As Maria walked the steep and winding path down into Dorfli she had the eerie feeling that she was seeing something for the first time that would become very familiar. She felt Marta's small hand held tightly in hers and looked down at the path directly in front of her daughter, making sure there was nothing that would trip her. Reassured, Maria looked up again and watched as her whole family stretched out in front of her, led by the Captain, their father, her husband.

They had spent so much time walking that it was almost too familiar to be walking again, but Maria was very aware that their pace was faster and the children more spirited. They were no longer walking into the unknown, but towards their home. Towards beds, real beds. To new clothes, hot baths, and most of all to stability – the most important thing that had been taken from them.

Maria let her mind wander, thinking of all the things she wanted to do once they were settled in Dorfli. It was hard to know what to do first: finally spend time alone with her husband, start making clothes for the children, buy clothes for them, start establishing their house, furnish the kitchen, and she was sure she'd think of more things once she arrived. If Maria thought about it all at once it was quite overwhelming. She would have to face it all step by step, and she knew she'd have good help in Liesl, and possibly in Louisa as well.

Her eyes instinctively went to Liesl's back and she felt a pang of guilt. Maria had been leaning on her heavily for the last few days, and knew she would continue to do so as they were getting established in their new home. She also knew that Liesl would continue to help as cheerfully and steadfastly as she already had been. But Maria also knew that below the surface Liesl was not well.

Each of the children had his or her own trauma and heartache to deal with in leaving Austria, and in some cases she had been able to spend time tending to that heartache. Not so with Liesl. She had just leaned on her oldest daughter for help, but as she watched Liesl walking down the path into Dorfli, Maria began to think of just how hurt Liesl probably was.

Maria, more than anyone, knew of Liesl's affection for Ralph. She also knew that he had ended things between them, but that originally Liesl had been optimistic after their talk in one of the many sitting room of the villa. But the two of them hadn't had one of their heart to hearts since then, and too much had happened.

Each child was nursing her or her own particular fears and heartache – Maria knew that all too well. She also knew that Liesl's heartache was different – and probably deeper – than most of the other children. After what happened at the abbey … well, it was one thing to be rejected by your first love. It was another thing entirely to be betrayed as Liesl had been betrayed. To have your first love threaten your family's very existence and to hold a gun to your father … well that was no ordinary parting of ways. Knowing Liesl as she did, how much she loved the whole family and what a romantic she was, Maria knew that Ralph's betrayal had probably shaken Liesl to the core.

Maria was also painfully aware that Liesl probably hadn't forgiven herself for the gasp that had given away her family. She had heard Liesl make a momentary plea to her former boyfriend which he had obviously completely ignored and rejected. Her oldest daughter was at such a tender stage when it came to romance and boys, and she, her new mother, had been letting her bear that burden alone for the last several days.

Deep down, Maria knew she had no choice. At first they were just trying to survive and make it through the Alps to the safety of Switzerland. Then as Georg left, Maria had to focus on the welfare of the entire family, especially looking after the younger ones. She had needed Liesl's help and had received it fully and without complaint. But now that the family was reunited and things were falling into place, Maria was painfully aware of how much Liesl probably had needed her that entire time.

Suddenly things snapped into place in her mind. They would arrive in Dorfli at their new home, get familiar with it, get as settled as they could, and then Maria would go out shopping for clothes and material, bringing Liesl with her. Most of the children would want to rest on their new beds anyway, and Georg could watch those who didn't fall asleep. She needed time with her oldest daughter, and knew Georg would understand.

However, Maria also knew that she was a wife first, and she wanted – needed – to spend a little bit of time alone with Georg before she and Liesl went shopping.

Her mind made up as to how to handle things, Maria felt lighter and less burdened as she continued following her husband and family down the steep trail into Dorfli.

ooooooooo

The Captain felt better than he had in days. It had been such a blessing that they had met Herr Kramer, and finding out how much money they had in Switzerland had been an incredible boost. But this was the first time he was starting to feel right since that fateful telegram had arrived.

His family was healthy and together again. They had made it through the Alps and were no longer walking into the unknown, but towards their new house. He knew it would take a lot of work to get his family completely settled in this new house, especially considering that they were arriving with nothing. But things felt stable again. He was providing for his family again rather than pulling them away from every thing and every comfort they had ever known. Soon they would be settled again. It would be different, but they would make it right. 'Actually,' he thought to himself, 'Maria will probably be the one to make things right.' She always had. From the beginning, when he'd been a boor with a whistle and uniforms, to the most recent days, Maria had always been able to make things right. Right with him, right with the entire family. God, did he love her.

Georg paused for a moment, pretending to let his family catch up, but he really just wanted to turn and look at Maria. Sometimes he still needed reminders that she was real, she was his wife, and she loved him as he loved her. As he looked back at her, he saw that she was looking directly at him. Their eyes met, and a small smile passed between the two of them, unnoticed by most of the children. As for the Captain, he was reassured. She was his wife, the mother of his children, and things would be right again. After a quick wink in Maria's direction, he turned back towards the trail and kept walking. The sooner they arrived at their new house, the better.

oooooooo

After a long walk down a steep trail, and several pairs of aching feet, the 9 Von Trapps arrived at their new house. As Georg had said, it was nothing compared to the villa they had left. There were no gates, no formal drive. Just a large front door that opened into a house that was as charming as it was empty and rustic.

