In everybody's life, and also in Georg's, plans are set, but are bound to be changed. It started with their confrontation.

There was fire on fire. Simply put, the lake confrontation was a disaster. They yelled at each other, both striving to win the argument. She challenged him over his silly parenting methods and he shouted at her about her disobedience and the breaking of his rules.

It was really embarrassing, everybody in villa heard them.

She was astonished how stubborn and pig-headed he was, and in turn, he was stunned by her boldness and fearlessness. After her tongue lashing about each of his children he fired her and furiously told her to pack her things.

Luckily the children saved them both.

Singing about the sound of music it gave him "the reality check" he needed. He not only gave her her job back but he remembered what he had missed over the last four years. It also helped Maria to understand and respect him better. It could not have been easy to lose firstly his Navy career, and then his beloved wife. It was no wonder he had lost his connection with the children and was coping in the only way he knew. But he was still able to accept that he was wrong.

Only a few people can accept that they are wrong which is probably one of the reasons why the Reverend Mother appreciated him so much, besides his bravery, of course. That only proved to Maria how much Georg immensely loved his children. He just didn't know how to show them. But accepting his defeat in favour of the children was enough proof for Maria.

After his apology, they made an unspoken truce, based on his love for children and the understanding that she truly cared for them. Both of them had forgotten what it was like to have a true home, and the children reminded them both.

Later that night two souls couldn't sleep. Laying in their empty beds both recounted the day's events, feeling restless under the effects of the adrenaline and the heavy words.

Her words were sharp like knives directly to his heart. No, he couldn't be angry with someone who cared for his children like none of the governesses had before, and that's why he was grateful to her. It was ironic that she fought for HIS children like a lionesses for her cubs. It was if she were their mother and that touched him deeply.

On the other hand he figured that he would need to recalculate his plans, more precisely, to postpone his marriage proposal until September. And there was still the problem with that attraction he felt for her, but like man driven only by logic he decided that his children were his first priority, and the affection for the governess would eventually go away. And with that resolution he sank into sleep.

Maria was restless; she somehow felt that she was in trouble. She sensed that she had somehow unlocked some spiral of unexpected fate.

Yes, today's events had been stressful, she hadn't expected another fight, but he had asked for it. Ha! He really had been stuck by her ability to retort quickly and argumentatively. Of course he didn't know that her skills were built by lonely years and having to rely only on herself. Long ago she had learned she didn't have anyone and had to fight for herself if she wanted to survive.

But she didn't feel restless because of the fight, in that moment she knew she was right when she decided to speak up for the children, well aware of the possibility she could lose her job.

Learning from their previous sparring match she had expected this, he was not a man who was used to acknowledging his mistakes. But like always she couldn't stop herself, and said what was truly in her heart.

In just two weeks she had somehow become attached to his children. She didn't want that, she had plans to finish her summer job and move on.

But, there was something else.

She didn't have interactions and experience with men, nor was she ever interested. It's not that she didn't have a chance, she had had some invitations during her studying at the Teachers' Progressive University, but they weren't appealing and that's why she thought being a nun was the right path.

Of course, she was a woman and she would notice a good-looking man, but that was just observation and nothing else. No, she figured that God works in mysterious ways and surely had a good sense of humour, or at least the Reverend Mother had.

Just when she had figured out her destiny, she was sent outside before her vows and once again to recalculate whether her decision was the right one.

But then.

Why?

Why, had she been sent to the most handsome, breathtaking man in all Austria?! She was not the type of woman who usually paid attention to men, but his good looks and piercing blue eyes were hard to ignore. It wasn't fair to send her to such a man and to still expect to keep her mind and soul in check.

Firstly, she was struck by his dashing appearance and his aura of strength, and secondly even more importantly for her, was his sharp intellect and challenging personality. Those characteristics made him even more manly in Maria's eyes. Yes, he pushed all her right buttons by challenging her and firing sarcastic comments. She suspected he was bored and enjoyed having a good opponent. She was much the same: she liked intellectual battles and being able to win them.

Anyway everything about him was such a terrible combination for her.

Then luckily for her, once he started speaking and his arrogant demeanor became obvious as he lectured her about discipline, decorum, quietness and rules, Maria felt relief; he ceased to be attractive any more in her eyes.

But then, after fighting and reconciling with children, she saw a glimpse of the real man behind his stoic mask and she knew she was in trouble, she would need new defense mechanisms. And with that resolution she sank into sleep.

So, with this chapter, the introduction to this story ends, and with the next chapters, "fasten your seatbelt" :D)