Let's Start At The Very Beginning

Chapter 27

Georg felt his stomach drop. Now was not the time. How could she still possibly want to leave after everything that has transpired? While Jane falling ill was a tragedy it had illuminated now more than ever that they belonged here, she belonged back at her home, teaching, her children belonged with him, she belonged to a group of friends and family, she belonged here with him.

They could do it; he knew they could. They had been friends for years, they had gone through conflicts as young people that some people don't endure well into marriage, and they had always survived. This was their second chance, divine intervention declared it. He would be happy with her, she would be happy with him, they could raise their children together, be friends and lovers forever. He knew it.

So why didn't she?

"Alright, children all finished, it's time to put the angel on top." Maria blew the match out and stuck it in a vase. Friedrich went to the clock and retrieved the angel and handed it to Jane.

"We want you to put the angel on top," Brigitta smiled. "It's tradition to have the angel put on by one of us."

"Usually the youngest." Gretl crossed her arms and received a nudge from Marta.

"You'll still be the youngest next year." Liesl rolled her eyes.

"Will you all be quiet and let her do it?" Louisa was ushering her siblings out of the way. Maria picked up her little girl and handed her to Georg, angel in hand. Georg held Jane up high as she gently placed the angel on top and Maria conducted a rendition of "Angels we have heard on high." She had been told that Agathe would sing every Christmas holiday.

And so, it was Christmas. Toys were unwrapped, memories were made, food was eaten. It was wonderful and over too soon. Maria felt a tinge of sadness knowing this holiday was so temporary. She wanted it to string on forever, feel the peace of all being together, having her children healthy and her friend out of his rut.

But at the end of the day, she just had to go back to England. It made the most sense. Didn't it?

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"Thank you again Georg, I really appreciate all you've done the past couple of weeks." Maria began a descent down the stairs, Georg right beside her. The children were all waiting by the door. Max holding Jane, who had grown stronger in the past week still needed to rest.

"No worries, I'm just glad it all worked out for the best."

"Yes." Maria slowed her pace and looked to her feet. "It will all be back to how it was by the end of the month."

Georg stopped in his tracks on the stairs. "Maria, before you go, I have something for the children but it's in my office." He began to walk down the stairs and Maria gave him a confused look but followed. The children were unfazed as they walked by, but Max was not.

"What is it?" Maria entered the office as Georg walked behind her and shut the door.

"Nothing." He stated matter of factly.

"Then why on earth did you lure me in here?" Maria crossed her arms.

"Because..." Georg couldn't believe it. He knew deep down she wanted to stay; he just knew it. Everything had been so well since Christmas, he thought that this had proved she was meant to stay. He was not going to leave her; nothing would fall apart as it once had. There were no more excuses, no more external obstacles, just themselves. "Because you can't actually make me believe you are happy to go back to England or expect me to rejoice in your return when you and I both know how we feel."

"Goerg not this again, please, last time I went-"

"Was fine, I'm glad in the grand scheme of things you left, but Maria..surely you know that I didn't want you to leave."

"My children," she shook her head.

"I will help you raise them if you agree to help raise mine." He couldn't help but let out a light chuckle as he held out his arms. "You and me Maria."

"Georg," Maria walked over and sat on the edge of his desk, arms still crossed. "I loved you when we were young, I came to you first for everything, I watched you become reckless in college, I watched you fall in love with Agathe, and then I come back and it's like the same thing happened again, it felt just like it had then, except instead of Agathe it was Elsa, and your mother and your sister could see right through me now just as they could in the past. I'm not doing this again Georg. I'm not putting my children through the heartbreak I went through."

"But if you take them back, where they are alone, without their friends, without a father, without who their mother truly is, how is that any fairer?"

"It's complicated."

"You're scared." He raised an eyebrow.

"You used to be." she raised both of hers in return "Gosh Georg your mother told me the truth, Agathe told me the truth, and while without her you wouldn't have those seven incredible children out there, you never once admitted to me how you felt, I thought I was being silly, childish, immature, I kept quiet because I didn't want to lose you."

"I was scared." Maria looked up from her lap as he said those words. "I was terrified, because I loved you from so young."

Maria's eyes were the size of saucers, her heart swelled, of course leaving it to them to switch sides at the wrong time, but her plan was to be back in England by the end of the month. She was leaving now for two solitary days with her children, for quality time and for Jane to recover, would he figure it out while she was temporarily gone, or would he wait till it was too late again?

"I loved you then Georg, and I love you now. All I'm waiting for, have been waiting for is for you to remove the "d" when you say it."

"Maria I-"

"Shh" She held a finger up. I waited all my life for you, I came back, I fell for you all over again and felt pain all over again, to prove that I won't have to do that again." She pleaded with him. She had lost so much already, her children were her lifeline, she wanted an assurance that Georg would be all in, just as she had been from day 1, no leader and follower, but teammates. "If you continue to keep me just close enough but don't actually do anything about it, I'm gone by the end of the month. So please, convince me."

"I would never lie to you Maria-"

"No Georg you wouldn't, I never said that, but you were never completely honest either were you?"

Georg shook his head in guilt. "I have to take the children back to the house, please Georg, I'm begging you." She slid off the edge of the desk and began to walk towards the door until he felt him grab her fingers. She turned around slowly. He stood there, eyes full of words he couldn't bring himself to say, apologies, declarations, everything in between. She walked closer to him as he let go of her hand and brought it to her cheek. Maria felt goosebumps form down to her toes. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, smell his cologne. She felt butterflies just as she had as a teenager when they danced. He leaned forward and Maria couldn't help but close her eyes as his other hand ghosted her waist. His fingertips that once grazed her cheek now twirled a piece of short hair. She felt his breath against her face, surely, he would kiss her, but he had to be the one to do it, not her. Just as she was about to lose her resolve to do it herself, she heard him whisper. "I promise."

He let go of her abruptly, she felt her knees nearly buckle under her, her eyes flew open, and Georg stood where he previously had, seeming completely normal. She was bewildered. "I told you I was good at hiding it." he smirked.

Maria nodded awkwardly and exited the study. She was going to enjoy some quality time with her children before her world turned upside down once again. 

Hey Y'all. Not many chapters left! I hope you enjoyed this next installment! I've really enjoyed this story so far. Do you think I should keep writing in the future? I've written 4 other stories, two are connected. I haven't had a really great idea recently. Let me know what you think or what you would like to see.

Thanks for reading!