A Time to Honeymoon
When Maria pulled her head back a little to look at her husband, she caressed his unshaven cheek and smiled. "This is a different look for you."
Georg groaned and shook his head. "I hope you don't become fond of it, darling, it's a terrible nuisance."
Maria nodded. "Why don't you shave while I draw a hot bath for you?"
Georg smiled and gave her a very grateful kiss. "Absolutely."
They got out of bed and walked hand-in-hand into their luxurious bathroom. Maria sat on the edge of the tub and turned the taps, adjusting the water as it fills the tub. As she does this, Maria watched her naked husband shave, covering his face with white shaving cream and expertly shaving with a razor blade. Maria was almost fascinated watching, having never watched a man shave before. Perhaps it was naïve of her to be impressed by the way he handled the blade without cutting himself – no doubt plenty of other men could do it that well, perhaps better – but she didn't care. Perhaps she just loved watching her husband do anything.
As he shaved, Georg could feel her eyes watching him, but concentrated on his task. Only when he wiped his face with a towel did he look at her from the corner of his eye and smirk at her. "What are you staring at, Baroness?" he teased.
Maria blushed a bit at being caught staring, but she just smirked back and said nothing. He tossed the towel aside and knelt before her, cupping her cheek and kissing her slowly, enjoying that he could take it slow. When their lips parted, Maria just said, "Your bath is ready."
After another quick peck, Georg lowered himself into the hot water, letting out a long exhale of relief. The hot water felt so good against his body, and only now was he beginning to feel just how tired and sore he really was after traveling so far. "I could sleep here," he murmured.
"Well, I'm not going to let you do that," replied Maria instantly.
Georg opened his eyes to find her sitting on the floor beside the tub, both of her arms on the edge and her chin resting on her hands. "I'm a good swimmer, you know," he teased.
Maria smiled, but her eyes had a soft, vulnerable expression. "I've been sleeping on the sofa in the living room for weeks because all I've felt in that big bed is small, knowing it wasn't meant for just one person. I don't want to sleep alone anymore."
Georg's eyes took on a similar tender expression as he reached out and caressed her cheek.
No more words were spoken for a while. Maria took the sponge and washed her husband as she sat on the edge of the tub. Both had a longing that she would join him in the bath, but the fact was that Georg was very tired and fatigued. After she dried him, she led him silently to the bed where she massaged him, just like she had so many months ago. Georg felt his heart swell, and he became almost as emotional as he had with Father Norbert, to be under her tender care and love.
When it was done, he rolled back over onto his back and stopped Maria from leaving the bed by taking her hand. "Don't you want your pajamas?"
"Why? They'll only be in the way when we wake up," he replied innocently, though his eyes told a different story. It took Maria a moment to understand, and when she did, she blushed and ducked her head while Georg chuckled.
And when she said, "You're absolutely right," he laughed deeply and pulled her to him as she pulled a blanket up to cover them. She rested her head on his shoulder and draped her arm across his chest, while he wrapped his arms around her waist securely.
In that moment just before sleep, when she felt sure Georg had fallen asleep, it hit Maria what her reality was. Tears of relief and happiness spilled down her cheeks onto Georg's skin, and she bit her lip to keep from sobbing.
She instantly calmed when she heard and felt Georg murmur into her hair, "I love you…"
She smiled as she drifted to sleep.
For the second time in the span of their marriage, Maria woke before Georg, still in his arms. She was happy he was still sleeping and a bit relieved, because even though she didn't know the details, she knew the journey back to her (combined with the nature of their reunion) had completely exhausted him. She was glad his subconscious was not making him get up at dawn.
Maria stayed in that position for as long as she could, content to watch her husband so at peace. But soon the call of nature became too strong. So, as carefully as she could, Maria slipped out of his arms and out of the bed. Looking out the window as she walked to the bathroom, Maria concluded that it was between nine and ten in the morning. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at her sleeping husband before shutting herself in the bathroom.
