Title: Snapshots: It Can Happen Again Rating: T

Summary: On a cold Vermont Christmas, very early in the morning, Georg shares a stirring story from his past.

A/N: One of my favorite Christmas songs is "If It Could Happen Then" performed by Colin Raye. It is a song about the 1914 Christmas truce between battling World War I soldiers. For this piece, I took a lot of historical and geographical liberty to place Georg in that situation so he could have a first hand account of that piece of Christmas magic.

I know it is a little early for a Christmas piece, but it was bugging me.

Anyway, I hope you like this little Snapshot. Please leave your review so I know you are out there reading. Three months without traffic data…tsk.

December 25, 1943

2AM

It was cold. Even the furnace working overtime and the fires in each of the four fire places could not keep out the chill. Georg wasn't able to sleep. Once he and Maria had finished trimming the tree and putting toys together for the younger ones, she had practically fallen into bed, but Georg was awake with sleep seeming less likely with every minute that passed. He turned on his side, propping himself up on his elbow. He lovingly gazed down at Maria's face, so relaxed in sleep.

This year their newest addition to the flock, their baby girl Lena, would have her first Christmas. Georg was simply thankful that Maria was here to see this, and the baby besides. Lena's birth had been a difficult one, requiring a doctor to deliver the baby safely.

Maria stirred under Georg's gaze but didn't wake up. The baby would be up early for feeding and the holiday was always busy with so many children. Even with Friedrich deployed to North Africa and Liesl's husband, Calvin in France, the house was full. Liesl had moved back home as the days grew longer, colder, and more lonely.

Georg and Maria were relieved when Liesl made the decision to move back into the large mountain lodge the family called home. She was due to give birth in February and they were concerned with her being alone and isolated from the family. The home she owned with Calvin was just across the border in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, but it was still a few hours away. Even Calvin admitted he felt more comfortable with Liesl being near her parents just now.

Georg heard the slight creek in the old staircase that ran behind the master bedroom, someone was stirring in the house, that was for sure. It was probably the little girls sneaking down to see if the Christkind had come by yet and delivered the tree and gifts. Georg shook his head. Maria had only got through telling them they would never see the Christkind up close, nor would they see the American variety, Santa Claus, if they were indeed going to be left presents. Still, he remembered his own excitement as a child waiting for this special day to come. He would let them have a look and bring to their slumber dreams of the brightly lit tree and colorful gifts.

Georg waited to hear the same footsteps head back up the stairs, but instead he heard a scuffle and the sound of metal falling upon metal from the kitchen.

He sat straight up and immediately checked on Maria. She was still fast asleep, the noise having been loud enough for him to hear while awake but not so loud it disturbed the rest of the house.

Carefully, Georg rose and pulled his robe on against the cool night. He slid his feet into his slippers, then quietly slipped out of the room.

Georg was careful as not to make too much noise and wake anyone with his own movements. He was certain he would find Marta and Gretl, perhaps Andrew in the parlor, however the small light in the kitchen told him it was likely Kurt, looking for a snack.

Georg stepped into the kitchen and indeed did find a wayward child, only it wasn't Kurt. It was Liesl.

Georg took a moment to observe her. She was his oldest, the first to fall in love, first to marry, and now she was carrying his first grandchild. So why did it feel like she was still six years old playing "raising a family" with the mountain of dolls he and her grandparents spoiled her with? He knew why, grown up or not she was still his Liesl.

Georg didn't want to frighten Liesl, so made his presence known by softly clearing his throat.

Liesl jumped anyway, and put one hand over her heart. "Father, you scared me."

"I'm sorry," Georg replied. "I heard noise down here and wanted to make sure it wasn't one of the younger ones making mischief."

Liesl shook her head, "Not one of the Littles, but one of the unborn. The baby's kicking a lot and I can't sleep. I thought some warm milk might settle me."

"Poor lamb," Georg sympathized. "Tell you what, how about you go settle down in the parlor and wrap up in some blankets and I will fix the milk."

"You don't have to do that. Father," Liesl protested. "Go back to sleep. The younger children will have you up so early."

"One of my children needs a cup of warm milk," Georg countered. "Now go, don't argue with your father."

Liesl half walked and half waddled to the living room and sat down on the sofa. She pulled one of the quilts Maria left folded near the sofa around her and closed her eyes, both hands resting on her belly. If only it was simply the baby keeping her awake, but tonight was different. Tonight, it just felt different.

A few moments later, Georg appeared at Liesl's side, a mug of warm milk in one hand and one of Maria's mini streudels in the other. He carefully sat down and pushed the mug into Liesl's hands.

Georg placed the snack on the end table, then sat back and waited. He knew at supper time Liesl was struggling, Maria mentioned it to him at Mass, that she was quiet and withdrawn. Georg could understand, he knew what it felt like to try to make it through Christmas or any holiday when you missed your mate so badly it hurt.

