Chapter Fourteen

One Week Later

"Ex potestate qua in me nunc pronuntio maritum et uxorem in sacro matrimonio iunctas. In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti. Amen." The priest made the sign of the cross over Georg and Maria, and it was done. They were married. There was no white frilly dress, he didn't wear his uniform, in fact, aside from the children and Max, no one was witness to their union at all. Maria wanted it that way.

"Aren't you going to kiss her Father?" Brigitta asked. "That's what they do in books and movies. He kisses her."

"I think Fra…Maria and I would prefer to forgo that right now and do our kissing in private, Brigitta," Georg replied. He felt Maria's grip on his hand tighten, she was grateful.

"Well, I for one, say that a party of sorts is in order," Max put in. "And I will be more than happy to pay the bill for all of us in honor of the newlyweds. Are you feeling up to some lunch, Maria?"

Since Maria had stopped trying to hide her morning sickness, it was evident to the entire family exactly how ill she had been feeling, but Georg was glad she was taking care of herself.

"Herr Detweiler, you needn't," Maria began but Max raised his hand to shush her.

"Max," he corrected. "And I must. Georg is my oldest friend after all and you my dear girl, make him happy. That means he is more likely to bring out the good wine at dinner."

"Yes, Darling," Georg replied, easily stepping into his role as adoring new husband, given that's what he was. "Max owes me a few hundred free meals. If you are up for it, please, let us go."

Maria agreed, "I could eat something light. I was too nervous to eat at all this morning."

Georg opened his mouth to scold her about skipping meals but held his tongue. "Come, let us away." Max gestured with his arm for the group to follow him.

The children had been filled with questions when Georg and Maria told them of their impending nuptials. They wanted to know why they kept their courting a secret, why they were being married in such a hurry, and finally how the baby got into Maria's belly. Only Liesl seemed to fully grasp the real reason for the secrecy, if Friedrich did, he held his tongue.

The children had been excited, they all truly loved Maria and the idea of having her instead of the Baroness Schrader or anyone else from their father's social club for their new mother was appealing to them. With their blessing, Georg put the wheels in motion to get Maria to the alter quickly, just as he promised.

Max made a toast at lunch, "To my oldest and my newest friend, Georg and Maria, may your for better or worse be far better than worse. I wish you both all the happiness you deserve and then some. Congratulations."

Georg smiled at Maria and admirably blushed just a bit. He couldn't help feeling guilty, he was getting what he'd desired, but for all the wrong reasons. Maria was in pain and that in turn made his heart ache. He hoped that tonight, when he could finally be with her in the darkest hours, he could finally help her start to heal.

They had discussed the terms of their marriage in great detail. Georg had insisted that after their marriage, Maria move to his suite of rooms where they could be together at night in private. No one needed to know what was or was not happening between them. She agreed but stated she didn't wish to share his bed. Georg had taken her to his room during the day and showed her the bed in question. It was huge, bigger than even the largest bed Maria had even seen. She agreed then to separate sides of the massive item.

Maria had insisted they not employ another governess. She wanted to see to the children's care herself and the care of her baby once it arrived. Georg was happy to agree if Maria promised to take things easy for the remainder of her pregnancy.

It seemed the couple that was legendary for their heated exchanges during disagreements was agreeing on everything, almost.

Georg wanted to take Maria on a wedding trip. He said it was the traditional custom and would keep the talk down. Maria didn't want him to spend so much money on her, and she didn't want to leave the children for a long time with only Max there to supervise.

Georg dug his heels in and insisted on time alone together, to get used to one another in a new way. Maria held fast as well, stating she would simply refuse to go anywhere. They argued but finally Maria agreed to a weekend in Prague and a trip to the symphony there. They would leave by train the next day.

That night would be Maria's first night in Georg's room, formally as his wife. After the luncheon, they returned home with seven excited children and a slightly buzzed Max. They went about their usual routines, nothing seemingly different at all. Georg went to the office to work, Maria saw to the children, Max did whatever it was he did, Georg still wasn't entirely sure. That was, until nighttime when Maria joined Georg in his study.

