Chapter 13

The nine of them arrived in the ballroom. Upon reaching the ballroom, Friedrich and Kurt excused themselves to get the phonograph and the vinyl record of the Läendler in the music room. Maria was tense, she was about to dance it again. She was about to dance it again with him.

A minute later, Friedrich and Kurt arrived, vinyl record all ready set on the phonograph. As Maria looked at it, she felt her stomach doing huge somersaults. She looked over to the Captain (who was a few meters in front of her) and he looked….nervous?

The music started playing, and the two hesitated for a moment, before deciding to start the dance so they couldn't disappoint the children. The music arrived to a climatic sound, making the Captain bow to Maria and Maria curtsy to the Captain. They then held hands, and did the first steps of the Läendler. Warmth emanating from each others' hands, they started stepping, hopping, twirling. Maria was looking away from the Captain, to avoid blushing. Meanwhile, the Captain just looked at her, trying to catch her eyes. They were locked soon as they did another twirl, and then their hands interlaced in front of their chest as they stepped left and right before doing another twirl.

They continued to dance, eyes not tearing off from the other. As Maria hopped around the Captain as he clapped, she felt his very warm gaze at her. She tried not to mind it, but as they went to the more intimate part of the dance, Maria found her gaze on the Captain again.

Their bodies came closer, nearly to the point it touched. Maria felt everything she felt when they danced it during the ball. Their eyes were locked again, before they broke away to finish the last parts of the dance they did not dance during the ball. After a final pose, they broke away, facing each other as the music faded and came to its end.

Maria's face was flushed bright pink, her stomach doing somersaults once again since the Captain hasn't let go of her right hand. The Captain was just looking at Maria, caressing her hand involuntarily.

"That was…it?" Brigitta said. The two adults broke away completely, and nodded at the same time. They are meant to be, Brigitta thought. "So…um…do you want to continue with the steps?" the Captain suggested. "Maybe later, I have a feeling I might get a hard time again. And besides, maybe I can recall how you and Fräulein Maria danced," Brigitta replied. Maria blushed again, face getting redder.

The door suddenly opened. Frau Schmidt peeked from the door, before entering. "I'm sorry for interrupting, but I do believe that it is five minutes before lunch," Frau Schmidt said. "Oh, okay. That's no problem Frau Schmidt. We'll get ready," the Captain replied with a warm smile. Frau Schmidt just nodded her head with a smile before leaving the ballroom.

"Well, off you go and get ready for lunch," the Captain said. The children just smiled back at them. Friedrich and Kurt grabbed the phonograph as they went out, and the rest went out after them. "A-Are you coming, Father? Fräulein Maria?" Liesl asked. "A little bit later," the Captain replied. Liesl nodded. "Do close the door," he added. Liesl nodded and smiled as she went out and closed the door.

And all that was left was Maria and the Captain.

The Captain walked closer to Maria. Maria backed away a little bit, face flushing red.

"Maria..." the Captain just muttered. "Did we just, dance?" Maria said, looking at the Captain. "Yes," he replied. "Both of us danced? Again?" Maria said. "Yes," the Captain said again, inching a little bit more to Maria.

"Oh dear," Maria said to herself, hands going to her face. She was confused. She didn't know what to do. She felt...different. So much different than the past few days. She felt like she has fallen. Fallen even more in love. But she couldn't let her facade crumble. Not when she still wasn't sure about his feelings towards her. About the life she searched.

"Is there a problem?" the Captain said, hand on her shoulder. "No," Maria said, smiling, looking down on the ground giving the Captain a full view of her lashes. "Not at all," she added. "Maybe we need to get ready for lunch," Maria said as she made her way to the door.

The Captain stood there. "And you still haven't told her," he muttered to himself, as he made his way out the ballroom, remembering Max's words.

As Liesl went out, Friedrich and Kurt run from the music room and the rest to the door. Liesl's ear was on the door. They knew it was wrong, but they were desperate.

When Liesl heard footsteps, she quickly ushered them up to their room.

"What happened?" Brigitta quickly asked as they arrived to their room. "Fräulein Maria was gushing, and Father was just saying weird things. No developments," Liesl replied, shrugging her shoulders at the last sentence. "Oh," Brigitta replied. "Well, let's just wait after lunch," Brigitta said, winking.

A/N: Whew, that took so long. Well, summer's started, and I'll try to put up the next chapter! (Which will be the last chapter. Surprise right? XD) Well, nonetheless, hope you liked this story, and thanks for all the support. :) Please R&R! It will mean so much reading your opinions. :)