AN: Hi everyone! I've been lurking on here for around 5 or so years, and I've decided to finally write something. I've gone through almost every major story on TSOM on the site, and I definitely feel like we need more new content. So, here's my contribution! I had a little spark of inspiration after watching Bambi last night, so I'm very VERY loosely basing this chapter off of a scene in the film. Super weird connection to make, I know, but I can't get this idea out of my head. I'm just going to throw a couple of bullet points out there to (hopefully) clear up any confusion/questions you might have while reading. I know there's a lot but the information will be super helpful to know.

• This is going to be SUPER AU and set around 1944 (6 years after SOM) in Austria. Georg never told Elsa to leave the night of the party. However, the gazebo scene did indeed happen, but things went a bit too far...

• Apologies for any and all historical inaccuracies. I'm warning you all that there will be MANY. I absolutely hate history and I do not feel like delving into the intricacies of World War II, The Anschluss, and Austria. That being said, I will be attempting to use familiar names and places, as I did do some research on the family.

• Building off of the previous point, the Anschluss and (by extension) WWII are nonexistent and never happened. My reasoning for this is basically because I didn't do any research and it will have no effect on the plot of my story.

• I will be attempting to use German greetings, nicknames, and terminology, but again, I might mess those up. Feel free to correct me on any spelling and grammar mistakes! I need all the help I can get.

• I apologize in advance if any of my characterizations are OOC. Because my story will be set in the future with obvious changes to the original story, some events that take place might seem OOC. I'm going to try my best to write each character accurately.

• I have an obsession with using flowery language, especially in poetry. I'm going to try and dial it down and write a nice concise story, but I can't make any promises.

• My schedule is pretty full right now, so if I decide to continue this story, updates might not be on a set schedule or super frequent.

• Please rate and review and let me know how I'm doing! I have written stories before but I've never published anything, so I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback!


Aaaaand for those of you who didn't read all the bullet points, tl;dr – AU, set in Austria, six years in the future, historical inaccuracies, no Anschluss, Bambi reference, and my first published work!


September 5, 1943

Salzburg, Austria

Getreidegasse was bustling with activity. School was to begin the following day, and, as such, families were readying for the upcoming year. Heidi, a woman of about 47, rushed around the streets, her goddaughter clutching her hand tightly. Unfortunately for her, her goddaughter was entirely too curious and full of energy, and refused to be guided around the streets. The girl's whining had become more frequent, so Heidi decided it was time for a break. As Heidi ushered her to the corner of the crowded street, the girl tugged on her hand.

"Gotte, I'm bored and my feet hurt!" The girl stamped her foot adamantly, the pout on her face reminiscent of that of her mother.

"I know, Schatzi. But we must keep going. We need to buy clothing and materials for your first day of school tomorrow!" She tugged on her goddaughter's cheeks playfully, eliciting a small laugh. She thought back to when the girl was just a few months old, 75% baby fat and 25% blue eyes and soft blonde hair.


September 12, 1938

Salzburg, Austria

Heidi was bent over the kitchen counter, scouring over recipes to decide on dinner for that evening. Raindrops came down hard on the roof, and there was an ever-present rumbling of thunder in the , she heard knocking at her front door. She was bewildered, wondering who was out during the storm. She raced to the front door, her robe swaying behind her. She flipped on her glasses and slowly opened the front door.

"Hello? Who's there?" She peered outside, and saw Maria for the first time. She was very young and frail. Her hair hung messily around her face, just reaching her chin. Her usually bright eyes were swollen and red. In her arms she held a baby, clutching it as though it were her life support. She was gripping the baby's blanket with trembling fingers. Through chattering teeth, she spoke.

"I apologize, but I am in desperate need of a temporary place to stay. The Reverend Mother has told me about you. She told me that you were a family friend. My name is Maria, and this is my daughter. May we come inside?"

