A/N: The story is set in that pleasant interlude between "Edelweiss" and "The Ländler". It takes place after "Underneath her wimple", and it begins a couple of weeks before the grand and glorious party.

I "borrowed" a line from Die Trapp Familie. I don´t own that either.

Disclaimer: I absolutely do not own "The Sound of Music".

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"Women and God are the two rocks on which a man must either anchor or be wrecked"

Frederick W. Robertson.

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"Fraülein, what do you think?" The Captain took a pair of large chandelier earrings in his hand, raised them to his eye level, and shook them, "These?"

Peggy groaned and shook her head. Maria wrinkled her nose in distaste. "It looks like something Sister Berthe would wear only if she were allowed to."

The Captain looked at Maria. He realized he should know who Sister Berthe was, and apparently her taste in jewelry. However, whenever Maria spoke about her life at the Abbey, he always seemed to tune her out and try and imagine her as a quiet, meek and mild postulant. So far, he hadn't been successful with the quiet, the meek, or the mild – he could barely imagine her as postulant! He gave her one of his mildly annoyed half-smiles and dropped the offending earring. Would they ever find something suitable for the treasure hunt? He was anxious to leave his eccentric friends – he was sure that God would smite him for bringing a nun in training into such a… less than virtuous store.

"How about this?" Maria held up a gold and ruby cross.

"Uh… no, Fraülein." He grimaced. "That looks like something my great-grandmother would wear."

"Wait, I think I might have something interesting," Peggy said. She took a box from a locked drawer underneath the display. "These are handmade. Very delicate, and very, very precious. The artisan is an Italian from Venice, and he only made five of them, and now they are scattered all over the world. There is a sinister legend behind it, you must ask Hans to tell you about. They say that the King of Siam has bought two, and is furiously hunting for the remaining three of the set. They are lockets, and although each one is incrusted with the purest diamonds, each one has a different stone for the eye. Sapphire, emerald, ruby, topaz and amethyst. We were lucky to get our hands in this one."

Next to her, the Captain did the same. In the past hour, he had just been reminded of how unorthodox Hans and Peggy Schneider were, and he chastised himself again because he had brought a nun in training to meet them. And not any nun – Maria.

Fraülein Maria, he reminded himself firmly. He was puzzled as to why he had begun using her first name, even in thought. She was his governess…er, his children's governess. Damn Hans for having so many nude statues around! He thought. Yes, that's it, I'm just out of sorts because of all of the statues, and paintings, and books.

Fraülein Maria, he reminded himself firmly. The reasons why lately he had began using her first name, at least in thought, were beyond him.

I should be court martialed, he thought. Bringing her of all people here. Elsa would have the time of her life, undoubtedly, since, in spite of her conventional ways, she was attracted by anything that was a bit eccentric. But Maria – Fraülein Maria… What was I thinking?I should be… keelhauled.

They both sighed in relief when the box was opened. The next reaction was one of wonder. Inside there was a delicate locket, in the shape of a dragon. The blue stone in the beast´s eye was the exact same shade of the Captain´s eyes. It was just the thing that Maria secretly loved – probably because of it's heathen quality. Deep inside, it felt almost like a sin to her, maybe because of the fanciful dragon, or for the shiny diamonds, she wasn't sure. Her fingers ached to touch it, but she denied herself the pleasure, as she noticed the Captain moving to pick it up.

"This is exquisite," the Captain´s deep voice intruded. He took the box from Peggy, bringing it closer for his examination. "Are you sure Hans will be able to part from it? I know how attached he is with some of his – uh - trinkets."

"If that means making you pay an indecent amount of money for it?" Hans asked from somewhere behind them. "Oh yes!"

The Captain. "Which brings me to another point…"

Peggy interrupted. "Now, I know what you are going to say, Captain, but first think about it. You´ll be entertaining the aristocracy, diplomats and dignitaries. Not to mention that very special lady we all have been hearing so much about - Baroness Schraeder. From what you've told me of her, I would expect her to make this a lavish event, and the reward to the champion should do it justice. The locket is very elegant, it is not too… flashy. Even a gentleman will enjoy winning it, because of its value and history not to mention the legend behind it."

The Captain turned to Maria, seeking her opinion. "It certainly much more interesting than a fountain pen, Sir," she commented.

He thought for a moment. "Remind me, Fraülein, how exactly have I gotten myself into this one?"

And how have I gotten myself in this one? she wanted to ask. "I am not quite sure, Captain, but my guess would be that it has to with your children."

Or their governess he thought. "Oh yes, you are! Never mind," He then turned to Herr Schneider. "Hans, your wife certainly knows her business. I´ll take it!"

Peggy gave a cry of joy, clasping her hands. "Wonderful!"

Maria´s mouth fell open. He had not even asked for the price. But then she remembered the Baroness sneering about how déclassé it was to ask for the price of something you wanted to buy. If it were Maria, she would be bargaining for every cent off she could possibly get. If there was one thing the very rich hated, it was talking about money. If she learned nothing else from her stay with the von Traps, it was those who have money, don't speak of it, and those without speak of nothing else. She also remembered one of Herr Detweiler´s constant comments about the Captain´s wealth:

"I like rich people. I like the way they live. I like the way I live when I'm with them."

