When the sun tickled her face the next morning, Maria awoke with a start from a deep sleep. She tried to get her bearings, but it took a moment until she could determine where she was. She laid back on her pillow, closed her eyes once more and let the memories of last night flood her mind. And what a night it was, she thought. Opening her eyes again, she looked at her left hand. There it was: a simple, yet very elegant ring. An heirloom, Georg had told her, from his beloved grandfather who had been married to his grandmother for 52 years. A sparkling diamond, with several tiny sapphires around the big stone set in a classic gold ring. It wasn't a dream, this last night. It was a time that she would never forget in her life. Ever.

What a gentleman her Captain was, but what a gentle man, as well. And a passionate one, too. She had seen such a different man in the last couple of weeks compared to the one who greeted her so coolly in the foyer of his villa just a few short months back. He had become a very good friend to her in the night she broke down. He seemed to be able to understand her like nobody before. Truth to be told – nobody had ever bothered. And she had never let anyone come close enough to get to know all her secrets.

But with Georg it all seemed so natural. She felt safe and secure with him. He had never forced anything, on the contrary. Maria remembered so many different occasions when he had the authority to simply overrule her. But ever since their argument by the lake and the reconciliation with his children, he involved her in almost everything that had to do with their lives. Hence her feelings of belonging to a loving family.

He went out of his way to make her comfortable in his home, doing little things for her that he knew she appreciated. He took the time regularly to do things with the children, he even helped with the studies of the older ones while Maria set the foundations of writing, reading and calculating for the youngest two.

And they had fun together. As they had gotten to know each other better, the teasing had started. They could make each other laugh, but they could also laugh together about people and things that happened in the villa. Even though they seemed so different, with a large age gap between them, they had similar sets of values. Both had seen tragedy and loss, and had had to learn to live with it.

As Maria lay in her comfortable bed, musing about the master of the house, there was a light knock on her door. "Come in", she said, finding it odd that one of the children would actually knock on her door. She had told them to, dozens of times. But they always seemed to have something very urgent when they came to her and just flew into her room.

But it wasn't one of the children. It was their father. Her captain. "Georg! What are you doing here?", Maria asked, the surprise showing on her face.

Georg came in an closed the door silently behind him. "May I?", he asked, coming closer to her and gesturing to the side of the bed. Maria grinned at him.

"Please", she answered, her left hand reaching for his right. Georg took her hand in his, kissed her palm and the back of her hand tenderly.

"Good morning, my love", he said.

"Good morning", she answered, stroking his freshly shaven check with her right hand. Georg leaned in and gave her a tender kiss, pulling her to him and embracing her tightly.

They both sat together in contended silence, each drinking in the other. When they parted, they looked at each other. "My Maria, how did you sleep last night?" he asked. He had a hard time falling asleep after their adventure in the lake and the lovely time they'd spent afterwards. Even though his body was tired, his mind was overactive because so much had happened in such a short time.

"Come, sit with me", she said, moving over in her bed and leaning against the headboard. He did as she asked and took her hand in his, kissing it once again. "Honestly, I lay awake for a long time after I returned to my room", she said, recalling the passionate kisses they shared in his study and on the way up the stairs. "I was just too excited!" And with a little squeal she threw herself into his arms again, just holding very tightly onto him. "You have made me so happy, Georg", she said.

Just as he was about to respond, Maria's door flew open and Brigitta came running in. She stopped short in the doorway at the sight before her. Her father hugging her governess tightly – on her bed. And – what was that sparkle she saw on Fräulein Maria's finger?

Maria and Georg let out a small groan simultaneously at the interruption and parted slightly. "Good morning, Brigitta", Maria said brightly and beckoned the girl to her. Brigitta hesitated slightly, a thousand questions swirling around in her head. "Did you have a bad dream?", her governess asked.

"No", Brigitta said, walking toward the bed slowly. Her father lifted her up and sat her between the two adults.

"Would you like to talk to Maria alone?" he asked his middle daughter.

Brigitta shook her head and looked between the two adults, still slightly confused. "Are you going to get married?" she suddenly blurted out, reaching for Maria's left hand where she thought she saw something sparkling.

