Thanks to my beta PUSSYCATWITHATTITUDE for going though all this story so far, she's brilliant. :):):):)

Thanks to all for the reviews, just loving them. :):)

Arriving at Vorchorf, Maria and Georg were exhausted, especially after the morning and early afternoon they had. On arrival at the hotel they were escorted straight up to their room.

Once again it was a family suit. It wasn't as luxurious as the one back in Vienna, it only had one bathroom, and the lounge wasn't as big. But still, there was enough room for a small family to move around comfortably.

It had no personal bar, which at this moment in time the Captain cursed at, for he could have done with a strong drink, especially after the hard work of trying to change the flat tyre on the car. Georg made a mental note to replace the nuts when he returned home, they were far too rusty.

The lounge wasn't as bright, with it only having two windows. One was a simple window to look out of and the other, small French doors where you could just step out on a small balcony. There was enough room for one person that could just look down at the small village below.

The bedrooms were next door to one another, accompanied with double beds, a wardrobe and bed side tables with small lamps on top. It also only had one bathroom, which was quite small.

To Maria it was lovely and comfortable enough for her, but the Captain, being used to much more luxurious living conditions, was not as impressed.

The surroundings reminded him of his naval days, being back in a cramped submarine with little light. The drowing light he was used to reinforced his positive state of mind, but here he only found the darkness bleak. The only image that seemed to help his current thoughts was Maria, her presence indoubtedly could always brighten up the room. But despite all of his negative thoughts towards the room, it would have to do. It seemed to be the only hotel in the small village.

Maria went straight into one of the bedrooms and started to unpack. Following her queue Georg did the same and went to the other, but not before shaking his head slightly at the room.

But remembering their situation - that they were always moving that little bit closer to the children, and that it would make Maria happy - he just smiled to himself and continued to get settled.

Katharina, Alexandra and Oscar arrived in the small village, debating on how they would adopt their approach. Do they ask for help? Do they sit to the side and beg for money, and hope someone would take pity on them? By the looks of the small village people they were passing by, it seemed that would not be an option.

They kept up their small pace watching everybody for their reaction as they walked past them. Eyes were staring, heads were shaking, and they were sure they even heard someone shout "go on get out of here" just down the road from where they passed.

The children carried on walking through into the village, and the villagers carried with what they were doing when the children continued to pass.

The children then stopped outside a small hardware shop. Looking through the window they noticed the food supplies and the variety of other things they could get. There was an elderly gentleman inside stocking the shelves behind the counter.

"Well what do think?" said Alexandra to her sister, knowing this could be their last option. Katharina's expression explained they were not too happy to steal, but knew they needed food. They did not know how much longer they would be travelling, so just gave her sister a nod in response.

The children entered the store. The bell over the door brought attention to the grocer and he lifted his head to see his customers. 'Can I help you?' he politely asked with an inquisitive look to their appearance.

'No thank you, we can manage,' answered Katharina, trying to sound as polite as possible even though she assumed her nerves would have been getting the better of her.

The grocer gave them a quick nod, and continued with his work but watching out the corner of his eye.

'Maria.'

The Captain had come to stand in her bedroom doorway, with a smirk across his face.

'Yes?' she looked towards him.

'I'm, er, just popping across the road to the hardware store, I appear to have left my shaving cream back in Vienna' he explained.

A laugh emitted from her mouth, 'And you told me to check that I didn't forget anything.'

He shrugged his shoulders in defeat and gave a quick chuckle himself. 'Do you need anything?' he asked.

'No thank you, Captain, I remembered all my things,' she said, teasing him.

He gave her a teasing look 'Well Fraulein, we can't all be perfect now can we?' he answered jokingly.

This brought a cheesy grin to Maria, who with a shake of her head said 'No Captain, we can't'.

'I won't be long,' he finished, heading for the exit of the room.

Maria strolled out to the lounge, starting to drift into thought for a moment to what the Baroness had said to her back in Vienna. She started to wonder about her own feelings for the Captain. Was it just friendship or did she feel more?

She still believed the Baroness was wrong about him accompanying her along on this trip for his own pleasures. But now she didn't know how to act around him. The flat tyre was the only time she had forgotten about that conversation back in Vienna. She had wanted to get back on the road as quickly as they could.

She noticed how alone she felt right at this moment. This was the first time she had been left alone in a hotel suite. She started to realise that whenever the Captain was around, even in another room close by, she felt safe and complete.

When holding her in his arms she felt warm and comfortable, and then she realised that's how she always wanted to feel.

'Oh good heavens Maria get a grip' she said to herself. She knew that the Captain would never look at her in that way, not when he could have someone like the Baroness. But the questions still played on her mind. 'Why? Why would he do all this? Why accompany her on the trip? Why would he turn against Hans, his friend for many years? Why go to so much effort to help find her sister's children? Why did he put his relationship with the Baroness on hold? And if the Baroness was right about it just being about his own pleasures, why risk it with her, a mere governess? Maria threw her head into her hands and sighed.

He was an important man, and very respected by all people who knew him. And she was just a simple mountain girl, a failing postulant, an ex-postulant. She was a governess to his children, and when her nieces and nephew were found, a single parent.

