I sadly still don't own anything connected to SOM.

OMG! So sorry I didn't get this up sooner. First I went to London to see dis at the London Palladium, then my great uncle deid and then I got sick. So, soz ma fanz. Here it is now anyhow, the last chapter. Hope you like.

I Need Your Help

Maria ran into her room and through herself down on her bed, finally letting go of her tears. She buried her face in her pillow, not even trying to conceal her greave. Amy was dying. As this realisation sank in, she went from greave to anger in the blink of an eye. How could god do this to her? First he takes away her parents. Amy and she are then sent into their drunken uncle's care. He was violent and abusive. Now he is going to take Amy.

Amy was her idol, her rock, the one person she had never been afraid to show-or tell-her feelings to. She felt sick just thinking about what was going to happen to her. Amy was two years her senior and had always tried to protect her from Uncle Samson. She had taken most of the beatings that were meant for her, and all the abuse.

And what would become of little Joshua? He was a rich man's bastard and therefore not worth anyone's time. His father had convinced Amy that he was in love with her, but he was only using her to get back at an unfaithful wife. When he had found out that Amy was pregnant he had through her out of his home, and left her to die. She had found shelter in the local abbey and had stayed there until Joshua was born.

But what would happen now? She could hardly go back to the abbey now, could she? She would have to get a permanent job. But what could she do? Where would she live? She would have to ask the Captain for his assistance, without letting him know about Joshua's birth. If he new that? He would surly turn his back on her.

There was a knock on her door and, as if conjured by magic, the Captain stepped into her room. Maria still had her face in her pillow and didn't see who it was, that is, until he spoke.

"Maria." He said in a concerned and gentle voice, laying down the box and placing his hand on her, still shaking, shoulder. "Maria, I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. Is there anything that we….I can do to help?" He said this in such a way that almost made her believed that he cared. But that wasn't possible. Why would he care about the well-being of his children's governess?

His touch sent sparks shooting through her system. At his touch she felt helpless, weak, scared and very aware of his nearness. She loved him from the very bottom of her heart, with all her sole. Even though it would half kill her to leave him and his children, she knew she must. She had Joshua to think about and he must take first priority. She couldn't take care of him here, she had to leave and find a place of her own.

The Captain had now taken her fully in his arms and held her close, letting her cry her heart out. She let her head rest on his shoulder and buried her face in his shirt. When her tears had sub-sided he held her away from him, and she found herself looking into his deep warm blue/grey eyes. They were filled with comfort, concern and something else, something she couldn't name, or didn't dare name. Then he did something that she will never forget, and cherish till her dying day.

He touched his lips to her cheek to remove the remains of her tears; then, kissed his way down her cheek bone captured her lips in a gentle but searing kiss. She clung to him as the kiss deepened, blood pounding in her ears, pounding so hard and fast, she felt sure he could feel it. What was she doing? This couldn't be happening, not now? Not now that she had to leave. She had Joshua to think about. This is wrong, but, oh it felt so right. No, this is wrong.

She broke the contact with a gasp, pulled out of his arms and backed away from the bed. "We can't." She said, shaking her head. "This is wrong. For one thing, the baroness won't be happy if this got…"

"Maria." He said gently, but she ignored him and continued.

"And another thing, I will not have your children or Joshua for that matter, hurt."

"Maria." He tried again in vain to gain her attention.

"I will not let you use me as someone to gain some sort of realise or…or…or revenge or..."

He had heard enough. "Maria!" He shouted, the only way he could think of to quieten her. She looked at him in shock, and thankfully ceased her lecture. He stood up and walked over to stand in front of her.

"Good, now that your lips have stopped long enough for me to get a word in." He said with a smile on his own lips that made her stomach flip with need. "I'm sorry I took advantage of your vulnerable state, but you're so damned beautiful, and I'm not sorry for doing something I've wanted to do ever since I met you." He took a deep, calming breath and ran one of his hands through his hear. "Now, why didn't you say you had siblings?"

"Well, you never asked." She came back; he opened his mouth and shut it again, stumped.

"Anyway, talking about her brings back memories that I would rather forget." She said with a tremor in her voice. She moved away from him and walked to stand in front of the window. She looked unseeing out towards the lake with her back to him.

"My childhood was not the happiest after my parents died. Amy and I were sent to live in the mountains with an estranged uncle. He was a drunk and frequently abused us. Amy, being the oldest by two years, tried to protect me, shield me if you like, and as a consequence was half killed. One night he returned from the village early. He found me trying to fix a vase I broke. Thankfully a villager was walking by, he herd our cries and came in and knocked my uncle out cold. We grabbed our things and bolted, each running in different directions. We haven't seen each other since then. We only started talking last year when my uncle was caught by the police, it turned out he was wanted for the murder of several people. He'll be in jail the rest of his life, and Amy and I are free."

While she had been talking the Captain had come to stand behind her. He now placed his hands on her shoulders. "Is there anything I can do to help you through this difficult time Maria?" He asked softly.

"Help me find a permanent position and a place to live and you will have my undying gratitude."

"That is the one thing I will not do. Like I said last night, I cannot and will not let you leave."

"But..."

"I love you Maria." He whispered in her ear. "And if you think I am going to sit back and let you walk out of my life-out of the children's lives-you are sadly mistaken."

"I can't stay here..." His lips on her neck stopped her from continuing.

"Maria, we'll bring him up together." He said, his lips mere millimetres from her heated skin. He sensed she was about to protest again. "I don't care what his story is or weather or not he's Austrian; all I need to know is that he was given into your protection and that you need help, which you do. He can grow up with older, and younger, brothers and sisters; and a father that is hopelessly in love with his aunt/mother. Will you marry me and be the mother to my children Maria?"

She turned around to face him, looked into his eyes and saw love glittering from their depths. "But...but what about the B...Baroness?" She stammered, when she was finally able to form a response.

"She and I are no more. Answer my question Maria." He murmured, his lips caressing the skin under her ear.

"Do you really love me?" She asked, in her confusion. He growled and took possession of her lips once more in a fierce but utterly loving kiss, a kiss that told her all she needed to know. "Then I will marry you. I love you too." She said against his lips. The promise was sealed with a passionate yet brief kiss, which ended far too soon for Maria's liking.

"Come, we have much to announce." With that he led her out of the door and towards her new life.

Love to Know what you think, so R&R k.