Yeah so here's chapter three… tell me how you like it!

Ok, so the last chapter ended with a slow song, so this one will start with the end of the aforementioned slow song. They're not going to get together in the car; it will be at the ball, that's the whole purpose of there actually being a ball…. I hope you enjoy, and sorry for not getting this up sooner, that's what happens when you've got two stories in the works and a co-author who doesn't follow guidelines and gets a story taken off so you can't update!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Sound of Music. That would be 20th Century Fox (lucky them!)

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Maria had her head buried in the Captain's chest. "Captain?" she asked suddenly, lifting her head up to his.

"Yes?"

"Do you wear cologne?"

He had to chuckle at her question. "Yes, I do."

"Oh. I like it," Maria said, laying her head on his shoulder and sighing. The Captain smiled in contentment. At least she liked his cologne, even if she had grumbled about his taste in ties.

The song ended a few minutes later, and the dancing couples separated to a waltzing position. However, Maria and the Captain remained quite close. He couldn't keep himself from holding her closer than needed. Anna noticed this, and pointed it out to her husband.

"Look at them," she murmured, gesturing towards Maria and the Captain.

"I don't know if I've ever seen two people who aren't a couple so obviously in love," he whispered into her ear.

"What?" Anna giggled, looking up at Josef. He really could be confusing sometimes.

"I mean, look at them! They're not together -yet- but they're so obviously in love! Do you think we should try to get them together?"

"Of course! It should be fun!" Anna exclaimed, and went off to conspire with some of the other Navy wives.

OOOO

Maria and the Captain were dancing another, faster paced, song. The Captain was holding Maria much closer than before, and she noticed. However, she did nothing to move away. Instead, she relished in being near him. When the dance ended, the string quartet started playing a tango.

"Are they really playing a tango?" Maria asked, giggling.

"I believe so," the Captain said, remembering the last time he had danced a tango.

"Have you ever danced a tango?" Maria inquired, curious. She knew he had spent a lot of time in the Navy, so he surly must have gone to Spain.

"As a matter of fact, I have." The Captain had to add more after receiving Maria's questioning glance. "When my ship docked in Barcelona, the rest of the crew and I went to a bar, and… do you really want to know?" He was a little uncomfortable telling her about all the things he had done as a sailor.

"Are you telling her about the time we went to that bar with those Spanish sailors? Remember the look on Heinrich's face when-" Josef tried to say, but Anna stopped him.

"Spare her ears, Josef. No one in their right mind wants to hear about your little- uh- escapades from while you were in the Navy." Anna looked disapproving.

"What did you do?" Maria asked, her curiosity heightened.

"We tangoed," the Captain said simply, sparing her the details. Maria raised her eyebrows, not believing him. "Alright, so it was a bit more than tangoing, but-"

"I don't think I even want to know," Maria cut in, although she was quite interested to hear about his days in the Navy.

"You most certainly don't. Believe me; Josef and Georg were quite the troublemakers when they were sailors," Anna said, smiling slightly.

"What did you do?" Maria asked again, her interest aroused even more, looking from Josef to the man she was dancing with (the Captain). Even though she had said she didn't want to know; now she did.

"Things we would never dream of doing now," the Captain said, getting a far-off, regretful look in his eyes.

"Especially those of us who can do that anytime we want, at a higher quality than before," Josef said, grinning at his wife.

"Higher quality?" Anna inquired playfully, moving closer to him.

"Much," he replied, and bent down to kiss her.

Maria looked at the Captain again. "I don't think I know quite what you did," she said, pretending very well to be innocent and naïve.

"Oh, I don't know. I don't think I should tell you," the Captain said, not realizing that she was joking.

"Please? It would make me happy," Maria pouted, doing her best puppy-dog eyes. She knew the Captain could never resist Gretl when she did that, so why not her?

"Don't you do the puppy eyes on me, too," he warned, not sure whether to tell her or not. She might think badly of him, but then again she might think the whole thing was funny.

"Pleeeeeeeeeease?" Maria begged, coming even closer and looking nearly straight up at his face. Her eyes were starting to water.

"You really want to know?"

"Yes!"

"I did some bad things."

"I realized that, but what, exactly, did you do?"

"I tangoed."

"You already told me that."

"In bed."

"Oh," Maria said, realization dawning on her. Of course that was what she had thought, but she needed confirmation from the Captain before she could jump to any conclusions.

"But I would never dream of seeking that now," the Captain added hastily, catching the look on her face. She looked disapproving.

"What did Agathe think of that?" she asked, turning her eyes back to him.

"She wasn't exactly happy about it, but she accepted the fact that I was young, drunk, and under the influence of other sailors."

"Hmmm." Maria still wasn't happy with the idea of her beloved Sea Captain sleeping with someone other than his wife.

"Did you think any less of me?" he asked quietly, wanting to know her opinion of him.

"I think I had a premonition about it, I mean what sailor doesn't go out seeking enjoyment once in a while?"

"The sober ones."

