Recap – Fleeing from the Nazis, Georg escaped to Hungary, and was rescued by monks at a monastery, after a fall. Although Georg developed pneumonia, John Whitehead managed to acquire penicillin and flew to Hungary.
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Chapter 37: Reunion
John Whitehead had arrived in Hungary more than a week ago with the medicine that had started Georg's recovery. After several days Georg was well enough to be moved from the monastery to the home of John's nephew, Ludwig, where he could recover in comfort.
With John returning to England the following day Georg needed to write letters. It was maddening for him that he wasn't strong enough to make the journey himself, but at least Maria would be coming to him as soon as she could.
He was propped up awkwardly with pillows in bed, a pool of soft light from the lamp shone on his bent head as he wrote. The only sound was the scritch of pen on paper. Outside, in the hushed darkness of the night, snow pelted softly at the windows, slithering down in watery trails on the glass. How fortunate that he was no longer at the mercy of the elements, he thought gratefully.
My dearest Maria, my darling wife,
Here I am staring at this blank piece of paper wondering how on earth I can convey what is my heart when it is bursting with emotions too powerful to control; and as you know, I am a man who always likes to be control!
If only I had the gifts of a poet, a philosopher, or a composer of great symphonies, then I could tell you what you mean to me with eloquence and grace that would do justice to the infinite weight of feelings I have for you.
Alas, I am only a blunt-minded, practical, sailor, a master of military strategy but terribly inept with words. I have resolved to send this letter to you, no matter how clumsy and excruciatingly deficient it is. I have also resolved not to read through it before I send it with John, otherwise it is likely to join all the other failed attempts, lying screwed up on the floor by my bed.
Every day, indeed, in every moment we have been apart; and through every difficulty I have encountered, it has been my thoughts and memories of you that have given me strength and comfort, and most importantly, the courage to continue. My one goal throughout these five months has been to get back to you.
As each day has passed, the impossible has happened – my love for you has grown. I had foolishly believed that my feelings had already reached a pinnacle, for instance: when I watched you, my ravishing, radiant bride, walk down the aisle in that little mountain church where we made our vows to each other; or in any of the utterly delightful moments of our short honeymoon on your Untersberg; or in the days after, as we prepared for a farewell that we both secretly knew could be a final parting. But I have been proven wrong time again. My feelings have only become stronger and deeper, and they fortified me every step of the way back to you.
I cannot believe that I will see you again soon. I'm still incredulous that the danger has passed, and that our future, which we weren't sure we would have, stretches out before us, golden and full of promise.
But dear God, the waiting for you is bludgeoning me. John tells me that his assistant is helping you with your passport and visas. It seems to be a form of torture - that I know that we can finally be reunited but you are still so far away from me. It makes me think that I really must write to that Professor Albert Einstein (a much more illustrious exile from Nazism than us), that his theory of time dilation can actually be proved here on Earth. It feels as if time has slowed down to an agonizing crawl as I wait with unbearable anticipation for your arrival in Hungary. There I go, veering into the unromantic again!
I know how harrowing the time apart has been for you, not knowing where I was, or even whether I was alive, and yet, John tells me of your extraordinary fortitude in guiding and loving our children through all their trials. I am humbled and awe-struck by your love and bravery. I swear I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.
I am getting better, the injuries are healing, but not quickly enough. The residues of pneumonia are still here in an annoying cough, but the medicine John gave me was nothing short of miraculous. I suspect penicillin will be the wonder-drug of the future. I can only be grateful that it has given me a second chance at life. I will not squander a single moment of that time with you.
It's late so I should sleep. Every night since we parted I have looked forward to sinking into the wondrous, wickedly delicious dreams of you. (Ah, how I wish I were there to see your blush now!). They have energized me every single day. I look forward to telling you all about them and making them a reality.
Hurry to me, my beloved angel.
Let me finish with these pitifully inadequate, though heartfelt words: with everything I am, I love you.
Your husband. G
PS. I have one more question for you in our little intellectual game that started on the night we met: which Greek philosopher said, that Zeus deliberately made humans with four arms and four legs and two heads, then sadistically cleaved them into two persons so that they would forever be tormented, searching for their other half….?
I'll give you a clue: it's the same Greek philosopher who said that when a person meets their other half… the pair are lost in an amazement of love and friendship and intimacy, and do not want to be apart even for a moment.
