This is my Sound of Music fanfiction that I've been working on for about 6 months. This is Part One. The Second Part, I wrote ages ago 2 years ago. But it's stuck on my ancient laptop until I can find someway to get it out, and I decided to embellish (if that's the right word maybe expand) on it.

I have tried to incorporate some true facts into it, like about Georg and his position in the Austrian Navy. Sorry if some of my facts aren't right, but my mum lost my book of the autobiography of Maria Von Trapp so I did it from memory. The stuff about the Ancshulusss (I can never spell it right) I made up, but I surmise that it did happen and it sounds kind of right.

Part One begins at the party, after the Baroness has talked to Maria and subtly persuaded her to go back to the abbey.

AN2: This is the update of Part One, I changed some of the facts, cos I found my Maria Von Trapp book, I've also added, to a small extent, what the Lemonade tastes like. Enjoy!

PART ONE

Taking the Baroness into his arms for a dance, he cringed, thinking of how his feelings for the Baroness had changed. Though they were far from love, they were still courting.

He remembered what true love was now. He felt it every time he looked at Maria.

He had started off with scolding her for not being disciplined with his children, she had reminded him so much of the wife he had once had, and he still had not put her memory to rest. And though Elsa deserved some credit, it was Maria who had rescued him from the shell that he had put around himself for protection.

Though he had never really given her a chance at the beginning, he knew his feelings for her had changed. He knew that from the dance they had shared, when he had looked into her eyes and seen how beautiful she was on the inside. He found himself smiling at the thought of it. But why did she look so troubled?

Georg looked over at Max, expecting to see Maria with him. She wasn't. Frowning with confusion, he turned back to the Baroness who was speaking to him.

'Your mind seems elsewhere, darling. I do hope you're thinking of me.' She said knowing he was thinking of Maria, observing his glance towards Max darkly.

'Of course.' He replied, giving her a stiff smile. 'Ah... looks like Max is in need of company', he said as the dance ended. 'Let's join him. He took her arm and lead her across the floor to Max.

'Now, Georg', said Max. 'When Maria gets here, we'll continue the discussion about the festival.'

'Max, don't start this again', he said wearily. 'It's getting old and I have made up my mind. There is no discussion.'

'Well, we'll see about that when she gets here, won't we?'

Max glanced up at the staircase for her. 'Where is she, Elsa?' He asked, looking at the cool, glittering face that had shown five minutes ago, a very knowing, clever smile. 'How long does it take for a woman to get dressed?'

'I don't know... She said she wanted to put some cosmetics on, you know? Give her complexion something extra.' Elsa said without a trace of embarrassment.

'She wouldn't bother about things like that', Georg said defensively.

'And how would you know that?' Asked Elsa serenely.

'Well, uh, when she first arrived here, she was wearing the most hideous dress and when I asked her about it, she told me that when she entered the abbey all her worldly belongings were given to the poor. That includes cosmetics, and having lived a year without it, wouldn't it be correct to assume that she wouldn't wear it now? I mean you only have to look at her to see how very tomboyish she is. Wouldn't you agree, Max?'

Max nodded but before he could say anything further, Franz rang the bell for dinner.

GMGMGMGMGMGM

Georg stood up at the table, full after the huge meal that Frau Schmidt had made, consisting of all his favourite Austrian foods, concluding with a large apple strudel.

He carefully tinkled on his wine glass with his fork in an attempt to get his guests attention. 'Ahem!' His guests stopped talking and turned to their host.

'I'd like to thank you for coming here this evening and allowing me to introduce the lovely lady to you', he motioned to the Baroness.

'I have enjoyed your company very much and I hope this pleasure can be repeated often. And I would like to add...that under the circumstances', he looked at Herr Zeller, 'I am very proud to be an Austrian, and that whatever may happen in the future, my loyalty for my country will never waver. Serving in the Austrian Navy and fighting on the behalf of Austria, I have learnt to appreciate her; Especially as one mistake could have proved deadly to Her and myself as we could have lost. Yet as I laid my life on the line for Austria and it's people, I have developed a strong connection to this to this beautiful country. So tonight, I would like to raise my glass in toast to Austria, and I ask you to join me in this.'

Georg raised his glass and looked pointedly at Herr Zeller. 'Long live Austria!' His strong clear voice rang out to the throng. The guests raised their glasses and in unison said 'To Austria', drinking deeply from their cup, full of pride for their country. One person however, did not. He sat on his chair, his gleaming eyes, resting upon Georg's face with contempt. Georg stared back with disdain. Elsa, not wanting to be embarrassed by their hatred for one another, put a cool hand on Georg's shoulder, bidding him to sit down. Slowly exhaling all the anger out of him, he sat down, shooting one last glare at Herr Zeller. He was smirking.