"Oh my goodness, of course! Come in, come in!" Heidi ushered the young woman into her home. She hastily removed her robe and draped it across Maria's shoulders. She led her and her daughter to a chair in her sitting room, just in front of the fireplace. "Alright, now you two best warm up now. I'll be in the next room over making dinner. You needn't explain a thing tonight, dear. Just rest." Maria smiled, and she felt the familiar tingling sensation of tears welling up in her eyes. She tugged the robe tighter around her shoulders and parted the blanket covering her baby's head. She ran her fingers through the short blonde curls atop her head. Maria had been shocked to discover that her daughter had been born with a head full of soft, dark hair. However, almost immediately after birth, that hair began falling out, and light blonde curls grew in its place. Secretly, Maria was relieved. She didn't need any more reminders of the man that helped bring her daughter into the world. Her daughter's bright blue eyes opened slowly, her pupils expanding at the sight of her mother. She brought her tiny, perfect fist up to her mouth and smiled.

"Hello, my darling. Everything is going to be okay, just as God planned it. Are you hungry, my love?" Her daughter's smile expanded, as if in response to her mother's question. Maria laughed, and began unbuttoning her blouse. She watched as her daughter eagerly latched to her breast, drinking as if this meal was to be her last. Maria stroked her daughter's cheek and hummed softly. "Darling, you've got a lot of spirit and personality in you. I hope you never lose it." Maria leaned back fully into the chair, resting her sore and tired body. She had spent the better half of the afternoon on foot. Earlier, Maria informed the Reverend Mother of her plans, insisting that she had greatly overstayed her welcome. She spent her entire pregnancy, as well as the first few months of her daughter's life, within the abbey walls. Remembering the Reverend Mother telling her that the abbey wasn't a place to hide from her problems, she knew it was time to move on. She packed up her belongings, thanked the sisters for all of their help, and asked the Reverend Mother for some suggestions as to where to go next. She had given her the name and address of a nearby family friend, and off Maria went. Rosmarie's soft coos drew Maria's attention back to her, and she watched as her daughter took in the last of her meal and unlatched. Wiping a dribble of milk off her daughter's mouth, she tucked her breast back in her shirt and hoisted her daughter over her shoulder. She sang softly to her daughter as she burped her, a familiar song spilling from her mouth.

Edelweiss, edelweiss

Every morning you greet me

Small and white, clean and bright

You look happy to meet me...


Present

Rosmarie's hair had darkened slightly and curled up, but her eyes never changed. To Heidi, they were some of the most beautiful and striking blue eyes she had ever seen. She truly had been blessed with long lashes and beautiful hair. While she looked identical to her mother, she had traits that Heidi suspected were strong in her father. She was entirely too introspective and brooding for a young child. Her intelligence surpassed that of the average five-year-old, and her interests were strange, to say the least. While most girls her age adored dolls and frilly dresses, she enjoyed quieter days spent in the mountains learning to read and expand her vocabulary. The child insisted on learning new languages, and proved to be freakishly impressive at it. When Rosmarie's mother was asked about testing her out of kindergarten, she refused, saying that her daughter's life was chaotic and confusing enough.

"Rosmarie, darling, we'll never get this done if we sit here all day," Heidi said gently to the girl. Rosmarie whined and slumped on the concrete ledge of the nearest building.

"Gotte, I'm sleepy and hungry!" Her godmother laughed.

"Minutes ago you were bored and had sore feet. Now you're tired and hungry! Come on, we'll grab a snack and continue shopping. Then we can go home and rest."

"Then I can see Mama?"

Heidi smiled at her goddaughter.

"Yes, Schatzi, then you can see Mama."

Rosemarie instantly brightened at the thought of seeing her mother. She grabbed her godmother's hand and the two continued their trip.

A few purchases and a snack later, Rosmarie was tuckered out. Her godmother held her in her lap, smoothing back a few wispy curls that escaped her little ponytail. Suddenly, a strikingly handsome man entered the small area the two were resting in. Just behind him were a young man and woman. The man was in formal attire, as were the young adults close behind him. Heidi instantly recognized the man, and let out a small gasp. Rosmarie, too curious for her own good, questioned her godmother.

"Gotte? What is it?"

"Nothing, Schatzi. Close your eyes and rest, darling."

