Herr Zeller was waiting for them when they arrived back at their hotel. He didn't make himself known until Maria and Roxanne had crossed the lobby and were waiting for the lifts to take them back up to their room. Just as they were about to walk in, he hustled over in time before the doors closed.

"Hold the doors please!" He pretended to be just another guest in the hotel, not wanting to cause any attention.

"Oh of course, sir," Roxanne politely obliged as she stuck her hand out just in time to pull the doors back. When they parted again Maria was face-to-face with the one man she loathed in the world.

Herr Zeller just smirked at the ladies and entered the lift, not saying anything more until they were in private as the doors finally slid shut. Even in the silence, he smirked to himself, waiting for either Maria or Roxanne to speak first. It was Roxanne who cracked.

"What a pleasant surprise to see you hear, Herr Zeller. We weren't expecting you for a few weeks more, at least." She tried to keep her voice steady and casual, but it wavered nonetheless.

Maria still hadn't moved her gaze to look at the dreaded man. She kept her eyes locked on the lift doors.

"Hello, Maria." He said, completely ignoring Roxanne's presence. "What? Not going to say hello to an old friend?"

Finally Maria turned with utter fear in her eyes, and Herr Zeller saw it and used it to his advantage.

"Good day to you, Herr Zeller. How nice of you to drop by and check in on us." She gave him a curt nod of her head and he returned the gesture with a wicked smile.

Roxanne's eyes darted back and forth between the two figures in the lift with her, unsure of where this was headed.

They climbed higher and higher.

"I was just in the neighborhood and felt like...dropping by on my two favorite agents and came to check on your progress," he said, finally recognizing Roxanne's presence, as he turned to her.

"Well I can assure you, mien herr, that things are going quite well. We've located the target - she's here in the city - and we're just coming back to strategize before making our next move."

"Oh really? And is that so, Maria?" Zeller turned facing her once again, this time, the devilish smile gone; his expression completely serious, meaning business.

"It is as Roxanne says. We've just pinpointed the location and now we are going to think things over to see what to do next. Shouldn't be a problem infiltrating." Maria held his gaze and refused to back down, feeling more confident now.

Zeller, too, refused to yield. Finally, he gave Maria a tight smile and turned his attention to Roxanne once more.

"Very good, I'm impressed with how you're both doing. Make sure to stay on track and to get in touch with me immediately the moment you think things may be going sour. Is that understood?"

"Absolutely, sir. You can count on us." Roxanne nodded violently back.

The lift came to a stop, signaling they had reached the floor where the girls were staying. As the doors opened and Maria and Roxanne exited, Zeller purposely hung back, allowing them to exit. When they had both gotten off the lift, he leaned both hands on either side of the doors, forcing them to remain open for a moment longer.

"Well then if that's all perhaps I should be getting back to my detail then. I'll be in touch," he said cooly as the girls turned to head to their room, but they were stopped by Zeller's commanding voice once more.

"Oh and agents, let's be sure we stay focused on this mission shall we?"

Roxanne gave him a questioning look, while Maria's breath caught in her throat.

"You be sure to keep Maria on course here, Roxanne. She has a history of straying from her duties...isn't that true, darling?"

With that, Zeller let the doors slide closed, throwing Maria another awful glance on the way.

Roxanne's mouth fell a little in astonishment at his remarks, but Maria briskly walked past her into their room, where she flung herself on her bed and drifted off to a deep dreamless slumber.

-SOM-

Max had paced throughout the small cottage while Elsa rested, still regaining her strength from her injuries.

Maria in Innsbruck? As a Nazi? No! It couldn't be true!

He didn't know what Elsa had seen, but he was sure her eyes had to have been playing tricks on her. She was with the rest of the Von Trapps - they were all together. They were all safe! They had to be!

His torment couldn't go on any longer. He quietly went in to check on his beloved. When he saw she was still fast asleep he closes the door and went to find a pen and some paper. After scribbling down a quick note and pinning it to the door where Elsa would see it, Max grabbed his hat and coat and stealthily left the cottage and headed for town.

