Their eyes locked, both stunned by the sight of one another, each unsure of what they were supposed to say. She began to try speaking, but found no words, and stopped short. He apparently was doing the same, as he cleared his voice to speak about three times before finding something he felt was suitable.

"You look amazing, Fraulein." She blushed, never in her life imagining that the formality of a title could feel so personal. It always had felt like more of a pet name from him, though she was certain she was imagining that.

"You as well, Captain." She couldn't decide why her voice came out in a whisper, but it seemed to draw him closer. "I…um…Liesl had a tear in her dress. I stitched it."

"I'm sure she was quite thankful for your presence, then." She nodded, taking in the sight of him one last time before she knew she needed to take her seat. He looked so incredibly handsome, his dark suit complimenting his skin, his eyes. She could have easily stood there staring at him for an eternity.

"I should take my seat." He nodded and she gave him a small smile as she began to walk past him. Suddenly, his warm hand grasped her bare upper arm, sending jolts of electricity through her stomach, and she quickly met his eyes in surprise. He smelled perfect, so manly and strong. She could hardly breathe.

"I'd like to talk after the ceremony, if you're willing." She slowly nodded, suddenly feeling as if it were three years prior, when she would have done anything he asked.

"Yes." He nodded, holding onto her arm just a moment too long before releasing her. She could hardly take her eyes from his as she began to walk away, quickly returning to her seat for the ceremony to begin.

He couldn't stop himself from watching her walk away, her pale yellow dress hugging her curves in a way he never expected to see from her. He swore he saw her enter the church earlier, his heart nearly stopping at the idea, but he had quickly lost sight of her. He thought he was delusional, but it turned out, she was doing what she always did: finding herself in the middle of some kind of chaos. He smiled at the thought.

He had simply come to collect his daughter, hardly ready to give her away, but knowing he must do so. Her fiancé was a good man, one who would take great care of her and give her room to feel free, which was all he could ask for. He made her incredibly happy, so he wasn't going to question. He was so proud of everything his eldest had accomplished, and he could do nothing but wish her every joy and happiness.

His sweet Liesl…she came to him a few nights prior, when he was feeling vulnerable, and she had asked the truth about her former governess. He still wasn't sure why she asked, perhaps getting married somehow brought the woman to the forefront of her mind. The other children had lost a governess and, dare he say it, a mother figure when she left. Liesl had lost all of that, and she had lost her best friend. His heart broke at the thought.

So, when she had suggested that her former governess was a coward for leaving them, he had to set the record straight once and for all. He had a feeling she would go to Maria once she knew, and maybe he had wanted her to, he wasn't sure. What he didn't realize was that she would be invited and actually show her face at the wedding. It took a lot of courage on her part to show up to a wedding where the family giving away the bride had been seething in anger toward her for years. But Maria was always a walking contradiction, he mused.

She looked absolutely ravishing. Her hair was just a bit longer, the bags he remembered well were gone beneath her eyes, and she looked as if she had put on just a bit of weight, all in the right places, of course. She suddenly had some curves, her dress clinging to her perfectly. He vaguely wondered how much thought she gave to seeing him as she readied herself for the wedding. Rolling his eyes at his own arrogance, he knocked on the door and alerted the girls to his presence, as well as the time.

The wedding itself was a blur. He wanted nothing more than to be present, but all he could do was look for her. He was so afraid she would leave before he got the chance to talk to her, to make her understand how many decisions he regretted in his life. He had chosen Elsa over her because he thought it was the right thing to do, plain and simple, and not a day went by that he didn't remember that moment and wish he had made a different choice.

Suddenly, their eyes met. She was in the back of the church, near the exit for an easy escape, he supposed. A beam of light filtered in through the stained glass windows, illuminating her in the crowd, as if God we're showing him an angel. She was painfully beautiful, and he had to stop himself from simply standing in the middle of the ceremony and going to her. She gave him a soft smile, gentle across the crowd of people, and he returned it. No, she wouldn't leave. She wanted to see him just as much as he wanted to see her.

It felt like hours before he finally was relieved of his duties, after the family photographs were taken and his daughter gave him permission to relax. He immediately scanned the room, hoping she hadn't grown impatient waiting for him, but she was nowhere in sight. He panicked as he walked through the church, checking empty rooms for a hint of that yellow dress, but she had gone. Perhaps he had been wrong about the look they shared during the ceremony, perhaps she didn't want to see him after all.

He sighed as he stepped out of the church and onto the sidewalk, closing his eyes and enjoying the fresh air of the day. It was a beautiful day for a wedding, he had to admit. If he hadn't been so tied up in his own mind, he may have noticed it for what it was, taken in the scent of some nearby flowers. Suddenly, he heard someone clear their voice, and he knew it was her. She was unmistakable.

"You waited?" He opened his eyes, smiling as he found her sitting upon a little bench, apparently having waited quite a while. The smile she returned was nervous, but present.

"Against my better judgement, I'm sure." He chuckled, moving closer to her.

