*To those who have not, please read my one-shot called "Love Renewed and Love Beginning," for there are references to that in this chapter.

Maria lay on the huge, king-sized bed, listening to the sound of Georg's voice coming from the living room as he talked to his children. She had gone first, then gladly handed the phone to him and headed into the bedroom.

She was no stranger to walking and exercise, but she was not used to being in the sun for so long. Of course, she had applied lotion to her exposed skin, but just the feeling of that lovely heat on her the entire day was something she had never experienced before. After all, she had lived her whole life in an area where clear skies were both rare and short-lasting. Not that she didn't enjoy the feeling, but now she wanted to rest a little. She felt dazed more than anything, but in a good way. Now she lay on the bed, on top of the sheets and covers, still in her summer dress but minus her shoes.

Smiling to herself, she closed her eyes and listened to the gentle, playful tone Georg used with his children. After a few moments, she lost track of the words and dozed off into light slumber.

Georg hung up the receiver with a smile on his face. His children all sounded well, and Max didn't sound too overwhelmed yet. I'll give him three days he thought with a chuckle. Curious to see what his wife was up to, Georg walked into the bedroom, but stopped at the sight of his wife napping. He smiled and walked to the bed, sitting down on the opposite edge gently so as not to wake her.

But she felt his presence, and woke to find the sight of him sitting, his back to her as he unbuttoned his cuffs. She sat up, and hearing that, he turned around. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's all right," said Maria, her voice just above a whisper, still tired. But she climbed off of the bed and, to his immense surprise, knelt at his feet and proceeded to take off his shoes for him.

A memory stirred in his mind, and he smiled again. "You've done this before, haven't you?"*

She looked up in surprise at his statement, but then nodded, blushing a little as she bent back down to her task. "The day, or rather the night, after that incident with the rowboat. I found you asleep and slumped on the sofa, and . . . I just wanted to make you more comfortable."

Georg leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, and ran his fingers gently through her hair. "Why? Just the day before I had been horrible to you."

She looked up at him, compassion in her eyes. "I had just come back from my day off, and I passed by your study. The door was open a bit and I saw you reading to Marta." She smiled and finished her task. "Did she have a nightmare?"

Georg shook his head. "She just couldn't sleep, and she came down to find me."

Maria took one of his hands and kissed it before she cautiously continued. "Later, I came down to fix myself some tea and to see if Marta was still downstairs . . . when I looked into the study . . . I saw you were crying."

Georg closed his eyes, as if in pain, and let out a deep sigh. "I'd hoped you'd never see me like that."

"I didn't think any less of you, Georg, far from it!" said Maria adamantly and truthfully. "I rushed to the kitchen to make my tea and then leave it outside your room with an anonymous knock. When I came back I found you asleep and I just . . . felt I had to do something for you."

Georg placed a tender kiss on her forehead. "Why did you call me a 'fine, brave man'?"

Maria's eyes widened. "You were awake?"

"When you moved my legs, yes, but I was too tired and curious to interrupt my good Samaritan. You can't imagine my shame when I felt you wipe away a tear, and the astonishment when you said that about me."

Maria smiled. "It's how the Reverend Mother described you when I inquired about my position. That night I agreed with her, and will always believe that, even if I see you cry a million tears. It proves you're human, just like me; a superhero would just intimidate me. Please don't be afraid or ashamed to share your feelings with me, Georg. I will never think less of you, and will always love you. All right?"

Georg smiled, and the lump in his throat prevented him from saying anything just yet. So he just leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers. Eventually, though, a yawn he couldn't quite stifle came out.

Maria giggled, pulled back, and reached up to run her own fingers gently through his hair. "You're tired, too."

"Mmm," he moaned softly in affirmation, closing his eyes and reveling in her touch. "I was going to join you in a nap. Is that all right?"

"Yes, please," said Maria, kissing his cheek before rising and going back on her side of the bed. This time she knew what to do, and laid down with her back facing Georg and her knees bent. Georg chuckled, took the hint, and spooned her from behind, just like the night before. Maria went to sleep with a smile on her face . . .

Maria found herself in her old postulant's room at the Abbey. She looked around confused, and found that she was wearing her postulant's garment and wimple. The sounds of a couple laughing and happy caused Maria to go to her small window, which looked down onto the street below. The sight she saw made her blood run cold: Georg and Baroness Schraeder, walking arm in arm down the street, a flashy diamond ring on her finger. "No! Georg!" she called, but they couldn't hear her. She needed to see him, tell him he couldn't, she loved him. Maria raced out of her room but found that she was in a dark stone labyrinth. Every turn led her to a dead end, and thunder rolled in the distance. She called for Georg, over and over again, but she just kept getting more and more lost, darker and darker . . .

"Maria? Maria!"

Georg had woken up to the restless movements of his wife in her sleep, whimpering in fear and pain. She was having a nightmare. Immediately he sat up and tried to wake her up.

"Maria," he said firmly, and her eyes opened with a gasp. She slowly looked around her, and turned to find Georg leaning over her, worried. She realized it had all been just a dream, and Maria fiercely embraced her husband, her face buried in the front of his shirt. Her breathing was shaky and unsteady.

Georg wrapped his arms around her tightly and rubbed her back soothingly. "Darling, it's all right, I'm right here." What on Earth could she have been dreaming of to make her this terrified? "What's wrong?"

"It's foolish . . . you wouldn't want to . . ."

"Maria," he said, pulling her head back to cup her face and look in her eyes. "Let me help you. Please tell me. I can't be at ease when I know something is bothering you."

Knowing that she would have to tell him, Maria looked down at her shaking hands as she recounted her nightmare to Georg. She was scared to look at him. Describing this dream made her realize the root from whence this bad fruit came, and she was frightened to bring it to his attention. But she had to know. "Georg . . . if I hadn't have come back from the Abbey . . ." But that was as far as she dared to go, shocked she even got that far.

Thankfully, Georg understood what she meant completely. His eyes closed in pain as he realized this fear that had caused her nightmare. He would destroy that fear once and for all now by being honest. Gently, he cupped her chin. "Look at me, Maria."

She did.

"Even if I didn't love you, the engagement would never have lasted. You didn't see the looks on the children's faces when I told them Elsa was to be their new mother. They looked as if I had betrayed them . . . and I had. I immediately regretted the decision. Add that to the fact hat my heart now belonged to you . . . well, I doubt I would have let that engagement last another week. Do you know what I was doing when you came back?"

Maria shook her head.

"I was in my study, trying to write you a letter but having little success. I had no idea what your feelings were, and was contemplating just going to the Abbey to speak with you. Then I looked out the window to the sound of a familiar voice . . . and I thanked God you were braver than a sea captain."

Maria's eyes filled with tears as a weight she hadn't been aware of was lifted off her heart. "Really?"

"Truly," said Georg. He cupped her face now, and looked at her earnestly. "Believe me, my love. If you hadn't come back when you did, I would have gone after you. Please."

Maria nodded, and never doubted him again. She leaned forward and rested her head on his shoulder. "Thank you," she breathed. He kissed her lips gently, both sitting there on the bed.