Disclaimer: As I continue to read "Forever Liesl" I realize I don't own the Sound of Music…
CHAPTER SIXTEEN GOING ON SEVENTEEN! (lol)
Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in forever, this past week hasn't exactly been up to par, and I've had writer's block…so here we go!
I Trust In My Heart-
-Chapter Sixteen: This Funny Feeling
"There you are!" Elsa nearly yelled as Ubel came waltzing into her house.
"It's good to see you too."
"Oh, don't give me that."
"Where have you been?" Ubel almost winced at the tone of her voice.
"At Georg's-"
"Don't even try it. I recieved a news clipping from a friend of mine in Salzburg two weeks ago, calling off the engagement of Georg and Maria." she stepped closer to him and her voice got dangerously quiet. "What-did-you-do?" she asked, her words detached and poking him at each one.
"I didn't do anything, can I help it if their relationship fell apart?"
"I know you have some hand in it. Now what!"
"A simple mistake Elsa, a miss understanding between two people, that's all. I told you it wouldn't work between them. A relationship between someone of Georg's status and a governess doesn't work out, though Maria was quite something (God bless her), it doesn't"
Elsa huffed. Why did it take you two weeks to get back here?" she asked, ready to explode. "If you did anything to ruin anything more."
"I got stopped just outside the city by a lady friend of mine." he said smirking.
Elsa huffed again. "If I find out you did anything, anything Ubel, I'll have your head."
Two weeks later, the Captain sank into the mossy grass, letting out a prolonged sigh. How in the world had Maria been able to have so much energy in keeping up with the children day after day? He had never seen her once tired. And here he was, spending time with the children (which he enjoyed) and yet he had never remember being more tired. Perhaps it was the fact that Maria was younger than he, but he was still in good shape. And he could thank the Navy for that. Then what had she done to make managing the children so much more easier and less tiresome? Was it the bike rides? No, she could have tired herself with that task. Or the swims in the lake? No, she was always actively swimming. Perhaps it was their many trips to the mountains. That was it!
Georg recalled going on the picnics along with Maria and his children. While the children ran around, tiring themselves to the core she sat nicely on the picnic blanket and watched, occasionally picking flowers or joining in on a game of tag, but only for a short while. The villa grounds, all though large, weren't big enough to occupy seven growing children all day. But the mountain side, however. That sneaky, sneaky woman. Georg thought with a mischievous smile.
"Children!" he called to them and they immediately came running over, smiling brightly.
"Yes, Father?" Gretl asked, inviting herself to sit in her father's lap without asking.
"How would you all like to go on a picnic tomorrow? Up in the mountains?"
Their smiles grew, if possible. "Of course!"
"Excellent!"
They quieted down, and Georg had an idea. "Liesl, hand me the guitar, please." Liesl beamed, and retrieved the guitar from it's spot in the Gazebo, her new dress flowing behind her. She handed the guitar to her father before sitting and joining her brothers and sisters.
Max watched the scene unfold before him, smiling the entire time. What had that Maria done to this family? Her mere presence had changed them from a Naval Regime to the loving family they once were. And now she was gone. Max frowned slightly and shook his head. He didn't understand it. The fight had come on so suddenly. True, Maria and Georg had both been stressed beyond belief, but Max never thought that would had happened would. Max shook his head again and brought himself back to the present. Once again he smiled as he watched the children sit, captivated by their father's voice as he sung "Edelweiss".
"Uncle Max, will you come with us on our picnic today?" Marta asked the next morning at the breakfast table.
"I'm terribly sorry Marta darling, but I shall be in town today, tending to some business."
"Business Max?" Georg joined in. "Don't you mean finding your next unsuspecting person to exploit?" he asked, smirking. The children giggled.
Max laughed. "An exploit today is money tomorrow, Georg." he said. Georg laughed. "Besides," Max continued on, "the woman I'm seeking today will be harder to convince than you allowing me to enter the children."
Georg laughed. "Good for her."
Maria looked at the clock on her wall as there was a knock on her door. Who in the world? she thought to herself as she went towards the door. They knocked again, "Coming!" she said. She was very surprised that someone would be at her door this early. Why, it was just past 10:00. Actually she was surprised someone was at her door at all. The children usually didn't come around until 1:00 when they came over, and she hadn't received word that they would be coming over today.
"Max!" Maria exclaimed when she opened the door. Max Detweiller was the last person she expected to see standing in her door way.
"Surprise, surprise." he said, stepping up and kissing her on both cheeks.
