Disclaimer: Do I really have to say I don't own the Sound of Music again? It really is depressing…
Author's Note: Sorry this wasn't up sooner! I was trying to sort everything out with the plot…now onward we go!
I Trust In My Heart-
-Chapter Eight: It Begins
Maria and Georg walked along the shore of the lake, arms linked together. The walked in a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company. Maria looked ahead of her and saw the children and Ubel playing tag. It appeared that Gretl was it. She watched as Ubel purposely slowed her pace, and allowed Gretl to tag him. She could have sworn that just before he did so he looked her way and winked. Maria shook the thought from her head. Impossible.
He was quite a character, Ubel that is. Over the past week Georg, Max, Ubel, and herself talked after the children were asleep. He was different from what her first impression was of him, and that was a good thing. He seemed kind enough, and was pleasant to be around. But there was still something, something she couldn't place. Perhaps she got that idea from Max. Max didn't seem to like Ubel and vice versa. It seemed that they disagreed on everything. And an unsaid tension lingered in the air when the two came within five feet of each other. Maria's thoughts trailed to just the previous night, she had put the children to bed and was making her way to the sitting room.
"Where's Ubel?" she heard Max ask.
"He retired early." Georg replied, she could hear him poring drinks. Max snorted. "Something on your mind, Max?"
"Like you couldn't guess Georg." Max said, wearily. "You know I'm not fond of Ubel, and never have been."
"Yes Max, you've told me time and time again. And every time I ask you the same question. Why?"
Max sighed. "I don't know, but his presence is always bad news."
"Oh?"
"Yes, 'oh?' Think about it Georg. Whenever Ubel is around something bad happens. He's trouble. And it's only a matter-"
"Max-"
"Don't 'Max' me Georg." Max said. Maria decided to make her presence known then, before an argument broke out between the two.
"Maria?" Georg's voice brought Maria back to the present.
"Yes?" she asked, looking at him.
Georg stopped walking, and looked at her. "I was wondering when you wanted the wedding to be." he said, quietly.
Maria looked at him, shocked. The wedding. She and Georg had been engaged a week and not once had they talked about the wedding. Maria hadn't even really thought about it. And now, so suddenly. Her stomach instantly became filled with butterflies. Well, it had to happen sooner or later.
"I-I don't know." she said. Georg could hear the nerves in her voice, and he gave a small laugh and stroked her cheek. She instantly calmed.
"I called the abbey this morning." he said.
"Oh?"
He nodded. "They said there's an opening in a month and a half."
Maria looked at him. A month and a half? Six weeks! She didn't know much about weddings, but knew they took a while to plan, and with Georg's place in society one could only imaging how long it would take.
"Don't worry." he continued on, as if reading her mind. "Frau Schmidt will help you." Maria seemed to let out a sigh. "I didn't give them a definite yes." he continued on, referring to the abbey. "I told them I would talk it over with you and give them an answer by tonight."
Maria looked at him. Truth be told, she was a little hurt that Georg hadn't talked to her about the wedding before calling the abbey, but it was the thought, right? Maria sighed, the wedding would happen no matter when it was, obviously, and what was the matter with it being in a month and a half? And the Lord knew she wanted to get married to Georg, more than anything.
Maria looked into Georg's eyes, which had been boring into her as she looked at the ground and thought. They were filled with love. Nerves vanished as she kept gazing at him. "Sounds perfect." she said, smiling. Georg hugged her tightly, and she could feel his warm breath on her neck and it caused to shiver. "I can't wait." he whispered into her neck. Maria smiled.
"It was going to happen sooner or later." Liesl said to her siblings. She and the rest of her siblings had just been told that their Father and Fraulein Maria were to be married in a month and a half. Despite the fact they didn't want their Father to be remarried, they were getting used to the idea. But hearing this new piece of news was making it all to real, and they seemed to be back at square one with how they felt about the situation.
"So why couldn't it happen later?" Louisa asked.
There was silence. "We just have to get used to the idea, that's all." Friedrich said, sounding older and more mature than before. Liesl nodded.
