Chapter Three

The 24 hours after Georg made his shocking announcement flew. He tried to spend as much time as he could with Maria and the children even though he assured everyone their separation would only be for a little while. They all knew, except for perhaps the youngest girls, that it would be many months until they would be together again.

When the Georg and Maria had put the children to sleep, they retired to their rooms. It was then Maria let her feelings about Georg's decision be known loud and clear. She had for the children's sake kept on a good front, but now, with just Georg there, she allowed her emotions to surface.

"How could you?" Maria shouted at Georg, "How could you decide something like this without discussing it with me?"

Georg could see that Maria was beyond angry. She was shaking with fury as they stood over their bed. He was angry too, he was angry about the whole situation, but for the moment at least, he had to keep his head and calm Marai down. This wasn't good for her condition. "Maria, I have no other choice," Georg said evenly. "If there was any other way I'd use it."

"But what about leaving Austria, going to Zurich..." Maria began. She was pacing and wringing her hands like a caged tiger she had so much pent-up emotional energy.

"It can't be done. There's no money, the accounts are frozen and even if they weren't, you aren't in the condition for that type of traveling. I won't risk you and the children not to save my own neck," Georg told her, his voice gently, but firm.

Maria couldn't' hold it anymore. The tears that had threatened to spill for hours, finally did and with a heavy sobs Maria lowered herself to the bed and cried. One had instinctively over her belly, the other pressed against her mouth in a visible effort to try to quell the flood.

Georg knew his young wife well and he knew she was not prone to emotional outbursts. Quickly, he went to her and settled his arms around her. He pulled her close, then lowly began to rock back and forth. There wasn't anything to say, he had to let her have her emotions now, he'd already had his turn. There was broken glass all over the study to show for that.

"Oh my love," Georg whispered, holding Maria's sobbing form next to his body, trying to absorb some of the pain. "It's for the best this way. I'm sure of it. Please, Darling, don't get upset."

"Georg," Maria cried. "You know what could happen to you! You could be killed or worse...and I couldn't live if something like that happened. You've already survived one war, your luck could run out on this one and…I just…"

Georg knew that fear. He knew it very well. He knew how real it was and he knew he'd never be able to lay it to rest. This was war, and war was hell.

"I know you're scared, Maria," Georg validated. "I know that it seems a terrible shock, but Darling, you and I...you are going to be fine. We're going to get through this, I promise."

Maria rested her head against Georg's shoulder, using his strength to still her sobs. When she finally quieted and pulled away a bit from her husband's tight embrace, she noticed tear tracks on his cheeks.

"Georg?" she asked curious at his tears, for she'd never seen her husband so overcome. "I know I have to go, Maria," he whispered. "But God help me for giving into them. God help me."

Maria knew from the ferocity of her husband's embrace that he would need more than mere words as a source of comfort from her tonight. Tonight, Georg needed her body, mind and soul; he'd needed her in every way, so that he knew she supported him, whatever the choice.

Maria returned her husband's embrace and complied with him as fully as possible when his affections and intentions turned their course. She knew Georg needed the physical release and this physical connection; she needed it too.

Later, Maria and Georg lay in the dark sheltering each other from the world. In less than twelve hours, their perfect life would end, this would forever alter their family. No man, seasoned sailor or new seamen came back from a war the same person he was when he went into one. Even if he had the experience, he was still changed. There life would never be the same, they would never be the same.

Finally, it was time to say goodbye. All the children were in the salon their eyes shining with unshed tears. Maria was as brave as she'd ever been, smiling though her heart was breaking.

Georg hugged each child once and turned to Maria, "I love you. This is for the best. You know it is."

"I know it's for our sake, but what about your sake, Georg?" she asked, kissing her husband, wanting to remain in his embrace as long as she possibly could.

"My family is the only thing that matters to me. Don't worry about me," Georg said in a defensive, detached manner to show his strength and hide his pain. Maria could see right through it.

Maria smiled through her tears. "Be safe, Darling. Come back to me."

Georg nodded and quickly turned around and left the house and his family without a second look.

The sound of the door closing was an unwritten cue for the emotions the von Trapp children had been holding back to come to the surface. Gretel started off, running to Maria crying openly.

"He didn't even say goodbye," Marta sobbed. "Why was he so cross?"

"Oh, Darlings," Maria consoled. "Your Father is upset about leaving us. He's cross with the men who are causing this war, not with us."

"I don't understand, Mother," Louisa said. "Father hates the Na..."

Louisa was cut off as Friedrich's hand clamped over her mouth. "You must never say that out loud. Louisa, we don't know who we can trust anymore. You'll get Father killed."

Maria nodded her head solemnly, "Children you must listen to me very carefully. Friedrich is right, your father is fighting for us, not for the Reich, but we must never let anyone know his convictions. Understand?"

"You mean we must let people believe Father really is a Nazi?" Brigitta asked dismayed.

"That's right, Darling. We must believe that now, we must believe it for your Father's sake, for the sake of the family."

The children understood, even Gretel was able to grasp Maria's words. They would have no choice but to keep Georg's secret or it was certain they would never see him again. It was a dangerous thing, going off to war, but going off in the guise of someone else was even moreso.

"Come on, now," Maria encouraged. "Your father wouldn't want to see tears and long faces. We must make him proud, yes…Let's go to the salon and have a few verses of "Favorite Things" then get on with your day."

They eight of them gathered in the familiar room, the family now always played and sang there. Maria got the guitar and strummed the beginning chord, "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…"