Chapter Thirteen

"Maria," the Captain said softly. Too softly. It was the soft, yet edgy tone he would get when he was a few seconds away from totally losing his temper. "Collect our son and your belongings and return to the villa."

"Georg, I…" Maria began wanting to explain what had just happened; only she didn't know herself. He'd kissed her. Dr. Skinner had kissed her. She knew he had feelings for her for weeks, but she didn't want to believe he would ever cross the boundaries of their friendship the way he just did. For Georg to witness that after four months at sea, before even seeing his new son…Her heart hurt for him.

Georg barked at her when she didn't move. "Immediately!"

Maria normally did not take orders well not at all, but given Georg's current state, Maria of mind she knew it was prudent not to argue with him. Quickly, Maria cleaned up their picnic and started for home.

"Captain," Dr. Skinner began. This whole situation had been his fault. He let his emotions run away with him, he had stolen that kiss. He was the only one that took part in it, Maria made no moves to return the gesture whatsoever.

"Do not even speak to me; you don't get that right until I've had my say!" There was the explosion Maria knew was coming. She could hear her husband's angry tone as she walked back to the villa.

"What was that incident I just witnessed? How dare you think you can take such privilege with my wife?! You are extremely lucky that I was told by Frau Schmidt just now that it was you that saved Maria's life during the birth of our baby, because that is the only thing saving you right now. If I ever see or hear about you going near Maria again, if you so much as blink inappropriately in her direction ever again, I will very likely forget our shared status as officers and gentlemen and treat you as I would any other man that put his hands on my wife!" Georg snapped in a calm clipped tone. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir," Dr. Skinner replied. Georg was formidable when angry, but he would not let him put blame on Maria when she didn't deserve it. He had to be sure the Captain was clear this was entirely his doing. "Now, I have something to say."

"I don't believe you have the right to say anything to me," Georg snapped.

"Perhaps not," Dr. Skinner admitted. "What I did was wrong, but I am the one that did it. She's innocent in this. She didn't participate in any…"

This time Georg cut the doctor off, "Noted," he said before turning and heading for the house.

Maria had gotten her emotions under control while she waited for Georg to return. She had imagined his homecoming in her mind every night since he left for the last deployment; this scenario wasn't in any of her dreams. She had been shocked and horrified by what happened on the hill and she knew Wladyslaw well. She knew it was slip in a vulnerable moment, they'd become very close after Lucas was born. She could forgive him this, but could Georg.

What did he think of her? He couldn't feel the kiss, he didn't know it was one-sided. They'd barely been married two months when he had to leave for Bremerhaven, how did he know she hadn't fallen out of love in his absence?

Maria took a deep breath. She would have to explain things to Georg and let him have his feelings on the matter. She hoped he loved her enough and trusted her enough to know she would never betray him. Lucas fussed and Maria bounced a bit to calm him. The baby was picking up on her tension, "Ssh, my darling," she whispered. "It's all right now. Papa's home."

Maria sang softly to Lucas while she waited for Georg to arrive. Finally, the slamming of the door signaled his return, just as it had when she first met him and intruded on the sacred ballroom.

"Georg," she began.

"Don't say a word Maria, please," he said his voice softer and husky with emotion. He didn't want to talk about the kiss He wanted to see his new son. "Is that…"

"Yes," she replied, holding the baby out to Georg so he could hold him. "His name is Lucas Georg."

Georg took his son and held him in his arms, "He seems healthy."

"He is," Maria replied. "He's a good eater, not much of a sleeper, but…"

"And the birth?" he asked. "Was it…It wasn't too hard? The telegram said you had to have a caesarean? Frau Schmidt told me Dr. Skinner had to go and get him?"

Maria nodded, "He had a big hard head, not unlike both of his parents. Wlad…" She caught herself and quickly recovered. "Dr. Skinner called it "shoulder dystocia". He got caught in the birth canal."

There was so much tension in the room. Maria took a deep breath; this should be a happy time for them, a romantic time. Georg was home, their baby was healthy. Georg was meeting his son for the first time, and that had to be overshadowed with misunderstanding and upset, "Georg, we need to talk about what happened."

