A/N: So, hopefully they might start sorting themselves out soon! Thank you again for all your reviews and please keep writing them if you can.

Disclaimer as per first chapter.

Rating Better change this to T now, just in case!

Chapter 10

Over the coming days the Von Trapp Villa came alive. The children sang wherever they went and not far behind them would be Maria who also seemed to have found a new and renewed lease of life. Her smile lit up every room she entered and Georg found himself making excuses to be in whichever part of the house she presently occupied. The children clearly loved their Governess and he could see how much they were blossoming under her care.

In stark contrast, Georg was intrigued by his children's less than enthusiastic reaction to Elsa's presence at the Villa. He wasn't altogether happy with his children's behaviour towards her but to be fair to them, Elsa wasn't exactly displaying a great deal of fervour either.

Max was just being... well, Max!

When he wasn't eating Apple Strudel he was using Georg's phone to speak to his contacts in Paris and Rome. He had however ingratiated himself with Georg by finding the most gorgeous puppet theatre that Georg knew he would end up paying for. Nevertheless, the children adored it and it would seem that Maria also found it enchanting, so for those reasons alone, Georg was happy.

For a week they had been practising virtually every day and Georg, Elsa and Max had all been strictly forbidden from entering the ballroom. Georg recalled with some amusement that Maria had caught him one morning trying to peek through the keyhole.

"Ahem! Excuse me, Captain but you will kindly remember that there are some rooms in this house which are not to be disturbed." Maria had taken great delight in scolding him as she stumbled across him crouched down with his ear to the door.

She was certain that she had seen him wink at her as he saluted sarcastically before striding away towards his study with a backward glance, which betrayed the most irresistible smirk on his face. It had taken her practically the whole of the morning to banish the image of him from her mind and even then she couldn't stop smiling.

xXx

Finally, the evening of the Puppet Show arrived. Georg was incredibly excited, Elsa less so and Max, well he just enjoyed the whole delicious scenario and couldn't wait to see some of the faces that Elsa would pull as she was forced to endure yet another von Trapp musical extravaganza.

As it began, Max and Elsa applauded as Georg peaked behind the theatre to see that they were ready, before sneaking back to his seat to await the performance. The curtains opened and Maria's gorgeous voice drifted from the top of the theatre. The three members of the audience looked on enthralled by the delightful tale that was unfolding before them. Georg couldn't believe how talented his children really were and wished that he could see Maria properly but all he could see above the theatre was the top of her head which bobbed in time with the music. The rest of the puppeteers being smaller, were all completely hidden.

As the performance reached its climax all that could be heard from the intimate audience was the sound of enthusiastic applause and shouts of "Bravo, Bravo!"

The children appeared out from behind and within the theatre, as Georg leapt from his seat to embrace his children. He congratulated them all one by one, before they ran over to Max, pleading with him that they could keep the puppets and the theatre.

Elsa remained seated, only standing when Maria appeared from behind the theatre apparently exhausted. Maria leant against the side of the wooden structure and wiped her brow with the back of her hand.

"Well done, Fraulein. I really am very, very much impressed." Georg walked over to where Maria stood, smiling widely.

"They're your children, Captain," Maria beamed as she lifted her arms before letting them drop to her sides with a slap.

For some reason he just couldn't tear his eyes away from her. She looked beautiful and he knew in his heart that she was the reason that he and his children were so happy. All at once he could feel Elsa's presence behind him and he realised that she had been waiting for him. He turned and with a rather embarrassed look on his face he reached his arm out for her and they walked towards the door.

"My dear, is there anything you can't do?" Elsa enquired, as she looked back momentarily.

"I'm not sure that I'll make a very good Nun," Maria joked, but inside she was once again seriously doubting her vocation.

"Hmmm… you may well be right, my dear," Elsa shot back and Georg took her firmly by the arm and led her away from Maria.

He waited by the door to allow his Governess to pass. As she did so he couldn't stop himself from admiring how graceful she looked. Elsa was always beautifully made up and her dresses were elaborate and expensive but Maria was just so naturally elegant and beautiful, nothing about her was false. Warmth radiated from her and he felt his heart beat just a little quicker as she smiled when she passed him.

