A/N: this one is very much a filler chapter but I promise you the good stuff is coming! I'm going for a slow build-up of tension so hopefully I'm achieving that. Thank you so much for your reviews so far, they really mean a lot.
Maria lifted her face to the sun and let the warm rays bathe her skin as she looked out over the river Salzach. It was one of her favourite spots in Salzburg, save perhaps for her mountain - and for the first time that day she rather wished she could enjoy it in solitude. The truth was, she didn't quite feel herself, and she longed for a moment alone so she could gather her thoughts. But as it was, Alfred was with her, and she felt his arm tighten instinctively around her waist when she stopped to enjoy the view.
"It really is lovely here Maria," He confessed, his fedora pulled low on his brow giving him a roguish appeal, "however did you leave it?"
Because I couldn't bear to face what I was leaving behind, she confessed to herself - but instead she responded with a light shrug, "it was just... time for a change, I suppose!"
"An adventure?" He mused.
"Something like that!"
"Well I'm awfully glad for it," he laughed, "else I might never have met you!"
She rewarded him with a genuine smile then and his eyes lingered on her face with a particular glimmer that she was only just beginning to recognise as desire. Before she could resist him, he was cupping a warm palm against her cheek, moving closer, and-
"Alfred, I -"
"Shh. There's no one around darling.." came his low murmur, and then his lips brushed slowly against her own. It was... well it was wonderful really. Warm, affectionate, tender - causing butterflies to flutter delicately low in her stomach. He lingered for only a few seconds longer than propriety allowed and yet it made her feel secure, sheltered, wanted. No one had ever made her feel quite so safe before, and the thought was a comforting one. When he finally pulled away his eyes were dark with mischief and a little smirk pulled at his lips, before he gave a warm chuckle that served to break the moment between them.
"Say... " he declared proudly, taking her by the waist again, "What do you think of my hosting a dinner party at the Goldener while I'm here? Just a few friends I've made in the area, some colleagues from England who are out here too - that sort of thing?"
"A party?"
"Well, more like an intimate gathering, since I really have very few friends here!" he laughed, "What do you say Maria, would you like to be my guest of honour?"
"Oh I don't know, Alfred," she sighed, "I'll be the most inelegant guest of honour you've ever escorted! I'll most likely drop the cutlery or spill the wine or sit on a pine cone or-"
"A pine cone?!" He interrupted with an incredulous guffaw, "whatever do you mean!"
Immediately she felt her cheeks burn scarlet and the disturbing thought suddenly occurred to her - would Captain Von Trapp be one of the names on Alfred's guest list? As much as she felt that a weight had been lifted since her talk with the captain, she wasn't sure she could keep seeing him repeatedly in social situations while feigning indifference to those around her. There were too many old wounds there, wounds she didn't care to tear open again. She had to keep her distance...
"I er... I'm just not accustomed to nice dinners, that's all," she muttered, suddenly feeling lightheaded.
"We've been to plenty of nice dinners Maria and you've always been delightful company," Alfred reassured, "what was it I told you the last time?"
"That you couldn't be prouder to have me on your arm," she smiled weakly, despite her sudden nerves.
"Exactly that," he grinned, "and I meant every word."
"Have you tried looking on the terrace girls?" Georg asked, walking side by side with two of his daughters through the great hall.
"Yes father, that's the first place we looked!" Brigitta puzzled.
"But we just can't find any of them anywhere!" Marta pouted beside her.
"Well I suppose that is the point of hide and seek is it not?" Georg chuckled, "come on, we'll find them all together. And if my intuition serves me correctly, I would wager that Kurt isn't too far from the kitchen!"
He swooped low then and bombarded Marta with a belly full of tickles until she was screeching with laughter, before he finally scooped her up and rested her on his hip.
"Now darling, where do you suppose we should look first?"
"To the kitchens!" His shy little girl bellowed with an adorable vengeance, pointing her finger in the direction of the scullery.
