Chapter 5: Awakening

The Captains POV

**** Oh and I'm holding the next chapter for ransom. I promised you guys something good, and the next chapter gets a little hot! I already have it done, so as soon as my 5 review ransom is met, I'll post !:D

*****The stars represent where the flashbacks start and stop. Windows XP is crap, and I can't format, so please just bare with me on this chapter.

The light above me is the only one on in the house, but my room is still very dark. I sit at my desk, staring at delicately wrapped brown paper package sitting in front of me. It's a small package, yet every feeling in my heart lies within the brown paper. I run my finger along the string that ties the package together…my mind flashing back to early this afternoon…

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I can't take my eyes off of her. The way her hair clings to her forehead, they way her wet clothing clings to her, revealing her every curve. I inhale slowly, desperately fighting back my urge to move closer to her, to take her in my arms and kiss her breathless.

" I think I'll go see what Max is up to." I hear Elsa say before she starts into the house.

My eyes never leave Maria, and I realize that the only way to stop myself from pulling her to me, is to yell at her, to pretend to be angry with her…

" And what may I ask are these?" I say perhaps more sharply then I intended.

" Play clothes." She fires back.

I fight back a smile, not at all surprised that she's not going to back down. " And where may I ask did they get these play clothes?"

" I made them, from drapes the drapes that used to hang in my bedroom."

" Drapes?" I say, surprised by the anger suddenly filling my voice. " Do you mean to tell me that my children have been roaming about Salzburg in nothing but drapes?"

She nods defiantly, " Umm hmmm, and they had a marvelous time."

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I pick the package up, and stand up slowly before pushing in the chair to my desk. Why did I get angry with her I wonder? Perhaps it was reflex, one last attempt to fight off my feelings for her?

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" You will pack your things and return to the abbey, at once." I hate the look on her face as I say that. I hate the thought of hurting her. But the words flow out anyway, in what must be a final effort to get her out of my system.

I open my mouth to say something, but I stop, as the sound of the children singing floats outside. " What's that?"

" Singing." She says back, her voice still compassionate despite the anger I can see coursing through her. She knows she hit a nerve she knows that she's having and effect on me and the way I feel for her and my children. And she doesn't hesitate to take the opportunity. I nearly smile at the fact that she refuses to back down, " Yes I realize it's singing. But who is singing?"

" The children."

The words leave her mouth, and something tares loose inside of me.

And as I watched the children sing, I found myself no longer able to hide from the memories, the music, and the laugher.

I couldn't help but join them, finally free to feel again, as I took them in my arms.

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The house is dead with silence, and the hallway is completely dark as I approach her room. Even though I apologized to her, told her that she's brought music back into my life, I can't help but feel as though I'm still indebted to her…

I lay the package down at her door, and take a deep breath before I knock quietly. I move away quickly, careful to be out of sight when she opens the door. I walk towards my room, my back to her as she opens the door slowly.

" Hello?" I hear her say quietly, before she sees the package. She picks it up slowly, inspecting it carefully. She takes the card off the package and reads it slowly.

I hear the door shut and smile to myself. Imaging the smile I know I would have seen on her beautiful face. I take a deep breath, knowing that tonight I will no longer fear my dreams of Maria; instead I'll finally be able to let myself get lost in them.

To be continued…