You can tell me the answer when I see you. xx
PPS. Thank you for sending your opera cape through John. It was the perfect thing, as effective as an elixir giving me strength when I was too ill to sense anything else in my delirium. It is now stored under my pillow and I look forward to us making more beautiful memories with it when we are together. xxx
As soon as he folded the letter into the envelope he was overcome by a paroxysm of coughing and he cursed the state of his lungs. Coughing jolted his dislocated shoulder, hurt his bruised ribs and made the fracture in his leg throb. Even the small row of stitches on the side of his head began to ache unpleasantly. He swore savagely, then was relieved that no-one was around to hear. Wryly, he was aware that he might need to rehabilitate his manners after being alone for so long.
He rubbed his beard pensively. A barber had arrived yesterday to trim it neatly, giving him a distinguished, elegant beard. His overgrown hair had also been cut, helping him to feel more cultivated and groomed. It soothed him after his horrified incredulity when he had looked in the mirror for the first time a few days ago. He had looked positively feral.
What would Maria think of him now when she finally arrived, he wondered uncomfortably. Some women might run for the hills at the sight of him. He had lost a great deal of weight after living on the run, which was why he had decided to keep the beard for the time-being, until his face looked less gaunt. It might scare the children to see him looking so thin.
But he knew Maria looked beyond surface charm. She would still see deep within him to the inner man, flawed, full of darkness and shadows, and still love him as ferociously and tenderly as ever, perhaps more so, given her nurturing, warm nature.
Still, even if she was unconcerned about his appearance, it mattered to him, he admitted to himself, rueful at his sliver of vanity. He needed to get better. He was sick of being confined to bed, he felt restless and fed up with his injuries, waiting impatiently for his life to start again, desperately craving to see Maria with his whole being.
The pain was becoming more intense. Knowing that it could grow to a point where he felt as if he were being flayed alive, he reached for the small bottle of pain-killing laudanum, then began the next letter.
My beloved children
I have missed each of you dreadfully. The five months that I have been away from you have felt like five long years because I haven't been with you to share your every-day happiness, your sadness, and your problems and triumphs. I am longing to see each of you, and hug and kiss you; yes even you boys. Do not think you can escape from your ever-loving father's embrace just because you are boys, Friedrich and Kurt!
Grandpappa has been telling me your news. I am immensely proud of the way you have adjusted to your new life in England even though you had not expected to, and it has been a difficult time for everyone. I am also so happy to hear that you have been cherishing Mother's love and care for you, and that you have been heeding her guidance fully.
I hope you will forgive me that I intend to take Mother away from you for a few weeks. She will join me in Hungary until I am well enough to travel to England. I am getting much better after having been a bit sick for a while. The thought of all us starting our new life together in England, makes me stronger and happier every day. It will be the beginning of a new, wonderful adventure for all of us.
Now let me give each of you a message.
Gretl, my precious princess,
Grandpappa told me that your pet bunny rabbit has now become six bunnies. Somehow it doesn't surprise me that Uncle Max would have purchased a rabbit not knowing she was expecting babies. I know you have been looking after all of them responsibly. It's very grown up of you. Well done. I cannot wait to give you lots of cuddles and read more stories with you at night. I have missed your bedtime kisses terribly.
Marta, my sweet angel,
Grandpappa told me that you and Mother have been making delicious apple strudel for the whole family to enjoy. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I know how hard it was to leave everything in Austria and I am so proud of how brave you have been, despite sometimes feeling very frightened. That is true courage!
Have you lost any more teeth while I have been away? You must tell me all about your new friends in your new school. I heard that you and Gretl learned English very quickly. Brava. I can't wait to see you and enjoy your wonderful hugs and smiles.
Brigitta, my shining star,
Grandpappa told me that your collection of books is growing steadily. We can compare our favourite English stories when I see you. I hope you have been doing some creative writing too. With your gift of imagination I can foresee a future for you where you create beautiful stories for many people to enjoy. I can't wait to see your sparkling eyes again and receive one of your delightful hugs that always seem to set the whole world to rights.
Kurt, my adventurous son,
I heard that you have been reading voraciously about military history. That's splendid. We can discuss some of the most fascinating battles in history when I return. I am too afraid to ask if you have been pulling any pranks in England. While I marvel at your ingenuity, I do not want any of the Whitehead staff fleeing in the middle of the night! I am joking of course son. I know I can rely on you to behave admirably.