A shower sounded wonderful, but she didn't want to wake him. So after relieving herself and washing her hands and face, she tiptoed back in the bedroom, where Georg was still sleeping. Deciding she couldn't resist touching him anymore, Maria slid into bed beside him quietly, bent down and kissed his cheek lightly, so as not to wake him.
Her lips had barely left his skin when, all of a sudden, two arms wrapped around her waist and she was flipped over and pinned to the bed by her very awake husband with a wicked smile on his face.
"Oh, you!" Maria exclaimed, still in shock. "You tricked me!"
"Yes, I did," said Georg, unashamed and began to tickle her sides. Maria shrieked in laughter and struggled to stop his hands. "Georg, stop, please!" But when he did not heed her verbal pleas, Maria summoned enough strength to lean up and kiss his lips lingeringly.
He stopped his actions in surprise, and kissed her back. When their lips parted, he looked into her eyes. "Well, when you put it that way…"
The lovers then proceeded to have a very passionate morning they had once been denied.
The first week of June was their week alone, and when looking back they would call it their honeymoon. Though it was not the traditional honeymoon in any sense, it certainly was a honeymoon that was long overdue. To have had a traditional honeymoon after their official wedding would not have been a good idea, and Georg's drafting had prevented them from having a honeymoon after their unofficial wedding. But now they were confined to the villa without contact coming in or out for a week, with only each other – and that was all they needed.
They stayed in bed as long as they could, until both of their stomachs could no longer be ignored. So they put their robes on and walked downstairs to the kitchen. "When was the last time you ate something, Georg?" asked Maria, once they entered the room.
"Oh, I know I ate something yesterday morning," replied Georg, casually going to the refrigerator.
Maria looked at him aghast. "And you haven't felt hungry until now?"
Georg looked over his shoulder and stroked her cheek. "I had more important things on my mind."
They then proceeded to make a feast for themselves, for Maria hadn't eaten much yesterday. Even though it was lunchtime, they made all of their favorite breakfast foods: waffles, pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast, porridge and fresh fruit. As they ate, Georg told Maria of his journey back to her, for it wasn't really traumatic or scary, just long, tedious and, at times, funny now that he was home and could look back on it. They ate until they couldn't eat anymore.
As she and Georg washed the dishes, Georg whistled absently. Maria found herself pausing in her task to look at him fondly. He looked so much better than she'd seen him last night, even better than he had in Italy; now he was revitalized and home. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her staring. Grinning, he splashed a bit of soap bubbles at her face, which landed on her nose. That brought Maria back to reality, and she closed her eyes and tried not to smile as he laughed.
Slowly, she opened her eyes to look at his grinning face. "You're going to pay for that," she said in a low voice.
"Oh, really?" said Georg, in an innocent and disbelieving voice before leaning down to kiss her. But she withdrew at the last minute, stepping back. His smile widened and he advanced, but she retreated in equal measures. "Oh, you…"
Maria just smiled innocently and continued to step back, wrapping her robe tighter around her body, stepping backwards and further away from him.
Georg groaned and continued to slowly pursue her, and teased without thinking. "Oh, I always knew you were a vixen."
This made Maria stop her movements, and the teasing smile melted off her face to be replaced by a troubled look of confusion that turned into one of tremendous gravity and also the pain of a bad memory…
"I changed the true image of you into what I needed you to be so I could remain guiltless – that did not work."
"You turned me into some kind of temptress from hell!"
At the expression on her face, Georg realized what a stupid thing he'd said, and his face took on a look of immediate regret and fear. "Maria, I –"
Maria held up a hand to silence him. "Please…I need to be by myself right now…Give me a few minutes." With that, she turned around and walked out of the kitchen.
Once Georg couldn't hear her footsteps anymore, he cursed and tossed the last dish into the soapy water none too gently, causing a splash. Deciding to start his penance now while giving Maria the time to herself she had requested, he finished all of the clean-up.
Fifteen minutes later, Maria heard the sound of Georg coming into their rooms from where she stood on their private balcony, looking out over the lake. When she felt his presence behind her, she turned around to see him standing in the open doorway, looking apologetic and apprehensive. Maria sighed, gave him a small smile, and held out a hand as she said, "Come here."
