It Started As A Dream Chapter 1, a sound of music fanfic

A/N: This is my gift story for laurynvi who I have had the pleasure of getting to know better over the last month or so. Laurynvi, I was told that you love the Laendler so I really hope this story makes you happy and you enjoy it very much! Merry Christmas! xx charleybec

I hope everyone else enjoys this story too. Please review! Reviews are fabulous!

It Started As A Dream

The music continued to play as they began to twirl. She'd completely forgotten there was anyone else out there on the terrace for all she knew was him, and him alone. His deep blue eyes were locked on hers: piecing, penetrating and probing into the depths of her soul.

They stopped twirling, although the music still played. Arms held high above their heads, their fingers were still intertwined – his gloved hand grasping her bare hand tightly. His body pressed hard against hers and she couldn't move, she couldn't breathe. She just knew what was going to happen next. Her heart began to race in anticipation. Yet suddenly she was frightened, but she didn't know what frightened her most - that they were going to kiss, or that they weren't?

A fraction of a heartbeat later, they let go of their hands and simultaneously their arms dropped to their sides. Instinctively she went to take a step backwards away from him but his strong hand around her waist stopped her and pulled her body closer to his.

"No," he whispered, his lips barely moving. He softly caressed her face with the back of his gloved fingertips before cupping her cheek with his hand. He tilted her face towards his. "You must allow me…" He leant in towards her, "…to kiss you…"

At that moment his lips grazed over hers with the lightest of touches. She closed her eyes, relishing in the sensation of his warm mouth upon hers. He moved in for a second kiss, this time pressing his lips just a little harder against hers. Their mouths moved slightly apart, and their tongues touched momentarily as their kiss deepened. She responded instantly, a gasp of delight escaping from her mouth. It was like she had waited all her life to be kissed like that!

She laced her arms around his neck as he slid his arms around her body. They kissed again; his tongue swirling gently against hers. His mouth was warm and sweet, tasting of the champagne he had just been drinking. She felt giddy, almost drunk herself from the sensations and feelings he was stirring inside her. She could never have imagined that kissing him would be like this.

"Maria…" he murmured as he kissed her again, "you must allow me…" another kiss, "… to tell you…" another kiss, "… just how much I love you…"

Her heart soared at hearing his declaration of love. "Oh Captain…" she whispered, opening her eyes for the first time to look at him and to declare her love for him in return.

But he was gone…

At once Maria sat bolt upright, her heart was racing and sweat poured off her body. It was that dream again. The one she'd had every night since returning to the Abbey, and every time it ended the same way: the Captain kissing her and declaring his love to her before she woke up.

Maria buried her head in her hands. What was she doing? She had gone there on God's errand, and to ask for the Captain's love would have been wrong, yet there was no denying how she felt about him. But at least back at the Abbey she would be away from it all, she would be safe, and dreams of being with the Captain would just be that. Dreams.

XxXxXxXxXx

There were so many people dancing and he found himself wandering aimlessly through the ballroom, casually tapping his gloves against his other hand as he walked. But as he approached the open French doors that led out onto the terrace, he saw her: twisting awkwardly as she tried to teach the young boy how to dance.

Feeling mischievous, he bit his lip and chuckling to himself as he effortlessly slipped on his gloves and then held one hand out to her. Without missing a beat, her warm hand was placed in his gloved one and the dance began.

Promenades, waltzes, spins and twirls – time seemed to disappear as all he knew was her and their dance of love. Her soft, lithe body was warm in his arms and the sweet smell of her perfume flooded his senses intoxicating him. He wanted and desired her more than he knew was even possible.

They spun together slowly, one arm held high above their heads while the other was laced firmly around each other's waist. His eyes locked onto hers: her beautiful blue eyes were so innocent and yet so passionate. So lost in her eyes that he hardly even realised that they had stopped spinning.

She let go of his gloved hand and both their arms dropped to their sides simultaneously. With her chest heaving slightly, she tried to step back away from him. But his strong hand around her waist stopped her and pulled her body closer to his.