I thought of you immediately when I learned recently that the new medicine that cured my pneumonia, penicillin, was discovered by accident when its inventor was too slovenly to clean his laboratory equipment before going on holiday. Given the messy state of your room I have high hopes that you may make similar discoveries! I know you will forgive your father for his weak jokes, it is simply a part of my fatherly duties. I'm immensely proud of you, son.
Louisa, my tenacious daughter,
I heard that Mother gave you a cat that you have called Schrodinger! What a superb name. Our very own Nobel Prize winning scientist would be very happy to hear that. You probably know already that he had to leave Austria just like us, because of the Nazis. I hope Schrodinger (the cat) has been helping you with your studies. I know that you have the determination and intelligence to fulfil the dreams of becoming a scientist, and be a pathbreaker for young women and girls everywhere, just like Mother once told me about you.
Friedrich, my dear son,
I am so grateful for the help you have been giving Mother, with your siblings. You are turning into a very responsible young man that every father would be proud to have, but me especially. Grandpappa told me he took you to one his regimental dinners and he was immensely impressed with your dignified conduct. Well done, son, though just remember that von Trapp men are navy men, not army! I am joking of course. You can brief me, man to man, about everything that has happened in my absence when I come home.
Liesl, sweetheart,
I am both worried and glad to hear that you have a whole host of young male admirers throughout the district. It doesn't surprise me. Tell those impatient young beaus that I am looking forward to meeting them. And please do tell them how terrifying I can be! I am delighted to hear how you have been blossoming in your new life in England. I know you have been a great help to Mother and I thank you with all my heart.
That is all I have time for my beloved children, but I will continue to write more letters in the days ahead. Each of you has a special, eternal place in my heart. I feel like the luckiest father in the world to have you as my own. Together with your dear Mother (I thank God every day that she chose to be in our family) we will be starting a new exciting chapter in our lives very soon.
Your loving Father / Papa
ooooOOOOoooo
The next morning John stopped by before his departure and took the letters, snapping them shut in his brief case.
Georg looked at him expectantly but didn't voice the question.
John shook his head. "I daresay it will take at least another week, perhaps two or three, to organize the visas for Maria. You know how damnably bureaucratic these things are, it takes a frightfully long time. I'll do my best to expediate things when I'm back."
Georg sighed with frustration.
"You need to get your strength back in any case Georg. You certainly scared the devil out of all of us."
Georg grunted. "I scared myself too. I really thought I wasn't going to make it. I'm sure the monks were getting ready to give me the Last Rites. Thank God for that miracle drug. I can't thank you enough for saving my life, John."
"I'm just glad I got here in time. It was a jolly close thing I must say. But I couldn't allow my grandchildren to grow up without their father. And how could I face Maria. Or Elisabeth for that matter. Dash it all, you've always been like a son to us."
He added thoughtfully, "I'll let Fleming know that his new drug is phenomenal. If there is war ahead, something so extraordinary could change the rules of the game in our favour. It really seemed to bring you back from the dead. Mind you, it appears that Lady Luck has been on your side the whole time you were in Austria. You've led a charmed life."
Georg nodded soberly. It chilled him to think of all the countless times that he could have been killed over the last months, and Maria would never have known what happened to him. He felt the ravages of guilt for everything he had put her through.
"What are your plans for the future? Have you given it much thought?"
Georg was silent for a moment. "I'd always thought that if I made it out alive I would find a way for us to get to America, far away from Europe. Somewhere where we could start anew. But I've changed my mind. After meeting those remarkable people defying the Nazis I can't abandon them. I made promises to them that I must keep. They're ordinary civilians, yet their courage is astounding. I also made promises to General Towarek to continue the fight for the Austria."
John smiled. "I'm rather pleased to hear that. As it happens, we are setting up a Special Operations Executive*, top secret of course, no one knows about it. But among other things, it will be tasked with supporting resistance efforts in Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia. I daresay its operations will be expanded soon since our intelligence reports indicate that Hitler has got his eye on Poland now. We could use a man like you to support the resistance movements from the outside. You would be perfect for the team. But think it over."
Georg didn't need to think. "I accept, with pleasure. Thank you." He felt enormous relief that he could now easily fulfil his promise to Anton and Rosa and the other resistance fighters that he would not abandon them or their struggle.
