ISMKPG: ten

written by: jxnnyl

If there's one thing Georg Von Trapp can feel right now…

… it's the essence of déjà vu.

More than a week ago, he was running at these same steps… ranting to himself about the expensive clothes he bought days after that day.

Then he stopped to look where he was and admired the beautiful scenery.

The only difference here is… when he looked at the gazebo, there was a familiar figure standing- no… swaying inside.

Her eyes closed as she moved her body to an imaginary rhythm. One that made Georg just stand there and watch her.

Not to see her make a fool of herself- but to just admire the way she moved along with an imagination that simply astounded him.

For the past three days, Georg taught half-day to the children and let them rest on the other half. For three fun afternoons, Georg found his employer joining in the children's games and came shock when she didn't show any signs of exhaustion after minutes or hours of running around to chase the children, climbing trees to save a ball that eventually got stuck or chasing a ball that was thrown away too far.

In fact it justifies what Frederick told him last Saturday about her strength.

And energy… Georg added as he found himself slowly walking towards the gazebo, hearing an elegant tune that's coming out from her humming mouth.

Trying not to make a sound as he approached, he flinched when he heard a leaf crush at his step. Making the figure stop swaying as she quickly turned to look at him.

Maria caught her breath as she heard a soft crunch of the leaf, meaning someone's watching her.

Déjà vu… she thought as she remembered the times Dominik would watch her sway, or sometimes dance, around the gazebo.

Her eyes suddenly snapped open wide as she realized that the possibility of the person being her husband is zero because he's six feet below the ground.

Which still hurts everytime I think about it… she mused as she turned around to see a seemed to be petrified Georg Von Trapp.

His eyes fixed to her and he looks like a child caught stealing a cookie in the middle of the night.

His posture, which reminds her of the guards in Buckingham Palace, gave her an opportunity to admire his body physique.

Since he's wearing one of those long sleeved tight clothes again only to be partnered with track pants that actually doesn't look so bad after all… she thought as she caught a glimpse of some chest hair.

Blushing as she realized she's been staring for like minutes, she cleared her throat as she tried to look at him in the eye, "Good Morning, Mr. Von Trapp."

Feeling some sense of relief, Georg entered the gazebo as he nodded, "Good Morning, Ms. Rainier.."

Looking at him again, Maria tried to stop her prying eyes as she attempted to make a conversation, "Out here for some fresh air?"

Georg nodded again as he sat on the small bench inside, "Enjoying the view…"

Maria blinked as she felt heat rising from her neck to her ears and cheeks as she opened her mouth, about to ask 'What view?'

Georg, realizing what does his statement imply, quickly added, "... of the trees and the birds and everything.."

Closing her mouth, Maria felt some relief as she smiled. But deep inside she can't help but feel so foolish and… disappointed.

Do I want myself to be the enjoyable view? Get yourself together, Maria… what on earth are you thinking… she thought as she walked near the benches, looking at him as she blushed again, Did I really admire his body physique?

Georg, feeling a bit unprepared to her observing eyes, asked, "Why do you stare at me that way?"

Blinking again, Maria quickly thought of a certain reason to cover what she's been doing.

I can't just say that the hair on your chest intrigued me so much I can't help but to stare at it… she thought as she muttered:

"One would doubt that you're a teacher, Mr. Von Trapp."

Feeling a bit flattered than insulted, Georg muttered back, "I'm afraid one would doubt that you're a…"

Maria raised her eyebrows as she waited for his words, feeling a bit thrilled because he never gave her any compliment before.

Or any description about me that doesn't include any of the children… she thought.

Georg slowly looked at her up and down, mimicking the way she did to him when he first entered the Villa, as he tried to find a word to add on his clumsily made sentence that would not insult her in any way.

"... a what? Mr. Von Trapp?" Maria asked.

"..a… widow and mother of three… Ms. Rainier." Georg bluntly said as he looked at her surprised expression.

Clearly she's surprised.. he thought as he started to felt like losing his job once she showed an insulted face.

Luckily she didn't as she sat beside him, "Really?"

Feeling not to answer the question, Georg just looked around as he heard her asked, "Then what do I look like, Mr. Von Trapp?"

Forgetting to filter his mouth, Georg mumbled, "If we are to speak about these things… I wish we could talk using our first names."

Feeling surprised for the second time, Maria blinked her eyes, feeling her smile, and blush, grow as she mumbled back, "Then you may call me Maria, Georg."

