Ok here's the next chapter, pretty quick update (for me) but that's what happens when you've got a good motivator! Thanks! You know who you are….

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"How long does it take women to get ready? Really, she's been up there forever," Kurt whined, fidgeting around. He, his brother, and his father were all waiting in the foyer. You can guess who they were waiting for.

"Kurt, I wouldn't say that around a female, just in case." The Captain had enough experience with women to know why they needed a long time to get ready.

"Father-"

"Kurt, just be patient, alright?" The Captain was just as impatient as Kurt. He wanted to see what Maria looked like in her dress.

"I just don't see what takes them so long," Kurt complained.

"Shh," warned his brother, hearing footsteps and squeals from the hallway above. They heard a door open and Louisa stepped forward to the front of the stairs.

"Presenting: the one, the only, the beautiful; Fräulien Maria!" She announced, and stepped back. The rest of the girls pushed someone forward, and she began her descent down the stairs.

The Captain couldn't believe his eyes. Yes, it was Maria, but it didn't look like her. The tomboyish governess was gone, and in its place was an elegant lady. Maria looked like a princess as she met him at the bottom of the stairs.

"Maria, you look very pretty tonight." She blushed. "Did I say pretty? I meant lovely. Beautiful. Stunning. Captivating. Dazzling. Gorgeous. Intoxicating," he finished, kissing her hand. And she certainly did look intoxicating. The simple design for her dress would look plain on anyone but her. The flowing material showed off her every curve, and she looked more beautiful than he had ever seen her. And Liesl had done a very nice job picking out a bra for her.

"Thank you, Captain. You don't look too bad yourself," she said, eyeing him. She leaned close to him and whispered in his ear, "Although I must say, I prefer you without the shirt."

"I know darling, I know." He gave her a half-smile and offered her his arm. She accepted, weaving her own through his.

"Now children, be good for your Uncle Max. And Liesl, I'm putting you in control."

"You don't trust me?" Max scoffed, coming out from the Captain's study, where he had been making a phone call.

"Not at all, Max," Maria said, smiling at him.

"I'm ashamed that such a lovely lady wouldn't trust me with her charges," he replied, kissing her hand.

"Since when am I a lovely lady?" Maria asked, surprised at all the compliments she was getting, first from the girls, then from the Captain (who was the one she really wanted to impress), and now from Max.

"Since you wear that dress, put on a little make-up, wear heels, and actually act like a lady," the Captain said, telling the truth. Ordinarily she looked young, hardly older than Liesl, but now she looked older than her 24 years. And the make-up really did something for her. It wasn't caked on like Elsa's, but put on sparingly, a touch of eyeliner here, some eye shadow there, a bit of lipstick tinting her lips. The heels, well, he liked it when she was shorter than him, but it was nice to only have to look down a little at her. And they might come in handy if… But he shouldn't be thinking that. Not now, not with Max and his children present. The Captain found himself being dragged along to the door by Maria, who was calling back to the children, "Don't stay up too late! Max, get them in bed by one!"

"But Fräulien Maria, can't we stay up until midnight, like we used to?" Louisa begged.

"Yes darling, that's why I said you had to be in bed by one."

"Thank you Fräulien Maria!" Louisa exclaimed, rushing over to give her governess one last hug before the new year.

"You're very welcome," Maria replied, chuckling. "And I expect you all to sleep in tomorrow, because I don't want any crabby children hanging about."

"Don't worry about them, Maria, just enjoy yourself tonight. Have fun, you two!" Max called, shutting the door behind him.

"Well at least he'll miss us," the Captain said sardonically. Maria laughed. He loved making her laugh.

"I certainly hope they're not grumpy tomorrow, especially the little ones. Gretl has quite a temper when she's sleep-deprived."

"Wonder where she got that from."

"You, I suppose."

He scoffed. "And you'll be the one dealing with them tomorrow, I'm sure."

"Exactly, that's why I want them to sleep in." The Captain chuckled at this. She could always make him laugh. He opened the car door for her.

"M'lady," he said, offering his hand.

