It had been a glorious day to take a picnic. The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and all seven of the Von Trapp children laughed and sang the entire way to Maria's mountain. Georg purposely hung back slightly as he watched the children and Maria on their way. He felt reborn. Ever since he and Elsa called off their engagement he felt like a different person; rejuvenated almost. He knew it was foolish to think because she had left only a matter of hours ago, but he was overjoyed at the possibility of being happy once again. He just had to find a way to persuade Maria to stay, if only for a while longer. She didn't even have to say she loved him back, he just wanted to be around her for as long as possible. He only had a few more days to open her eyes.

-SOM-

"All right who wants to play a game of hide and seek?" Liesl enthusiastically asked her siblings as they all finished lunch. Six eager responses showed how excited her brothers and sisters were to be up and about again.

"Father will you join us in a game?" Marta looked up at Georg with pretend puppy dog eyes, pleading for him to play too.

"Now how I am supposed to turn down that adorable little look. And to think I've been duped by it by your older brothers and sisters too many times to count and I'm sure many more by you and Gretl once she learns it," Georg joked as he lightly tapped Marta on the nose.

"What do you mean, father?" Gretl mimicked her older sister's expression, causing everyone else to laugh loudly.

"I'm too late!" Georg feigned surrender, causing more giggles.

"What do you say, fraulein? Shall we join them?" Georg looked across the blanket at Maria who was already stretched out basking in the sun's rays.

"You all go ahead. I feel like resting right here for a while...I'll join in on the next game."

"Are you sure, fraulein?"

"Positive, Brigitta. Now go and have fun!"

Brigitta gave her governess a quick hug then turned to follow her brothers and sisters, leaving Georg alone with Maria as he got up from the blanket.

"You sure you'll be fine here by yourself?" He asked full of concern.

"I think I'll manage for now," Maria said sweetly with a small smile on her lips.

Georg smiled back at her and moved to leave her alone, but was stopped by her beautiful voice.

"You know, captain, I must say you look nothing like a true sea captain today without your suit and tie," she said smartly with her eyes closed as she laid there resting. Even though she wasn't looking at him, Maria could feel his eyes on her. Georg stood over her, amazed again at her charm and wit. It was true, he looked nothing like the Baron everyone made him out to be. After Maria teased him about making play clothes, Georg settled on an old pair of loafers and casual trousers with a white linen button down shirt. He purposely didn't button it all the way to his neck, leaving his chest partially exposed and Maria had done her best to avert her gaze so far during their outing. So as she made her astute observation, Georg couldn't help but stare at her as he tried to walk away to join his children in a game.

00oooo00ooo00oooo000

The sun shifting positions in the sky caused Maria to wake up from her slumber. As she sat up and stretched she saw a very tired looking Georg walking toward her.

"Had enough, did you?"

"I honestly don't know how you've managed to do it all this time," Georg replied in a huff as he plopped down beside Maria.

"I mean, I love my children immensely, but running after seven of them all at once is utterly exhausting...bravo, fraulein." Maria smiled at him triumphantly.

"And to think you thought I didn't look very much like a governess," she taunted as she took a sip of iced tea from the thermos.

"Now whenever did I say that? I'm sure you're mistaking me for an old and boring looking sea captain," Georg teased as he took the thermos from her and downed a gulp.

As he carelessly tossed his head back to enjoy the chilled liquid the sun hit him just right where it made Maria's breath catch in her throat. The brightness illuminated his muscular physique and the way he gripped the thermos made Maria shiver, despite the warm temperature outside. As Georg moved to put the thermos back in the picnic basket, Maria snapped back to reality, cursing herself for letting her thoughts and desires get the best of her.

"So where exactly are the children, hhmm?" Maria craned her neck to look past Georg for any sight of them.

"Well after Louisa being 'it' four times in a row, hide and seek was soon abandoned and they all decided to take a nice walk. Evidently there's a small creek just down the hill over there they said you took them to last time."

