Epilogue

Maria looked up in surprise at the back door of the kitchen. She wasn't imagining things: once again, a persistent hammering.

Confused as to who could be visiting late on Christmas afternoon, she placed the last stack of clean plates in the cupboard. Drying off her wet hands on her apron, she gave a tug to the stubborn, creaky door.

To her utter shock and extreme amusement, not only did the open door bid entrance to a gust of bitter winter wind, but the wind brought with it an unexpected visitor. In turn, this visitor brought one of his own.

"Maximillian Dettweiler! What on earth...?"

Max quickly moved to embrace Maria, gently placing a finger to her lips to silence her. "Good Lord, my dear, I don't know why you're so surprised to see me! I'm a very charming sponge, after all. Now—let me take a look at you."

Maria smiled, knowing that interrogating him would get her nowhere. She stepped back, clasping her hands behind her back. Max took her all in, so glad to see that characteristic gleam sparkling in her blue eyes and a gentle smile gracing her lips. Her hair was still cropped short, her figure long and slim. She was in the picture of health, thus satisfying him. "I can find nothing to worry about with you; I suppose I should reintroduce you to Jacob Lokey." He gestured to the tall figure standing in front of the back door.

Maria stepped forward to greet him, quickly apologising. "Forgive my lack of hospitality. I apologise. Welcome to the von Trapp farm." She smiled warmly.

Jacob took her hand and shook it, responding, "It's nothing, Baroness." He grinned, eyes crinkling. "With Max around, I'm used to being a fly on the wall."

Maria laughed lightly. "For the record, first-name basis will do. I rarely answer to my title. Call me Maria, and I'll in turn, call you Jacob."

Shrugging off his coat and handing it to her, Jacob smiled again. "I hear it's useless to argue with you, therefore, I concede."

Taking both men's coats and draping them over her arm, Maria said, "I see Max has versed you well. With formalities out of the way, I'll wish you both a merry Christmas and take you into the living room to see the family."

Laughter dancing in his eyes, Max wrapped an arm around her waist as they went, muttering mischievously so only she could hear, "I could be wrong, but I'll wager that you've got some things to tell the family that will throw a slight kink into my plans."

Maria nearly tripped over her own feet. Was it this obvious that she was in her own little world of ecstasy? "How much do you think you know?"

"Enough to recogise some things that I saw in you close to four years ago right now." His eyes were twinkling.

Maria sighed as she closed the hallway closet. "Alright, I'm not even going to bother asking what your assumptions are, but I'll just say you're correct. I do have a few things to say." Opening the parlor door, she muttered, "First Brigitta, now Max..."

Max chuckled as she swept into the homey living room, announcing the arrival of two unexpected visitors at the back door. He warned Jacob, "I might have a mob descending on me at least twice tonight, just so that you're aware."

Jacob nodded in mock graveness. "Reacquaintence, then business."

Max nodded, "Exactly, though chaos would fit both categories very well." The following moment, six excited children were all over him with hugs, "merry Christmases," and questions.

"Aren't you supposed to be in Munich?"

"We didn't hear you pull up or anything!"

"Why did you come through the back door?"

"Did you see Liesl dance? What about James?"

"Where are our presents?"

"Look at our Christmas tree!"

Max grinned, surveying the seven von Trapp children. Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta, and Gretl were all crowding around him trying to hug him and say hello. But his eyes wandered to the littlest von Trapp, who was standing next to his mother and father, clutching at his mother's skirt. One thumb was in his mouth and his eyes were wide. He didn't know what to make of this stranger that he hadn't seen in at least a year and a half.

Maria detached herself from Georg, whose arms she was standing in, and reached down to pick up her son. She carried him over to Max, whispering softly in her son's ear, and Elias's blue eyes suddenly brightened. He squealed, "Unca Max!" and held his hands out for the man to take him.

Taking the boy from Maria, Max said to her, "Well, I'll be darned if he knows me after all this time!"

