Chapter 1:

Georg pulled his arms around his beautiful wife from behind and placed his hands on her 6 month pregnant belly. Her hands grasping his, she pulled his arms around her tighter and slid back in his embrace. When they were together like that, his chest pressed firmly against her back, with his warmth and love, she felt like he surrounded her, and that nothing could hurt her, like there was nothing else in the world besides the two of them, together and completely in love.

Now that the war was over, they had returned to their villa in the beautiful land of Austria, where everything had begun. As Georg leaned his head over her shoulder and she turned her head to kiss him, she was flooded with memories and emotions. Standing there, their lips together in the beautiful connection, in the glass gazebo where they had kissed for the first time, Maria's mind became lost in thought.

She had been so lost and hurt to discover that the man that she loved had become engaged to the deceitful Viennese baroness. Standing there in the moonlight, all so suddenly she felt the Captain's lips against hers in a breathtaking kiss, she couldn't help but wonder if any of this was real. But in her heart, she knew it was. This was far more spectacular than anything that she could dream in her mind, than the thoughts she had been entertaining since she first saw him. She felt as if their minds and thoughts were one; like their blood flowed through each others veins, through their embrace and their kiss. They fit so perfectly to each other, her in his arms, like the very last puzzle piece finally secure in it's place forever.

Brought back to the present day and time as Georg turns her around and embraced her, just like the very first time, she knew that the memories would only multiply and become even more wonderful. No words are spoken between the two of them, and they didn't need to be. It was as if there was a language, unspoken, between them. The sun was beginning to tuck itself behind the mountains for the night as Georg is lost in his own thought.

He was and is captivated by her. Just like the first time their eyes met, he knew he would never be the same. He knew that she was merely the governess of his children, and that he was planning on proposing to the Baroness, but he couldn't help the way he felt. Each time their eyes met, she set him off on a new adventure in his own mind, like a ship setting off on it's maiden voyage. He felt unreal around her. He sometimes wondered if she was an angel. He pulled Maria tightly to his chest as he remembered the one night in particular that he knew there was no turning back.

Taking her hand and leading her around the dance floor, she took his breath away. He had barely breathed for the entire dance, but realized nothing but her. Her natural beauty, he innocent smile, and pure way of loving everyone. He knew that he was falling in love, hard and fast. He knew that there was nobody that he could love besides her and he was torn. He was supposed to marry a Baroness, as he himself was a Baron. The Baroness was beautiful and witty, but he knew that she didn't have the life within her that existed inside Maria. As she looked into his eyes, he noticed just how clear and blue they really are. Like looking straight down into the ocean and seeing the bottom, he didn't feel like he was looking at her eyes, but really, really into them. It felt like an eternity that they stood there, just gazing into each others eyes, like the whole world had paused and there they were, immersed in the bliss of each other. He didn't care if it ever ended. The music continued to play, but neither of them noticed; they saw only each other. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her there forever, and he would have, except that his daughter brought them back to reality. "Your face is all red."

Today, it was the same daughter that brought them both back.

"Father, Mother," she said, felling bad that she had interrupted. "Liesl and Rolf got here about 20 minutes ago. They said not to bother you two, but now dinner is ready."

"Thank you, dear," answered Maria, with a smile, as always. After Brigitta had walked away, she addressed her husband. "You know, darling, we do have to go in for dinner."

"Oh?" he said with a playful smile, "I don't think so." He kissed his wife and surprised her by lifting her feet off the ground.

"Oh, darling!" she exclaimed, giggling as he spun her around. With her feet on the ground, she again looked up into his eyes and whispered, "I love you."

"And I love you" he replied with a look in his eyes that Maria only saw when he looked at her. Even when they argued, he always had that loving look in his eyes, and she knew there was nothing that could come between them.

Once they got inside, they were greeted by Liesl and Rolf. Liesl was now 19 and engaged to Rolf, who soon caught up with them in Switzerland after escaping the Nazis, quite affected by the Captain's words after all. He and Liesl had become very close friends until about a year ago, when their romance was reborn, and they were engaged after 6 months. Rolf had asked the Captain and Maria first, for their permission, and they were delighted.

"Oh mother! Father! I'm so glad to see you!" Liesl exclaimed as she threw her arms around her parents. Rolf shook hands with the Captain and kissed Maria's cheek.

"Where is Friedrich? I haven't seen him," Rolf then enquired. They had grown to be like brothers, now that Friedrich was 17 and Rolf was 20. Nobody knew where he had been since lunchtime, but Rolf had a pretty good idea of where...