"Thank you, kind sir," she giggled, using the proffered hand as a means to help get herself in the car. The Captain shut the door behind her and walked around to the driver's side. He got in and they set off for the ball.

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"Are you sure they'll accept the fact that you're bringing your governess to a ball?" Maria asked skeptically as they walked toward the Weimer's villa.

"Absolutely sure. And I'm also absolutely sure that they'll love you."

"What's Josef's wife's name again?"

"Anna, darling, Anna Weimer."

"Let's see if I can remember half the people you introduce me to by the end of the night." The Captain laughed at Maria's statement. He hadn't seen some of these people for a while, so it would be a test for him to remember them, too.

"Now remember, Josef and Anna have a son named Jakob."

"How old is he again?"

"Seventeen, I believe."

"We should've brought Liesl along." The Captain laughed again. He didn't really want his daughter dating just yet.

"Captain?"

"Yes darling?"

"Why do you keep calling me 'darling'?"

"You know, I've been wondering the same thing."

Maria laughed. "I've been wondering, is it just a term of endearment, or is there some meaning to it?"

"It's a term that shows that you're my friend, darling."

"Well, don't let people get the wrong idea about us."

"I won't, don't you worry your pretty head about it."

"And don't talk like that, either."

"Since when do you order me around?"

"Since you let me. So ha." The Captain had to laugh to himself at Maria's statement. True, he had let himself be bossed around by her.

"Is that them?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, it's them," he replied. Josef and Anna were standing in the doorway, welcoming their guests.

"Georg!" Josef suddenly cried, catching sight of the Captain.

"Josef, how good to see you again!" The two men shook hands firmly.

"I haven't seen you for ages! You look happier, somehow."

"All thanks to this young lady here."

"This must be the fabulous Maria I've been hearing about! Honestly Georg, you said she was pretty, but I wasn't expecting this!" Josef exclaimed, catching one of Maria's hands in his own and kissing it.

"Now really Josef, don't get overly excited," his wife Anna said from beside him. "Georg, it's nice to see you smile again. You must be Maria," she smiled, extending her hand. Maria shook it.

"It's so nice to meet you, Frau Weimer."

"Oh please, call me Anna."

"Well, then it's nice to meet you, Anna."

"It's nice to meet the woman who brought a smile back to my favorite sea Captain's face," Anna said, smiling at Maria, who couldn't help but smile back. The woman's kind face and gentle manner soothed her nerves a bit.

The Captain and Josef were conversing loudly over who was a better seaman, the Captain (who actually was a Captain), or Josef, who had only been promoted to Lieutenant-Commander.

"Boys, boys, boys!" Anna finally got them to quiet down. "Now is really not the time. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll introduce Maria to all the drunken idiots you invited."

"Are they really drunken idiots?" Maria asked nervously as they walked away from the quarreling men.

"No, they just were when they were in the Navy, so I consider it my duty to remind them about it as much as possible." Anna smiled.

"Oh," Maria said, hoping the Captain wasn't one of the drunken idiots she was talking about. Anna was growing on her. At first she had been afraid that she would be uncomfortable at the ball, because she didn't know anyone. But Anna was doing her best to make her feel at home.

"Oh Maria, you must meet my son Jakob. Jakob, come over here!" A young man who certainly didn't look seventeen walked over from where he had been chatting with some Navy men.

"But of course, Mother," he said as he approached. "And who is this lovely lady whom I absolutely must have the honor of meeting?"

"Maria Rainer," Maria said, smiling shyly at him.

"Jakob Weimer," he said, seizing her hand and kissing it. She smiled more widely. "Are you here with anyone?" he asked, looking around.

"Yes," she replied, noticing his disappointed look.

"Then I'll have to steal you away for a dance before he does," Jakob declared, looking utterly serious. Maria giggled. "Who are you here with, then?"

"Captain von Trapp."

"You mean the famous Georg von Trapp that my father can't seem to stop talking about?" he exclaimed. Maria noticed that he was still holding her hand, and she gently drew it away.

"The one and only," she said, grinning. He looked jealous.