Georg slid an arm around Liesl and placed a kiss on her head. He waited for Liesl to speak. "What do you think Friedrich is doing right now? Or Cal?"

Georg sighed, "Well, let's see. It's certainly morning over there so probably getting up and getting ready to go to services. I know President Roosevelt tried to get meat and other care packages to the soldiers and sailors, so there will be a Christmas luncheon."

"In a war zone?" Liesl scoffed. "Father, all I can see is those poor men, huddled up, alone, cold, afraid and I just feel…There are so many things we don't know."

"That's true. There is a lot we don't know, but there are also things we do know," Georg comforted. "We know that the Allies are putting up a good fight, we know we are making progress in defeating the Germans, we know that because of men like your brother and husband your precious baby will be born into a better world."

"Very philosophical, Father," Liesl replied. She flinched.

Georg looked at her with sympathy, "May I?"

Liesl smiled at Georg. "He's right here. Right under my rib cage."

"He?" Georg asked.

"Just a feeling I have," Liesl replied. "Father, I…I was going to talk to you about this after Christmas, but now seems like the right time."

Georg rubbed the top of Liesl's baby bump affectionately then sat back. "You know you can talk to me about anything."

"I know, I just don't want to upset you," Liesl replied. "Or Mother, especially after she had such a difficult time of having Lena, but Cal and I talked before his redeployment and we decided if the baby is a girl, we want to call her Agathe Maria after Mama and Mother. Would that be all right with you?"

Georg shut his eyes. It occurred to Maria that Liesl might wish to name her baby after her late birth mother, but Georg felt that it would be a more American name. Still, Georg was touched. "Of course it is," Georg replied. "I would love that and I know Maria will be honored if you chose to include her in naming your daughter."

"We wouldn't be here right now, you and me, without either of them," Liesl replied. "Mama gave me life and Mother gave us back our life. She gave us back our Father."

Georg shifted and ran a hand through his hair. "I'd like to think I'd have gotten my act together eventually, but you are correct that without Maria, I would never have healed as I did from your Mama's death. She is a balm for my soul."

Liesl dropped her head back onto Georg's shoulder and he slid his arm around her to hold her closer. "What are you going to name the baby if it happens to be a boy as you suspect?" Georg asked after a moment.

"If it is a boy, Calvin likes the name Jonathan Michael, but I actually like Phillip for a boy. I hope we have the chance to agree on a name before the baby comes, but that isn't very likely, is it?"

"No," Georg replied truthfully. "Given the way things are going, I doubt we will see Cal or Friedrich until the war is over in Europe. Then, there is a possibility they will send them to the South Pacific so…" Liesl was starting to cry at the thought it could be months or years before she saw her husband again, years before her baby met his or her Dad.

Georg pulled Liesl closer and started a slow rock, "I know, I know. Ssh, I know how it feels, I know it hurts."

Liesl lifted her head and looked into Georg's eyes, a question in hers. "How? How can you tell?"

Georg sighed, "I know the look on your face. The one that says "I miss my mate terribly and if I have to endure this loneliness one more second, I'll scream." That look is all too familiar to me."

"I was okay," Liesl sighed. "But then Christmas was coming and I am due soon. I hoped and prayed the war would be over and we would be together. Instead…Cal and Friedrich are thousands of miles away, no family, no Christmas, maybe fighting…"

"No, Liesl," Georg interjected. "I can tell you that isn't what was happening last night, that isn't what's happening now. I know it's hard to understand, but the men they serve with are like brothers, their commanders like fathers and uncles. They have a family of their own making. As for fighting, I don't think so…Tonight is Christmas for everyone, Sweetheart. Not just for the Allies. They weren't fighting, they weren't in battle, I know that."

Liesl once again looked at Georg with a question in her teary eyes. Georg caught a tear on her cheek, "It's good luck to catch a tear. Why don't you put your feet up, cuddle under the blanket, and I'll tell you the story."

Liesl was tired, but she needed the comfort and company that Georg was providing.

"It was a cold Christmas Eve in 1914, almost as cold as this one. I was in port, there were some land forces men there, some airmen, we kind of went wherever we could along the battle lines."

Georg tucked the edge of the blanket around Liesl's shoulder. "Father, I'm not a child anymore, you know? You don't have to cuddle me to sleep and tell me a bedtime story."

"Liesl, in about six weeks you will understand the intensity of the bond between a parent and child. You and your brothers and sisters are my children and being a "grown up" doesn't change that. Now listen," Georg replied. "That Christmas Eve, we were all missing someone, a parent, a brother, a sweetheart…I was no different than any other man there, and you know what else? I was no different from any of the men on the other side of the front. We all were missing someone, and we all were there because duty commanded it.

