The captain returns

In the days while the captain was away, Maria and the children got on really well, doing things together, picnics , bike riding out rowing on the boat, even going to town, just anything and every together and they all loved it; it lifted their spirits Marias included. The household staff even started to like her, after all if she kept the children happy; it gave them less to clean up. She became very good friends with Alfred, she always went to him to ask if it was alright to take the children out, and he always agreed. Nothing made him happier then to see his grandchildren happy, and this did. Even after having a few words with his wife about Marias behaviour, he still did what he thought best, he thought back to his conversation last night with his wife. After Elizabeth had got out her say out about Maria acting like a hooligan, and also leading the children a stray, Alfred couldn't stop laughing, leaving her even more annoyed, he had his say;

Alfred; "Well Elizabeth, you can't fault the girl, at least she calmed the children down"

Elizabeth; "calmed them down… you must be out of your mind…their wilder then ever"

Alfred; " how do you work that out, there's no more silly pranks, no more falling out with each other, and no more misery"

Elizabeth; "I agree with that; but you can't tell me that there still not out of control, I mean really running all over Salzburg, singing songs playing games, where ever they are, you can hear them when there miles away, making all that noise"

Alfred; "noise… well I think they have beautiful voice…and any way there having a bit of fun that's all, burning off that energy they saved up for the last three years"

Elisabeth; "oh yes they do sing beautifully, but I wasn't on about that, I was talking about the shouting and screaming…and what about Maria mm, what are people thinking when they see her out with them getting up to all this mischief, it's an embarrassment"

Alfred, "well I think she a lovely girl, very up lifting… under the circumstances,"

Elizabeth; "yes far to uplifting if you ask me, and what do you mean under the circumstances, that girls better of here, and she knows it, after all she'll never have to work again"

Alfred; "you know perfectly well what I mean… I'm mean buying her to be Georg wife… well its worst then working Elizabeth… and you know it, what would you do if it was you, mmm"

Elizabeth; "I would never get myself into that sort of situation"

Alfred; "the girl had no choice"

Elizabeth; "well you were all for it, and it's done now"

Alfred; "yes… I was…but that was before I met her"

Elizabeth; "well if she is to marry our son, I think we'll have to give the girl some ground rules… like what she can and can't do, what's expected of her, that sort of thing"

Alfred; "I think that should be the least of your worries my dear… because if this marriage goes ahead, she will be their mother, and

That will mean you won't have a say on how… any of our grandchildren are brought up… I mean after all, the girl does speak her mind"

Elizabeth; "Not to me"

Alfred; "Not yet;" muttering under his breath not to be heard.

Elizabeth; "well… we need to take this in hand and fast"

Alfred; "WE"

Elizabeth; "YES WE… your apart of this too, so you will help me, whether you like it or not, starting first thing tomorrow"

Alfred sat back in his chair on the terrace, taking in the morning weather, he just told Maria and the children to go and have fun on their outing today, and getting Maria out of his wife's clutches before Elizabeth had woke, he sat with a smile on his face knowing he got one over on his wife, but he also knew he couldn't keep it like that for long.

The captain now driving back, with his good friend max in the back of the car, and Baroness Elsa Schrader in the passage seat: who too had; lost her husband, third now. The captain was thinking if this plan was really going to work, max had suggested to take Elsa back with him and pretend they are in a relationship, Georg didn't find it very convincing, so instead taking max's idea and coming up with one a bit more fun, still thing this was too far fetch, but to try it anyway after all he might be able find another way in the meantime, Elsa of cause loved it, saying she is up for a laugh and not being able to resist, I mean it not every day you get to flirt with a hansom bachelor, now is it. Max of cause not wanting to miss out on the fun decided to join them; they decided to head back to villa to put their plan to work.

So now travelling along the road towards the villa, the three noticed people swinging and shouting from the trees, they were passing now, as the captain realising who they are, slammed on the brakes bring the car to a sharp halt and jumped out to walk back towards them, when he was below Maria and the children, he started to give his orders again, telling them to get down at once, but he startled Maria and with that she lost her grip and with her now screaming and falling from the tree, the captain could only do one thing and that was try and catch her or at least break fall. With success he caught her, bridal style. Maria now in shock, being in his arms she could not speak, he quickly put her to her feet, and ordered them all to get into the car, which they did.

The captain pulled up in the drive, and with giving his children an order to get in their uniforms and telling Maria to go to his study, wanting a word with her after he'd seen to his guest, also did what she was told. As Maria entered the captain's study, she noticed how warm it was, with lovely mahogany furniture, and a book shelf from ceiling to floor fall of books, it also had a sofa, which looked very comfortable. Still taking it all in Maria couldn't help but notice a photo frame on the desk, thinking it was of the children, she just had to take a peak, but it wasn't it was of a woman, Maria thought how elegant and very beautiful she looked, Louisa she the model of her. Maria was brought out of her thoughts, "put that down", his voice was as cold as ice and very firm, Maria turned towards the captain as he was heading towards her, he grabbed the frame out of her hands, and not to touch anything again, he moved away from her and went to sit down behind his desk. Maria started to apologise but was cut off, by the captain saying he doesn't want to hear it, and that there was only one reason he'd ordered her here.