"Yes", Georg said, knowing that it was no use to try and deny anything to Brigitta – not that he really wanted to. "If that's alright with you children", he added, sincerely and in a very serious tone of voice.

Brigitta's face broke out into a wide smile when she saw the ring that Maria was wearing. "Yes!", she exclaimed, hugging Maria first and then her father. With tears in her eyes, she looked at the grown-ups and said: "I knew something has changed between the two of you in the last weeks. You became so much closer, you were joking with each other. You were just like other parents." As the words left her mouth, she looked at her father cautiously.

"Brigitta, I will never forget your mother. Never. She was my first love and she gave me seven wonderful children. But she won't come back to me. It took me a long time to understand and accept it. Maria has helped me tremendously in coming to terms with the situation and she was the one who gave me you children back. Somewhere along the way I fell in love with your wonderful Fräulein, and yes, I have proposed to her because I want to spend the rest of my life, of our lives, with her."

Both Maria and Brigitta had tears in their eyes after the Captain's passionate speech. His daughter jumped back into his arms while Maria took his hand and squeezed it. After giving Maria a quick hug, the girl jumped uncharacteristically out of the bed and ran out of the door, presumably to tell her brothers and sisters about the new development.

Maria and Georg looked at each other and leaned in for a kiss that became passionate quite quickly. However, it didn't last very long as they heard not one, but seven children running towards her bed.

Instead of jumping in her arms as has become their habit, they stopped in front of the bed, taking in the sight of their governess in their father's arms. "It's true. Thank God!", Liesl whispered. The others had looks of confusion on their faces or were simply just too tired to be out of bed. "What happened?" asked Kurt.

Maria and Georg looked at each other, grinning. "Well…", he said, while his brood found places to sit on the floor, on the windowsill and on the chair in the room, expecting a long-winded story from their father. "We went for a swim last night, we kissed and I asked her to marry me." Long story short. Liesl groaned. She had expected a romantic story with tons of details. So did Brigitta, who looked intently at her new parents. The boys and Louisa were fine with this short explanation. Martha and Gretl jumped on the bed, asking: "Does that mean you will be our new mother?"

While Maria nodded slightly, the Captain raised his voice over the children's voices. "I asked Maria to marry me, because I want to spend the rest of my life with the most wonderful woman I have met in the last years", he said. "But more than that, I want you all to agree. If any of you doesn't want me to remarry, I will not. That was Maria's condition in accepting my proposal."

The children all looked at each other. Their governess really was the most unselfish person in the world. "Are you sure you want to marry a whole family, Fräulein Maria?", Friedrich asked. Even though he was a boy in a tough age, he managed to surprise both Maria and his father with his empathy and sensitivity quite often. Maria looked at the children, taking all their young faces in. "Nothing would make me happier", she answered truthfully.

And with that, all seven of the young von Trapps jumped onto the bed, hugging and kissing whoever they reached first. Tears came to Maria's eyes at the exuberant reaction of her children. Her children – who would have thought? Georg was also overwhelmed and shared a tight hug with his oldest daughter, a young lady now in her own right. "I am so happy for you, Papa", she whispered in his ear and felt him shaking slightly. "So am I", he said in a small voice, overcome by his emotions.

Suddenly, there was yet another visitor at Maria's bedroom door that had never been closed since the children came in. Frau Schmidt. The old housekeeper took the scene before her in and had to smile, even though she had no idea what was going on in the room. Georg looked at her from his spot on Maria's bed, still with Liesl in his arms. "Yes, Frau Schmidt?"

"It's nine o'clock. Breakfast has been on the table for half an hour – I was just wondering where you all were", she said. Martha stepped off the bed and went to the housekeeper. These two have had a special bond ever since the string of governesses started appearing at the von Trapp's door. "Omili, can you imagine? Father and Fräulein Maria are getting married. She will be our new mother. They just told us", the shyest of the girls said, hugging Frau Schmidt around the middle. "We are all so happy."