"It's not like the situation is just going to go away. This-" she paused. "Really is happening."
Maria groaned as she felt a tugging at her sleeve, waking her from a peaceful sleep. She tried to shake it off, but it wouldn't go away. She pulled the blankets higher over her head, to tired to do anything.
"Fraulein, Fraulein! Get up!" the little voice of Gretl called, urgency clingy to her words.
Maria quickly sat up, and looked at the girl. "What is it Gretl?' she asked, worried.
"Tomorrow's my birthday!" the little girl said, excitedly.
Maria let out a breath. "Oh Gretl!" she said, smiling grabbing the girl, hoisting her up on the bed and tickling her.
Gretl laughed a high pitched giggle. "Are you excited, darling?" Maria asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes! I'm so excited! I'm going to be six!" Gretl said, nearly jumping up and down on Maria's bed. Maria laughed as she watched the little girl. For the past week all Grelt had been talking about was her party that she would be having. True, it wasn't a big party, just the family spending the day together and Gretl receiving presents, and then there was the cake! No, nothing special, but it was a party none the less.
By the time Maria snapped out of her thoughts Gretl was indeed jumping up and down on the bed. "Gretl, kindly please stop jumping on the bed." Maria said, firmly but kindly.
"But its so fun, Fraulein!" Gretl said, looking crest fallen but obliging to Maria's request none the less. Maria had to contain her laughter at the slight pout on Gretl's face. Thinking quickly Maria lunged at Gretl engulfing her in tickles once again.
Gretl was caught off guard put being small wrenched herself from Maria's grasp and ran from the room, giggling uncontrollably. Maria was quick to follow laughing. She saw Gretl turn out the door to her right. As Maria did the same she was suddenly stopped by Georg, who caught her by the shoulders right before the two collided.
"Wha-?" Maria asked out of breath. There was a giggle behind Georg and Maria could see little Gretl hiding behind her father.
The Captain laughed. "Good morning." he said.
"Good morning." Maria whispered, turning a bright shade of red. Georg laughed some more.
"Gretl," he said, turning to look at his daughter. "Why don't you go wake your brothers and sisters up. Tell them Father said so." he said, winking at his daughter. Gretl nodded enthusiastically and ran towards the other wing of the house.
Georg turned back to Maria. "Where you having fun, before I interrupted your game of tag?" he asked playfully.
Maria laughed, "Yes, I think I was. Until you rudely interrupted." she smiled. Georg leaned over and kissed her fully.
After breaking apart he looked at her. "Are you ready for our shopping trip today?" he asked.
Maria beamed. Georg had managed to get Max away from finding an entry for the festival and Ubel to watch the children as she and Georg went shopping for Gretl's birthday present. "Yes." she said excitedly.
Suddenly noise erupted from the other side of the house, signaling that the rest of the children were up.
Maria let the bright sun soak her skin. It felt so good to be out and about, somewhere other than the villa. Ever since she and Georg had decided on the wedding a week ago she was either playing games with the children or working on wedding plans. And the latter of the two didn't happen until the children were in bed or studying. She even had to set aside an hour in the middle of the day so she could plan. She had hardly been outside. And it felt good to finally be lost in the crowds of shopping people and not worry about the wedding.
"So, where do we start?" Georg asked.
Maria pulled a small white piece of paper out of her pocket. It had a list of what Grelt wanted and beside each item was who would be giving it to her. "A dress from Liesl," she read off, "a teddy bear from Friedrich, a doll from Louisa, a toy bracelet from Kurt, a picture book from Brigitta, and another doll from Marta."
"And what have we decided on?" he asked, smiling at using the term 'we'. Maria smiled too.
"I don't know?" she said, stopping and looking at all the near by shops. She spun, taking each one in. She turned to the right, paused and gasped. "Georg, I've got it!" she said, excitedly, walking towards the store without another word, making Georg follow.
By the time he got to where she was, Maria was standing in front of a store window, like a little girl. "Her first bike." she said, pointing at a small bike in the window. She turned towards him beaming.
