So here's chapter 6. I used a little conversation from Darling Lili, because I think it was such a cute part and I felt like it fits in here. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Martina, thanks for your support and your 'early' review, it has helped a lot!

At exactly five to nine they were standing back at Maria's front door. Maria looked at Georg who knew he had to go, yet he didn't move. How Maria longed to kiss him goodbye.

"Well, we'll see you tomorrow then at a quarter to six."

"Yes." Georg answered. "I can hardly wait. Well, bye then."

"Bye."

Slowly Georg moved backwards as Maria opened the door. Both smiled at each other. Then Georg turned and ran away, he was afraid he'd stay otherwise. Maria walked in. She couldn't believe that this had just happened. The boyfriend-girlfriend talk, the one where both don't exactly know what to say, because both are too busy with dreaming away in the other one's eyes.

Hanz was sitting in the kitchen, which made it impossible for Maria to avoid him on her way to her room. Still she just walked past him as if no one but her was there. But that wasn't what Hanz had in mind. He jumped up from his chair the minute he had heard Maria entering the kitchen, then he walked over to her, what made Maria feel as if she was being attacked by a grizzly bear. Hanz grabbed her right arm and he pushed Maria against the wall. With the same frightening look as before in his eyes, he moved his head closer to Maria's.

"You tricked him, didn't you!? You tricked him so you could come with him on Monday!"

"I didn't!" Maria answered fearfully while she was on the verge of breaking into tears. She didn't want to, but se was so scared the way he was holding her, how that dangerous light filled his eyes. Her right wrist hurt immensely with Hanz's hand still wrapped around it. "I swear I didn't!" She continued in a shaking voice.

"Then what have you been doing all day!? Do you think I'm an idiot!?" He bellowed. "Don't you think that I know where you've been all day! You were probably manipulating him!"

And his right hand lashed out to land right in her face. The force of the smack made Maria go with it. She no longer could hold back the tears. Hanz saw how she had her head sideways with a very red cheek. He noticed how a tear feel down and how she had her eyes closed, hoping this was all a nightmare and that she soon would wake up. He moved his head closer and his face was only inches away from hers.

"You'll never get away with it …" He said lowly but still in a warningly, growling tone.

Then he let her go and disappeared out of the back door. Maria, scared of everything he had just done, especially standing as close to her which never had happened before, let herself slowly sly down against the wall while she was softly sobbing. She knew things had been too good to be true. 'Is this a punishment? Have I done something wrong and is this God's way to punish me?' She knew that if she didn't go away soon, things might get even worse. But what could she do? She didn't have anything …

The next day, Hanz and Maria were getting ready to leave for dinner at the Von Trapps. Neither one of them spoke to each other, except to ask in a very angry way if Maria was ready. On the way to the house they kept quiet and only interrupted the silence if someone from the town started talking to them. It was Maria's time then to perform her best so she wouldn't suffer from any more beatings afterwards. All she had to do was think about Georg and his parents and how lucky she was that that smack from the day before didn't leave a bruise on her face. In less than ten minutes they arrived at the house.

Georg had been waiting impatiently in his parent's room, because there he could overlook the street. As soon as he had spotted the two, he flew downstairs and opened the door even before Hanz had the change to ring the doorbell.

"Good evening sir, Maria. Come in, make yourselves comfortable. Dinner will be ready in a quarter."

Georg smiled nervously. The day before it had been kinda awkward sitting with Maria and Hanz in the same room, and that was only for a little while. Now he had to go through this for at least an hour.

He lead them out into the sitting room, where Mr. Von Trapp was sitting in his armchair while smoking a pipe.

"Why Jonathan! How are you, old chap?" Hanz gleamed.

"Never been better."

And that was the beginning of a cheery conversation between two men who seemed like old friends.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Maria asked Georg not paying any attention to the two men in the background.

"Sure, we can lay the table in the dining room."

Glad she could be alone with Georg for a minute, they made their way to the dining room. Mrs. Von Trapp was in the kitchen with the door closed. The dining room was just across the hall. And since the sitting room was at the end of the hall, they were free again to do whatever they wanted to do.

As soon as they were out of the door opening, they embraced each other before kissing passionately.

"Would it be indiscreet to say that I missed you?"

"No." Georg answered while smiling a little.

"To say that I missed you terribly?"

"Not quite."

"Desperately?"

"Possibly."

"Passionately?"

"Definitely."

Maria moved back forward to his lips.

"Would you settle for desperately?"

"I'll settle for passionately."

He pressed his lips firmly but gently against her. But soon they had to part because someone could walk in any time … and yet they kept holding each other for it was too hard to lose all contact at once.

"So how are you?" Georg asked as he felt how tightly Maria was clinging to him. After having asked that the atmosphere just changed. It seemed more icy and not at all as nice as a minute before.

"He thought I had been manipulating you so you'd ask me with you tomorrow."

Georg moved back to look her in the eyes that were now filled with horror when thinking back of that moment

"Then he hit me."

Immediately Georg pulled her closer again. Why, he didn't know. Perhaps to make her feel safe. He didn't even have to think about it.

"You're safe now. I won't let him touch you, ever again!"

