Author's Note:

Thank you to all who wrote in with the encouragement. It turns out there is more story in me, so I guess this will be on going. I am writing this story strictly as a continuation of the movie, inaccuracies and all. For example, having the family walk into Switzerland was a goof as Salzburg is on the German side of Austria, not the Swiss side, but that's where the movie sent them, so that's where they are going. It was perhaps inaccurate for the Revered Mother to quote from the King James Version of the Bible, but I'm staying true to it because that's what happened in the movie. Also, after the wedding, the movie clearly portrayed Georg as the head of the family and Maria as "belonging" to him, so I am trying to capture that spirit as well. Again, I appreciate the encouragement.

Georg wrapped his right arm around his wife and felt her snuggle and relax into his side. He could feel her fatigue and knew she would need to sleep soon. He had no intention of sleeping until his family was safely ensconced in Switzerland. He needed to make sure that they were safe and he couldn't do that if he was asleep. Having already fought in a war, he had been through worse. Far worse. And yet the stakes had been so high as they were now, protecting his precious family. Come to think of it, he was at war. He was fighting for his life, for the lives of his family, and for the right for all of them to live in freedom.

He laced his fingers through Maria's, again marveling that such a young woman could be such a strong partner in this private war of theirs. "I'm expecting that we will eventually arrive in a small town once we have crossed the border and come down from the mountains. I know there are several, and I'm not sure which we will arrive at, but they are small and I am afraid it may be hard for us to find lodging for nine there," Georg began. "However, I'm hopeful that some gold will be able to turn things in our favor, at least until I am able to get my hands on some Swiss francs." Maria sat up in surprise; she had been oblivious to his financial preparations. "Gold?" she asked in confusion. He began to pull out of his various coat pockets golden spoons, a few gold rings with jewels in them, a golden necklace, and even more elaborate necklace and earrings sets of diamonds, emeralds and rubies. Maria recognized a few of them from the day that Georg had showed her the Trapp family heirlooms. At the time she had been uncomfortable at the thought of such wealth, and at the thought of someday having to wear these jewels at social functions. The title and role of Baroness still did not sit comfortably with her, but she knew it was part of joining this family and had worked hard in Paris to put aside her discomfort and accept the lavish clothes and jewels. She wanted to be an appropriate wife to Georg, despite their social differences. "I wasn't about to potentially leave these in the hands of the Nazis," Georg explained, "and I'm hoping that some of these may turn the tide in our favor once we are in Switzerland." "I'm sorry," he continued, "at the thought of selling any of these off. They rightfully belong to you now. I've been able to give you so little of the life I had wanted to give you so far, and now we may have to sell off some of these jewels. Someday, I will make this up to you and give you as beautiful and comfortable a life as we would have had if the Anschluss had never happened."

Georg felt Maria begin to laugh before he heard it. He hadn't known what to expect, but it wasn't laughter. "Oh, darling," she chuckled "the treasures in my life aren't jewels but you and the children." "I do hope we can save some for the girls some day," she explained more seriously "but for me? Dressed in those jewels I would feel like a … a lark masquerading as a peacock!" Maria relaxed against him again, loving him all the more for his foresight and for the financial relief the sight of those jewels had brought her. She couldn't believe how safe she felt, even in the middle of the mountains, fleeing from people who would tear their lives apart if they could. Her husband's presence, his calmness in the face of such terrifying circumstances, and now his financial foresight brought up that bubble of happiness that she couldn't quench: the happiness of being his wife. "Thank you for bringing them," she added, "I hadn't known how we would manage to find food or lodging. You're certainly right that this will turn things in our favor."

