She ran about in the garden with the children, playing a game of tag that had proven to be much more difficult now that they they were older. She used to be so fast in comparison to the younger children, but even Gretl had been able to tag her a few times. She had to admit, time had certainly changed a few things when it came to how she could play with the children.
The fact that she was carrying a child made a difference too. She and Georg had decided to keep her pregnancy a secret for a while, just in case there were any difficulties, but she was making a point to be extremely careful with herself. Nobody seemed to notice much, for which she was grateful, but she knew they obviously wouldn't be able to hide it forever.
After he spent the night with her, when she had accepted her own love for him, their relationship had changed so much. She finally felt able to let go with him, and they felt as if they were finally a true couple. There was no more dancing around past insecurities or fears, it was only the present, and she couldn't have been more grateful.
She had come over for dinner, and somehow had managed to be roped into a game of tag while she was there as well. She didn't mind, as she loved spending any time she could with the children, but she felt sweaty, sticky, and completely exhausted by the time Georg had rescued her from the game. As the children all ran up to their respective bathrooms to bathe before bed, she smiled at the memory of the time they'd slept over at her apartment and all had to share one bathroom. When she lived at the villa she knew they were quite privileged, but she had been so in awe of everything that she took the lifestyle in stride. Coming back after years on her own, she vaguely wondered if any of them knew how incredibly lucky they were.
"Are you quite well Fraulein?" Max handed her a glass of water as she approached the table on the veranda, and she smiled as she graciously accepted the drink.
"Oh yes, thank you. Once I can breathe again, I'll be even better." He laughed as she tried to catch her breath, taking a drink of the water as she sat next to him at the table.
"I must say, it is quite refreshing to see you here." She smiled as they watched the sun beginning to set.
"It's wonderful to be back. I've missed everyone so much."
"Even me?"
"Of course. You're like a part of the furniture." He placed a hand to his chest, feigning possible offense.
"I daresay, a rug?"
"The liquor cabinet, naturally." He laughed excitedly, and she gave him a bright smile to show she was only joking. They had always gotten on nicely, even with the Baroness around. He had never treated her as if she were less than, just because she was the governess, and she had always appreciated that about him. He sighed, giving a final laugh before looking at her with a smile.
"You know, he hasn't been this happy in years." He was obviously talking about Georg, and she returned his smile.
"I believe I haven't either." She took a drink of her water, her body finally cooling down from the physical exertion. She sighed, wondering if she should ask the question that had been weighing on her mind, yet knowing she couldn't help herself. "Do you still talk to her often?"
"Elsa?" She nodded, not wanting to say her name for fear of somehow bringing her back into their lives. "Occasionally, but not like I used to. I often found myself having to choose sides between them during their engagement, and I'm afraid our relationship became strained. She was quite cruel to him in the end, you know."
"No, I didn't know that." She looked down to her hands that were folded in her lap, brow furrowed at the thought of anyone being consistently cruel to the one they loved…well, she supposed she answered her own question, they obviously weren't in love. "I'm glad you were there for him."
"I'm glad you returned to him. I do hope you'll stay?"
"Yes, I intend to. I've done enough running for a lifetime, I think." He gave a small laugh, turning his attention back to the sunset.
"We all need to run sometimes to preserve ourselves, my dear." She began to ask exactly what he meant by that, but Georg suddenly walked onto the veranda with a smile.
"Are you two behaving?" She smiled in response as Max took the opportunity to answer.
"No, I will never behave. She remains on the cusp." She laughed, giving him a nudge on the shoulder as Georg took a drink from her water glass.
"Shall we walk, darling?" He held out a hand to her, and she took it with no hesitation. Max waved them off as he stood to go inside, presumably to find a nightcap, as Georg led her down the walkway and toward the water, opening the gate for her. "Your skin is on fire."
"I haven't had so much exercise in a moment." She laughed, and he placed a kiss to the side of her head.
"Should you be doing such things in your condition?" She scoffed a bit, gripping his hand tighter as they walked.
"My condition." He met her eyes and she gave him a smile. "I promise I'm being careful."
