The next morning was warm and sunny. The family sat down to breakfast, the children eager to go on their picnic.

Maria provided each child with a task to prepare for the day. The girls would make the lunches, and the boys would gather the games and blankets.

As they all left the dining room the Captain stopped her. 'Maria, are you sure you feel up to this today? We don't have to go if you...'

She smiled at him. 'Don't worry about me, we'll have loads of fun!'

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Maria was assigning each child something to carry when the Captain made his way down the stairs. He wore a tan shirt, a few buttons loose at the top and his sleeves rolled up, and greenish pants tucked into brown riding boots that came nearly to his knee.

When the family saw him he realized their shock, 'What? Surprised a tie isn't apart of my body?' He smirked.

'You look perfect, Father!' Said a smiling Liesl.

'Why, thank you, m'lady.' He jested as he gave a rather dramatic bow.

All the children giggled.

'Now, what do you need me to carry?' The Captain asked Maria.

'Kurt and I have got it taken care of, Father!' Fredrich declared.

'Ah, Children,' began the Captain, 'just between us, I think I prefer Papa to Father.'

They beamed. 'We do too!' Exclaimed Brigitta.

He smiled at her and stroked her cheek.

'Alright, we have a long walk ahead, we should get moving.' Suggested Maria.

The Captain laughed, 'Nonsense, we'll take the car to the foot of the mountain. Everyone pile in!'

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Once they reached the bottom of the hills, the Captain parked under a large tree for shade. 'Everyone grab something!'

'Right, Kurt, you carry the blankets, Fredrich, the lunch.' Directed Maria.

'But I wanted to carry the lunch!' Whined Kurt.

'Oh, whatever, you can switch.' Said a laughing Maria.'

Once they got everything figured out they began their trek up the mountain. The children entertained themselves with a seven-person game of I Spy, leaving Maria and the Captain trailing somewhat behind.

'I really do think it's wonderful of you to come up here with us. I know the children appreciate it very much... You're a natural!'

The Captain laughed, 'You mustn't forget, Fräulein, I used to be a quite decent father to seven children!'

Maria chuckled, 'Oh, I know, but you really have picked up marvelously.'

'Thank you, Fräulein, it means a great deal.'

At about this time they reached the spot in which they usually stop. They dropped what they were carrying in a pile where they would always set up, and ran of in different directions.

'Little scoundrels!' Exclaimed the Captain. 'Didn't even think to help!'

'They're all right, Captain, they're always so anxious to get here.'

'Even so.' He said as he looked at his wristwatch.

'It's almost lunchtime, why don't we set up then call them to eat?'

'Sounds like a plan.' Said the Captain as he straightened the blankets. 'So, how did you come across this lovely little place?'

'You see, my uncle lives not too far from here, and I would come here to escape.'

The Captain cringed, 'If you'd rather, we could go somewhe...'

'I wouldn't dream of it, this was always my happy place, and I love being able to share it with you all.' She said with a smile. 'Look, we're all finished, would you call the children?'

'Of course.' He walked to where he could see them all, 'Children! Lunch!' He yelled.

Maria turned and saw seven children hurrying towards her and a grown man rubbing his throat. 'I must admit there are times when I miss that ridiculous whistle.'

They all laughed as they grabbed their food and took their places on the blankets. As Kurt prepared to take a large bite out of his chicken leg, Maria interrupted. 'Ah, Kurt, haven't we forgotten to thank the Lord?' The Captain laughed as his youngest son placed his chicken leg shamefully back on his paper plate.

Maria prayed and they all began to consume their delicious food.

'I doubt I've eaten off of a paper plate in ten years!' The Captain exclaimed.

Everyone laughed.

'Are we going to play our game, Fräulein?' Asked Gretl.

'Game?' Inquired the Captain.

'Well, you see, Sir,' explained Maria, 'We have this uh, practice when we eat. We go around and someone asks a question, and each person has to answer. I'll go first so you can see. What is your favorite color?'

Marta shouted, 'Pink!'

'Yellow!' Was Gretl's.

'Red!' From Kurt.

'Light blue!' Was Louisa's.

Fredrich said, 'Green.'

'Lavender.' Brigitta spoke.

'Mine's gold!' Said Liesl.

'Mine is pink too.' Said Maria.

'How about yours, Papa?' Asked Brigitta.

'Uh... brown.' Answered the Captain.

'Brown? Gretl asked with a scrunched up nose.'

'Yes, brown, little Miss Sunshine!' He said as he squeezed her nose.

They all laughed. 'Ok, who's next?' asked Maria.

'I am!' Said Kurt. 'What is your favorite desert?'

'Good heavens, Kurt! We haven't even finished our main course yet and you're already thinking about desert!' Teased Brigitta.

Maria laughed, 'Apple Studel!'

'Tiramisu!' Said Liesl.

'Snicker-doodle cookies!' Added Gretl.

'Mine too!' Said Fredrich.

'I like chocolate chip cookies!' Exclaimed Marta.

