Sunshine on a Cloudy Day
A/N: Please REVIEW ME!
DISCLAIMER: Sadly, I don't own anything.
~*~
Maria returned to her room, her stomach fluttering and her heart pounding. She fell asleep that night dreaming of the Captain's soft touch and seeing his soft smile in her memory.
~*~
The next morning, Maria was nervous to face him again. They had come unprofessionally close last night, but it had felt so good. She pulled herself out of bed and, as she dressed, she thought of his request. She thought of her past few weeks. She would never be happy at the Abbey after being part of something so beautiful. She sighed audibly as she headed down the stairs to the dining room.
The children had not yet arrived and it was just herself and the Captain.
"Good morning," she said happily, taking her seat at the head of the table. He looked at her nervously.
"Good morning," he replied, "The children went out for a walk. They packed their lunches. Leisl said they wanted to give you a break." He smiled at her self-consciously.
"How sweet of them," Maria yawned, "I hope they're alright."
"Leisl is sixteen, she's very capable, I'm sure they'll be fine," the Captain said softly.
"Well, in that case, I think I'll head upstairs and lie in for a little longer."
"But-!" The Captain began and Maria turned back to face him.
"-your breakfast," he finished lamely. Maria looked at him strangely.
"I suppose," She said finally, "that I can go lie down after breakfast?" The Captain nodded at her and Maria took her place at the table.
"Maria, have you, uh, thought of my offer?" he asked her as he watched her spoon potatoes onto her plate.
"Yes, actually, I thought of it a lot."
"And…?" he asked her anxiously.
"I, I don't know what to do. My whole heart is telling me to stay here, but the Abbey has been my home for so long…"
"Change can be good, Maria," he said, his eyes begging her to stay. Her face felt flushed again and she looked at her food.
"I know," she said quietly. She chuckled softly, "when I first came here I was petrified. Seven children? I told myself I would probably last a few days before finally being so overwhelmed I'd have to be taken to a hospital." She grinned sheepishly, "and then… after you told me the history of the other governesses, well I can admit that I was more than a little bit worried. But now, I wouldn't trade it for a thing. For once in my life, I feel like I'm doing something important. And I feel accepted and loved and, at the same time, I can't help but wonder if it's all for the best."
"Maria," the Captain said, staring straight into her eyes, "The house has never been happier and it will never be the same if you leave." Maria felt a tear trickle down her cheek. It wasn't a tear of grief, or of happiness, it was just that she had so much emotion built up inside her… she needed to let it out.
"I'll stay," she whispered finally and the Captain beamed happily at her.
"Thank you, Maria," he said so gratefully that Maria wondered how she had ever considered leaving.
Frau Schmidt entered the dining room to take away their plates and Maria stood up, embarrassed at her tears. She left the room quickly and was on her way upstairs when the Captain stopped her.
"Maria! Please! Let's… let's talk." She nodded quietly and followed the Captain to the sitting room. There was a fire burning and cackling of the wood made her feel somewhat relieved.
"Yes?" she asked as they each took seats by the fireside.
"I- I'm not sure," the Captain said truthfully, "I just couldn't see you go up there, crying. I haven't seen my house this happy since Agathe died almost five years ago. When she died, I didn't know what to do. I was trying to hold my own life together and try to watch the children too, but I couldn't. So I, I gave up on the children, I guess and I forced them to the back of my mind while I selfishly tried to piece my life back together."
"Captain, that wasn't selfish-"
"You don't have to try to make me feel better. It's okay. I hired straight-backed old women to take care of the children while I traveled across the world in search of something that could make me feel better. I met the Baroness," he chuckled bitterly, "I thought we were made for each other. She loved money and I had money. I needed someone and she was there, so we just kind of accepted that were right for each other. Then, I came back from Vienna and you were here and you made the Baroness seem old and dull. You're so full of life and spirit and you made my children happy again. You did what I couldn't do. You'll never be able to comprehend how much that means to me." Maria smiled softly.
"Captain, your children are wonderful little people. They love you so much; they just didn't understand why you didn't reciprocate their love. They adore you," she gushed. The Captain smiled.
"You helped me realize that. Thank you for deciding to stay," he said. She looked at him and nodded.
"This is my family now," she said quietly. The Captain scooted closer to her on the couch. She didn't flinch, but she was getting hotter again and she didn't know whether it was the Captain or the fire that was the source of this heat.
"Maria…" he whispered. The same urgency was in his voice as had been last night. He was so close to her that she was sure he could hear her heart pounding so quickly and that he could feel the fluttering of her stomach.
He lowered his head to hers and she closed her eyes as their lips touched softly. He lifted his hand up to brush against her cheek gently. Maria's heart was fluttering even quicker. She had never been kissed before. She felt her face flush as the kiss deepened and when the Captain's tongue met her lips, she opened her mouth to let it in. She heard a soft moan come from the base of her throat and the Captain moaned his own deep response. She raised her hands to his shoulders and pulled him toward her.
"Maria…" he moaned softly, but with a greater urgency in his voice. She felt him kiss her neck and her ears, his hands exploring her body. She had never felt this in love before.
"Captain," she said finally, though her heart and mind were screaming at her for more, "we should stop. Not here," she said turning to look at the door.
"You're right," he whispered.
"Maria?"
"Yes?"
"I've never felt this way before in my life."
"Nor have I." The Captain took Maria's hand and led her quietly into his study, closing the door behind him.
Ugh, my first time writing fluff ever. Please REVIEW!!!!!