Disclaimer: I woke up this morning realizing that I still don't own The Sound Of Music.. But than again, what the heck :P I'm queen of the universe, so i'll just make them mine. So here by I claim The Sound Of Music as my own D Hope you can all live with that ?

Authors Note: First of all, thank you Linda, who made this chapter and the other 2 possible.

And I also wanted to thank all of you for your kind and supportive reviews :P I'll reward you with chapter 3. I know it's very short, but i've already started writing on chapter 4, so please forgive me.

Chapter 3: uncomfortable

'No!' was her final thought. She didn't want this... She couldn't want this. She blinked a few times and lost eye contact with him, then she composed herself and moved away from his hand. A bit confused about what had happened she stood up and backed a few feet away from the couch, where she bumped into the desk and quickly found support there.

Feeling that the mood had changed drastically, the Captain had gotten up too but didn't move. He was merely studying Maria's face. Her whole being had changed. Instead of looking like the confident and independent woman he had come to know, she now looked fragile and afraid.

At a loss for words he just stood there. For the second time that night he had felt... He didn't know what he'd felt; but whatever it was, it had to stop. He knew he cared a lot for Maria. She was, after all, his children's governess. And above all things, she was responsible for bringing joy, laughter and music back into his life… Into his children's life... Their life.

So yes, he treasured his friendship with her, it really meant a great deal to him; but to risk all that for some fleeting feeling? That was absurd, not to mention ridiculous.

"Georg, darling?" suddenly came a voice from the hallway just outside the door, pulling the Captain out of his reverie. There was one knock and the door swung open, revealing a bewildered, but still gorgeous looking, Elsa Schräder.

"I was worrying sick, darling. All the guests are..." She stopped mid sentence at the sight in front of her. The smile on her face faded and a feeling of jealousy washed over her. She had only thought to find Georg here, but she now found, as the door had fully revealed the room in front of her, that another person was standing just across the room from him.

Maria froze at the sight of the Baroness, feeling her insides turning cold when the Baroness's eyes got a hold of hers. Panic washed over her and she prayed that her eyes didn't give away too much emotions as the Baroness was closely penetrating hers, almost as though she was reading Maria's every single thought.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," came her, now ice cold, voice again, after finally settling her eyes on Georg. She studied his profile and, while awaiting his reply, she let go of the door and crossed her arms in front of her.

"Not at all, darling," came the confident words of the Captain, as he gave Elsa a small smile. "Fräulein Maria and I were only discussing some urgent business."

Maria jumped a little at the sound of the Captains voice. For a moment she had forgotten that he was still present in the room with her. As she vaguely heard the Baroness asking the Captain why it couldn't have waited until tomorrow, she found that she was loosing herself in deep thought again. Feeling like an intruder to this conversation between the Captain and the Baroness she did nothing except for staring at the carpeted floor in front of her. She felt a shudder running down her spine merely at the thought of what could have happen if the Baroness had ran into the room a minute earlier. Heaven forbid what might have happened then.

Technically nothing really did happen, Maria reminded herself; but surely the Baroness wouldn't look at it in that way.

"Fräulein?" Maria suddenly realized that she was being addressed, and that the Captains and Baroness's eyes were intently fixed upon her.

Mentally pulling herself together she looked up at the Captain, finding that his expression wore a look of worry.

"Yes... I'm sorry," she said. Her throat felt raw and dry, and her voice seemed to carry a tired edge to it. She finally realized how tired she actually was.

Feeling that she could trust her legs not to buckle she pushed herself up from the desk in a standing position.

"I think it would be best if I retired for the night." Looking down again she gracefully crossed the room towards where the Baroness was standing next to the door. She gave Maria a forced smile and quickly stepped away, giving Maria a clear exit from the room.

"Maria!" Halting just before the door she turned halfway around, not failing to notice that the Captain had once again addressed her by her given name.

"Does this mean you'll be staying?" the Captain asked, hope creeping into his voice again. Maria did not dare to look up, instead she turned around and grabbed the doorknob.

"For now," she answered him, hoping that her voice had sounded as emotionless as she'd meant for it to sound. While wishing them goodnight, she gave the Captain and the Baroness a slight nod with her head and then quickly left the room.