A/N: Hmm what to say, what to say. Oh yes another late night chapter (as always), so please forgive grammar/spelling. Also, I'm VERY bad at proof reading (as you can see from all my chapters) and I sadly only had time to read over this chapter twice, so please forgive that too!

Ok, important stuff. If you have the Cinderella soundtrack (the one w/ Julie Andrews singing), make a mental note in your mind what track 10 sounds like. It will help with the story. Also, remember everything in the story happens for a reason (you'll understand this later). Lastly, I think I may take the meeting Julie Andrews in chapter 11 out I mean, I'll leave her in the story, but Maria won't actually meet her. You'll see

Disclaimer: Everything is pretty much mine but anything that's not belongs to whoever created it Please don't sue me! I'm a 15 year old girl who's only money is the $60 she got for her birthday!

Summary: This chapter is equivalent to the Laendler, but be aware I'm really bad at writing romance stuff. Thus, any advice/tips are welcome

***please, please, please R/R ***

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As foretold by the Senator, there was a ball the next night. And what a ball it was. The aristocrats of the political world were there Senators form every state, Representatives, and people who worked along side the President then there was the children and me, watching from the sidelines. We were situated on the large back balcony, looking in at the grand ballroom. Ladies were in their best dresses floating over the shiny floor with their partners in tuxedoes. It was a site to see, elegance at its height.

The children were fascinated, as they had never before seen such a site in their lives. I too was in awe, as this was something I had only seen in movies and on TV, never in person.

"Maria," began little Audrey, "I want a dress like that."

I followed the direction of her pointing finger. My eyes came to rest on a beautiful, Cinderella like dress. It was light blue, and puffed out from the waist.

"Oh, that is a lovely dress," I responded with a laugh.

"I think all of the dresses are lovely," Julie said then giving a small frown she continued, "except that one."

She was looking at an old lady sitting on a chair on the opposite side of the room.

"What an ugly dress," Luke agreed, "Who wears stuff like that?"

The dress wasn't the prettiest thing you've ever scene. It was a brown shiny material, covered in brown lace. Over done, was what you'd call it... too "froofy." She was soon hidden form out site by a tall, dark haired lady, actually wearing a nice, elegant dress.

"Well," I began, "are you all enjoying your first ball?"

"Oh yes," said Amanda, "though I wish I could be in there!"

I smiled at her. She, out of all the children, probably should be in there. She was in fact old enough, and was wearing a dress fit for an occasion like this. As a matter of fact, so were the rest of the children. They were all wearing elegant dresses that went down to the floor, and rich tuxedoes that made them look beyond their years. I suddenly felt out of place. My plain dress didn't fit the mood of the evening, or even the mood of the children I was observing the evening with.

I wasn't rich, so I hadn't been able to go out and buy a nice dress for the event. I had just worn my dress, my only dress. It was white, and went down a little past my knees. The skirt was one of those kinds that fanned out when I spun, which is why I like it so much. The top was fitted, and didn't cover my shoulders, yet it had 3/4 length sleeves. I was wearing white shoes, and a small, silver necklace with a heart attached to the end.

"Maria," Mimi said, looking up at me, "Do you know how to dance like that?"

I turned and saw that the people were now waltzing slowly around the crowed ballroom. I myself had learned how to ballroom dance from my father, and it had always been something I enjoyed.

"Yes," I said, a fait smile forming on my face.

"Well, can you show us?"

"Oh, well darling, it's not that easy. I think I'd need to show you with someone else who could waltz also."

"Oh," she said, looking a bit sad, "Ok then."

The music continued, and we decided to have some fun ourselves. The children and I began to skip around the large balcony, in time to the music. While Luke and I were spinning in circles, I suddenly heard a deep laugh from behind me.

I spun around quickly to find the Senator chuckling at us.

"Oh don't stop," He said, smiling at me, "I was having fun watching you guys!"

I smiled sheepishly, and felt my cheeks redden.

"We were just goofing around a bit."

"And your goofing around made me laugh," The Senator responded.

"Oh, well I--" I was cut off by Mimi.

"Father! Oh father, do you know how to waltz," she asked excitedly.

"As a matter of fact, I do. But why do you--"

"Oh, will you dance with Maria then? See, we asked her to show us and she said that she couldn't unless there was someone else who knew how to... to dance with her," Mimi stated in one, long breath of air.

There was a pause, and I was a bit unsure of what I had just heard come out of the little girl's mouth. I didn't feel at all like dancing with the Senator, yet as all the children agreed with their sister, I felt as I might have to.

