Friedrich knew as the eldest boy of Captain Von Trapp, he was expected to do something astounding or meaningful with his life one day. While he had several minor interests, he had never found anything he was truly passionate about. Well, he had been quite passionate about music whenever Fraulein Maria came into their lives. He was particularly fond of their puppet shows, but he knew that was not an interest that made sense in the society to which he belonged. He would have to do something grand and extravagant with his life, something to make his father proud.

He was searching through the library for an old book that his mother used to read to him when he was younger. She used it as a bedtime story, but it was more of a book about certain trades and professions. It gave brief explanations of each career, and he wanted to see if anything stuck out in his mind as he read through. Maria had reminded him that he was only fifteen when he shared his worries with her, that he had plenty of time to figure things out still, but he couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Christ, Brigitta!" He turned around to find his sister standing directly behind him. He had no idea how long she'd been there, and he felt his heart had nearly leapt out of his chest.

"I'm going to tell Father you swore."

"Where do you think I heard it?"

"Fine then, I'll tell Fraulein Maria."

"Don't tell her! You're the one sneaking around and surprising me." He turned back toward the bookshelf, frustrated enough that none of the titles were sticking as he tried to read them. She had already distracted him too much.

"I didn't come here to argue."

"Good, then please leave me alone."

"What are you doing?" He sighed, still a bit annoyed at her interruption.

"It's none of your business."

"You don't have to be so rude." He turned to face her, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, but I am in the middle of something. What is so important?"

"I want to know what you know about Father and Fraulein Maria." He rolled his eyes, annoyed by her constant over-analyzing of everything. He didn't mind simply letting things be as they were and moving on.

"Honestly, Brigitta. I know you think you saw them kiss…"

"I don't just think, I know I did. I can't believe I was the only person in the car to see it. And, even though it's on the wrong hand, I know she's wearing Father's ring." He shrugged, turning and grabbing a book that would be good enough for the moment and beginning to walk away. "Liesl knows everything, I can tell."

"Then ask her, not me."

"She won't tell me a thing! But I think she would tell you." He quickly understood her game, and he gave a short laugh.

"So you'd like me to ask her, and then break her confidence to tell you?" She shrugged, knowing it wasn't the kindest of plans. "Why don't you just ask Fraulein Maria?"

"Because she's very fragile right now. I don't want to upset her." He scoffed, laughing a bit.

"She is never fragile. Why would you think that?"

"Haven't you looked into her eyes since she moved in with us?" He shook his head, suddenly feeling terrible that he hadn't noticed at all. He had simply been glad to have her back in their everyday lives. He didn't realize that they should have perhaps been much more worried about the circumstances of her stay.

"I can't promise she'll tell me." Brigitta smiled brightly, glad to have gotten through to him, and he left the library. For a moment he thought about simply going about his own business, but Brigitta's observation of Maria's fragility stuck in his mind. He had never even questioned the differences he saw in their former governess, and he was taken aback.

Liesl was seated at her dressing table, having just painted her fingernails with a very light pink that she hoped her father wouldn't mind too much. It was one of the things she had purchased while in Vienna, and she finally had found the nerve to try wearing it at home. Maria assured her that he wouldn't mind, given it was a delicate and ladylike color, but she wasn't so sure. He always had a hard time accepting that she was growing up.

Suddenly, there was a small knock at her door, and she turned to find Friedrich standing in her open doorway. She smiled in greeting, but he looked very puzzled, and she found herself concerned that something was wrong. He often looked like their father, and even sounded like him too, but he never mirrored him as much as when he was brooding.

"What's the matter?" She tried to sound kind and caring, just to be sure he knew he could come to her with anything. Motioning him to sit on the little bench next to her dressing table, and he nervously did so. None of the children were very good at opening up; a trait they all inherited from their father, it seemed.

"I don't want you to get upset when I ask, but Brigitta thinks Fraulein Maria is fragile right now, and I'm concerned. What do you know?" She was taken aback by his directness, bright blue eyes unable to hide the shock she felt.

"What do I know?"

"You clearly know more than the rest of us." She hadn't expected him to ask, and she grappled for words for a moment, looking down to her lap. "After Otto came to get her, and she didn't leave with him, and the whole divorce…Brigitta swears she's wearing Father's ring. I have to admit, I don't understand what's happening."

"I promised to keep it in confidence, I can't break my promise."

"Then I'll do the same, but after Brigitta pointed it out to me, I can't unsee it. Please?" Liesl bit her lip, nervous beyond belief that she would betray anyone. If she told, she would be betraying Maria, but if she kept quiet, she suddenly felt she was betraying her brother.

"It's okay, Liesl." They both jumped as they turned to find Maria standing in the doorway. She had some fabric samples in her hands, having intended to ask Liesl which ones she liked best for her to surprise the girls with new dresses.

She knew it was only a matter of time before the children began demanding the truth. She couldn't blame them in the slightest. She only wished there was a version of the truth she liked better than the others and would lighten the gravity of her existence. None of the details of her life sounded very ideal or glamorous at the moment, and they certainly didn't paint her in a flattering light. She and Georg had talked many times about what and when they should tell them, but they hadn't come to much of a solid conclusion yet.

"Fraulein Maria, I didn't mean to…" She shook her head, smiling to Friedrich to show him she wasn't offended.

"I understand. Me being here must be terribly confusing to everyone." He nodded, clearly nervous about her presence.

"We never want you to think we aren't happy you're here, or gossiping at all. Nothing like that. We're just curious, and I'm a bit worried now that Brigitta pointed some things out to me." She chuckled a bit, shaking her head.