"Are you telling me that you were inebriated?"

"I already did."

Maria giggled. "I think it would be funny to see you drunk."

"Have you ever been drunk?"

"How can you get drunk if you don't drink?"

"Sometimes you act drunk."

"The only thing I get drunk off is happiness."

"I wouldn't call that drunk."

"Then what would you call it?"

"High."

Maria giggled once again. Sure, she could be gregarious and hyper, but high? It was quite funny.

"What's so funny?" the Captain asked, staring deep into her eyes. He loved making her laugh, and was glad she didn't think badly of him for what he had done.

"You!" she exclaimed, grinning up at him.

"What's so funny about me?"

"I don't know… just the way you are. You make me laugh," she said simply, gazing at him with a look of adoration.

He liked the way she was looking at him. Maybe there was a bit of love in her eyes… but no, it couldn't be. She could never love someone like him.

A waltz began playing again and Maria and the Captain realized that they had been standing there the whole time.

"Well," she breathed, looking everywhere but him, "Finally they play something I know how to dance to."

"If you wanted, you could probably tango," he stated.

"I don't think so," she said, looking apprehensive.

"Come on, it's easy. Here, let me teach you. First, just step forward with your left foot. Good. Now pass your right foot over your left foot. No, to the side, like this. Yes, now you've got it. Now do the same thing with your left foot. Good! Step back with your-uh- right foot and cross your left in front and to the side again. See, you're doing it! Now step back on your right again, pass the left foot over and to the side, now pivot on your right foot. To the left, not right. Now put your right foot close to your left, and repeat."

The couple ended up doing the steps to the tango a few times, faster each time. Finally they had to stop when the steps got too fast for them. Maria broke down giggling and had to hide her face in the Captain's chest to compose herself. When she finally stopped laughing, she hugged the Captain tightly and then pulled away.

"I don't see what's so funny," he said, looking at her like she was crazy (which she most likely was).

"The fact that we were doing a tango while they were playing a waltz!" Maria exclaimed, and started laughing again.

The Captain walked away from her to the terrace so he could have room to breathe, leaving her all alone. But not for long, seeing as Jakob approached her moments later.

"May I have this dance?" he asked with a sweeping bow.

"I'd be delighted, young man," Maria replied, curtsying and giggling some more.

OOOO

The Captain stood on the terrace, lost in his thoughts. He could hear the waltz playing from inside the ballroom, could see the dancing couples, could see the grin on Maria's face as her partner spun her around, could hear her laugh as Jakob nearly tripped over his own feet. He remembered the way she had felt in his arms, the way her body shook when she laughed into his chest, the smell of her perfume when she was close to him, the way she tangoed… He reminisced about all the balls he had gone to with Agathe, and decided that he was having as good a time as he ever had, if not better.

His thoughts were interrupted when someone came out to join him.

"Thinking about Maria?" Josef asked from beside him, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Georg didn't reply, but by the look on his face and the way his eyes lit up whenever anyone mentioned Maria, he was. "It's not a crime to be in love with someone, Georg," he said softly.

"I don't want to ruin her reputation," the Captain growled, thoroughly annoyed that he couldn't tell her how he felt.

"It wouldn't be ruined, Georg. Everyone here knows how you feel about her, and they know you have honorable intentions."

"What about everyone else? What would they say? What would the children say? I know they love her, but…"

"Georg, just tell her, and everything will work itself out. I promise you that," Josef said, and joined his wife in the ballroom.

Georg was left with his thoughts about Maria. Damn propriety and damn awkwardness, he thought. Why couldn't the class barriers be crossed? Why couldn't he just tell her how he felt without risking humiliation? What if she didn't feel the same way? He didn't think he could cope with another heartbreak.

His thoughts were once again interrupted when the woman consuming them came out to join him. She didn't say a word, just stood beside him.

"It's a beautiful night," she declared after a few moments, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen between them.

"Yes, it is beautiful, isn't it?" he said, turning to look at her. He wasn't sure if he was talking about the night or her. She only smiled.

"Captain?" she said after a moment, turning towards him again.

"Yes?" he asked, looking at her. She gasped inaudibly. The way he was looking into her eyes was intoxicating. She felt like he could see right through her, see all the feelings she kept hidden inside, see how she felt about him, see how desperately she wanted him, how she wanted to be close to him again, to feel his lips on hers, his arms around her, his deep voice murmuring sweet nothings in her ear. She wanted Him. Just to be loved by him. Finally she came back to reality and realized that she had been staring into his eyes for a long time. She tried to remember what had been going on, unsuccessfully.

"Maria?" he said, looking at her concernedly. She shook herself out of her trance and tried to answer him.

"I-" she started, but was cut off by a voice from inside the ballroom.

"Attention ladies and drunken idiots!" Anna's voice rang through the room. Some of the women laughed, while the men scowled.

"Can I have your attention please!" she called again. Maria and the Captain looked at each other, then joined the rest of the guests in the ballroom.

