A.N.: Hi, sorry for the delay. I finally got round to uploading this and hopefully chapter three will be up with less of a wait. Thank you so much for baring with me! As always I own nothing of the sound of music (though I wish I did). Please review, your thoughts are most appreciated... I do this cos I love it. Xx

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"It'll be my first party father!" Gretl disappearing backwards out of the door behind Maria snapped Georg from his daze.

'Oh my God!' His insides began to churn, the normally composed and regimented captain had been so lost in the moment that he didn't even realise what he was agreeing to...

'What have I done!?' Now with the children so excited it was already too late to take it back. A party, he couldn't imagine anything worse. Mere days ago he would have been more than ready to introduce the infamous Baroness to his friends and acquaintances, but now...

"Darling, this is so exciting" the shrill voice cut through his thoughts, his eyes rolled automatically, something which he had been noticing a lot as of late.

"Oh don't keep doing that Georg" apparently so had someone else "it really is extremely unattractive."

"Sorry dear" the apology came despite the fact that his mind had wandered to the numerous times that troublesome governess had rolled her eyes at him. And yet, he now found it remarkably endearing, not at all unattractive. He glanced to where she had been stood just moments ago and with her absence Georg felt a twinge of sadness, a desperation just to see her face. Maria had a way of calming him down and winding him up all at the same time and if it was the last thing he ever did, Captain Georg Von Trapp would get to the bottom of why.

While Georg had been musing, the baroness and sat herself down beside him. As her hand came to rest on his knee, the Captain was acutely aware of how firm it was. It wasn't the soft, affectionate touch of a besotted wife to be (even though she was not that yet). No, this was almost possessive and he couldn't help but wonder if she had noticed the exchange between himself and the governess. If Elsa had indeed noticed then any action which put him near Maria would raise, if not confirm any suspicions she might have. But Georg wasn't sure he cared, he needed to be nearer to her than he was right now.

"I think I might join the evening routine and say goodnight to my children for once" Georg said, standing from the sofa.

"But Georg? You never say goodnight, this is time for you to spend alone with me" Elsa battered her eyes at him, causing him yet again to hold back a roll of his eyes.

"Max is sitting right there Elsa, he will keep you entertained I'm sure"

"Ah indeed, my skills put to good use here" Max was becoming increasingly aware of his friends tension with the woman he could only really call his acquaintance

"Georg please, this is ridiculous you..."

"Elsa!" His eyes were fierce and even a woman of such high standing as the Baroness knew she had no right to question him further.

As Georg left the room the Baroness sighed. She knew that there was no love between the two of them but she had hoped that as friends she and the Captain could learn to love one another. But if Georg's heart belong to someone else, what could she do? She wasn't sure she wanted to do anything, after everything Georg had been through, after everything she had been through; they both deserved a little happiness. For now she was content to be here, experiencing the life that could have been hers, it was like a scene from a play; she needed to wait to see what would happen next and she would be watching very closely.

Georg had made his way up the stairs, surprised by the quietness that surrounded the upper floors. Whatever Maria did with the children work a charm. As he neared the youngest children's bedroom he slowed. Drifting through the half open door was the sweet sound of Maria's voice singing, was it a lullaby? No, it sounded more like a love song! Georg stopped, holding his breath, his heart racing as the words overtook him...

"Love, is so hard to find,

But when I close my eyes I find you,

If You'd only open up the door,

Let me through..."

It was so beautiful, Georg was mesmerised. Closing his eyes and letting everything disappear so there was nothing but her voice, he saw her...

"Love, has never called my name"

She walked towards him, timid but when his name fell off her lips, timidness turned to boldness.

"But when I close my eyes I see your face,"

She was stood inches from him, so close he could feel her breath tickling the skin at the corner of his mouth. Her eyes burning into his, so much unsaid and still she said nothing.

"There is nothing left to say,"

He didn't want to speak, but God knows did he want to show her exactly how she made him feel.

"Show me that you feel the same"

His eyes shot open, Georg shook his head. If he hadn't known better he'd have thought she was trying to tell him something, but she didn't even know he was there. He walked the rest of the way to the door and gently pushed it open being careful not to make a sound. Maria was knelt by the side of Gretl's bed, her eyes closed as his had been just moments before and he found himself wishing that she was seeing what he had seen.

Maria finished the song and without opening her eyes her mouth formed a gentle smile.

"Try not to wake them Sir" she opened her eyes and looked to where he was stood in the doorway with a flabbergasted look on his face. Maria giggled quietly and stood to her feet, moving past captain as he went to kiss each of his children on the forehead and then rejoined her outside the door. Reaching to close the door Georg caught his breath as Maria's hand landed on top of his own. Realising she must have reached for the door at the same time, he expected her hand to disappear just as quickly as it had come. But as the seconds past her hand remained and when he finally pulled himself together enough to turn his head and look at her, Georg saw that Maria's eyes were locked firmly on their hands. He wanted to ask her to look at him, he wanted turn his hand over and clasp hers. But he wouldn't know what to do or what to say, for the first time in a long time he realised he was scared; he just didn't know why.

Finally Maria snapped out of it, taking her hand away and gently smoothed out her skirt. Georg cleared his throat causing her to look at him.

"Shall we?" He indicated to the elder girl's room.

Maria nodded and began to make her way down the corridor. It didn't take the two of them long to reach the second bedroom, entering they saw that Liesl, Louisa and Brigitta were all already asleep. Today had been a very exciting day, what with the puppet show, it was no wonder the children were all so tired. Georg followed Maria round as she tucked the girls in and give them a kiss, and then followed her out.

"So tell me your secrets" the Captain blurted out as he closed the door.

If he hadn't realised already, the startled look on Maria's face would told him that had not come out right. What he had meant to say was that he had been mulling over how on earth she had known he was in the girls room before opening her eyes. But then he had wondered what other secrets this fascinating woman had, and all of sudden it was coming out of his mouth. Before he had chance to explain, Maria got this devilish look in her eye's.

"Well Captain" Confidence oozed off her and she took a step forward "I guess you'll have to do a little digging to find out!"

The Captain gulped and it dawn on Maria just exactly what she had done. What on earth had come over her, a fierce blush rose in her cheeks and her mind raced with a thousands thoughts. She quickly turned and walked towards the boys bedroom, the Captain a little way behind. The boys were asleep as well so saying goodnight went pretty much the same way, except Maria couldn't stop thinking about what she had said, what amazed her most wasn't the confidence she had shown or even what she had said; it was that she didn't feel guilty. In fact she wished the Captain had responded but she didn't give him chance. The more she thought about it the more she wondered if what she had felt while the Captain had sung wasn't just a fleeting moment, maybe there was more to it, maybe what she saw in his eyes was something she wanted to see again.

All of a sudden she noticed that she was outside her bedroom door and the Captain was right beside. She turned to face him and their eyes locked, how long they stood there for neither of them could say. Heaven couldn't possibly be so sweet as the feelings that surrounded that moment. Finally Maria ducked her head

"I'm glad you came to say goodnight to the children" she looked up "Maybe another time they'll be able to appreciate it too" she said a crooked smile briefly touching her lips.

"Yes well, I would like that I.. I think" God, he couldn't even get his words out, she was having such an effect on him.

Maria wanted to stay, she didn't want him to leave. Georg wanted to follow her into her room, just to talk, to know her more.

"Goodnight Sir" Maria opened the door

"Goodnight... Maria"

She turned, the way he said her name. It wasn't just her name, it was a question, a hope, a longing all at the same time. But the Captain was already gone, oh sleep was going to be hard to find tonight.

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Thank you so much for reading, please review, I love getting feedback xx