Disclaimer: I don't own the Sound of Music but I borrowed lines/characters/plot points from the film, etc.
Chapter 4
"I thought I just might find you here." The Captain stood up from the stone bench, not making eye contact.
"Was there something you wanted, Fräulein?"
"Oh! No! Sit down, uh, please." He did, reluctantly, staring, dead-eyed, at a far off tree.
Maria moved slowly over to the bench and sat on the opposite end. In the awkward silence she busied herself arranging the skirt of her blue dress. Then she cleared her throat and made to speak.
"I assume you're thinking, and wondering, uh, three things." Georg didn't answer, so Maria took a deep breath and went on. "Why I ran... and why I came back. And why I ran again after -"
"Fräulein, you've already made your reasons very clear," said Georg interrupted tersely, "you had a duty to fulfil and you returned to fulfil it. There is no need for further explanation."
"I also missed the children," she said. She sounded on the verge of tears. Georg almost turned to see if she was crying, then thought better of it. Her feelings are no concern of mine. She's already made those very clear.
"Be that as it may, Fräulein, I -"
"Not only the children," she whispered, then quickly continued in a stronger voice. "I know leaving was wrong of me, but I just thought you might... Well, nothing was the same when I was away, and it will feel all wrong again when I go, so I was wondering if I might... be allowed to stay?" The Captain stood suddenly and made his way toward the gazebo, hands folded behind his back. The impertinence! She wants to stay, be governess to my children, meanwhile I'll... what? Be reminded every day about...
"The children were fine before you arrived and they'll be fine once you leave. Again." The words were intended to cut deep. Had Georg turned around, he would have seen Maria visibly flinch and recoil, face burning with shame and the effort of restraining her tears. She couldn't do this. Whatever he might have said in that moment, it clearly did not hold true. I... I have confidence in me. Maria took a deep breath and
"Georg."
She had never said his name before, always referring to him as "Captain, sir," or once "Reverend Captain." His name felt beautiful in her mouth, smooth and warm and slightly foreign, like salted chocolate. She saw his shoulders stiffen. She quickly hurried over before he could yell at her.
"What I mean is, uh, I'm not going back to be a nun-"
"Oh, I'm sorry..." he responded automatically.
"Yes- you are?" He turned sharply to face her.
"You're not?"
"No," the word floated out on a breath which tickled Georg's face. They were toe to toe, blue eye to blue eye.
"I couldn't... follow that path when I realized I was in love with someone, could I?" Georg's face, which had been so cold and stony, finally relaxed. With a gentle smile, he shook his head, cupping Maria's chin in his palm. She looked into his eyes with baited breath, scared that one movement would shatter the beauty of that moment. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. It was a kiss very unlike the Captain's personality, soft, almost timid. He felt her lips curve under his and heard her emit a soft giggle. He pulled back and looked at her inquisitively.
"What's so funny?"
"This isn't at all like the brusque, stoic Captain I've come to know," she smiled. Georg put his hands on her shoulders and looked at her seriously, almost sadly.
"Maria, you are worth so much more than that. Truly, more than I can ever give you. But I will try every day to give you everything you deserve." Maria looked at the Captain. Her Captain, her Georg. She looked at him and smiled. For a smart Navy man, he could be stupid at times. Time to teach the Captain a thing or two. She took his face in her hands and kissed him for all she was worth. Georg responded energetically, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her to him until her toes barely touched the ground. Maria pulled back, breathless.
"Don't ever say that. I don't want anything else. You, the children, this life... it's perfect."
"Is that why you came back?" asked Georg.
"The Reverend Mother says you have to look for your life."
"And have you found it, Maria?"
"I think I have. I know I have." Georg pulled Maria to him and buried his face in her soft, feather-light hair.
"Maria," he murmured, "is there anyone I should go to to ask permission to marry you?" Maria looked up at him.
"Well, why don't we ask -"
"The children?" He finished for her, laughing.
"If I'm not mistaken," she smirked, "they're all still wide awake." When Georg's eyes narrowed, she hastened to qualify her statement. "I told them I was going to talk to, about staying on as their governess, that is, although I think Brigitta was getting suspicious. You know she notices everything."
"Well, darling," said Georg, offering Maria his arm, "shall we go calm their fears?"
"You go ahead. I'm going to stay out here for just a moment. I think I need some time to... process everything that's happened." Georg nodded understandingly, and leaned forward to kiss the top of her head before strolling back through the moonlight to the villa.
"
"Look, there's father!" Exclaimed Louisa. By this time, all seven Von Trapp children had gathered in Liesl's room (something that she was not entirely happy about), though Kurt had begun snoring from his position in the bed. The girls jostled for position in front of the window while Friedrich hung back as though he didn't care, though he, too, craned his neck to see out into the yard.
"Where's Fräulein Maria?" asked Gretl.
"Maybe father sent her back to the Abbey," suggested Friedrich. Liesl glared at him as Gretl began to cry.
"He wouldn't have done that! He loves Fraulein Maria!" yelled Brigitta.
"Brigitta, we don't know that," admonished Liesl, "the real world isn't like your books."
"I don't want Fraulein Maria to leave!" wailed Marta.
"Why is everyone yelling? Is it dinnertime?" asked Kurt groggily.
"CHILDREN!" Seven children froze in place, then seven heads slowly turned to face their angry father. "I believe," he began measuredly, carefully enunciating each word, "that bedtime has come and gone." He jerked his head toward the door, indicating that they should leave. All the children scurried out of the room, except for Liesl, who got back into bed.
"Father," she called as he turned to exit, "is Fraulein Maria going to stay? Will we have another governess?" Georg paused in the doorway and rubbed his temples. This was a conversation he needed to have with all his children and Maria together.
"Liesl, it's very late. We'll discuss this in the morning." And he shut the door.
Liesl lay in the dark. She didn't want Fraulein Maria to leave. She was like our mother Liesl thought suddenly. She was surprised at herself, but realized it was true. I've already lost one mother, Fraulein Maria can't leave too. And for the first time since her mother died, Liesl cried herself to sleep.
"
A/N: My formatting is a little weird because I can't figure out how to make larger paragraph breaks... that's all!