"Isn't he a bit old for you?" he inquired, staring her up and down as if he couldn't believe anyone who looked so young could go to a ball with a 40-year-old man.

"We're not like that," Maria explained. "He just brought me as a friend."

"You look like a bit more than friends to me," Anna muttered.

"Oh ho, so you think they should get together," Jakob smirked, turning to his mother.

"I didn't say that, but…"

"But what? Hmm? You know you can trust your son."

"I just think they'd make a cute couple…"

"Excuse me?" Maria broke in, curious as to why Anna thought they'd make a cute couple.

"Well he couldn't exactly keep his eyes off you, now could he?" Anna raised her eyebrows at Maria.

"I can see why," Jakob said, now turning to Maria and examining her.

"And you looked so happy together," Anna continued. "Like you should be together for the rest of your lives."

"I'm afraid I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about," Maria said, half-turning away.

"I think you do," Anna taunted.

"I don't think so," Maria said in a sing-song voice.

"Maria?" The Captain's words from behind her caused her to realize why Jakob had been smiling.

"Hello Captain," he said, offering his hand. The Captain shook it.

"You've grown since the last time I saw you, Jakob," he stated, looking the boy up and down.

"I'm not twelve anymore, sir." Everyone laughed at this announcement.

"Still, you hardly look seventeen."

"I pride myself on it." Everyone laughed again. Maria got the impression that Jakob liked to make people laugh. To further validate her thoughts, the Captain said,

"You always have been quite the comedian."

"It's my unofficial job. It's so I can support the woman I marry," he declared, looking pointedly at Maria.

"Now don't you go stealing away my Maria," the Captain joked, putting his arm around her waist. Anna looked at them with a smirk and raised her eyebrows at Maria, who blushed.

"I'm not yours, Captain," she said, hoping Jakob and Anna wouldn't get the wrong impression.

"No, I think the children have already claimed you as their own."

Maria smiled at him. "They certainly have."

Jakob turned toward the ballroom doors, where a string quartet had started playing a lively waltz. "Care to join me, Maria?" he asked, extending his hand.

"Oh! I- well I-" She looked at the Captain for help.

"Go on, I won't hold it against you," he said, smiling. She beamed at him and slid her hand into Jakob's. He led her to the ballroom, talking gaily about nothing.

"You're a very lucky man to get a woman like her, Georg," Anna declared, staring after her son and Maria.

"What are you saying?" he asked, looking at her.

"Isn't it obvious? I think even Jakob noticed it. You're in love with her, and she with you," Anna said, happy that Georg could find love again after Agathe died.

"Who says I'm in love with her?" he laughed. Really, why would Maria ever be in love with him?

"I do. And it's painfully obvious, even from just seeing you together for a moment," Josef said, coming up from behind them. Georg spun around to face him with his hands on his hips.

"Why is it that everyone thinks I'm in love with Maria? Really, she's just a friend. And she's my employee. It would be entirely inappropriate," he said loudly. But it was true; even he knew he was in love with Maria. And she was more than a friend… at least he wanted her to be more than a friend. But would she accept him? Would she be ready to cross the line between friendship and romance? He couldn't help remembering that she had wanted to be a nun. Nuns couldn't love. But she had quit the novitiate. Why though? Because she was in love, and nuns couldn't love? Was she in love with him, like Anna said? He hoped she was. He knew he was in love with her, and she might be in love with him. There was only the slight problem of telling her his feelings….

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"Jakob, you really are too much," Maria laughed after Jakob had made another funny statement.

"I think you're too much, laughing at the slightest thing," he replied, looking at her with a smile.

"I do not!"

"Yes you do!"

"Okay well maybe I do, but it's only because I'm in a good mood."

"And why would that be? Because you're with me?"

"Don't think too highly of yourself."

"Would you mind if I cut in?" the Captain asked, coming up behind Jakob and tapping him on the shoulder.

"Yes, actually, I would mind, but I suppose you can have her for a few dances," Jakob said regretfully. "Until next time, Maria."

"I'll see you around, then," she said, smiling at him.

"See you around." Jakob left Maria and the Captain to their first dance of the night.

