Finally at home Max followed the children to the nursery, leaving Maria and Georg alone.

"So, you got questioned out too I assume?"

"Hmm."

One question kept coming back to her mind: 'Did you and daddy kiss?' Unconsciously it was distracting her and of course Georg had seen it.

"Am I wrong or did something happen? You really seem more quiet now."

"Oh?"

They walked to the terrace.

"Yes, less joyful as usual."

As they sat down, she noticed how close they were again.

"Nothing serious."

She answered. Although the captain knew she wasn't quite herself. Georg decided to keep his conversation with Max silent too. Yet he really wanted to tell her what everybody saw, but what if she didn't feel the same? 'It's best to keep it to me for now ... I mean, what if she would leave because I was so honest? I'd be completely selfish! No, this way I get to spend more time with her.'

"Well, what shall we do next?"

Georg said, trying to change the subject. He turned his head from the lake to Maria and found out she was gazing at something in front of her while being as silent as could be. It even looked like she wasn't listening. When he didn't get an answer, he tried to get her attention in a different way. Because they were already sitting very close, he only moved his head closer to hers. Then he waved with his hand in front of her face, interrupting her stare. She woke up out of her thoughts.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Positive, I was just thinking of something. Nothing serious."

He nodded, but it bothered him not knowing what she was thinking of. In spite of what she said, Georg thought it must have been something important. He knew Maria, or at least he hoped he knew her just a little, and this wasn't her at all!

"Sir?"

Very curious of what she had to ask, he turned his head back to hers.

"Yes?"

But Maria stopped. She didn't want to ask him when she should leave.

"Oh ... never mind."

"Maria, you are really tensed. Perhaps I should give you a day off?"

"Oh no sir, I love to be with the children! Really, I don't need a day off ..."

He stared at her in disbelief. Well, he knew it was true about the children, but perhaps some time alone would do her good.

"Maria, if you say you don't need a day off, there will be another possibility to get you a bit more relaxed ... Turn around."

"What?"

Maria didn't know what to do, but as a little, comforting smile appeared on his face, she did what he asked. She turned around so Georg was facing her back. Softly she felt his hands gently rubbing her shoulders, then her neck. Immediately she relaxed. 'Mmm this feels so good. I guess I was tensed.' She closed her eyes, making her enjoy the massage even more.

Georg had been doubting whether to do it or not, yet he was massaging her. He had expected a response, like she hitting him in his face or running away from him. And again she stayed right where he was. The last 24 hours she had surprised himself a lot.

"How am I doing?"

Georg was afraid he was too harsh sometimes.

"I feel the tension disappear. You're really good at this."

On that moment, Maria felt back like close friends instead of him as her employer. 'Okay, perhaps more than a close friend ... Maria, stop it!' As she turned herself back to face Georg, she felt she was smiling. Right after Georg had put his hands back on the table, Elsa walked into the terrace.

"There you are darling! I've been looking all over for you!"

"But you knew we were away today."

"Yes, but I bumped into Max a quarter ago, so I figured you had to be here too somewhere."

Elsa didn't trust the scene she witnessed. When she walked in the 2 were sitting very close. Frowning she looked around.

"Where's Chris?"

"He's out in the city, dear."

Georg saw the way she was looking at Maria. He sure was glad she hadn't walked in while he was massaging Maria. In his mind he could see Elsa make a scene. 'It was just a massage, even is she had walked in ... Arh who are you kidding? You love the woman! Say it!' But his mouth stayed closed.

"Anyhow, it's all taken care of."

"What is?"

"The party, darling. It's in 2 days. All the invitations have been sent."

"2 days?"

As usual she was getting all excited whenever she thought of that grand party. For some time she forgot about Maria and a big smile had taken place on her face. She walked closer to Georg.

"Isn't it wonderful? Finally I'm going to meet your friends."

"Yes ... wonderful."

He had to say with forced enthusiasm. Once again his mind wandered off to the lady next to him. A small image started to form in front of his eyes. Maria looking totally marvelous in that soft blue dress.