The housekeeper hugged the seven-year-old in return, smiling widely. "Is that right?" she asked, looking from the Captain to the governess on the bed. Their wide grin was all the answer she needed. "Congratulations!" she exclaimed, walking over to the bed and hugging them in a somewhat awkward position. "I knew you were special, the moment you walked into the door", she said to Maria.

Georg clapped his hands then, silencing everyone. "You've heard Frau Schmidt, breakfast is long overdue. Go get washed up and dressed, we'll meet in the dining room in half an hour", he said, shooing them all out of the bedroom. Frau Schmidt was the last one to leave, shutting the bedroom door behind her and giving the couple some privacy.

Georg turned to Maria with a mischievous grin: "I love these children to pieces", he said, hugging her tightly to his side. "Thank you for giving them back to me", he added quietly. "Oh Georg, I didn't do anything", she replied, but he wouldn't let her continue. "Yes, you did. And I will be forever grateful that the Reverend Mother has sent you instead of some ancient, strict nun. But I am even more grateful that you agreed to spend the rest of your life with me and the kids. And perhaps even some more, if God sees fit?"

Maria blushed at the thought of what the process of baby making would entail and what she had felt last night in the lake. Still, she nodded. "I have never thought about bringing a child into the world. But I cannot imagine anyone else to father my children than you." The newly engaged couple leaned into each other and kissed. Tenderly, lovingly. Before the kiss became too passionate, Georg let go of Maria and started getting up from his comfy place on her bed. "I will let you get showered and dressed, and I'll meet you at breakfast, my love", he said, taking her hand again and kissing the inside of her wrist gently.

Maria sighed when he closed the door behind him. What a man she had gotten herself! A man who seemed hard to handle at times, but who was the most accessible, the most reasonable and the most lovable person in the world once he'd let somebody close to him. Maria thought back to last night…

After she had jumped into the lake with him, she swam vigorously for a little while to get warm in the cool lake water. But swimming was apparently not what Georg had in mind. He caught her by the ankle and pulled her into the circle of his arms. Maria was unsure how to react, they were both basically naked, after all.

But Georg didn't seem to have any concerns. "Maria", he pleaded when she hesitated. "You don't have to be afraid. I will not do anything inappropriate or take advantage of the situation."

In her heart, she knew that. And she told him so. "Georg, I'm afraid of what I will do if you hold me so close without a stitch of clothing. I have never been in a situation quite like this."

"If it's too much, please tell me", he said, pulling her slowly into him. He hugged her to him, feeling Maria still hesitating slightly. She had never even seen a man without a shirt, and now she was embracing one. Naked. Again, she regretted that she had never gotten around to get herself a bathing suit. But then that wouldn't change much either. Maria felt no shame, no embarrassment – hugging Georg tightly just felt natural to her. In fact, she loved being so close to him, feeling the heat that came off his body in the cool lake water and the rough texture of his skin and hair.

"May I kiss you again?" he asked, from somewhere close to her ear. She could only nod. But instead of aiming for her lips right away, he placed tender little kisses from her ear across her jawline to her chin. Then he looked at her intently. "I love you, my Maria", he said in such a loving voice that it brought tears to her eyes.

She leaned into him and kissed him on the mouth. If he was surprised, he didn't show it. He just pulled her slim body even closer and returned her kisses.

Their kissing became more passionate as Georg ran his tongue along her bottom lip, asking for entrance. Maria held onto him tightly, parting her lips to return his kisses. They kissed and kissed, his left hand on her back, his right cradling her head. Maria became more used to the unfamiliar feeling and even ventured into his mouth, stroking his tongue with her own.

Suddenly he felt Maria shake in his arms. She was cold, and that was an involuntary reaction. It put a stop to their embrace. Georg said: "Come on, let's get you out of the water. You are freezing." Maria regretted this sudden turn of events, but she really was cold from being exposed to the water for quite some time.

Georg took her by the hand, grabbed the moist towel from where she'd left it by the shore and wrapped it around her – not without taking another quick peek of this beautiful woman in front of him. He rubbed her arms and her back quickly and efficiently, bringing her circulation back. Then he took her in his arms and embraced her tightly once again. "Are you warming up?", he asked, concern in his voice. "Yes", she said, closing her eyes and concentrating on getting warmer.

