A/N: I still don't own any of this.

Thank you for the lovely reviews. They are so encouraging. I'm sorry to have taken so long between chapters. I temporarily lost my writing mojo, but it is coming back. Here is an extra long chapter with a little of everything to make up for the wait.

As always, positive reviews help that mojo keep coming back. Thanks!

ooooooooooo

The next morning Maria was the first one awake. For several minutes she sat in the hayloft looking at her family. It was a relief to watch them sleep, especially Georg. He had stayed awake for days getting their family to the relative safety of this loft and he was finally able to rest.

It occurred to her that she hadn't watched him sleep since they were in Paris. The world was so different then. Austria was Austria, her home was the villa outside of Salzburg where her seven new children were living safely. She was trying to adjust to being a baroness and to so much wealth as well as to being a wife, but those were positive adjustments. She had thought about the future she knew the German regime would eventually bring – how it would inevitably invade their happy home somehow – she just hadn't thought it would be so quick or dramatic.

The future she had envisioned for her family was gone. She didn't know how much money they would have. She trusted Georg to take care of all of them. He had done a remarkable job so far. But she had never had the chance to live in their home as wife and mother. They hadn't even had one night together before they had had to leave. She felt a pain in her heart at that thought. For a few minutes she sat back against a pile of hay and let the pain of their situation sweep over her. It wasn't a self pitying pain so much as it was pain for her husband and children. Her children were leaving the only home they had ever known, facing an uncertain future, and each terrified and grieving in their own way. Georg had also lost his home, lost a country that he loved so much he had once been willing to fight and die for. And more than that, he also faced an uncertain future for his entire family – the family that he was the head of, the family that he was responsible for. Their future was in his hands and she knew that he was feeling every ounce of that burden.

As for Maria, she loved Austria, she loved the mountains and she hated to leave. But she had already gained so much more than she had ever dreamed possible – so much love and happiness – that it was hard to feel sadness or pain for herself. But the pain for her family was strong enough.

She was still watching Georg sleep. The thought of him leaving today – that hurt as well. But she also knew it was the right thing to do. She wanted to sweep his hair back and kiss him on the forehead. She wanted to snuggle down into his arms, but didn't want to risk waking him. He needed as much sleep as he could get. All of them did. So she refrained from touching him or any of the children.

Maria could smell the smoke coming from Herr Kramer's chimney and knew that he had probably been awake for a while now. She knew that 9 people was quite a burden on this man, and decided to help him prepare for their morning. She knew how to cook quite well – only simple food, but she knew that was all he would have. None of the other Von Trapps knew how to cook at all. They could prepare a picnic – but that was only choosing bread, cheese, fruit, and packing whatever else Cook had given them. Things would be very different in their new life, and she decided that for as long as they would be with Herr Kramer, waiting for Georg, she would teach them how to take care of themselves: how to cook, clean their clothes, and even look after animals.

Maria quietly crept down the ladder to the hayloft and went to help Herr Kramer.

ooooooooooo

Each of the Von Trapps straggled into Herr Kramer's house in various states of dishevelment. Georg was one of the first. He looked immaculate and immediately hugged her for several minutes. They didn't want to let go of each other, knowing they were about to be separated for the first time since their wedding. She rested her head on his shoulder as Herr Kramer busied himself in the kitchen, giving them their privacy. Eventually they let go of each other as the children began to arrive. Only Georg, Liesl, Friedrich and Maria did not look like they had spent the night in a hay loft. Liesl arrived holding Gretl's hand. It looked as though Liesl had tried to get Gretl washed and combed, but the smaller girl was hungry and running low on patience.