Ignoring her, Rosmarie turned her head in an attempt to follow her godmother's line of vision. Her eyes locked on to the man her godmother was watching. His dark hair was neatly groomed, and he was impeccably dressed. He walked with purpose through the square, peeking in and out of shops as he went. As he made his way through the square, a few people around him stopped and smiled at him. Shopkeepers opened their doors for him and greeted him reverently. A stranger slowly approached and shook his hand. The man stopped after a few minutes and looked around. His steely blue eyes locked with Rosmarie's, and his blank and stoic face betrayed the chaotic thoughts flickering through his mind. Something akin to recognition flickered in his eyes. After what felt like ages, he tore his eyes away from Rosmarie and swiftly exited the area, dragging the young man and woman with him.

"Gotte? He stopped and looked at me."

"Yes, I know."

"Why was everyone so still and polite when he came into the square?"

"Everyone respects him." Heidi continued playing with her goddaughter's curls as her voice took on a more solemn tone, one Rosmarie didn't quite recognize.

"For all of the brave men and women who have fought for our country, not one has lost half as much and fought for half as long. He's very brave and very wise."

Rosmarie turned and caught her godmother's eye.

"Wiser than me, Gotte?" Heidi laughed.

"Yes, wiser than you, Schatzi. That is why he is known as Georg Ritter von Trapp."

Rosmarie tested the name out on her tongue, stumbling over his first name. Her godmother laughed and kissed her forehead.

"What does 'baron' mean, Gotte?"

"Just as I've said, Schatzi. It's a special title given to very special people. He has dedicated a lot of his life to protecting us. He's very brave–"

"And very wise. I know, Gotte," Rosmarie finished her godmother's sentence for her. "Have you met him, Gotte? Was it you he was looking at?" Her godmother instantly shook her head.

"No, no, darling. He was looking at you, I'm sure of it. I have never met him, but I have only heard wonderful things." This was a half truth. Heidi had never met him, but she had heard terrible and unforgivable things about him from Rosmarie's mother.

"Maybe Mama knows him? Maybe that's why he looked at me?" Heidi sensed that the conversation was going in a direction from which there would be no return, and she ended it there.

"Maybe, Schatzi. Anyways, it's been quite a long day. Shall we head home?" Rosmarie nodded and happily bounced off of her godmother's lap, seemingly regaining all of her lost energy.

As the two left the square, Georg von Trapp watched on through the window of a nearby shop. The little girl had seemed incredibly familiar, and he felt his heart stop when their eyes met.

She looked so much like Fräulein Maria. Have I known her in another life?

He couldn't quite piece it together, but he was determined to figure it out.


"Mama! I missed you! Gotteand I had so much fun!" Rosmarie ran into her mother's open arms. Her mother's soft and soothing laugh calmed her, and she snuggled fully into her mother. Maria buried her face in her daughter's hair, inhaling her familiar scent. She pulled away after a moment and looked her daughter in the eyes.

"We weren't overly inquisitive or moody today, were we darling?" Rosmarie laughed as her mother feigned seriousness.

"We tried not to be, but someone started feeling a little tired halfway through the trip," Heidi added from the other side of the room. Rosmarie rolled her eyes.

"Gotte! I was better after the nap and the snack!"

"Yes you were, Schatzi. Now run along and get ready for supper." Rosmarie gave her godmother a quick hug before skipping to her room. Maria ran her palms down the front of her apron, watching her daughter as she disappeared around the corner.

"She's growing up before my very own eyes. I can hardly believe it," Maria said with a defeated sigh. "I feel as though I haven't done my best as a mother... She has seven siblings and a father she still has yet to meet! And she'll be in school tomorrow... I'm afraid nothing is going to be the same around here without my little Rose." Maria lowered herself into the kitchen chair. She felt Heidi come up behind her and place her hands on her shoulders.

"My dear, you've been a wonderful mother. Everything has gone according to God's plan. With Rosmarie out of the house you can finally focus on yourself. I want to meet the old Maria you speak so highly of."

"Oh Heidi, I'm afraid she won't be making an appearance any time soon. I believe I left her back at 34 Aigen. In the Captain's bed."


August 24, 1937

34 Aigen

Baroness Elsa Schraeder met Georg on the balcony.

"There you are. I must speak to cook about the schnitzel. It is entirely too delicious for my figure." Georg let out a small laugh, but mentally, he was far away. Elsa continued, "and it makes you much too quiet at the dinner table. Or was it the wine?" Georg reluctantly tore his eyes away from Maria's distant figure by the lake.

