Author's Note: Okay, so after quite some time I have decided to re-upload and continue this fic! I have re-written it because I feel I am a bit of a better author now and I hope that you all enjoy! x

Maria was unable to suppress the sigh that left her when she was standing in the corner of the decorated hall with a glass of port in her hand one evening and she watched her father's guests waltz around the room to the soft music that the string quarter were playing, her heart aching as she could see the love on the faces of each couple while they danced to the music and she knew that she was never going to know how it felt to have a man look at her with such adoration in his eyes.

She had had numerous suitors over the last couple of months and yet she had never been able to stand a single one of them. She had never been allowed to make her own choices; her father was the one who found men - who were sometimes twice her age - for her to court and it was out of the question for her to ever refuse. Every man that she had been forced to start a relationship with had either been cold or unfeeling towards her; had only courted her so that they had had a woman to show off at parties - and now that she wasn't a child anymore, she longed to fall in love with a gentleman. A real man.

She just wanted a man who would love her, be gentle with her and treat her with the respect that she knew she was entitled to. Was that too much to ask?

'And what is such a charming little Fraulein like yourself doing stood alone in the corner at a party?' She glanced up from the glass of port in her hand to see a young man with fair hair standing in front of her and she had to fight against the urge to roll her eyes as she knew that her father had sent him over to attempt to win her over. 'You can't wear a dress like that and not show it off. How about we have a dance together, hmm?'

'I won't if you'll forgive me, I'm...uhm...feeling rather tired this evening and I think I would like to just stand and watch.' She told him as she leaned back against the wall, her heart against her ribs when the older man took a step closer to her and rested his hand on her hip through her dress. 'Please take your hand off of me, Sir, or I will have to inform my father. You do not have the right to put a hand on me without my permission.'

'I will,' He growled, 'when you admit you want to dance.'

'But...but I don't want to dance.' She reminded him as she pressed one hand against his chest and tried to push him off of her, her heart pounding harder when he trapped her against the wall.

He looked at her in silence for a moment. 'You are so beautiful.' He told her before he lowered his gaze to her lips and brought it back to hers again, Maria's eyes widening when he took her face in his hands and leaned in towards her before beginning to steal a languid kiss from her. It was just moments before he was torn off of her via the collar of his jacket and brought to face an immaculately dressed Naval Captain who's eyes were almost black with anger. Excuse me,' The fair-haired man hisses while scowling at him, 'but I believe you're interrupting something.'

'And I believe,' The Captain snarled, 'you piece of filth, that this young woman has told you to leave her in peace. You asked her to dance; she refused, now back off and take your wounded pride with you.'

'I don't think I can do that.' The younger man tutted in response before turning his head in the direction of Maria who appeared to still be in shock. 'She's far too enchanting.'

The Captain gave him a shake via the lapels of his jacket to gain his attention again, the anger still evident in his eyes as he edged his face closer to his. 'If I see you anywhere near her again for the rest of the evening; if I see you so much as looking in her direction, I will make you regret it. I will drag you through this hall - in front of all of these people - and throw you out of those doors before you've even had the time to finish the rest of your port, so you'll back off and leave her be if you know what's good for you.' The fair-haired man looked at him in silence for a couple of seconds before shoving him off, his lips curving up into a smirk when he gave Maria a wink before straightening his jacket and walking over to the drinks table.

'Are you okay?' The feeling of the Captain's hand on her shoulder was what brought Maria out of her thoughts after a time, a soft gasp escaping her as she looked up into his eyes.

'I am now, thanks to you,' She managed to offer him a smile in response, 'but there was no need for you to do that, Sir, I'm used to it now. Men...men are always forcing themselves on me.'

The Captain sighed. 'You shouldn't have to be used to being treated like that. This is your home and you should be able to stand wherever you like without wondering when the next man is going to approach you. These people might be your father's guests, but when they are under this roof they should treat you with the same respect that they do him. What that man just did to you was despicable.' Maria lowered her gaze to his chest when she felt a single tear scroll down her cheek, her heart fluttering within her chest again when she felt the Captain hook his finger underneath her chin and lift her head until he was able to look into her eyes again.

As she looked into his eyes she didn't feel nervous as she had done with the man before him. His touch was tender whereas the other man's touch had been demanding. She soon found herself becoming lost in his eyes as he used his thumb to wipe the tear off of her skin. No man had ever been so gentle with her - not even her own father. 'I...I'm sorry.' She whispered before reaching up to take hold of his wrist and remove his hand from her cheek once he had lingered for longer than was considered appropriate, a sigh escaping her as she ran her thumb across his knuckles before letting go of his hand. 'This war has been dreadful and you've been through hell and back for the last four years. This party was thrown to lift your spirits, but instead of making the most of it you're standing here with me whilst I complain. Perhaps I am as inconsiderate as father says.'

