Maria pulled the covers off of her, and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She paused. After 5 minutes had passed from when the captain had kissed her, she was still in the same position. Her hands touching her face, smiling. Her thoughts had wondered to many things including the captain and her. She stood up, grabbed her clothes, and walked into the bathroom to take her much anticipated shower.

Downstairs the captain was in the middle of his breakfast the children had made for him. He thoroughly enjoyed it, complimenting the children every so often.

"Now that I know you kids can cook like this, you can prepare breakfast for us every day!"

The chorus of sighs started.

"Oh, but you are so good at it! Plus, it'll give me a break!" The captain said laughing.

His children really humored him sometimes. Especially, times like these.

Kurt whispered to Friedrich, "At least he doesn't know that we can dance."

Friedrich just laughed.

Maria stepped out of the shower and dried herself off. She got dressed and walked back out into the bedroom. The rush of cool air shocked her and she took a quick intake of breath. She walked over to the bed and put the breakfast tray on the nightstand so she could make the bed. Once that was done, she picked up the tray and headed downstairs. She heard the echoes of laughter while ascending the stairs. They had finally become a close family. The captain had changed so much since the last time that she had seen him. But then again, so had she.

Georg spotted Maria coming into the dining room. He gave her a smile, which she returned. They held their gaze until she spoke.

"You know, children. You're breakfast you made for me was absotivley magnificent! Where did you learn to cook like that?"

"We got help from father-"

Maria gave the captain a shocked look.

"-who had help from cook before we left."

Maria laughed. "So, captain. Tonight will you be cooking dinner?"

"Oh, that's right. Children, Maria will be joining us again for dinner tonight. How does that sound?"

The children started shouting.

"I guess that's a good sign." Maria laughed.

"Father?" Gretl asked.

"Yes, dear."

"I think you should marry Fraulein Maria." She said innocently.

All of the children stopped and looked quickly back and forth between Maria's shocked expression and the captain's shocked expression. Louisa pinched Gretl.

"Ow!" She cried.

Louisa whispered something in her ear.

Maria needed to quickly change the subject.

"So, children. Who is up for a walk?" She asked almost impatiently.

Another chorus of "me's" erupted loudly and quickly.

"Great. Why don't you finish up your breakfasts and we can go take a nice walk."
Maria paused.

"Captain? Would you like to join us?" Maria said very quietly.

"It would be my pleasure." He said equally as quiet.

"Father?" Kurt asked.

"Yes Kurt."

"May I bring a ball along, to play with?"

"Sure, Kurt. Just make sure you don't trip over it. We all know how clumsy you can be sometimes."

With that, the girls laughed.

"Hey!" Kurt shouted back in defense.

"Alright, children. Let's get a move on. If we want a nice walk, we better start early. Our destination: town. You must walk me to my house so I can get ready for work!" Maria said.

The walk had been nice. They stopped by a small brook on the way to town. They sat and rested. The children were playing that number game with the ball, and the captain and Maria were sitting, talking about anything and everything.

"You know Maria, I just wanted to apologize for what Gretl said this morning." Georg said

"Oh. It's no problem. She just says what's on her mind." She said

"Quite like me actually." She chuckled.

"Ye-" Kurt missed catching the ball and it hit the captain in the stomach.

The children began laughing. Maria rushed over to him, trying to contain her laughter, asking if he was alright. He just sat up, smiled, and threw the ball back.

"That's the problem with having so many kids, someone always ends up getting hurt. Lately, though, it's been ME being the injured party." Georg said rubbing his stomach.

Maria went back onto the stone that she was perched on before the accident.

"We better be getting a move on. I don't want to be late for work. I've only been there about a little while. I don't want to get fired already!" She said.

"Children." The captain called out in his baritone voice.

"We must start walking again. Maria can't be late for work." He said, giving her a sidelong glance and smiling.

The children rushed ahead and Maria and the captain walked back behind them all. Maria felt something brush her hand. She looked down and saw the captains hand mere centimeters away from hers. She looked up at him and he just smiled. She focused her eyes back on the road and felt his hand more distinctly brush hers. She looked up at him again and then shifted her gaze back on the road. Once more, she felt his hand near hers, but this time, she grabbed it and they held hands the rest of the way, unnoticed. They walked in a silence, a peaceful one. No words were needed. Georg and the children walked Maria to her place and left her to change and get to work.

They couldn't wait for Maria to come back to the house for dinner. Maria could hardly wait either. She was excited. For the first time in a while she was excited about something, and thrilled to the core about it.

Now, if she could only stop thinking about the way the captain's hand felt in hers, she'd be okay.