Maria's eyes twinkled as she shrugged. "I don't know what to say to that, but he always asks about you." She glanced over at Georg and hesitated before going on. "You were there for me during some stormy times, and you were around until we left Austria. It's a deep and rooted concept. There's no way he could forget you."

Max looked thoughtful. "Hmm, you've got a good point." He settled down on the divan, Elias in his lap. He addressed the children, "To answer your questions, I had some more important business to attend here in Maryland, so I came here. We only parked halfway up the driveway and then walked around to the back door. We thought we'd make it a subtle, settled-in surprise. I did see Liesl, and she sends her best wishes. As does James. You'll have to find your presents, and your tree is lovely."

The noise coming from the children was a mixture of delight, exasperation, and excitement.

Georg cleared his throat. "Uh, Max... what's this 'more important business in Maryland' that you so badly need to pursue and crash our Christmas celebrations?" There was a hint of amusement mixed with suspicion in his voice.

Maria inwardly groaned, praying that whatever Max had to say wouldn't set Georg off—not today. "He just had to bring that up now," she muttered to herself, grabbing some presents and distributing them to her children.

Max, as usual, took it in stride. "Oh, nothing much. It's just that Jacob here is a good friend of mine, and he's also an agent." He met Georg's smouldering gaze pointedly. "For singing groups."

For a second, Georg was stymied. He had honestly thought that the notion of his children singing publically had left Max's mind... apparently, he couldn't have been more wrong. Max never gave up, did he? "Max..."

"Georg, it wouldn't be an all-year type of thing. That would be unreasonable, with the children in school. It's more of a seasonal thing, a month or two of touring every summer." He held his old friend's dagger-shooting gaze. "You have to at least hear me out. Your family won the Salzburg Festival—their talent needs not to be hidden. Consider what a rewarding experience this could be. Jacob's willing to work with you all on everything."

Georg asked cautiously, "Who's involved in the family singing group?"

Max answered off-handedly, playing with Elias, "All of the children and Maria. And you if you wish."

"It's out of the question." Georg's jaw was set. "You know that, Max."

Maria knew it was time to jump in before a full-scale battle ensued. "Darling, why don't we take some time to consider this and discuss things with Jacob? There is no rush, we couldn't do it this year anyways. The children need to be reconditioned, and Liesl's finishing at the dance academy this coming summer. We'll have her home the following summer, with James. And I doubt I could do much, seeing as I'll have a new baby to keep my hands full around then. Not to mention that a piano might be useful," she finished, muttering about pitch and whatnot.

"Maria, it will not—" Everything Maria said fully registered in Georg's brain, and he froze. Her giggling fit the night before finally made sense, her dancing-on-air countenance lately... and, well, her proposition wasn't unreasonable.

Maria bit her lip, trying not to smile at the resounding silence that occurred as a result of her reasonings and proposition. The children's eyes were all wide, staring at her.

It was a combination of Max's chuckling and Elias's squealing, "Piano!" that initiated the ruckus in the midst of nothing.

Georg finally sank down onto the divan next to Maria and asked, "Did I hear you correctly?" while the children all clamored excitedly around their parents' feet.

"Yes, I suppose you did. It's dangerous to argue with your expectant wife, so will you or will you not give this some consideration? We have quite an allotment of time in which we can deal with every matter."

Georg ran a hand through his hair and sighed, looking around at his seven present children. "Do you want to do this, children?"

The response was an eager, unanimous, "Yes, Father!"

Their sparkling, hopeful eyes were too much, and Maria's threats added to the pressure. Georg had to give somewhere. "Alright, I will consider it." He glanced pointedly at his wife and Max, saying sternly, "No promises, though."

Max raised his glass of brandy that Friedrich had long since gotten for him. "Of course, of course."

He was the only one to notice the wicked twinkle in Maria's eyes, and knew he had a solid ally.

Ende

You all know what happens next! ;) Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading - it means a great deal to me.