Georg von Trapp looked out over the beautiful lake, which glowed in the light of the sunrise. It was going to be a beautiful day, he was relieved to know. God forbid anything go wrong on this day of days. His wedding day. To Maria.

Like every other morning of good weather, Georg had arisen very early to have a long, exercising swim in the lake. It was his favorite way to keep in shape, because since he was a child, he'd loved everything about the water. That had certainly been a factor when making the navy his career choice.

Now he was taking a breather at his half-way point: a very tiny island in the lake that held only three small trees with some grass and some sand. He'd only discovered the island a year ago; very difficult to see, especially in the sunlight, due to the fact it was so small. And he'd only ever brought one person here.

Smiling, Georg closed his eyes and reminisced back to that night, six weeks ago, when he'd found a lovely young woman in a blue dress alone in the moonlight . . . after they'd confessed their love and agreed to marry . . .

Georg was extremely glad that his position as captain of the small rowboat required him to face, not the bow, but the stern of the boat. This meant he did not have to take his eyes off Maria, who looked so lovely in the moonlight. He could still see a faint blush on her cheeks, as she would sometimes shift her gaze from his to look at the water or the sky. Knowing that he had given her her first kiss not so long ago, Georg suddenly felt completely honored how she trusted him so. After all, she had planned on being a nun before she had met him . . . Yes, he felt completely honored, and baffled how God had chosen to give her to him.

Upon reaching the island, Georg enjoyed seeing Maria's surprised expression; obviously, she never knew this was there, either. As quickly as he could, Georg hopped out of the boat to pull it more securely on land. Then, he walked to the side of the boat, holding out his hands to help Maria out. She took them and, as carefully as she could, took a step towards the ground.

But the boat swayed a little and she tripped. Thankfully, it was more comical than serious, since Georg caught her in his arms. He chuckled when he heard her gasp in surprise and then cling to his upper arms tightly on reflex, her head hitting his chest. Realizing she was all right, she had shyly looked up at his face and straightened. He kept his arms around her firmly, as well as his gaze fixed on her eyes, enjoying the closeness of her body.

Then she caught him by surprise a little. His fiancée had bit her lip, looking at his own, as if pondering the wisdom of her choice. Then, shyly, she had raised herself on tiptoe and hesitantly placed her lips on his, kissing him. It was so quick Georg could barely respond. When she looked at him, her eyes were apprehensive and sent a clear message: "Did I do that right?"

Georg's only response was a smile before he pressed her to him and kissed her firmly for a good thirty seconds . . .

The sound of a lark singing nearby caused Georg to come out of his reverie. A cool morning breeze sent goose bumps all over the skin of his upper body, bare to the elements. Retirement may have caused some men's bodies to go to seed, but not him; too much energy. He should probably be getting back, so he could slip in unnoticed.

The memory had renewed his energy, especially knowing he would finally, finally, see her again today, let alone marry her. Georg plunged back into the lake and made it back to the villa in record timing. Grabbing a towel off the bench, he vigorously dried his head and upper body as he entered the house through the less-known side entrance, mostly used by servants. He took the narrow staircase up to the upper floors to his rooms, almost immediately stripping off his swimming trunks after he shut the door to hop into a hot shower.

For the first time in a long time, Georg took the time to really look at himself as he washed and then dried. How would Maria react to the sight of his body? After all, she was a virgin, but not only that, a woman who had expected to remain a virgin for the rest of her life until this summer. Would she be frightened when she saw how much he desired her? Even before clothes came off? Georg thought back to their telephone conversation the previous evening, how she had shown her nervousness when he'd reminded her of the fact they would be spending the next six and a half weeks alone.

Of course she would be nervous, his Maria. And the fact that propriety demanded they spend their engagement completely apart did not help matters at all. Would she be scared to be alone with him at all?

As he dressed, Georg decided that was a little extreme. After all, during the rest of their conversation, she sounded just as eager to see him, even liking the idea of eloping. No, she would not be afraid to see him again. But she would be nervous when they were alone with a bed.

Georg looked over the train tickets on his dresser for the two of them, and somehow he knew he'd made the right choice when purchasing them. Maria still had no idea where he was taking her for their honeymoon, because he wanted to surprise her. He hoped she would like it.

His gaze turned to his bedside table, to the picture he looked at many times a day. A picture of Maria, taken by the children the night of the party, in that simple dress so lovely on her. Georg looked at the radiant smile and felt his heart swelling in excitement that today he would see it. See her. His Maria, soon to be his wife. With her by his side, he would be whole again. And he planned to treat her with all of the love and tenderness within his power, taking their relationship at her pace.

She was too precious to lose again.

Like her fiancée, Maria woke up just before dawn, but it was more from the fact that she felt restless and excited. And there was only one place she wanted to go when she felt that way.