"I know, I'm sorry. I just worry." She smiled in forgiveness, enjoying how caring he was with her. He had hardly been able to let her out of his sight since she shared the news of her pregnancy.
"Do you think the children will be angry? We're setting a terrible example." He chuckled, leading her further from the villa along the path.
"No, they won't be angry. And I think most of them are old enough to know these things happen." She looked at him incredulously.
"They aren't…when would they have learned anything about that?" He shrugged, not expecting her to question his attempt at easing her mind.
"I don't know, when did you learn about such things?"
"I grew up on a farm. I learned from seeing animals." He laughed, and she gave him a small shove. "Don't laugh, it's true."
"I believe you. I just expected that they perhaps held a course about it at the abbey." She laughed, enjoying his playful mood for the evening. She felt so happy when he was happy.
"No, the only thing I learned at the abbey was shame, shame, shame." He laughed at her condescending tone of voice.
"Shame for what?"
"Oh goodness, for everything. Shame on me for singing in the mountains, or having my own opinions, or for any form of indecent thoughts. Sex is bad, men are bad, my body is bad. Aspiring for more is bad."
"I must say, I feel all of those things are good." She smiled, giving him a flirtatious look when she met his eyes, as she watched him look her body up and down.
"Oh, stop." She gave him another shove, which he returned, causing her to laugh.
"I'm serious."
"All men like sex."
"It's not just sex, it's doing it with you." She felt a blush wash over her features, and she looked around to make certain they were truly alone. "Nobody is around for miles."
"We don't know that." He laughed, stopping their walk and looking around as well.
"I think we're very much alone. Which is good, because I feel you are still incredibly overheated and need some relief." She laughed, unsure what exactly he was up to.
"I am quite warm, but I have no idea what you plan to do about that." He took off his jacket, laying it upon a large rock on the edge of the water. She watched in surprise as he began taking off his tie and unbuttoning his shirt. "Georg, what on earth are you doing?"
"You've never swam naked?"
"What? Of course not." He folded his shirt and tie before he began unbuttoning his pants. "Stop it, someone will see."
"We've decided we're alone for miles." He kicked off his shoes and stepped out of his pants, tossing them to the growing pile of his clothes.
"No, you decided that." He quickly took off his socks, and suddenly he stood before her in nothing but his underwear, which he was beginning to push down his legs. "Georg, honestly."
"Do you need help with your dress?" She crossed her arms over her chest as he stood naked before her, his body glowing in the light of the moon. He looked absolutely perfect to her, his body fit and tan.
"I couldn't possibly. Look at yourself." He smiled and shrugged, moving to take her shoulders in his hands.
"I feel free." He smiled brightly before placing a kiss upon her lips. She felt nervous, looking around once more. He gave a short laugh. "You said you were taught that your body is shameful. Should I be ashamed of mine?"
"Of course not." She blushed a bit, wanting to tell him that he needed to be the opposite of ashamed. His body was perfect to her, the epitome of what she felt was the perfect man.
"That's how I feel about you. And I'm going to swim." He kissed her once more before walking toward the edge of the water and looking about for a good entry point. As she watched his naked body disappear from sight, she smiled at how uninhibited he was. Perhaps Max was right when he said he had never seen him happier.
She bit her lip and began undoing the buttons on her dress, looking around the entire time to be certain she wouldn't be seen. Her heart was racing, and she felt exhilarated at the thought of being completely naked in nature. Stepping out of her dress, she removed her shoes and stockings, beginning work on the buttons of her slip. She vaguely wondered what exactly they were going to do when it was time to dry off and go inside, but she was certain Georg had a plan, and she removed her bra and panties with haste.
She looked around for the millionth time as she rushed to the lake, the coolness of the water caressing her bare skin as she disappeared into it. Georg smiled as she eased out to him, reaching out a hand to her and pulling her near. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her against him, naked skin brushing together as the warm water covered them from the moonlight.
"I would say free is the proper feeling." He laughed, kissing her before meeting her eyes in excitement.
"My sweet, innocent Maria…"
"Oh, stop it." She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck as they floated about. She did feel free, amazing even, though that may have just been because she was in his arms. She always seemed to feel that way when he held her.
