Author's Note: Eeeek. This is my first fanfic ever, and I have literally been waiting so long to do this (don't let this stop you from reading please haha). So welcome to it! I am obsessed with Georg and Maria, and I just had to write them. Which led me to this little idea, which is actually going to be a multi-chapter work. Should I have started out with a one-shot? Perhaps. But I am so excited to start this little journey, no matter what. I encourage and need criticism, so please feel free to comment or shoot me a PM!
As you probably read in the summary, this is going to be a story (most likely a prettyyy long one) about what might have happened if Maria did not make it all the way to the villa on that day. So enjoy this short little intro to the story!
Chapter 1: Life is Only Ups and Downs
Soulmates. Maria had heard the fleeting idea whispered among her peers during her days at teacher's college. She always believed it to be a fairytale. Something out of reach, unrealistic - but yet something her mind liked to drift to on the days where life felt just a little heavy. Maria had never been one to shy away from finding the silver lining, even when it took a spark of imagination to find it.
As the fresh air of Salzburg brushed her face, Maria allowed herself to embrace the thought that perhaps soulmates were not entirely mythical. Maybe that is the reason why she was hurrying toward the bus that would take her all the way to the serene villa in Aigen, nestled by the lake. Maybe her love wasn't quite as unrequited as she feared. And maybe, just maybe,the Baroness's biting words on her last night with the Von Trapp household hadn't held as much weight as she had believed them to.
The optimistic thoughts swirling inside her head energized Maria's steps as she hurried down the streets of Salzburg, putting distance between her and the Abbey in which she had just been urged out of. Maria found herself feeling an extreme bout of déjà vu, escaping the Abbey knowing she would be facing a daring Captain and his seven children.
Her optimism faltered when snippets of conversation made their way to Maria's ears, catching her attention. A cluster of young women, not much older than herself, stood outside the post office, their hushed gossip punctuated by bursts of laughter. Maria did not intend to eavesdrop, but their words carried.
"We all knew this was coming-but this soon?" one of the women exclaimed.
"Oh, she has been staying at his villa for a few weeks now," another chimed in. "And the trips to Vienna? He is clearly smitten."
"And that party last week! The first since his wife passed. I half-expected an engagement announcement then and there. Why they probably were!"
Curiosity got the better of Maria. She edged closer, her heart pounding as she caught sight of the paper pinned to the notice board. The bold headline hit her like a blow:
August 2, 1937: Captain Georg von Trapp of Aigen and Baroness Elsa Schraeder of Vienna to wed this upcoming December.
The world titled. The air around Maria seemed to fail her as she stumbled back, her breath hitching. Her vision blurred with tears as the words coiled their way deep into her body. She felt the ache in her heart spread out into her limbs, leaden with despair. The women had now paused their gossip and gawked at her, likely taking in the next victim of their cruelty, but Maria barely noticed. Without a word, Maria turned and fled, her feet carrying her from the scene and back toward Nonnberg Abbey.
Maria rapidly blinked her eyes, wishing the tears away as they continued to spill down her cheeks, whispering bitter reprimands to herself. Foolish girl. What were you thinking? Believing in fairytales? Believing he could ever love you? The Baroness's words rang louder in her memory now, each one a sharp blade cutting deeper.
She couldn't truly place the hurt she felt on one thing. It was shameful and embarrassing knowing that she had let a juvenile, school-girl crush overtake her and cause her this heartbreak. But it wasn't just the Captain and his unreciprocated feelings. The ache in her heart spread beyond him. She mourned that she would never get to tightly hug the children again, not even in a goodbye. She mourned the loss of the family she thought she had finally found. She mourned the life she thought she could belong to. Foolish. All of it had been an illusion she had created all on her own doing.
Then it hit her.
The Abbey.
Her despair deepened as she realized the full weight of her predicament. She couldn't return to the Abbey – not after her confession to the Reverend Mother. Not after she had been sent away to find her life. And yet, she had nowhere else to go.
As she stumbled into an alleyway to escape the prying, judgmental eyes of passersby, a sob escaped her throat. She leaned against the rough brick wall, her thoughts spinning into chaos.
