First thing the next morning, Georg went into Maria's bedroom to make sure she really was okay after the events of the previous evening. When he entered, he founded her sitting up in bed, staring blankly at the far wall. Although she was definitely wide awake, Georg could tell she hadn't slept well.

"Good morning, darling," he said softly, sitting down on the end of her bed. His voice broke her out of her daydreams and her eyes focused on her fiancé. She shot him a weak smile and a tired greeting.

"I'm guessing you didn't sleep very well," Georg guessed. "Would I be right?"

Maria's cheeks immediately turned rosy and she buried her face in her hands. "Oh, Georg," she sobbed. "I couldn't stop thinking about dinner last night. I've ruined our chance at a relationship and sent your reputation on the path for failure." She drew the covers up closer around them, softly sobbing into them.

"No, no, no," Georg said, pulling the covers down and softly kissing her hands. "You mustn't think that Maria; you did nothing wrong. Werner thought it was hysterical, and nobody will ever openly disagree with him. And you can knock armour over at every banquet we attend and in my mind, it won't affect our relationship at all."

Her eyes widened. "Really?"

He nodded. "And besides, Fraulein," he added mischievously. "My reputation went straight down the tubes the second I asked you to marry me. But I'm with you, and that makes up for it a hundred times over."

"I liked their children," Maria said, quickly trying to change the subject. Although Georg's words had reassured her, she didn't want to dwell on the events of the ball yesterday.

"Yes," he mused. "Rupert is the same age as Louisa and Martina is Brigitta's age."

"Which would explain why they were so impatient to know how they were," Maria said. "As I recall, Louisa called Rupert 'dreamy'."

"Dear God," he cried. "Is my second oldest daughter obsessed with boys too now?"

"I'm afraid so Captain," she giggled.

He smiled.

After Georg making it quite plain to her that he didn't have any issues with her behaviour last night, Maria felt that she didn't mind retelling the story to the children and Max at breakfast.

Which is exactly what she did. Kurt thought it was hilarious, Max, Marta and Gretl laughed merrily and Friedrich and the older girls chuckled softly. And knowing that they too, didn't mind her actions, made Maria feel all the more comfortable in her new family.

"So what happened then?" asked Louisa.

"Tell us," pressed Friedrich.

And so she did, recounting how she proceeded to sit down and enjoy the rest of the meal with the other party guests. The children, particularly the boys were hoping for a more intense story from there on, but nevertheless, accepted what Maria had said.

When breakfast had finished and the children were off at their lessons, Maria went up to her bedroom, where Frau Schmidt reminded her that she and Liesl had appointment that afternoon at the tailors.

Knowing exactly what that meant, she blushed slightly, but she thanked Frau Schmidt, confirming that she and Liesl would both be ready to leave as soon as lunch was over.

Liesl hadn't forgotten. Ever since her governess had asked her to be her maid of honour, Liesl could not stop thinking about the wedding. That is – unless she was thinking about Rolfe. But she had found that ever since the news of the wedding, she had been thinking about Rolfe much less often.

Naturally, as lunch had concluded Liesl had bounced out of her seat and with a quick kiss on her father's cheek had rushed out of the room. Maria found her standing by the door in the foyer looking impatient.

"Okay, okay, calm down Liesl," she said, smiling. "The wedding isn't for another two weeks. We have plenty of time to get there."

Liesl laughed, and then the two of them headed out the door.

"Is that really me?" Maria gasped as surveyed her reflection in the large oval mirror in the tailor's shop. Being fitted for her wedding dress made her extremely conscious of the fact that she would be walking down the aisle in a fortnight. Standing here in this magnificent gown, she didn't just feel like a princess; she felt like an angel.

"Yes, it is," breathed Liesl, unable to keep the smile out of her voice. "And you look amazing."

Maria couldn't disagree with her there. Indeed, wearing this dress made her look like a completely different person. The silver-white dress was made of satin, had a tight bodice, high neck and long sleeves, before falling to the floor in a full, shiny skirt. She wasn't wearing her veil yet, but even without that, Maria found it hard to believe that the woman staring back at her was the same girl who had arrived at the von Trapp villa a mere two months ago, dressed in a dress that even the poor didn't want. But glancing over to her hand and seeing her engagement ring, she knew it was all true. She would marry Captain Georg von Trapp in a mere two weeks.

She looked sideways at Liesl, who was standing in front of another mirror, having the hem of her maid of honour dress pinned up. "You look lovely too, Liesl."

"Indeed," said the seamstress, as she stuck another pin in the dress. "A real beauty. Fellows will fall in line to dance with you."

Liesl giggled, her cheeks turning rosy. Maria guessed that it had something to do with Rolfe. But she had no doubt that (much to Georg's displeasure); there would be guests at the wedding asking his children to dance. The girls would wear long white dresses, all slightly different, while Friedrich and Kurt would be wearing trachts and lodens.

"I never imagined Captain von Trapp to ever remarry," said the seamstress working on Maria's gown. "Agathe's death really knocked him hard."

"I agree," said her colleague. She glanced up at Maria. "He seems like a completely new man now that he's met you."

Now it was Maria's turn to blush. "Thank you," she said. "I'm so grateful I met him."

Thanks to the wonderful members on TSOM Fanfiction who helped me with the despcription for Maria's wedding dress. I hope you're all enjoying it.