"Undoubtedly the wine," Georg muttered.

"You have no idea the trouble I'm having trying to decide on a wedding present for you," Elsa rambled on. "Oh, I know. I'm enough. But I do want you to have some little trifle for the occasion. At first I thought of a fountain pen, but you've already got one. Then I thought perhaps a villa in the south of France, but they are so difficult to gift-wrap. Oh, Georg, how do you feel about yachts? A long, sleek one for the Mediterranean, or a tiny one for your bathtub, huh?" Elsa looked expectantly at her future husband, finding that his gaze was still following his governess. She decided on a new topic. "Where to go on our honeymoon? Now, that's a real problem. A trip around the world would be lovely. And then I said: 'Oh, Elsa, there must be someplace better to go.'" Still, Georg continued to watch his governess. She had unwittingly thrown him into a trance.

"Ah yes, the honeymoon. I will leave that entirely to you, darling," Georg said, planting a small kiss on Elsa's forehead. Elsa watched and he stole another quick glance at Maria, who was heading towards the gazebo. Elsa was becoming increasingly frustrated with her fiancé's lack of interest in such an important discussion pertaining to their future.

"Georg, if you have something to say to the governess, why don't you head on down to the gazebo and do it? No need to watch her from afar." Georg's eyes were immediately on his fiancé. He nodded and released a breath he didn't realize he had been holding.

"Erm, yes. I do believe I shall have a few words with Fräulein Maria. We have yet to have a discussion about her future plans here." Elsa threw him a fake smile and watched as he turned and stalked into the bedroom. She stayed put on the balcony as Georg made his way to the gazebo. She convinced herself that there was no need to chaperone the interaction, and with a huff of frustration, she headed inside. Unbeknownst to her, leaving the balcony and heading to the guest bedroom for the night changed everything.

Georg slowly approached the gazebo. He watched as Maria flitted about, wringing her hands in some sort of odd self-soothing gesture. He cleared his throat to make his presence known. Instantly, her wide eyes were on him, an excellent imitation of a startled doe.

"Hello," Georg started. "I thought I just might find you here." He playfully pointed at the benches around the gazebo. However, Maria's posture remained stiff.

"Was there something you wanted?" Her soft voice echoed in the night. Georg suddenly felt nervous, like a school boy with a crush.

"No, no, no. Sit down, please," Georg gestured to the bench, encouraging her to stay. "Please." As Maria sat, she continued playing with her fingers, her dress, anything to keep her eyes off of him. "May l?" Georg pointed to the empty spot next to her. She nodded, albeit a bit frantically, and watched as he sat down next to her. "You know, I was thinking and I was wondering two things: why did you run away to the abbey? And what was it that made you come back?"

"Well, I had an obligation to fulfill and I came back to fulfil it."

"Is that all?" Georg's heart was beating rapidly in his chest.

"And I missed the children."

"Yes. Only the children?"

"No... Yes! Isn't it right that I missed them?" Maria's slip delighted Georg.

"Oh, yes. Yes, of course. I was only hoping that perhaps you... Perhaps you might..."

"Yes?"

"Well, nothing was the same when you were away, and it'll be all wrong again after you leave... And I just thought perhaps you might change your mind." Georg looked up at Maria, his eyes catching hers.

"Well, I'm sure the baroness will be able to make things fine for you." Georg sighed and watched as Maria stood from her spot on the bench. She turned to Georg, as if willing him to respond. Truth be told, he didn't know what to say. Georg suddenly found himself speechless. Maria's lips formed a firm line and she nodded. "Exactly. Now, if you excuse me, I will be heading to bed to retire for the night. Goodnight Captain." Although her statement was full of venom, her actions said otherwise. She slowly began walking towards the villa, looking back at him every few moments. Her golden hair, like a halo placed by God himself, shone bright in the moonlight.

And what would that hair look like strewn across my pillow?

Georg closed his eyes, as if this would force the erotic thoughts out. The erotic thoughts that haunted him day and night. The erotic thoughts that resurfaced when he watched her lithe form sashay around the villa in that little blue dress of hers. He shook his head and stood up, marching after her.

