Chapter Twelve

Three Months Later

In spite of his dramatic birth, Lucas Georg von Trapp was a perfect baby. Maria loved him more than she ever thought was possible. The only things marring her happiness was Friedrich's continued association with the Youth and the fact Georg had yet to meet his newest son.

Maria's recovery was slow, but with the help of Liesl and Frau Schmidt she regained her strength and vitality; baby Lucas thrived.

It sometimes bothered that she was so indebted to Dr. Skinner. If he hadn't been at the villa that day, or hadn't been willing to help her, Lucas would have been stillborn and she would most likely have been killed by infection. However, Maria was developing a soft spot for that particular Nazi doctor. He was kind and he was friendly. He often came up to the main house to see the baby. Lucas liked him. Sometimes when Lucas was extra fussy and the doctor was up at the house, he would hold the small boy high up on his shoulder and rub his back to help him fall asleep.

Maria and Dr. Skinner had taken to walking out by the lake with the baby and the other children. They would take picnics up on the hill together; they were becoming friends. Or so Maria thought…

September, 1939

Lucas woke up with a tiny wail and pulled Maria from her sleep. Sometimes Maria thought he cried just to make sure she was still there. She got out of bed and went to the little bassinet where he son slept.

"Hello, baby," she crooned, "Mama's here." Maria lifted the small boy and cuddled him close to her breast as she walked to the rocker.

"Well, you're not hungry, I only fed you an hour ago. Are you wet?" she asked, feeling the cloth diaper. "No, not wet. What is it? Hmm? You just want to cuddle with me? You get that from your Papa. Yes, you do…" Maria held the baby closer and gently rocked him. She studied her child as he lay in her arms.

Lucas had a spattering of blondish hair, clear baby blue eyes, and the smoothest baby skin. He had her coloring and Georg's build even as tiny as he was that was evident.

Gently, Maria hummed Edelweiss to calm Lucas' cries. That song always settled him down and helped him fall back to sleep.

Once Lucas dozed off again, Maria laid him down in his bed, but couldn't fall back to sleep herself. She was ludicrously overtired.

Dr. Skinner heard the baby's cries as he passed Maria's room. Little Lucas was adorable, but he was a small infant, that was demanding. Maria was alone in rearing him and seven other children; there were days when he could see how much of a strain it was on her. He hoped the Captain's submarine would dock soon and the Admiral would grant him a leave. Maria needed a visit from her husband more than anything else, and the whole family needed to be reassured their father was all right.

Maria began singing to the baby; Edelweiss, a song of Austrian pride and honor. It was all but forbidden now under the new order, but in the dark of night, it was only a soothing tune to a baby's ear.

Dr. Skinner knew that deep down the Captain and his family were Austrian patriots, and he suspected from conversations with the von Trapp's oldest son that the Captain was not fighting for the Reich because he believed in its principles. More likely he was doing it to protect his wife and family to let them have a normal existence, not one of the run. It was a noble deed for any man, to sacrifice his principles for his family's safety.

Maria's song ended and a few moments later, her light turned on. "So, that's why she's so exhausted," Dr. Skinner thought. After Lucas woke up, Maria couldn't fall back to sleep. It was common in young mothers, very common. He made a note to nonchalantly ask her about it on their picnic tomorrow.

Dr. Skinner cherished their picnics. Maria and the children were delightful, caring people; easy to talk to, very playful, it was at times like having his own family, something he dreamt of getting but never did. Now that it was September and the children were in school, Dr. Skinner and Maria still had an average of two picnics a week if the weather was nice. And he enjoyed them. A lot. Probably too much. "Bad thought there, Doc," he scolded himself.

With a long sigh, Dr. Skinner moved away from Maria's door, staying there was just too dangerous. He knew how much she loved her husband, when they were out on the lake or up on the hill, he was all she talked about. Georg this and Georg that…but that still didn't stop him from falling in love with her.

Bremerhaven Naval Base

It was good to see land again. This land. Sure, the Captain and his crew had seen a few ports in friendly harbors, but they hadn't seen home for months, since April. It was good to be back and able to stand to his full height without smashing his head.

"Sir," Tom greeted with a sharp salute. "Welcome back."

"Thank you, Tom. My mail and schedule please," the Captain requested.

"Admiral von Schriever want to meet with you immediately, Sir," Tom told him. "I'll put your mail on your desk."

"Any word from my wife, Tom?" the Captain asked. "She would have given birth in June, can you put anything from around that time on top?"

Tom nodded vigorously, "Yes, Sir," he replied. "There are sixty- five letters all together from Salzburg, Sir. I understand you are anxious to enjoy them, but the Admiral, Sir."

"I got it Tom, leave the letters on the desk. I'll be back," the Captain halted his assistant's rant.

Sadly, the family news would have to wait; the Admiral was not a patient man. Georg walked to the Admiral's office and was admitted upon arrival to the inner section of the room.

"Excellent work, once again, Captain. Excellent work," the Admiral commended. "Your mapping of the harbors and ports is unexcelled. I couldn't have done it better myself. You get the best results out of your men."