Without fail, Max interrupted them in the hall with one of his preposterous plans. He proposed that Georg's children should become his next musical ensemble. Without a second thought, Georg dismissed his plans and walked through to the sitting room heading directly for the drinks table.

After one further try Max got a final, frustrated reply from Georg.

"Max, my children do not sing in public."

"Well, you can't blame me for trying."

Maria could tell that Georg was becoming irritated and so in an attempt to lighten the mood she distracted the children by clapping her hands together and she went to stand in the middle of the room.

"Children, who shall we hear from next?" They all eagerly gathered around their Governess and whispered in her ear. It was obvious as Georg looked over to where she stood that she couldn't quite believe who they were suggesting.

Still questioning their decision, Maria picked up her guitar from beside the fireplace and walked across to where Elsa, Georg and Max still stood.

She cleared her throat to get Georg's attention and then held out the guitar with both hands and presented it to him.

"The vote is unanimous… you, Captain."

Max chuckled and Elsa looked at Georg who appeared as bemused about the situation as she was.

"Me… I don't understand."

"Please…" she smiled, hoping for the children's sakes that he would at least consider taking the guitar.

"Ahhhh…" he hummed as he waggled his finger, firstly at Maria and then at the children. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no…"

"I'm told that a long time ago you were quite good." Maria remembered now how Liesl had told her that Georg would sing for them when they went to bed. His rich voice would soothe them to sleep and help them forget about any nightmares that might dare to disturb their sleep.

"Well that was a very, very, very long time ago," he was embarrassed and feeling rather awkward but the look on his children's faces almost broke his heart. How could he possibly deny them… or Maria?

He took the guitar from Maria's hands and placed his fingers on the strings. As he got the feel of the instrument once more it suddenly flashed through his mind that he would play a song that hopefully would mean something not only to him but also to Maria.

He played the first few notes as he stood and then as he finally plucked up the courage he began to sing, tentatively at first, his voice slightly shaky.

Edelweiss, Edelweiss,
Every morning you greet me,

He turned slowly and settled himself on the sofa. Even before his gaze fell upon her sun bathed face she was lost. The way he sang as if she were the only person in the room was mesmerising. As she stared in wonder she realised that he was perfect in almost every way. There was little wonder that she had felt so drawn to him when they had first met in Salzburg.

Small and white
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me

Nodding towards Maria he smiled as he sang and Maria felt her whole body relax, allowing the soothing lilt of his voice to wash over her. She wondered if he had chosen the song deliberately, thinking back to her handkerchief and the fresh sprig of Edelweiss that he had placed within its folds when he returned it to her.

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever,

Elsa looked towards Maria as she stood with her back and head rested against the wooden paneled walls. She looked so at peace and Elsa recognsed instantly that Maria was in love with him. The way she stared adoringly towards him and what was even more obvious was the fact that Georg was in love with her. Max glanced at Elsa as she once again looked towards Georg.

Edelweiss, Edelweiss,
Bless my homeland forever,

Tears stung Maria's eyes as Liesl now joined her father as they sang a duet. How far he had come with his children and how Maria realized she was falling deeply in love with him. She knew it was wrong and that one of the reasons it was so wrong was sitting right there in the room with them.

Edelweiss, Edelweiss,
Every morning you greet me,
Small and white,
Clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me,

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever,

As Georg reached the final few lines of the song, in his mind there was no one else in the room apart from him and his Governess. His eyes were drawn once more to Maria's. They were the colour of the dew on a fresh mountain flower or a clear crystal blue sky and he was completely mesmerised.

Edelweiss Edelweiss,
Bless my homeland forever.

Maria's heart swelled as Georg finished singing but continued to stare longingly into her eyes. Shrugging in a self-depreciating manner he felt his face redden. He needed to look away but she was captivating in every single way. Her face glowed as she met his gaze and she could see within it a promise of something so tantalizingly dangerous, yet irresistible.

Max recognized that the situation had become awkward and so he broke the tension with one of his witty yet semi-serious suggestions.

"Any time you say the word Georg you can be part of my new act… The von Trapp Family Singers."

Georg laughed and leant his hands on the neck of the guitar trying desperately not to glance over at Maria again. At that moment, Elsa stood and walked over to where Georg sat on the settee, she rested her hands on the back.