"Let's put our clothes on and walk back to the house", Georg suggested. Maria nodded, put the towel around herself and grabbed her nightgown and panties. She quickly walked behind a tree to get the relatively dry yet quite revealing things on. "Well", she thought, "Georg has seen me without anything at all". She blushed at the thought, remembering the feeling of his almost naked body so close to hers. His arouse body. She may have been a postulant, but she wasn't stupid. But there was nothing wrong with it. She knew he wouldn't do anything to compromise her or against her will. And she enjoyed the feeling of his strong arms around her and his… masculinity.

Maria had never thought in this terms about anyone. Even though she was very attracted to the Captain and knew that he was a handsome man – what appealed to her even more than his good looks, was his behaviour toward her in the last couple of weeks. He wouldn't be half as attractive had he remained the cold fish that she had met in the foyer the first day she came into the von Trapp household.

"Maria?" Georg had finished changing into his shirt and riding pants, and he was waiting for her a few yards away. "Are you ready?"

Maria shook herself and came around the tree. She went for the old bicycle, picked it up from the grass and fastened her wet towel. "Yes", she said "let's go." She started pushing the bike, but Georg took it from her. "Allow me", he said gallantly. With his free hand, he took Maria's hand in his. And again, it felt so natural to her to walk hand in hand with the Captain, as if they'd been doing it for years. Maria felt happy and content, better that she could remember in a long time.

There was no need for words between them on their way back to the villa. Both relished in the feeling of being in love, and being with the other. When they reached the heavy door to the basement, Georg just put the bike against the wall and walked around the house with Maria.

He produced a key for the side door and opened it for her. After they'd gone through, he pulled her towards him by the had he was still holding. He kissed both her cheeks, her eyelids and forehead tenderly and looked at her. "Maria, will you meet me in my study after you have taken a hot shower? Please?" he asked. Maria looked into his deep blue eyes and nodded.

Both turned and went into their respective bedrooms to take a quick shower. Maria dried her hair and decided to wear a dress similar to the one she had worn when they'd danced the Laendler. After putting on her shoes, she made her way down the stairs towards the Captain's study.

Unbeknownst to her, it took the Georg a little longer to get ready. When he'd come into the master bedroom, he'd shed his damp clothes. When he had lathered up his hands in the shower, he looked at his right hand and took off his golden wedding band. There was a white line where the ring had sat for more than 20 years, and it was a big step for him to finally take it off. But he knew it was the right time to do it.

After drying off, he took the ring and brought it with him to his safe that was hidden behind a drawing on the wall. He put the ring there, in case one of his children wanted to have it in the future. He thought back to the evening he had spent with Maria on the small island in the lake, when she had told him about her childhood. He had also talked about his life with Agathe and shed some tears about his loss. That was when, by remembering his late wife, he had finally come to terms with her death and said his good-byes.

After ensuring that his first wedding ring was safely stored, he took out a small box made of dark red velvet. Opening the box, he looked at the ring that he knew so well – and took it with him into his closet. He dressed in casual pants and a fresh shirt, put on his shoes and went down to his study after pocketing the box.

He met Maria in front of the study door where she was waiting for him. "Fräulein, you're early", he said, smirking at her. Maria had to grin, he was so adorable.

"Yes, Captain. Don't get used to it."

He opened the door for her and let her pass before him. He showed her to the divan in front of the fireplace and started walking around his office lighting a few candles on top of the hearth.

Maria was mesmerized by the romantic feeling of this room and the warmth it held. This was Georg's sanctuary, and it showed the character of this complex man – all the way down to the candles. While he was striking one of the long matches, Maria suddenly saw that the ring on his right hand was missing – the ring that was always there, just like the signet ring on his left hand. When had he taken it off? And why?

Georg stepped back from the fireplace and sat down beside Maria. He put his right arm around her and she snuggled up into his side. "Are you warmer now?" he asked, concerned. She had been out in the lake for quite a while, and he didn't want her to catch a cold.

