~*Chapter 1*~

Dr. Grünewald pulled on his pipe and surveyed Captain von Trapp.

„Well, Captain. I wanted to meet you, because I wanted to talk about some things."

Georg cleared his throat. „Yes. There are certainly a few things we have to talk about, Doctor."

„Lately, you've been seeing my daughter very often.."

„Yes, Doctor, we had a few dates, that's true."

„Although you are married?"

„Well, Doctor, my marriage, you see I married out of an impulse. I didn't think much about it. I was a widower for a very long time –„

Doctor Grünewald cut of him. „ – and couldn't resist your young Governess?"

Georg smiled. „Yes."

„I appreciate your honesty. We all have our little weaknesses, Captain. However, this one brings my daughter into a rather difficult situation. Do you love her?"

„Of course I do. Otherwise I wouldn't have dated her. You see - My marriage with Maria was a terrible fault. I wouldn't even talk of her as my wife. I don't know her very well. We didn't have much contact after the wedding nor before. After we returned from our honeymoon trip, I accepted the offer of Admiral Schreiber to join the Navy of the third Reich. Since then I haven't seen my family because they stayed in Salzburg. As you already said – we all have our little weaknesses from time to time. Maria was a big one. I hope this won't be an obstacle for my relationship with your daughter."

„So you're thinking about a divorce, Captain von Trapp?"the older man gave Georg a firm look.

„Yes, indeed, I do. It is only that it will not be easy to tell my children. They love Maria very much."

„But she isn't their real mother, is she?"

„No, she isn't."

„So this won't be a problem, will it?"

The Captain shook his head. „No, it isn't."

„ I have my contacts Captain. Say a word and you'll be a free man by tomorrow morning. And if you want to see my daughter again, you better accept my kind offer." Grünewald smiled mysteriously.

Georg looked at the man he would call father-in-law soon, hopefully. „Klara and I are having cards for the ballet tomorrow evening. I'll catch her at 7 o'clock."With that, he nodded to the Doctor and left the room. Everything had worked out like clockwork.

~*~*~*~*~

Maria was surprised as she heard the doorbell. She didn't expect any guests. She had been alone at the villa for the last few days, as the children were in a summer-camp and the servants had a few days off. Curiously, she opened the door.

„Good evening, Baroness."

„Herr Zeller?"Maria looked at the man and hold her breath. Her fears for Georg came up and she felt cold shivers running down her body.

„Won't you invite me for a cup of tea?"

„Certainly not, Mr. Zeller."

Zeller grinned and entered the villa. „All alone, mmh?"

Maria glanced at the man. His presence made her feel insecure. „May I ask you, what you want?"

„Oh, actually nothing. Just a little signature."

„Signature?"Maria did not understand what he was talking about.

„Yes." Zeller opened his bag and longed for a paper and a pencil. „If you would be so kind to sign here." He pointed at the corner of the paper.

„What is it?" Maria asked.

„The divorce-papers, „Baroness"

Maria gasped „Divorce?"she whispered.

„Yes, your husband already signed them this afternoon."

„He, he signed them?"

„Every toy gets boring after some time."Zeller sneered and walked towards Maria, taking her chin into his hand. „Although you're a pretty one"

Maria stepped back, looking angrily at Zeller. „I don't believe a word and I won't sign anything as long as I haven't talked to Georg. And now I ask you to leave my house immediately!"

„Why are you so angry? There is no need, too. The Captain will pay you a nice amount. So don't be silly and sign the paper."

„I asked you to leave my house, Mr. Zeller." Maria said louder than she had intended to.

„Your house? Tzz, Fräulein, Fräulein. This isn't your house anymore. The Captain wants a divorce, and even if you do not sign this paper he'll get it. He has influential friends, you know. But you'd better sign the paper if you won't go empty-handed. You won't get a Schilling if we'll annul your marriage."

„I want to talk to my husband"

„Silly girl!"Zeller shouted as he grabbed for the nearest phone, dialling a number furiously

~*~*~*~*~

„Did it work?"Klara asked smiling.

„ Yes, I think so."Georg sighed. He didn't feel comfortable at all.

„I told you that father will organize everything. He would do anything for his little girl."

„A girl he doesn't know at all. "Georg added smiling.

„No. Because he doesn't want to know the truth. He never accepted that I'm not his little girl anymore."Klara looked lovingly at Georg. „You know it was the only way."

He sighed. „Yes. However I just feel terrible – she must feel terrible."

„Georg, if you would have told her –„

„I know, I know, then it wouldn't work."Sadly Georg looked into his almost empty glass of wine. „So, what'll happen next?"

Klara grinned. „That depends on Maria."

„Yes. It is all in her hands, now. I only hope she'll do the right thing."

„She will, believe me, Georg." Klara tried to encourage Georg.

~*~*~*~

Maria looked at her golden wedding ring, which lay on the brown desk. She even could not cry anymore. Everything seemed so wrong to her, as if somebody had waken her up after a long, wonderful dream, if somebody had said: Okay, you had your fun, now it's over.

„Baroness?"

Startled Maria turned around. „Who are you?"She stammered, looking at the woman that stood in front of her.

„My name is Klara Grünewald."The woman stated with a smile on her face.

To be continued.

**ATN: Thanks to Iluvtsom and Soaz!!!! I hope you all like this chapter – sorry for the long delay. However the story is finished. I'm just working on Grammar and that stuff;-) Please review;-) ***