He brushed his lips lightly over hers and he heard her gasp in delight as he moved in for a second kiss, this time pressing his lips just a little harder against hers. She opened her mouth slightly, inviting him to deepen their kiss and their tongues touched momentarily. She tasted sweet, like honey and chocolate and crisp apple strudel. He groaned into her mouth as she laced her arms around his neck and he kissed her again – it felt like forever since he'd kissed a woman like that. And what a woman she was! Beautiful, irresistible, tantalizing, and sexy… He wanted to kiss her again, and again, and again…

"Maria," he murmured as his lips found hers once more, kissing her deeply, "you must allow me…" another kiss, "… to tell you…" another kiss, "… just how much I love you…"

Her eyes were still closed as he waited for her response. Lips parting slightly, she began to speak, "Oh Captain…"

But then she was gone.

Sitting bolt upright, Georg's heart was racing. It was that dream again, the same dream he'd had ever since his young governess had returned to the Abbey the night of the party. And it always ended the same way: him kissing her, declaring his love for her and then her disappearing before he woke up.

Feeling disorientated, Georg took a moment to get his bearings. Blinking several times, he scanned the room around him. Bookcases, heavy dark green drapes at the windows and a large cedar wood desk in the corner – he was in his study. He could hear the sounds of knocking coming from somewhere outside the room. Squeezing his eyes closed as the last images from his dream disappeared, he ran one hand over his face as he tried to wake himself up properly.

The knocking continued and Georg groggily got up from the sofa and went and answered the door. It was Elsa.

"Georg, there you are!" she gushed before she took a hard look at him. Seeing his disheveled appearance and sleep-ridden eyes, she said, "I'm sorry, darling, were you asleep?"

Georg rubbed his eyes once more. "Yes, sorry Elsa. I think I had dozed off on the sofa. Was there something you wanted?"

"Yes, I wanted to talk to you," she answered as she swept into the room and closed the door behind her.

"What about?" Georg asked her innocently, although there were no prizes for guessing what she wanted to talk about. It was the thing that he had been avoiding for days ever since the party.

"Georg," Elsa turned and gave him a pointed look. "I think you know. And I know you've been avoiding the issue, and been avoiding me." Georg nodded, knowing she was right.

"You want to talk about marriage?" he asked with a sigh.

"Of course, darling," she replied, coming over to him and brushing his cheek lightly with her hand. "Isn't that why you brought me here? To get approval from your children before we made our relationship official?"

Georg looked at her in silence for several seconds as he wiggled the fingers on his left hand absently. "Yes, that was the plan," he paused "… originally."

"Originally?" Elsa raised her eyebrows. Georg bit down on his lip. It was no use, he thought to himself, he had to tell her. He couldn't marry her when he was in love with someone else.

Georg took Elsa's hand. "Please, come and sit down. We need to talk. When two people talk of marriage..."

But Elsa pulled her hand from his grasp and took a step backwards. It was almost like she knew what he was going to say. "No don't, don't say another word, please," she breathed, taking a moment to pull herself together. "In fact I think I realized a long time ago that this would happen. You're not in love with me, are you?" Georg shook his head slowly.

"Strangely, it's alright," she said with a sad laugh. "I thought I would be more upset, but I'm not. You see, there are other things I've been thinking of. Fond as I am of you, Georg, I really don't think you're the right man for me. You're much too independent, and I need some who needs me desperately, or at least needs my money desperately."

"Elsa…"

Elsa gave him a sad smile, her eyes glistening with tears. "I've enjoyed every moment we've had together and I do thank you for that."

"Elsa," Georg said again. "I am sorry for how this has ended, and for hurting you."

"I know, Georg," she nodded sorrowfully. She squeezed his hand. There were a few moments of poignant silence before Georg spoke again. "So, what are you going to do now?" he asked.

"Well, I suppose I'll go upstairs, pack my little bags and return to Vienna where I belong."

"All right. But Elsa, before you do, we should tell the children," Georg said. "It just wouldn't feel right for you to disappear without even saying goodbye."