"Come in, come in!" Maria said. She was more than happy to see Max. In the weeks of her engagement to the Captain she had gotten to know Max quite well and considered him to be a great friend. "Would you like something to drink?" she asked, leading him over to the small table that sat in the corner of the room.
"Do you have coffee?' he asked, knowing that Maria wasn't the biggest fan of coffee.
"Just a little." she said, before hurrying to make some. Once it was done she sat a cup in front of Max and one in front of herself, though hers was only half full.
"Max, not that I don't enjoy your company, but how in the world did you know where I lived?" Maria asked. Max laughed, setting his cup down from the drink he had just taken.
"It's amazing the information one can get from children with the help of chocolate cake." he said, a mischievous look in his eyes.
Maria gasped. "Max!" she exclaimed, before giggling.
"Tell me, Maria. How have you been?"
Maria shrugged. "Just fair, I suppose." she looked down at her cup and moved her finger around it's outer edge.
"Yes." he paused. "Georg tells me your working in a dress shop."
Maria nodded again. "Yes, it's wonderful."
"Naturally, naturally."
After an awkward silence the two began to talk like they had seen each other yesterday.
"Maria," Max said after some time. "I must admit that I came here today with a purpose."
"Oh?" Maria asked, raising her eyebrows. "And that would be?"
"I want you to enter the Folk Festival." he said, grinning his childish grin.
"Oh, Max" Maria said, laughing. "I don't think so."
"Why not! You would be a sensation! Top honors!"
Maria laughed more, he really was a child. "I haven't been singing much lately, I'd be horrible."
"Maria, the day you are a horrible singer is the day there is no more hope for the rest of us." Max said, sincerity etched in his voice.
Maria smiled, "That's very kind of you Max, but I don't think I will."
"Maria please, I insist."
"No, Max."
"But-"
"Sorry Max."
"Just this-"
"No."
Max sighed, knowing that Maria wasn't going to change her answer. "Then at least come and watch it. I can get you a good seat. I'm sure you'll love it."
Maria smiled and thought about it. She took the first sip of her coffee, it was cold now. She nodded. "Alright Max, I think I will."
"Wonderful!" he exclaimed, downing the rest of his coffee. "Now, I hate to cut this visit short, but I'm running out of time to find an entry for the Festival."
Maria laughed, and stood, walking Max to the door. "It was good to see you again Max."
"You too, Maria." he said, talking her hand and kissing it.
"Until next time." Max said, walking down the hall of Maria's apartments. Maria watched him disappear and then closed her door. She smiled as she shook her head.
Funny things mountains. Once your in them your in a whole different world. They're good for escaping, letting the world you know behind just to find peace if not but a moment. Their silence was calming, only being broken as a bird chirped, or the wind blew. They were also very good for tiring children, and not yourself, in the process.
"Father?" Kurt asked, as he and Friedrich approached Georg's sitting form on the blanket.
"Yes?"
"Can we go on a hike?"
Georg thought about it for a moment. "I don't see why not. Help me pack these things up first." the two boys nodded and helped their Father pack the blanket and everything that accompanied it.
"Are we leaving, Father?" Louisa asked, disappointed as she and Brigitta approached her Father and brothers.
"No, just putting things away before we go on a hike."
"A hike! Hey Liesl, Marta, Gretl!" Louisa yelled, more than excited. Even though they had gone on picnics in the mountains often they had never gone on a hike before.
"Alright you lot, let's go."
Georg looked at the sky. Giant clouds threatened the peace of the bright blue sky. "Children, I think it's time we head back to the house." he said, cutting their hike short and knowing that a storm would be upon them soon.
The children sighed, the hike had just gotten exciting. They had found a creek and a whole family of frogs to go along with it.
"Yes, Father." they replied and began to turn back.
"Louisa, put that frog back." Louisa looked at her Father's back with her mouth hanging open, how did he know? He wasn't even looking at her. "I hate to think what you would do with it." he laughed, the other children joined in as well. "That means you too, Friedrich." Friedrich smiled sheepishly, and put down the frog Louisa had set down.
"Father. Father, I'm tired." Gretl said, tugging at the hem of his jacket. Georg looked down at his daughter and smiled. The family's little hike seemed to be taking its toll on Gretl, it looked like she could barely keep her eyes open.
"Here, darling." he said, kneeling down to her height. "I'll carry you, hop on my back." Once Gretl had her arms around his neck Georg grabbed her legs to keep her from falling and stood. "Alright everyone, let's go." The family began their descent down the mountain and towards town with Georg and Gretl leading the way and Liesl bringing up the year, helping Marta.