"May I?" He gestured to the empty seat next to her, and she nodded her permission. "I can't believe I'm seeing you right now. It feels rather strange, doesn't it?"

"Yes. Almost like a whole lifetime has passed." He nodded, looking up only for a moment as a car passed them quickly on the street.

"You're not a nun, I see." She raised her eyebrows in question. As if he really ever thought she would become a nun.

"Obviously, I wasn't cut out for that."

"You would have certainly kept everyone on their toes." She rolled her eyes, knowing he was simply trying to break the tension. There was such tension, her stomach was in knots. "What have you been doing these past years?"

"I work in a dress shop, and I have a cat. You?" She met his eyes, letting him know that she would not be taken in so easily. He nodded, taken aback by her fully guarded demeanor. He supposed she always had been a bit guarded, but never so much with him. She was frightened.

"I feel there are so many things I need to say…"

"You're going to say all of them now? It's hardly the time for that." He smiled, and she took a deep breath, looking to the ground.

"May I start with telling you I'm sorry?"

"If you think it will make a difference."

"I've missed you." Her gaze snapped to meet his, and she couldn't believe the honesty flowing from his lips. It wasn't the conversation she expected at all.

"Missed me? I've only been in Salzburg. You could have easily found me, Liesl did." He nodded, and she narrowed her eyes for a moment, ready to challenge anything he could have responded with. But she only sighed, shaking her head. "I've moved on, Captain. I only came today because it seemed important to Liesl."

"You haven't moved on any more than the rest of us." She crossed her arms over her chest, looking out over the road as cars continued to pass them. She could feel his eyes upon her, observing her, and she felt a bit bare in front of him.

"Then what do you suggest we do about that?" He shrugged, shifting a bit against the uncomfortable bench.

"Perhaps you would like to come to the reception? It's at the villa."

"No, that would be idiotic of me."

"Why?"

"There are a lot of memories there…and a lot of children who despise me." She looked to him, once again meeting his eyes. He felt to blame, knowing he was the reason she left. He was the reason the children harbored anger toward her.

"I can talk to them with you."

"Why?"

"Because…well, I don't know, I want you back in our lives." She frowned, unsure where his head was at the moment. Didn't he remember the same things she did?

"I'm happy…"

"Please…"

"Well, aren't you?"

"Happy?" She nodded, doing her best to appear confident. There were so many things she wanted to say, yet she knew she couldn't. It didn't feel right. Nothing felt right. "I'm miserable, these days."

"Yes, I heard that the Baroness went her own way. I'm sorry to hear it." He stopped himself from rolling his eyes at the kindness in her voice. He had perhaps forgotten how genuinely kind she was, or maybe he didn't feel she should have any kindness toward him at all.

"Yes, but that's not why. I've been dying on the inside, wishing I had done so many things differently."

"We can't live in regret, Captain."

"Please call me by name."

"No, I prefer your title, if it's all the same." He nodded, longing to hear his name roll off her tongue. "Listen, it's been nice to see everyone today, but I…"

"Come to the reception. Please?" She sighed, shaking her head.

"The truth is, if I go back there, and I start remembering…it's been a difficult three years, you know." He did know, and he could only imagine what she had been up to in that time.

"The children would love a moment with you."

"The children blame me for abandoning them."

"But it wasn't like that." She looked into his eyes, feeling defeated.

"You and I know that."

"I'm so sorry." He took her hand in his, and she did her best not to tense at the contact. His hand felt warm, safe, and it confused her. She wanted so badly to hate him. "I made so many mistakes with you, all for foolish reasons. I want to make things up to you by helping restore your relationship with the children."

"We can't tell them the truth now, they'll be angry with you too." He shook his head, not at all afraid of that. He needed to right a wrong from so long ago.

"We'll make due." She squeezed his hand in hers, his words feeling genuine, and sounding quite appealing. The idea of being able to spend time with the children again, getting to know them and being a part of their lives, it was all such a beautiful thought.

"Georg, there you are. I'm taking the children back to…Fraulein Maria?" She smiled at the sight of Max as he rushed over to shake her hand. "Young lady, you look lovely. How have you been?"

"Quite well, Herr Detweiler. How are you?"

"Ready to get these bickering children back to the villa. I don't seem to be as good of a governess as you, I'm afraid." She gave a small laugh, humoring him. "We simply must catch up. You're coming too, yes?"

"Oh, I don't think so, I've just…" Georg interrupted, smiling as he stood and took her hand.

"Yes, she'll ride with me. We have to stop by her apartment to feed her cat, and then we'll be there." Eyebrows raised, she wanted to argue, wanted to remind him that she didn't feel comfortable going…but they both knew she desperately wanted to, needing to mend a bridge that had been burned long ago. Max agreed and left with a farewell, and she looked into Georg's eyes.

"I really do need to feed my cat." He began walking her toward the parking area, never once letting go of her hand.

"Perfect, where do you live?"