"Thank you, Sir, but the men deserve as much credit as I…"

"Nonsense, a crew is only as good as it's commander," the Admiral told him. "And I believe cigars are in order to celebrate your fine work."

The Captain accepted the cigar, "Thank you, Sir. You give me too much credit."

"Don't be modest, Georg," Captain Kretzer, another sib commander instructed. "You have reason to be proud. You have two reasons to be proud, isn't that right, Admiral?"

The Admiral nodded, "It seems, Captain, that you not only excel at seafaring, you have other talents. We received a telegram from you home in Salzburg three months ago, and it appears personal as well as professional congratulations are in order."

The Admiral handed the birth announcement over to the Captain for his perusal.

Captain von Trapp-

Baby born via cesarean. Surgery successful

Mother and baby boy healthy.

Tears filled Georg's eyes. A son. He and Maria had a son. He was fine. She was fine; Georg couldn't contain his joy.

"Thank you so much for telling me," the Captain said when he was able to find his voice. "I'm sure, Maria's written me dozens of letters about him already."

"Georg," Admiral von Schriever spoke up. "Seven days."

"Excuse me?"

"Your leave. Take seven days of leave. Go to Salzburg, see your son. Be back in one week. Dismissed," the Admiral clarified.

Once again, the Captain smiled in a Nazi's presence, "Thank you, Sir," he said turning quickly so he could gather his things and leave for home as fast as it was possible.

Villa von Trapp

In the early afternoon sun, Maria and Dr. Skinner walked along the lake. Lucas was in the buggy watching the sky, occasionally gurgling contentedly.

Maria looked tired and moved slowly. Dr. Skinner carried the basket. Neither spoke as they walked to their usual place and spread out the blanket. When Maria was settled on the blanket he spoke, "Maria, how are you sleeping at night?"

"It's that obvious?" Maria asked a bit self-conscious that her fatigue was showing on her face.

Dr. Skinner confessed, "Last night I was passing your room and I heard Lucas crying and you singing Edelweiss…"

Maria's blush deepened, "Georg…" She was jumped quickly so that she could deflect any criticism, though she was certain none would be forthcoming.

"It's a beautiful soothing song, Maria," he continued as if she hadn't spoken. "You sing it angelically. What I'm concerned with is that after you stopped, your light went on…"

"How long were you outside my room last night?" Maria asked. Maria's time with Georg and the war had given her a bit more of a worldly view of life. She knew that Dr. Skinner's feelings towards her went beyond friendship. She could tell by the way he looked at her, the way he smiled, the way he spoke…His voice was much softer when he spoke to her as opposed to his men or even Frau Schmidt or Frau Schreiner. He was always polite and kind, but for her it was different.

It was a touch unsettling that he had been outside her bedroom in the night when she was alone with Lucas in her nightdress.

"Not long, but restlessness is not uncommon in new mothers," Dr. Skinner explained. "So many chemical changes, emotional changes, and that's in an ideal situation, Maria."

"I'm not restless," Maria quickly protested. "All right, I am restless. I found it hard to sleep without Georg when he first left for duty, but the fatigue of pregnancy helped me then. Now, I think about how much of Lucas' infancy he's missing, he'll never get that back. Lucas won't ever get that back either. There is not much that happens with a parent and child in the early months, I've learned. I think between the parents too, but I wouldn't know."

"Neither would I," Dr. Skinner sighed. "The trick is to nap when the baby naps if you can't sleep at night, but you have seven other children, a slightly intrusive house guest and a property full of soldiers to contend with. It would be overwhelming for anyone. I'm here to help, that's all I'm trying to say."

"I know you are. It's nice to have you to talk to about things, to have a real friend," Maria admitted gently touching his forearm and offering a sweet smile.

"Maria, if you weren't married to the Reich's most famous sea Captain…" Dr. Skinner began. "I cherish you. I cherish our friendship."

"Wladyslaw, it can't ever be…" she began, but he raised his finger to her lips to silence her. "Maria, you're…You're a very special lady, a wonderful mother. You're beautiful inside and outside. I'm concerned for you, and I'm concerned for me," he spoke softly. "You because you pine for the man you love so hard it keeps you awake at night and me because…I can't help but be envious of him." He spoke these words while closing the gap between them.

"Wladyslaw," Maria blushed. "That's sweet, but I'm…" What was he going to do? It felt like the first time Georg had moved to kiss her. What would she do if he did try? She quickly found out.

"I know, Maria," he said breathlessly, leaning even closer to her. "And I'm sorry," he said, on a breath before he closed the gap entirely and kissed her.

Even though she suspected a kiss might be coming, Maria was shocked when it did. It took her a moment to react. It was only mere seconds before she pulled back and gasped. That was the only sound that could escape her mouth.

Maria looked at Dr. Skinner, then magnetically moved to a figure standing on the side of the hill. It took at least another minute for Maria's eyes to communicate what she was seeing to her befuddled brain. She instinctively raised her hands to cover her flushed cheeks and whispered, "Georg."