Party planning was in full swing. Elsa's leadership skills were no joke, and she often was bossing a florist around or sampling foods, much to the chagrin of Frau Schmidt. Franz on the other hand had chosen the week to be his vacation conveniently. Georg had never really cared for Franz, but he had to admit he would've done the same thing. Maria came over often, mostly to help get the children out of the way, Liesl would stay on occasion, but more often than not she chose to leave with Maria and the others.
Three days before the party Hedwig and Fritz were set to arrive. Maria, Jane and Michael made their way to the villa after breakfast as usual. Elsa was already gone to get her dress altered with Max, and Georg and the children were running amok. They hadn't seen their grandparents in a few years, and the little ones were particularly excited. They waited by the door anxiously only to sigh in disappointment when Maria and her children were standing outside.
"Well good morning to you too." Maria rolled her eyes as she held the door for her children.
"We were hoping you were Oma and Opa." Brigitta crossed her arms.
"We've been waiting all morning." Gretl crossed her arms impatiently.
"I want to see if I'm finally taller than Oma." Friedrich stood proudly only to receive a swat from Liesl.
Maria couldn't keep up with the excitement of it all, but she did notice her children were a bit more quiet than usual. Typically, they would be just as boisterous as the von Trapp children, but they were not, Jane firmly grasped her mother's hand and Michael seemed lost in that magical little head of his.
"Ah Maria it's just you." Georg appeared from the direction of his study.
"Is anyone excited to see me?" Maria huffed sarcastically and walked down the stairs only to hear a quiet "I am." as Louisa joined her side by Michael.
"When are Hedwig and Fritz set to arrive?" Maria asked.
"They said it was late morning, I checked yesterday and the train from Vienna was set to arrive around 10." Georg clasped his hands together and shrugged.
"Well, they're late." Brigitta sighed
"Be patient, they'll get here." Marta reached up to pat her big sister on the back which gave the others quite the laugh. Jane and Michael still remained close, and Louisa did as well, even though she was relaxed. They were laughing so hard that no one even heard The von Trapp grandparents walk in.
"Now Georg, we told you to keep the paint color the same." A matronly voice cut through them all. Maria turned around to see Hedwig and Fritz standing on the landing, a suitcase each, only to be swarmed by children.
Hedwig began "Friedrich you're so tall."
Then Fritz added "Liesl you are becoming quite the young lady."
"Kurt your smile!"
"Marta, your hair is so long now!"
"Brigitta, how do you not have glasses yet from all your reading?"
"Gretl you're such a big girl."
"Louisa, you look so much like your mother."
Georg eventually got his turn and received a long hug from his mother, who was wearing a maroon business blazer and skirt and Fritz, in a suit similar to his son's, shook his hand firmly.
Maria's eyes welled with tears at the sight. She hadn't seen them for 10 long years, only a letter here or there, and most recently a phone call or two. But this couple was responsible for raising her through some of her most difficult times. After all it was them, she literally ran to after her parents passed away.
"My Maria," Hedwig gasped. Of course, Maria loved Fritz too, but Hedwig and her had always had a special bond.
Maria was rooted to the spot, she felt Jane let go of her hand. All of the sudden Maria was enveloped by Hedwig, her smell, her feel, her voice all of it felt so surreal. Maria couldn't help but let a few tears of happiness fall as she laughed out loud. Happy tears?! This hardly ever happened. Georg watched the reunion with a smile but couldn't help but notice Jane and Michael's glum faces. The von Trapp children were still being spoiled by their grandfather, so Georg saw the contrast even more. It was wonderful to see the two women before them hugging, he knew Maria probably felt like a child at that moment and didn't care at all. So, he walked over to Jane and Michael.
"You know I bet they're anxious to meet you two too." He leaned over to them and whispered, like it was their little secret.
"They don't know us." Michael shrugged and Jane looked green.
"Ahh but they've heard about you enough. Your friends write letters about you all the time." He picked up Jane and rested her on his hip. He had grown really close to the other two children over the past months. Michael was a third son to him at this point, and Jane was as precious as they came, the true image of her mother.
Hedwig finally let go of Maria and before she could turn around Kurt and Louisa came barreling from the landing. Louisa hugged Maria from the side and Kurt began talking ninety miles a minute.
"Oma, Maria comes almost every day-"
She stepped back for a minute as Fritz came down the landing with the other children.
"Oh Hedwig," Maria said as she composed herself but left a dazzling smile "Fritz, these are my children, Michael." she motioned to her right and Michael stared up with his mouth open but extended his hand. Hedwig and Fritz both shook his hand.
