shaking.
He lightly brushed a few pieces of her hair away from her face before pulling her into a tight and comforting hug. A huge sob came from Maria and a new wave of tears began to fall down her face.
"Oh Captain…" he heard a muffled cry from his love.
"It's aliright Maria, I'm here. And I always will be." he began to rock back and forth. "Always."
Author's Note: OMG, I am so sorry that I didn't get this up sooner! I've been very busy and I have had no idea how to write this chapter. I mean it took me two days just to get this. I know it isn't a lot, but at least it's something. I am sad to inform you all that this story is most likely coming to a close and there will probably only be one or two more chapters. But then again anything is possible, so we'll have to see!
jennalynn, SOMBABE22, megandkatherine: No worries, Maria is ok! I could never make Maria die…oh no, how bad would that be? She was just in really deep shock….yeah….Thanks for the reviews!
Pim Pam Poentje, maz, I'm16What'ssuchababyaboutthat, Josephine10: I'm so glad you all like the story so much, thanks for the reviews!
More to come soon!
The Lonely Goatherd
