A/N: The story is set in that pleasant interlude between "Edelweiss" and "The Ländler". It takes place after "Underneath her wimple", and it begins a couple of weeks before the grand and glorious party.

Thanks once more to Mellie, for the usual magic touches! And to all reviewers, of course, for your feedback.

Disclaimer: I absolutely do not own "The Sound of Music".

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"Mysterious love, uncertain treasure, hast thou more of pain or pleasure! Endless torments dwell about thee: Yet who would live, and live without thee!"

Joseph Addison

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They drove in silence for a while. The scenery was just too beautiful for Maria to keep her attention anywhere else, even on the sea captain sitting next to her, so she chose not to talk. In addition to the glorious mountains, her tongue was kept silent by wanting to savor what was another new experience for her – riding in a car. Buses, trains and bicycles were part of her world, but never before she had ridden in a car, and especially not a fancy one. She had always relied, above all, on the best means of transportation, provided by the good Lord Himself: her two strong legs.

It was the sight of a group of children rowing a boat that brought her attention to him. She had to admit that it was a bit unsettling to be alone with him like this, outside of the villa. Of course the rational part of her mind told her that she had nothing to fear, but still she felt - insecure... Something odd for someone who prided herself in being confidence personified.

His full attention was on what he was doing: driving. And he drove with the ease and skill she would expect from someone who could easily handle every means of transportation known to man. Maria had been surprised to learn from Friedrich not long ago that the Captain could even fly a plane! All right, she conceded to herself, he drove a little too fast at times, which was probably the cause of Max's occasional playful comments about him driving like a maniac. But she did not feel in any danger, quite the contrary in fact. It was not his driving skills that scared her.

Maria allowed her thoughts to stray in a dangerous direction. The Baroness's comments from the previous day haunted her. Did every woman know about men? She conceded that even she knew that he was handsome. Dashing and debonair also came to mind. His hat, slightly tilted to one side, gave him a kind of roguish air, and he had the look of a confident man who was very pleased with himself. If he was annoyed because he had been persuaded to allow a mundane thing such as a treasure hunt to disturb the tranquility of the Trapp villa, he did not show it. Maria was simply fascinated, and drank in the sight of him.

However, she would also be naïve to think that he was not aware that she had been watching him for a while.

"Do I pass your inspection, Fraülein?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the road. His tone was playful, teasing, and only vaguely sarcastic.

Quickly, Maria looked away, focusing her eyes on the picture perfect landscape again, hating to have been caught in that minor transgression. Again. She cringed. It was not the first time he had caught her staring at him, and it was unlikely that it would be the last. A fiery blush crept up her cheeks. "I am sorry, Captain." Then she proceeded with the first thing that came to mind as an excuse. "I – I am not used to driving."

"And I am not used to having you so quiet for such a long time." He stole a sideways glance to her, but she was looking at the landscape. No one had bothered to tell her to wear a hat herself, and now her short hair was impossibly ruffled by the wind. She did not seem to mind at all, and he wondered if she was even noticing it. Strange creature the little Fraülein was – she was apparently totally devoid of any sign of vanity, but the care she had when she made certain that his girls look girlish, even ignoring Louisa's protests - told him otherwise. It would be interesting to see how she reacted to one of the top female temptations – diamonds. The thought brought a half smile to his lips.

"Uh - the mountains had my full and complete attention," she spoke, unaware that she had just contradicted herself.

"Oh yes, the mountains. Naturally." When he realized that she didn't intend to continue the conversation, he added, "for a moment I thought you were engaged in a mental debate to decide once and for all whether I do or do not look like a sea captain."

She turned quickly to him. "Oh, but that is settled, Sir – you do not! I don't have to think about that one anymore."

"Who are you comparing me with reach such a definite conclusion?" He looked at her, with a wicked grin. "Captain Nemo?"

Smiling, Maria looked down at her hands. When she was about seven years old, she had developed the most ridiculous crush on the character after reading Jules Verne's books. She used to dream that she would marry a sea captain one day. A submarine captain, just like Captain Nemo. And he would take her aboard the Nautilus and they would live happily ever after. But that was before the convent, before her family was shattered. And then she came across the one and only sea captain she had ever met before Captain Georg von Trapp. She had not liked him; he had scared the hell out of her. Nemo and his Nautilus were pushed out of her mind.

"No, not quite," she answered. "I knew a sea captain once, and he looked nothing like you." That was the truth, at least.

"You mean to tell me you drew your conclusions about us all sea captains based upon your knowledge of one?"

Maria shrugged. "I was a very impressionable twelve-year-old at the time. The image remained with me, even though he was probably not even a real sea captain."

"Then, I feel it is my duty to warn you. You are meeting a pirate today." He glanced at her, wanting to see her reaction.