The children seemed to feel immediately at home. There was none of the quiet reserve they had shown when they had first met Herr Kramer, and the aching feet seemed to be forgotten. They scrambled through the house, finding the sitting rooms, the kitchen, the dining room, (and some, right away, the bathrooms). They were all delighted as they reached the back of the house and saw the open deck that faced out towards a stream and the mountain they had just walked down. Though smaller and much less formal, it was vaguely reminiscent of the backyard of the villa.

As Brigitta happily ran around, pointing out things the others might have missed, Maria wrapped her arms around her husband. "It's perfect," she said, resting her head against his chest. "Thank you."

"Mmmmm," he murmured in response. "Yes, well, let's show them to their bedrooms. They're bound to tire out soon."

Maria nodded in response. "Yes, let's … see the bedrooms," she agreed.

The two walked out onto the back porch where the children had gathered. "All right, back inside for bedroom assignments," their father announced. "Everybody already has his or her own bed waiting."

The children poured happily back into the house and this news, all eager to see their bedrooms.

ooooooooo

Once the children were all ensconced in their own rooms – and some had fallen asleep almost immediately – Maria and Georg finally made their way to their own bedroom. As she opened the door, Maria was overcome by the beauty of the space. It was empty except for a bed, but the ceiling slanted down in the far corner of the room following the roof, and there were two dormer windows under that slanted ceiling. However she was most captivated by the large picture window that looked out towards the back of the house – towards the mountains. She stood there for a few moments without saying anything, and Georg walked up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist, sharing her enjoyment of the view. Maria felt his arms wrap around her. It felt so good to be close to him that she let her own arms rest on his, and leaned back onto his chest.

They stood like that for a few more moments before Georg whispered in her ear "Thank you."

Maria stood up a bit in surprise. "What? Why? What for?" she asked in some bewilderment.

Georg pulled her back towards him so that he could whisper in her ear some more. "For marrying me. For loving me. For being the mother of my children. For getting us through this. Should I go on?" He asked, starting to kiss the tender skin below her ear.

Maria turned around in his arms, and her kiss in response was all the answer he needed. Slowly, Georg started to back up, pulling her with him and kissing her more passionately than he had in days. Finally he reached his goal as he backed up all the way to the bed, but instead of lowering her gently onto it, the two were so distracted by the taste and feel of each other that they wound up tumbling onto it, still locked in each others arms.

Maria couldn't help herself and let out a little giggle. It felt so good to be alone with her husband, in their own room, on their own bed. It also felt so good to be so abandoned in each other that they fell onto the bed rather than being suave, or calculatedly romantic. She let out another giggle. She was so happy, she couldn't help it.

Georg looked at her in surprise. Laughter was not the response he had been expecting. Yet he looked her deeply in the eyes and could tell she was laughing from sheer joy and the abandonment to it. It was infectious. The corners of his mouth began to twitch as well. Georg was not a man who laughed easily, yet here on his bed, alone with his wife, caught up in her joy and laughter, he couldn't help himself and finally let out a deep chuckle. He was laughing partly at himself for falling on the bed so unromantically, partly because it was the most genuine, romantic thing he could have done, and partly because Maria's laughter was so infectious.

The two of them lay on their new bed laughing, yet trying to smother the sound so that they wouldn't wake up any sleeping children. Maria kept trying to straighten her face so that she could kiss her husband the way she wanted to, but the more she tried, the more she failed.

Eventually, Georg was lying on his back with his head on his pillow, holding Maria in his arms. Her head was resting on his chest, and they were still laughing, though trying not to. After a little while, Georg felt Maria's giggles subside, and instead felt and heard her take a deep, shuddering sigh. To his even greater surprise, he discovered that she had started to cry. He tried to sit up, but she wouldn't let him, holding him in place, with her head still on his chest.

He started to stroke her hair and tried to comfort her. "Hey, what's this?" he finally asked gently, lifting her face towards his and wiping away some of her tears.

Maria took a few deep breaths and burrowed her face more deeply into his chest. She was as surprised as he was that she had started to cry, and didn't know how to explain it. "It's just … it's all so perfect!" she began. "And I missed you so much … and all those days in the Alps … and now we're here, at our new home, and it's so perfect!"

She propped her head up on his chest so that she could look him in the eyes. "I never doubted you, darling. Never. But it's such a relief."

Maria saw his eyes soften with understanding and she reached up to kiss him, pulling his head down to hers. As their kiss deepened, Georg pulled her fully on top of him and slid his hands under her shirt, loving the feel of her.

Maria pulled back in slight protest. "I haven't taken a proper bath in days, darling!"

"I don't care," Georg responded and pulled her closer again.

"I've been wearing the same clothes since we left Austria!" she protested again.

"I still don't care," he almost growled in response. "And it sounds like it's time to get you out of them." Georg rolled them both over so that he was on top of her, and began pulling her shirt up over her head.

Finally, unable to resist and caught up in her own desire, Maria began to undo the buttons on his shirt, pausing only to whisper "Is the door locked?"

"Oh yes," he growled into her ear, and nipped at her earlobe.

With all reserves gone and all considerations behind her, Maria finally gave in to the passion that was consuming her.

ooooooooooo

A little while later they were resting in bed together, hands locked and fingers entwined, fully sated.

"You mentioned that this room has its own bathroom?" Maria asked, breaking their comfortable silence.

"Why, yes it does," Georg answered, and gestured lazily at one of the doors.

"Then I think it's time for me to take a proper bath," Maria announced, happily.

She started to sit up, but then realizing the windows still had no curtains, reached towards the ground for the nearest piece of clothing, which turned out to be Georg's jacket. Maria wrapped it around herself and climbed out of bed.

"Remind me to make curtains for this room a top priority," she said over her shoulder to her husband, who smiled his agreement in response.