Turning himself to her, Georg looked at Maria when he heard his name escaped her lips as he cleared his throat, "You don't want me to answer the previous question, Ms. Rainier… Maria.. right?"

"Well it interests me… what do I look like to the eyes of the man who… risks his job by arguing on his first day and breaking rules to make me realize my current life as a mother and…. a mother." Maria said as she looked anywhere but his eyes. Scolding herself for reacting so unlikely of herself when she heard him say her name.

For some reason it excites her so much.

Straightening himself, Georg cleared his throat again as he said, "I would tell you my… impression, Ms. Rai- Maria.. If you tell me yours."

"You're too fair…. Georg." Maria mumbled as she smiled, "You first."

"You started it…." he mumbled back as he slowly added, "...Maria."

Blushing to the way her name came out of his mouth, Maria chuckled, "Very well then.. incredibly curious are we?"

"As equally as you are." Georg nodded.

Giving him her most genuine smile, Maria let out a sigh as she mumbled, "You looked like one of those men in the army.."

Georg raised his eyebrows as he mumbled, "I prefer the navy."

Letting out an almost inaudible, 'oh… Maria looked at him, seeing some well-known emotions etched on his face as she quickly averted the topic, "Your turn."

"Huh?" Georg asked as he looked at Maria, blinking her eye as he straightened himself, "Ah yes…"

Still waiting, Maria began to tap her foot, one mannerism she managed to developed by watching cartoons with Martha for the past three days.

"You looked like…" Georg began as he remembered Martha's words nearly four days ago, "... that unruly governess in The Sound of Music."

Raising her eyebrows higher than she ever did before, Maria smiled as she mumbled, "Believe it or not.. before I got married, I almost decided to be a nun."

Sensing the, he thought to be, long gone curiosity in every vein in his body, Georg asked, "What made you stop?"

"My late husband's proposal and the news of my pregnancy." Maria bluntly said as she felt a pang of pain remembering the memories she tried to bury with her husband.

Clearly she have no idea why she said that.

And she have no idea why it became easier for her to say it straight without feeling too overly emotional to this person sitting right beside her.

Is it because she felt so comfortable around his presence that she felt herself ready to pour every single personal information she have? She barely know this person…

Yet I completely trust him around my own children… she thought as she remembered the eleven other teachers she entrusted around her children yet failed to keep that trust nor the children's company.

Remembering Elisabeth's words when they talked, she realized one thing:

He cared… she thought.

Hearing him say, "I'm sorry." brought her back to reality as she asked:

"What for?"

Looking at the woman sitting beside him, Georg saw an unfamiliar expression that shows her comfort as he realized that she's not that livid, emotional or anything.

In fact she looked so relaxed.

"For asking about something so personal." he muttered as he found himself getting used to her smile.

Her smile that gives him shivers down his spine as he found himself feeling hot despite the cold weather.

Shaking her head, Maria mumbled, "No need to apologize.. I'm completely… and surprisingly.. feeling a bit comfortable on talking about Dominik. Maybe because for once, or thrice, in five years.. I let myself around the children."

Nodding his head, Georg let out a sigh as he said, "I felt the same when I was around my other students. It seems like my background in the navy made them more interested on my life story than the lesson that should be taught."

"Why, if I may ask, did you became a teacher when you're from the navy?" Maria asked, feeling moreinterested about the man sitting beside him.

Looking at her, Georg let out a loud sigh as he spoke, "Let's just say I was a coward for not facing a certain situation properly so I left the navy. Unfortunately, my job at the navy was contracted and I left early so I have to pay a penalty. I quickly needed a job since my sister, who currently owns our family fortune, doesn't want to help me. I worked at a construction site but the money I got is not enough so I asked for a friend's help, eventually he said he can sneak me in to a secondary school if I at least finished a four year course. But I never got into college so I used my remaining money to get myself into a University and managed to get myself to night classes so I can still work and after four years of hell.. I became a teacher."

"How did you get into navy without going to college?" Maria asked, finding it interesting enough for her to turn her full attention to him, which he seemed don't mind.

"I entered naval academy just after I graduated high school. Then I went straight to the ocean after that. I was actually enjoying myself there… until an accident happened." he said, slowlu trailing of as he looked down and looked at Maria again, who seemed to be hooked to his story so he continued:

"Once a month, the captain would allow one visitor per person. I have a friend of mine- girlfriend.. and she went to visit me and her brother, who became a great friend of mine in the navy. I was giving them some time with each other, and as usual Warren will show his sister down the engines… when one of it overheated and explode. Warren died protecting his sister while Agathe… a part of the roof fell on her and she slowly drowned until she…"

Unable to continue, Georg felt warm hands on top of his as he looked at Maria's eyes for the first time since he started telling his story.