"Yes", she answered. And getting warmer by the minute, she thought, being so close to her Captain. Maria was a bit tired after an eventful day, but she felt so comfortable in his arms. Georg turned her face towards him, looking deeply into her eyes. She leaned into him and they kissed again, like they had in the lake. "Oh Georg, I love you so much", Maria breathed after they had come up for air.

Georg kissed her again, this time more passionately than before. When he felt Maria's fingers at the top button of his shirt, he suddenly woke up from the pleasurable haze that surrounded them. He took her hands gently in his own and ended the kiss. "Maria, I know you have seen me almost naked", he grinned at her. "But as difficult as it is, let's leave our clothes on for now."

Maria blushed a deep shade of red. She hadn't even realized what she was doing. "I'm so sorry, Georg", she stammered. He looked at her and said, very seriously, "Don't be, my Maria."

He then released her hands from his grasp and began to play with her fingers. He seemed nervous, Maria thought, quite surprised. "Maria", he started. Then he looked at her and took a deep breath. "Maria, you are the most extraordinary woman I have met in a very long time. The more I have learned about you in the last couple of months, the more I began to admire your strength and your beauty, inside and out."

Another deep breath. Maria's gaze was locked to his, she didn't really know where he was going with his speech, but she was mesmerized by this tense Captain in front of her – who was still playing with her fingers instead of wiggling his own.

"I know we haven't known each other for a very long time. And I know there will be difficult times ahead. But however I look at it – I cannot imagine my life without you it. I cannot imagine this family without you. So, Maria, my love, will you share your strength with this old sea captain and his brood? Will you marry me?"

Maria was speechless. Even in her wildest dreams, she had never thought that Georg would ever propose to her. Her! The failed nun from Nonnberg Abbey. The girl with the horrible past and nothing to her name. The girl who didn't even own a bathing suit. She had to chuckle at her own train of thought – which in turn brought Georg out of his trance, waiting for her answer. Of course, he took her giggle in the wrong way.

"I'm sorry, Maria. It was selfish…", but Georg didn't get to finish his apology as his lap was full of Maria all of a sudden. She ran her hands across his cheeks, into his hair and looked him straight in the eyes. "Georg, nothing would make me happier than becoming your wife. If the children agree." And with that, her lips were on his. They kissed ardently then, speaking of their love for each other. After a while Georg remembered the ring in his pocket. He slapped his forehead mentally, how stupid to forget the ring!

He ended their kiss tenderly, pushing Maria off his lap to sit on the couch again. She watched him a little confused, still in a haze from their kisses. Georg took the little box out of his pocket and kneeled in front of her. He opened it and presented the elegant piece to her. When Maria saw the ring, tears came to her eyes. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. Her Captain had thought about it for a while, she thought happily.

"Oh Georg, it's beautiful", she breathed, kissing him again. He took it out of the box and took her left hand in his. Kissing her ring finger, he slipped the ring on her finger. It was a perfect fit. He explained to her that this ring was his most treasured heirloom from his own grandfather, and that when he proposed to Agathe he thought of it as just another piece of jewellery that he had inherited and wanted to buy her a new one. "But after she died, I often thought about the marriage of my grandparents and how lucky I was to have this ring as a reminder of their happy life together." He had the ring restored at his most trusted jewellery store in Salzburg and thought it was just perfect for his Maria.

"That story makes the ring even more special", Maria agreed. She pulled him up to sit with her on the sofa and kissed her fiancé once more. When they came up for air, she looked at Georg and said "Thank you, my love".

"Whatever for?" he asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I didn't even know that I had this dream, of marrying and having children. But you have just made it come true."

"Oh Maria, I am the one who is grateful, for what you have done to make us a family again."

She smiled and went back into his arms, but when he snuggled in, a big yawn escaped her. "What a day it was", she said, smiling at him.

"What a day, indeed", he said. In the afternoon he had parted ways with Baroness Schräder, and now he was engaged to the most wonderful woman in the world. "Let's get you to bed", he suggested.

"I don't want to get up, it's so comfortable here in your arms", she pouted.

"I don't want to let you go, but I believe it's after one o'clock and we have to get some sleep tonight", he said, kissing her temple lovingly.

