A/N: I haven't written anything in a while and wanted another stab at it. I know the party has been the setting for a various number of brilliant stories on FF but I wanted to put my own spin on it. I'm not sure whether I'm pleased with the start of this story, but it aims to add meat to the bones of the canon plot, starting at the beginning of the party, some time before the Laendler. I hope you enjoy and please do let me know your thoughts.

"Where did you find that?"

Captain Georg von Trapp followed his friend's line of vision through the crowd of guests milling about his ballroom, but could find nothing of consequence that lieutenant Waltz might've been referring to.

"Find what?" He asked, perplexed, seeing nothing but a sea of endless ball gowns and tuxedos.

"That," Dieter reiterated, inclining his head towards something he'd spotted across the room. His eyes were dancing with a lewd sort of triumph, as though he'd discovered some kind of magnificent prize for the taking.

His curiosity getting the better of him, Georg craned his neck for a clearer look at the mysterious something that had so readily captured Dieter's beady eye. Though he was at least a head taller than most of the people Elsa had insisted on inviting into his home, his efforts remained futile. Save for the odd bald head and the ridiculously extravagant coifs of synthetic hair piled high, he could see nothing.

"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about," came his bored reply, "do enlighten me will you."

"Why, that alluring little nymph who's been minding your children all evening."

It was then that Georg's eyes settled reluctantly upon the subject of Dieter's fascination. There, leaning daintily against the French doors that led to the terrace and watching the scene before her with a childlike fascination to rival that of his youngest daughters, was Fraulein Maria. She was entirely oblivious to the gazes of the two men now watching her - one with a wolffish gleam in his eye and the other with a sudden face like thunder.

She was far too absorbed in watching the many couples on the ballroom floor engaged in an intricate step - her eyes were sparkling and the guileless smile brightening her face was enough to paint her as the perfect picture of feminine innocence. A wallflower, but an enchanting one nonetheless and - much to Georg's distinct displeasure - exactly the type of girl that lieutenant Dieter Waltz would prey on after one too many glasses of champagne.

His jaw visibly clenched.

"Her name is Fraulein Maria," he said tersely, hoping to bring an abrupt end to the conversation, "my- the children's governess."

"Wherever did you find such a thing?" The lieutenant pressed, his lecherous eyes still fixed firmly on Maria's lithe figure.

"Nonnberg," Georg gritted, reaching for a glass of much needed champagne from a passing tray and taking a larger gulp than would normally be deemed necessary.

"The abbey!" The lieutenant's eyes widened with incredulous delight, "You mean to say she's a-"

"Not yet," Georg replied irritably, predicting the question the lieutenant was undoubtedly going to ask about the Fraulein's vocation, "She won't be taking her vows until later this year. She's a postulant."

A low and devious chuckle rumbled in the leuitenant's throat, "I was going to say virgin Georg, not nun," he grinned slyly, giving the captain a sharp nudge on the arm with his elbow, "though I suppose the two go hand in hand, do they not!"

Georg felt his temper flair dangerously and was immediately confronted with the inexplicable desire to ram his associate's head into the nearest wall. Lieutenant Dieter Waltz was - and always had been - a philandering rake. Georg had known him since his very first days in the navy, back when he himself had been a young and arrogant cadet who'd shared in Dieter's love for women, drink and shameless debauchery.

But that had been a very long time ago - and while Dieter's marriage some fifteen years earlier had done nothing to alter his penchant for drink and young women, Georg's own dear wife had turned him into a better man, and he'd never looked back since. In fact, he found such behaviour to be utterly deplorable now that he'd matured - though he had the good sense to know that it was none of his business what his contemporaries chose to do behind closed doors. Fraulein Maria though, was under his protection, and he had half a mind to grab his so-called friend by the neck and show him the door. But decorum also dictated that he maintain at least the illusion of indifference in matters concerning the help - so instead he simply raised an unamused eyebrow, "Yes, I imagine they do go hand in hand."