As Friedrich entered he looked hopefully and purposefully at his father. He didn't know what his father was going to do next, but he wanted him to know that his father could count on him no matter what. The look was not lost on Georg. Neither was Friedrich's attitude of the previous day when he had considered himself the man of the family during Georg's brief absence. Georg felt the pressure of Ralph's gun in his coat and knew he was doing the right thing. Although Georg knew Maria would be willing to learn to use it and would do anything she could to protect their family, this was a man's job. And in the last few days Friedrich had become a man. Plus, there was still an innocence and a sweetness that he wanted to preserve in his wife. He knew it would become more important than ever in the coming days.

ooooooooooo

After they had eaten Georg caught Maria's eye and gave her a small but unmistakable look that meant the two of them should go outside to speak alone. Before they did so, Maria asked Liesl to help the younger children get more properly groomed, sent Louisa and Brigitta to tidy the kitchen after breakfast, and asked Friedrich and Kurt to help Herr Kramer with whatever his morning chores were. They might as well start learning as soon as possible, and she felt it was very important to do as much as they could to help this man who was doing so much for them.

As soon as Georg and Maria were alone outside – out of earshot from their children – they embraced again like it was their first and last time. Finally Maria spoke, and Georg could hear the tears that were in her voice but weren't in her eyes. "You need to leave soon." It was a statement, not a question. "Yes," he said flatly. His voice did not betray how much he did not want to leave her, but she knew him well enough to understand. "But first, I need to …. talk …. to Friedrich. "The gun," Maria said. "Yes," Georg agreed again, and lifted up his head so that he could put her head under his chin.

"I thought I would bring Brigitta," he continued, surprising her. "Brigitta"? Maria asked in surprise as she pulled back to look at him. They held each other by the arms now – not quite embracing so that they could look at each other, but unwilling to let go of each other. "She's older than her age," Georg explained, "and you're right … she notices everybody and everything" he added with a wry smile. "And despite her remarkable insight," he continued, "I think there will be an added benefit. A man on his own can mean anything, might meet any response. A father with a young daughter is automatically more sympathetic." He paused for a while. "I hate to use her that way, but I think she can help in so many ways, and I'll be able to make sure that nothing happens to her."

Maria's mother's heart broke a little at the thought of being separated from her middle daughter during this difficult time, but once again she knew Georg was right. He thought of everything. Brigitta had an uncanny intelligence and intuition, and people would be more likely to help a man with his young daughter than a man on his own. She drew in a shuddering sigh and nodded. Georg pulled her close again and kissed her. Finally he said "Herr Kramer already knows this. I'm going to get Friedrich. Please gather the rest of the children and explain what is going to happen. Make sure they all know they will be safe and that we'll be taking care of them whether they are here with you or in Dorfli with me."

ooooooooooo

Maria sat outside in a circle with all of her children except Friedrich. The valley where Herr Kramer lived was truly stunning. It reminded her of her first picnic with the children. Both happiness and sadness washed over her at the memory. Happiness that these wonderful children were now her children, and sadness at all they had lost since then.

Still craving reassurance, Marta had immediately climbed into Maria's lap, and Maria hugged her tightly as she spoke to them.

She had already spoken with Liesl and Brigitta, each on her own, before meeting with all of them. Liesl because she had wanted her understanding, maturity and support in discussing this with the younger children. And the plans involved Brigitta in a way that was so different from the other children that she had wanted to tell her in private. Liesl was quickly supportive. Understanding why her parents had made this decision and still eager to make amends for betraying her family back in Austria, she had silently vowed to do whatever she could to help her family – from learning to cook to comforting the younger ones to she couldn't even imagine what else. Brigitta had always been a more stoic child - not quite as stoic as Louisa – but she seemed excited at the prospect of going to Dorfli alone with her father to find a place for her family to live. It seemed like a very adult adventure to her - she was indeed older than her years and hated to be underestimated. The rare one on one time with her father was also very exciting.

