The conversation between Liesl and Maria happened in the past; I just wanted to say that, in case anyone got confused.

Maria smiled as she watched the girls twirl about in their new dresses. Even Louisa looked enthusiastic. To a degree anyway; she wasn't complaining or fidgeting with her dress, and she didn't have a scowl on her face.

It was finally time. Tomorrow would be the Baroness' grand and glorious party, and, in some ways, a debut for all the children; the first time anyone outside of their father, their Uncle Max, the governesses, and the rest of the staff had really seen them since the late Baroness von Trapp had died.

The children had all received party clothes; most of which had been purchased at the Baroness' insistence, but the middle girls had found dresses in the attic from past galas that the Captain had deemed appropriate.

Maybe that was why Louisa wasn't fussing with her dress.

Maria had been teaching the children for the past several days, readying them for the performance they would be doing at the party to say goodnight to their father's guests.

The children had continually pushed their father out of the room whenever he tried to sneak a peek during their practise sessions. That was often, but he always left graciously and good-natured.

Liesl had been particularly interested in this event. The party as a whole actually, but the performance specifically. Maria had worried that it might make her feel like a child, when she knew so badly how Liesl wanted to be treated as the young woman she had become, but it seemed the effect was quite the opposite.

"I know Father won't let me stay at the party Fraulein," she'd told her. "Why should I push my luck? Isn't it more grown-up to accept such things and win respect by not complaining?"

Maria was awed by the sixteen year old's wisdom.

"Yes," she said. "That sounds very mature. But are you sure you don't even want to try?"

The young woman nodded. "You've helped us so much Fraulein," she said. "I know that Father will let me attend parties like this one day. Because of you."

Maria looked away. She knew what Liesl meant, but surely it wasn't simply her doing. She couldn't have changed that much.

Could she?

"Besides," continued Liesl. "I don't even know if I'd be ready. I wouldn't want to make any mistakes and embarrass myself. Or Father."

"But deep down, you'd still like to see what it's like, don't you?" Maria asked gently.

"Yes."

"Well, in that case…" Maria had smiled, her eyes sparklingly mischievously. She'd just had a brilliant idea. "I think I know what you should do during the song…"

And now, here they were. The dress rehearsal, for all intents and purposes. They were practising in the ballroom; somebody – most likely the Captain – would see them if they practised by the stairs.

Once again Liesl had loved Maria's idea for her, and Maria could see how she had changed since the day her father returned home.

She had had to take care of all her younger siblings after she'd lost her mother. It was sometimes hard to remember she was only sixteen; she acted wise beyond her years, but there were times when she couldn't be a young woman, and still had to be a girl.

Or, like right now, wanted to be a girl.

She was just as invested in the performance as little Gretl. Maria could tell she was genuinely enjoying herself, spinning around and waving along with her brothers and sisters. She never looked like anything was too juvenile for her, and not once did she complain; not even when she had to pick up Gretl and carry her away – upstairs and off to bed tomorrow night.

Even when she was acting carefree she was still a role model for the others.

Maria hadn't been this free-spirited at Liesl's age, though her childhood had been just as hard as the children's.

In some ways, it had been worse. In others it had not. But regardless, her charges' optimism never failed to amaze her.

Maria was just herding her charges out of the ballroom and towards the dining room for lunch – given the proximity of the party they had been permitted to spend their mornings rehearsing – when the Captain appeared, seemingly out of thin air.

Maria wondered if this had any connection to his years in the Navy. You needed stealth to prevail underwater after all. It would make sense that it had carried over to his everyday life, especially when so many other things had.

She thought about asking him, but he clearly wanted to speak with his daughter.

Maria hurried the others into the dining room, but was still able to see what was happening in the parlour.

"Liesl," said the Captain.

"Yes Father?" she seemed somewhat surprised. For all the bonds formed between Maria's charges and their father, Liesl seemed to be the hardest for the Captain to connect to, and Liesl knew that.