She tucked a strand of blonde hair back behind her ear as she averted her gaze from his, sucking on her lower lip when she placed her glass down on the table beside her and wiped underneath her eyes before smiling as she looked up at the Captain again. 'Thank you again for coming to my defence and for putting that horrid man in his place. I really am so grateful...' She cocked her head to one side, silently asking for his name.

'Georg.' He smiled. 'Georg von Trapp.'

'Thank you for coming to my defence, Georg.' A blush bloomed in her cheeks as she clasped her hands in front of herself. 'It's refreshing to know that there are still some decent gentleman who survived the war.'

He couldn't take his eyes off of her. 'She's the most beautiful girl in the room.' He thought as they looked at one another. 'I couldn't just stand there and do nothing while he did that to you...'

'Maria, Sir.' She giggled. 'Maria Augusta Rainer.'

'A charming name,' He took a step closer to her before giving her the softest of pecks on the cheek, 'for an equally charming young woman.'

The sound of the string quartet starting up again was what caught their attention a short time later, her lips curling up into a smile when she recognised the tune. 'The Laendler...' She sighed. 'Oh, I love the Laendler.'

'Would...would you care to dance?' He asked while proffering his hand to her.

Maria thought for a moment as she looked at his hand, her eyes sparkling when she lifted her gaze back to his. 'There is nothing that I would care to do more.' She told him as she took his hand in hers.

She then allowed him to lead her into the centre of the room where the other dancers were gathering before he bowed and she curtsied, the two of them sharing a smile when they began to dance together. The the two of them it seemed as though everyone else in the room vanished as he span her around and they danced circles around one another; it seemed as though they were the only two people in existence when he drew her close and held one arm behind her back, the other held above her head as time appeared to stand still and their gazes locked. Her chest was pressed flush against his own. She had never been held so intimately before.

Their closeness was delectable.

When she felt him draw her even closer - if that was possible - a few seconds later she sighed in contentment. It was only when she began to study his features that she realised just how gorgeous he was. There were scars from the war, permanent reminders of the nightmare he had lived through, dotted over his face: one just beneath his bottom lip, one beside his eye and a long one down the right side of his face to name a few, but she found him all the more attractive for that. She didn't see his scars as something that he should feel ashamed of; she didn't see them as ugly, she saw them as something that he should be proud of. To her they were like badges of bravery; an everlasting reminder of how brave he had been over the last four years - a permanent reminder of how hard he had fought for their country.

The sound of applause was what brought her back to the present after a time, she and Georg releasing the other's hands before she stepped back from him to make some space between them. 'Well, Captain von Trapp,' She laughed as the guests began to talk among themselves again, 'I must say that you make quite the dance partner.' Georg shook his head as he chuckled before he took her gloved fingers in his hand.

'As do you, Maria.' He smiled before kissing the back of her palm.

She felt the familiar fluttering of her heart start again when he released her hand and met her gaze, her cheeks burning as she rubbed at the side of her neck. 'I think I'm going to step out onto the terrace for a couple of minutes.' She told him. 'It's beginning to get quite warm in here.' After offering him another smile she turned on her heel and walked through the hall, Georg sighing as he watched her walk through the double doors.

She was perfection personified.

It was a little while later when she was stood out on the terrace as she looked out over the grounds of her father's villa, her hands resting on the balustrade as the breeze swept through her hair like a kind hand. It was at times like this - times when she felt troubled - that she wished her mother was still alive because she would know the exact words to say and guidance to give to help her feel better and make sense of her feelings.

She had known this man for five minutes and yet she was still unable to stop her heart from racing whenever he looked at her. His touch had been so gentle when he had led her through their dance - he had treated her as though she had been made of glass; as though she would shatter if he had been too careless with her, and she had not-so-secretly adored every single moment of it.

As a little girl her mother had read stories about princesses who fell in love with their princes at first sight to her at bedtime. When she had gotten older, she hadn't deemed it to be possible for a person to fall so in love with someone in such a short amount of time, but now she found herself questioning whether or not that had just happened to her. She knew that there was a large age-gap between them; she had turned nineteen a few weeks ago and he must have been in his early thirties at least, but she hadn't cared about that when she had been dancing with him.