He immediately went to her and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Maria relaxed against him, making herself comfortable as she wrapped her own arms around his back as he kissed the top of her head. A moment later, she heard and felt Georg whisper, "I'm sorry."
She sighed again. "I know."
"I didn't mean to hurt you, my love."
"Again, I know. I was only angry for a minute, before remembering that I don't want to waste our last week home fighting or being angry with you. All is forgiven."
Georg pulled back and kissed her in gratitude, but became troubled when he saw her face. "Something is still troubling you."
"No, no, not troubling or bothering, just…your comment made me realize with full gravity how different my life and myself have become in the past year. I mean, a year ago I was confident that I wouldn't have any kind of romantic attachment to any man. Now I'm flirting with my husband in the kitchen after we've spent the night and the morning..." She rested her head on his shoulder again. "I find myself wondering if I did, in fact, have this side of myself a year ago…"
Georg stroked her cheek. "I've told you, Maria – the fault lies entirely on me and the state I was in. You have nothing to be ashamed of." He lifted her chin so he could look at her. "If I've made you uncomfortable or was too forward last night –"
"Did I seem to have any hesitations or objections?" retorted Maria firmly. "I wouldn't be letting you hold me now if I did. All I'm saying is…I'm not quite used to this part of me yet."
Georg nodded, resting his cheek against her temple. "I understand. I'm sorry that two months has separated our first nights joined together. That was no help, I'm sure."
"I don't regret becoming yours then, and I never will regret how my life has changed," said Maria firmly, before blushing. "I'm just not quite used to this side of me yet…the side that teases her husband, I mean, and…arouses him." The last two words were barely in more than a whisper, and she almost made them a question.
Georg smiled and cupped her flaming cheeks. After kissing both of them, he murmured, "I know I am forgiven, but I would still like to make it up to you. May I?"
His concern and compassion touched Maria, and gave her the strength to cast aside her last tendrils of shyness. Wordlessly, she untied her robe and let it fall to the stone floor of the balcony.
Thankfully, the worst part of their honeymoon had passed, and though there were occasional blips in paradise, it was nothing that was not settled after a few moments of verbal discussion and more than a few moments of non-verbal redemption.
Of course, there were some moments of sadness: they missed their children, and their friends, and sometimes they would remember that, when this week was up, they would never see the villa again. But these circumstances only made them come closer together, determined not to waste any time they had in this place.
On the second day of June, their second day of their honeymoon week, they were sitting on a blanket under one of the trees by the lake. Maria sat with her back against the tree facing the lake, and Georg lay with his head on Maria's lap, with his eyes closed and a smile on his face as his wife absently caressed his face and hair.
When she suddenly smiled and laughed in revelation, Georg opened his eyes and asked, "What is it, love?"
"I've just realized…it was a year ago today that I first came here and we met."
Georg's smile now mirrored her own, and he touched the hand that was touching his face. "What did you feel coming here?"
Maria laughed heartily. "I was nothing short of terrified. I sang to myself the whole way in order to build up my confidence, and I'm sure everyone near me thought I was not right in the head. I remember tripping off the bus and dancing down the dirt road, singing at the top of my lungs. I even remember saying to myself, 'A captain with seven children…what's so fearsome about that?'"
Georg wanted to laugh, but stopped himself, remembering how, six weeks later, he would indeed prove himself to be quite fearsome. But Maria caught the look on his face, and leaned down to give him a gentle kiss. So he felt better.
She continued. "But when I saw the villa, I felt so small looking at it, for I hadn't expected to see such a place, and I remember whispering something like, 'Oh, help!' But I steeled myself again and ran to the door to build what confidence I had. But oh was I nervous, I even mistook Franz to be you."
Now he really did laugh and she joined him, before leaning her head back against a tree with a reflective look on her face. "I really didn't know what to expect coming here, but from the moment I rang the doorbell…I never could have expected any of it: how grand the house was, the beauty of the ballroom…and you." She gently traced his jaw with the tips of her fingers.
Georg, keeping eye contact with her, took those fingers and kissed them. "What was your impression of me that day, Maria? Be honest."
