I'm sorry it's taken so long. I have been very busy.

"Maria." His hands trailed down her back, exploring the crevices of her body.

She moaned and leaned into him, breathing in his scent as she pressed kisses onto his neck and cheeks.

"Maria."

She looked at him, gazing into his sparkling eyes. She ran her fingers through his hair and down his neck. "Yes?"

"Maria," He paused, pulling her tighter into his embrace, sending a wave of warmth through her entire body. "I love-"

Her eyes flew open, staring at the dark ceiling which seemed to be closing in on her. She still felt incredibly woozy, but could hear enough to recognize that she was alone. She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or disappointed that there was no one standing over her, no one beckoning her to wake up with concern in their eyes. On one hand, she didn't want to worry anybody, particularly the children. On another, she had foolishly hoped this whole thing had been some sort of nightmare and that she would wake up to find him brushing her hair away from her face.

Maria moved first her toes, wiggling them inside her shoes, then her fingers, feeling the air rush over them. She sat up, slowly, breathlessly, and glanced around the kitchen.

Her eyes fell on the splatter of cookie dough on the ground near her feet. Thrusting herself to her feet, she resumed her cooking as if nothing had happened. She knew that her spouts of dizziness were likely the result of exhaustion and stress from the journey, and resolved to take a nap as soon as she was finished cooking.

Moments after placing the cookies in the oven, she head the thunder of footsteps and voices. Looking up, she saw seven faces staring at her.

"Is something wrong?" Maria asked pointedly. She knew she was being a bit cross, but she couldn't help her bad mood. She would rather be cantankerous that sobbing in front of the children.

"Yes." Friedrich asserted. "There are only three bedrooms upstairs."

Maria frowned pensively. "Alright," She said slowly, waving them out of the kitchen. "Let's go upstairs and have a look."

She followed them up to the second floor, glancing around the short hallway. There was a small closet on one end, and three other doors which clearly led to bedrooms.

She bit her bottom lip, inhaling deeply, contemplating a solution to this problem. She poked her head through each of the three doorways. There was a double bed in each of the bedrooms, and a queen sized in the master bedroom. "Alright," She said spiritedly. "Friedrich, Kurt, you share one room. Brigitta, Marta, Gretl you share the queen. Liesl and Lousia will take the third room. I will sleep on the sofa downstairs"

"We have to share beds?" Brigitta asked.

Maria nodded. She felt a small pang of irritation at the fact that they had grown up never knowing what it meant to share a bed. "I used to share a bed with my cousin all of the time when I lived with my aunt and uncle." She said quietly. "It was miserable, but only because she hated me. You all don't hate each other. You'll be fine."

Gretl tugged gently on Maria's dress. "But what will we do when father gets here?" She wondered, her blue eyes wide.

There was a moment of silence as Maria struggled to swallow the lump that had risen in her throat. She looked around at the children. Liesl's eyes were glossy, Friedrich was staring intently at the floor, Louisa played with the fabric on her dress, and Kurt's fists were clenched tightly into balls.

"Honestly Maria," He scowled. "I don't see how you can be so forgiving."

"I just try to see the good in everyone."

"You are an amazing person." He spoke after another stretch of silence.

"Oh, I'm really not." She insisted. "I'm just-"

Tenderly, he pressed his lips up against hers. "Yes, you are." he asserted. "You saw the good in me, even when no one else could."

"It was easy," She whispered. "There was a lot to see."

She opened her mouth, and stuttered, unable to find the right words. Finally she knelt down in front of Gretl and said, softly, "I suppose we'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it."

Gretl smiled and nodded, satisfied with the answer.

"There are no linens, for the beds." Liesl explained, displaying her disproval on her face. "Only a bunch of disgusting old blankets."

"I guess we'll just have to make do." Maria said, standing up and giving Liesl a pat on the shoulder. "Now everyone go unpack when you're done I made sugar cookies."

She saw all of their eyes light up at the idea of something warm and sweet to eat. Then they all disappeared into their bedrooms, and she headed down the stairs.

Once she was alone in the kitchen, she took a moment to try to collect herself. It had all been so absolutely perfect. She loved the children, and she loved their father. She realized now that things weren't meant to be perfect not for her. "He was such a good man, lord. He didn't deserve to be punished. He's never done anything wrong." Anger bubbled up inside her chest. "God, I don't understand why you would let this happen?" She heard someone knock at the door. "Please let that be him." She prayed aloud as she rushed to the front door and flung it open.

There was no one. Her eyes fell on a telegram, sitting on the porch step. She bent down and picked it up. She took a deep breath, her heart pounding so hard she could feel it vibrating in her ears.

She carefully broke its seal and opened it.

- Your husband is dead. -

I'm sorry. Believe me, that was as hard to write as it was to read.

Anyway, review if you feel compelled to.

p.s.

Lily: If you still want me to write a story for you, please post your email in the comments.