"Lead the way then Brigitta, if you please!" He saluted playfully, taking great delight in the beautiful smile his middle daughter rewarded him in return. It was moments like this, basking in the innocent joy his children brought to his life, that he could almost believe everything was right with the world. Since his meeting with fraulein Maria earlier that week, he'd thought of little else - but rather than falling into despair the same way he might've done a few years ago, instead he'd decided to take comfort in his children's love. Hadn't Maria been the one who'd taught him to cherish his children again, after all? He wouldn't make the same mistake twice...
"I like it when mother goes away to Vienna father," Marta chirped in his ear, breaking him out of his reverie.
"Marta!" Brigitta hissed, her face colouring as her eyes shifted guiltily to her father, "that's not a very nice thing to say!"
"But that's when father plays with us most!" Marta protested, "Mother doesn't like to play..."
Georg's heart sank. It was true that Elsa found it difficult to engage with the children at times, but what was worse was that he actually agreed with his little girl to some extent. Elsa had left for Vienna the previous day, to attend a lady's gathering of some sort - and since her departure the children had been more relaxed, more playful, more mischievous. It was always the same whenever she went away for a few days. He became more attentive as a father, the children delighted in his constant company - and it was as though the villa itself breathed a sigh of relief whenever the front door closed behind her. The realisation was truly disturbing.
A sudden noise - much like a muffled cough - came from behind a closet door to his left and immediately his daughters sprung into action, all talk of their absent mother forgotten. They wrenched open the door to find a huddled Friedrich hiding behind a laundry basket with a sheepish grin on his face.
"Friedrich!" Georg laughed heartily, his mood lifting, "Outsmarted by your younger sisters, you ought to up your game son!"
It was some time later - when all the children had been found - that the family was interrupted in the drawing room by a particularly unamused Franz.
"A telegram for you sir," he sniffed haughtily, handing over a folded note. In the corner of his eye, Georg saw his eldest daughter's face instantly light up.
"Franz," she chirped, "who delivered-"
"Don't even think about it Liesl!" Georg barked without so much as looking up from his telegram.
"But father!"
A stern glare silenced her abruptly but the sulky pout remained - and Georg had to fight hard to hide his amusement. It was at times like this that their Fraulein would've appeased the girl with some sort of alternative activity to distract her attention. With nothing more than a warm smile and a firm influence, Maria had been capable of diffusing a difficult situation concerning his children with a precision and grace that had often baffled Georg in the earliest days of their acquaintance. And the fond memories filled him with a sudden and intense longing, the likes of which he hadn't felt since the weeks following Agathe's death. To his utter distress, he pined for Maria in very much the same way.
Swallowing the sudden lump in his throat, he opened the telegram and scanned the contents, a heavy feeling settling like lead in his stomach as the words began to sink in. It was from Lieutenant Norden - an invitation for Captain Von Trapp plus guest to attend a dinner party at the Goldener the following evening. Of course he couldn't go. He wouldn't go. Not when the fraulein would undoubtedly be there too, and on the Lieutenant's arm no less. The thought alone made him seethe, and he questioned - not for the first time since seeing Maria again - why it had taken him so long to realise his true feelings. Denial perhaps? Fear? Obstinance?
It hardly mattered now. While he could no longer deny that he pined for Fraulein Maria - maybe even loved her still, despite the time that had passed - he had resolved to leave her be. He had let her go once before and he could do it again, if it would only secure her own happiness. He had no right, he didn't deserve to intrude upon her life any more than he already had. And even if his suspicions had been correct - even if she had once loved him in return - she certainly didn't anymore. Lieutenant Norden was proof enough of that.
No. He had decided from the moment he'd left the Goldener that he would double his efforts to forget Fraulein Maria and improve his marriage with Elsa. He would be more attentive, more loving, more appreciative of her company - and from there, he would surely find contentment, if not true happiness.
From somewhere on the carpet, Gretl shrieked suddenly with pure delight, causing Georg to nearly jump out of his skin. Utterly perplexed, he could only gape at her - and when he noticed her eyes were fixed excitedly to something in the doorway behind him, he whirled around in his seat. To his astonishment, Max Detweiler was leaning against the jamb watching them all with a mischievous grin on his face.
"Hello Georg. Children," he beamed, rocking back on his heels mischievously, "don't get up. I let myself in."