"I want to spend every moment with you for the rest of my life." He pressed his forehead against hers, and she smiled softly, his fingertips gently caressing her skin beneath the water.
"You don't find me exhausting?" He laughed, pulling her closer.
"The first time I met you, yes. Now I only see how much I love you." She laughed, brushing some hair from his forehead.
"I love you too, darling." She kissed him, her stomach fluttering as he deepened it immediately. She had never felt so free, so loved in her entire life. She felt there was nothing she couldn't do with him in her arms. He made her feel so many things she had never imagined she would feel. He dipped his tongue into her mouth, and she sighed as she met it with her own, their bare chests brushing against one another as the water rippled about.
"My God, what are you doing?" They jumped apart, looking to the surface to see Max upon the footpath, eyes wide in surprise. Maria gasped, quickly moving behind Georg in the water.
"Max…what are you doing?
"Gretl has a stomachache and asked me to retrieve Fraulein Maria. She says it's important for her to come." He stopped for a moment, looking about to be sure nobody else was around, as he appeared genuinely concerned. "Was I supposed to have been a chaperone?"
"No, we are not in need of one. We were simply cooling down with a swim." Georg began walking to the surface, but Maria stayed, hands covering her breasts, even though she was well covered by the water.
"Obviously." Max laughed, and Maria felt herself blush fiercely. He looked toward her. "Shall I tell her you'll be there as soon as you put your clothes back on?"
"What? No!" He laughed, and Georg gave him a shove as he walked past him to sort through their clothing, still bare to the world, but seeming completely comfortable in his own skin. Of course he was, he was Captain Von Trapp, she mused.
"I'm joking, my dear. I'll tell her you'll be there momentarily." He gave one last uncomfortable smile before rushing away, embarrassed but trying to play as if he were unshaken by what he had happened upon in the lake.
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She awoke to kisses being placed upon her neck, warm hands sliding up her stomach from behind to caress her breasts. A sigh escaped her lips as his erection pressed against her backside, their naked bodies finding no barrier between them in the early morning light. His teeth bit gently into her earlobe, and he groaned as she moved her hips against him beneath the sheets, applying pressure where he was dying for it.
She had spent the night with him, finding herself unable to leave his side after having gotten Gretl to sleep the night before. The love she felt for him was overwhelming, absolutely incredible, and she couldn't bear to take her eyes off him for a moment. All the years of heartache she had suffered were suddenly worth the unearthly feeling that was love. It was indescribable.
He reached between her legs, rubbing his fingers against her for a moment before rolling her hips toward him and burying himself inside her from behind. She sighed heavily, her center still slippery from the night before, let alone the magic his fingers were working against her body. Magic, that was the best word she could use to describe the things he did to her.
Lifting her leg a bit, he fell deeper into her, his lips never leaving her neck. She reached back to grasp his hip, pulling him harder to her as he thrust. Gasping into the morning air, it didn't take them long at all to find the edge of their feelings, for their bodies to begin shaking against one another. She turned her head to him, her lips aching for his kiss, and he immediately filled her mouth with his tongue as he spilled into her. His fingers moved quickly between her legs, and she shuddered against him, her body tensing and exploding within as he lost control of his own, twitching and convulsing against her.
He remained buried inside of her as they came down from their high, lips battling, even though neither of them could breathe. The pale light of the morning surrounded them, wrapping them in a haze. They were the only two people in the entire world for a moment.
"My back is going to break." They shared a small laugh as he pulled out and she rolled onto her back, stretching herself a bit. He placed another kiss upon her lips as he moved to hover over her.
"How did you sleep?"
"Beautifully." She kissed him again, running a hand through his hair. "It was most definitely a result of last night's swim."
"Most definitely." He chuckled, and she squinted her eyes at him.
"I'm still embarrassed. What Max must think of me."
"What about me?"
"He already knows about you." He laughed, and she rolled her eyes before placing a kiss upon his lips.
"He knows about you too, darling. Don't you think I needed to confide in someone after you came back into my life?" Eyes wide, she felt a bit unarmed. She hadn't expected that he told anyone about their reunion.