With that they just stood there for a minute, tightly holding each other. Maria had no idea why she didn't tell Georg the other part, the one about Hanz coming closer. She couldn't tell him. Perhaps Maria was just blowing it up. He only did it to frighten her, to hurt her. She knew that Georg would make to big of a deal out of it, and she could not have the risk that Georg might do something that would reveal the whole truth, because when that would happen, Maria just knew she'd see her parents and aunt again in just a little matter of time. Desperate to change the conversation and the atmosphere, Maria parted again and looked straight into Georg's eyes while she smiled warmly.

"Let's not talk about that now, it will ruin everything."

Despite the reassuring smile, Georg could see that she wasn't completely fine. How could she be? Every time Georg saw her, he became more and more determined to get her out of there. But how? At the time being there was nothing he could do, that wouldn't be in Maria's disadvantage. So he just did what Maria wanted, he changed the subject.

"Okay, then let's talk about how happy I am that you're here now."

Immediately Maria gleamed and it seemed as if that little conversation a second ago never had taken place.

"That makes two of us."

Quickly they gave another kiss, but they both realized that they should start laying the table. Georg walked over to the little closet and pulled out five plates. Maria, who had been to dine there before, knew where they kept the knives, forks and spoons. Soon they had finished. Georg had been putting the plates along with the glasses, as Maria did the silverware and the napkins. A minute later Mrs. Von Trapp walked in with the enormous salad bowl. That was Maria's cue. She asked if there was anything that she could do and next she was carrying the soup into the dining room. When she went back to get the potatoes she could hear Mrs. Von Trapp and Georg talking even though she didn't mean to eavesdrop.

"She's such a lovely girl."

"Indeed." Georg added dreamingly.

"Wouldn't it be great if …" She hesitated.

"If what Mum?" Georg asked curiously.

"Oh nothing, dear."

"No Mum, if what?" He asked again, somewhat wittingly. He couldn't resist. He just wanted to know what his mother was going to say.

Then Maria walked in with the food.

"Oh just put it there, dear, thank you. Now I'm going to call the 'boys'. I'll be back in a minute."

Mrs. Von Trapp had left. The couple sat down across each other. Maria looked at Georg while being as curious as him. She found that he was rather quiet all of the sudden and he had that certain frown on his face. He was thinking deeply and Maria could guess about what.

"Georg?"

"Oh yes. You know, the strangest thing just happened--"

"I know, I heard it when I was coming this way."

Knowing that Maria hadn't been eavesdropping, he just continued.

"I wonder what that was about. Imagine--"

But he soon stopped talking, because he could hear his mother coming back. Just when she was standing in the doorway to come in, she turned around and murmured "Oh dear lord, I've forgotten to …"

And that was all the couple could understand. Quickly Georg turned to Maria before the others could hear what they said.

"Oh and I've told my parents that they shouldn't be talking about tomorrow because it would hurt Hanz too much with his wife."

"Perfect." She said gratefully.

A few minutes later everyone was sitting at the table. Mr. Von Trapp at the head of the table. Then Mrs. Von Trapp and Hanz on both sides, Maria next to Hanz and Georg next to his mother. She was glad she sat next to her uncle instead of sitting on the other side of the table, that meant she couldn't see him as she was staring at Georg.

"Georg really is a fine young man." Hanz started. "I wish I had a son like him as well."

The Von Trapps were quite flattered. Except for Georg himself. 'I'd rather die than have a father like you!'

"Unlike Maria. She can be quite a troublemaker sometimes." The smile on Hanz's face disappeared, he just kept poking into his food before he finally put another piece in his mouth.

Georg looked at Maria with astonishment in his eyes. Maria could see what he had in mind: 'Did he really just do that?'

"Oh we find that Maria is a very charming, young girl." Mrs. Von Trapp answered in defence, unable to hide her annoyed look mixed with a little anger. She loved Maria as if she was her own daughter, and of course she would defend her all the same.

"We love having her around here." Mr. Von Trapp followed.

Feeling he had lost the battle, Hanz just started to talk about other things. Of course Georg and Maria both smiled after their little victory. The dinner went by and not once was the picnic mentioned. 'Everything's going great.' Maria thought while she gazed at Georg once more.

After dinner Maria and Georg offered to do the dishes. That way they could spend more time alone, even if they had to do a not that likable task. It didn't matter to them.

"So, are you nervous?"

"Nervous? About what?" Maria asked as she put a dried plate on the table.

"The performance in two nights?"

"You ask me that every time and every time I give you the same answer. Not--"

"--at all" Georg finished the sentence for her.

They talked about all kind of things, but tried to avoid the subject that included Maria's 'lovable' uncle. As they were standing there, a thought popped up into Maria's head. 'We're just like a married couple now.' She knew it was way too fast to think about things like that, they only were together for two days, although they had known each their for most of their lives! Quickly she abandoned the thought. 'I'm only sixteen. Who says this will last forever?' Although that was the last thing she wanted to think of.

Afterwards they had no other choice than to join the others. Both were kinda bored while sitting there, listening to what the elders had to say. A few hours later, after having been through so much boredom, it was getting rather warm in the room and soon Georg stood up, claiming he was in need for some fresh air. Tactfully he asked Maria to come with him as he wanted some company.

