I have a bad conscience for not updating and therefore I give you another chapter. ) Please r&r.

Enjoy!

/Linda

Chapter 3

Standing before the Captain, soaked to the skin, after he had dismissed his children harshly, would make any young woman nervous. Maria wrung her hands and couldn't look the Captain completely in the eyes as he walked to stand right in front of her.

"I think I'll go see what Max is up to," Elsa graciously told them before leaving for the cool insides of the villa. The Captain didn't even look at her as she walked away; his eyes were fixed upon Maria. A thousand thoughts went through his head and he strongly disliked the ones about firing this amazing woman. Deciding to not let his stern façade fall he realised he only had one option.

"Is it just my imagination, or have my children been climbing trees today?" Maria looked at him and realised that he probably wasn't as upset about this ordeal as she thought. What was she doing being a coward at a time like this? The children needed her; but they needed their father more. It was her responsibility to make him see that as well. She defiantly looked into the Captains blue eyes, challenging him to show emotions.

"Yes Captain," she simply answered, making the Captains eyes sparkle with irritation.

"And what do you call these…" He held up Louisa's handkerchief that he had brutally taken from her head before she was sent inside with the other children.

"Play clothes. I made them from the drapes that used to hang in my bedroom. The children have been everywhere in them." The Captain was fuming now and Maria wondered if she was taking it a little too far but stood her ground none the less.

"Do you mean to tell me that my children have been roaming about Salzburg, dressed up in old drapes?" He was so angry he threw the handkerchief down onto the ground and started pacing.

"Mhm, and having a marvellous time."

"They have uniforms!"

"Straight jackets if you'll forgive me."

"I will not forgive you for that one fräulein."

"Children cannot do all the things they're supposed to if they have to worry about spoiling their precious clothes." Maria was now as mad as the Captain and unconsciously raised her voice until they were practically screaming at each other.

"I haven't heard them complaining about it."

"They wouldn't dare, they love you too much."

"I don't want to hear another word about this fräulein."

"I know you don't but you've got to!" That silenced the Captain enough to let Maria tell him about his children and that he didn't know them at all.

"That's enough fräulein!"

"I am not finished yet!"

"Oh yes you are Captain! Fräulein…" He couldn't believe he had shown such weakness as to actually call her Captain. Maria realized this as well, he could see it in her eyes as she smirked at him, and now he only had one choice.

"You will pack your bags immediately and return to the abbey. I can take care of my own family." Just as he had finished speaking he heard the unmistakable sound of children singing.

"What's that sound?" He asked a defeated Maria.

"It's singing." He looked at her and felt a pang of guilt in his heart at her sad demeanour.

"I realise that, but who is singing?"

"The children. I taught them something to sing for you and the Baroness when you returned." The face of the Captain turned wistful at the mention of his children singing and he mumbled something to himself before he walked inside, towards the children Maria assumed. She hoped he would do the right thing now and recognise them all as his family, not as a nuisance in his upper class life with the Baroness.

Feeling like having a big rock on her shoulders, Maria sat down a little to think about what to tell Reverend Mother when she returned. She hadn't even lasted for a full month! Was there nothing she was capable of doing? Feeling the goose bumps on her arms and a slight shiver running up her spine she decided that it was time for her to change into different, not to mention dry, clothes and pack her things before saying good bye to the children and leaving the lovely house forever.

Walking inside she could hear someone other than the children singing and, when she reached the room she heard the voice from, she realised it was the Captain. Had the ice around his heart finally melted? The children smiled and Maria guessed that the Captain did as well before they all hugged each other like one big happy family. Tears threatened to spill from Maria's eyes as she witnessed the happy moment between father and children. Gretl saw her and Maria motioned for her to give the Baroness the Edelweiss they had picked up on the mountain a couple of days ago. Even Elsa couldn't despise this display of affection and she gladly, although clumsily, picked the little five year old up to sit on her knee.

The children were now looking at Maria and she smiled at them, happy that they were going to be a family again but sad that she would not be a part of it. She had no reason to think like that but the children truly felt as if they were her own and the Captain… Well, let's just say she'd never met a man quite like him before. Curious as to what his children were looking at the Captain turned his head, only to find his cheeks blush at the look the governess gave him. She was still wet and he could see her lips were a little bit blue. Deciding quickly what he was about to do he excused himself from the group and went out to the retreating fräulein, carefully closing the door behind him. She hadn't made it up the stairs yet and he swiftly reached her and stopped her by putting his hand on her arm gently. She turned slowly towards him and yet his hand never left her arm.

"I'm sorry fräulein." Maria nearly started crying when she looked into his deep blue eyes that were now much clearer and free of anger.

"Oh no, I'm far too out spoken, it's one of my worst faults."

"It was exactly what I needed to hear. You are right, I don't know my children."

"There's still time. They love you so much." The Captain looked away from her, not able to look directly at her when she spoke like that. He didn't know why but the pace of his heart quickened when she spoke to him about love and about his family. He looked into her eyes again, eyes that were looking curiously at him. She had no grudge against him despite the fact that he had fired her not ten minutes ago.

Maria couldn't tear her eyes away from him, he attracted her in a way no one had before. Realizing this she felt her cheeks redden.

"Maria…" he whispered, making her knees nearly buckle.

"I want you to stay. No, I ask you to stay."

"If I can be of any help."

"You have already; more than you know." At the idea of getting to stay with them all Maria felt happiness like never before.

"Oh Captain! I could just kiss you!" Not thinking, she threw her arms around him and pecked him on the cheek before bouncing like a ten year old girl up the stairs making the Captain chuckle at her before he returned to his children.

Maria felt so light. The rock on her shoulders had vanished without a trace and she was truly happy to stay at the villa with the children. Maybe the nights wouldn't be so lonely from now on.