"There had been a lot of fighting in the area, but as night fell, something happened inside of us. It was like a personal command from God. He was saying "Stop this, and remember that today is the birthday of Jesus." That voice was powerful and hard to ignore."

Liesl had shifted so she was sitting up with her hands on her baby bump, gently rubbing back and forth as Georg shared his story.

"Soon enough, all along the western front, the Allies and the Central powers laid down their weapons in an unofficial ceasefire. It was unreal, it felt like a story unraveling in front of us. When the opposing sides approached one another, it felt like we were brothers. There was no anger or hate, just men…celebrating the birth of our Lord."

"Wasn't it dangerous?" Liesl asked. "To trust them?"

Georg shook his head, "No, there was a spirit in the air that night. We knew, we remembered the reason for Christmas. We sang Christmas songs. The languages were all over the place, but it was what it meant. We just went to a place in our minds and our hearts where the war was over."

Liesl looked down at her wedding ring. She hoped Cal and Friedrich were having that same experience, that they felt at ease with their fellow soldiers, regardless of their alliance.

Georg swallowed, "We had a hard time speaking to each other, broken English and very bad French and German, but we seemed to understand each other. We shared cigarettes, coffee, and other rations. It was…" Georg swallowed.

Liesl could feel how difficult this memory was for Georg. He rarely talked about the war. He would share other stories from his career and at times a war story or two, but he usually avoided it.

"It was magic," Georg sighed. "It only lasted a couple of days, but for a couple of days we could just be men. Everyone had a family, everyone had something else besides that war to hold onto, we had things in common. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life until that point and it is still a cherished memory. That war was brutal, all wars are horrifically brutal, but I believe if it could happen then, it can happen again. I know, I know, it is happening right now for Calvin and Friedrich, I truly do."

Georg dropped a kiss on Liesl's forehead. She had finished her milk and strudel while he was talking. "I hope so, Father. I really hope so. I have you and Mother, the other children, they have only those they fight beside, and I pray they haven't been fighting just now, I pray with all my heart."

"I do too," Georg replied. "Think you can try and sleep now? My grandchild needs you to be well rested."

"I think I can," Liesl replied. "The milk and the bedtime story did the trick. I do feel tired now."

Georg offered Liesl his arm, "I'll see you up to bed, then clean up down here."

"I can see myself up, Father," Liesl replied. "You get some rest as well. Tomorrow, or later today, is going to be busy. Loud and busy."

Georg acquiesced and went to wash the plate and mug so Maria would not get upset with him in the morning. Liesl started up the steps, but then she stopped and called out to Georg, "Father, thank you."

Liesl said the phrase simply, but it made Georg's heart soar. He turned around to face her and with his blue eyes shining he replied, "Thank you for being my daughter." Georg's voice was tight with emotion. "Now off to bed, you need to take care of yourself and my grandchild. Okay?"

Liesl nodded, "Merry Christmas, Father."

Georg smiled as he dried off the coffee mug and hung it on the rack. "Merry Christmas, Liesl."

A few minutes later, Georg quietly slipped into the bedroom. Maria stirred again, but still didn't come awake. Georg dropped down to his knees and silently blessed himself before bowing his head.

"Father in Heaven, I am not the most religious of men, but I know the depth of a Father's love for his children and I know the immense sacrifice you made for all of us. As a Father, I don't think I ever could do that."

Georg licked his lips. "So, i hope that you are listening even though I don't take time to pray very often. God, I beseech you, please let me be right. Let my words to my Liesl, my little girl, not only have been for comfort, please let it be that I spoke the truth.

"Let it be that my son, my Friedrich, knew no hate or fear this Christmas. Let it be that Calvin is safe, that my child will never know the pain of that loss. Let it be that I will never know the pain you suffered in giving your only Son for the souls of sometimes ungrateful men."

Georg's eyes watered as he thought of Friedrich. He was so young, the few times he was able to call Georg could hear it, a little tremble that he always had in his voice when he was little and scared of the dark.

"I humbly beg of you, on this holiest of nights, in the name of your Son, Jesus Cbrist, just let me have been right. Amen."

Georg slid under the covers after he ended his prayer and cuddled up next to Maria, spooning her from behind. As Georg fell asleep, his wife cradled in his arms, and incredible sense of peace came over him. In that split second, Georg knew that on a distant battlefield, his son and son-in-law were doing the same thing he had done with a unit of British and French soldiers almost 30 years before. Georg fell asleep with a half smile on his face, because he knew in his soul if it could happen then, it could happen again.

Hope everyone enjoyed this new snapshot. Leave a comment in the review section and let me know what you think. Also, if there is a "snapshot " you might be interested in, please share.