Elsa nodded. "Perhaps, I could spend some time with them? They really are very enchanting children. I could play a game or something with them while you go out."

"Go out?"

"Of course," Elsa replied with a knowing smile. "Somewhere out there is a young lady, who I think will never be a nun."

"But she's back at the Abbey!" Georg protested.

"Exactly!" Elsa rolled her eyes at having to spell out each and every detail to Georg. "You should go to her and tell her how you feel."

"I will," he replied with a grin. "Thank you Elsa." Georg gave her a kiss on the cheek and had started to walk out of his study when Elsa called him back.

"Uh, Georg? May I suggest you take a shower and change your suit before going after Maria?" She scanned her eyes up and down his ragged appearance, his unshaved beard and the sleeves of his crushed shirt rolled up to his elbows.

Georg smiled. "Good idea."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Around half an hour later, Georg was freshly showered, shaved and dressed and he exited the villa through the back onto the outside terrace. His children looked miserable and they were attempting to sing for Max, although their misery made their song sound pitiful. He knew exactly why they were sad, as he missed Maria too.

Instead, he tried to be cheerful. "That sounded lovely, don't stop." He gave his children a half smile as he went and joined Elsa at the table who was looking incredibly weary after her session playing ball games with his children. Clearly Elsa and ball games did not mix, but he was grateful to her for trying.

Just as he was eyeing the jug of disgusting-looking pink lemonade, Brigitta accosted Georg. "Father? Is it true that Fraulein Maria isn't coming back?"

Georg tried hard not to look at Elsa who was giving him the eye. "Fraulein Maria?" he answered as casually as he could. "Yes I suppose it's true." Georg didn't know what else to tell the children. He really didn't want to reveal too much about his plan to go after Maria, in case he failed, so he quickly tried to change the subject. "What have we got here?" He picked up a glass of the disgusting looking pink liquid.

"Pink lemonade," Elsa replied.

"Laced with, uh… lemonade," Max added with a grimace.

Not being put off, Brigitta persisted. "I don't believe it, Father."

"Don't believe what?" he asked offhandedly.

"About Fraulein Maria," Brigitta spelt out.

"Oh Fraulein Maria!" Georg pretended to catch on. "Didn't I tell you what her note said?" He scratched his chin. "Oh I'm sure I did. She said she missed her life at the Abbey too much, she had to leave us, and that's all there is to it."

Before anyone could ask any further questions, Georg quickly changed the subject once more. "I think I'm brave enough to try some of that," he announced looking at the jug of pink lemonade in front of him.

But Georg changing the subject once again still didn't put Brigitta off. "She didn't even say goodbye."

"She did in her note," replied Georg sharply.

Brigitta protested. "That isn't the same thing."

"Not too sweet, not too sour," Elsa said as she poured Georg a glass of pink lemonade.

"Just too, uh… pink." Max commented, contorting his face strangely as he scowled down at his own glass of lemonade.

"Father." This time it was Gretl who was asking questions. "Who is our new governess going to be?"

Georg glanced at Elsa. "Well," he began as he stood up. "I'm not exactly sure."

"You're not?" asked Liesl in surprise.

"No. I still have some, er, inquiries to make regarding that. But there is something else I need to tell you all." Georg stood behind Elsa and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Baroness Schraeder has decided to return to Vienna today."

At once there were hushed whispers as the children looked wildly between each other confused and in shock. They hadn't expected their father to make that announcement.

Elsa gave the children her most lovely smile. "It has been a pleasure, children, to meet you and get to know you all. Thank you for inviting me into your home." Georg inclined his head towards Liesl purposefully. Liesl got the hint and came forward and kissed Elsa on the cheek. The other children followed before Kurt was the last one who lingered somewhat, taking his time to place not just one, but three kisses on Elsa's cheek.

As the children all moved away, Elsa whispered to Georg. "I'll look after them. Go, go and get Maria. Auf wiedersehen, darling." Georg gave Elsa a wink and discretely went back inside the house to leave for the Abbey just as he heard Elsa announce with a weary sigh that they were all going to play hide and seek.