"I hear you are helping to balance things around here; Kurt and Friedrich have a new ally." Fritz joked and Michael smiled a bit. Hedwig laughed at his cute little face.
"And Jane? Oh Georg," Maria looked over her shoulder to see Georg behind her holding Jane. Goerg felt the little girl hold on a bit tighter before extending her hand "Hello, I'm Jane. It's very nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. von Trapp." The couple shook her hand with a smile. Then they both stood back a bit. There Maria and Georg stood, with all of their children around them, yes things had certainly changed quickly.
Hedwig smirked a bit before looking at Georg "Please children, call us Oma and Opa."
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That afternoon the children all played in the backyard with the exception of Liesl. Max returned early from the dress purchasing and was teaching Liesl to dance in the ballroom. Georg and Fritz were sharing cigars in the study for a while which left Hedwig and Maria to sit on the veranda.
"Back to where we started, I suppose, history repeats itself." Hedwig chuckled into her lemonade.
"Indeed, it does, but I'm truly happy, happier than I've been in a long time." Maria looked out to see the children playing in their own ways,
After a second of silence Hedwig asked, "Did you like England?"
"Oh of course, it was wonderful to study there, so much history, and of course Charlie and the children came along soon after, but it was those years without him that the rainy days became less relaxing and more saddening. When I decided to bring the children back here, I didn't realize how much I had missed home."
"Hede says you call her more than ever."
"Yes," Maria admitted, "Sometimes here, sometimes at my own home."
"I just don't understand why you don't live here; the guest house is still in shambles and there's plenty of room."
Maria looked down at her glass and sighed. "I don't think Elsa would appreciate that."
Hedwig had almost forgotten about Elsa.
"Is she good with the children?" Hedwig asked, hoping to dig.
"Seven children are an adjustment, I've had some conversations with her," Maria added.
"Maria, stop pretending, talk to me like you used to-" Just then Fritz and Georg came out, Fritz walked to the edge to look over the view he had missed while Georg came up behind Maria and without even thinking placed his hand on her shoulder. Maria looked towards it slowly then her eyes met Hedwig's and Maria hoped to convey the truth as without looking she reached up with her hand and squeezed Georg's.
"I think this is what I missed most." Fritz ruined the moment
"Yes, there's nothing quite like the mountains, they must be hard to come by in the city." Georg began. "Maria, where are the boat models I made with the boys?"
"I believe Kurt has them by the lake right now." she answered
"Brilliant, Father, you're going to see why going into the navy wasn't a complete waste of my time." He quipped before leading Fritz down to the lake and immediately the children gathered like moths to a flame as they prepared to race the models.
"You are quite the not so little family."
"We are family, but not like-"
"Maria," was all Hedwig said before giving Maria a look. "I know you never said it then, but that doesn't mean you can't say it now."
Maria looked down towards the lake, the children surrounding her best friend. Her handsome, loving and good-hearted best friend. He looked so natural, his suit jacket disposed, rolling his sleeves up and encouraging his father to do the same, preventing his youngest daughters and her son from jumping on his back, his smile that took so long to come out of hiding, lighting up the whole place. Suddenly she realized how fast her heart was beating, how familiar this feeling was to something she had felt long ago, she didn't even realize it, but she was slowly falling in love with him again.
"I can't, he has the Baroness, I am a schoolteacher with two children and a load of baggage." She sat up straighter
"But you are his best friend, think Maria, how many times has he come to you and not her? How many times has he treated your children like one his own and you with his? How many other friends would he let back into his life after Agathe? Who would he listen to enough to change his life, he wouldn't listen to us or to his own sister, but he listened to you. He cares for you Maria, I can tell by looking at him, it's just like before."
Maria felt her heart drop to her stomach "Before?"
"He loved you Maria, everyone knew it, Agathe even knew it, but after the engagement and marriage and you going to London, he was able to fully fall in love with Agathe, but let me tell you, she even knew. She knew he loved her, but she could never quite shake the fact that she was not his first love, no, that was you my dear."
"But-that's not true Hedwig, it was a silly schoolgirl crush and nothing more. Besides we both have obligations to fulfill-"
"Maria-"
"I don't love him." Maria stood up abruptly, "Now if you excuse me, I'm going to check on Liesl."
Hey y'all. I've officially finishes writing this story (minus edits) so my updates should be more frequent. Don't worry we're only like halfway done and the next installment will be the party, which should be interesting.
Thanks for reading!