Feeling her sympathy as she used her hand to massage the back of his palm, he felt comfortable at her touch as gave her a sad smile.

"If I knew that's what happened then I shouldn't have asked.. I'm very sorry, Georg.." Maria said, trying to stop her other hand from cupping his cheeks but failed as she stroke his soft face.

Lifting his hand to hold the ones that surprisingly flew to his cheek, Georg mirrored her thumb's movement as he stroke her hand, "Like what you said earlier.. No need for apologies. It feels comfortable talking about it… Especially to someone who's not sitting on my class."

Their hands fell from his cheek beside their other hands as they continue to stare at each other.

No longer uncomfortable with the silence around them, both of them felt moving towards each other. As they're now inches apart from each other's faces, hands still holding down the bench as they just stare at each others eyes.

"Isn't it a bit early for the two of you to play 'stare'?"

Both Maria and Georg jolted back to reality as they sprung away from each other. Looking at the entrance of the gazebo as they saw a smirking Margaretta with a coffee mug on her hands.

"Good morning." she said, raising her mug before taking a sip on her coffee, "The children are waiting in the dinning room… it's already 7:45…"

Looking at her watch, Maria stood up as she straightened herself, "We lost track of time."

"I can imagine…" Margaretta smirked as she watched Georg straightened himself as well, "You two can resume that game later.. Frederick will start to chew his own hands if we don't get back there."

Maria and Georg chuckled as they left the gazebo, following behind Margaretta as they casually steal glances on each other when they thought the other wasn't looking.

Too bad Margaretta have eyes on her back.


"Okay Maria… just answer me straight." Margaretta said once she and her friend entered Maria's office, "Do I hear wedding bells? Am I to strut myself down the aisle again as a bridesmaids? maid of honor? Or anything?"

Shaking her head to Margaretta's poor adaptation of a 'strut walk', Maria sighed, "Where on earth did you get that?"

"The what?" Margaretta asked,

"The strutting? No- wait.. The wedding bells thingy? Don't be silly, Margaretta… I'm not getting married." Maria said sarcastically as she arranged the papers on her table.

Margaretta chuckled as she sat on the 'side chairs' as how Martha once called them, "Not getting married today, dear Maria… But who knows?"

"Me and I'm not. Not today.. not tomorrow… not soon-"

"-but maybe in the future." Margaretta finished as she quickly added, "You have to admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That you're smitten.." Margaretta sung as she laughed, "Now I felt like a mother-"

"-playing the old match maker tricks.. won't work to me anymore, Margaretta.. Professor Georg is my children's teacher and he's that. Period." Maria said as she straightened the papers and opened various drawers in search for a stapler.

"Oh but you've got to admit it. If I didn't show up at the gazebo you two must have shared that wonderful kiss." Margaretta smiled, "And who knows… maybe something more."

"You realized that I shared a lot of moments with Dominik at that place, didn't you?" Maria asked.

"So? It's been five years since Dominik passed, Maria… and I'm sure he won't mind if you found yourself a new husband and a new father figure for the children." Margaretta said as she unwrapped a caramel sweet from her pocket, "Love have second chances, Maria. It's not a sin to find yourself a second husband. It won't make you love Dominik any less."

Frowning as she sat down, Maria thought of what Georg said about himself back to he gazebo.

He lost a great friend and a girlfriend. His lost affected him so much that he left the navy. Leaving an unfinished contract left him with debt that he's paying by being a teacher.

Both of them lost a love one and-

Wait… Maria thought as she looked at Margaretta, Am I smitten to him?

Shaking her head, Maria sighed, "I am not smitten. And you're wrong… Georg and I are just playing 'stare'."

"Oh were you? Then I'm sure the match is… very close." Margaretta said as she stood up, "Well.. I'm off to somewhere. I'll try to window shop to find whatever I can give to everyone this Christmas."

With all of that said, she left Maria's office, leaving the woman behind the desk thinking.

Am I smitten?


A/N: an update! Thank you very much for the reviews! I'm incredibly thankful… so what do you think? Idk if it's too cheesy or anything.. I'll try my luck with these stuffs next time. I hoped you enjoy and I'll try to update again today! Thank you very much and please r&r!