Georg laughed a little, and looked at the bike. It would be perfect. "A wonderful idea, darling."
They had been shopping all morning. They had gotten all the gifts, except for the bike, which would be picked up last. Georg and Maria were now sitting in a small café, eating lunch. Maria couldn't remember a time when she was more hungry. Shopping had never taken so much energy out of her. Perhaps it was the heat. Or perhaps it was because she had enjoyed it so much, being with Georg.
Ever since their engagement the two had only the evenings to spend alone, and a lot of the time it was spent with Max and Ubel. Having a lone time happened as often as Maria didn't spend time with the children. Finally having it was like everything Maria had imagined.
"Ready to go, darling?" Georg asked, after sighing content.
Not really Maria said to herself. She didn't want to go back to the stress of planning a wedding. "I suppose." she said, against her will.
Georg laughed. "I'll go pay and meet you outside." he said, standing and helping Maria out of her chair. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before picking up their packages and heading outside as Georg went to pay at the front counter.
Maria went outside and shielded her eyes from the sun, at its highest point. She made her through the mass of tables that were outside and towards the street.
"There he is." a lady whispered to her friend just as Maria passed.
"Who?"
"Captain Georg von Trapp." Maria paused. She didn't mean to eves drop. But the tone of the lady's voice made her stop. She had a feeling that this lady wasn't going to be kind. And sure, Maria didn't want to hear anything bad about Georg, but she couldn't help but listen.
"Oh." the second lady at the table said. "Can you believe him?"
"Oh, I know!" she sounded like she was trying to whisper, but purposely not doing so. "Can you believe it?"
The second lady huffed. "Breaking off his engagement with Elsa."
Maria had a feeling she knew where this conversation was going, and she willed her legs to move. Begging them, but they wouldn't budge.
The first lady, who was wearing a purple hat, huffed this time. "And then getting engaged to his children's governess! The thought!"
Maria could feel her face growing hot, and her breath becoming shaky.
"Well," the second lady, with a scarf replied. "One can only imaging why." she said.
The purple hatted lady nodded. "And I thought a respected Captain would have more class than that." she paused briefly. "I hear the wedding is going to be in five weeks. Only proving my suspicions even more! Getting married soon to cover up any suspicious thoughts. It was a nice try."
Maria's hand immediately went to her stomach, how could they think such a thing!
"And the girl was going to be a nun too." the scarf lady, continued. "think of the sin!"
"Ha! Going to be a nun. She's more of a temptress if you ask me!"
Maria clutched a near by table for support, for if she didn't she was she that her knees would give out.
Author's Note: Tah dah! I suppose you could call this a cliff hanger…don't you just love em! I do!
Megslife: You think you know? Do tell, perhaps your right! Thanks for reviewing!
SweeetPassion: Thanks!
MaryAnne: Yes, the best is yet to come!…sorry this update wasn't sooner like the last! Thanks!
Gremlin313: Glad you like Ubel, I'm quite fond of him myself…lol…thanks bunches!
Edelwyn: Your suspicions are growing! Something I always like to hear! Thank muchly!
The Marauder 1 (ha): lol…nice name change…Glad you like the Ubel idea…I was unsure if people would…thanks for reviewing!
Imnotacommittee: Thank you for the compliment about the children thing…and the Elsa portrayal. I like to think that she is a rather nice person with jealous tendencies. I was wondering about Ubel's reason….if they were reasonable enough, and thought that class is always a big topic. I know that your criticism is kindly meant, and I thank you for it. Everyone always needs a little helpful advice, I always say! Thank you again!
Kelsea Scarlett: Glad you liked all those little moments, their were my favorites from the last chapter as well. Like you I love Maria and try to be like her, who doesn't! lol. Thanks for reviewing! Oh, and I'll take your word and read the real Maria's book!
Well, I just want to let you all know that I probably won't be updating until after Christmas. As I work later today and all day tomorrow. But it will be soon!
Have a wonderful, merry Holiday everyone!
Until next time,
Your humble author,
The Lonely Goatherd