A/N: Hello! Welcome to my new work. For those of you who have read Fire on Fire, I am still in the process of finishing up the final chapters for that story, but this work has been something I've been working with on the side for a while.

The premise is far overdone, but I've always been in love with the idea of what happened in the gaps between scenes. I'm equally as intrigued by what the characters might have been thinking in those moments. In both cases, we can infer some details from the scenes we were shown, but as many of you, I wish we had more. I want to know all the little moments that made Georg and Maria fall in love.

Thus, this story was born. I know several authors have taken on the journey of showing the little glimpses of our favourite couple falling in love, and they've each done a marvelous job. I just thought I'd share my thoughts! Besides, there will be several twists and turns, and while the beginning follows the canon storyline, that will not necessarily always be the case ;)

A lot of inspiration and lyrical references in this story comes from Taylor Swift's evermore, amongst her other work. Namely, the title and a lot of the themes were inspired by the song ivy. This would be good spot to put a disclaimer: I do not own anything in relation to The Sound of Music nor the lyrical genius of Taylor Swift.

Please bear with me through the first few chapters. I'm sure they will be a tad bit redundant, but I truly hope you enjoy this take on how Georg and Maria fall in love!


how's one to know?

i'd meet you where the spirit meets the bones

in a faith forgotten land


Maria only had one path for her life – to devote herself to God.

It was the only thing she wanted out of her life. It was all she could ever remember wanting so desperately. She was certain that devoting her life to God and His service was exactly what she was meant to do.

So why was she being sent away?

She knew that she wasn't always punctual, and she knew she had a nasty habit of wandering off, but how could she help herself? It wasn't her fault that God had blessed the world in such beautiful colours. She simply wanted to appreciate His work.

She let her head hung. Of course, when she took her vows she wouldn't be afforded the luxury to experience His world so freely. In truth, she didn't really have the luxury now, and yet, she found her ways.

Which is exactly how she ended up packing her few belongings in her postulant's chambers.

She frowned at her bag as she absently placed a hairbrush in it. She could understand how the Reverend Mother would think some time outside of the Abbey walls might be beneficial, but Maria couldn't help but feel like she was being punished.

No, she told herself firmly, not a punishment. An opportunity.

If she thought about this endeavour as anything but an opportunity, well, surely, she'd never make it through. She would be able to experience new things before she took her vows – before she lived the rest of her life within those four walls of the Abbey.

It is His will, she mused, otherwise you would not be going.

She had to smile to herself at that. Yes, it had to be His will for her to leave, to embark on this journey so that she would be ready to take her vows when she returned – so that she would be sure.

This made her frown again. Of course, she was sure. Devoting her life to His will had been the only thing in her life that she had ever been sure about. She had to be sure. Why would she even question it?

She shook the thought away, instead focusing on her new task at hand. As soon as she finished packing her bag, she would be headed off to the von Trapp residence to report for her assignment. She couldn't deny that the thought left her a little nervous.

Seven children.

She adored children, that much was true. She often volunteered to go to the local orphanage with Sister Margaretta to read to the children there, and it was often the highlight of her week. However, reading to a group of children for an hour every other week and caring for seven children all day, every day, was significantly different.

She inhaled shakily as she zipped up her bag. All would be fine, she told herself. It had to be. What could possibly go wrong?

Donning her hat, Maria took one last look around the chambers she had spent the past three years in. There was a tug at her heart. It felt very much like she was saying goodbye forever.

Don't be silly, she chastised herself, it's only for the summer, and in September, you'll find yourself right back here, where you belong.

She nodded to herself, affirming that belief deep in her mind. Before she had time to doubt herself, she walked out of the room, refusing to feel the loss that panged at her heart.

She walked down the hall, making her way towards the back exit of the Abbey. She let her eyes wander over the walls, the stone floor, the cross above the exit. She took in all of these details, savouring them in her memory. She made her way out the door, inhaling the sweet scent of the late spring morning.

Though she had been outside only a few hours prior, the crisp scent of the outdoors never failed to be the shock to her system that she needed to feel invigorated with life. She walked through the courtyard, her eyes scanning the flowers she had planted months ago. They were in full bloom now.

Taking her time to appreciate the place she had called home for the last few years, Maria eventually made her way to the gate. With a gulp, she slowly opened the iron frame, slipping through quietly. She heard the clang as the gate shut behind her. She paused only for a moment. For once, she was leaving the Abbey walls, not in a rebellious act that would be frowned upon by several of the sisters, but on the orders of the Reverend Mother. She was free to leave, free to look upon the world with wonderment, free to throw her hands up in the air and sing her heart out if she so cared to do, and yet, she had never felt more restrained.

She didn't let herself think further on it. She took a step, and then another. With each step, she resolved that she was going to make this work.

A captain with seven children, what's so fearsome about that?

She wouldn't allow herself to feel blue, not when the sunshine was beaming down on her skin so radiantly. No, she wouldn't feel sorry for herself. She couldn't feel sorry for herself. This was yet another task from God, a task in His service, and she would serve it proudly. She would go to the von Trapp residence with an open mind and an open heart and she would be the best governess that she could be to those children.

Her heart lifted in song, as it often did when she felt so full of so many thoughts and feelings. She would be confident; she would be everything that they needed her to be. She would take this task gladly, and she would give it her all, and at the summer, she would take her vows happily, if that was His will.

She let herself sing any anxieties away along the journey. By the time she had stumbled across the address, she was filled with purpose and confidence to complete her task. She was ready to face God's will with all the enthusiasm she could muster.

It was only when she saw the enormous residence through the iron barred gate that she let the doubts flood her mind once again. She only allowed herself a moment before she swallowed the doubts entirely. She could do this.

I have confidence in confidence alone!

That was all it took for her feet to take her up the driveway of the von Trapp residence and to the grand door. She rang the doorbell before slumping against the side of the building, winded from the run up the property.

She found that she didn't have to wait long before a man opened the door. She beamed at him, extending a hand as she introduced herself. His bewildered look didn't deter her one bit. It was only when he announced that he was the butler that she faltered slightly. No matter, she told herself before asking the man how do you do?

His lack of answer put her off a bit, but she followed him eagerly into the home all the same, ready for the adventure that awaited her.

If she had been intimidated by the exterior of the house, she was mortified by the interior. It had to be the grandest room she had ever stepped foot in. Vaguely she was aware that this was only the foyer and that there were probably dozens of room that were far grander. The thought petrified her.

She briefly heard the butler tell her to wait before he walked off down a corridor, but she had barely registered the words. There were too many places to look. Her eyes felt overwhelmed by the grand staircase, the great big white columns, the marble floor, the rows of corridors and doors as she looked down the foyer. It was beautiful.

She set her bag and guitar case down, her eyes falling upon the door nearest to her. Something about it called right out to her. Her steps echoed across the marble as she made her way to grasp the door handle. She didn't feel the tug of guilt she ought to as she opened the door, especially when she looked into the room.

She felt her lips part as she stepped further into the room. Now this was surely the grandest room she had ever been in. It was gorgeous. Surely, it was a ballroom. She had never been in one so grand, but it was what she imagined when she read about ballrooms in books.

She wouldn't be able to recall what made her do it. Perhaps it was simply the enchanting aura of the room, but she found herself bowing to an invisible partner. She turned, bowing again, losing herself to a fantasy when a loud bang sounded.

She stood ramrod straight, her eyes falling upon an imposing figure standing in the doorway.

Captain von Trapp.