Out of all of the men that she had ever danced with, he had treated her with the most respect. All of the other men had always tried to push their luck; had tried to kiss her or had allowed their hands to roam, but he hadn't. She knew - even though she had just met him - that he was a gentleman through and through. She turned in place at the sound of one of the double doors opening, a smile gracing her features as she watched Georg step out onto the terrace and close the door again before walking over to her. 'I need you to trust me, Maria.' He told her, his tone series and his voice quiet as he stopped in front of her and looked into her eyes.

Her brow creased. 'What do you mean? What's happening?'

'That piece of filth won't stop looking at you and I can't bear the thought of him hurting you,' He told her as he took her waist in his hands, 'so I'm going to kiss you to make him back off.'

'Goodness...'

'I'm not going to hurt you or take advantage.' He soothed. 'I'm doing this to keep you safe.'

Maria nodded as her cheeks burned.

He removed one of his hands from her waist and brought it to her face before cupping her cheek in his palm and brushing his thumb against her skin, the hand that was still on her waist drawing her close. He was able to feel her breath tremble against his face when he leaned in, his eyes closing when he captured her lips with his in a soft kiss. He gave her several kisses before she began to return them, her hand coming to rest on his chest as she followed his lead. She allowed him to lace his arms around her waist as the two of them sank into their kiss, a smile appearing on her lips when he held her flush against him and her hands ventured up his chest before she wound her arms around his neck. Georg opened his eyes for just a moment to ensure that the fair-haired twit who had treated Maria like dirt earlier that night had disappeared, satisfied at the sight of him talking to someone on the other side of the hall.

As he drew out his kisses for a few moments longer he noticed just how smooth Maria's lips were; how her body moulded so well against his that she could have been made for him, and he felt himself becoming all the more drawn to her as he cupped the back of her head in one hand. 'Maria.' The sound of her father's voice prompted them to part, Maria turning to her father once she had unwound her arms from around Georg's neck.

Now she was in trouble.

'Yes, father?' She was still rather breathless as she looked at him.

'It's late.' He said. 'I want you to go to bed.'

'But...but it's only just gone eleven.' She pointed out.

'Yes, I'm aware,' He admitted, 'but I've just told you to go to bed and that's that.'

'Yes, father.' She sighed as her face fell before she turned to Georg, rose up onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. 'Goodnight, Georg.'

'Goodnight, Maria.' He rested his hand on her lower back which made her smile.

She then began to cross the terrace towards the double doors, her father seizing her wrist before she could go inside. He then offered her his cheek before she rose up onto her tiptoes and kissed it. Once she had gone inside and had crossed the hall in order to go upstairs to her bedroom, her father ventured further out onto the terrace before closing the doors behind him. 'What made you believe that you had the right to come out here and put your hands on my daughter?' Werner asked as he looked at him, Georg's frustration towards him increasing. If he was honest, he had never been all that fond of the man.

'Don't you dare lecture me.' He shook his head. 'At least I treated Maria with respect. I made her feel like the beautiful young woman I know she is, which is more than any of them men you've been setting her up with have done. Do you know how terrified the man you sent to her made her tonight? He was pinning her against the wall and she was in tears when I went over thee and ever since I've been wondering why I had had to be the one to step in. You should have been the one prising that man from her; you should have been the one comforting her afterwards, but you weren't. I've been keeping her safe all night while you've been drinking champagne and smoking and not caring about a thing. She's your daughter, for crying out loud!'

'I would watch how you speak to me, Captain.' Werner growled. 'I can have you thrown out of this building in seconds.'

Georg scoffed. 'You don't deserve to have a woman like Maria for a daughter. She must be one of the most captivating women that I have ever met - both inside and out. She's humorous, she's full of compassion, she's gentle and she deserves better. If you continue to set her up with men who want one thing and one thing only from her, then all you're going to do is ruin her. She needs a man who loves her and wants to protect her with his whole being; she deserves that. How come I can see what a delightful young woman she is and yet you can't?'

'You don't know her.' Werner told him. 'You don't know a thing about her.'

'I don't have to.' Georg retorted, anger in his own voice. 'Anyone can see how incredible Maria is.'

Werner fell silent for a moment as he glared at him. 'Get out, Captain.'

'With pleasure.' Georg replied before walking over to the double doors.

'And know this.' Werner said before he went inside. 'You and Maria will never see one another again.'