GMGMGMGMGM

Georg and the Baroness stood at the door, bidding their guests' goodbye. They were growing weary; It had been a long night.

Finally the last person came to the door. It was Herr Zeller. Mustering up all his self-control, Georg managed an obsequious smile. 'Good Evening, Herr Zeller,' he said, shaking his hand.

'Thank you for coming.' The Baroness took Herr Zeller's hand away from Georg's, preventing him from breaking Herr Zeller's fingers, which he was on the verge of doing. Herr Zeller, pressed his lips to her hand. 'It was lovely to meet you, Baroness. I don't think Captain Von Trapp deserves you.' Elsa laughed politely. 'You're too kind.'

Georg took Elsa's hand from Herr Zeller. 'Well I believe it is time for you to go now, goodbye.' Georg's patience was waning. He didn't want to lose his temper and give Herr Zeller the satisfaction of letting him know how much he irritated him. Herr Zeller walked out of the door, his cold sneer pictured in Georg's mind.

Sighing, he let go of Elsa's hand and they walked towards Max.

'Elsa,' he asked. 'What happened to Fraulein Maria?'

'Oh I don't know', she said airily. 'She must have gone to bed or something. She looked really tired and...worried...'

'Hmm' the Baron mused. 'Perhaps I should check up on her and see if she's all right.

Elsa looked at the wall, not wanting Georg to see her jealousy. Thank gosh the little minx is gone, she thought bitterly.

Georg walked over to the table and put his gloves down. He noticed a letter addressed to "Captain Von Trapp." It was written in neat but hurried penmanship, with pretty swirls in the writing. It also had some shakes in it, as though the person had written it while upset.

He quickly ripped the seal and opened it up.

To Captain Von Trapp and Family

By the time you receive this letter, I will probably be back at Nonnberg Abbey.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you before I left, but I wanted to leave without any hassles. I realised that I missed my life at the abbey too much and I know that, that is where my life lies. I had to leave and I hope you understand.

I shall miss you all. Thank you for the kindness you have shown me, and all my love to the children.

Auf Wiedersehen

Maria Rainer

Georg's eyes went downcast. She was gone!

She was gone! Why? Was it something he had said or done? Was she unhappy? He remembered the troubled look she had after they had danced. Could this be why? Elsa said she had looked worried about something. Could it be her feelings? Was she afraid of them?

He didn't believe for a second about the 'I know that is where my life lies.' Anyone could see that she wasn't suited for the life of a nun -

'Georg, what's the matter,' asked Max, noticing his friends upset face.

'Hmm... oh, it's just... uh... Well it seems that Fraulein Maria has left us.'

'What!' Both Elsa and Max looked surprised, only Elsa was concealing a sneer.

'Well, it just says that she missed her life at the abbey too much and had to leave.'

'I...hmm.' Georg looked confused.

The Baroness watched his behaviour while Max couldn't care less as he was eating another Apple Strudel that the maidservant had brought him. Georg saw Elsa watching him. He quickly glanced at his pocket watch. 'It's late, Elsa, Max. I'm going to go up to bed.' Sighing softly, Georg slowly walked up the staircase his heart heavy. His hand rested upon the ornate, gold-leafed doorknob opening it to the spacious, carefully decorated room. His walls were quite plain, but said a lot about him. There was a small picture of his late wife Agathe, a large picture of the Austrian Alps he loved so much, and one large medal hanging proudly on his wall. The highest honour that an Austrian officer can receive...the cross of Empress Maria Theresia.

Georg walked out onto the balcony breathing in the fresh Austrian air, thinking about Maria.

He never thought he could love anyone again after Agathe, but now he knew he could and did. He was quite sure she felt the same way, but he could see she was holding something back. What was it? What was it that made her leave? They were getting along nicely after they stopped yelling at each other. She had been part of their life for four months and had contributed so much to the family that it seemed like she was almost family herself...She belonged to this family...

GMGMGMGMGM

'Father?' Liesl said as Georg came downstairs for breakfast. He had circles under his eyes. 'Are you all right, father?'

He nodded. 'I'm fine, Liesl. Just tired.'

Liesl sat down and started eating.

'Shouldn't we wait for Fraulein Maria?' Kurt said with a frown.

'By the time she gets here, we'll all have grown old,' Louisa joked with a smile on her face.

Georg cleared his throat nervously. 'Actually...Fraulein Maria won't be coming down today.'

