Chapter 1

" Fraulein Maria, Fraulein Maria," cried Brigitta running into her governesses bedroom.

" Brigitta? What's the matter? Why are you up so early? " said Maria, trying to go back to bed, with no luck.

" It's father. He's not getting up. " said a panic Brigitta.

" Nice try, Brigitta. First of all, you stopped with the tears and if your father was unconscious, Frau Schmidt would have been the first to have woken me up. Tell your father nice try. " said Maria, rolling back to bed.

" Night, Fraulein. " said Brigitta as she headed back to her father's room.

~ The Master Bedroom ~

" Father? " said Marta, walking over to her father.

" Yes, Marta. " said the Captain, picking up Marta, sitting her next to him on the opposite side of him.

" Brigitta says that Fraulein Maria doesn't believe you and say nice try. Why are you trying to play a joke on Fraulein Maria, Father? " asked Marta, looking up at her father.

" She did, did she? We'll just see about that. Louisa you always climbed up to get into the governesses room. How did you manage that? ' said the Captain, looking at Louisa.

" I always climbed up the trellis to get into the governesses room. Why? " asked Louisa looking at her father.

" In a dress none the less, might I add. Okay, let's try this again. This time Frau Schmidt will go in and wake Fraulein Maria up and the rest of you, except for Marta and Gretl

will stay here. Everyone stay downstairs in the living room. If Fraulein Maria asks you if you know anything tell her you already know what has happened. " said the Captain, with a devilish smile on his face.

" Alright father. But what if Fraulein Maria finds out that your just playing around and gets angry with you. Then what? " said Friedrich.

" Leave that to me. Now the rest of you go downstairs. Marta and Gretl, you know what to do, right? " said the Captain.

" Yes, father. " answered both, taking their places.

" Shall I go wake Fraulein Maria, Sir? " asked Frau Schmidt.

" Yes, Frau Schmidt. " Said the Captain, getting back in bed.

~ Maria's Bedroom ~

" Fraulein Maria, you must get up immediately. Something terrible has happened. " said Frau Schmidt.

" Frau Schmidt? What it is? " said Maria, sitting up in bed.

" It's the Captain, Fraulein. " said Frau Schmidt.

" Oh, we've already been down this road before, Frau Schmidt. I'm sure the Captain is just playing a joke. " said Maria.

" Not this time, Fraulein. I'm afraid the Captain fell from the trellis earlier today and has yet to wake up. " said Frau Schmidt.

" Are you sure? " said Maria, grabbing her robe from the chair and following Frau Schmidt to the Captain's room.

" I'm sure Fraulein. The Doctor just left himself. Marta and Grelt haven't left their father's side and the others are still downstairs. Take a look for yourself. " said Frau Schmidt, opening the door to the Captain's bedroom.

" Oh, my god. Marta, Grelt, what happened? " asked Maria, looking at the two youngest girls.

" He fell while climbing the trellis earlier. Friedrich was the one that found him. " said Marta.

" Why don't you two go back downstairs with the others. " said Maria, fighting with herself to hold back the tears.

" Will you be alright, Fraulein Maria? " asked Marta, looking at her governess.

" Yes, I'll join you in a few. " said Maria, pulling up a chair next to the Captain's bed as Marta and Gretl left, closing the door behind them.

" You old ignorant sea captain. What on earth ever possessed you climb that trellis? You better wake up sometime soon. You have seven beautiful children waiting for their father to join them again. " said Maria, getting up and walking around the room when none other the Captain himself sprung out of bed.

" What on earth? " said Maria, turning around.

" Nice Speech. I don't believe you were done thought. Maybe I should get back in bed. " laughed the Captain.

" That was not funny, Captain. You scared your children half to death. " said an angry Maria.

" The children knew I was doing this. They were in on it as well. Along with Frau Schmidt. " said the Captain.

" Next time you want to play a joke on someone, might I suggest you find someone else. I can't stand being around someone who lows playing tricks such as these. " yelled Maria, running back to her bedroom while fighting back the tears.

" Maria, wait. " said the Captain.

But it was too late, by the time the Captain had siad his last sentence Maria had already slammed the door shut and was crying on her bed.