"You know, I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've danced with you," the Captain said after a few moments.

"No, we danced the Laendler together, remember?" Maria corrected him. How could he forget? She would remember that night for the rest of her life…

"That doesn't count, we never finished."

"Maybe they'll play it again tonight."

"Will you remember this time?"

"I think I might."

The rest of the dance passed in relative silence. As a new song started, another man cut in. The Captain didn't have a chance to dance with Maria for a few songs, so he entertained himself by talking with other Navy friends and dancing with their wives. He finally excused himself from a conversation with a fellow Captain and went to join Maria, who had been standing off to the side for a few seconds.

"No one to dance with?" he asked, walking over to her.

"Yes, that and I'm getting a bit tired. I don't suppose I'm used to dancing," she said, smiling at him. He noticed that the flush on her cheeks was very attractive…

"Would you care to dance with me?" he invited, holding out his hand and hoping very much that she would take it.

"I'd be delighted."

They danced a few dances together, and then the Weimer's butler announced that it was time for dinner. They joined the other couples in the formal dining room. The Captain and Maria had been placed by Josef, Anna, and Jakob, near the head of the table. Maria went to pull out her chair, but the Captain stopped her.

"Allow me," he said, pulling it out. She smiled at him and sat down while he pushed her in. "I don't suppose you've ever been to a fancy dinner before?"

"No, you don't get many fancy dinners when you're raised on a farm. I have a feeling that I'll mess up somehow," she sighed, looking around at all the finely dressed ladies and men. She felt uncomfortable. All of the Captain's naval friends were married, and so was he, even if his wife had passed away. She felt some obligation to let people know that they weren't a couple. Although that would be nice…

"You have impeccable manners, I'm sure you'll be wonderful," he assured her, taking his place next to her. She beamed at him and turned towards Jakob, who was sitting across from her.

"So Jakob, dance with anyone else tonight?" she asked.

"Yes, but nobody was as good as you." She laughed.

"Oh, I haven't danced in ages! I thought I'd be terrible!"

"I don't get the impression that you'd be terrible at anything, Maria," the Captain said, half jealous that she was talking to Jakob and not him.

"I don't suppose you've seen me cook, then." Everyone laughed, including Josef and Anna, who had been listening to the conversation.

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Dinner had passed, and now everyone was back on the dance floor. Maria and the Captain had danced a few songs together, much to the Captain's delight. Even though she said she hadn't danced since her father died when she was 10, Maria was still a wonderful dancer. The song they had been dancing to ended and the musicians started up a slow song. Maria looked around at all the other dancing couples and tried to imitate them.

"Just put your hands on my shoulders," the Captain instructed, putting both his hands around her waist.

"It just seems so impersonal. We're friends, right?"

"I would certainly hope so."

"So we can dance more personally, right?"

"I don't see why not."

"Then you wouldn't mind me doing this?" she speculated, and moved her arms from on his shoulders to around his neck.

"You know, it seems like you're about to kiss me," he stated. Her face was much to close to his for her own good.

"Would you like me to?" she teased. Actually she would like to kiss him very much.

"I wouldn't complain if you did," he said, staring at her intensely. She smiled and pecked him on the cheek.

"Happy?" she asked him, pulling away a bit.

"I suppose that's all I'm going to get…"

"You've certainly got that right." They danced in silence for a few more moments, until Maria said, "I'm really getting tired of this. Isn't there another way to dance a slow song?" Then her eyes lit up and she removed her hands.

"What are you doing?" Georg asked, then choked on his breath as he felt her arms encircle his chest. She nestled her head into his shoulder and sighed.

"Isn't that better?" she asked in a faint voice.

"Much."

Anna and Josef, who had been dancing next to the couple, smiled at each other. Then Anna mimicked Maria by putting her arms around Josef and hugging him tightly.

"I think I should be glad for them, instead of just relishing the way you feel in my arms," Josef said, holding her tightly to him.

"You can do both, can't you?" Anna asked, giving the happy couple one last glance before kissing her husband.

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I gave them a slow song! Are you happy now? Please review to tell me your opinion!