Maria looked out over the lake in thought as she answered. "Well, I felt nervous right away when you opened the ballroom doors and caught me in there. I remember reprimanding myself that not even five minutes there and I was already doing something wrong. But then, when I got a better look at you, I found myself intrigued and even a little relieved. Because, like I said, you don't look at all like a sea captain." She smiled down at him.
"And what exactly did you think a sea captain would look like? I've always been curious about that."
Maria bit her lip and her cheeks tinged pink in embarrassment. "Well…like a drawing I had seen in a storybook as a little girl. A large man with a potbelly, wearing a sailor cap, with a grizzled gray beard, patch over one eye, and leaning on a stick with a pipe in your mouth."
Georg laughed merrily, and it took him a few moments to calm down. "All I need is a parrot on my shoulder! And did you imagine I would have anchors and fish on every wall?"
Maria was laughing too, her cheeks still pink. "Well, I wouldn't have been surprised, that's all I'll say…And so, you were quite different from what I guessed. I expected a storybook sea captain, but what I saw was a dignified, aristocratic gentleman. So, I would have to say, more than anything that first day…you intrigued me, and that never stopped." She looked down at her husband. "And what of me, Georg? What was your first real impression of me?"
Now it was Georg's turn to be embarrassed, but he knew she would accept nothing other than the honest answer. So, he said, "Well, when I found you in that ballroom, I remember thinking, 'Just who does she think she is? Is she dim, dancing by herself in a forbidden room?' Then you came out into the hallway and I got a better look at you, with those big, blue eyes staring at me, not intimidated in the least. I made you turn around and take off your hat because I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. I had expected some straight-backed, middle-aged, hatchet-faced woman in a habit, but you? A creature I thought more girl than woman, young, full of energy, defiance, innocence, humor…and beauty, though it would take me weeks before I could admit that to myself.
Georg sat up and scooched closer to Maria, facing her. "So, from the very first day, I was, like you, intrigued…to say the least."
Maria held his gaze, both knowing what his intrigue would eventually lead to. But all of that had been forgiven, if not forgotten, so Maria leaned forward and kissed him, and he held her to him as the sunlight danced over them through the shifting leaves above them.
As their discussions continued and progressed, so did their love-making. It wasn't only in their bedroom where they became close; there was also their living room, Georg's study, the kitchen, the music room, inside the gazebo, under a tree by the lake, even in the long rowboat they'd taken out on the lake one night. Both somehow knew that they would never have this kind of opportunity again: to make love whenever and wherever the urge hit both of them (and because they were unofficially newlyweds, this was quite often) without worrying about anybody nearby, because there was nobody nearby.
In this week, Maria became more comfortable with this side of herself, and Georg became more reassured that she was, indeed, comfortable with him. With his help, Maria learned what gave her husband the most pleasure, grew more comfortable with touching him, and learned how to be the one in control during love-making before the week was up. For a woman who had been taught to regard this kind of pleasure as sinful, it was a relief for Maria to accept the truth that, between a husband and wife, this pleasure was not only right, but holy.
On the fourth night, after one session of love-making in Georg's study, the two lay together in front of a roaring fire with a blanket draped loosely over them.
"You know, when I dreamed of you, I never touched you," said Georg, running a finger from her shoulder down her arm, and back up, over and over again in a slow caress. "Sometimes I didn't even try. I could just watch you, you were that entrancing. And in my dreams, you were never evil or purposefully seducing…you were beautiful, good, innocent, pure, and I wanted all of you because you represented to me what I didn't have, what I needed.
"Then I would wake up, and realize just who I was dreaming about when I should have been dreaming about someone else. I turned the anger I felt at myself and my attraction into anger for you, which was unjustified. For the first few weeks, I would try and distract myself with Elsa, but even that didn't drive the dreams away, or thoughts of you, so eventually I moved into my own room, and the dreams became more and more powerful. Nothing worked: you had come under my skin and there was no getting rid of you…I'm glad I didn't."