As she sat with the children with Marta in her lap, Maria looked at Liesl and then at Brigitta. Then she began to speak, explaining that their father was going to leave for a few days and head into the village below to find them a home. Marta promptly burst into tears which made Gretl start crying as well. Liesl hurried over to comfort Gretl. "Is father going to be okay?" Marta sobbed. "Is he going to come back? What if the bad men get him?" Maria stroked Marta's dark hair – now neatly in braids – and vowed to herself that no matter how many times Marta needed to hear this, she would say it. But she looked directly at Brigitta as she spoke. "We are in Switzerland now, darling. The bad men with the black spider aren't here and can't get us or your father. But this is such a lovely place he wants us to stay here and be safe while he looks for a place for all of us to live. He will come back very soon." "Really?" Marta sniffed. "I promise," Maria said firmly. "And Friedrich is not here," she explained, answering the question that no one had voiced, "because your father is making sure he knows how to take very good care of us up here while your father is gone. We will all be very safe."

"Why is Brigitta going and no one else?" Gretl finally asked in a small voice. This was the question that Maria knew would come and had thought a lot about how to answer. "Well, you see, we need Liesl, Friedrich and Louisa here to help Herr Kramer with the chores and to help me keep an eye on you both" she explained and gently tickled Marta until she squealed with laughter. Maria was relieved to see that the tears had stopped. "And he also doesn't want to make you or Marta keep walking because we know how tired you are. He thinks that Brigitta will be able to help him find a good home for us, and she won't be distracted by always being hungry," she added with a pointed look at Kurt. Once again the younger girls burst into giggles, and even the older ones – including Kurt – couldn't help but chuckle. It was so good to see her children laugh that she couldn't help joining them – her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. "Okay, Marta?" she asked when they had stopped laughing. Marta nodded vigorously. Maria looked at Gretl who also nodded. "Well then," Maria said, "how many of you have ever milked a goat?" "No one?" she asked as six blank faces stared back at her. Not that she was surprised. "Then you'll have to learn that as well. Let's go to

the barn."

ooooooooooo

Further away in the valley, Georg had just told his older son that he would be going away for a few days and was asking him to watch over the family in his absence. Friedrich's heart swelled so much he thought it would burst with pride. His father trusted him! He was a man, and his father saw that.

Then his father reached into his coat and pulled out something that stunned Friedrich so much he could hardly breathe. It was a gun. A gun so close he could touch it. "How…" he looked up and asked his father, the rest of the question trailing off. "It was that boy's … Ralph's," Georg responded. I managed to take it from him before he blew the whistle. "

Suddenly Friedrich felt like he was going to throw up. He felt the bile rise and forced it back. He couldn't stop staring at the gun. This was the gun that had been pointed at his father – that could have taken his father's life. That could have taken all of their lives. This was the gun that had frightened him in a way he had never been frightened before. It was so close to him. He wanted to grab it and throw it as far away from them as possible.

"Friedrich!" Hearing his own name snapped him back to attention. "Sir!" he responded. "I'm going to leave this with you," Georg continued. "It is fully loaded and I only have a short time to teach you how to use it. If any Nazis come here – if we were followed in any way – you must know how to use this. And be able to shoot them."

The bile started to rise again in Friedrich's throat. He remembered how terrified he had been when Ralph had held the gun to his father. That was the moment that he realized he could never be a hero like his father – that he was a coward – and now his father and whole family needed him not to be. He felt trapped.

Georg saw a look in his son's eyes that he had never seen before. Suddenly Friedrich looked like a crazed, cage animal, desperate for a way out. He put his hand on Friedrich's shoulder and forced him to look each other in the eyes. "What is it?," he asked his son as gently as he could. Friedrich just shook his head mutely. "What?" he asked again, this time more gently.

"I can't – I'm not – I don't know if I can do it. I'm not brave like you." Friedrich spoke so softly it was hard to hear him.

"Brave?" Georg asked. "What would make you think that you're not brave?"

"I was scared," Friedrich whispered. He felt smaller than he ever had in his entire life. "When this gun was point right at you, I was so scared. I've never been so scared."