"Maria... Fräulein Maria, wait!" He jogged to catch up with her, and she turned and looked at him, frowning.

"Yes, Captain?"

"I, erm, I have a bit of a confession to make, although I'm not quite sure how to tell you." At this, Maria stopped. She turned and faced him, squinting in an attempt to see through him. In a strange turn of events, the two seemed to have completely switched places. Maria was now confident, and Georg had become nervous and hesitant.

"What is it, Captain? I'm sure you can tell me."

"Erm..." She watched as he took a deep breath. He gestured back to the gazebo. "Shall we head back once more? I think we should both be seated for this, Fräulein." Although conflicted and confused, she nodded and followed him. They sat in the same positions as last time, although Georg was now the complete opposite of relaxed.

"Captain? What is it? Now you've got me concerned!" He laughed a bit at her statement.

"Oh no everything is quite alright, Fräulein. But what I am about to say might make you want to flee again. I ask you to please stay and hear me out. If you decide to go, I ask you to wait until the morning. You cannot leave again without saying goodbye to the children." Maria nodded, suddenly feeling very small and very nervous. Both Georg and Maria were very tense, nervous energy drifting between them like leaves on a breeze.

"Fräulein, erm... I believe the Baroness will not be staying for much longer. You see, I will be ending our engagement."

"Pardon me, Captain?"

"Yes, let me clarify. It seems as though I have found myself in quite the predicament. You see, I have found myself attracted to you." Georg whispered the last few words, but Maria's sharp hearing prevailed. She gulped, her gaze wavering slightly. Georg, noticing everything, picked up the pace. "I can't marry someone when I'm attracted to someone else. What I mean to say is, quite frankly, I want you, Maria. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get you off my mind."

"I-I beg your pardon, Captain?" Maria suddenly felt an extreme temperature shift. What was once a breezy and calm night was a blistering heatwave. She was no stranger to the sinful feelings of arousal, but the situation frightened her nonetheless. As Georg edged closer to Maria, she slowly scooted over on the bench, in an attempt to move away from him.

"Maria, tell me you don't feel it. Tell me you didn't feel the... tension between us the night we danced." Georg was dangerously close to Maria. With each word her breathing quickened. Slowly her descent into madness and utter panic began. She had scooted to the edge of the bench, and if she moved any further, she would fall flat on her ass. In a last ditch effort to flee, she attempted to stand and make a run for it. However, Georg beat her to it. With the reflexes of a cat on a hunt, he reached for her hand and dragged her to him.

"Captain, please, let me go." He placed a careful finger to her lips, her breath kissing the roughened skin there. He closed his eyes as a wave of arousal washed over him.

"Maria, you have yet to answer my question. Tell me, Maria." Maria, no longer the confident postulant, unafraid to right Georg's wrongs, simply stared. Her mind was racing, like hands on a clock spinning wildly out of control. One wrong move and Maria was afraid that those clock hands might just snap and send her flying into Georg's waiting, firm, strong (and sexy) arms. While somewhere in the depths of her mind, she was aware that the Earth continued to spin, she felt as thought everything had stopped moving. The branches on the trees stopped swaying, and the small waves on the water ceased their seemingly endless pattern of ebbs and flows. Deep down in her heart, Maria knew it would be wrong of her to lie. She also knew it would be wrong to quite literally lie with a man (currently) engaged to someone else while she was to become a nun.

"Captain, please. I need to think."

"It's Georg. No thinking, Maria. I know you feel it too. Let me touch you." Georg's hand began its torturously slow ascent from her hand to her shoulder. She shivered as his hand slid from her shoulder, passed over her collarbone, ran up her neck, and cupped her face, all within seconds. She allowed her eyes to flutter closed. She felt his hot breath on her lips.