Maria listened to this in silence, keeping eye contact with him to let him know she was not afraid, and she wasn't. Learning this no longer made her feel uncomfortable, just intrigued. She still had a hard time believing she had unknowingly cast such a spell on him then, when she had been so naïve about such things then. Eventually, she turned to lie on her back, looking at the firelight dancing on the ceiling as she replied.
"I didn't dream of you while you were away, but I did think about you often. Whenever I would see an artifact in the house that wasn't from Austria, my imagination would run wild as I wondered what it was like to be a sea captain and see all of those places. That would lead me to think of you, what you were like, why you chose your profession, what adventures you had. Also, as I was getting to know the children, the older ones would sometimes tell me stories of before their mother died, and how you used to be. It's why they always held on to the hope that you still loved them and that you could change.
"When we saw you had come home, I was just as happy as the children, because, after hearing all I had, I knew there was a chance you could open your heart again because of the song the children had prepared. Also, I supposed that you wanting to marry again would have soften your heart to begin with." She turned her head to look at him and shrugged, showing she was finished, but her eyes reflected that she remembered still what happened straight away after that, and how it had all changed.
Georg scooted closer to her, so he was almost leaning over her. His fingers now traced her collarbone. "Maria, if you had found out where your life would lead the day the Reverend Mother told you of the governess job, what would you have done?"
Maria sighed and caressed his hand, her eyes becoming a little sad. "I don't really know…I would probably become scared, angry, and run away…Please remember, love, that I had my heart set on being a nun then, and it took a lot for me to give that up, even if it was very obvious to everyone else that it wasn't the life for me."
"I understand," murmured Georg, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
Maria reached up to run her fingers through his hair. "And you, Georg? If you knew what would happen if you sent your request to the abbey, what would you have done?"
Georg knew he would have to answer honestly, just as she had. Wrapping his arms around her, he turned over so he now laid on his back and she rested atop him. He rubbed her shoulders as he replied regretfully. "I wouldn't have believed it. I wouldn't have believed that, being in such a dark place, any good could come to me again, that I could fall in love again. At the time, I would probably scorn the possibility."
Maria's eyes filled with both understanding and sadness. She tried to duck her head, but Georg would not let her. "I will always regret the circumstances of our marriage, Maria, but I will never regret having you in my life."
Maria felt her throat closing up, so she replied in kind by kissing him in the firelight. After making love one more time, they fell asleep right there, too tired to move and warm from both the fire and the body heat of their partner.
On the early morning of the sixth day, Georg came out onto the verandah looking refreshed and eager. Maria trailed behind, yawning and rubbing her eyes. Georg turned and found this sight both adorable and amusing. "The sun will rise very soon, dear. We should get in the water."
Maria looked at the lake, and the thought of the cold water made the thought of the warm bed she had just left much more appealing. But she knew she couldn't: she had asked Georg if she could join him on his morning swim, when he had mentioned how beautiful the sunrise was from a certain spot in the water. She couldn't back down now, especially seeing how excited he was for her to join her. So she suppressed a yawn and gave what she hoped was an enthusiastic smile.
He smiled back and took her hand, leading her to the gates of the lake. He took off his robe and hung it on the gate before opening it. As he walked down the two steps to the water, Maria smiled as she admired his strong back and arms. He was wearing only a pair of black swimming trunks, whereas she, who had no swim-wear, wore only her bra and panties under her own robe. Adding to the fact that Georg was a natural early-bird and he swam at sunrise on any morning it was good weather and not winter, Maria already felt at a slight disadvantage. So she followed him slowly.
She gasped slightly when he did a perfect dive into the lake, emerging a moment later with a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eye. "I'm waiting, Baroness."
Maria stuck her tongue out at him briefly before stepping onto the step before the water. Blushing as she felt his eyes on her, she took off her robe and hung it next to Georg's. Looking back at her husband, her heart fluttered under his hungry gaze. Though she blushed, she had become more comfortable in that side of her. "You seem to be enjoying the view. Should I just stay here, then?"
Her husband made no verbal reply from the water, just intensified his gaze.
