Disclaimer: All characters belong to Meredith Willson. No profit is intended from this short little fluff. Just a little something from my mind about a movie I love.

Settling in to River City

It was finally all out in the open. His identity had been revealed. No more secrets. No more pretending to be a leader of a band. No more Professor Harold Hill.

But truth be told, he had led a band. And, he was Harold Gregory Hill. Maybe he wasn't a professor just yet, but with time he could gain experience. And with a little bit of help from a certain librarian, he could become one. After all, he was Harold Hill. He could do just about anything he put his mind to. He had proved that time and scheme again.

But more importantly than losing the title in front of his name, more shocking than having his scheme made known, was the fact that he had found love – true love – in the midst of all the River City chaos. Just when he thought everything was under control and the train was rolling full-steam ahead –that was the moment Cupid's arrow had decided to take aim at the world-savvy con man and derail the shyster's carefully laid plan, turning the glib-tongued salesman's world upside-down. But he didn't mind, and perhaps that was the biggest surprise of all.

He had, in essence, been brought down to the level of the ordinary, working-class man by – of all things – the innocence and faith of a librarian who, despite knowing he was crook from almost day one, had still found it in her heart to love him. It had been that moment of realization – that someone loved him for who he truly was – that he realized the games, the tricks – none of it mattered anymore.

So here he was now, standing outside the River City library, patiently awaiting on his maid Marian – his, he liked the sound of it – to shoo out the last of the patrons and meet him so he could escort her home.

It had only been a few short weeks since Charlie Cowell's entrance into River City had stirred up a ruckus unseen since Farmer Thompson's crazy bull got loose in 1908. But to Harold Hill, it seemed like an eternity had come and passed.

He watched from the bottom of the stairway as Marian Paroo checked the darkened building one last time before leaving the likes of Chaucer, Rebalais and Balzac for the evening. She gave the maple wood doors a final tug, confirming that they were indeed locked, before turning around to see Harold waiting at the bottom of the steps for her.

"Top of the evening to you, Miss Paroo!"

"Harold," she rolled her eyes as she made her way down the steps, a smile breaking across her face. "You sound so silly calling me that."

"I'm glad you find it silly rather than annoying, my dear." He took her gloved hand and slipped it through the crook of his arm. "A month ago, you would have thrown stones at me."

She glanced at him as they began to walk down the street. "A month ago you would have deserved it."

"True," he chuckled. "But now?"

She laughed. "I'm not certain."

"I'm wounded Madam Librarian. Wounded." He brought a hand to his heart.

"I daresay you're not." Her eyes twinkled.

"Hmm. Perhaps you're right," he conceded her with a mischievous gleam in his own eyes. Content to feel the warmth of her hand against his coat, he fell silent for a few moments simply enjoying the cool night air and his companion's presence. As they passed through the center of town, he smiled as he caught sight of the large statue of the town's best-known patron. He would be eternally grateful to it. That was when he had first laid his eyes on a certain librarian. Chuckling aloud, he placed his free hand over Marian's and gave it a squeeze. Marian smiled, almost certain at what he was thinking, and inched a little bit closer toward Harold. As they rounded the corner from the square and ambled along Elm Street, Harold spoke.

"I think I might finally have found a place to call home."

"Really?" Marian's eyes lit up in pleasure. She had made several inquiries about possible places for him to live, because as she told him time and time again, he couldn't stay at the boardinghouse forever. And although everyone was happy to offer River City's newest citizen lodging, Harold had politely declined telling them that he was content at the boardinghouse for the time being.

Privately, Harold had confided to her that after all these years on the road, he wasn't used to having an established address. He assured her that he would eventually find a place to call his own, but had asked for her patience as he adjusted himself to the idea. Hearing this new development, Marian couldn't help but be elated. This was an enormous step for Harold, and it told her that he was finally putting down roots in River City.

"Well, Marcellus has this place –"

"Above the livery?"

"No," he shook his head. "It's a little house on East Elm."

"But why doesn't he want to use it?" she asked in confusion. "I was under the impression that he and Ethel were becoming rather serious."

"He said something about it not being large enough." He shrugged. "Whatever the reason, I stopped by this morning and looked at it."

"And?"

"It seems perfect. Nice and cozy, but still big enough to be comfortable if say, oh, a certain librarian and her family were to come and visit, maybe stay for dinner." He gave her his trademark sly grin that had a way of wooing more than just the librarian in River City.

"Harold," she blushed. "You're incorrigible."

"I've been called worse."

"I can only imagine," she remarked dryly.

"Ah, but that's all behind me, Madame Librarian. Things of the past," he told her patting her hand. "Things of the past."

"I'm glad," Marian told him earnestly as they rounded the corner. A soft light from the front porch spilled onto the sidewalk that ran in front of her home.

"So am I," Harold remarked truthfully. He opened the gate and ushered her to the front steps. "As much fun as I had pulling the wool over- ah," he stopped as he caught the disapproving glance Marian cast his way. "I meant that while getting to see much of our great nation was interesting," he amended with a cough, "the benefits of settling down far outweigh the traveling I've done." He gave her a smile.

She raised an eyebrow and gazed at him for a moment before allowing her lips to turn up into an amused smile. "Nice save, Professor."

"I thought so," he laughed lightly and reached for her hand, bringing her to a halt on the second step. Turning her towards him, he smiled and nodded his head to yard behind him. "Do you think it'd be respectable to join me on the swing for a few moments?"

"Perfectly respectable," she agreed, lacing her fingers with his and leading him to the faded white swing, content to enjoy the night air and gaze at the stars which had granted her wish for a someone to say goodnight to.

To be continued …