He could be a role model for Friedrich and Kurt, and understand them in a way he couldn't with the girls, he could relate to Brigitta's appetite for reading and Louisa's interest in bugs of all kinds, and the little ones were quite possibly the easiest to become closer to; they just wanted to be loved.

But Liesl was sixteen; at the age when it would be hard for any girl to connect with her father, let alone such an austere, aloof man as the Captain, who had only just re-entered her life. He couldn't keep treating her like a child; he'd have a mutiny on his hands, but he didn't know how to treat her like a young woman.

Maria could tell he felt awkward as he spoke to his daughter.

"I wanted to give you this." He held up a wide sash, the colour of daffodils, with a small bunch of edelweiss pinned at one end.

Then, to her great astonishment, the Captain took the sash and tied it up; the edelweiss sitting right on top of the bow. He hadn't even had to remove the flowers.

Just like his children, this man was full of hidden talents, and Maria found herself constantly surprised.

The flowers looked so lifelike; the only reason Maria knew they weren't real was because they were part of the sash.

"Thank you Father," she breathed, taking the sash in her hands.

"I thought you might like to wear it tomorrow night."

"I would," Liesl replied. "It will go perfectly with my dress."

The Captain smiled, and after a rather long moment of silence, spoke again.

"And this," he drew out a small velvet jewellery box, "was your mother's."

Liesl gasped when she opened the box. Inside was a gold necklace.

Maria sighed. She had a gold locket that her mother had given her before she died. She never wore it, but she kept it because it was the only tangible memory she had of the mother she never knew.

Her eyes brimming with tears, Liesl thanked her father once more.

"Captain, could I talk to you something?" Maria asked as she opened the study door. She could hardly believe she was here; she didn't have a meeting with her employer, but had somehow summoned enough courage to seek him out on her own, while he was in his study.

"Of course Fraulein," he replied kindly, turning in his chair so he was no longer facing his desk. "What is it?"

"It's about the party tomorrow," she began, hesitant. "And Liesl."

"Of course."

Maria breathed deeply. She was very nervous about saying this, especially given the lengths they'd taken to ensure their performance was a surprise for their father as much as it was for the guests, but she knew she needed to do this.

So she explained the performance to the Captain, about how each child would personally say goodbye, and how Liesl's departure would come in the form of asking for some champagne.

"Liesl would love to attend the party, but she also is rather nervous about the prospect. She's not ready just yet," she told him. "So could you deny her request?"

"Yes of course," he answered, "though you needn't have worried Fraulein," he was smirking now. "That is what I would've said anyway."

Maria didn't know what to say, so she stayed silent.

The Captain sighed: "She's much too young, I'm afraid."

Maria tried not to feel upset on her charge's behalf, especially since Liesl had asked her to do this.

"I'm sorry Fraulein," he added quickly, chastened. "I know she would like that very much, even if she's nervous, and I know you would like that for her, but…"

"It's alright sir," Maria said quickly. "You're her father. I understand."

"To be honest," he replied. "In a way, I would like for her to stay. She's a wonderful young woman; but I don't know if I'm ready for something like this. And I feel girls – Liesl's age or not – should want more in their lives than just parties and dances."

"Of course," she replied. "I agree." She realised she was glad he hadn't commented on the fact that Liesl farewell would be what it was.

"Thank you for telling me, Ma –," the Captain stopped, coughing as though to clear his throat. "Fraulein. Yes, thank you."

Maria wasn't able to reply. She wondered if she'd heard him correctly. He hadn't appeared to be coughing out of sickness, or a lump in his throat, and he wasn't coughing anymore.

Had he been about to call her by her Christian name?

Why would he do that? And more importantly, why did she wish he had?

She had been sent to the von Trapps on a mission. She thought it was to prepare the children for a new mother, but maybe it was to bring them closer to their father. Maybe it was both; perhaps by helping to repair the relationships between her charges and their father, she would be helping them to prepare for their new mother in Baroness Schraeder.

Whatever it was, Maria knew that she had done her duty.

I really wanted to get this final chapter up on Charmian's birthday, since this is obviously about Liesl. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season.