The children gasped. 'Why not?'

'Is she sick?'

'Did she have too much to drink last night?' Brigitta said with a sly smile. Georg gave his ten-year-old daughter a disgruntled look. 'Remind me to have a look at your bookshelf, Brigitta', he said sternly before turning to his meal.

'Why isn't Fraulein Maria coming down, father? Marta asked politely, sensing her fathers hidden discomfort.

Once more he was shutting them out of his life, not letting them know what was wrong. Marta was only two when her mother had passed away and hadn't fully understood why the house had suddenly gone quiet and her father so distant. But she could see some it returning and didn't like it. Not when she had just gotten her father back.

Georg turned his attention to his sixth child. 'Fraulein Maria... has returned to the abbey. She left a note. She won't be coming back.' Georg heard his voice break ever so slightly and quickly left the room with an 'Excuse me', leaving the children to talk amongst themselves. Georg stood outside the door listening to their reactions

'Oh no!'

'Why?'

'Was it something we did?'

'Was it because of Father?'

Gretl started to cry. He heard Louisa's superior know-it-all voice, 'You know how close she and father have become lately.'

'Let's go outside.' said Liesl as she saw the Baroness and Max coming in the other entrance. With a scraping of chairs, the children left the room, Liesl with her arm around Gretl.

Georg went to his study and subconsciously started to pace the room. He thought about what his observant children had said, 'Was it because of Father?

'You know how close she and father have become lately.'

Georg sat down sighing. Liesl and Louisa were very smart, taking after their mother. Liesl looked more like him though. He had been noticing his children's genetic features a lot lately, seeing bits of Agathe and himself in them. He had forgotten...

'Father?' Marta came into the study and climbed into her father's lap, giving him a hug.

'Yes, Marta? He said cheerfully.

'Don't be sad, Father. We'll all miss her too. She's almost like a mother to us.

'Yes Marta. She's very special, isn't she?

She nodded. 'Like Mother?'

Georg's blue eyes looked up at her with surprise. That was a very impertinent and prudent thing to say for a seven-year-old. He nodded.

'Can you tell me about her?'

With his little girl on his knee, he preceded to tell her about her mother.

'She was beautiful, Marta. With eyes that sparkled like the sun. When I first saw her, I thought she was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. Her father invented the torpedo and she sang at the launching of it. Her voice was sweet and clear and rang out to me; Like a siren', he joked. 'A siren is a mythical creature that uses her entrancing singing voice to captivate sailors', he added seeing his daughter's confused smile.

'But your mother was simply wonderful and kind. I wish you could have known her more, dear. She loves you, I hope you know that. Even now she is watching us from heaven, making sure everything is all right with the family.' But is everything all right with the family? He thought.

'I know, Father. You missed her when she died, didn't you? Is that why you didn't like us and went away lots?'

'Yes, and if it wasn't for Fraulein Maria I would never have opened up again. I see now, how wrong I've been in keeping myself distant from you and leaving you. She helped me see that.'

'Fraulein Maria is like our guardian angel...I wish she didn't go away.'

'There are some things we cannot change, Marta. We just have to live with it. Everything will turn out right. It may not be the way we want it to be, but it will be for the best.'

He softly kissed his daughter on the cheek, not really believing his words. How could it be for the best in the first place with Agathe dying? How could it be the best for Maria to go away? How could it be for the best when he was not even staying true to his heart...

GMGMGMGMGM

Later that night, Georg paced his study, thinking of what to say to Elsa. He had finally decided to propose to her. He thought he was doing a right thing. It was clear from his talk with Marta, that his children desperately needed a mother.

Maria...well...it was quite clear that she was not coming back. And he was going to marry the Baroness even before he had fallen in love with Maria...

'Elsa would you...umm… No.'

'Elsa I-.'

The door suddenly opened. Elsa was there.

'Sorry, I should have knocked', she said confusedly, turning to leave.

'No, it's all right, Elsa. I need to talk to you.'

They both sat down uncomfortably. 'We should talk...about us,' he worded carefully. 'Where are we going?'

Finally, she thought. Elsa looked him squarely in the eyes. 'I thought that was obvious, Georg.'

'Oh...all right then,' he fumbled.

Regaining his composure he took Elsa's hand, and quite formally said, 'Elsa, would you do the honour of becoming my wife?'

'Yes, Georg. I would.' She looked up at him, expecting to see love in his eyes as one usually did. She drooped slightly when he found he was digging in his pocket.