Georg knew that the time had come to tell Maria what he had been doing in Paris, and everything else that was on his mind. He hadn't wanted to mar their honeymoon with talk of the Nazis or the potential need for escape. Then in the hours before they left the villa, she had been so busy preparing the children and he had been so busy wrapping up their affairs that they hadn't had time to really talk about what was happening. He turned to look her in the eyes, regretting letting go of her, and missing the warmth of her body pressed against his, but he wanted to look at her. "Maria, I am worried about the children," he began seriously. "I appreciate your reassurance that they will be fine, and on one level on I know you are right. But what they have been through the last few days would be enough to overwhelm anyone. I've seen events like that overwhelm soldiers, let alone children. They've had to hide, make a run for the border, seen a gun held to their father, and left their home – all without knowing whether or not we would make it." "Now they are pushing themselves to their physical limits," he continued "hungry, exhausted, and with an uncertain future." "Oh, and let's not forget the inevitable excitement of singing in front of thousands of people at the festival," Georg added with a roll of his eyes. "During the coming weeks, even the coming months, we need to watch them. Do everything we can to make them feel safe and secure. Help them with whatever fears may still be with them."

Maria's heart melted even more as she looked at her husband. Here was the man who, only a few months ago, had barely known his children. Who had made them march in uniforms, hardly letting them be children and oblivious to the impact he was having on them. And now he was so in tune with them and cared so much. "I know," she agreed in a low voice. "That's why Gretl just needed to cry. They will need certainty and security as soon as we can give it to them." "But Captain," she continued with a smile "you – we – have very strong and resilient children. And ultimately, the will be stronger than ever for this." At that moment there was nothing more to say as they both drew together for a kiss that deepened and grew sweeter as Georg ran his hands through her hair and Maria clasped her hands around his neck. Finally they broke apart and let their foreheads rest against each other's.

Georg finally broke the silence and drew his head back to look at her though this time he left his arm wrapped around her waist. "When we reach a Swiss village, we'll need to find a place to stay as soon as possible, and food to eat. It would be ideal if we could find a place to stay for a couple of days so that the children can recover and also feel a bit of stability. I will need to find a bank as soon as I can." Maria looked at him in surprise, and Georg drew in a deep breath. "While we were in Paris," he continued "I wired some money to several different Swiss banks, all in case we needed to escape." "A future that was looking more and more likely," he added sadly. "I didn't tell you at the time. I didn't want to ruin our beautiful honeymoon with such talk."

Maria felt a huge rush of emotions at that news, so many that for a few moments she didn't know how to feel. She was relieved that they would have money in Switzerland, proud of her husband for taking such good care of his family, surprised that this had all gone on during their honeymoon and she hadn't known, and she felt an inexplicable sadness that seemed as present and pervasive as the happiness inside of her: sadness that the threat to their family had been so present for him, even during their honeymoon, sadness that he had borne it alone. She was still adjusting to being a wife, to belonging to someone. Especially to someone as strong and powerful as Georg. She had never known anyone like him before, and now she was his. She loved him with all her heart and wanted nothing more than to belong to him, but it was an adjustment. She had belonged to the abbey, but that was different. That sense of belonging somehow wasn't as forceful to her. She had wanted to be a good nun, had sincerely tried, and yet somehow kept breaking the rules though she knew them and wanted to follow them. It was almost as though the abbey, and her love for the abbey, weren't strong enough anchors for her. She loved God, she would always love God, but she wasn't just wasn't cut out to be a nun. She was meant to be the wife of this man and mother to his children. The pull of his leadership and her love for him was strong, and it was new. She was a member of a family, he was the head of that family, and she wanted nothing else. He took care of business affairs. Sometimes she knew what they were because he had told her about them or consulted her on them, sometimes she didn't. He said don't sing in public, they didn't sing. He said sing, they sang. He said escape through the mountains, and here they were. She had been disappointed when he said they couldn't sing but she loved him and believed in him – she was his wife. Yet Maria still knew who she was, and if she strongly disagreed with something he did, such as how he had treated the children before she was there, she would fight him. Somehow she knew, though, that he wouldn't do that again, which was one of the many reasons she loved him so much. She also knew that in his own way, he belonged to her as much as she belonged to him, and she would follow him anywhere. The happy bubble was back again. The reached out and touched his face – so strong, so worried, so sad, and yet so determined. "Thank you," she said simply, "and I'm sorry."

In a gesture that was both simple and intimate, Georg took her hand, turned it over, and kissed the inside of her wrist. As ever, he felt fortified by Maria's presence and quiet, steady partnership. The love shining out of her eyes made him feel rejuvenated – like he could handle days of this trip and never need rest. This time he folded her hand over his, kissed her bent fingers, and then held her hand between both of his.