Continuing to play, Maria dipped her foot down to test the water, which was warmer than she thought it would be but still cool. The water looked almost magical in the pre-dawn light, glowing light blue and pink dancing in the ripples and tiny waves. She gave an exaggerated shiver. "Perhaps I will just stay here."
His gaze not softening, he made his way through the water to her and wrapped his arms around her legs. She shrieked as he tossed her into the water, and he laughed when her head emerged looking very annoyed. She sent a great big splash at him, which made him quiet, and then quickly swam away, beginning the chase.
"Oh, no you don't!" he yelled and swam after her. Eventually he caught up with her, and grabbed her ankle to stop her and pull her to him. But she slipped away from him.
"You're not getting me that easily, Captain," she said, backing away from him. "You deserve some form of punishment."
Georg groaned. "Not being able to touch my wife at all? That is a punishment straight from hell."
Maria could see right through his melodramatic tone because she still saw a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Believe me, I agree. But I don't want to be tossed like a rock again." She was serious, too. While she could swim very well, as a mountain girl the water sometimes felt overwhelming to her, and she had no love of surprises in a territory she did not know very well. Maria knew she would rather climb every Alp in Austria than swim in very deep water.
The wicked gleam in Georg's eyes softened. "Please come here. I promise I won't."
Maria gave a small smile and swam back to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his middle. "Just to make sure," she said on a laugh.
Georg buried his face in her neck, saying, "Oh, you're not going anywhere now," before he started kissing her there.
Maria's eyes rolled back at the sensation, her fingers running through his hair. She felt the flames leaping up inside her as she felt his erection building against her. Feeling raw, and wanting to waste no time, she took his earlobe in her mouth and rubbed herself against him.
Georg growled and nipped her neck. "Are you trying to drive me insane, woman?"
She decided to end his suffering and murmured, "Come into me."
They wasted no time, and the only frustration was pulling down the swim trunks and panties. They made love swiftly, both of their releases coming quickly and neither held any of their cries back. He cried her name into her neck as he spilled himself in her depths, holding his trembling wife tightly to him as the aftershocks of their orgasms ebbed.
Once she could speak again, Maria whispered, "Tell me I'll never get used to this."
Georg chuckled as he pulled his head back to look at her. "Will you always love me?" he asked tenderly.
Maria smiled and nodded.
He smiled back. "And I will always love you. So, no, it will never get old between us."
A sudden ray of golden light hit Maria's cheek, and they turned towards the source. In silence, with arms still around each other, they watched the sun rise over the trees on the opposite side of the lake. It filled the both of them with a new hope for the future, a future they would have to make in a different land but with the people they loved.
When the full disk of the sun was above the trees, Maria said as she began to shiver, "Can we dry off? I'm a little cold."
"Of course," said Georg, and they swam the short distance back to the gates. Georg helped Maria out of the water and handed her a towel, which she immediately wrapped around herself tightly. "Not too cold, I hope?"
"Oh, no, I just don't want to get sick again," said Maria without thinking, and then clamped her mouth shut, hurriedly drying herself as she realized her mistake.
Georg paused in his drying-off process. "Again? Maria, were you ill while I was away?"
Maria sighed, annoyed with herself. She finished drying and put on her robe again. "A little," she said reluctantly.
But Georg wouldn't let up. "When?"
Maria crossed her arms and lowered her head, and said softly, "Late April through early May."
Unfortunately Georg heard her and immediately went to her, cupping her face and catching her gaze. "With what? Was it serious? Are you all right now?" His eyes blazed with worry and demanded answers.
"I'm fine now, really," said Maria. "I'd been better for a few days when I got the news about you, and from then on I just got better and strong. Have I seemed sick to you at all?"
"No, you haven't. But how were you sick, Maria?"
Maria's last hope went out the window; Georg wouldn't give up until he had the whole story. She decided to give it as gently as possible. "Well, I'd been feeling dizzy, tired and especially nauseous. Whatever I ate seemed to come up eventually, so I really had no appetite most of the time. But I wasn't alone and everybody made sure I was taking care of myself…" She lowered her eyes because she knew she couldn't look at him when she told him the cause. "Hans said that I was under too much strain, with worrying and missing you, it manifested itself into physical symptoms."