'My favorite's ice cream!' Louisa said.

'I love strawberries dipped in chocolate!' Brigitta told.

Kurt said, 'What can beat chocolate cake?!'

'Papa?' Prompted Liesl.

'Brownies have always had a special place in my heart.' He said as he placed his hand gallantly over his heart.

'Ok,' said a laughing Maria, 'one more.'

Gretl's hand shot up. 'May I do one?'

'Of course, Gretl.' Answered Maria.

'What's your favorite animal? Mine are bunny rabbits!'

'Horses.' The Captain answered right away.

'Frogs.' Said Louisa. Everyone laughed as they saw the disgusted face of Maria.

Marta said, 'Sweet little kittens!'

'Big furry dogs!' Said Kurt happily.

'Little furry dogs.' Laughed Liesl.

'I like pandas.' Said Fredrich.

Brigitta laughed and said, 'Monkeys!'

Gretl thought that was really funny.

'How about you, Fräulein?

'Well, I want to say horses but I've never ridden one.'

'What! Never ridden a horse?' The Captain said unbelievingly. 'We are going to need to fix that!'

She laughed, 'Please! Ok, we've all finished. Go play, now.'

'Father,' began Fredrich, 'would you play ball with us?' Seven pairs of eyes looked up at him pleadingly.

'Of course I will! What are the teams?'

'Yes!' They all exclaimed.

Fredrich said, 'It's you, Kurt, Liesl, and Marta against me, Louisa, Brigitta, and Gretl. Fräulein, do you want to play?'

'Not this time.' She said smiling.

Maria cleaned from lunch as they played their game. The object seemed to be to kick it to your teammates and try and get it through a goal marked with two empty cups. She had never seen the Captain quite like he was today, but she was sure she liked him better this way.

When she finished cleaning she sat back and watched them play. They were all so happy, she couldn't help but smile. It was something she couldn't remember experiencing, the love of a father, but while most would become envious, Maria did not. Despite the chaos surrounding her brother, in her life she had never felt happier or more loved than she did with this family.

At about this time the Captain went to kick the ball, but Gretl grabbed his leg, causing him to fall. They all piled into their father tickling, tackling, and laughing. When the Captain finally managed to get up his hair was a mess, his pants dirty and his shirt all crooked.

'Play a couple without me, huh? You've worn me out!' He said as he tried to put himself back together, to no avail.

The Children laughed and conceded and the Captain made his way to the blankets where Maria was giggling profusely.

'Now, what's this?' He jested as he lay on his back and close his eyes, 'do I look more like a sea captain now? You know I never did know what you meant by that.'

'Oh, I don't know, I suppose when I heard sea captain I envisioned an dirty man with a beard and a striped shirt!'

'Well, did I disappoint you?'

'Not at all, sir.'

'Fräulein, what do you say we drop all this sir business and you call me Georg? At least when the children aren't around.' He looked at her, eyes squinty from the sun.

'Only if you agree to drop the Fräulen.' She smiled.

'It's a deal.'

At this point the children ran up to where they were sitting.

'Papa, Fräulein, we're hot, may we go to the brook over there and play in the water?

'It's up to Mar-Fräulein Maria.'

She laughed at his mistake, 'You may if you don't mind having wet clothes all the way home.'

'We don't!' They all said as they rushed to the brook.

'I wish they would come down with us. Do you think they would?' Asked Kurt.

'Not a chance.' Said Fredrich. 'They're grown-ups, they never do things like this.'

'I want them to play with us!' Declared Gretl with a little stomp of her foot.

'We could trick them!' Proposed Louisa.

'Don't you think we would get in trouble?' Asked Brigitta.

Louisa replied, 'Come on! When have you ever seen Father in a better mood?'

'Papa.' Marta corrected.

'What do you think, Liesl?' Inquired Fredrich.

'Well, if there were ever a day when we could get away with it... Let's do it!'

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Maria and Georg were relaxing with some iced tea, chatting happily with one another when a soaking wet Kurt ran over the small hill where his father and governess could hear him.

'Papa! Fräulein! Come look at what we found in the brook! Hurry!'

Georg sighed, stood up and offered Maria his hand. They followed Kurt down the hill all the way to the small brook where the rest of the children were staring intently at a small spot in the rocks.

'Look, very closely.' Said Louisa with a wicked grin.

When both Georg and Maria were bending down and looking, Kurt and Fredrich shared a glance, and pushed them into the water!

After a large splash, Georg emerged from the water, which came up to about his upper stomach. The children waited apprehensively to catch their fathers reaction.

After glancing over at Maria to insure she was all right. He climbed out of the brook in silence, walked to his children (giving them no indication of his current tenor) grabbed his two sons, one in each arm, and threw them in the water! He proceeded to do the same with his daughters.

Then occurred the biggest splash fight any of them had ever witnessed. Laughter abounded. The children were sure they had never had so much fun as they did that day. And, secretly, so was the Captain.