"I would like to make an announcement!" Anna cried, making all the muttering stop.

"As you all know, tonight is New Year's Eve, and I would like to call your attention to the clock. There are only two minutes left until the New Year! So everyone pay attention to the time, and give your significant other the first kiss of the New Year!" Anna proclaimed, looking directly at Maria and Georg.

Maria was thinking. Thinking about how happy she would be if she could kiss the Captain next year. Well, she would be happy if she could kiss him, period.

The Captain's thoughts were along the same lines as Maria's, but he wanted more than to just kiss her. He wanted to hold her, to feel her heartbeat, to touch her in ways no man had ever touched her before and overall, to love her. He also wanted her to love him back. But that was obvious.

Everyone was talking amongst themselves, and Jakob was approaching the couple.

"Hello," he said cheerfully when he reached them.

"Hello Jakob," Maria replied with a smile. The Captain didn't say anything, just grumbled a "hmmgh" in response to Jakob's cheeriness. Georg could tell that the 17-year-old was flirting with Maria, and he didn't like it.

"I was wondering, Maria," he started, smiling at her. "Would you do me the honor of giving me the first kiss of the New Year?"

"Oh! Oh, Jakob, I-" she looked over to the Captain for help. He was giving Jakob a death glare.

"I know when I'm being refused," Jakob said, looking fearfully at the Captain and backing away to go talk to his parents.

"Yes, you were right Mother, the Captain is very overly protective of Maria," he whispered when he reached them.

"Told you," Anna said, looking pointedly at her husband.

"Hmmm," Josef said, and looked away. Anna only laughed.

Meanwhile, Maria was trying to engage the Captain in conversation. She didn't like it when he was silent and brooding, like he was now.

"So Captain, how-"

She was interrupted by Anna's loud voice once more.

"Okay everyone, there's twenty seconds left! Let's count down the seconds until the 1939!" she exclaimed, and started the counting. "Eighteen! Seventeen! Sixteen!"

Maria joyfully included her voice to the others that were counting down. "Fifteen! Fourteen! Come on Captain, count! Twelve! Eleven!"

"Ten," the Captain murmured.

"Nine!" everyone yelled in unison.

"Eight!"

"Seven!"

"Six!"

"Get ready, now!"

"Five!"

"Four!" Maria's sweet voice seemed to drown out all the others.

"Three! Come ON Captain!"

"Two." He let his voice be heard by Maria, and Maria alone.

"ONE!" A surge of energy ran through the crowd.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" everyone shouted at the same time.

Maria turned, grinning, to face the Captain.

"Happy new year, Cap- mph-"

He had made a last-minute (well second, really) decision to kiss her. Her lips were warm and soft under his, and he could feel her shock at his actions. He pulled away after a moment, not wanting her to get too freaked out.

"Happy new year, Fräulien," he said in a much lower octave than his usual voice. She was staring at him with a look of utter disbelief on her face. He backed away, giving her space, even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. He was turning around, all hope lost, when he heard her soft voice come from behind him

"Happy new year, Captain," she nearly whispered, a small smile gracing her features. He took this as an invitation, and came back to kiss her again.

Time seemed to stop for the couple. Maria felt like the happiest woman in the world as the man of her dreams kissed her. The world seemed to revolve around them, and she felt a strange swooping sensation in her stomach. The feelings she had kept hidden for so long were making their way to the surface, and as he kissed her, she realized that she was complete. Craving for more, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He groaned and put his arms around her waist, so that their bodies were pressed against each other, warm with the heat of their love.

Anna broke away from her kiss with Josef and gestured to Maria and Georg. "Look at them, together at last," she sighed. Josef was happy for his old Navy comrade, but he wasn't willing to let Anna go congratulate the couple just yet.

"Let them have a moment," he said, and grinned when he saw the reactions of the people around Georg and Maria. They were staring at the couple, mouths agape, but some of them looked genuinely happy for them.

Maria finally pulled away from the Captain. She couldn't tell whether her dizziness was due to his kiss or the lack of oxygen. She smiled at him and he gave her a small kiss on the forehead.

"I take it you didn't mind that," he murmured in her ear, just as she had imagined.

"Not at all," she breathed, getting shivers down her spine from his warm breath on her ear.

"Then you wouldn't mind if I told you that I was madly in love with you?" His eyes were searching hers desperately for an answer.

"I would mind if you didn't." She smiled and leaned up to kiss him again. "And I would also mind if I couldn't tell you that I love you, too."

His face brightened at her words and he leant down to capture her lips once more.

"I love you, Captain," she whispered when he pulled away.

"I love you too, Maria."

The couple shared another sweet kiss, but Maria pulled back when she heard the song the musicians had started playing. They smiled at each other.

"Do you think you'll remember it all this time?" he asked her playfully.

"I don't know… I don't suppose I'm used to dancing," she giggled, and they danced the Laendler all the way to the end this time.

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Well I thought it was fairly good at least, but I don't know what you guys think until you read it, so please do! And review of course!