A/N: Here's the last chapter. I hope you enjoy it and please review!

Ch. 6: True Love

Maria glanced at Patrick as she opened the door of the car. She got out and started to walk toward the villa.

"Thank you for a wonderful afternoon, Patrick," she told him softly. "I really enjoyed it."

"Me too," he answered. "It was just like it used to be, except for…"he trailed off. Maria tried to smile a little, but all she could muster was an uncomfortable half smile.

"Yes it was different because of my fiancée," she finished. He sighed as he saw the look in her eyes when he was mentioned.

"Have you had enough time to think it over yet?" he asked. She looked at him sadly not knowing what to say.

"Patrick, I didn't need time to think it over. I told you that while we were in the mountains. I'm feel blessed I got to share some of my life with you, but I don't regret what happened anymore. When I lost you I thought I could never love again…ever. Now I know why God didn't allow us to get married. If we had been I never would have found my way to Georg," she told him a politely as possible.

"But, Maria, I thought…"

"Let me finish please," Maria begged. "I'm so happy God let our paths cross again. You are still dear to my heart, but I just don't love you like I do Georg. I love him more than anything in the world. I could never leave him, it would hurt him way to much and…"

"It wouldn't hurt you though? Maria, you have to do what your heart wants,"

"This is what my heart wants, Patrick. I wouldn't be any good to you if I left Georg," she told him.

"Yes you would. Maria, I can make you happy. I promise you would be so happy and we would live a wonderful life. We could travel the world and do anything you want to, please. I love you so much. I'd do anything for you," he confessed.

"I know," Maria replied with tears in her eyes. "But I could never be the wife you deserve. I could be loyal in a sense, but emotionally my heart would always be here with Georg. I love him more than life itself. I can't leave him. It would be too painful…for both of us."

"Maria, please…I beg of you. I could make you so happy," he begged to her as he brought his lips close to hers. "I love you," he whispered as he kissed her lips. She responded by pulling back and glaring.

"No, Patrick. I would love to be your friend, but that is all. I just don't love you. Not the way I love him. Here," she told him as she took the ring from her pocket. "Have this." Patrick looked at her with sad eyes knowing that he had lost the battle. He gently pushed her hands back around the box.

"You can keep it," he told her. "To remember me by."

"Thank you," she replied. "It means a lot to me."

"Obviously not enough though," he told her dejectedly.

"No," she agreed softly. "I'm sorry; nothing can ever equal what he means to me." Patrick sighed deeply trying to keep his emotions in check.

"I understand…I mean I guess I do…if you feel as strongly about him as I do you…you wouldn't want to lose that," he told her.

"Thank you for understanding," she answered. "Georg and I would love it if you would come to our wedding…I mean I know that it might be too painful for you, but just know you are welcome,"

"I think you should probably discuss that one with him first, but I think I would like to very much. Thanks for the invite," he replied.

Georg stared down from the window upstairs. He had heard them drive up and hadn't intended on spying, but ever since he realized there was a ring and Patrick tried to kiss her he realized there was trouble.

He started to feel extreme anguish as he walked downstairs to open the door and greet his fiancée. As he walked down he told himself he would not act the same way he had yesterday and he would be calm and composed. He could again feel jealousy creeping into his skin. True, he didn't know what Maria had said, but he saw the look on her face and he wasn't sure if that look was for Patrick or himself. He heard Maria's sweet voice uttering a goodbye to Patrick. Georg took a deep breath and opened the door.

To his relief Maria looked overjoyed to see him. He noticed that Patrick looked rather miserable.

"Hello, darling," Maria answered. She smiled at him and gave him a quick kiss.

"Hello," he echoed and glanced at Patrick. "It is good to see you again," he told him.

"You too," Patrick said trying to be as convincing as possible. "I will leave in a moment, but first I'd like to have a word with you, Captain."

"Of course," Georg replied as he stepped outside.

"Goodbye, Maria," Patrick told her again. She smiled and waved as she headed inside to wait for Georg.

"What is it?" Georg asked suddenly becoming more nervous than he thought he was.

"Well I just wanted to tell you congratulations on your engagement to Maria," he said. "I know you two will be very happy." Georg broke into a smile as he thought about Maria.

"Thank you," Georg replied.

"And I just wanted to tell you that…well there is nothing between us anymore. Well I still love her, but it's clear to me she loves you more than anything. I hope I didn't do anything to get between you two. I wish you all the happiness in the world," he finished.

"I trust Maria with my life and know that she will always be truthful to me. I believed when she told me last night there was nothing going on, but that means a lot from me to hear it from you as well. Thank you," Georg told him.

"You're welcome," he replied as he shook Georg's hand.

"I do hope, if it won't pain you too much, that you attend our wedding. I know it would mean a lot to Maria," Georg said.

"Thank you for inviting me. I just might come," Patrick replied. "Goodbye, Captain."

"Goodbye," Georg replied as Patrick walked back to his car. Georg went back inside his house and saw Maria sitting in the gazebo. Deciding to join her, he walked toward her with a smile and a relieved look on his face. When he reached her he sat down next to her and gently rested his hand on her knee. Maria was unaware of how much he saw, but knew he could be upset with her even if he didn't look like it.

"Georg, I…well I'm so sorry, Patrick proposed to me and begged me to marry him and gave me back our old engagement ring. Then when I told him my decision he tried to kiss me and I'm just so sorry I never meant to hurt you I didn't kiss him back I…"

"Sssh," Georg murmured as he ran his hand down her face. He could see there were tears forming in her eyes. He pulled her closer to him and gently caressed her back.

"I told him I loved you more than life itself and I could never marry him because my heart would forever be with you. I could never be more than a friend to him. He wasn't listening, obviously, and he kissed me and I hated it. I never wanted to hurt you. Can you ever forgive me? I love you so much and I don't want to lose you because," Georg tried in vain not to laugh, but it didn't stop his lips from curving upward. He gently put his finger on her mouth to quiet her down, noticing she was still trying to talk, he leaned forward.

"I don't care," he whispered. She gave him a confused look as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her fully. She opened her eyes and found him staring at her lovingly.

"But how can you not care?" she asked breathlessly. He kissed her passionately again and this time she responded by kissing him back.

"I only care about you. I didn't trust him in the slightest, but I know that you love me," he answered. "Am I right in that assumption?"

She nodded her head and she began to kiss Georg's chin and all the way down to his neck. She stopped suddenly and glanced up at him.

"Do you want to hear about my day?" she asked. He smiled at her as he realized how annoyed he had been when she stopped.

"You're kidding, right?" he asked. "Well maybe some other time, but now since I know I'm the one you love all I want to do is think about you and me…no one else."

"Good," Maria answered back. "Because that's all I want to think about too." He smiled at her and looked into her deep blue eyes before their lips met again in a passionate kiss.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear.

"And I love you," she murmured as she gently kissed him again. "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me." He smiled and deepened the kiss feeling blessed that she would be his forever.

The End!