Slowly, Maria turned the knob and walked into the Captain's study. Of course she had been in it on a number of occasions, but her pulse quickened as she entered and closed the door behind her. He was sitting behind his desk, looking far off into the distance. Maria was taken aback from the darkness of the room. Usually he had a roaring fire going the times she had met with him during the night hours. Now, the only light illuminating the room was the lamp on the desk and a few small others scattered throughout the bookcases.

Georg snapped back to reality as he saw Maria timidly walk across the room and stopped in front of him.

"Something you wanted to talk about, sir?" Even the tone of her voice made him uneasy. Since she had been back her usual liveliness seemed gone and she was more reserved.

"Yes, please, sit down, fraulein." He motioned for her to take the chair opposite him.

Maria sat and looked down at her hands. She had an idea what he wanted to speak to her about, but she didn't want to be the one to start talking. Likewise, Georg had no idea how to begin what he was feeling.

"Fraulein..." he began. "I'd like to first off extend my most sincere apologies for Elsa's comments and behavior toward you earlier today."

Maria's head snapped up at his words. She was most definitely not expecting him to talk about that. She thought he had summoned her to ask about her abrupt absence.

"Really, captain, there's no apology necessary. The Baroness politely and calmly explained things to me and I accept that."

"That's just the problem...you shouldn't have to accept that." Georg now rose from his seat and paced back and forth in the little space behind his desk and the window that overlooked the lake.

"Even if Elsa is to become the next lady of this manor, she had no place to tell you that you were no longer welcome at our dinner table. She is not in that sort of position to be giving out commands here, yet." Georg continued pacing, but now with one hand in his pants pocket and the other poised at his chin, as if he were contemplating what to say next.

Maria was at a loss for words. If?...yet? What was he getting at? He and the Baroness were to be married, were they not? Her head was spinning. She wanted to interject, but was unsure of how to let the Captain know what was done couldn't be changed, but Georg kept rambling on, leaving no room for other conversation.

"You see, fraulein, the thing is...you shouldn't have to feel out of place on Elsa's account. I have spoken with her and she knows she's not to speak to you like that ever again. Furthermore, I believe that keeping you from joining the family at meal time puts a damper on the moods of all seven children and frankly it breaks my heart to see them in such a state, so starting in the morning your place at the head of the table opposite me will be restored. Elsa will have to get used to the idea of sitting beside me."

Georg stopped pacing and gazed across the desk at Maria, searching for approval, seeking her reaction to his words.

Maria stood up and met his gaze, suddenly feeling very warm.

"Captain, while I do appreciate you looking out for me, truly I do, may I remind you how my presence here is still only temporary and as such I will only do as I am told until I leave. So if this is going to present a problem between you and the Baroness I won't hold anything against you - nor the children - if I am to continue eating with the others in the kitchen."

Georg's mouth dropped slightly. Hadn't she just heard a word he said? He had defended her and now she was bringing up the nonsense of leaving again.

He cleared his throat and sat back down, motioning for Maria to do the same.

"Fraulein, perhaps you didn't hear me quite clearly. I've made my decision and would consider it very appropriate and pleasing for you to eat with us. I'd hope there wouldn't be any need for a rebuttal, but as usual you insist on going against me." He said the last part a bit playfully, trying to ease the sudden tension in the room.

Maria gave a sharp exhale and sat back down to face him.

"If that's as you wish, captain, then I suppose it shall be done." She gave him a meek shoulder shrug, nothing more.

"Is that all? No protesting? No arguments so you could best me again?" Georg was shocked and very concerned at Maria's lack of fire.

"As I said, I am willing to do what's appeasing to you, sir. Just as long as you recall that I'm only here until arrangements are made for a replacement governess."

There it was again. Georg couldn't take it, he had to known why Maria left so suddenly, returned, and now was so eager to leave again.

"Yes, well that's also why I hoped we could talk...fraulein I do hope you'll reconsider leaving us again. It crushed everyone, nothing was the same while you were away and I do hope you'll, uh, change your mind about that." He kept his eyes locked on hers, determined to not back down. Maria was equally as determined and refused to yield.