He had to get out of the blasted house and see if what Elsa saw was true. If Maria was in Innsbruck he was going to find her.

-SOM-

Georg hadn't spoken to anyone in days - literally. He did his best to avoid making any verbal contact with anyone as best as he could. Quite frankly he just wasn't up to talking about his feelings anymore. He had done enough of that. Right now he wanted to resume his role as sole provider and protector of his family. If that meant shutting out the people he loved, then so be it. As long as everyone who was left under his watch remained safe, then that's all that mattered.

He took a breath and stopped for a moment as he chopped wood outside. He'd risen earlier than usual and was busying himself with frivolous chores around the property. Anything to get his mind off the hurt...

Damn! He swore under his breath. Even in the slight pause of his work he found himself breaking down as he wiped away silent tears on his cheeks. There was no way possible to describe it, but he knew in his heart that Maria was out there somewhere, even if he didn't want to admit it. When Agathe had died, Georg had felt completely cut off from his emotions. He couldn't remember what it felt like to be vulnerable, which was why he turned so cold towards the children. But with Maria's absence he...well he couldn't quite grasp it, but she had to have been alive somewhere because no matter what he did, flood gates of emotion poured out. He was vulnerable all the time!

Georg was running out of options. He was miserable and so were his children. He had to act fast or they would all succumb to permanent despair. He had to get a hold of Max. He knew if he got in touch with his friend they'd be able to salvage his family somehow. He threw down the axe and went inside to find the piece of paper Max had given him before they separated in the abbey that night.

-SOM-

The cool breeze felt so nice on Maria's face. She was soaking in the last hours of daylight on a leisurely stroll through the city.

She awoke a few hours after a deep nap only to find Rox completely passed out in the bed beside her. So she jotted down a quick note, changed out of her uniform, and quietly made her way out to the streets of Innsbruck.

Opening up to her friend made Maria even more sad about her current life situation. When Rox hadn't known about Maria's new family and her marriage to Georg, Maria somehow felt more at ease knowing that was all kept secret. However, now someone else knew about her past, Maria felt on edge. Sure, Rox was one of her closest friends, but where did her allegiances truly lie? Would she tell Herr Zeller how she was officially a member of the Von Trapp family? Or would she remain loyal in her promise to keep Maria's new information quiet?

So many thoughts and emotions were rushing through her. The sudden waves of sickness were still plaguing her, so Maria took a few moments to sit down at a cafe and have some tea to settle her stomach. She sat for over an hour, her tea steeping to the point where it was ice cold - Maria never even took a sip. She was too troubled with thoughts of her family.

How were her children? Did the Nazis harm any of the girls? Were the boys helping more now their father was gone? What of Margaret and Helen? Was any harm brought to them for siding with the Von Trapps after they fled from Austria? Maria was simply overwhelmed.

She downed her chilled tea, paid her tab, and exited the cafe. The sun was about to set any minute, so she made her way back in the direction of the hotel. Rox should have been awake and they could go enjoy a nice supper at the hotel restaurant. Just as she was exiting the cafe and turning onto the street she could have sworn she recognized the man coming in her direction, but the glare of the sun got in her eyes and the thought was lost.

Then all at once, she thought she recognized him again. Just as he was approaching her with his head down, Maria stumbled upon some uneven pavement in the sidewalk, causing her to fall slightly. She caught herself just as she would have hit the ground, cursing inwardly for bringing potential danger to the baby. As Maria was readjusting and ready to stand back up and kind gentleman offered his arm to help her up.

"Everything all right, miss?" The stranger said as Maria took his outstretched hand.

"Yes, thank you. But I'm fine really there's no need to -" but her voice caught in her chest as she realized who was standing before her.

He voice was barely a whisper as she found it again, "Oh my God...Max."

Authors note: Sorry haven't updated lately life has been busy with Christmas coming! Hopefully will have another chapter posted before Christmas, anyway hope you like the chapter and please review to tell us what you think! Make our Christmas dreams come true and review! :D

Chapter written by 'lovesbroadway'