"Oh that's right. Well just as long as they stick together. This is a big mountain and you're bound to loose track of the time trying to explore it all," Maria gave him a happy expression and propped herself up on her elbows so she was lying perpendicular to him.

"Exactly how long has this been 'your' mountain, Maria? I'm beginning to think you've known about it longer than you've shared with us all," Georg jested.

Maria closed her eyes and thought for a moment. "I supposed it's been quite some time since I started coming up here. I first discovered it when I was about Marta's age..."

Her voice trailed off and her expression changed from carefree suddenly to quite and sad. "Now something tells me that's not a happy memory," Georg said, his voice full of concern. Maria sat up fully so she was almost directly facing him now.

"Not particularly, no it wasn't." She didn't say anything further, but held Georg's intimidating stare.

"As you're well aware, we have plenty of time to ourselves...I wouldn't be opposed to hearing about it if you're willing to talk." Georg tried coaching her into the topic, trying to ease her in. He very desperately wanted to know of her life before she entered his, even if that meant taking the bad in with the good.

"You really want to hear about it? Even if it means allowing me to ramble on for a bit?" She asked him trying to regain her happiness, but Georg could tell she was hurting through her tough facade.

"I'm sure, Maria. Just talk, and I'll listen to whatever it is you have to say." His eyes gave her the go ahead to speak whenever she was ready. Maria looked at him and took a deep breath. Her eyes never left his.

"The first time I came up here was right after my parents died, I was about Marta's age, give or take a year or two...they were killed in a terrible car accident one afternoon while I was still at school. Classes ended that day and I sat on the steps and I waited and waited until finally my teacher came and brought me back inside the classroom. She made me sit down and very carefully told me what happened. I just sat there and took it, never said a word and when she asked me if I was all right I remember very vividly nodding and asking if I could go home. I didn't even cry. She said yes and that my uncle had arranged to come and pick me up and I could wait in the classroom till he got there. Well, once she left the room I picked up my books and ran as fast as I could away from there. I ran all through town and outside of it to the hills, not really knowing where I was going until I came here and stopped at this very spot. I threw my books down, climbed that tree over there and sat for hours. It was only then that I cried...I wept that afternoon till it became dark then I went home...and every day after school from that day on I would come here and sit, thinking of my parents, of my friends, of anything really. It reminded me that beautiful things still transpire even when the bad ones happen."

Maria found herself wanting to go on, but didn't know if Georg would want to hear any more. She hadn't broke eye contact with him thus far, and she could see how taken aback he was by her opening up to him.

"Shall I go on?"

"Are you okay to? I had no idea, Maria...I'm so sorry." His eyes were slightly moistened from the tears he wouldn't allow himself to shed in her presence. He had no idea she had experienced that kind of pain. He could only equate it to his loss of Agathe so many years ago. How broken her heart must have been from such an early age.

"I think I can continue, but if you don't feel like hearing anymore please say so at any time."

"Honestly, I want to hear more, please continue, Maria." She had lost count of how many times he had called her by her first name alone during the picnic, but she hadn't felt the need to care or reprimand him. It sounded...right.

"The years passed and I still continued to come up here. Sometimes friends would come and we'd do homework together after school or just sit and relax, but mostly I came by myself. It was my sanctuary after all and I felt odd being here with someone else. I went to live with my uncle on his farm immediately after my parents died and I prayed every night an angel would come and take me away from him."

Georg's head snapped up when Maria spoke of this. He felt very protective of her all of a sudden and didn't know if he liked where her story was going. She paused as he reacted and continued when his face relaxed again.

"He, uh, wasn't the kindest person you could have wanted in that kind of situation. He was my father's brother and he spent every moment of every day making sure I wouldn't forget how he had come to be stuck with me. He was a constant drunk and raving madman. I found myself taking care of the animals and the farm just to have excuses to be away from him. I think that silenced his temper for a while because he would disappear early in the mornings leaving me to my chores and then arrive home at night, reeking of alcohol...no matter what I tried it always seemed I was in his way..."

