A/N: I hope you like this chapter it was a little rushed, but at least I finally updated. So please review!
Ch. 7: Fishing
After Elsa had calmed down a bit they began to set up camp. Elsa was shocked that there was no sign of a tent in any of their bags. Soon the children began to pull their sleeping bags out and place them by the fire.
"Are you children not sleeping in tents like normal people?" Elsa asked in surprise.
"No we like to spread our sleeping bags out so we can sleep under the stars." Brigitta explained.
"I brought a tent for you just in case Elsa." Maria told her handing her a small bag. You can use it if you would like." Elsa took the bag and set it down.
"I suppose I can attempt to sleep outside for one night, like you barbarians." She mumbled. Maria nodded and looked away from Elsa's cold stare. As she looked away Georg appeared from behind both of them.
"Maria, I found a prime fishing location so I think I will take the boys so if you would watch the girls for me…" He trailed off as he saw Maria's eyes perk up at the words fishing.
"Captain does only Freidrich and Kurt fish?" Maria asked.
"Well they are the only two that really like it." He told her.
"I would usually say alright and let you have some time with your sons Captain, but how about some competition?" Maria asked.
"What me versus who?"
"Well girl versus guy style of course." Maria told him.
"You may be saddened to hear that my daughters do not fish very well Maria." He stated honestly.
"Oh they will be alright Captain, they never sung before either and their voices are beautiful now are they not?" Maria asked him smiling. "So do we have a deal?"
"Sure I suppose we can compete, don't feel too bad when you loose though." He told her.
"Oh I don't plan on loosing." Maria stated. Georg looked at her and laughed at her serious tone. He wondered just how she intended to win this when the boys were pretty good at fishing.
Soon Maria walked down to the fishing spot with Louisa and Brigitta. The two of them had agreed to fish and Liesl had agreed to watch the little ones while they competed with their Father, Friedrich, and Kurt.
"Fraulien Maria, we have never ever even caught a fish before! How do you think we are going to beat them?" Louisa asked. Brigitta nodded looking up at Maria in need of a response. Maria laughed a little.
"To tell you the truth I am not wonderful at fishing either. I am much too impatient. Ever hear of beginners luck, though?" The children laughed a little as the Captain walked over to them.
"Okay what are we competing for?" He asked.
"Dinner, whoever loses has to cook." Maria told him. Louisa whispered in her ear. "Oh and whoever loses has to jump into the lake before dawn tomorrow, and swim across the lake." Georg smiled.
"Father you do realize how cold the water is before dawn?" Kurt asked him.
"Yes it is cold…I hope you girls won't complain too much tomorrow after swimming in freezing water." Georg told them. "It sounds like a deal."
"Great! Whoever gets the biggest fish or the most fish?" Maria asked him.
"Oh we can do the largest since you obviously can't catch as many as us."
"Oh yeah? Any fish you catch I will catch bigger. I can catch fish much larger than yours." Maria told him.
"No you can't, let's start." He told her while he snickered with his boys.
After fishing for a good hour Maria journeyed back with the two girls. They were grinning uncontrollably. The fish had been good and Maria was convinced that beginners luck was the best luck out there. They had caught eleven fish and one of them was so large that Brigitta almost had gone overboard while reeling it in.
"So how many did my two lovely daughters and their governess catch?" Georg asked out of amusement.
"We caught eight fish and also caught one that was five pounds." Kurt cried.
"Good Kurt. You are awesome. All hail to men. They do seem to rule. But unfortunately you just did not do well enough." Maria told them. Maria brought the sack of fish in water over to them.
"We caught eleven fish and an eight pounder." Brigitta told them. "And we decided to let ten of them go because we can't eat them all." After she showed off the eleven fish she let the others go and Louisa and Maria cheered.
"Fine you girls win, but I think you cheated." Kurt told them. With that the men walked dejectedly back up to where they were camping and started cooking dinner.
"Remember you three girls rule the planet, not guys!" Louisa yelled as they walked up to prepare dinner.
At dinner there was lots of talk about the days happening, especially how the girls won and how cold the water would be the next morning. Everyone was in high spirits, except for Elsa.
"Do we have to eat gross little fish? I mean honestly, you don't know what is in that water." Elsa asked as they ate.
"I thought you liked fish Elsa." Georg told her.
"Well I do, just not fresh caught fish." She replied. Maria had to gag to keep from laughing and soon the rest of the children were laughing at Elsa.
"I also don't see how you stay out here all night I mean the mosquitoes are terrible." Elsa told them while swatting at them. She hit one so hard on her leg she winced and a huge red spot had formed where she hit it. "I am definitely sleeping in the tent tonight." She told everybody. Everyone giggled as Georg got up to help her set up her tent.
Soon it was time to set up their sleeping bags. Elsa had already drifted into and un-peaceful sleep in her tent. The children rearranged their sleeping bags. There was much dilemma because Gretl wanted to sleep by Maria.
Liesl was already on one end by Marta who felt very safe because of her big sisters presence. Little Gretl however was on the end.
"Maria will you sleep by me please?" Gretl asked. The Captain heard this and walked over to Gretl.
"Here how about I sleep here on the end by you?" He asked. Gretl nodded but continued.
"I like it that you are sleeping on the end, but I want Maria to sleep by me." The little girl exclaimed. Maria heard this and came over to Gretl.
"How about I switch your Father places?" She asked sweetly.
"No Maria you can sleep right here." Gretl told her while moving over motioning Maria to put her sleeping bag in between her and the Captain. Maria looked down at Gretl's pleading eyes then over at the Captain. She didn't want to make a large scene, but felt sleeping next to her employer would be a little odd…well more than a little odd. She thought to herself. The terrible part of it was she found her self starting to think of how wonderful it would be if she could sleep really close to him. She quickly came back to reality.
"No Gretl I will sleep on the other end, to keep umm…Liesl safe." She stated.
"Maria please. She is older and is going to be fine. I need you." Maria had to give in to Gretl's strong pleads. The Captain moved over a little to make room for her. She noticed that he didn't role over as much as he could have and that they were still very close together.
"Thanks Maria I love you." Gretl told her.
"I love you too Gretl. Remember to say your prayers darling." Maria told her. "Goodnight."
"Night Maria." Gretl chimed. Georg couldn't help but smile in wonder at Maria. He could not help but notice that Gretl loved her very much, as did the rest of the children. He had been surprised at Gretl's sudden outburst of wanting to sleep by Maria, but he understood that Maria was like the Mother that Gretl never had. He couldn't help but gaze at Maria's beautiful face as she slept and wish that he could gaze at her every night for the rest of his life. It broke his heart that she would be leaving a few days after the trip. He wouldn't be able to live, and being right next to her was pure torture to him. He wanted to so badly take her and hold her in his arms forever. He fell asleep dreaming of Maria, and of the love he knew they never could share.