Georg sat down on the settee with Lucas, "Do we really have to Maria? What I saw on that hill was fairly self-explanatory."

"Was it?" she asked. "It confused me, I could only imagine it did you."

"It wasn't very confusing, Maria. I saw you and a Nazi doctor sharing a picnic lunch on our hill and kissing. You were kissing him, Maria. What about that would you think I'd find difficult to grasp?" Georg asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"It wasn't like that," Maria began. So, he did feel that she'd betrayed him. How could he think that? Their love was so deep, they were so connected, how could he? She tried to explain without showing she was upset. "We've become friends."

"Maria, if it wasn't like that, why did you look so horrified when you saw me standing there?" Georg asked.

"It wasn't horror, Georg, not for you. It was surprise, I didn't expect you, I hadn't heard from you. The horror was for Wladyslaw when he…"

"On a first name basis I see," Georg commented flatly.

"After what he and I went through together, yes," Maria replied. She was getting her back up now, her husband seemed determined to think the worst of her. She stood up straight. "He was there for me when our son was born, if it weren't for him…I don't know what would have happened, but I'd be s lot worse off, I know that! You said so yourself!"

This time Georg didn't speak; he was listening so Maria continued. "He hasn't had it very easy, either. Very true, a horrible mistake was made today. Liberties were taken that shouldn't have been taken, and I am very upset and angry about that, and I will deal with it! But Georg, I am your wife, your wife that's been alone here for months not knowing when or if you were coming home. Your wife that loves you and cares for your home and your children. How dare you pass judgment on my behavior today? You should know I had no part in that!"

"Your behavior was inappropriate not to mention sinful," Georg shouted, finally losing the tight control he had on his temper. "I'm away fighting in a war I don't believe in for people I detest to keep you safe and you go and betray me, our marriage, our life with one of those people. You are the one with nerve. How do you expect me to feel?" he argued.

By now Lucas began to cry and Georg lowered his tone and softened his words so he could calm him, "Papa's sorry, little one," he soothed rocking the little boy. "No more yelling, I promise."

Maria finally let the tears that were building up in her eyes fall. She took a deep breath and tried to stop herself from sobbing as she spoke, "Georg, I didn't betray you. I appreciate the sacrifices you made for all of us, but if you think so little of me that you would actually believe I would break my vows to you or betray your trust…" she paused for breath. "I love you, Georg. I had no choice on that hill today. I didn't kiss him, he kissed me. I've never kissed anyone but you until just today and I didn't like him doing it."

Georg listened to Maria's words; her tears tugged on his heart. Deep down he knew Maria was telling the truth. He knew she loved him, and he knew how skittish she was with him when they first got together.

Slowly, Georg closed the space between them, "Maria, I know you'd never, not purposely, but it hurt so much seeing him touch you the way I long to touch you every day I'm not here. I was jealous, and angry and hurt and I'm sorry."

Maria reached up and touched her husband's cheek, "You are the only one I want to touch me that way. I love you, Georg, but I feel sorry for Wladyslaw. I'm grateful to him for what's he's done for me and this family while he's been here, and he's lost so much…" Maria said in a whisper.

Georg nodded, "Maria I should have trusted you. I apologize."

While Maria and Georg were in the study sorting out their issues, Frau Schreiner roamed the villas halls. She heard the Captain and Maria's raised voices and leaned against the study door to listen.

"…fighting in a war I don't believe in for people I detest…" she heard the Captain's voice echo.

Frau Schreiner's heart fell in her chest. Captain von Trapp, the Captain von Trapp, a traitor to the principles of the Reich? It was impossible, it was unbelievable, and it was dangerous. If Georg von Trapp was a traitor, his sub was at risk, her husband was at risk, the medical unit housed in his villa was at risk, it all was at risk.

Quickly she crossed herself and uttered a prayer hoping she was doing the right thing. She wasn't sure, it was hard, but one thing was certain, those loyal must prove their loyalty. That was a fact, because of that she knew what she had to do. With her heart thumping in her chest, she placed the call.

"Yes, I have information regarding Captain von Trapp," she said into the receiver after the operator connected her call. "Bad, very bad."