Disclaimer: I would lie to you and say that I own The Sound of Music…but it would be lying.
Author's Note: Well, it's been just about a couple days longer than a week or so and I haven't updated. I must say, that I have been having a hard time of trying to figure out how to end this story. So after much thinking on my part, and a couple ideas later I decided to go ahead and see where the characters take me. So, now, I give you the final installment to No Way Back:
Chapter Eleven
"Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kitten-" Brigitta began to quietly sing the song that Maria had taught them. All seven von Trapp children sat in the sitting room, impatiently awaiting the return of their father and Fraulein Maria. It had been nearly an hour since they left the fire and no one had heard anything. Slowly, one by one the others began to sing along.
"Why don't I feel better?" Marta asked, after the first verse was finished, to no one in particular.
"Girls in white dresses with blue sating sashes-"
"Snow flakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes-" all seven heads turned at the sound of a new voice.
"Fraulein Maria-!"
"We were so worried!-"
"Are you alright?-"
"What happened-"
"I was so scared-"
"We were going to stay-"
"But Father made Uncle Max bring us home-"
"Are you sure you're ok-?"
Maria barely had time to think or breathe as she and the Captain entered the villa, thirty minutes after Maria had woken, and walked into the sitting room. As soon as she began to sing with the children Maria was bombarded by hugs and questions from the children. Maria allowed herself to smile a grateful smile, it was small and sad, but a smile all the same.
"Children, children!" she waved her hands in front of her to indicate silence. "I'm fine." The was a group sigh of relief from the children.
"I was so scared…" Gretl whimpered. Maria reached down and gave the five-year-old a motherly hug.
"We all were." Louisa said from the back of the group. Maria gave her a smile.
"I know, I was too. But really, I'm fine, see?" she stood and twirled around, making the children and the Captain laugh."
"If you'll excuse me, I have a phone call to make in my study."
"Of course Captain." Maria said with a nod before the Captain left the room.
"AH, Fraulein Maria. It's so wonderful to see that you are ok." Max said, coming into the room.
"Thank you, Max."
"I must say, I don't know how you were able to handle this bunch over the summer," he said, pointing his thumb at the children. "Quite impatient, aren't they. I was in a desperate search around the house for the assistance of Frau Schmidt when you walked in." he finished, with a joking smile, causing everyone in the room to laugh.
It was now three o' clock in the after noon. Maria was sitting in her old room looking our the window. She couldn't believe that it was only four hours ago that she, the Captain, the children, and Max had made that pit stop at her apartment to pick up her guitar for their picnic.
She was still in shock at how a simple moment changed her life so drastically. She had no clothes, no belongings, no home. Well, she did have a home. She looked around her old room…her room. The Captain had been gracious enough to let her stay at the villa, and for that she loved him even more.
"-b-but Captain. Where am I to go, where am I to live? My home is gone." She said, pulling herself out of his comforting embrace to look him in the eyes. He looked back into her teary eyes and thought. A small smile appeared on his face.
"Well, with us of course." he quietly stated.
"B-b-but Captain. I couldn't-" Georg shook his head and silenced her.
"Please Maria, I insist. Our home is yours."
"Oh Captain!" she flung herself around him and hugged him as a new wave of tears escaped her.
Maria blushed as the memory left her. The mere though of being in the Captain's arms like that evoked feelings that she was very used to; but were still, almost foreign. She wished so desperately that she could vocalize those feelings, to say them and let them be known. But she couldn't, she just couldn't. With a sigh Maria picked up her guitar and began strumming.
The Captain stood outside of Maria's room and knocked. When he got no answer he tried again. Beginning to worry the Captain knocked once more and opened the door. "Fraulein, are y-" he stopped talking at the sight before him.
Maria was sitting in a chair by the window. Quietly playing her guitar and humming. She had a far off look in her eyes as if she was in another world, perhaps a garden. The sun was hitting her face in all the right places making her look angelic. Georg had to remember to breathe.
Sensing that someone was behind her Maria slowly turned her head and stopped playing. Slowly, she turned towards the door.
"That, was lovely, please don't stop." the only response Maria gave was smile. She placed the guitar on the ground and stood.
"Was, was there something you wanted?"
Georg didn't respond at first. He just stared at Maria, in awe of her.
"Hm, oh, uh. Actually, yes. Yes, there was." He turned towards the door and picked up something that Maria couldn't see.
Turning around, Georg held five different fabrics in his hands. "I had these sent out of town earlier today. They're for you."
Maria stared at the beautiful fabrics in the Captain's outstretched arms, then looked at the Captain, and back again.
"Captain, I couldn't except those. Not after all you've done already. You've given me a home. Please, I'll go into town tomorrow and get some new clothes."