"Well, not if I have anything to do with it!" Dieter barked devilishly, far too busy staring at the so-called nymph to notice the dangerous shadow that had darkened his host's face. When the lieutenant raised his glass flirtatiously in Maria's direction, the captain's eyes immediately flew back to the terrace to find that Dieter had somehow managed to catch the Fraulein's attention. Much to his chagrin, she was smiling back at the scoundrel - though it was an awkward smile forced out of politeness, he noticed - one that didn't quite reach her eyes. It was startlingly different to the smile that had become so familiar to him in the past few weeks - a smile that seemed to speak a thousand words without her having to say anything at all.

Her face was so wonderfully expressive that even when she was trying to hide whatever she was thinking or feeling, he could read her as if she were an open book. Or perhaps not so much a book as a fascinating novel of contradictions that had him longing to turn the next page. It had become customary for him to understand her with nothing more than a look passing between them, silent conversations that seemed to take place when no one else was looking. A shared look when the children said something amusing, a knowing roll of the eyes when Max uttered something outrageous, a challenging raise of the eyebrow when one of them dared to tease the other. It had become second nature - almost like a game between them - to decipher what the other might be thinking.

Like right now for instance - she was trying her best to mask it - but to Georg it was strikingly obvious that Dieter's scrutiny was making her extremely uncomfortable. As an arrogant man however, Dieter thought otherwise.

"Ha, you see Georg?" The lieutenant grinned slyly, sending Maria a wink from across the room in response to her smile, "there's hope for me yet. The good lord knows I do love a challenge!"

Georg gave his own dangerous chuckle through gritted teeth, all the while fighting the building urge to wring the lieutenant's neck, "the good lord will most likely smite you in your sleep if you so much as lay a finger on her."

He'd meant the threat to sound playful, witty, with just an edge of a subtle warning - but his tone must've entirely given him away, for Dieter suddenly tore his gaze from his unsuspecting prey and fixed Georg with a look of utter incredulity.

"My god," he scoffed, eyes wide, "you've dipped your rosary in the holy water haven't you!"

"Of course I haven't!" Georg spluttered, but to his mortification he felt himself reddening, "I would never do such a thing! And neither should you!"

Dieter guffawed with wicked triumph and wagged a knowing finger at his friend, "ahhh, you forget your reputation precedes you Georg. As does mine! But don't worry my friend," he tapped his nose with a grotesque wink and a sly grin, his words slightly slurred after another swig of champagne, "mum's the word. As long as you don't mind er... sharing your little prize."

Georg had heard quite enough.

"Excuse me," he growled, depositing his empty glass on a nearby table with a heavy thud and turning abruptly on his heels before he did something he might later regret.

Maria knew Captain Von Trapp well enough by now to know that something had seriously irked him. Whatever his friend's concluding words had been, they'd resurrected the thunderous expression on her employer's face that Maria herself had been privy to all those weeks ago by the lake. To any other onlooker, he might've appeared contented, even amused by the topic of conversation with his old peer - but the sudden flash of rage that had flitted across his features had been unmistakable to Maria. It was nothing more than what her employer would call a momentary lapse, a rare and fleeting glimpse into what had really been playing on his mind. And with all the good grace expected of a man of his station, he'd recovered his composure almost instantly - but not before Maria had noticed.

She'd been trying her best to keep her eyes glued to the waltzing couples, the lavish outfits, the eloquent orchestra, the breathtaking chandeliers, and of course, her seven young charges - but if she was honest with herself, it was him who'd held her attention for most of the evening. Dressed in a full suit and tailcoat with the Maria Theresian cross draped proudly around his neck, he looked every bit the fine and brave man the Reverend Mother had once described to her. He was larger than life, brilliant, imposing, and she was more than a little curious about how he would behave amongst his contemporaries. Fascinating was the word she'd use to describe him this evening, and maybe even a little intimidating - despite the fact that they'd fallen into an easy friendship of sorts these days. The passing of time and a change of heart had led them to an unspoken truce, an understanding... and yet - in some ways Captain Von Trapp was still every bit a riddle to her as he had been on the very first day they'd met.

