~ Chapter 4 ~

When he woke, it was still early in the morning of Christmas Day.

Georg sat up in bed as the memory of the events of the night washed over him. For a moment, he wondered if it really hadn't all been a dream. Thinking about that, he decided that it really did not matter if it had been a dream or not. His eyes had been opened, his decision made, and his heart felt light, as if a weight had been lifted off it.

He quickly got dressed and thought of his first task. Not a pleasant one, but he knew that it was the only thing he could do.

Georg left his bedroom and headed for the guestrooms. As he reached Elsa's room, he raised his hand and was surprised when the door opened before he could knock.

"Good morning, Georg," Elsa said. "What a coincidence, I was just on my way to you." She tried to smile. "Won't you come in?"

Georg stepped passed her into the room, mumbling a good morning in return.

He heard the door close behind him and turned round to face Elsa. She seemed calm and composed as always, but Georg noticed that her hands were trembling, giving away a hint of nervousness.

"How did you sleep, darling?" Elsa began, obviously looking for a way to start talking.

Georg looked at her and softly shook his head.

"You don't have to do that, Elsa," he said softly.

"We both know it… It's no use, you and I."

Her expression changed as she lifted her head to look at him.

Georg continued.

"I've been dishonest to both of us, and utterly unfair to you." He tried to measure her reaction, but she remained silent.

"When two people talk of marriage…" his voice wavered slightly, and Elsa quickly spoke, sparing him having to go on.

"Don't say another word Georg, please?" she asked him, her voice light, but her eyes were serious. Georg looked up at her in slight surprise.

"You know, I've been thinking, too. Fond as am of you, I really… don't think you're the right man for me. You're much too…" She hesitated for a moment, searching for the right word.

"Too independent," she decided, with a hint of a smile, which was met by Georg.

"I need someone who needs me desperately," she continued. "Or at least needs my money desperately," she added with a self-mockery that made her smile, and brought a grin to Georg's face as well.

They shared a look of mutual understanding.

"I've enjoyed every moment we had together," Elsa went on. "I do thank you for that. But if you'll forgive me, yesterday I packed my little bags, and now I'll return to Vienna, where I belong."

She took his arm and gently led him to the door of her room.

As he stepped outside, the Captain felt a wave of relief come over him. He had been worried about hurting Elsa's feelings and was enormously relieved to discover that she had been feeling the same way. Of course, after what he had seen last night he could have expected as much, but now that he was sure, he felt better.

He turned to look at Elsa again.

"Franz will be up in a moment to help me with my bags," she told him.

Then, her face turned more serious, but the slight hint of jealousy in her eyes was quickly pushed away as she said:

"And remember darling, follow the way of your heart. Auf Wiedersehen."

She bent forward to give Georg a quick kiss on the cheek, and then swiftly turned around to close her bedroom door behind her.

Georg stood in the corridor in bewilderment for a second, but then his face broke into a smile. Elsa knew, and in her own way, she had even encouraged him to go and find his true destiny. He could not feel anything but gratitude for her grace and understanding.

His mind went back to her last words.

Follow the way of your heart…

Agathe had used the exact same phrase. The coincidence sent shivers down his spine. Or wasn't it coincidence?

Deep in thought, he walked downstairs, and into the dining room to have some breakfast.

As he ate, he heard Franz and the Baroness come down the stairs. The front door opened, and closed, and a car drove away from the house.

Georg remained at the table for a few minutes longer, and then stood up.

He took his coat and hat, and walked to the front door to carry out the second step he had planned for himself.

But when he opened the door, there was someone on the doorstep.

Maria.

They both gasped for breath, neither expecting to see the other.

As Maria lowered her hand, which had been reaching for the doorbell, she quickly composed herself and smiled a little nervously at the Captain.

He realized he was staring at her, and tried to think of something to say.

The obvious words came to them at the same time.

"Frohe Weihnachten, Fraulein."

"Frohe Weihnachten, Captain."

They both gave a small chuckle, and the Captain quickly stood aside to let Maria enter the house.

Ten minutes later, they were in the salon. The Captain had made coffee, since he had given the servants most of the day off for Christmas.

They looked at each other a little uneasily as the Captain put his coffee cup on the table and handed the other cup to Maria.

As Maria concentrated on her coffee, the Captain broke the silence.

"You left without saying goodbye. Even to the children," he stated, questioningly.

"That was wrong of me," Maria answered, apologetically. "Forgive me."

The Captain smiled at her. Of course she was forgiven.

"Why did you?"

Maria looked down at her coffee as she tried to formulate an answer.

"I was… frightened." Her voice trembled a little, but she bravely looked up, relieved that she had told him the truth.

The Captain looked at her honest face and knew that he had been right. She had become aware of her feelings – and they had scared her away.

"But you came back," he stated softly, looking into her eyes.

She nodded, returning his gaze.

"I felt... I could not let Christmas go by without seeing all of you," she said, feeling more confident now.

"I wanted to say a proper goodbye. I thought I might accompany you, and the children and the Baroness to Church."

She looked away as she mentioned the Baroness and put her coffee down on the table, trying to hide the fact that she could not look Georg in the eyes.

The Captain moved closer to her and brought his hand up to her cheek, gently turning her head so that he could look into her eyes again.

"Maria… there isn't going to be any Baroness," he told her.

"There isn't?" she asked, not understanding. "But I assumed that you'd…"

Her voice trailed off.

"It was never meant to be," Georg told her, still looking at her closely. Was he wrong, or was there a glimmer of hope in her eyes? There was, he decided. She had come back, aware of her feelings, and now, she was slowly becoming aware of his.

He shook his head.

"No… You see… You can't marry someone when you're in love with someone else, can you?"

And as she shook her head, almost not believing what she had heard, he moved closer to her. He stroked her cheek with his hand, en turned her chin up to meet him. Softly, very softly he kissed her lips.

He felt her breathe out in a wave of relief and lean in to answer his kiss. Her lips were soft under his own and he deepened the kiss, pulling her closer to him and savouring her presence.

After a moment they broke apart. They looked into each other's eyes and a wide smile formed on Maria's face.

"The Reverend Mother always says: When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window," she said through her smile.

The Captain chuckled and stroked her neck.

"What else does the Reverend Mother say?" he asked, his voice light.

"That you have to look for your life," Maria answered, more serious.

"Is that why you came back?" Georg asked, understanding dawning on him.

She nodded.

"And have you found it… Maria?" He looked at her questioningly, knowing the answer, but needing her confirmation.

She looked at him with large eyes and nodded again.

"I think I have." And then she corrected herself, more confidently: "I know I have."

The complete peace and happiness in her eyes left no doubt that Maria had found the life she was born to live.

For a second, Georg thought of Agathe and sent a grateful prayer to her. She had truly guided him to his destiny. He looked at Maria and was overcome with a feeling of completion for the first time in years.

"I love you," Georg told her completely serious, before he pulled her to him again.

They kissed again, and as he held her in his arms, kissing her lips and feeling her soft body against his, the Captain felt completely at peace. He knew that he had found his future, his true path in life, and he held Maria even tighter. From the way Maria relaxed in his arms, moaning softly as his lips met hers, Georg knew that she was completely happy and content.

He broke the kiss for a moment and smiled as he saw Maria look up to him, somewhat disappointed as she felt him draw back.

"Maria," he began, "is there anyone I should go to, to ask permission to marry you?"

Her look changed to one of complete joy as she answered: "Why don't we ask –"

– "the Children?" they finished together, breaking into a wide smile before they let themselves be lost in each other's arms once more.