"While you were preparing the children yesterday," he continued "I wired even more money to Swiss banks, directly from Austria. I don't know if Herr Zeller's people would have intercepted it. We can pray that it is all there. But either way, we will have money, I just don't know how much yet."

Though focused on getting the children ready, part of Maria's mind had been with her husband. She hadn't know what he was doing, but was certain he was making preparations for their escape as well. She looked down at her hand, clasped between his. "You are a wonderful husband and father," she said gratefully. "Thank you." Georg wrapped his arm around Maria's shoulders and pulled her back against him. She leaned into him, grateful for his warmth and his strength.

They sat silently for several minutes and then it was Maria who spoke. "What if, once we cross the border, we were to find some Swiss people who live in the mountains on the outskirts of a village?" she asked. "They would could be a day or so closer than a village." Georg thought for a few minutes. "Across the border … I suppose we could trust them. It could be worth a try. But only if you and I both feel like we have no other choice." She nodded against his shoulder. "In my experience, mountain people can be very honest. They lead basic, hardworking lives, often because they love the hills so much." "Of course," she continued with a shudder "they can be nasty and cruel as well." Georg pulled her even closer to his body, knowing that she was talking from personal experience. After a few moments she continued "but political? Rarely. They are often too isolated."

Georg thought it over for a few more minutes and then returned to his earlier conclusion. "Okay," he said "but only if we have no other choice, and you and I both feel that we can trust them. And as long as they have no telephone to alert anyone," he added as an afterthought. "A telephone" Maria said skeptically. "Unlikely. But okay."

"How would we even find such people, isolated as they are in the mountains?" Georg asked after a few minutes. "It's not so difficult," Maria mused "You look for water, you look for where the grass is short from grazing and there will probably be people nearby." Georg thought again of how this journey would have been impossible if he didn't have Maria at his side and thanked God that he had come to his senses in time to marry her, and not Elsa.

"Well, my beautiful and brilliant wife," he finally said "I think it's time for you to join our children and get some sleep." Maria, exhausted, was having trouble staying awake at this point as it was, but she was reluctant to leave Georg alone and awake. "Darling, what about you?" she asked with concern. "When will you sleep?" "When I need to," he replied firmly "and I don't need to now." "I've fought in a war," he continued. "I can make it to Switzerland and watch over my family. Now please Maria, go to sleep and don't worry about me."

Maria was getting familiar with that tone of voice from him, and knew that it meant not to argue. She knew he was strong, and was still learning just how strong he really was. She moved herself around until she was sitting in his lap, facing him, and kissed him with all of the love in her heart. It was a kiss that took both of their breath away and made them long for the intimacy they had shared in Paris, but for now that would have to wait. Finally they broke away and she moved away from him, putting her body on the ground, but curling up next to him so that her head was in his lap. She closed her eyes and felt the wave of fatigue that she had been trying to push away. This time it swept over her and she felt the safest she had felt since they had left their villa. They were in the mountains, and this was her territory. She was with her decorated war hero of a husband, and knew that he would continue to take them and get them safely to Switzerland. She thought back to the last words the Revered Mother had said to her, and offered the full Psalm up in prayer, knowing that God was with them as well:

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is they keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall night smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve they soul. The Lord shall preserve they going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore."

Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

Georg watched her sleeping with love and relief. For the first time in the last few days, he began to feel cautiously safe. Her faith in God had begun to reawaken his own faith as well. He knew that at this point the Nazis would be hard-pressed to find them in the mountains, even if they tried to. For some reason, they hadn't even followed them away from the abbey. At the time he had been more focused on getting away, but as he thought back it struck him that their cars hadn't seemed to be working. 'I wonder how that could be?" he asked himself, but he had no answers. Instead he watched the eight members of his family sleep and decided to let them sleep until morning. He knew he wouldn't take his eyes off them all night.

He could still feel the weight of Rolf's gun tucked into his belt, and that reassured him more than all of the gold that he had also brought.

Psalm 121