Her eyes wide, she looked at him in surprise. "A pirate? Here in Salzburg?"

"A sailor cannot always choose where to drop his anchor, Fraülein." He then explained. "His name is Hans Schneider, and he was the best torpedo man I have ever had the privilege of working with. Now he owns the place where we are going to get our treasure."

"Is he really a pirate?" She looked at him in wonder.

"I would not say that to his face if I were you. He is something of a treasure hunter, but he prefers to be called an antique dealer. But he certainly does look like a pirate."

"Oh." Maria made no other comment, and silence fell among them again. Pirates and sea captains, such a fanciful world. She looked at the captain. Did he really know a pirate? She found herself studying him again. His jaw was strongly set, a hint of a smile on his lips.

The monastery choir was heard when they began to approach Salzburg, their Gregorian chants echoing in the wind. He turned to his right, looking to the monastery, his arm naturally coming to rest on the seat behind her. It was an unconscious gesture, completely uncalculated. But Maria felt a blush creeping up her cheeks and she turned to listen to the reverberating voices. Why am I so uncomfortable? She thought. Why was she blushing at the mere presence of this man? She looked at the building, alone on the hill. She couldn't help but think how lonely those monks must feel, so isolated and secluded, and wondered, not for the first time in the past few weeks, if she was ready to embrace that kind of life. She had always gone to the mountains to find peace and solace, but not to necessarily be alone.

"Do you miss your Abbey?" he asked abruptly, thinking, for a brief second, that it was odd that he was the one making an effort to keep their conversation going, and not her. It was odd, he found that he didn't like her silence, he wanted to hear her insights on everything. "Fraülein?" he insisted, when she did not answer him.

Still looking at the lonely monastery she replied without thinking. "No," she began, but it sounded…her eyes became wide when she realized what she had said. "I mean, yes!" She corrected herself. That was the problem with her inexperience; it made unable to lie, because the truth would be out of her lips before she could control herself. That made her as transparent as the walls of the gazebo in the garden of his villa.

Noticing her slip, he gave her something safe to talk about. Removing his arm from the seat behind her, he inquired, "And what do you miss the most? The singing?"

Still horrified at her earlier admission and not trusting herself, she replied "Not really."

Safety – I miss being safe, she thought, but it did not seem appropriate to reveal that to him. Being safe, and not having to deal with the unknown feelings that seemed to take over her body and soul at the oddest times is what she missed most. Ever since the day the subject of holy sins and deathly virtues came up, she seemed to be at odds with herself. The holy sin of envy seemed to creep up on her every now and then. She envied the Baroness's charm, grace, and beauty.

Realizing that again she wasn't going to continue the conversation he prodded her. "And why is that? Because you enjoy singing from the trees with my children?"

She smiled, remembering the day of his arrival back home. Feeling the need to defend herself, she continued, "I am much more free to sing when I am not in the Abbey. We - we are encouraged to keep silent most of the time. There are some nuns who made a vow of silence and have not said a word in years. Singing is restricted to choir rehearsals, and during mass, of course. And even then, only religious music is permitted."

"And how on earth does someone like you live up to those particular orders?"

"Someone like me?"

"Yes. Boisterous. Rebellious. A tomboy."

"I don't know, but I must learn, mustn't I?!"

"I would imagine so. Is that why you were so much trouble to the nuns?"

"Yes, that, and… other things."

"Mmmm… What other things?"

She thought for a moment. "I am known employ unusual means to accomplish a task." He chuckled. "You see, Captain, if I have a job to be done that is what is important, and not necessarily how I get it done. I just want to do what I have to do as quickly as possible, in order to move on to the next task. Saving time is everything, I learned that the hard way very early. Life in a convent is very busy, especially for a postulant. We don't just pray all day."

"And if do your tasks quickly enough you have time for your… daydreaming, and singing. And your mountains." She did not deny it. "You are a true Machiavellian, Fraülein!"

"I beg your pardon?"

"The end justify the means," he quoted. Finally she's speaking to me, he thought.

"Mm – I never thought of that. Is that a good or a bad thing?" She looked at him skeptically.

"I suppose it depends on how you look at it. You can't make an omelet without breaking an egg, but you certainly can cook without destroying the kitchen."

"Mm - I am not sure I can. The last time I tried to bake a cake I blew up the kitchen." A smile returned to her lips.

"What?!" he stepped on the brakes.

"I blew up the kitchen," she repeated candidly. "Well, the oven, but the nuns would tell you otherwise. Not to mention the little incident with the cook."

"What – uh – little incident?"

"Never mind, Captain, it is a long story."

"O-ho, we have the time." And with that, he made a turn and took another road, hoping that Maria would not notice that he had just chosen a longer route. He was enjoying her talk too much to allow it to end so soon, Salzburg and its pirate could wait.