A/N: A quick one-shot about the Laendler. Italics are Marias P.O.V. Read and review, please. I love reviewers.

A dance is only a few small steps put into order to make one cohesive flowing movement of expression. A dance is only a way for two bodies to join in a few moments together. A dance is only that, a dance.

Then why should this dance feel so different? With this woman in my arms? Her quiet grace, her poise, her confident movements that suddenly turn tentative, as if she's scared of what she's doing. I wish to reassure her somehow.

These few steps in which we express ourselves are a few steps into a new life for us. I've never touched her before, and she's never reached for my hand, knowing that I'll take it.

Our two bodies connect, each knowing what steps the other is about to take, each preparing for it. We seem to instinctively know the other's failing, and make up for it with our own strength. Then this dance is something more.

It is not a dance. It is not just an expression. It is not anything that can be described. We move together, like we were meant to do this one thing, and we are doing it so well that no one else could have been meant to do it.

She looks up into my face, and steps back. The dance ends for us, the music plays on. She is frightened once more, the quickness of her step, the confidence in herself gone. Her face flushes, she is scared of what this meant.

He asked me to dance. I took it innocently, and accepted. But then he took my hand, and my heart fluttered. He faced me, and smiled, and my whole body felt weightless. And then we set off, and I no longer had any thoughts. I was simply gazing in his face, getting constant reassurance that this was right, and giving him a smile, to let him know I understood.

The dance was something more than simply a folk dance. It felt more elegant, and supremely beautiful than any other folk dance ever could.

But maybe that's because it was him. And maybe it's because he was holding me. Holding me. Just thinking that sends thrills all through me. Even though my life should belong to the abbey, and to God, I can't help feeling that after this dance, some of my life will belong to him. I know it's wrong, and I know that I should somehow stop this, but I don't think I can, and I also know that I don't want to.

Perfection is as close a word as any to describe what's happening. Just the two of us. I hardly remember that the children are watching. But when I do, I have to stop, because I wonder what they are thinking.

I almost kissed her when she stepped back. Maybe she knew, and maybe that's why she stopped. Maybe it was for the best. The children were awestruck. Perhaps they always wanted something like this to happen. For Maria...I mean, the Fraulein and I to fall in love. But I have no business falling in love. I'm engaged to another beautiful woman, and my heart belongs to her. Even if I do marry the Baroness, some of my heart will stay here, in this moment, with Ma- the Fraulein. That moment was perfect in ever facet, in every moment. I never wanted it to end.

Elsa enters my vision, and I almost curse her for ruining the splendor of it all. Maria flees with the children, and sorrow enters my consciousness.

His fiancé comes. I know now that I was imagining whatever I felt. He must not care in that way for me, or else he would have sent her away. I do see sadness in his face, and I wish that I could tell him not to feel badly. I know where his priorities lie, and I know that he and I...well, we can never be his top priority, as I am in his employ.

Love is something I always wanted to know. And in this moment, I think I felt it. I will always be grateful for the dance.

Some say a dance is only a dance. But this dance was something more than that. It was a moment that the two of us shared, a moment that existed only for us. A moment where we felt love.