Sorry for the delay again… I will hopefully be able to get the remaining chapters up rather swiftly but I still haven't had time to type them all on the computer. You will get them soon though, I promise: )

Thanks for the reviews! I know the characters are way out of character but this was more fun to write. Now, to the chapter!

Chapter 8

After dinner they all gathered in the music room where the Captain kept his piano and various other instruments. The children insisted that the Captain played his piano and after a few minutes of pleading, from them as well as from Maria, he agreed. He positioned himself properly by the instrument and started playing as if it was only yesterday he did it the last time. The fingers flowed smoothly over the white pieces and everybody got caught up in the beautiful melody. Maria sighed happily while looking at the Captain. He met her eyes and grinned broadly. Too soon the music was over, causing the children to applaud and beg for another song.

"Oh alright. But only if Maria is willing to accompany me on this one." She was a bit surprised at his demand but made her way towards him when he patted the seat for her to come and sit next to him. Louisa gasped but her father and fräulein seemed too busy with each other to notice. Brigitta was not slow to apprehend though and the girls immediately started whispering. Liesl swatted Louisa gently to keep her quiet and they all gave Georg and Maria their full attention.

Maria couldn't help but blush when she sat so close to her true love. They played a well known piece together and without thinking they subconsciously moved closer until they were tightly pressed against each other. When the song ended the Captain couldn't control himself and gently grabbed Marias hand to squeeze it ever so light. Since the piano was blocking the view for the children they couldn't see what was going on but Brigitta already had an image in her head about that. Maria and Georg looked into at each other and when Marias face turned a lovely shade of pink Georg couldn't help but smile. It was a proud smile, a smile that told Maria that he was proud to know her and be near her. The children clapped their hands and started to talk again. Maria finally managed to take her eyes off Georg.

"Children, it's time you all went to bed now." She motioned for them to get up and walk upstairs and they obediently did as she told them. Maria lingered before walking slowly towards the door. The day had been pretty exhausting and she couldn't wait to get into bed. Suddenly she felt someone tug her arm and she turned to look at the wonderful person she knew it to be.

"Maria?" He stepped closer to her and she could feel his breath warming her cheek.

"Yes?" Their noses almost touched and Maria started to breathe heavier while butterflies were roaming around in her stomach.

"If I help you put the children to bed would you care to join me for a little walk in the garden afterwards?" He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and their eyes locked. 'You should take those clothes off Captain, so I can touch you properly.' Maria gasped at her own thoughts and went crimson.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. No, it's ok. I was just..." She smiled wickedly at him. "Thinking of you." His eyes widened and a huge grin spread across his face.

"Really?" She kissed the tip of his nose and nodded.

"Yes. And the answer to your other question is also yes; I do want to walk in the garden so come along and help me with the children." He held his hands up in surrender and followed her when she started to climb the stairs.

The children were all tucked in their beds and Georg and Maria decided to leave the house for awhile. Georg had insisted on bringing a basket with him and since the night was warm Maria decided that a picnic would not be entirely unpleasant.

They were strolling in the huge garden away from the house and Maria wondered just where they were going. Not that she was worried, only curious.

"It's a fantastic night tonight, isn't it Georg?" Maria sighed happily. Georg chuckled lightly and took her hand in his while continuing their walk.

"It sure is." They soon came to an enormous lawn, dancing in moonlight, and Georg walked to the middle of it and then turned to face Maria.

"This place will do nicely, don't you think?" Marias eyebrows rose.

"Doing what exactly?" Even in the dim light Maria could see Georgs cheeks turn red and she laughed heartily at him. He smiled and put the basket down before suddenly lifting her up and spinning around, her body pressed against his. When he let her down again she leaned in and kissed him passionately on the lips. As they parted both had ear to ear smiles on their faces and could barely take their eyes off each other. Georg spread the blanket on the grass and motioned for Maria to sit. He sat down beside her and started to look in the basket. Holding out a glass to Maria he almost froze, she was absolutely stunning.

"Would you like some wine Maria?" She nodded and he filled her glass with a nice white wine. After serving himself some as well he turned to her again.

"A toast" he began formally.

"To what?" Maria giggled.

"To my wonderful children." They clinched their glasses together and tasted the wine. Maria held her glass up to toast again.

"To God, forever guiding us to do the right things."

"I have a better one."

"What can be better than God?" she asked curiously, not at all offended by his words.

"A toast to you." Maria was surprised.

"To me?"

"Yes, to you. For letting me see my children again before it was too late, and most important, for learning me how to love again." He looked deep into her eyes and saw his feelings reflected there. As he leaned in to kiss her he could feel her respond to him naturally, as if they were made to be together. The kiss was deep but suitable and Maria longed for more when they broke apart.