"Hmm... I see," the Senator said, looking around at everyone, "Well it's up to Maria, in fact the next song they're going to play is a lovely little waltz."

He glanced over at me, a look upon his face that made my a bit more nervous.

"A-hem, well," I said, trying to think of what to say.

"Oh please Maria!" "Won't you show us!" "I want to see!" the children began to shout all at once as they walked over to me.

The Senator began to laugh once more, as I was hopelessly pulled towards him.

"I'm not sure I remember how to," I said, quickly even though it was a lie. I had the strangest feeling that I shouldn't dance with him.

"Yes you do," Mimi said, "You told us 5 minutes ago that you did!"

"Oh, all right," I said, giving in and taking the Senators outstretched hand.

The new song began to play, and I immediately recognized it. It was a Rodgers and Hammerstein's song, yet it wasn't form The Sound of Music. I was from Cinderella. What was even scarier was that she had danced to it at her first ball.

The song broke into the waltz, and I began to float off around the room, the Senators hand drawing me closer at the small of my back.

The earth felt as it was flying by, or was it me who was flying off? The Senator caught my gaze, and held it. He smiled at me, his lovely blue eyes looking deep into mine. I suddenly felt numb, yet warm at the same time. As I gazed back, I felt the distance between us disappearing. My breath quicken, though I wasn't sure if it was from dancing or something else... I felt vulnerable, like I was giving in to something. But what was I giving in to? My eyelids began to droop a little as I began to feel weightless. His hand continued to pull me ever closer, so close I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. I felt as if I were just melting into him. I felt my eyes close completely, as I leaned my cheek against his, his soft cheek... and then the music stopped.

My eyes shot opened as if a spell had been broken. I felt his closeness, and new I had gone a bit too far with our dancing. I quickly began to step back, yet his had braced me, as if not wanting to let go. I looked up, and saw him staring at me intensely. He has a serious look upon his face, a look that said he had fallen...

"Oh, you guys were great!"

The children were surrounding us, causing the Senator to finally let me go.

It took me a moment to find the enthusiasm that was normally bottled up inside me waiting to come out. But once I did, the moment the Senator and I had just shared moved to the back of my mind.

"I told you that you could dance, Maria," Mimi stated in a matter of fact voice.

"Yes... well, um, thanks... I suppose," I said, unsure how to respond. Was I happy I had danced with him? Was it a good thing?

The children talked happy at us for a few minutes until we were interrupted by a butler.

"Excuse me, Sir," he said.

The Senator turned around.

"Yes," he asked.

"He is here Sir, the President," the butler responded, "he said he would like to enter with you."

"Oh, yes," the Senator said with a pause, "I'm coming... what about his wife?"

"She arrived around a half hour ago, Sir."

"Oh? Hmm, seems I missed her," he said in a carefree, "Well children, I must be off. But, I had a lovely time with you."

He smiled, but it seemed to be directed not at the children, but at me.

I quickly searched for words to say, feeling a bit on edge still.

"Well thank you Sir, for stopping by to visit with us."

He nodded and turned to enter the ballroom once more.

I glanced down at my watch, and noticed that it was nearly 10:30.

"Well children," I began, "Bad news--"

"Can't we stay up just a little more," pleaded Luke.

"Ah! I can't believe it! I let you stay up and hour and a half past your bed time, and you're asking for more," I said, glancing around at the children with a twinkle in my eye, then continuing, "Well I suppose. But only half an hour... then do you promise to go to bed?"

There was a shout of an excited "yes" as everyone began to group around the ballroom doors once more.

As we sat just outside the glamorous room, I could feel the children around me getting tired. By the time 11:00 rolled around, the children were very ready for bed. In fact two of them had to be carried upstairs.

Once the children were all asleep, I went to my own bedroom, where I myself collapsed.

What I night! As I lay there, I tried to remember a time such as tonight, yet I couldn't. And what had happened between the Senator and me? This thought caused me to tense... thinking of him made me feel strange... a tingly, butterflies in your stomach type feeling.

As I lay there reflecting, the phone suddenly rang, startling me at first...

"Hello," I said, into the receiver.

"Maria," someone asked.

"Yes," I responded.

"Hello dear, this is Paula Simmions."

"Oh hi! How are you?"

"Not very good dear."

"Oh, is something wrong," I asked unsure.

She gave a small sigh before speaking again.

"Carl Tate is dead, Maria."