He pulled out a green velvety box and presented it to her. Inside was a beautiful, ornate, diamond ring. It was rather large and almost tacky, however Elsa seemed to like it. Max had helped him pick it out for her and he seemed to think that it was just perfect for her. Elsa smiled at him, and leant forward to give him a kiss. 'I love you, darling' she said, presuming him to say the same back to her.

'I love you too, Elsa.' He said somewhat reluctantly. Maybe he did love her, just not in that way. That was just too... preposterous.

GMGMGMGMGM

Georg smiled to himself as he watched Elsa play ball with his children the next morning. She was terrible at it, playing in her ritzy dress and high heels. Elsa clearly lacked the skill and enthusiasm to play; there seemed to be something wrong with the picture.

He observed his annoyed children playing around Elsa, gasping as Liesl accidentally tossed the ball into the Baroness' stomach who caught it with an exclamation. She went and sat down with Max.

Georg got a glass of water, and sat down on a chair reading the newspaper. There was an article in there about the Anschluss. It was in a small corner, and looked indistinct but the headline was more eye-catching than any other article on the page.

"Austria Dead"

'German authorities are now on alert for anyone against Hitler's regime', Chancellor Schuschnigg stated. 'I express my deepest remorse at this turn of events, but it has happened. Anyone with sense will be obedient to the Nazis or find themselves in serious trouble, as was shown last week when the Baron Schneider was shot in his villa.

God, bless you all!

Georg sighed sorrowfully. It was finally happening. In a couple of months, Austria would be dead. His homeland would be no more. This cut him more deep than anything, except... Maria leaving.

He stood up and went outside to see the children singing mournfully. One by one, the children stopped unable to keep singing.

Whoa, this was worse than he thought. It seemed that they missed Fraulein Maria as much as he did.

'They, uh, just wanted to sing for me, bless their hearts, Max explained.

'Oh, that's lovely, lovely. Don't stop.' The children didn't heed him.

'Something long and cool, Georg?' Elsa asked with a small smile.

'No thank you, darling.'

'Father?' Brigitta asked.

'Yes Brigitta.'

'Is it true that Fraulein Maria isn't coming back?'

Georg winced inwardly, wanting to avoid the subject of Maria all together. He needed to forget about her. He was going to marry the Baroness after all. He just needed a way to tell his children.

'Fraulein Maria? Yes I suppose it's true, yes.' Georg turned to the pink lemonade on the table. 'What have we got here?'

'Pink lemonade,' Elsa said airily.

'Laced with lemonade,' Max choked

Finally, he thought. Off Maria, onto lemonade.

'I don't believe it, Father,' Brigitta continued, not satisfied with his answer.

'Hm? Don't believe what, darling?' He asked, being purposefully vague.

'About Fraulein Maria.'

'Oh, Fraulein Maria. Didn't I tell you what her note said?'

Brigitta shook her head.

'Oh, I'm sure I did. She said, she missed her life at the abbey too much. She had to leave us. And that's all there is to it.' He gave changing the topic another attempt. 'I think I'm brave enough to try some of that,' he said as Elsa poured him a glass of lemonade.

'She didn't even say goodbye.' Louisa's voice sounded pained.

'She did in her note.'

'That isn't the same thing.'

Georg softened as he saw his daughter's sad expression. It seemed like the whole family was in love with her. He wanted to give Louisa a hug, telling her that it was okay to miss Maria...as he did.

The Baroness handed him a glass of the poisonous looking pink lemonade. 'Not too sweet, not too sour.'

'Just too, uh, pink,' Max said with a grim smile. Georg took a little sip. It tasted…pink. Although pink wasn't a flavour. :)

'Father?' Little Gretl spoke tentatively. 'Who is our new governess going to be?'

Georg paused in mid-sip and glanced at the Baroness, his children's future stepmother. He rose from his seat and placed his hands comfortingly on the Baroness' shoulders.

'Well...you're not going to have a governess, any more.'

'We're not?'

'No... You're going to have a new mother.'

He looked at his children and nearly laughed at their astonished faces.

'A new mother?' Liesl was shocked...and troubled. Her mother died when she was eleven, and she knew that the Baroness was nothing like her. She could never think of the Baroness as her mother.

'It was all settled last night. And we're all going to be very happy. Hmm?' The Baroness smiled at the Captain, and then turned to smile at the children. They stared silently.

Georg scowled at them and nodded. One by one the children slowly and reluctantly kissed the Baroness on the cheek.

Georg couldn't bear his children's sullen glances. He knew that they didn't like his choice to marry the Baroness.

'Well, all right, all right, now run off and play.' The children left allowing Georg, Elsa and Max to talk and relax.