"Good show. With your military expertise, not to mention the fact that you've already made contact and trained some of these groups, it means that your role will be invaluable."
Georg's thoughts turned to the General he had left behind at the siege. "Have you heard anything about General Towarek?"
John shook his head grimly. "No word of him I'm afraid. It's damnably difficult getting information from the Third Reich. What you've reported to me so far has been a mine of priceless information. It's solid gold intelligence that we can feed into the Ministry of Defense and the Cabinet. I'll be briefing everyone when I get back. I hope it might convince more ministers in the government that we cannot keep trying to appease Hitler. Much as we dread war, that madman has to be stopped."
He hesitated. "Which brings me to another thing I was going to raise with you, but since you have already accepted the job with the SOE*, I'll need to find someone else."
Georg raised his eyebrows questioningly.
John drummed his fingers on his brief case. "The bothersome thing is, I'm so busy with all the House of Lord's Committee work that I simply don't have time to run the submarine and torpedo factories. You're well aware that the factories will be my grandchildren's inheritance, which they may choose to keep or sell. But in the meantime, I need someone to take over running the factories. I had thought you would be ideal, as a former submarine commander, and with your engineering and leadership skills. We're in a bit of a bind because the government just placed a massive order. Quite sensibly they are preparing for war even while hoping it doesn't happen. My factories will have to quadruple production. But never mind, I'll find someone else."
"Don't make any decisions yet, John. Let me think if there is a way for me to do both jobs."
"It's an awful lot of work Georg, it would mean you would barely have time to spend with Maria and the children. But maybe we could put you on the board of directors or something. Let's talk again when you're back in England."
"Perhaps I could send Maria and the children to America where it is safe, while I work in England. Then I would have plenty of time to do both jobs," Georg mused aloud.
John chuckled. "Good luck with that my boy. Maria is a gem, and she has been unbelievably resilient and brave but I doubt she would agree to being parted from you again.
"In any case, take your time coming back. Elisabeth and I can look after the children on our own for many weeks. You never had a chance for a proper honeymoon and this might be your last chance for a very long time. To use Shakespeare's expression, it appears that "the dogs of war will be unleashed" all over Europe, soon enough. God help us."
He got up to leave. "I'll send a bank draft with Maria, from your English bank account for your travel back. Enjoy yourself, you've been through enough for ten life times. Now I must dash."
"Thank you for everything John. I wouldn't be here if not for you."
"Just get better soon, son."
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Maria squeezed her eyes shut, trying to bolster her flagging courage. She hummed under breath "I've always longed for adventure, to do things I've never dared…. And now I'm sitting in an airplane and feeling so awfully scared..."
On the one hand she was tremendously excited that she was on her way to see Georg, without the endless train journeys across the heart of Europe; on the other hand, she was petrified because she had never been in an aircraft before.
As the large propellers of the British Imperial Airways flight started and the deafening noise of the engines overwhelmed her senses, she opened her eyes in fright. How could this big hulk of metal possibly get off the ground? It defied common sense. She clutched her rosary and said her prayers.
She heard a kind voice speaking above the roar of the engines." Is this your first flight madam?" A stewardess smiled at her with understanding. "Don't worry, I've flown many times. It's safer than a car, trust me."
"Really?" Maria squeaked, as the plane started taxiing on the runway. She clutched the seat as the sympathetic lady sat next to her and covered her hand. Holding her breath she felt the plane lifting up, and she peeked out of the oval window in disbelief as the ground gave way, and the land and buildings became smaller. Soon the aircraft was surrounded by fluffy white clouds that gave the deceptive impression they would be lovely to roll around in. She craned her neck to gaze out in wonder and then slumped back in her seat with amazement, the tension ebbing away. How proud Georg would be of her she thought fondly and a trifle smugly. His "Well done Fraulein" echoed in her mind, giving her goosebumps.
The stewardess gave her a reassuring look as she got up to attend to her duties. Grateful for her calming presence Maria confided in her. "I'm going to see my husband, I haven't seen him in five months. I still can't believe I'll finally see him after all this time."
The stewardess responded warmly. "That's wonderful, you must be very happy."
Maria nodded. Yes, she decided, she really was drenched in happiness. Despite the mad rush for the travel arrangements and then the tearful goodbyes from the children, especially the little ones with their wobbly mouths and distressed faces as she hugged them, despite all of that she felt ecstatic.