By the time Liesl and Marta stepped through the front doors of their house it had begun to rain. Georg sighed with relief, if they had left the mountain side any later they all would have been soaked.
"Liesl, please put the picnic stuff away, I'm going to go put Gretl down for a small nap." he said, nodding his backwards to a sleeping Gretl that hung loosely to her Father. Liesl smiled and nodded.
Georg set Gretl down on her bed with and 'umph'. Since when had she gotten to way so much? The last time he had carried her she had seemed lighter than a feather, but now, that was a different story. Was it because he himself was getting older? Or was it the sad fact that he hadn't held his daughter is so long?
Georg sighed, as her removed Gretl's shoes, and tucked her under the covers, making her as warm as possible. He sat there for a moment, staring at her sleeping frame. He stroked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, and placed a small kiss on her forehead. He stood from her bed and was about to leave when Gretl's sleepy voice filled the air.
"Father?"
"Yes, darling?" he asked, sitting back down on the edge of the bed.
"Will you and Fraulein Maria ever be friends again?" she asked, her eyes barely open.
Georg smiled softly at his daughters naïve bluntness. He stroked her forehead. "Perhaps Gretl. Perhaps someday fate will bring us back together."
Gretl smiled slightly. "I'd like that Father. Please tell Fate to hurry."
Georg chuckled. "I'll do my best, now sleep." he said lightly, kissing her forehead again. Georg rubbed her forehead with his thumb before standing and quietly leaving the room.
"Aw there you are!" Max said, as Georg walked into the sitting room where the rest of the children and his friend where.
"Looking for me?" he asked, sitting down.
"Did I not make that fact clear when you entered the room?" Max asked, sarcastically. Everyone laughed. "When I arrived home today this telegram came for you." he said, handing the paper to Georg.
Georg opened it and looked at. It was an invitation to spend a couple of weeks in Innsbruck with a friend of his. Georg sighed, and folded it back up. He didn't feel like going anywhere.
"What is it, Father?" Liesl asked.
"Just and invitation to spend visit a friend for a couple of weeks in Innsbruck."
"Are you going?" Brigitta asked.
"No, I don't think I will."
There was a silence. "Why don't you go." Max said. "It will do you good to get out of the house for a few weeks."
"I don-" he began, but was interrupted by Max.
"I can take care of the children."
"If anything, Max, that's more reason for me to stay." everyone laughed.
"Go on, Father." Liesl said. "I'll look after Max." she said, making everyone laugh again.
Georg thought about it. It would be nice to get away for a few weeks. Hell, he was supposed to be in Paris right now. But was leaving the right thing to do? Would he be escaping again? But then, the people around him were telling him to take a holiday. He supposed it would be ok to leave for a while, but was it wise?
"Go on, Father." Friedrich said.
Well, the children weren't protesting like last time. "Well. Maybe I will."
Maria sat by her window, staring into the pouring rain, a piece of paper clutched in her hand. It was her ticket to the Salzburg Folk Festival. Max had sent it to her within in three hours of his visit. Maria looked at the ticket and then back into the dark night.
She had a funny feeling Max was up to something.
Author's Note: Here's chapter 16! I might update again today before I go to work or after…depends.
Megs: I agree with your comment on men! Lol. Thanks for the review!
MaryAnne: Sorry I didn't update sooner! Glad you like it! Thanks!
The Marauders3: Mary Poppins! Whoot…glad to make you proud! Lol. Glad you love it! Thanks muchly!
Millecent Yorro: You're very right about everything…..it will come in due time! Thanks for the review!
Writrfreak15: Glad you like the wedding day idea! Thanks a lot!
JeNNifer07: Glad you like it! Thanks a lot!
Edelwyn: You may not see it now, but a happy ending will come…I couldn't' live without one. Thanks a lot!
I luv Julie Andrews: Thanks so much!
Cremated affection: lol, thanks so much!
Fran330: Thanks for the constructive comments. I didn't take them any other way! I know that somethings aren't exactly in character and such, and I try to stay as close to possible without straying from what I want. Thank you for your comments! I appreciate it!
Kelsea Scarlett: yeah, Joni was hired after Maria. Sorry if that wasn't made clear….thanks for the review!
Amy: Glad you like it so much! Thanks a lot!
Well, I'm off. Maybe to write the next chapter, I don't know. I will most likely have another update tomorrow if not today!
Until then!
Your humble author,
The Lonely Goatherd