"Ah, come now Fraulein, you can't expect me to take these back. Please, it really is no problem at all. I was more than happy to get you the material."
Reluctantly, Maria took the fabric from the Captain and placed them on her bed. "You're far to kind." Maria said, not even looking at Georg.
Georg's only response was a smile.
"I see I'm not the only one who wanted some fresh air." Maria turned from her spot on the terrace, later that night, to see the Captain standing in the door way to the house. His arms were crossed across his chest and he was leaning against the door frame. His air was slightly messy and he had a small smile that almost looked like a smirk on his face. His stance gave him the look of a mischievous, guilty school boy.
Maria smiled and had to stop herself from laughing at his state. Smiling, the Captain walked to stand next to her. He set his elbows on the railing and he and Maria looked over the landscape.
The sun was setting over the lake, giving it a mysterious glow. Reds, oranges, purples, and blues, were reflecting off it's shimmering surface. The ground was covered in crisp, red orange, brown, and yellow leaves. The trees, as always, were slightly swaying even though they didn't have any leaves in them. The October chill that came at night was starting to set in and both Maria and Georg clutched their coats tighter to their bodies.
Georg turned towards Maria. She was looking straight a head and he couldn't see her face. "Beautiful isn't it?" She gave no response, not even the nod of her head. If anything she just turned more away from him. "Fraulein?" He heard he give a slight, chocked sob. "Maria?" he said gently, resting his hands on her shoulder and turning her towards him.
Once again, the Captain was met with a face stained with tears. But Maria moved quickly and began to wipe them away.
"I'm sorry Captain, this day has been full of so much, I couldn't help it."
"It's quite alright. I understand that feeling."
"Yes, I suppose you do." she gave him a weak smile and he gave her a full one. "You've been so kind to let me stay here and I promise in the morning I'll start looking for a new apartment-"
Georg's smile slightly fell as he heard those words. "Maybe she doesn't want to stay." he bitterly thought while his heart sank. "You don't want to stay?" he gave himself a mental kick for asking the question out loud.
Maria gave him a puzzled look while she registered what he asked. "Oh no that's not at all what I meant. You've been so kind to let me stay, and I love it here. I really do. I love everything about this place: y-" Maria froze mid-sentence before she could finish the sentence, her eyes almost widening at the realization of what she almost said.
"Yes?" had he really heard, what he though he did.
"-the children, and everyone here." she began again at a pace that she could manage. "But I can't stay here long. I wouldn't allow myself. Intruding on your home-"
"You don't have to you know." Georg said, barely above a whisper.
"Captain?"
"You don't have to look for an other apartment. You can stay here."
"But Captain, I couldn't stay for ever. Eventually I'll need to find a place, a home of my own-"
"No, this is your place Maria. This is your home." he almost stopped. But continued anyways. Now that he started their was no way back, so it was now or never. "You belong here, don't you see how much of a part of this family you've become. How much you mean to the children. To me?" Maria gave a shudder as her heart leapt. She didn't know if it was from the weather or from what the Captain had just said (Did he just say what I though he did?). Her shudder cause both her and the Captain to realize that he still had his hands on her shoulder, but neither of them moved.
"Please Maria," his voice now pleading. "Don't leave us again. You mean so much to this family. You complete us, you truly do. We need you, the children, everyone, me." As he finished he locked eyes with her and wouldn't let her look away.
Maria finally realized what she had seen in the Captain's eyes those days ago when they sat out by the gazebo. It was compassion, pleading, love.
"C-c-c-c-catptian?" was all she could stammer out.
He delicately raised his right hand from Maria's shoulder and pushed a few strands of stray hair behind her ear. His hand found it's resting spot on her cheek, and her eyes began to tear. Whether in joy, sorrow, or horror he couldn't tell.
"I'm sorry, it's just. Maria I-" he stepped closer.
"Oh, is this really happening." Thousands of questions ran through Maria's mind. In all her wildest dreams she never thought that this would be happening to her, and yet it was always what she wanted.
But she had to leave, this wasn't right. She had to move, but she couldn't. The hope that had quickly built inside of her in the past few minutes wouldn't let her. The only thing it allowed her to do was take a small, very small step forward.
"Yes?" she said, not knowing that her voice had spoken.
"I-" they were now standing very close, unprofessionally close.
"Captain!" both Maria and Georg jumped backwards. His hands snapped from her face and her shoulder to his sides, while she turned to so he couldn't see the blush that had covered her face.
"Captain, this telegram just came for you, sir." Franz said, appearing in the door way.
"Yes," his voice was weak and uneven. Clearing his throat he continued. "Yes, thank you Franz." with a bow, Franz left.