Soon she would be back in Georg's arms. Her months of prayers had been answered, her worries and fears were over. He had survived against the odds, he had escaped, he was safe, and he was recovering from his illness. Nothing else mattered. The months of anguish sloughed off her like a great weight, replaced with an exhilaration that made her spirits soar just like the airplane.
"My heart should be wildly rejoicing… and it is!" she thought, sitting in dazed elation. She brought out the letter that Georg had written, reading it perhaps for the thousandth time, savouring every beautiful sentiment, though in truth she knew each word by heart. Her very first love letter. It still made her feel giddy. More than a few joyous tears had splashed on to the page since she had received it from John. The children had squealed, shouted and pranced with glee for hours after receiving their own messages. She understood how they felt.
In her euphoria at hearing from him she had written back straight away. Her letter had stretched to nearly ten pages, telling him everything and anything about her love for him, her joy and relief that he was safe. She flushed a bit, wondering if he had received it. But why should she be embarrassed when she had expressed what was in her heart honestly and openly. She hoped it would give him a fraction of the pleasure that she had received from his letter.
As the plane roared, hurtling through the skies of Europe, she sorted through her complicated feelings. She realized with surprise that she was actually nervous about seeing him. Although they had been married for six months, their time together as husband and wife had been a meagre three weeks. Before that there had been no courtship, no time at all to get to know each other at leisure.
Circumstances had catapulted them into a quick marriage. The rushed timeframe meant she didn't have the confidence a long relationship would have given her. It made her self-conscious about the smallest of things, which was ridiculous really. Would he like her new hairstyle for example? It was longer now, softly styled and more expertly cut than Sister Berthe's usual crude hacking. Elisabeth's lady's maid, Helen, had helped her arrange it, convincing her that it was modern and lovely, and suited her features.
She also wore light make-up which she had painstakingly learned to use with Helen's help, finding subtle ways to enhance her features, particularly her eyes and mouth. Maria had gone pink with delight at Helen's encouragement, "Baroness you look beautiful, your eyes are sparkling like sapphires. Your husband is bound to fall in love with you all over again."
Despite knowing vanity was a sin, she told herself bracingly that surely it wasn't wrong of her to want to look nice for Georg. After all he was used to far more sophisticated women than her.
Next she worried whether there would be awkwardness between them. They had been leading separate, intensely difficult lives in parallel, both experiencing different worlds and challenges. Would they still be able to find the same deep connection with each other as before? She sighed, scolding herself for her silly concerns. They loved each other, and their fledgling marriage would grow into something soaringly, achingly beautiful, she resolved.
All the way to Hungary her anticipation began to build, mingling with the sense of disbelief. Was this really happening to her? She felt ready to burst with a chaotic mix of emotions - excitement, rapture, anxiety. Her nerves were jangling, when all she wanted was to exude calm, loving adoration. Unwelcome insecurities made her wonder if she would gabble nervously, causing Georg to wonder why he had married such a gauche bride. The same insecurities made her lament that she wasn't more like the elegant cultured lady that Max and the children had tried to turn her into when she first arrived at the von Trapp villa and had attended her first ball.
oooOOOOooo
She was met by John's nephew, a charming man with effortless manners.
"What a pleasure it is to meet you Maria, I do hope you will allow me to call you that since we are, in effect, family."
"Thank you, Ludwig. It's so kind of you to host us. I hope we haven't put you to too much trouble."
"Not at all, Georg is staying at our summer house. My wife and children live in Budapest for the school year, so it is usually unoccupied at this time. I hope it will give Georg the time, privacy and comfort to recover fully."
"How is he?" she asked anxiously as they drove towards the stately home.
Ludwig smiled mischievously. "I am sure he doesn't want me to tell you this, but he's rather nervous, like a young buck uncertain of his sweetheart. He's been anticipating your arrival for weeks now and he has fussed and fretted about everything. It's been rather amusing. Don't tell him I said that, he won't forgive me."
"Oh." Maria was surprised to hear he was nervous too. Though in truth she wasn't sure she could believe it. He was a sophisticated, worldly man, a born leader of other men, and a man handsome enough that women must have been throwing themselves at him since he was a teenager. Generations of aristocratic lineage had given him the mantle of self assurance that he carried with easy dignity on his shoulders.