So, under a swift sunrise, Maria arrived at the hills around her mountain. She spent a lot of time in her favorite tree, and the rest of the time walking, running, and singing a little. The morning passed by very quickly for her, in her own little world.

After climbing down from her tree, Maria collapsed back onto the grass to regain her energy, placing a hand to her chest. Feeling her breast, Maria was reminded of the morning after that night in the gazebo . . . the day she had left the villa for the Abbey . . .

The morning had been perfect: breakfast, telling the children the news, sharing in their joyous reaction, then playing and singing with them until lunch, as a family. But then after lunch, just like they'd discussed on the island, she'd gone upstairs to pack while Georg made the arrangements with the Mother Abbess over the phone. Max, who was extremely sympathetic to the situation, had offered to drive Maria over to the Abbey, knowing that if Georg did so he might not let her go.

So now Maria came down the stairs, wearing the same outfit she had worn the last time she had left the villa, just a week ago. And now, this time, she was no less sad about it. No, even more sad. She hated that this had to be done, but she would not allow any slander to be spread about Georg or the children. She had just finished a long good-bye with the children upstairs. It had been emotional, but the knowledge that they would see her on Saturday made them smile.

Coming down the stairs, she saw Max waiting for her, with a sympathetic smile. "I'm going to bring the car around from the garage. But I'm feeling a bit lazy at the moment so that should take about . . . oh . . . fifteen minutes?"

Maria raised her eyebrows and seemed confused. Max just smiled and motioned towards a door that was open just a crack, yellow light spilling out. Maria knew that was the door into Georg's study.

She looked back at Max, who just shrugged but had a twinkle in his eyes. "He wants a proper good-bye before he has to let you go."

"Oh," she said, nodding. Her heart began to flutter very fast. "Thank you, Max."

Maria approached the door and peeped in. Georg was standing at his window, back to the door, hands clasped behind his back, his posture stiff. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door softly and entered the room. It wasn't until she shut the door softly behind her that Georg felt her presence in the room. He turned around, and Maria's breath caught in her throat at the longing in his eyes. "Georg…"

He didn't speak, but rapidly crossed the room towards her and embraced her fiercely. She gasped into her mouth when she felt her back collide with the wooden door frame. His every action radiated need, want, and passionate love. It set off a reaction in her, causing her to wrap her arms around his back, holding on tightly. Last night he had been so gentle, even when they'd progress to kissing more openly. But now, faced with their inevitable separation, they held nothing back. Soon his mouth slid from her own down her jaw line to her throat. His hands, his big warm hands, rubbed her hips in circular motions causing her fingers to clench on the fabric of his jacket. When his lips went to hers again, his hands made their way up her front. When his hand came in contact with her breast, Maria gasped again into his mouth and unconsciously stiffened at the sensation, and the feeling of an area between her legs suddenly heating up.

Georg felt it and stepped back, looking horrified, holding his hand as if he'd burned it. "I'm . . . I'm so sorry . . . I didn't mean to be . . . so . . ."

But Maria silenced him by pressing a finger to his lips. "It's all right, you just surprised me." That was evident by the way she was trying to regain her normal breathing rate.

Georg leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers. "I suppose that showed you just how much I'm going to miss you."

Maria suddenly felt tears fill her eyes, but pushed them back resolutely. If she broke down in front of him, she could never go. And she had to. "Max said he would bring the car around in fifteen minutes," she said softly.

His arms wrapped around her, and he placed her head against his chest, his chin resting on her hair. "I only just got you back, only just . . . I'm finally able to say all I want to say and hold you . . . and now I have to give you up again . . ."

"Just for a while," murmured Maria. "I'll never stop thinking about you, just like the last time I was at the Abbey."

He kissed her hair. "Well, you are not leaving my arms until you absolutely have to."

"Good."

The sound of distant church bells woke her from her memory. Instinctively, she got up quickly and started to run towards the Abbey. But then she stopped. She was no longer a postulant who needed to come to midday prayers. Midday . . . her wedding was at 2:00. She still needed to get back there.

So she picked up her running pace and made it back to the Abbey, dirty, sweating and breathing heavily. "I'm here!" Maria exclaimed when Sister Margaretta opened the back gate, a bemused smile on her face. "What?"

"You will never change, will you?" said Sister Margaretta with a chuckle. "I suggest you take a long shower and then change. We'll be ready to help you with the veil."

Maria took an excited breath and said, "Thank you," before heading towards her room.

In the spray of the warm water, a brief thought crossed her mind: How would Georg react to the sight of her naked body? Would it be . . . enough?

The young woman tapped this thought down resolutely, knowing if she dwelt on this thought it would make her a nervous wreck. And she wasn't even married yet.

But she would be in an hour.