-----

The ballroom was crowded with hundreds of people, all in gowns and suits. Almost everyone was dancing on the starting tunes of Edelweiss. Georg was talking with Max, when suddenly Everyone stepped aside to make room for this captivating lady. It took him 2 seconds to walk over to her and ask her to dance. A faint smile appeared on her face, as she took his hand. Georg leaded her to the middle of the room, everyone just staring at the dancing couple. The end of the song was coming near by. He slowly bended his head to hers. Then it happened. The moment their lips touched, a jolt of pure joy went through his spine. Of course everyone was still staring, but he couldn't care less they were in the center of attention. Finally he had dared to kiss the woman he truly loved.

-----

A hand was now disturbing his gaze.

"Are you tensed too?"

A sweet voice asked. Georg looked besides him, where Elsa was standing 10 minutes ago. To his surprise no one was there. Then he looked back in Maria's direction.

"Oh no, not at all. I even think I'm more relaxed than normally."

As he kept looking at her, the image of the 2 dancing together, that wonderful dance which ended with a kiss, never left his mind. The days went by, and finally the moment had come where Elsa was so anxious for, not to forget Georg too. Maybe his daydream would come true ... The whole house was preparing for the coming event, even the children and their governess.

"Fraulein? I can't choose, which one should I wear?"

Brigitta held up 2 dresses, a light orange one, very nice to spin around and a light green one.

"Hm, I think you should wear the orange one, then you could wear your headband."

Maria walked further into her room and looked around in Brigitta's drawer. At last she saw the orange ribbon, then showed it to Brigitta.

"See, suits perfectly!"

"Thank you Fraulein."

She said, happy she finally had made a decision with the help of Maria.

"Fraulein, I think you should better get ready too." Liesl stated. "I'm ready, so I could help the others while you're changing."

Maria appreciated Liesl wanted to help, now she was able to get some things done herself. A minute after Maria had returned to her room, Georg walked in immediately after he had knocked on her door without waiting for an answer. A week ago she would have found it awkward, but after all what happened she found it quite normal. She just thought it was good he had walked in before she was getting undressed.

"Excuse me Maria, I know it isn't my business, but I wondered if you have a dress for tonight."

Maria, who was sitting on the bed, got up again and walked over to the wall.

"Well, I don't know to be honest, I haven't looked in my closet yet."

As she said it, she opened the doors of her closet.

"But I don't think I have anything appropriate for tonight."

"Perhaps I can help."

He gestured to come closer, like if he was waiting for her approval. Of course she permitted him. Maria was standing aside, while Georg was looking for one particular dress. It amazed him how many dresses she had in her closet now, while she only had 1 dress the day she arrived. He took the dress and laid it on the bed.

"What about this one?"

"I don't know, sir. I think it won't fit in at the party."

"Oh Maria, it's a beautiful dress. Please give it some thought ... ok?"

"Ok."

Once again he felt his face forming a smile.

"I guess I'd better let you get ready now. I'll see you tonight."

"Bye."

Georg knew he had used a silly reason, but for some reason he really wanted her to wear that dress. Besides, it had given him some time alone again with her, even though nothing important had been talked about.

Her gaze was pointed at the dress, laying on the bed. 'The captain is right, I love that dress, perhaps I should wear it.' First she locked her door and walked into the bathroom to let the bathtub fill with warm water. Then she got undressed. When she stepped into the hot water, she got goosebumps all over her body. Relaxed, she let herself lower in the water. It had been a while since she had had a nice bath. 20 minutes later, she walked back into the bedroom with a towel folded around her body as she heard knocking on her room.

"Fraulein, I can't find my shoes!"

Maria heard the distress in Gretl's voice.

"I'll be out in a minute." She called back.

Quickly she got dressed. She hurried and grabbed the dress of her bed. After she had put it on, she combed her hair once more. Of course something had to go wrong. Not only Gretl was suffering of missing shoes, she too couldn't find hers. Luckily it didn't take her long before to find them under her bed. Gretl was still waiting outside her door. She merely jumped of joy when her governess finally walked into the hallway.

"Alright, let's go and find your shoes. Where are your siblings?"

"They're downstairs, father asked them to help with something."

They arrived in the nursery. After to have searched everything and haven't found nothing, they moved to Gretl's room. Gretl searched in the closets, while Maria ducked to look underneath the beds.

"Looking for something?"

Still ducked, she looked up to Georg who was holding a pair of shoes in his hand.