She'd lost sight of him after he'd parted company with his friend, and since the children were preoccupied admiring the intricacies of the latest waltz, she allowed her eyes to sweep across the dance floor again, subconsciously seeking him out. Her breath caught when she finally found him - alone in a far corner of the room, leaning lightly against the wall with his long legs stretched out in front of him and his arms folded across his chest. Brooding, she realised with a hint of a knowing smile.

His demeanour was casual but his eyes were stormy, his jaw rigid - the kind of mood that would have the baroness pouting disagreeably in an attempt to coax him back into the room - and Maria wondered again what his associate might've said to unsettle him so much. She would never tell a soul, but she secretly preferred her employer like this. It was true that when he was charming and witty and intelligent, he could command the attention of the whole room in a heartbeat if he so chose. But when he was like this - dark, quiet, pensive, dangerous, and entirely unaware of it - she couldn't deny that Captain von Trapp could be utterly devastating.

As host, he should've been mingling in polite company - Leisl had told her enough about the intricacies of social etiquette for her to understand the responsibilities that would come with throwing a party of this calibre - but instead he was trying to make himself inconspicuous, as though he'd rather shrink into the safety of the walls than be part of the surrounding soirée. And her heart began to beat just a little faster at the sight of him. She watched with curiosity from afar, trying not for the first time to decipher what could possibly be going through her employer's mind. His brow was knitted slightly and his eyes were glowering through the crowd with subtle determination burning behind his scowl. It was as though he were searching for someone.

Most likely the baroness, she thought, the most bizarre sinking feeling settling in her stomach.

But then, quite without warning, his eyes locked with hers.

She was knocked momentarily breathless by the intensity of his stare and her first instinct was to look away before he caught the sudden blush colouring her cheeks. But he held her gaze mercilessly, to the point that she was entirely unable to avert her eyes. Why did he always have to catch her off guard like that? Did he know she'd been staring the whole time? The very thought was enough to make her face burn again. He was unrelenting however, entirely refusing to break eye contact - and it wasn't long before they were having another one of their many silent conversations from across the room.

What?! She asked with a defensive shrug, desperate to break the palpable tension.

I'm not best pleased, his eyes replied, his jaw cocking to the side in frustration.

What have I done now! came the incredulous expression on her face by way of response.

He raised a sardonic eyebrow. For once, Fraulein, you've done absolutely nothing!

A subtle roll of her eyes. So good of you to say so Captain!

When his expression only darkened, the playfulness in her face was instead replaced with a frown of concern.

Is everything alright? Her eyes asked, You seem-

He gave a curt nod, though his heavy scowl remained. Everything is fine, Fraulein.

But the uncertainty in her expression was so earnest that his eyes eventually softened, the previous hardness melting away to be replaced by something else. Something that set her pulse racing. Everything really is fine, Fraulein. I promise.

They simply stood staring at each other then, the sudden intimacy of the moment almost too keen to bare. Long seconds passed as they remained rooted in place, as though they could see only each other through the intermittent haze of couples that separated them. Maria wondered briefly whether anybody else had noticed the sudden shift in the atmosphere between them, or whether it was something she was simply imagining. It wouldn't be the first time that he'd rendered her mute with nothing but a look. To her, it felt as though the entire earth was falling away under her feet.

The spell was abruptly broken however by the sudden appearance of the baroness at the captain's side, her perfectly manicured hand clutching at his forearm in an attempt to pull him into a dance. Maria held her breath, confronted with a startling pang of shame, but by a stroke of luck it seemed the baroness hadn't spotted her. The captain too seemed to snap to attention upon her arrival, a look of bewilderment flitting across his face as though he'd momentarily forgotten where he was. Maria watched mutely as they exchanged a few muttered words and it wasn't long before the aristocratic mask of Austria's most loved naval hero had slipped firmly back into place. Whisked off in the direction of the ballroom floor in a flurry of coat tails and golden skirts, there was no longer any sign of the shadow that had previously darkened the captain's face.

Within seconds, the couple had disappeared into the throng. He never looked back.