"Maybe we should drink to that as well?" she whispered softly, still close to him. They sipped the wine and shared a moment of comfortable silence. Maria sighed eventually and Georg looked at her.

"Are you tired?"

"No, I'm just happy to be here with you." They put their glasses down and kissed again. It got more and more heated and they were soon lying on the blanket with nothing on their mind beside what happened at that moment. Georg took her hand and rubbed it gently while kissing his way down her cheek to her neck. Maria gasped as she could feel him caress her hand and her arm before reaching her shoulder. His hand moved gently along her curves while he traced her collar bone with his mouth. Maria had never been more aroused in her life, she wanted him right there. It didn't matter what anyone would say, she loved him and could never be with another man after Georg anyway. That she was going to be a nun had long since fled her mind. She moaned when he suddenly kissed her breast, despite the fact that she was still wearing her dress. Georg couldn't believe his ears; her moaning made him even more excited.

"Maria..." he said hoarsely.

"Yes" she whispered, hardly being able to think, let alone speak.

"I want you. Now. I need you badly."

"I want you too."

"Are you sure? If you are uncomfortable we could stop right now." She smiled reassuringly.

"I'm sure." He looked at her and saw that she truly meant it, causing him to loose his mental restrains in an instant. They made love over and over again and finally fell asleep in each others arms, still lying on the, now wrinkled, blanket.

Maria felt the sun on her body and smiled as she slowly woke up from the best dream ever. She shifted and stiffened suddenly as she could feel someone lying beside her. Opening her eyes she could see that they were still on the lawn and that the man beside her was Georg.

"It was not a dream..." she whispered to herself. Georg began to stir and opened his eyes to look at Maria. She realized that they were still naked and felt extremely vulnerable. The sudden blush told Georg exactly what she was thinking.

"Good morning" he whispered gently while reaching out to trace her jaw line.

"Good morning." Georg looked at the sun, deciding it must be about 5 am.

"Maria?"

"Yes?"

"You don't need to feel embarrassed in front of me you know" he said with a smile. She looked at him and felt her heart swell.

"I know. I'm just in a rather awkward position."

"Good..." He kissed her gently on the mouth and they cuddled for a while.

"Georg?"

"Yes."

"Maybe it's time we got up and headed back to the house. I don't want people to worry or ask questions."

"Ok, we can go if you want to." They got dressed and headed back to the house.

After kissing gently outside Marias room they parted.

"See you soon Georg." Maria said while walking inside.

"See you later... Darling." Georg smiled as Maria nearly tripped and walked to his room, knowing the word had had the effect on her he had hoped for.

Maria stood in her bathtub and let the hot water fall on her stiff body. Not that the stiffness mattered, she blushed when thoughts of the nightly activities came to her mind. 'Oh how lovely it would be to have a relationship like this for the rest of my life. But if we don't get married we can't have children and that would be awful. However, I can't ask Georg to marry me, he would loose everything. I don't even know if he loves me, he might just as well be fooling around until he has married someone else.' Maria was utterly confused and silently shed a few tears before stepping out of the shower.

Georg couldn't stop thinking about Maria. Her warm body flushed to his, her kisses, the fantastic love making. It was like they were meant to be. Only one thing was missing and that was the engagement ring on her finger. He knew he would lose almost everything and every one of his so called friends if he married her but he didn't care. 'I'm in love.' He grinned to himself but stopped when another thought popped into mind. 'What if she doesn't love me? What if she still wants to be a nun? No one will ever know what we had and I'm not the one to spoil her plans.' He glanced at his watch and hurriedly made his way downstairs to join Maria and the children at breakfast.

Liesl couldn't stop looking at her father and fräulein, they both seemed very different but she couldn't figure out what had happened. They were both smiling widely and couldn't keep their eyes off each other. She abandoned her thoughts for later when she heard all her siblings leave the table and followed them out.

Maria and Georg were left alone in the dining room and they both pretended to be occupied with something to keep their hands off each other. They were standing a few inches apart when both reached for the same plate. As their hands touched Maria could feel a jolt of electricity course through her body and she tensed, hoping that Georg didn't notice. He did however and stiffened as well. They stood like two statues before finally frantically starting to kiss. Georg shoved some plates aside and lifted Maria for her to sit on the table. She pulled him with her as she leaned backwards and Georg could barely control himself.

"Oh Maria" he whispered in her ear seductively.

"I thought breakfast would never end" she replied between the kisses. Suddenly they heard Frau Schmidt talking to one of the maids ready to collect the dishes. Maria and Georg leapt up and were just separated when the two women entered.

"Maybe we should take the children out for a swim?" Maria said, still trying to slow her breathing.

"Sounds good to me fräulein." Georg replied and they both exited awkwardly. Frau Schmidt smiled at them and muttered to herself.

"At last."