Here we are with a third chapter. I know they all look very unrelated, but as it is from different characters perspectives, I will try to put them in a nice, coherent story. This one is a light one and I hope you enjoy :) Please leave your ideas, of what can be improved :)

The morning came bright and warm and quite too soon for Georg's liking. However, there's nothing to be expected differently, as he fell asleep only a couple of hours before, due to rummaging through his old stuff, that was storaged in a lately unused attic. What he found was lots and lots of old photographs from his royal navy academy days and of course old family photos that were the main goal. He sat throughout all night looking at them and smiling and remembering. That's what made him wake up with a smile on his face. Only then did he notice what time it already was. He was late for breakfast! That hadn't happened for almost 10 years, and Georg was definitely not letting his regimen slip. He hastily washed, dressed for the day and headed down.

What made him even more surprised was that everyone was already at the table and already eating. And by everyone he meant everyone. Even Elsa had graced the land of the living, which never happened until noon. However there she was. Sitting at his right hand, chewing her toast and looking smugly at him. Right in front of him sat Fraulein Maria. She was deep in conversation with his children, who looked very happy to be able to participate. His heart swelled looking at all of his children, seeing how they all had grown and changed. From that thought his mind was beginning to take a trail on the young governess, however it was interrupted by the same person.

"Captain! Good morning, sir. As we didn't find you at the table, we thought you were too busy and won't be joining us. We are sorry to have started without you."

"Oh no, that's not a problem, Fraulein. I seem to have lost my track of time." After sitting himself at the head of the table Georg added "Actually, children, there's something I think you will be interested to look at."

Eight faces looked up at him, seven with evident excitement and one with natural curiosity. Maria was looking at him with a strange look on her face, as if she was encouraging him to go on, but without wanting to look too eager herself.

"I've been rummaging through the attic yesterday, and I found something that I hope will be of great interest to you. How about we head to the room after breakfast, mm?" He could feel their gazes boring into him, trying to decide what he managed to find. Only Brigitta had fixed her gaze on the ceiling, as if trying to look into the said attic.

"Father, are those 'somethings' are from when we were little?" Now she was looking at him imploringly, hoping that what she thought was true was indeed true.

"Mmm, yes. But you'll have to wait after breakfast to find out." Georg was really astonished how right the little governess had been, when she said that Brigitta notices everything. Of course she knew where all the stuff that could remind them the past were stashed. He even had an inkling that once or twice someone has been up there to look around. And it definitely wasn't him.

After this admission, everyone seemed to finish their breakfast in record time, so after 15 minutes Georg was heading to his study to pick up all the photographs he had found last night that was fit to see. That means excluding the majority of naval times, because all the parties in those photographs were usually having a very jolly time. Maybe even too much of that jolliness.

Having excused herself, Baroness had headed upstairs to her room, which left Maria with seven eager children, all chattering happily, awaiting their father with the surprise.

Maria was happy, that after their talk, if that could even be called a talk, at the lake a week before, the Captain was trying very hard to reconcile with his children. Every now and then she would find him standing in the doorway of the nursery where the children were studying under her watch, or watching over them from the terrace when they were all playing tag or something. However she couldn't not notice the hurt look he would get, when the children would stop what they were doing to almost scramble in line at the sight of him. He would look as if he didn't know what to do, and that made her even more resolved to help this family. It dawned on her that not only children needed her guidance, but also their father. Her reverie was disturbed when a loud chorus of cheering welcomed their father back with an intricate device in his hands, along with a square box. Shooing all the boys and girls into the living room, Captain came to stand near the governess, who was making her way outside, as it was clear, that she would be not needed.

"Fraulein, I.. would you join us? I think the children would be very happy if you did" And with a smirk he added "And well… so would I. It might be a proof that I'm not that heartless snob that you think me to be."

Trying to hold her grin from breaking out, Maria managed to answer "It would be a pleasure, sir. But I still don't understand what kind of contraption is this" She said motioning to the device in his hands "And anyway, I don't think you to be a heartless man, Captain."

"And what about the snob?" She could see the laugh in his eyes along with a teasing grin, so was brave enough to shoot back, walking into the living room after the children. "That depends on your performance, sir"