"No, really? Oh, he must think I'm incredibly easy." She brought her hands to her face, hoping that wasn't the case. Georg laughed, moving closer to place a kiss upon her lips, his hand moving over her stomach.
"Nobody in their right mind would think that about you." She smiled, accepting another kiss from him as she accepted his words. She supposed it didn't much matter what anyone else thought, they were in love.
She looked at the time and groaned. She would have to go home soon if she even had a chance of being on time to work. She wished she still worked for him sometimes, wished she didn't have to leave his side. The idea of leaving him to trek across town to make alterations in a dress shop all day was more than unappealing to her.
"I have to get up." She placed a gentle kiss upon his lips and moved from beneath him, rushing to the bathroom to avoid his seed running down her legs. It certainly wasn't the most comfortable part about making love, she thought.
"Call in sick today. We'll take the children to your mountain." He followed her to the door of the bathroom, smiling as she turned on the sink so he couldn't hear her.
"I can't, it's dishonest. Heaven forbid I'm not home, and Ann tries to bring me soup, or something." She finished in the bathroom and washed her hands, pushing open the door to find him waiting. She smiled, stepping forward to place her hands upon his bare chest. She couldn't believe how free she felt with him, never once thinking she should have been covering herself at all. "I wish I could."
"You can. Have you ever once called in?" She thought back to a couple times when she had, years ago when she was too stricken with grief to get out of bed. She shook her head at the memory, it was far in the past.
"It's been a couple years, actually."
"Then do it. Spend the day with me. You can go in tomorrow and suffer for your actions then." She laughed, thinking that sounded about right with the work that would pile up at her station.
"You really are a bad influence." She placed a kiss to his lips before walking over to his phone, hoping she remembered the number correctly. He smiled, gathering his robe to prepare for a shower as he listened to her speak to her boss. She never once lied, she simple asked for a sick day with no explanation. Very calculating, he thought with a smile. He grabbed an extra robe, hoping he could talk her into showering with him.
He couldn't believe how much they had both changed, how much they allowed themselves to open up to one another as their love grew and blossomed. Her love felt like the biggest blessing he could have ever asked for. An honor that he needed to cradle in his hands and cherish, hold it closely so it wouldn't break. He intended to do just that, intending to take her as his wife the moment he thought she would say yes.
After their shower, she slipped into his robe, which of course was far too big for her. They laughed a bit as she dried her hair with a towel, hoping it wouldn't look too messy once it fully dried. He gave her a spare toothbrush and allowed her the use of his products as well, and she smiled as she left the bathroom smelling solely of him. She felt completely enveloped in his love as she moved to find her clothes from the day before.
"Georg, my clothes are still wet. And a complete mess, look at this." She held up her wrinkled dress, a bit worried. It would be quite obvious that she stripped and tossed them upon the floor in a fit of passion. He tied his tie as he approached, wincing a bit at the sight of her dress. "Do you think Frau Schmidt would let me use the laundry room?"
"Would you think I was a crazy person if I told you your clothes are still in your old bedroom?" She quickly remembered Frau Schmidt mentioning it when she fled the villa the day after Liesl's wedding, but she had completely forgotten. Perhaps she hadn't wanted to dissect her feelings on the subject, burying it somewhere in her mind.
"No, I don't think you're crazy. But I do wonder why." She stood from her place on the floor, tossing her wrinkled dress upon a chair. He shrugged, appearing bashful as he slid into his jacket.
"I hoped you would come back one day, and they would be ready for you." She gave him a soft smile, not wanting him to feel embarrassed. It did seem odd that he would have kept her things, kept any kind of memory of her, when all she had wanted to do was erase him from her life completely. She had wanted nothing to do with memories of her time at the villa for a long while. She supposed their perspectives on things when she left were very different. "Why did you leave them, anyway?"
"I suppose I couldn't bear bringing anything with me that would remind me of you." He leaned forward and wrapped her in a tight embrace, her arms quickly pulling him close.
"They belong to you, just as I do." He kissed the top of her head, maintaining his hold upon her. She smiled against him, knowing his words were completely true.