Both got up slowly, and Maria looked at her newly bejewelled hand once more. "It fits you", Georg said. "Just like I imagined."

Maria had to agree with him – the ring looked like it had been there for a long time and not just for about half an hour. And it felt right. Just like the entire relationship that she shared with Georg. "Yes", she agreed, meaning the ring as well as the lives that they were about to share.

Georg led her up the stairs to her room. Outside her door, they stepped into each other once more and kissed. And kissed. And couldn't stop kissing. Eventually, Georg took a small step back from their passionate embrace, kissed Maria's nose, her cheeks and her forehead. "Good night, my love, get some sleep", he said hoarsely. Maria gave him one last chaste kiss and hurried into her room, closing the door behind her. There was no other way she was going to part from him tonight.

She rushed through her evening routine quickly and went to bed with the new feeling of being surrounded by love. And even though her body was tired, her mind couldn't shut off. She lay awake for a while, thinking about everything and nothing. Mostly about her handsome fiancé with the deep blue eyes. Eventually, she fell asleep – and then she was woken up so lovingly…

Coming out of her daydream, Maria realized that she had spent quite a few minutes in bed, remembering this unforgettable night. She rushed into her bathroom and took a quick shower, donning a light dress that would be perfect for another hot summer day. She made her way down to breakfast, kissed Georg on the way down to her seat - and stopped in her tracks. It seemed they had rearranged the seating while she was getting ready. Apparently, she was not sitting opposite the Captain any longer, but on his right.

She grinned at the children and her fiancé who grabbed her hand when she made her way back toward them and kissed it. Their breakfast was happy and took a while, as there was no rush this morning for any of them. After the children were excused from the table to enjoy the sunshine, Maria and Georg helped themselves to another cup of tea and coffee respectively out on the terrace. They had made plans to go up on the Hochthron that day, another mountain that was higher than the Untersberg, and might therefore have cooler temperatures.

They stood very close to each other on the stone railing, and when they were done with their beverages, Georg turned, took her in his arms and gave her a chaste peck on her lips. "I have a small errand to run before we can start. Will it be alright if I'm back an hour from now?"

Maria agreed, stating that the children and she herself all had to change and that they needed to get their picnic lunch together. "But no later, we don't want it to be too hot when we start", she stressed. Georg nodded and left in his convertible.

Maria went to the children and told them of the schedule for the day. Kurt, Brigitta and Martha volunteered to help with the picnic, Louisa went to get a bowl and pick the ripe cherries from the tree in the garden. Friedrich put their gear together, and Liesl and Gretl organized the drinks that they wanted to bring.

Accompanied by their soon-to-be-mother, the children started for the kitchen, discussing what they wanted to prepare today. They still had some cold Schnitzel in the refrigerator, cook had made fresh bread and Brezn. Choosing some vegetables and fruit, the washed, pitted and peeled everything so that it was easier to eat. When the baskets were ready with cold tea and everything they had prepared, they decided to wash up and get changed.

Maria wasn't sure whether Georg was back already or not. She knocked on the door to his study, but he wasn't there. She hadn't heard him come into the villa, so she went into her room to change into a dress that was more appropriate for hiking and playing with the children. When she opened the door to her room, however, she was again left speechless. There, on her desk, was a large bouquet of dark red roses. And a package, in colorful wrapping paper – and tied up with string.

How she loved this man who would become her husband! She went to the table and inhaled the smell of the two dozen roses. Then she took the rather small and somewhat oddly shaped package and opened it. She let out a laugh as she saw what this errand entailed that Georg had to run so urgently: she was now the proud owner of a bathing suit. A rather revealing bathing suit, in her opinion. When she looked at it, a small card fell to the floor. Maria picked it up and read her Captain's note: "Join me for a swim tonight? Same time, same place." Maria grinned from ear to ear. But there was a PS that made her blush. "I know you are much more beautiful without the suit, my love – but a man can only take so much…"

XXX

Hello again! It's been a while since I've updated... I hope you are still with me and this story, anyway. Leave a review, like it or follow - I'm happy about any reaction. And, no - I don't own anything or anyone.