She could not grasp an idea on how much time had passed as she stood there, trying to console her own self, but she knew that she was finding it hard to calm down in as much time as it should take her. She should be used to this. This should not even surprise her. Maria had never fit in any family anywhere, why should this bother her this much?
A warm hand on her shoulder startled her. Maria turned, ready to defend herself, only to meet the concerned gaze of an older women – one she had seen outside the post office.
"Forgive me," the women said softly, raising her hands in reassurance. "I didn't mean to frighten you. But you looked so distraught, I couldn't just walk away," the women quickly explained tentatively.
Maria quickly raised the sleeve of her dress to wipe at her face, trying to brush off the wetness streaming out from her eyes. "I… I must look such a fool. Please, I-"
"Don't mind them," the woman interrupted gently. "They are just looking for something to relieve them of their own troubles. May I ask what has you so heartbroken, my dear?"
The older lady had found her at such a vulnerable moment, and before she could stop herself, Maria found words pouring out of her relentlessly. The engagement. The loss at what she would do now. The disappointment of feeling like a failure yet again. By the time she was finished, she was trembling, suddenly aware of the consequences her rambling could bring her.
"Oh – um. I am so sorry," Maria stammered. "I didn't even ask your name, and here I am going on like this. Oh… you must think me so incredibly improper. Do forgive me please. You won't tell-"
"Hush," the woman said with a kind smile. "Don't fret over such things. I won't breathe a word of this to anyone, I promise. But my heart breaks for you. Truly. Still, you must believe - everything happens for a reason."
Maria shook her head, her voice breaking. "Yes I want to believe that, but I feel… so lost. I find it hard to see a meaning in this. Being dumped on the streets yet again. I do not have the faintest clue on where to go now or what to do."
The woman hesitated, then reached into her bag and handed Maria a folded piece of paper. "Hmm. I see. Perhaps this will help. I was heading to the post office to pin this up, but I assume it has better use in your possession now."
Maria glanced down and opened the writing she now held. Making out the words "teaching position" and "Vienna" before turning her head abruptly back up to the lady.
"What… what are you trying to say?"
"My brother is a principal at a school there," the woman explained while nodding her head at the paper. "They are looking for a new hire to teach the youngest children. You seem to have much experience with young children, and you even mentioned attending teacher's college, didn't you? I cannot help but feel this is a sign. It would be an injustice to not give this opportunity to you."
Maria looked back down to the paper, now shaking in her hand. A teaching job. In Vienna. Away from her hills. Away from the places she may have once found a home in. "I... I don't know what to say."
"Think on it," the woman said tenderly. "If you decide this is for you, I'll arrange everything, darling. Meet me at the station by seven tonight."
"Oh Frau, I could never accept that from you. That is too kind."
"I do not want you to worry about that at all. You are – were - a postulant, I know you have much of nothing. Let me do this for you."
TUWSTUWSTUWSTUWS
That evening, Maria sat by the train window, the cold glass of the windowpane soothing her flushed cheeks as she leaned against them. The train hastily sped toward the bustling city of Vienna as she stared out at the fleeting mountains, her tears tracing familiar paths down her face.
The life she'd known was gone, and it gave her no warning of its departure. She figured that the last few months had been tumultuous enough for her, but it appears her life had other things in store, leaving her with no choice but to start anew.
Thoughts of soulmates and majestic tales are now long gone from her mind. Yet, amidst the fear and uncertainty, the Reverend Mother's words echoed in her mind: "When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window."
The window before her was narrow, its view uncertain. But it was open - and that was enough.
Oh, disclaimer! I do not own The Sound of Music or any of these characters (just love them enough to write about them hehe).
Again, please tell me if there is anything to improve on!
Next up, I am feeling like... I need Georg's POV - so yay.
Oh also. I literally listened to "A Life Where We Work Out" by Flatland Cavalry on repeat while writing this so that is where the title came from HA. I'm also (for now?) basing the titles of chapters on the song. Anyways actually bye for now mwah!