*I own nothing pertaining to The Sound of Music.*

Chapter One

It had been quite the week at the von Trapp Villa. Maria and Georg had been married the day before and the days leading up to that were just as busy. The morning after, sunlight just beginning to peek through the windows, all was still. Everyone was enjoying the last quiet hours of a peaceful sleep.

Georg von Trapp, however, being the early riser that he was, found his own contentment in the sleeping figure beside him. As far as the past five years were concerned, these had been the happiest months he could have ever expected to have again. These few moments were the most content he had ever expected to feel again.

He reveled in the feeling of waking up with his very own wife sleeping in his arms, which was something that he had longed for so much over the past months that he couldn't remember when he didn't want this, want her touch. They had been addicted from those very first embraces…

"…The children."

Maria and Georg chuckled, as he lifted his head to kiss Maria's forehead. She subsequently leaned forward into his chest, sighing contently. Maria's arms wrapped around his back and pressed him to her. Georg cradled the back of her head gently, stroking her soft blonde locks.

"Oh, Georg," she sighed.

"Maria," he breathed as he reached down to cup her chin and will her to look at him. "Are you sure?"

"About you?" He nodded. "Of course, Georg, I love you too." She found it hard to suppress a sob, but Georg felt her back begin to shake and led her to sit on the bench.

"Come, my love. What is it?"

"I just can't believe this. Beyond my dreams, I could never imagine we would be here, like this." She calmed down a bit and took his big hands in her smaller ones. "Are you sure about me?"

"With all my heart." Georg reached up to stroke her cheek. "Before you, I never counted on being this happy with someone ever again. But here you are, this breath of life that healed my heart, only to steal it away again," he said with a chuckle and a tap on her nose. "I can't imagine my life without you now. Or my children's lives. We are a family again, because of you. I love you. And will always love you for as long as I live."

Overcome with emotions, Maria could only lean forward to rest her head against his shoulder. Georg sighed and brought his hand up to rub her shoulders. After a few long moments, he kissed the crown of her head and willed her to look up at him. "It seems to be getting a bit chilly, we should get inside." Offering no refusal, Maria stood up with her arm naturally wrapping around his waist, and his arm around her shoulders.

They began strolling along the lake leisurely, eventually reaching the gates to the water. At this spot, Maria stopped, chuckling.

"Is there something amusing, Fräulein?"

"Not really, Captain," Maria replied. "Only the complete irony that only a short time ago, in this very spot, the last thing I would have ever imagined was to be back here with you, in complete, mutual love."

"Well then, I must agree with you there. Times change so quickly, don't they?" Georg fell silent for a moment, contemplating something. Finally, he looked into Maria's eyes, sighing contently. "And there is a time for realization, as well as redemption." Here, he pulled a small, velvet box out of his pocket and dropped to one knee, causing Maria to gasp.

"You've given me that chance for redemption, Maria. Something I never thought possible. In life, my children, and in love. I love you so much, Maria, and nothing will ever change that. I promise I will never be that monster you saw in this place all those weeks ago. I want to show that to you with this moment, in the same place, right now. Please, my love, if you will allow me to love you for all the days to come, will you be my beautiful, beloved wife?"

Choking back a sob, Maria replied with a heartfelt "yes," falling down onto Georg's knee and crying into his shoulder. After a few moments had passed, she lifted her head and kissed his cheek. Georg felt his cheeks redden a bit at the chaste, yet heartfelt gesture. Georg replied with a gentle kiss to her lips, full of the promise he had just made her.

He took the ring out of the box and as he lifted her hand said, "This belonged to my grandmother. It wasn't her engagement ring, but one my grandfather gave her after 45 years of marriage. I couldn't think of anyone else more worthy of wearing it." He slipped the ring onto her slender finger, which it fit perfectly.

"Oh, Georg. It is… Just… So beautiful. I love you."

"And I you, Maria."

"Good morning, my Captain."