"Yes, she notices far too much, I fear." She shuffled the fabric in her hands, looking to the ground. "Liesl, you're free to share anything you would like to talk about. But, Friedrich…I don't wish to discuss it myself quite yet. I hope you understand."

"Of course, Fraulein." She finally forced herself to meet his eyes, giving him a slightly strained smile before she met Liesl's eyes as well. She knew the poor girl needed someone to talk to that wasn't her or Georg, someone closer to her age who would understand her feelings better. It was only right that she allow her to talk to her brother.

"I'll see you all at supper then." She gave a quick smile before pulling the bedroom door closed behind her to give them privacy. Her heart pounded at the knowledge that the truth was finally going to make its way around the villa. She supposed it would have eventually, one way or another, but she wasn't prepared to be a part of it at all. Friedrich would keep quiet, she knew that, but it really was time to tell the rest of the children at least a fraction of what was going on.

Instead of returning to the sewing room, she made her way through the villa to find Georg. She expected to find him in his study, but found him on the veranda instead, taking in the cool breeze of an approaching storm. The wind blew his hair out of place just a bit, and she found him incredibly handsome in that unguarded moment. She stepped beside him, quietly joining him without interrupting the silence he was enjoying. He turned to face her with a smile, chucking a bit at the sight of her.

"Why are you carrying around fabric?" She looked to her hands, finding that she was still gripping the fabric samples. She gave a small laugh, shaking her head as she stacked them and placed them atop the balustrade next to her.

"I was asking Liesl which she liked best for the dresses I'm making for the girls, and I overheard her and Friedrich talking. I just needed to find you." She spoke softly, still hesitant to break the calm serenity of the breeze blowing through the trees. Her dress moved gently against her legs, and she closed her eyes for a moment.

"I gather it wasn't a conversation you wanted to overhear?"

"He was asking a lot of questions about my being here. I told Liesl she could tell him." He nodded, sighing as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She only hesitated for a moment before resting her head against his chest. She supposed if he wasn't worried about others seeing them like that, then she wouldn't be either.

"It's Liesl, she will be very delicate."

"I know she will. It's just…I don't know, he's going to think differently about me, about both of us." He sighed, feeling as if they had the same conversation all the time. He had tried to gently get through to her that no one who mattered would see them any differently, but she seemed quite stuck on the opinions of others. She never used to be like that, or at least he didn't think so.

"Maria, you are just going to have to let go of the notion that you can keep everything hidden." She quickly pulled back to meet his eyes.

"That sounded like an insult."

"Not at all, darling. But you must admit, you are very good at painting a picture and pretending things are different from what they are." She stepped away from him, a bit hurt by his observation. He had always been truthful with her, but he had never been so brutally honest. "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings."

"You didn't." She shook her head, turning to grasp the balustrade in both hands. She gripped it tightly, willing herself to see the truth rather than take offense to his words. She bit her lip, shaking her head in frustration. "I don't know why I do it."

"Because it's much easier to pretend everything is fine than it is to deal with things properly." She met his eyes quickly, quite annoyed by his observation.

"I don't know when you became a psychoanalyst." He scoffed, shaking his head.

"And now you're being defensive."

"I didn't come out here to argue with you."

"I didn't think we were." She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Maria, the children are going to know what we've done. People in our lives are going to know, if they don't already. Instead of trying to avoid the inevitable, perhaps it would be more prudent to simply face it."

"Why don't you…" She stopped herself from turning the argument petty, reminding herself that she was only angry because he was speaking the truth. She looked to the ground, feeling quite vulnerable before him.

"I promise, it will all be okay. Let's just keep taking it one day at a time and stop worrying so much. It isn't healthy for you." He took her shoulders in his hands, willing her to meet his eyes.

"You're very annoying when you're being rational." He laughed, but she obviously meant every word.

"I'm simply wise by this point in my life." She snorted, rolling her eyes as he gave her an impish smile.

"I'm equally annoyed that I can never stay angry with you." He laughed, pulling her into a warm embrace. She sighed, holding him close as she allowed herself to think rationally as well. He was right, of course. She did need to relax a bit more and stay calm, yet she wasn't sure how she was supposed to do that if she was also supposed to be facing her problems head on.

They spent a bit more time holding one another before they made their way inside for supper. The children filtered down, and they all took their seats just as the clock in the drawing room began to chime. Maria smiled at how easy it was to be punctual at the villa, and the fact that she had struggled so much to make it to dinner on time for the first couple of weeks she spent as the governess. Punctuality nearly came as second nature anymore…well, for the most part anyway, she mused to herself.

"Did you find anything out?" Brigitta's words were so soft that she would have completely missed them had she not had an ear open. She strained to hear, at the same time not wanting to know what Friedrich would tell her. He appeared deep in thought, and she found that he didn't at all meet her eyes when he entered the dining room with Liesl. Thankfully, the girl gave her a smile and a nod of her head that let her know everything was okay between them.

"Absolutely nothing." Brigitta looked disappointed, obviously wishing he would have told her he knew everything and would be happy to share. Maria smiled to herself, thankful that he was a lot like his father and happened to be very good at maintaining a face of indifference.

He met her eyes after a moment, and she gave him a small smile. His eyes were full of many emotions, but she certainly did not see anger or judgement in the way she had feared. Instead, she only saw kindness and understanding, and a silent pledge of support that she couldn't quite place for a moment. It was a promise that her story would be safe with him, and he gave her a gentle smile in return.