Georg chose not to respond to him, but he couldn't remove the smile from his lips as he walked back into the house because he knew in his heart that he and Maria would see each other again. He would do everything in his power to hold her; to kiss her again. It didn't take him long to leave Werner's and start walking down the drive, his brow creasing when he heard Maria calling his name. 'Up here!' She giggled once he had turned around, Georg looking up before he saw her sitting in one of the windows. 'Has the party ended? Why are you leaving?' He could see the confusion on her face.

'Your father made me leave because I told him how incredible you are.' He rolled his eyes as he called back.

Maria sighed. 'I'm sorry.'

'It was worth it.' He admitted. 'I meant everything I said to him, too.'

She felt her cheeks burn. 'Will I see you again?'

'That depends,' He teased, 'do you think you'll have some free time tomorrow afternoon?'

'I might do.' She smirked. 'What do you have in mind?'

'Just meet me at the tearoom in the town centre at 1:00 and you'll find out.' He replied.

'I'll be counting down the hours.' She reassured him. 'Goodnight, Georg.'

'Goodnight, Maria,' He tipped his hat to her, 'sleep well.'

He then turned on his heel as Maria closed her bedroom window.

Unbeknownst to one another, the same smile spread across both of their face.

'When are you going to learn to grow up?' Her father barked later that evening.

'I have grown up!' She retorted as she stood before him in her nightgown, her hair hanging loose.

'So you think kissing a man you just met out on the terrace is a smart thing to do, do you?' He asked.

'At least he didn't shove me up against the nearest wall and force me to kiss him!' She exclaimed. 'I knew that I was allowed to refuse to kiss him if I wanted to, but that's just it,' She smiled to herself. 'I didn't want to refuse him. I wanted Georg to kiss me. All night long he made me feel so beautiful; he made me feel so good about myself and I loved it.' She took a step closer to her father as a sigh escaped her. 'Father, I love you, you know I do. I know you think that you're helping me by choosing men for me to court, but you're doing the opposite of that! The men that you choose frighten me and they're far too forward with me. The man you chose tonight held me up against the wall to kiss me!' Karl folded his arms across his chest. 'When I enter a relationship I want it to be with a man I cherish.'

Her father stood in silence for a time as he looked at her. 'You aren't mature enough to choose your own suitor.' He told her. 'If I allowed you to choose your own suitor, you would choose the first man who was nice to you. It would end in disaster and there is no way that you would be happy with him.'

'Is that what you think of me?' She felt her annoyance rising. 'Do you honestly think I'm that shallow?'

'At the moment, yes.' He admitted. 'And I will continue to think that of you until you prove to me that you are not.' He watched as Maria dropped his gaze and fixed her own upon the cream-coloured carpet. 'Now,' He stepped closer to her before kissing her on the forehead, tears sparkling in his daughter's blue eyes when he took her chin upon his index finger and lifted her gaze to his, 'you're tearful because you're tired, so I want you to close those curtains and get some sleep, Maria.'

'When are you going to stop treating me like a child?' She whispered.

'When you stop acting like one.' He told her bluntly. 'Goodnight.'

He then turned on his heel before making his way across the bedroom towards the door, a tear dancing over the curve of Maria's cheek when he closed the door behind him and she walked over to her curtains to close them as he had requested. She didn't know why she had expected him to listen to her when he had entered her room after the guests had left; he hadn't listened to a word she had said ever since her mother had passed away several years earlier. It was like she didn't matter to him.

She had adored him as a child and she knew that she had been one of the most precious things in all the world to him when she had been a little girl, but that had all changed after her mother's death. She knew that – if her mother was still living – her father never would have started setting her up with men. She knew that her mother never would have allowed him to do it and if the idea had so much as crossed her father's mind then her mother would have given him a thick ear. Oh, how she missed her.

Once her curtains were closed and she had turned out the main light so that the only light came from the lamps on the nightstands at either side of her bed, she crossed the room towards her bed before drawing back the covers and climbing in. She then opened the drawer of her nightstand before pulling out a beautiful picture frame, a smile spreading across her lips as she lay down with it and gazed at the woman in the picture. 'I wish you were here.' She whispered as she ran the pad of her thumb along the glass pane. 'You would know what to do.' She then pressed the gentlest of kisses onto her mother's forehead, the glass cool against her lips before she set the picture frame down beside her and allowed her eyes to fall closed as she snuggled down beneath the floral covers.

'Things will look better in the morning.' She told herself. 'They have to, right?'

Author's Note: Thank you all for reading chapter one and I hope you will all review to let me know what you think or just to tell me to quit whilst I'm ahead, hehe :) Please follow also so that - if you enjoyed this chapter - you won't miss out on future updates! Thanks for all of your support, guys! xx