Georg; "Now fraulein, can you explain to me why my children were out climbing trees today"

Maria; "well you… see the weather was so lovely today that… I thought it would be nice to do an outside activity"

Georg; "so you took it upon yourself to tear my children away from their studies, to climb trees did you"

Maria "no… well you see it was Kurt…"

Georg; "Kurt"

Maria; "yes… you see it was his idea to pick what we did today… so we followed his wish"

Georg; "I don't follow"

Maria; "well… while you been away, I err… got to know the children quite well. and I asked them err… what sort of things they like doing… and well I came up with the idea that each child can pick once a week to do…err their activity, o how they've loved it we've been everywhere together picnicking, bike….";

Maria stopped she saw the captains face had changed, much more angry from when he entered the room, finding her holding his wife's photo. Georg jumped from his seat shouting now and coming right in front of Maria;

Georg; "do you mean to tell me that while I've been away, my children have been roaming around Salzburg with you"?

Maria; "YES… and having a marvellous time" now Maria shouting back

Georg "you have no right fuarlein" pacing the room now.

Maria; "your right I don't… but someone had too…children are supposed to act like children… not marching around in uniforms, and answering to whistles"

Georg; "they haven't complained"

Maria "they wouldn't dare… they love too much… they fear…"Georg coming back to stand in front of her.

Georg; "I don't wish to discuss my children with you"

grabbing at her arm to pull her out of the study, but she wasn't taking it, not from him she was going to stand her ground, someone had too, and if she is to marry him, who better to do this, she thought.

Outside the study everyone in the house was listing to the shouting coming from the room, then Liesl had a great idea and told Friedrich to fetch the guitar, so they could start to sing, hoping it will help knock some scence into her fathers thick head, they headed for the sitting room and making sure their grandparents max and Elsa were all there too. the children got into their place, and with one look at each other they hoped that this would work.

As they came to the study door Maria pulled her arm free from Georg grip and shouted back at him;

Maria; "I know you don't but you got to"

Now the captain was motionless, he couldn't speak, move or even breathe, he knew what was coming.

Maria; "Now take Liesl, she a not child anymore, one of these days, you're going to wake up and find she a woman, you won't even know her".

She had to do it, even if he is standing there hurting, just be told about one of his children, she knew she had to go on, to make him see scene.

Maria; "and Friedrich, he's a boy but he wants to be man like you, and there no one to show him how"

Georg; "don't you dare tell me …" finding his voice now.

Maria; "Brigitte could tell you about him, she notices everything"

Maria; "Kurt pretends he tough, but hides the pain when you brush him a side, the way you do all of them"

Georg; Fuarlein...that will do" saying but chocking on his words now.

Maria; "as for Louisa, the reason she angry all the time is because of you...acting the way you... with all of them"

Georg; "stop it" but low, because he could hardly speak.

Maria; "and the little ones just want be loved, oh please captain love them love them all"

Georg; "I do not wish to hear any more from you about my children," he finally snaps out

Georg; "what that?"

Maria; "its singing"

Georg; "yes I realised its singing, but who"

Maria; "the children"

Georg; "the children" now in shock to what he hears

Maria; "it was something else we did together, while you away"

Georg walks out of the study going towards the sound, and Maria follows, as they get to the door they just both stood there, and watch the children, content with the sound of their voices, the captain made himself known and joined the children in song, his parents and even max were shocked by this sudden outburst, but not as shocked as his children, when the song came to an end he gave them a quick smile and reached out to them to come forward, so he could hold them, hug them, tell them how sorry he is and that he loves them very much. Everyone in the room was very happy to see father and his children reunited, especially Maria, she got to no each any one of these children very well, but the one thing she learnt was that they all wanted their father back, it chocked her so much she fled to her room, but not quick enough for Liesl not to see. Just as Liesl made a few steps to go after Maria, the captain stopped her, with an explanation that he need to apologise to maria, he gave all his children a quick smile, told them not to go anywhere and left the room.

as the captain approached Marias room, the door was open but he still knocked, seeing her by the window, but wanted to get her attention, she carried on looking out of her bedroom window with tears running down her face, she wouldn't move, she didn't want him to see her crying move, the captain spoke;

Georg; "fuarlein I behaved badly… I apologies" standing in the door way.

Maria; "I far to outspoken, it one of my worst faults" answering but carried on looking out the window

Georg now hearing in her voice, she was crying, wanted so much to comfort her, he spoke again:

Georg; "you were right I don't know my children" he started to walk into the room.

Maria; "there still time captain… they want so much to be close to you", Maria's crying stopping now; and trying to calm her voice, but still would not look at him.

Georg; "you brought music back into the house, id forgotten"

Georg stood right behind her now. He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him, with her head down, a shamed to look at him after their argument and her crying, he raised his hand to her chin, and with it raised her head so her eyes met his, now with eye contact; Georg spoke;

Georg; "will you help me, to get to know them…please"?

Maria answered him with a nod and a smile, Georg smiled back to thank her, looking a one another for a while longer then they had too. Georg then put some distance beetween them, and the asked Maria to join, him and everyone else down stairs, so he could also introduce her to his guest, and she accepted.

ok, i owe a big thank to one of my readers toons27, for the great ideas in this chapter, i dont no how i did it but im quite happy with this myself, thanks to every one reviewing this, i no it dragged but i might be able get it all up a lot sooner then planed, unless of cause any of you come to me with any better ideas, then what got,

please do keep giving me ideas, and do tell if something needs changing, thank you