Her voice trailed off and finally Maria broke eye contact and looked away in shame. She covered her mouth with her hand as she tried to choke back a sob and closed her eyes again to settle herself.

Georg noticed her uneasiness and scooted closer to her on the blanket and very carefully wrapped an arm over her shoulder and drew her to him for comfort. Maria allowed her body to mold into Georg's and leaned into his embrace, but still kept her gaze facing away from him.

"There were nights he'd lash into me that I'd wake up in the morning and not remember how I got to sleep or know if he was even in the house anymore...then one day I followed a trail in the woods just down that way that led me to the abbey. I heard the most beautiful sounds as the sisters sang in their gardens so I climbed a tree and looked over, feeling soothed as they tending to their seedlings. I made it a point to go back and visit that spot as often as I could and that's when I decided it was my calling in life to be a nun and I knew I'd be free from him..."

Maria was finished with her story, but Georg held her until she calmed down. Both of them had tears creeping down their cheeks. Maria for the pain and sadness she was reliving, and Georg for seeing the woman he loved in such a vulnerable state. They stayed that way until Maria pulled away from Georg.

"I'm sorry to have saddled you with that story. It's a part of my past and I apologize for burdening you with the details."

"Oh Maria, you have no reason to be sorry. I cannot express how much I could alleviate your pain, I wish you never had had to go through any of that."

She gave him a sad smile as a token of her gratitude and Georg's hand slowly moved to rest on her cheek and wipe away her tears. Maria closed her eyes at his touch and leaned into his palm. Georg's eyes darted back and forth and carefully closed the distance between them and placed his lips upon hers. Maria didn't push away and allowed herself to be kissed right there. Georg broke the contact and looked into her eyes as she opened them. Maria looked at him with worry. She was just about to say something with a boom of thunder erupted in the sky. Maria and Georg had become so engrossed with each other they hadn't even noticed the change in the weather.

Immediately, Georg's paternal instincts kicked in and his head snapped up. Maria followed his lead and stood to go search for the children, knowing a storm was on its way. As if on cue, all seven Von Trapps came barreling down the mountain as a crackle of lightning illuminated the sky, causing them to shriek in fear. They reached the blanket and began to pack up their things hurriedly. Maria's thoughts on the kiss she just shared with Georg were wiped away as she moved to secure the children and get them all home. Once he had them all accounted for, Georg froze, looking at Maria, suddenly wishing he were alone with her again.

As they climbed back down the mountain, the skies opened up and drenched all nine of them. Several more loud booms of thunder caused the younger ones to latch on Maria as the others clung to Georg, but the noise soon subsided and the nine of them were just walking up the dirt lane to their villa in the pouring rain.

Suddenly, Brigitta burst out laughing causing her brothers and sisters to look at her in alarm. She stopped and looked to them all. "Raindrops on roses!" she exclaimed to them all. The other six children caught on and ran on ahead with her singing My Favorite Things at the top of their lungs, leaving Maria and Georg bringing up the rear as they neared the front gate. Maria chuckled at the sight and followed them up the road, but Georg saw the opportunity being alone with her again and seized it. He reached for her hand and pulled her back slightly.

"Maria, please talk to me. You haven't said a word to me since before we left." He practically had to shout through the pouring rain.

"There's nothing to talk about, now hurry up or we'll be stuck out in the rain even longer!" She tried to break free from his grasp, but Georg wouldn't allow it.

"Don't try and ignore what happened back there. I know you felt it too, please don't run away from me again, Maria. Talk to me!"

"I can't! Don't you understand that? Do you realize how hard it was for me to tell you all those things just now? What more do you want from me?" She jerked her hand from his and ran the rest of the way up the lane, leaving Georg soaked and alone.

*** Did you really think I was going to make it that easy for the two of them to get together? =) It will take some convincing that's for sure to get Maria to stay, please continue reading and reviewing! ***