"I think it's about time we really filled this house with music. You promised me a grand and glorious party… remember?" she looked to try and gauge Georg's reaction but to her surprise she got little resistance from him.

"Yes, I do and a party you shall have!" He laughed as his children all erupted in whoops and cheers.

Did the Baroness have an ulterior motive for suggesting a party. Maria found that an unusual and disconcerting feeling was wrapping itself around her like a wild, thorny bramble… jealousy!

"Children, it's time to go to bed. Come now, say goodnight." Maria shepherded the children over to their father so that they could all wish him goodnight. Several kisses later and the children were all excitedly making their way up the stairs chattering wildly.

xXx

After seeing that the children were all settled in bed, Maria closed the door of her room and changed into her nightgown. She knelt beside her bed and began to pray. She hoped that God would answer the doubts that she had about her plans to become a Nun, although deep down she knew that there were no easy answers.

Settling into her cozy bed she pulled the covers up around her and snuggled into her pillows. Somehow she was certain that he would invade her dreams, just as he had done for the last few days since he had asked her to stay with them. Some of her dreams were far from decent and she was scared of the way her feelings for him seemed to be spiraling out of control.

Humming the tune for Edelweiss she slowly drifted off to sleep, with the image of her Captain with smiling lovingly at her, very much fixed in her mind.

xXx

"You never told me how appealing your little Governess was," Elsa Schraeder prowled around Georg's study like a caged panther, with a glass of scotch in her hand.

"Hmmm… well, really there is nothing to tell. She's a postulant at Nonnberg Abbey and was sent to us by the Reverend Mother. The children seem to like her, so that's all that matters." Georg was trying to act casually. He didn't want to encourage Elsa's current line of questioning but neither did he want her to think that he was trying to avoid the subject.

"Only the children?" Elsa was feeling particularly mischievous and she was eager to find out if her suspicions about Georg's feelings were correct.

Max, who was sitting by the fire nursing his own glass of whiskey looked on with some delight as his two best friends appeared to be treading on very thin ice with their current topic of conversation.

"I beg your pardon?" Georg was beginning to feel very uncomfortable and he fidgeted in his chair.

"Is it only the children that like their Governess?"

"I'm not quite sure what you're implying, Elsa. But to answer your question, she seems to be liked by most of the staff as well."

"That's not exactly what I meant as well you know, Georg von Trapp. I've known you for a long time, I know what makes you tick and I know what interests you. I must say though, she's not your usual type."

"How dare you, Elsa. Since when did I have a type?" Georg's nostrils flared in anger and he slammed his fist down on the desk.

"My, my. Did I hit a nerve?"

Georg glared at her still furious at her insinuation. His past was far from virtuous but since Agathe had died he'd hardly even looked at another woman. Besides Elsa, the only woman that had really caught his eye was Maria and what made her so special was the fact that he had enjoyed her company because of the friendship that she had bestowed upon him as much as anything else. She had hit a nerve but he was damned if he was going to explain his feelings to her.

"And exactly what type are you… Elsa!" he spat.

Max decided it was time that he stepped in. He couldn't fathom why his friends were being so hostile to each other. He understood that Elsa might be a little jealous. He'd also noticed how intrigued Georg seemed by his Governess, but it was really no reason to start a war.

"Come now you two. It is far too late for this sort of thing. You'll wake the children and if you do that then I'll have no chance of finishing this delightful bottle of Whiskey you have here."

"You're right. In any case, I think it's time I retired to my room and left you two gentlemen alone," Elsa strutted towards the door without waiting for a reply from either of the men.

As soon as Elsa had shut the door, Max turned to his old friend and raised an eyebrow.

"What!" Georg snapped.

"What on earth was all that about, Georg. I thought you and Elsa were getting on well. I assumed that was the reason I was here?"

"The great Max Detweiler isn't always as observant as he thinks he is," Georg quipped as he poured himself another drink.

"Something is amiss here, Georg. I can't quite put my finger on it but I'll find out, you know I will, so you might as well tell me all the sordid little details now."

"Really, Max. You are insufferable. I have nothing more to say to you about this or any other matter." Georg took his drink with him and opened the study door.

"Now I'll bid you goodnight."

With a slam of the study door Georg left his old friend speechless and bemused, but Max vowed to himself that he would get to the bottom of the bizarre events that had just unfolded before him.

xXx