Georg looked at his son, this boy becoming a man, and understood. His son did not realize the difference between courage and fear. He thought they were opposites. His heart broke a little when he thought of how Friedrich must have carried this extra burden of thinking he was a coward through the mountains the last few days.

"I was scared too," Georg responded. "I've never been more scared in my life."

"You, sir?" Friedrich was stunned. "You were scared?" It had never occurred to him that his father could feel fear.

"Of course I was scared," Georg continued. "We were surrounded by the very enemy that we were trying to escape. I had my entire family with me – the people that I love more than anything, more than my own life! That gun could have taken my life, but it could just as easily taken any of yours. And if I had been killed, all of you would have seen it. And you would have been in the hands of the Nazis. A fate I fear could have equaled, or been worse than, death. I've fought in the war to end all wars, but I have never been more scared than I was in that abbey." He let Friedrich process this before continuing.

"Lack of fear does not make you brave," Georg explained. "Only fools or idiots never feel fear. Courage – true courage – is feeling fear and not letting it stop you from doing what is right - what you know must be done."

Friedrich felt as though the world had been lifted from his shoulders. He wasn't a coward for being afraid! His father, a war hero, had been afraid as well! He wasn't a coward! But then he thought of what his father had done in the abbey, walking straight towards the gun. Talking to Ralph in that calm voice, distracting him so that they could all hurry down the stairs. Friedrich's heart sank again a little when he thought of that.

"But what you did! The way you walked right towards him – you were so calm – I could never have done that." His shoulders slumped under the memory of that trauma, and under the knowledge that he could never truly be a hero like his father.

"Neither could I," Georg told him "when I was fourteen." "Friedrich," he continued, "I've had years of combat training. That wasn't the first gun I have faced. That wasn't the first time I have looked death or the enemy right in the eyes. I wouldn't have been able to do that if I hadn't known what to do. Battle instincts took over. If I hadn't been trained and trained, and then had real life war experience to back it up, I would never have been able to do that either. You're fourteen, you cannot compare yourself to me. Not yet anyway. But you will learn. I pray that you will never have to learn the way I did – that you will never have to fight in a war. But I intend to teach you how to protect our family. How to use this gun. How to act. And eventually, you will have instincts and knowledge as well. But just being young, inexperienced and afraid does not make you a coward. Look at the way you have helped us get through these days, the way you have stood by Maria – I mean, your mother – you have carried so much of the burden, we could not have done this without you. In these last few days I've seen you grow from a boy into a man, and I've never been more proud of you."

Friedrich was speechless. He could feel the tears welling in his eyes and fought them back. After this incredible affirmation from his father the last thing he wanted to do was embarrass himself by crying. He had gone from ashamed to elated in a matter of minutes. He wasn't a coward! His own father thought he was becoming a man. He swallowed back those embarrassing tears, drew his shoulders back and looked his father in the eyes. "Thank you, sir." Those three words said everything he wanted to convey – there was nothing more to say.

Georg looked at his son and could see the pride and relief written all over him. He was glad he had had the opportunity to clear up this misconception that feeling fear meant that you were a coward. He felt a certain pride that was new to him as he realized he was talking to his son, man to man.

"Now, let's teach you how to use this gun so that you'll know what to do if any of the Nazis should happen to find you while I am gone. I expect that they are far behind us now, but I'd feel better knowing you had this. Besides," he paused thoughtfully, "it's about time for you to learn to use a gun anyway." "And remember," he added, "feeling fear does not make you a coward. It makes you smart. Letting fear immobilize you – that makes you a coward."

"This gun should only be used as a last resort," he explained. "It's our biggest advantage so you don't want to reveal it too soon. And although it's fully loaded you don't have unlimited ammunition."

And with that, the father began to teach his son to fire a gun in order to defend himself and his family.

ooooooooooo

A short while later, amidst kisses, words of love, and unshed tears, Georg and Brigitta started down the mountain towards Dorfli, leaving Maria and the six remaining children in the alm.