"Please?" Georg questioned her. She knew that fighting her pent up arousal would make things increasingly difficult. She chose to give in, her tough exterior crumbling before Georg's eyes. She nodded, and a small "Okay... Yes" escaped her lips, and that was all it took. As his lips pressed to hers for the first time, she felt the weight of the world crashing down around her. A surge of pure arousal and adrenaline settled deep in her navel, and a low moan escaped her throat. She felt Georg smile against her lips as the kiss deepened. Suddenly, his arms were around her, and she was being scooped up. She let out a small gasp as he whispered, "You're coming with me." He swiftly carried her to his room, a place she only saw in her dreams. As he placed her gently on his bed, she took in the deep red and dark umber tones around her. The room was emasculating and entirely Georg. Knowing she was lying on his bed in his room was intoxicating and terrifying.

As the night pressed on, clothes were torn off, revealing their naked skin glistened with sweat. Slowly, Georg made love to her. The pain of Georg pressing into Maria was forgotten when he pressed his lips to her neck and mumbled, "I'm sorry, my love." Something inside of Maria snapped, and she cried out, causing Georg to start thrusting madly into her. Suddenly, her thoughts from earlier came rushing back to her. Maria cried silent tears of pain and confusion, which Georg mistook for tears of joy and relief.

Were the children not just telling me of his engagement to the Baroness? But, did he not just tell me that he was breaking it off? Did I not just tell him I was only the governess until plans could be made to find a new one?

Shame washed over her as an image of the Baroness appeared in her mind. Visions of the Baroness walking in on them, her fiancé buried deep inside of his governess, were too much for her to handle. She whimpered as Georg thrust deeper into her than he ever had before. He slowed to a stop and cried out, and she felt him release inside of her. She trembled as he spilled into her, the consequences of their actions releasing yet another wave of shame and embarrassment over the future nun. Georg finally looked up at Maria and took in her tear-stained face.

"Maria? I didn't hurt you too horribly, did I?" All of Maria's energy had been spent on crying and holding back screams of frustration and anger, so all she could do was shake her head. She felt him roll off of her and lay beside her. She pressed her eyes closed as a million horrifying thoughts ran through her mind.

What if I'm with child? I was supposed to be a nun! The Reverend Mother surely will not allow such a sinful woman back into the confines of the abbey.

Maria began to cry, harder this time, albeit silently. She glanced to her right and noticed Georg fast asleep. She rolled her eyes and let out a small cry of frustration. Quickly, she hopped out of his bed, gathered her clothes, dressed, and sprinted to her room. As quietly as she could manage, she threw all of her belongings into her carpet bag. She left behind a few of her favorite dresses, knowing they would be immediately given to the poor anyways. She scrambled to find sheets of paper and a pen, and she began to write a message to each of the children. She expressed her gratitude to them for accepting her, and she told them each that she would miss them terribly. She apologized for running away yet again, stating that this time, something personal had come up, and she urgently needed to leave. She signed them all with "With love, Fräulein Maria," and slid them under their bedroom doors. She spared one last glance at the villa before disappearing into the night, running as quickly as her sore body could take her.

Weeks later, Maria discovered she was with child. A long conversation ensued with the Reverend Mother, where it was decided Maria would stay, but not as a postulant. Any and all attempts made by Georg to contact her were denied. While there was no official engagement announcement released by Georg and the Baroness, Maria assumed it had happened, and tried her best to forget about him. However, the seven children she had come to love as her own remained on her conscience. When her own daughter entered the world months later, Maria sobbed. She sobbed because she knew her daughter would likely never know her father, a man Maria now had an incredibly complicated relationship with.

"Hello, my beautiful little girl. I'm your Mama, and I'm here now." Maria soothed her crying child, bringing her to her breast for the first time. She kissed her daughter's soft head, covered in dark brown hair. "What shall I call you, darling?" Her daughter ceased suckling, turning from her breast. Her blue eyes met Maria's, reminding her of her own. "Hmm, let's see, how can we incorporate my name..." After a few moments, she knew what to call her. "Rosmarie... My little Rose... And let's hope you're nowhere near as prickly as your father..."


AN: Thank you all for reading! I can't figure out how to add extra spaces between the time period switching. Every time I keep doing it on the app, it "saves" it and then removes the extra space. I had to use excess page breaks instead. Sorry about that! Please RnR!

Note for me: updated to fix grammar and spelling, lowercase "von" in "von Trapp," fixed POVs in flashbacks, consent made clearer, en dash, remove past tense italics, Gotte and Schatzi no longer italicized, separate longer thoughts