Christmas 1945

Disclaimer: I don't own The Sound of Music.

A warm glow from their Christmas tree filled the von Trapp home. Pine needle scent filled Maria's nose, and she delighted in that wonderful Christmas aroma. Several gifts were already unwrapped, and Maria handed her oldest daughter the next one.

"Oh, it's beautiful," Liesl said as she opened a lovely clock for her mantel that Christmas Eve. It was made of lovely wood which had been painted brown. At the top, two arrows clearly pointed to the numbers surrounding them.

"Every home needs a proper timepiece," Maria smiled, although she still felt a small stab in her heart that Liesl had a different home now. She didn't eat Sunday dinner with them or help Maria with the laundry. Liesl wasn't there when they lit the candles for the Advent wreath or sang Christmas carols.

But Maria knew her daughter was exactly where she should be. All she had to do was watch Liesl and Patrick interact to know that. They sat close together on the sofa, with his arm wrapped casually around his wife. Both of their eyes twinkled with love as they examined the new clock.

"I agree," Patrick said with a nod, meeting Maria's eyes for a moment. Things were still often awkward between the two of them, but sometimes, like now, Maria believed they were improving. She smiled back at him.

"I like my dolly," Rosemary said firmly, in a way that demanded attention. She held up the rag doll that Maria had sewed for her, using old worn – out fabrics.

"Good," said Georg, smiling as well. "Make sure you thank your Mommy. She made her special for you, Rosemary." He wrapped his arm around Maria causally, just as Patrick had already done with Liesl, and Maria's heart grew a little.

"Thank you, Mommy," Rosemary said obediently, examining her doll closely again.

"Your welcome, sweetheart," Maria replied, loving how much her youngest daughter appreciated the gift.

Georg and Friedrich also valued the new shirts she'd made them, and Gretl loved her new dress. Johannes seemed to enjoy his wooden blocks and the box they came in equally. Brigitta's eyes widened to the size of her head when she saw the new red pens she'd received. "Just like a real teacher!" she exclaimed.

Somehow, Maria and Georg had found enough ration cards to buy Kurt some candy which they'd sent to his base in Japan. "I'm certain Kurt will appreciate them," Fredrich told them. "I remember the men on my base used to go crazy over any candy they could get."

"I still wish Kurt were able to come home," Maria sighed, feeling a whole in her heart. Georg squeezed her shoulder in agreement., and she felt slightly better.

"Everyone wishes the soldiers in Japan were home," said Brigitta. "Some people have started, 'Bring back Daddy Clubs' to encourage the government to return them."

"Kurt isn't a father yet, but I'd certainly support a club that would help bring him home, so he could be a father someday," Maria grumbled, anger simmering at the United States government again. The war had been over since September. What gave them the right to keep her son away from her for Christmas? And they didn't even plan on returning the boys home soon.

"I agree," Georg said, sounding just as angry at this country's government as she was.

"Kurt will come home when he is able to do so," Friedrich said practically. Maria and Georg's heads snapped around to look at him. Georg's eyes shot daggers and Maria knew everyone could see her face boiling.

"Father, why don't you read Kurt's letter again?" Liesl suggested, defusing the tension as she always did. It was so nice that she was still a part of their family.

Georg nodded and pulled out the letter they'd read earlier.

"Dear Family,

Well, it looks like I won't be coming home for Christmas, but the guys are all planning on having a party here. They'll be Christmas music, dancing, and whatever they have at the mess hall. Plenty of nurses are planning on coming as well. So, don't worry about me; I think we'll all have a good time.

Maria's heart beat a little faster again as Kurt mentioned the nurses and the party. Was she going to lose another child to marriage? Of course, Kurt didn't sound as if he was serious about any of them, but you never know…

"But we're all busy here, other than that. General MacArthur wants us to control Japan while he helps to create a whole new government for them. I really don't know about the details, but it keeps him very busy. Still, General MacArthur is a great guy. If it's one thing that the Allied Soldiers and the Japs agree on, its that we can follow his leadership.

Yours,

Kurt."

Maria let her son's words sink into her heart again. He was doing well in Japan, and he would be fine.

"Is it time for the best present yet, Father?" Gretl suddenly asked, staring at a large present in the back of the Christmas tree.

Maria giggled a little. Gretl may be thirteen, but apparently, she still loved the big presents the best, just as she had when she was younger. It was comforting to know some things didn't change.

"Yes, Gretl, I think it is," said Georg with that mischievous smirk on his face. Maria couldn't decide she wanted to wipe the smirk off his face for keeping something about the children from her or kiss him for how adorably excited he looked.

Pulling the present out from under the tree, Georg placed the present directly in front of Maria.

Maria's mouth dropped open. "It's… for… me?" she stammered.

Georg nodded, that mischievous smirk growing wider.

"Open it, Mother!" exclaimed Gretl. The rest of the children nodded eagerly, their eyes big.

"Ma – ma, Ma – ma," Johannes agreed, causing Maria's heart to melt. With that, she tore into the present. She couldn't believe what she saw, and her heart swelled to fill her entire chest at the sight.

A guitar. A beautiful, strong instrument, just waiting to be played.

Maria's fingers reached over to touch the strings and a clear sound rang through them. "But how… how could we… where… with Liesl's wedding…" she asked, not even sure how to format her thoughts; she was so overwhelmed.

Georg smile softened as he looked directly into her eyes. "I found someone in Burlington who was selling their old one and gave me a good price for it." Maria nodded, staring right into his deep blue eyes. Had he been reading her mind, wishing she'd had a guitar again at Liesl's wedding? It seemed they finally understood each other just as well as they ever did after that terrible rough period.