"The entire house is yours now, Maria," Georg told her. "That means you don't have to knock on this door or any other. You are always welcome in my space, and I hope, one day, you'll feel the same about me."

"I truly am grateful for everything you've done for me, Georg," Maria replied. "I know there were a lot of other things you could have done, the doctor told you first, you could have…"

"I never would have," Georg said quickly. "You would never have forgiven me if I had. I wouldn't have forgiven myself. I believe, I truly do, there's a reason for all of this, Maria. There's a reason this happened to you, I just wish I knew what it was. I know that I should have shut Heinrich Mueller down when…"

"Heinrich didn't do it," Maria broke in. "I know he didn't. I don't know what…The hands, they were different. They weren't work roughened at all, not even a little bit. And the smell, his odor was different…Heinrich usually smelled like you, the same cologne, this wasn't like that, it was a strong hideous odor more than a smell…"

Georg moved a little closer. She was in some kind of haze, almost in a dream though she was awake. "What else do you remember, Maria? Did he speak to you at all?"

Georg felt a twinge of excitement. She had enough memory to exonerate Heinrich Mueller, perhaps time was helping her mind to clear and accepting what happened was allowing her to remember who her assailant was. If she could, he would be paying the man a visit.

She shook her head. "I don't remember. I can't remember, Georg. I can't remember!"

Maria covered her face with her hands and began to cry. "I can't remember, I don't want to remember."

Georg enveloped her in his arms. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry, I pushed too hard. It's all right, I'm sorry. Ssh. I'm here. I'm right here…I'm right here."

The gentle rocking motion helped Maria catch her breath. She felt her body going limp, she was so exhausted. Georg's arms supported her until she could stand on her own again. She pulled away and looked up at her husband's face. "You thought Heinrich had? Tell me you didn't…"

"I didn't," Georg replied. "I wanted to; I had the car keys in my hand the night you collapsed. Max had to talk me out of it. He had to convince me, and he was right, your healing was more important than my getting revenge and he was right. Our finding our way together, you getting better and having a healthy baby will be a much better revenge than anything I could physically do."

Maria took a deep breath, "I'm glad you didn't do anything, Georg. It would have been to the wrong person and it wouldn't have done anything to undo what's happened."

"We can't ever undo it," Georg whispered against Maria's hair as he held her closer to him. "But we can move beyond it, and we will. I promised you for better or worse today, Maria, I meant it."

Maria lifted her head and smiled. Georg fought the urge to dip his head and kiss her, just this once, to see what her lips felt like across his own, but he wouldn't, he couldn't, not yet. He had to bite his lip hard when she licked her delectable lips and before she whispered, "So did I."

"Would you like a drink?" Georg asked. "I can make tea or get you some water before we retire?"

"I think I'm ready for bed, actually," Maria replied. "It's been a long day, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. You are growing a whole other human being inside of you and taking care of 9 others while you're at it. You need your rest. Why don't you go on and I'll be up in a little while?" Georg offered. He did need a nightcap if he was going to spend the night near Maria and fight his body's urge to touch her.

Maria nodded and stepped back. Suddenly she was unsure what to do. Georg was her husband now; did she give him a hug and kiss like she did the children? How was this all supposed to go? What would it be like to give him a chaste little kiss? There was a difference between kissing your husband and being attacked in a bush. It wasn't the same thing, not at all.

Maria took a deep breath and stood on her tip toes. "Good night, Georg," she whispered and gently pressed a kiss to his lips. "Don't stay up too late. Our train leaves at noon."

With that she was gone, Georg didn't have a chance to respond or even react. His lips burned where Maria had kissed them, if such a chaste and gentle peck could feel like that…now he really did need a drink.

A/N: I know this chapter was little bland compared to my previous few, but we're in transition, always a little painful, lol. Next chapter is a big step for Maria and Georg on their honeymoon trip and it is NOT want you think. Trust me. Thanks for reading!