The Captain walks out of his study and finds Gretl and Maria waiting for him.

" All ready I see" the Captain says as he picks up Gretl.

Maria smiles at the love she sees in his eyes. Could this be the same man that Frau Schmidt described as being distant from his children. She can't imagine what she had done to change him. Whatever it was Maria was glad it had worked. The Captain put Gretl in the back seat and then came around the front to open the door for Maria. The Captain smiles at her as she gets in.

As they speed along the road towards the town she looks around. Her mind finds the scene familiar as if she were replaying it in her head. She closes her eyes and sees snow falling. The car is moving and she is talking to someone. The voice is familiar and as she starts to see the drivers face the scene comes to a sudden stop. Her eyes fly open and she finds the Captain staring at her.

" Fraulein is something wrong? he asks touching her hand.

She feels him touch her hand. She starts to pull away but then she stops. The warmth of his touch stirs something inside her. She looks into his eyes and he caresses her hand with his thumb. Realizing that she still had no idea their relationship was much more than employee and employer the Captain let go of her hand.

Maria smiles at him and his heart breaks. The love he feels for her only grows with each passing day. The thought that he may never again touch her, kiss her is more than he can bear. Maybe if they spend some time together she will begin to remember. He refuses to give up hope.

The rest of the car trip is spent talking about the party. Maria smiles at Gretl as the little girl can hardly contain her excitement. The Captain parks the car and they head to the dress shop. The saleswoman shows them about a dozen dresses. Maria goes into the dressing room with Gretl to try on the dresses. Gretl shows each one to the Captain. Finally after the last dress was seen a decision was to be made. Gretl was having a hard time picking between two dresses. The Captain laughs as Maria tries to persuade her to pick the yellow one. She tells Gretl how beautiful she looks in it. Gretl on the other hand wants the pink and white one.

" I know I can have both. I will wear the yellow one for my birthday and the pink one for the wedding" Gretls hand immediately goes to cover her mouth. Georg looks at her and then at Maria.

" Wedding? Who's getting married Gretl? Maria asks her.

The little girl lowers her head and becomes quiet. Georg walks to her. He bends down and picks her up. He gives her a hug and whispers something in her ear.

" Gretl wants me to marry again. She likes to dress up and pretend. Someday I hope her dream comes true" he says all the while looking at Maria.

Maria smiles and touches Gretl on the head. She takes Gretl in her arms and hugs her.

" That's a wonderful dream. I bet if you ask your father he will let you get both dresses" Maria says as she looks at Georg.

Georg laughs and shakes his head. He tells the saleswoman to wrap both of the dresses up. They leave the shop and the captain suggests they get some lunch. They walk to the small restaurant and go in. He orders and soon they are again discussing the party.

" Father may we have music at the party. Liesl says we have a phonograph. She and Friedrich saw it up in the attic last week. She also saw records. Please father" she asks.

Georg looks at her and smiles, "Of course darling."

Gretl jumps out of her seat and gives him a hug and kiss. Maria watches him. A feeling of warmth envelopes her. He looks over at her and again their eyes lock. As she looks into his eyes everyone and everything in the room fade away. All she sees are his eyes, dark and beautiful. She gasps as she suddenly realizes that his are the same eyes she keeps seeing in her dreams and in her mind. She puts her hands on her face realizing that the heat she feels is creeping up into her face.

" Fraulein. Fraulein, are you feeling well. Maybe we should go" Georg says as he puts his hand on her shoulder. Maria feels him touch her shoulder and she comes out of the trance.

She steps back "I'm fine Captain. I do think we should get back though.

Georg agrees and they pay the bill. The ride home is very quiet. Gretl is sound asleep in back.

The Captain breaks the silence "Thank you for coming with. It is times like these when Gretl misses having a mother. I don't know how much Frau Schmidt has told you but Gretl was only a baby when her mother died. I was not much of a father to my children since her death. It has only been within the last few months that I realized what I was missing. You helped me to see that. You have no idea what that means to me. Watching you with Gretl today I realize you are the closest thing to a mother that they have. I hope you realize how much we, I mean, they love you.

" Frau Schmidt told me everything. From what I see Captain your children love you very much. I don't remember everything but I feel the love that exists in your family. I watch your children and they adore you. Yes I do feel the love the children have for me and even though the memory of my time here is clouded I find that I love them also" Maria says as she smiles back at Gretl.

He wants to tell her about them the real nature of their relationship. He stops himself. He is terrified she will reject him and he can't handle that. No he must be patient. He remembers what the Reverend Mother told him. He pulls the car into the driveway and opens the door for her. He offers her his hand to help her out of the car. She hesitates at first but then she reaches for him. He holds her hand in his and the connection is immediately felt by both. The spark goes from her hand to her heart. She feels him gently squeeze her hand. As she rises her foot gets caught and he catches her before she falls. Holding her again he can't help but want to kiss her. She feels him pulling her closer, closer until their lips are almost touching. They are about to kiss when Maria hears Gretl call her name. Georg releases her but not before giving her hand a slight squeeze. Maria smiles at him and heads into the house with Gretl. Georg smiles and has renewed hope. It was not his imagination. Maria was responding to him. He would have to go slow but she was worth it.