"Play us, something, Mother!" Gretl said, grinning from ear – to – ear.

Carefully Maria picked up the guitar, experimenting with the strings for a few moments. It felt so natural, like she had never even stopped playing one. The music filled her soul, as it always did, as she began to play and sing "Silent Night."

OOOOOOOOOO

"I love how pretty the church always looks for Midnight Mass," said Marta as they all entered St. Anne's that night. Johannes slept soundly against Maria's shoulder while Rosemary clutched her mother's other hand. Georg stood next to her, while Marta and Gretl were next to Louisa.

Liesl was missing again. She lived too far now to attend Midnight Mass with them.

"It is beautiful," Maria agreed, taking in the candles in every window, the white vestments, and especially the wonderful nativity scene that was displayed on the altar. Taking a deep breath, Maria felt peace fill her soul.

"I just think it's exciting, staying up late and going to church in the dark," said Rosemary, her voice growing louder in her delight.

"Be quiet, Rosemary," Georg commanded gently.

"Remember, we whisper in church," Maria reminded her daughter. Or at least we try to, she added to herself. "And far more important than staying up late is that this is Jesus's birthday."

Rosemary nodded obediently. Maria had told her this already.

OOOOOOOOOOO

It still hurt that Liesl was missing, but the Mass was wonderful, as always. From the Gloria, to the scriptures, to the partaking of the Body of Christ.

Just as magnificent was what was happening between Maria and Georg. Half way through the Mass, she noticed Georg's shoulders seemed to be bothering him. Tiny creaks could be heard from his bones. Without thinking, Maria began gently rubbing his shoulders to soothe his pain. Georg leaned into her touch, and Maria pushed her hand deeper into his aching muscles.

Suddenly she realized what was happening.

Her proud husband was finally allowing her to heal his aches and nurse his illnesses again., rather than ignoring her or worse, snubbing her, as he had done in the recent past. Once again, Maria's heart was the size of her entire chest.

She and Georg truly were connected again. In fact, they may be bound even tighter than they were before, as they had learned to understand each other better from their rough period. Thank you, Lord, she whispered. Christmas was the perfect time for their marriage to become whole once again.

In fact, perhaps they might consider this day a second anniversary? Johannes was doing very well tonight, Maria noticed as he slept against her shoulder. It might be a good night for yodeling after they returned home.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

OOOOOOOO

The recessional music rang in Liesl's ears as she exited St. John's church on Christmas Day, and she smiled at the familiar melody. "I'm glad we were able to go church for Christmas." She'd been attending church on Christmas for as long as she could remember; even after her first Mother had died.

"As am I," said Patrick, with a nod. "Of course, I'm used to the Christmas Eve Mass, but this one was almost as good. Less crowded."

Liesl nodded with a grin, thinking of how few people there were in church today. Midnight Mass was always packed tighter than Mother's full laundry basket, and according to Patrick, the same was true for Christmas Eve Mass. But today, there were rows and rows of empty pews everywhere.

"Thank you for going to Vermont instead of going to Christmas Eve Mass," Liesl said seriously, looking straight into Patrick's green eyes as she did so. "It was so nice to see my family yesterday." Her mind flashed to all her siblings' opening their gifts underneath the tree, and Mother's face when she saw the guitar. They certainly were still her family, even though Liesl now lived in a different home.

"Yes," Patrick said. "I know how important that was to you."

"And now we'll go to you sister's place for Christmas dinner," said Liesl as she climbed into Patrick's car.

"Yes," Patrick smiled tenderly at her. Liesl knew he appreciated her effort to spend time with his family just as much. "It's so nice to be home for Christmas this year. I was lucky enough to get leave in 1942, but I was stuck in Europe the last two years."

"Yes, you were definitely lucky to get leave in 1942," Liesl giggled a little as the car headed to his sister's. Her mind flashed to that Veterans of Foreign Wars Christmas Party where they had met.

Patrick nodded absentmindedly as his eyes focused on the road. "I just wish there weren't so many men that are unable to come home this year. All those lives lost…" His voice became more and more distant as he trailed off.

Liesl nodded. She knew there were a lot of young men still unable to come home for Christmas; her brother Kurt was among them. But at least he was still doing well, according to his latest letter. The men Patrick referred to would never see another Christmas. "I wish they were still with us, too, but try to focus on the wonderful meal your sister will be cooking," she said as gently as possible.

If he dwelled on these kinds of thoughts too much, Liesl knew he would feel the urge to drink again. So far, he'd only relapsed once, but she hated to see him in that condition. And what was even worse was how guilty he felt when he came out of it.

Patrick nodded as he turned a corner. "Yes. She'd said she collected enough ration cards for us all to have roast turkey. And potatoes."

"With gravy?" Liesl added, her mouthwatering at the sound of the feast.

"With gravy."

And that's it! Thank you all for going with me on this journey, as I know it was quite a bit different from your typical SoM fanfiction.

As I had indicated previously, my next multi – chapter SoM story will focus on the von Trapps trip across the Atlantic Ocean. (Crossing after the war started? Georg on a ship that he's not captaining? Seven children and a baby on a ship for two weeks? Just a couple of ideas that I could do with such a story.)

I probably won't be posting it until May, though. I'm planning on doing some major editing on one of my oldest stories after the Christmas season. And I don't think it's a good idea for me to start a multi – chapter story so close to Lent, either. (For those who don't know, I try to limit my fanfiction during that period.)