Yes, but don´t get too used to it, a voice in her conscience warned.

Peggy turned her attention to Maria, and added effusively. "And you, my dear, I am counting on you to beat all those snobs and win it. It would bring out the color of your eyes so well."

"Aahem…" Maria did not know what to say. "Oh, Frau Schneider - Peggy, I…" It would be too- wrong, it was a dragon, a dragon made of diamonds. Dragons just weren't allowed in the Abbey walls – at least that's what she hoped. Finding her voice, she finally found a reason not to want the dragon. "That is very kind of you, but I am not going to take part in the game."

The Captain turned to her in surprise. "Why not?"

"Captain, I could not possibly!"

"Fraülein, you are not going to disappoint my children, are you?"

"I thought…"

"You thought I would let my seven children running loose in a house full of guests without proper supervision?!"

"But… but… even if…"

"You have met my children, haven't you?" He smirked at her.

"Of course sir, but the Baroness…"

He made an impatient gesture. "We can save that argument for later. I feel that I must warn you, Fraülein. I am notorious for my difficult clues."

"I am aware of you being notoriously difficult, sir." She looked at him, almost as if she were challenging him to contradict her here, in front of his friends.

He closed the box holding the dragon, and slipped it into his coat pocket. "Well, rest assured that you will find this game difficult, and I have no doubt in my mind that you will not succeed in out-smarting me. " Then he turned to Peggy. "However, this won´t be the prize for Elsa´s game. I will save it for a very special occasion. And I am counting on you, Fraülein, to keep it a secret."

"Of course, Sir. Although it would help if I knew what that special occasion was." He glared at her. "I know, I know, you don´t have to tell me. The Lord will show me in His own good time," she said, quoting the Reverend Mother.

"Well, seeing as how we've found almost everything imaginable, and yet haven't succeeded with out quest, do you have any suggestions?" he asked. He saw her eyeing the tiara again and added quickly, "any good suggestions?"

Her eyes left the sparkling tiara and she scanned the contents of the trays once more. "How about that little anchor pin, Captain?" she asked, pointed to a pin which, like everything else, was studded with tiny, but furiously sparkling diamonds.

"Not very original, don´t you think?"

"Oh, but it's so pretty! And so rich in symbolism. Well grounded hope, A seaman´s last resort in stormy weather…" she quoted dramatically.

"What does it have to do with…" He then made a gesture of defeat.

It reminds me of you the voice in her head cried. She felt the blush returning to her face. How many times would she blush in front of him today? She quickly thought of an answer to appease him. "It has diamonds in it, doesn't it? And the Baroness wants diamonds."

"Fine, let us end this torture. I´ll take the anchor. And that book as well."

Maria´s eye grew large and she felt her face flaming.

Which book? Certainly not the one she had seen earlier.

"A rare first edition. I knew you would not be able to resist," Hans said laughing. He disappeared and returned with a leather bound book. Maria could not tear her gaze away from it.

----------------------------------------------------

Hans and Peggy Schneider watched from the door of their antique shop as the Georg and Maria walked away. They were still bickering, and the Captain was trying to lecture the governess about something she had said.

"That one certainly speaks her mind, doesn´t she?" Hans commented. "She reminds me of someone I know," he added, gazing at his wife., lovingly. "She is driving him absolutely crazy! I have been around the world with that man, and I have never, ever seen him so flustered by anyone he ever commanded."

"She is not one of his sailors, Hans. She is a girl."

"Oh yes, and that is the one thing he knows well."

"So you saw what I saw! Then I am not imagining things. Intriguing." Peggy said.

Hans shrugged. "I am not sure I like it. He is who he is, and this girl… "

"Social differences have nothing to do with it. He did not take his eyes off her, even when he was not looking at her."

"How is that even possible?" He turned to his wife shaking his head.

"It is. I used to do it with you all the time."

"Well, it hardly matters, doesn't it? It is none of our business anway."

"Yes, but how can you resist it? It is so deliciously wicked! I wonder if they are aware of it. She is very naïve, I doubt she has any idea of what is going on, the poor girl. There is no possible way that she is not disturbed by him, and he by her. That girl may know her prayer book by heart, but she does not know herself. Poor thing, she must be so confused. I wish I could help.

"Peggy, don´t even think of meddling this time!"

"And face the Captain´s wrath? No, I would not dream of it. Unless I have to – that girl just can't become a nun – it would be a mockery to nundom." He rolled his eyes at his wife's horrible use of grammar. "As for the Captain – I was never able to read his moods very well, so I cannot tell for sure."

"No one ever could read him, except for Agathe."

"And this little Fraülein, perhaps" she added.

He nodded. "I think he is in denial."

"And I think that things are really going to be interesting in Aigen this summer." She lay her head on her husband´s shoulder.

"And I used to think it was the quietest, most boring place in the world…"

"Hans?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Our Johann is not a philanderer, is he?"

"No, he is not. But he certainly does try!"

Arm in arm, the couple went back inside, laughing.

A/N: Thank you for reviewing! And - I will never tire of saying this - thanks Mellie for her practically perfect beta work.