Immediately the children launched to their feet and surrounded their uncle, the resulting din almost deafening.
"Well well well, to what do we owe this.. unexpected pleasure, Max," Georg smirked, rising to his feet and shaking the impresario's hand. It'd been a while since he'd last seen his closest friend, since the sponge had returned to Vienna once his chaperoning duties were no longer needed. Much like Elsa, he had missed the salons and the endless streams of gossip. In fact, Max saw Elsa far more often than he ever saw Georg after the wedding, due to the frequency of her visits to Vienna.
"I'm in the area on the hunt for new talent and I wanted to surprise you all!" Max trilled, "though I don't suppose Elsa will be best pleased. Franz tells me she's in Vienna and I've missed her by one day!"
"That you have. But I'm sure you'll find time to fill her in on the latest scandals soon enough!" Georg mused, "children," he turned to his brood, "go and wash up for dinner please. I believe your uncle Max will no doubt be staying for the free food."
"Right you are Georg!" Max guffawed as the children hurried excitably from the room, "though you'll be relieved to know I won't be staying the night. I've got a room booked at the Bristol for a few days."
Georg gave an amused grunt and moved to the drinks cabinet to pour two glasses of scotch, handing one to the impresario.
"How's tricks then?" He asked, "Which innocent protege will you be exploiting this time? You've not come here in pursuit of my children again I hope!"
"You can't blame me for trying Georg!" Max retorted, raising his glass and taking a hearty swig, "Though I've never quite found an act to rival your fraulein. What a voice," he shook his head in disappointment, "Such a terrible waste!"
Stomach twisting, Georg fought to keep his face passive, "Indeed.."
"Still," his friend stated with conviction, "I shall explore every nook and cranny of this territory until I find my claim to fame."
But Georg was no longer listening, his gaze instead drifting to the telegram in his hand at the casual mention of his former governess. Absentmindedly, his eyes scanned the words again, his heart heavy in his chest.
"What's that?"
He looked up to find Max staring at the piece of paper curiously - and he immediately cursed himself for getting caught in an unguarded moment.
"It's nothing," he insisted, folding the paper a little too hurriedly.
"Tell me," the impresario beamed mischievously, no doubt sensing an opportunity for gossip.
Georg sighed with impatience, "It's just a party invitation. For a gathering at the Goldener."
"Ooh a party!" Max delighted, "I love parties!" much like a child, he lunged forward and snatched the piece of paper from his friend's hand, ignoring Georg's venomous growl of protest, "Tell Max every teensy weensy little detail!"
"Max!" Georg scolded, his patience wearing thin, "Were you ever taught basic manners?!"
When the impresario only ignored him, his beady eyes roaming greedily over the contents of the telegram, Georg sighed in defeat.
"It's for myself and a plus one," he explained grouchily, nursing his drink, "but Elsa's away and I'm really not feeling up to it."
"Nonsense!" Max declared flippantly, "We're going."
"We?"
"Yes. We. It's all about networking in my industry these days, Georg. And besides," Max drained his glass with theatrical gusto, "I'm already bored and I've been in Salzburg all of five minutes! A party is just what I need."
Georg rolled his eyes in irritation, "It's more of a dinner than an actual party-"
"Even better. Food and drink!"
"No," Georg commanded with a severity that would've silenced an entire fleet of cadets back in the day. The impresario however, barely even flinched.
"We're going."
"Absolutely out of the question!"
"But-"
"Max!" Georg growled, "No means no!"
"Fine!" Max pouted sulkily, looking very much like Kurt whenever the boy was denied dessert, "you're no fun anymore Georg!"
Grateful that his friend had finally relented, Georg let out the breath he'd unknowingly been holding and gestured grouchily for Max to pass his glass over for a refill. What he failed to notice when his back was turned however, was the impresario slipping lieutenant Norden's telegram into the breast pocket of his jacket with a mischievous gleam in his eye...
I don't think I could bear to write a story without our beloved, mischievous Max making an appearance and causing trouble! And at this stage he doesn't even know the half of it! Keep the reviews coming, your thoughts are what keep me writing :) I do hope you're all still with me!