The Captain turned towards Maria. She still had her back to him. Deciding that she wanted her space, he opened the telegram.
If Franz hadn't come….Maria couldn't even comprehend what would have happened. She could hardly believe that she really, almost truly did. She had wanted it so much it was what she had been waiting for, for so long. She couldn't say that she wasn't disappointed. Regaining her composure and steadying her breathe, she turned back towards the Captain.
What she saw surprised her. The Captain staring, no glaring at the telegram he had received. His eyes were no longer passionate, they were cold: stone cold. His mouth was in a tight line. If someone had walked out at the point no one would have guessed what had almost taken place a minute earlier. Upon finishing the letter, he clenched his fist, crumpling the telegram.
"W-what is it?"
With out a word, he handed her the letter before turning towards the lake and slamming his fist against the stone gate of the terrace.
Maria's eyes widened in pure horror as she read the letter. She dropped it to the ground and went to his side. "You're not going to-"
"No, I would never join them. Even if my life depended on it."
"Then, what are you going to do?"
"Leave."
"Leave?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow!"
He turned towards her. "Yes, they have given me two days notice. You and I will get the children ready tomorrow morning and we'll leave tomorrow night."
"Um, we?"
He looked her in the eye. "Well, yes you will becoming with us won't you?"
"Well, Captain, I. I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll come with us." he pleaded
"But I-" she didn't continue because she didn't know what to say.
"Please Maria." he took hold of her hands. "Please, say you'll come with us. You can't stay here with the Nazis in charge. I know the children wouldn't allow it. I neither will I." Maria stared at their entwined hands. "I stand by what I said earlier Maria. You are part of this family. You complete this family, all of us, me." He took his right hand and moved her chin up so she was looking at him. "Maria, I love you."
Maria couldn't believe what was happening. The Captain had just declared his love for her. Surely she was dreaming and if she was, she never wanted to wake up. Tears of joy began to form in her eyes.
Slowly the Captain moved towards Maria and placed a delicate kiss on her soft lips. Pulling away the Captain looked Maria in the eye and saw small tears of joy. Without warning Maria wrapped her arms around Georg and hugged him, resting her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her wais. Neither wanting to ever let go.
"Oh Captain." she pulled slightly out of the embrace to look Georg in the eye. "I-I love you, too."
At that moment, Georg became the happiest man on the earth. The two shared a very passionate kiss. Breaking the moment, they pulled away and rested their foreheads on the others; staring in each other's eyes.
"So, you'll come with us then?" the Captain half joked, knowing the answer.
"Of course." Maria said, giving a genuine smile for the first time since noon that day.
They stayed in each others arms a little longer. In silence, or talking, or even sharing a sweet kiss at times. After a more passionate kiss, Georg looked Maria in the eyes. "Maria?"
"Yes?"
"Is there anyone I should go to, to ask permission to marry you?"
A smile spread across Maria's face and her heart leapt. "Well, why don't we ask-"
"the children." the finished together, before laughing.
After a moment of silence, the Captain spoke again. "Come, we should both get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow."
"Yes, I suppose we do."
Fingers intertwined they began to walk towards the villa. Upon reaching the door way, they both turned back to look over the lake, perhaps for the last time.
The moon was shining high, glowing off the water, the depths of the dark water and mystery. Looking at each other, both Maria and Georg gave each other sad smiles, but upon seeing the other their smiles grew. With both giving the other a reassuring squeeze of the hand, Maria and Georg entered the sleeping house.
There was no way back.
Author's Note: Well, there it is. No Way Back. What do you think? I think it turned out rather nicely. I was a little worried about how the chapter would end up, but I think it's quite alright. Kinda long….yeah for me for writing a long…er…chapter!
megandkatherine: Thank you so much for all your compliments throughout this story. And also for sticking with the story from the beginning. I truly appreciate it!
Prettycrazy: Thanks so much for the review and reading!
jennalynn: I'm so happy you liked the line "Damn propriety and damn awkwardness." When it came to me I felt like a genius…lol. I also thought that that spot would be perfect to use a quote from the movie. Thank you for taking notice! Thanks for all your wonderful reviews!
MaryAnne: Thank you so much for reading and for the review!
Kelsea Scarlett: Thank you for putting me on Author Alert, that's so cool! Thanks for reading and for the review!
I am thinking a writing another Harry Potter fanfic, but I haven't decided yet. Maybe I might even write a Wicked one. I don't know. I don't think I'll write another SOM fic for a while, unless I get an idea. So sorry about that. But do expect a story from me in the future, near or far...whether it's Wicked, Harry Potter, or SOM. Thank you all so much for reading and for your wonderful reviews! You guys are awesome!
The Lonely Goatherd