"I'm afraid it is inevitable, sir. We both knew when I arrived here in the spring I'd only be in your employ until September, and that is less than a month away."

"Fine, then do me the decency of at least staying until then. Given time, perhaps you'll have changed your mind. Believe me, I couldn't possibly bare to send you back to the abbey before then...the children couldn't bare it, that is." He cursed himself under his breath for the slight slip of his tongue, he hoped Maria hadn't picked up on that, but of course she had and tried to overlook it.

"I'm afraid I cannot stay true to that. You see, there isn't going to be a place for me at the abbey anymore once I leave here..." Her voice trailed off and this time it was her turn to stand and do some pacing. She couldn't believe she had let that slip out.

"No abbey, fraulein? I'm afraid I'm confused? Where else on earth would you go?" Georg's heart skipped a beat. If she wasn't going back to the abbey, then Maria obviously wasn't going to be a nun anymore. Did that mean he had a chance after all? He wanted to rush to her and taker her in his arms and tell her what a fool he'd been to let her go once. He'd be damned if he'd let that happen again. Georg had to find out why Maria left and why she was running away again this time.

"Yes, I'm sorry to have blurted it out just like that, but as it turns out my calling in life has changed slightly. And as much as it pains me to say so, it also gives me hope to admit that I won't ever be a nun. I think you of all people could recognize that I'd never have been a good one." She looked at him with a sad smile.

"But what will you do?"

"I'm not sure, which is why I ask you to find my replacement as soon as possible, sir. I need to find a place to stay while I figure things out...while I figure my life out."

"Maria, please. Why do you keep pressing the issue? Isn't it obvious you're loved here? The children will be devastated to learn you'll be going away so soon." Georg stood up and walked near her.

Maria closed her eyes and fought back tears. He had called her by her name - just her name, and it sounded so perfect. She knew if she were to walk out of his office proudly, she mustn't allow him to see her cry. She gathered all the courage she possessed and turned to face him.

"Captain, sir, please do not make this harder than it already is. We always knew I'd never be able to stay her permanently, why try and fool both of us now any differently?" She perhaps said the last part a little too forcefully, but she stood her ground, arms firmly crossed over her chest.

"I think it's foolish to kid yourself that you mean more to this family than you think. Please, Maria, I beg of you to stay."

There it was again. Georg pressed on.

"To think of a day where you're not here would be like having a day where no sunlight shined down; it'd be imperfect. And after Agathe died years ago, I made the mistake of shutting out that light, not caring if I were in sun or darkness at all."

His words made Maria's heart ache even more. How she longed to accept his offer and fling herself into his arms, but she knew it was wrong. She knew he didn't feel the same way for her because he was engaged to be married. As long as that were so, Maria would never belong with him.

"Captain, please allow me to make things quite clear, since you are so adamant on proving me wrong. I will give you one week to arrange for a new governess for your children. At that time I will bid you all a heartfelt farewell and leave here." She held up her hand as he tried to interrupt.

"To continue on with this charade as if I belong here would only be futile. Please grant me the decency of allowing me to leave with what little dignity I may have left. It's nothing personal or anything against your family, but this isn't where I belong and to think otherwise would only be providing me with false hope."

Maria put her hand down and looked at Georg for a few moments.

"Please promise me that you won't speak of me staying again." Her eyes darted back and forth awaiting his answer, hoping he'd argue with her so she could simply have the time with him, but knowing he'd give in to her request.

"As you wish, fraulein," was his frank reply.

Maria gave him a small nod and swiftly exited the room, closing the door behind her.

After she left, Georg sat down in the darkness of his study and rested his head in his hands and did something he hadn't done in years...cried.

*** So sorry for the delay in between chapters. Was on a lovely post-holiday trip with my family and just got back and of course this was the first thing I did when I returned =) Hope you're all still enjoying the story. Thank you for the reviews thus far. I look forward to more after this update! ***