Thankfully, all Georg did in response was pull her to him and hold her as securely as he could. Maria relaxed against him, relishing in the feeling of being safe and loved. When she felt him trying to steady his breathing, her heart broke a little. Eventually he spoke. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Maria almost laughed. "You had enough to worry about. If you had been sick out there, would you have told me?" She pointed to his still-bandaged burn. "If that had healed before you came home, you wouldn't have told me about it until I asked about the scar."
Georg had the sense to look a little abashed. "This won't leave a scar…" he murmured. Looking at his wife again, he spoke more clearly. "You're right. I do understand…I just hate the fact that I couldn't help you…"
Maria understood as well; he'd told her once before the feeling of terrible uselessness he'd had when Agathe had fallen ill. All he could do then was hold her hand and cool her brow, and it wasn't enough to save her. Of course the thought of Maria being ill would be enough to make him frightened.
She pulled back a little to cup his face. "I'm better than all right now," she said with conviction, for she meant it and it was true. And when Georg saw that, he kissed her.
"Come on," he said when they broke away, keeping an arm around her. "I'll make you breakfast."
Some moments during their honeymoon were as pure and innocent as any one of their children, and were among the most special moments the couple would remember about that week alone together.
Their last day at the villa had been a beautiful one, which could only be described as tranquil. The husband and wife sat on the strong branch of a tree on the grounds at sunset. But rather than watching the sun, they watched the villa. They watched as the changing colors of the setting sun's rays played off the pale yellows and whites of their beloved home.
Maria's head rested on Georg's shoulder, and their hands were entwined. "Do you remember the first time you saw a sunset?" Maria asked softly.
Georg squeezed her hand. "I was at our family home in Salzkalmergut, on one of the many lakes there. I remember being entranced by the sight of the setting sun and the way it reflected on the water…perhaps my love for the water began right then and there…"
Maria smiled and kissed his cheek.
"And what about you, my love? Do you remember yours?"
"Hmm," said Maria as she remembered. "My parents and I were at our favorite spot near the mountains, the spot I still call mine. I remember falling asleep in my father's arms as we walked home…it was the summer before their deaths…"
Suddenly her eyes filled with tears as she remembered that spot, her mountain, her tree, her brook…as many treasured memories were there as there were here, at the villa. It occurred to Maria that she might never come back to that spot again.
"Will we ever come back, Georg?"
Georg was struck by the emotion and richness of her voice, like a little child asking its parent if they will ever see someone they love who has died again. And he knew that she wasn't just asking if they would ever come back to the villa, but to Austria. He sighed and kissed her brow. "I don't know how long Hitler's reign will last, but I know it can't last forever. I try to be as optimistic as you, and believe that there are good people in this world who will not let that happen."
"Like you," said Maria softly, stroking his cheek.
Georg suddenly felt choked with emotion and leaned in to kiss her. They kissed until the sun was gone, and then he helped her down from the tree and led them back inside. Both wanted their last night in Austria to be as tender and loving as their first night together had been.
An hour before they were to leave the villa, the last hour of their honeymoon, Georg and Maria lay entwined and naked in their bed. Georg stroked her back, while Maria played with the hair on his chest.
"Maria…" Georg breathed into her hair.
"Hmm?" she breathed across his skin.
"I will bring you back one day, even if that is years away. I'll do everything I can to ensure I can bring you back to our homeland, if only for one day."
Maria crawled up his body and he sat up, sitting against the headboard while her hands cupped his face for a kiss and her legs wrapped around his. No words were needed to express her gratitude and love.
The husband and wife made love one more time before leaving their honeymoon and beloved villa behind.
A/N: Sorry this took a while, but fluff is surprisingly hard to write when you want to make it good. I'm glad it's long because I want you to enjoy it. This story is winding down and there isn't much left, but don't expect it to be as fluffy as this chapter was.
BTW, whomever reviews this chapter first will be my 500th review - OMG! THANK YOU EVERYONE! And please keep it up.