She slowly walked over to the wheel cart that they had had sent up with some tea and sandwiches. She did feel slightly hungry. 'Anyway what's saying he feels the same, and if he did would he want to take her on now she had three children to take of?'

With a quick shake of her head in an attempt to forget all thoughts, she went to take hold of the pot. But she stopped, noticing the Captain had forgotten his wallet. Knowing he would need it, she forgot the tea, picked up the wallet and headed for the door.

The children roamed around the shop seeing what they could find, and wondering what they could sneak out with them when leaving. The bell over the door went and first walked in an elderly woman greeting the grocer with a cheerful 'hello' and then a gentleman in uniform who had been holding the door open for the woman.

Katharina became worried, noticing it was a police man. She went straight to her sister's side; away from the policeman's view. She whispered they could no longer go through with their plan.

The policemen and elderly lady started to get into a deep conversation for a time with the grocer. Alexandra noticed this and told Katharina to head for the door with Oscar. Katharina gave her a look of don't do it, but knew her sister would take no notice. She made a move towards the door, but just after she had taken a few steps towards the door, she heard the grocer shout out 'Hey! What are you doing?'

'Quick! Run!' she heard her sister shout from behind and on instinct, like the last time, Katharina headed for the door, pulling Oscar along with her. Just as she got to the door it opened and she ran straight into a man.

He tried to grab her, and stop her from losing her balance. The man was just about to apologise for bumping into her but realising who she was, he froze for a moment. He was then was about to speak just as he heard the shouts coming from the far end of the shop.

'Stop them!'

'Don't let them get away!'

'Quick! Kat! Oscar! Run!'

He watched the two men walking quickly towards them. Next thing he knew he was being kicked in the shin, which nearly caused him to lose his balance. He was shouted at by one of the girls to get out of the way. He reached to grab one of the girls arms, gently but firmly, trying to calm the situation down. But he did not have much luck, the children were adamant to get away.

He could still hear the two men in the shop shouting still at the top of their voice, the elderly lady muttering 'Oh dear, what's the world coming to?' the children shouting at him to let go of the girls arm, and then the one voice he was most pleased to hear.

'Oh Captain, you forgot…' which at this point made him turn around completely to greet her, shock still across his face.

Maria stood in the doorway, she couldn't believe her eyes as she witnessed the scene around her. No words would come out of her mouth, and all she could bring herself to do was fall to her knees with tears in her eyes. With relief and open arms, she beckoned the children to her. They all ran towards her, shouting Aunt Maria over and over again.

Tightly holding the children close to her, and them back with a firm grip which told her they would never be letting go, they showed how happy they were to see her. Maria gave a quick prayer, saying how thankful she was that they were here and safe in her arms.

The Captain was too overwhelmed with the family reunion and couldn't help the big, warm, bright smile crossing his face. And a bit of a chuckle to how things had turned out. But then realised that the three adults would need an explanation and turned towards them.

'Are these your children, sir?' asked the officer.

'Well er… no not exactly, but they are mine and ...' he explained, turning to Maria, acknowledging who he was referring to. She was still too wrapped up with the children to notice anything else happening around her. 'Fraulein Rainer's responsibility.'

The officer gave him a questioning look and then said 'Could you explain?'

'Those children were stealing my products!' the shopkeeper snapped, which caught Maria's attention. She looked up/

'What?' Georg gave them a quick shocked frown, then was about to start explaining when one of the girls spoke up.

'We didn't want to,' explained Katharina in a polite voice.

'We haven't eaten since last night,' Alexandra said, finishing off for her sister.

'Ye!' Oscar piped in, which caused the Captain to chuckle to himself. The adults standing close by heard and gave him a look of disgust, showing him they were not amused.

'My apologies sir, but er… there is a very good explanation for all of this, and er… if I can quickly explain you will understand. And of course I will pay for whatever the children have taken.' Georg spoke apologetically.

'I'm listening,' the officer said, waiting for the explanation.

'Well you see, officer, I'm sure you're aware of a missing person report, or three reports from the orphanage in Vienna two nights ago,' Georg began.

The officer took a quick look towards the children, and then remembered the missing children alert. He remembered they would most likely be heading for Salzburg. He took a quick look back at the Captain and with a nod of his head he spoke, 'Ah yes.'

Georg continued 'Well, as you can see, we have now found them.' The officer understood clearly, and at that turned to the shopkeeper to explain the situation.

Luckily the grocer understood fully, and with Maria and the children's apologies, and the Captain offering to pay for the packet of biscuits, which was the only thing Alexandra had managed to grab, he said he would forget all that had happened. He even let the children have the packet of biscuits - his way of apologising after he must have scared them. But he also warned them not to do it again.

All five left the shop, to return back to the hotel. The children stayed close to Maria, not letting her out of their sight.

The Captain, on the other hand, turned back around and walked back into the shop. He chuckled to himself after realising he forgot about his shaving cream. It had been the reason for him coming to the shop in the first place.

I do hope you liked this one please do review. :):):):)