GMGMGMGMGM

Georg stood on his balcony, the night air flooded through him. His children were safely back in the house after their long walk and Elsa and Max were talking quietly in the parlour about the wedding details and where they would go shopping tomorrow, and Georg was wondering whether he had made the right decision about Elsa.

It was clear that his children didn't approve of their getting married. They had never really warmed up to her. Now that he had rediscovered his children, he didn't want to make them unhappy. Nor did he want to be the one to make them unhappy. They had seemed happiest when Maria was here...as he had.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

'Georg?' Agathe came out onto the balcony in a long, white robe, slipping her arm around his waist.

'Agathe', he said softly, reaching out to touch her hand. 'Am I doing the right thing?'

'You must go to her Georg. Go to Maria.'

Georg looked startled, as he was talking about Elsa. He smiled as he realised how right she was. He should go to Maria and tell her he loved her.

'You don't mind, do you, dear?'

Agathe shook her head. 'She is wonderful, for you and our children. I love her too.' She gave Georg a soft kiss on his forehead. 'Never forget me, darling.'

'Never.' He went to kiss her. She disappeared. Georg found himself sitting on the floor sobbing. 'Agathe', he murmured. 'Agathe.'

GMGMGMGMGM

Georg woke up in thee morning, weary, but determined. He knew what he had to do now. He had always known it, but paid no heed to his heart. He had to see Maria, to know wether or not she loved him as he loved her. He couldn't marry the Baroness without first knowing if she felt anything for him.

He would go to her, and if she didn't, he would dutifully marry the Baroness; and if she did...

He quickly showered and dressed and went downstairs to his children, urging them to be quick in their daily tasks.

Georg bit into an apple for breakfast and sat down at the table to talk to his children.

'Children', he looked carefully at each one of them. 'Since you're all so upset about Fraulein Maria leaving...I have decided to take you all to Nonnberg Abbey to say a proper goodbye to her.'

'Oh!' His children's long faces turned delighted.

'I can show her my lost tooth,' Kurt whispered excitedly to Brigitta. She nodded eagerly, sharing her brother's enthusiasm. Georg cleared his throat to capture their attention.

'Now I want you to behave extra good while we are there. Remember that this is a place of God so you must be reverent and show respect.

'Elsa and Max have gone to town to buy some things for the wedding,' at this Kurt groaned. Georg ignored it. 'I want you to get dressed and ready and meet me back here in half an hour. Go!'

GMGMGMGMGM

A boat trailed slowly on the river as the Captain and his children wound up the road, walking to the abbey and taking in the scenery. The Austrian Alps stretched high and majestic, casting shadows on the vast, grassy fields. The trees danced softly in the wind as the birds flew in and out of them. The sun was high up in the sky, taller than the mountains and shone softly on them as they reached the Mountain Untensberg in whose shadow, the abbey of Nonnberg dwelt.

This was what he loved most about Austria. The nature was exquisite and wondrous. When he was standing on a mountain, it seemed that the whole world was at his feet and he felt that he could do anything. It was such a peaceful felling and one that he never wanted to forget.

The wind blew through his hair and puffing slightly, he rang the bell in front of the abbey gates. Sister Margaretta came to the gates.

'Hello, sister', he greeted her. 'I am Captain Von Trapp and these are my children.' He motioned to them. 'We would like to see Fraulein Maria.'

The nun bobbed her head to them and opened the gate. 'I'm not sure if she'll see you, Captain. Maria has been in seclusion since she came back, and hasn't been seeing anyone. Only in prayer does she speak.' She smiled sadly at the Captain and led them to the door of Maria's room. Perhaps you can cheer her up, hmm?'

Sister Margaretta knocked on the door and spoke to Maria. To think that she was just in that room. So close...

Why was she in seclusion? Was she hurt and upset? Was she afraid of...her feelings?

He felt his insides squirming. He was definitely nervous, though he would never admit it. Soon he would see her again. In actual fact he was just as excited as his children.

Gretl darted towards the door and slipped in through Sister Margaretta. He went to stop her but was too late. She gets to see Maria first, he thought humorously. (Shotgun first hug:rofl )

The rest of his children went in and he could hear exclamations from them, In amongst them he heard Maria's light, silvery, heartfelt voice as she said, 'It's so good to see you all...' Georg stepped into the room and he caught his breath as he saw Maria. She looked like an angel, her blue eyes bright and full of love towards his children. He coughed slightly and she looked up at him, her eyes widening in surprise as she caught his gaze. She looked away suddenly, embarrassed. '...And you too, Captain.' He smiled at her tenderly.