"Oh daddy, you found them!!!"

Slowly Maria stood back up.

"May I ask you, dear, what your shoes were doing in the dining room?"

"The dining room? Oh yes ..."

Earlier that day she had a little rock in her shoe. It hurt her so much and Maria said she better could take her shoes of to get that annoying thing out of there. Since they stayed in the house, both Gretl and Maria had forgotten to put the shoes back on. 'How could I forget we left them there?'

It was the first time Georg had seen her since they had talked in her room. To his delight she was wearing the blue dress.

"Ok darling, your siblings are waiting for you in the sitting room."

Quickly Gretl ran off to the others. Once she was gone, Georg turned his attention back to Maria.

"So, I see you agreed with me."

Maria saw him looking at her dress and looked down herself to her dress too.

"Yes, I thought it would be a waste not to wear it."

"And you're perfectly right Maria. Now, let's go downstairs, Elsa is expecting me and the children are waiting for you too."

Time passed and the moment had come. Georg and Elsa were in the hallway, welcoming all the guests, while the children were outside watching the dancing pairs in the ballroom. Soon Liesl and Friedrich started waltzing on the terrace, just when Maria and Chris walked in.

"Why didn't you children tell me you could dance?"

"We were afraid you would make us all dance together. The Von Trapp family dancers."

Kurt answered while spinning around. But everybody was soon distracted as the tunes of the Laendler started floating through the air.

"What's that they're playing?"

All of them turned around to the ballroom, seeing the guests dance on this beautiful song.

"It's the Laendler, it's an Austrian folkdance."

"Oh it's beautiful." Brigitta said in awe.

Chris faced Maria. He reached out his hand and bowed.

"Care to dance?"

Maria had expected this to happen. Both had danced it lots of times. It was very special to them.

"I'd be delighted."

Maria accepted his hand. While they began to dance, all the children's eyes were looking at them. And not alone the children's. They weren't dancing for long when the captain stepped outside from the ballroom. The moment of his mind had arrived. In a way he felt selfish, because Chris did ask her first. But the urge to dance with her on this beautiful song was so strong, he just had to ask her. As he walked towards the couple, all the children were wondering if he really was going to do what they thought he was gonna do.

"Excuse me ..." He tapped Chris on his shoulder. "You wouldn't mind if I cut in, would you?"

"Oh but I would. You're robbing me of the company of a beautiful girl." Chris told him somewhat jokingly, but more serious than he thought.

Maria was kinda surprised the captain wanted to dance with her. 'Shouldn't he be doing that with Elsa?' A side of her longed to dance with him, being in his arms without constantly thinking it was wrong. After all, it was just an innocent dance. But then, this dance was special to her and Chris. She remembered when they danced it together for the first time. All went wrong. It took them 2 whole days to dance it without hurting the other. Maria's mother was watching them, while playing the song on the piano. Since then it would be the first time she would dance it with someone else. Chris felt like he owed Georg this dance, after all, he had given him a roof over his head ever since he got there.

"Maria, I'm afraid someone needs you more than me ..."

He didn't know how close he was to the truth, yet he himself thought back of the reason why he had searched for Maria in the first place. Chris stepped aside and took place near the children. Meanwhile Georg took Maria's hand in his. During the dance, Maria felt extremely lightheaded. She didn't know how much trouble she would have whenever they came close to each other. She had assumed it would go easy, because she had danced this over a thousand times with Chris. And every time with him the whole dance went perfectly swell. However, being so close again as the other day in the tree house made her feel so delightful once more. Everyone was still staring at the dancing couple in awe. Except Chris, he couldn't see how Maria blushed as her face was only inches away from Georg's, he only saw his little Maria dance as if she and Chris himself were the only persons in the world.

----- ----- -----

Hi everyone, first I'd like to say, thx for all those reviews!!! .

Janet, yeah, I agree, Maria wouldn't approve of the word damned, but it was Max who said it and I guess he doesn't mind saying it so much ;) or did Maria say it too somewhere? I can't remember actually ...

Before they dance the Laendler, Maria's thinking back of something, well this only were like seconds or something. They begin to dance the same time as in the movie, so it's not like they started when the song was almost over.

I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, and of course reviews are always welcome :p