I don't own SOM.

Max

"Aufstehen!" The harsh voice echoed down the halls, shaking the walls. Max was moving before he was aware that he was awake. His bony legs shook underneath him. The air of April, 1945 hung around him. The smell of impending loss.

"Up! Up!" The Nazi officer grabbed him by the arm and shoved him into a standing position. The world lost its meaning and its color; it was all gray and pain. The man behind him pushed him forward, so Max began to walk, and it was a walk that was plodding, shaking his bones deep to the source. "Verschieben, Bastarde!"

Max bumbled against another prisoner, just as bony as him. "Good morning, Herr Detweiller." The voice was rough and harsh.

"Good morning, Herr Kanzler." Max managed with a dying smile. The ex-Chancellor of Austria, Kurt Schuschnigg, stumbled next to him and Max couldn't help but feel a little happy. Here he was, debased and forgotten, and he was right next to the leader of Austria. How bout them apples? "Where are they taking the cattle today?"

"Hell if I know." Schuschnigg shrugged. "Haven't you heard? The Allies are closing in on us. Wouldn't surprise me if we're headed to the slaughter."

Max didn't say anything, only plodded along with the others. The Nazis led them out of the barracks, into the sheer, cold light of April. It was actually warm, but Max forgot how it felt to be warm. Memories, memories bled into reality. Max looked to his left and saw Georg and the children on a blanket, laughing and eating. Maria held the guitar in her hand, strumming a soft tune. Brigitta is reading. Kurt is stuffing a cookie into his mouth. Georg looks Max in the eyes and holds out a hand for him.

The prisoner behind Max stumbled into him, and Max kept on plodding forward.

Georg

It was 1947 and Georg von Trapp was striding down a Vienna road slowly, his hat shading his eyes from the June heat. He passed by a fountain, where a young couple sat, laughing as they tossed pennies into the sparkling water. Georg gave them a side look, then went on his way.

His lungs itched for a cigarette, but he squelched the desirer to open up a new carton. Maria was trying her best to make him quit, and it was probably for the best, however aggravating it was.

Georg ambled quickly down the street. There was little life left in the city, only work. So much less life, less glittering beauty that sparkled like champagne. But there was still-

"Georg!" A lovely, sultry voice called out. Georg looked up and made eye contact with one Elsa Schrader. She was dressed in a deep burgundy pencil skirt and a matching, tight jacket and a peplum. Her dark blonde hair was in tight, cropped curls that rested under her hat, which matched her suit. Georg took a hesitant step towards her, and she embraced him with all the grace that she always had. Her bright red lips planted a delicate kiss on his cheek, which made him blush and shudder.

Pulling off her gloves, Elsa led Georg back to her table in front of a small cafe. They sat in simple, iron-wrought chairs. "I'm so happy you could meet me like this- when I heard you were back for a visit, well," Elsa smiled demurely. "I simply had to see you again."

"It's good to see you too, Elsa." Georg said, trying not to sound awkward. He set his hat on the table, his hands feeling sweaty. "You look well." She truly did. None of her forty years showed, she was as radiant and pleasing as ever. While the rest of Vienna lost the shine it had acquired in the 20s, Elsa still remained a gem.

"I'm sure I do." She smiled, sipping her tea delicately. The waiter brought Georg black coffee, which he downed quickly. "Georg, I'm so glad you've returned. Europe has seemed awfully dull with you gone."

And Max, Georg thought. But you had the Nazis to keep you company, Elsa, wasn't that enough? But he said none of this.

"Well, look at some property for you." Elsa went on, brushing a stray hair back behind her ear. "I'm sure we could find something ravishing in the coun-"

"Elsa." Georg's voice was firm. Elsa opened her mouth for a moment, then sighed. There was a moment of Austrian silence.

"A girl can hope, Georg." Elsa said finally.

"I'm very happy with Maria.." He replied, drumming his fingers along the edge of the table. "We have a lodge in America- Vermont, actually. It's lovely there."

"Maybe I'll visit sometime."

"You should."

They were silent for a moment, letting the soft gurgle of the city wash over them. Georg took out a cigarette and offered one to Elsa, which she accepted. Georg lit it for her and she blew out a long stream of smoke. There was quiet. Then.

"Elsa," Georg said, his voice quiet. "I came to settle my debts in Austria, tie up loose ends-"

"So you decided to visit your jilted old fiancee." Elsa said with a soft smile.

"I wanted to see you." Georg said honestly. "And it's not like you're doing poorly."

"No." She conceded. "Heinrich's estate managed to stay intact through the war… Mostly. I'll at least be able to retire comfortably."

Georg nodded, taking another sip of his coffee. Finally, he said, "Elsa… Do you know- do you know what happened to Max?"

The air chilled instantly and Elsa tried to deflect the tension by wiping the lipstick off of her cup. "The last letter I got was in 1945. March."

"Me too." Georg looked at her, waiting.

"He was scared. The Allies, you know. They were closing in." Elsa sighed and pulled at the edge of her jacket. "I-I tried to get him out, Georg, I really did."

"I know you did." He tried to convince her. But she kept going.

"Really, so much of my money- Wasted. Just to bribe the guards to send out his letters. I kept wanting them to let him out, I demanded it. But-" She couldn't meet his eyes, the guilt weighing down on her delicate shoulders. After a moment, she said, "I went to Dachau- After the war, I mean. To see. He wasn't-" She shook her head in defeat and Georg's heart felt like ice. Like ice crumbling all around him.

"But they said some were moved." Elsa said quickly. "They said some were moved before the Allies took the camp."

"Where?" Georg lept on the possibility, the sliver that Max, somewhere, somehow…

Elsa held his gaze for a moment, her soft eyes seeing and feeling deeper than he thought they could. Then, she said. "Niederdorf. Italy." Georg sat back in his chair. Niederdorf. That was just past the border. Yes, he could be there quickly. Elsa was saying something, but he could barely hear her.

"It wasn't smart, to leave my business unattended. Without me, it would've fallen apart, or I would've gone- But." She looked away again, gazing across the courtyard. Yes, Georg understood. She would've gone, but she couldn't risk it. Couldn't risk going and finding him… Gone. But Georg had to go, it was set in his heart.

"I understand." Georg said quickly, rising to his feet, putting his hat on his head. "I'm sorry, but I have to-"

"I know." Elsa stood as well and took a step towards him. "Georg, just-" She bit her lushly painted lip. "Don't be scared of what you might find. It was two years ago, if he was still-"

"Max might've decided to stay. If he found something worthwhile." Georg knew this was grasping for straws. He could see Max, so clearly. Among those mountains and lakes of Italy. Drinking wine freshly pressed. But then the vision was tainted by the blurred image of someone else and Georg pushed it away. "I have to see." He murmured, the words cutting his lips. "I have to."

Elsa nodded, knowingly. Her eyes were sad, but tolerating. "Auf Wiedersehen, darling." Her lips pressed against his cheek gently. "And I will take you up on that offer- Vermont sounds like a lovely place."

"I hope you do." Georg smiled.

An hour later, he was on a train, his coat resting in his arms, his hat in his hands. The mountains turned to blurs through the window. The air was sweet, but his lungs felt dead. A two year gap was closing between him and Niederdorf. And Georg's heart felt like it was slowly dying.