She tracked through her memories to think of an instance where he had lacked confidence, but suddenly realised she was doing him a disservice by forgetting the moments where he had had self-doubts and vulnerabilities. She remembered how, days before their wedding, he had gotten cold feet. In his words, he hadn't wanted to saddle her with a surly, melancholic, bad tempered, old husband; someone Godless and prone to black moods and jealousy. His awareness of his own faults had only made her love him more. Then there had been his bitter regrets over the way he had neglected the children.
She vowed to keep reminding herself that after all these months apart, she mustn't put him on a pedestal or think of him as an invincible hero. He had his weaknesses and flaws, and those things were an important part of the imperfect man she adored. So yes, it was quite possible he was unsettled about their reunion too.
Lost in thought, she was unaware that they had arrived. Staff hurried down to collect Maria's bags. Stepping inside, her heart was hammering madly, her fragile composure was in danger of crumbling as burgeoning excitement warred with apprehension.
Ludwig led her upstairs then knocked on a door. "Georg, your wife is here." Then he left with a bow, murmuring, "I don't expect you to join me for dinner. The staff will send a tray later."
Maria barely heard him, thrilled as she heard Georg's husky, velvety voice through the door. Her heart clenched with jubilation.
Opening the door she saw him leaning against a wall, crutches propped under his arms. In a flash she noticed the differences: the beard was new, and he was thinner. The usual golden, sun-kissed skin was paler, almost sallow, and his body held a tension that she had never seen before, probably a result of the pain. He had an arm in a sling, and a small section of his hair had been shaved for stitches.
But it was his eyes that held her. They were exactly the same, a brilliant, piercing blue, blazing fiercely with love, relief and devotion. In seconds she was rushing across the room with a sobbing breath of pure joy, and was enveloped in a strong one-armed embrace, held so tightly that she feared for his injuries. He muttered a hoarse "Oh God, Maria," as he buried his face in her hair. The subtle, unique scent of his skin was heavenly to Maria's deprived senses, and she gloried in the steady beat of his heart.
Their reunion was simply too profoundly moving, too momentous for mere kisses and passion, they just held each other in complete stillness. The embrace was so close that it was as if their bodies were trying to absorb themselves into each other, as if two souls wrenched apart were now finding each other again in a deeply intense, private communion. Neither spoke out loud but their silent language flowed between them ceaselessly.
I missed you unbearably. I was so scared for you.
I'm so sorry for everything I put you through.
You're safe now, that's all that matters.
I've waited for this moment, dreamed of it every moment we've been apart. I didn't know if it would ever happen. But it was the one thing that kept me going.
I prayed for you every day, every hour it seemed.
I love you Maria, in ways that I can't even express.
And I, you.
How long they stood silently together like that, holding each other as if their lives depended on it, neither knew. It could have been minutes or hours. But eventually Maria became aware of how stiffly he was holding himself, he was even trembling slightly. It was only later she would realise that it was the first time that he had been standing for such a length of time, and it was only sheer willpower and pride keeping him upright.
She raised her head from where it had been buried in his neck to look at him with blissful contentment. Cradling his face with her hands she found his beard to be surprisingly pleasing to touch, not prickly like she expected. She absorbed every beloved feature but they began to blur with the ecstatic tears shimmering in her eyes. Georg rested his forehead tenderly on hers, and she saw, stunned, that there was a sheen of moisture in his eyes too, which was unusual for man who held his emotions under tight control.
"Why don't we sit down?" she suggested softly, tactfully not mentioning that it must be strain for him.
"I have a better idea, why don't we lie down on the bed so I can hold you properly."
Maria delighted in the familiar teasing gleam in his eyes. He hobbled on his crutches, then maneuvered himself on to the bed and held out a welcoming arm for her to lie down beside him. With sweet, incredulous joy lilting through her soul she joined him.
ooooOOOOoooo
AN: Thank you for reading and I would love to know your thoughts. xx
*SOE was a secret branch of the British Ministry of Warfare that supported resistance efforts in Europe during WW2.
I was inspired to use postal letters in this chapter after reading many wonderful stories by writers in this fandom.
I'm on the home stretch for this story now. I can't tell you how grateful I am for everyone who reviewed, favourited and followed. I would never have come this far if it hadn't been for that generous and kind encouragement.
There's one more bump in the road for G and M in the next chapter, but we are nearing the end of this story. My heartfelt thanks for your support.
PS. The answer to Georg's Greek philosopher question is Plato, in the 'Symposium.'