"We're gonna go for a little walk." Georg said.

"Alright honey. Be back in at least an hour." Mrs. Von Trapp replied.

Once outside, both sighed of relief. The sun was already down and the first stars appeared in the blue sky. Although it was summer, it was rather chilly outside. Immediately Georg ran back in and with the approval of his mother he took a jacket from her for Maria along with his own outside.

"Thank you for getting us out of there!"

"My pleasure. Where do you wanna go?"

"Well since the daffodil-meadow is too far away, we can go to the jetty."

"Your wish is my command."

"Oh I like that." Maria replied mischievously.

They walked hand in hand over to the plain where only Sofia and Ludwig were. When the other two had spotted them, they walked over and greeted them. Then almost instantly they were congratulating the couple.

"What for?" Georg asked.

"Well for you being an item off course!"

"Oh but we-we …"

"Oh come on, we're not stupid. We suspected it ever since we saw you coming back from that picnic."

"Alright, it's true." Maria answered as she looked with a smile at Georg. Then she turned back to the other two and she grew serious again. "But we'd appreciate it if this keeps between us."

"Of course. Now tell us, since when--?"

"Since the picnic." Georg told them while laughing a bit.

"Oh but what about Johannes?" Sofia looked with sympathy at Maria. O course she wasn't feeling sympathetic for her, but for Johannes.

"You knew about him?" Maria exclaimed. Had she been the only one who didn't know that?

"Oh yes, the whole town knows it."

"Ooh …" She still couldn't believe it. "Well I told him that I only wanted him as a friend."

Ludwig and Sofia nodded understandable.

"Oh you know what! We should go out some time, only the four of us. Kinda like a double date."

"That would be great."

"Okay, what about the day after tomorrow? Your performance starts at eight, right?"

"Yes."

"Well let's say around noon then?"

"Perfect. We'll meet here at the fountain."

"Terrific! Okay, Sofia and I should be going now, we'll see you on Tuesday then?"

"Absolutely. Bye."

And gone they were.

"To think I was jealous."

"Jealous?" Georg turned around to face Maria. Then both started moving again towards the path next to the church.

"Yes, remember when you had asked me about Johannes, and I started about Sofia and you. I was actually jealous when I saw you two, but I should've known that she and Ludwig were together."

"Aww you were jealous? Well if it's any consolation, I didn't feel too good either when Johannes asked me to do that. I was afraid you might have said yes."

Maria kissed him for a little second since they were still in the sight of the town. Then they hurried to their little place. Since it was too cold now, they couldn't let their bare feet in the water. They just sat down, looking at the reflection of the stars and a little banana-shaped moon in the water. Finally Maria was able to lift her left-arm again without feeling the pain of her shoulder. She put her arms around Georg's neck and cuddled closely against him. Then Georg bended over to taste her lips.

Maria forgot everything. The only thing that she knew was how great it was and even though it was cold, both of them had warmth enough now that they were in a tight embrace.

Most of the hour they just spent gazing at the stars or each other, kissing and holding each other. When they arrived back at Georg's house, they found that the three elders still were talking and laughing. Yet ten minutes later, Hanz intended to go home. It was late and they had been there for nearly five hours. When everyone had moved towards the front door, the three were still talking when suddenly Georg reminded that Maria and himself had been invited by Sofia and Ludwig. Know he only had to find a way to make it look as if Maria didn't even know what was going on. So when the three weren't looking for a minute, Georg bended over to Maria and whispered "Play along." So she did, even though she had no idea what Georg had in his mind.

"Oh sir …" Georg asked when it was quiet for a moment. "Could Maria come with me and some friends on Tuesday? I thought I'd probably ask you first, because it's on the day of the performance and all …"

He saw Hanz turning to look at Maria, who was of course playing along. She had a surprised look on her face as if she heard it for the first time. Therefore Hanz thought she really didn't know anything about it, therefore she couldn't have manipulated him, could she? Plus it was impossible to say no in front of the Von Trapps.

"Of course she can."

"Thanks, sir." Then he faced Maria and told her "We'll meet here at the fountain at noon."

Maria just nodded, she didn't want to look enthusiastic with Hanz keeping an eye on her.

"Thanks again, sir!"

"It's my pleasure. Now we should run along. Thanks for the wonderful evening! Dinner was delicious!"

"Yes, really delicious." Maria echoed to show her gratitude.

"And thank you for coming! We'll see you then tomorrow, Maria? Be here at 1 PM."

"Yes, Mrs. Von Trapp."

The two bid their hosts goodnight. As Mrs. Von Trapp was watching them go, she said in a happy sigh "She's so polite … Such a lovely girl." Then she retreated inside and left Georg there, wondering again what she wanted to say earlier that day. At the same time he was staring at the lighted plain where no one was walking anymore. Softly he sighed, then he practically whispered "Goodnight my love."

I don't know whether I should go on with it or not. It's your call. It seems like not many people are interested and then I ask myself if it's worth to go on with it. The only way to let me know is if you hit that little button on the bottom of the page. Let me know ...