After that night things went fast and Maria and Georg were seeing each other at least once a week. Their love for each other was undeniable. Every Tuesday night after closing the captain would pick her up for a walk around the city. They would talk… and talk… and kiss... and kiss some more… until the clock struck twelve and Georg would bring her home.
Summer was approaching which meant it would be the perfect time for going on picnics. And so they did. Maria took Georg to her special spot. No one has actually been there except for Maria, and Georg was deeply touched that he was the first person she shared it with. It was on a Friday afternoon that they laid on her mountain, food long forgotten arms and legs intertwined softly "resting their eyes".
"I think," Georg started playing with Maria's short blond locks "I would like for you to meet my children" he added giving a soft smile.
Meeting his children? For a while she didn't say anything. She was totally lost in her own thoughts. Assuming she fell asleep he softly stroked her cheek trying to wake her.
"Maria?" He called her name
"I- I heard you" She replied to him slightly unsure
"You don't have to be so excited you know." Georg said. By now he had stopped playing with her hair.
"n-no Georg, your children sound lovely! I- I mean… What if this is all getting too serious?" Maria got up from Georg's chest
"Getting too serious? I'm not sure I follow" Georg asked confused
"Georg, lets face it, I don't belong in your world!" Maria snapped "A Baron, a Captain can't be seen with a poor mountain girl turned waitress like me!" She stood up and started cleaning up the picnic blanket
"It was good while it lasted, I had a lovely time and I thank you for keeping my virtue in tact." She said angrily throwing the last items of food into the basket.
"Maria! Please stop!"
"Yes that's what I'm doing I'm stopping this" She waved her hands in front of her "whatever this is"
"Maria." Georg came to stand in front of Maria putting both his hands on either of her arms. "Look at me." He lifted her chin with his finger.
"Georg can't you see that this won't work? It may be all nice now. Until the whole town starts talking and you regret ever going out in public with me."
"Maria wha-"
"Taking walks at night when practically no one is out. Going to a secluded mountain spot where practically no one ever comes."
"Going to your mountain was your idea. Are you telling me that you think I avoid being in public with you?" He snapped
"Well, we've been doing this for almost 3 months, the same thing. Nothing ever changing" Maria looked at her feet
"Well, that's why I want you to meet my children!"
"Yes in the privacy of your own home!" she spat at him.
"Maria, I'm not entirely sure if I understand wha-" Georg tried to ask but was cut off by Maria
"What the problem is?!" she now started shouting
"No Maria- I didn't-"
"No I understand perfectly. Goodbye Georg." She turned around and walked off.
Think fast… "Marry me?" Georg called after Maria. She abruptly stopped walking and slowly turned around.
"W-what…?" Maria asked confused.
"You heard me." Georg answered "I want to marry you." He walked closer. Maria's eyes now started tearing up.
"I want to marry you, and I don't care what anyone else thinks-"
"Not even the children?" She softly giggled
"Well, I mean, the children could make or break this deal…" Georg chuckled "That's why I wanted them to meet you!" He added
"Right… Good save…" She smiled her face moving closer to his
"Is that a yes?" He asked her before moving his arms around her waist
"Maybe… Possibly… definitely…" She said in between kisses before snaking her arms around his neck.
"is everything packed?" Georg asked breaking the kiss.
"I believe so," Maria state looking around for any leftover items
"Great" Was the only thing he answered before grabbing the picnic basket in one hand and Maria's hand in the other "Lets go" het added once they started walking
"Where to?" Maria asked slightly confused
"Well, to meet my children of course" He answered
"So soon?"
"The sooner the children know about this the sooner I can tell all of Salzburg that you are the woman I plan on marrying" Georg chuckled
"Well, I mean is it- shouldn't we, the children and I, get to know each other a little better before we-"
"Maria, the children will love you I'm sure of it" Georg squeezed Maria's hand to reassure her "But, you are right, I would like for you to spend some time with my children before we say anything"
"your children sound lovely. I can't wait to get to know them" She softly smiled
xxxx
Maria couldn't believe her eyes. Surely she knew the Captain wasn't living in a four by four flat but this was really ridiculous! Georg just drove up the drive way of a giant villa, his villa…
Georg chuckled "Don't worry it's not as big as it looks" He said to Maria winking.
"Well, it looks huge if you ask me, maybe should come back… when I'm more suitably dressed" She replied straightening in invisible creases in her dress
"Maria, it will be alright" He tried to reassure her but before he had any time to convince her the butler came out of the front door.
"Good afternoon captain, shall I park your car in the garage?" The rather stiff looking butler asked opening the car door.
"Oh err, yes of course thank you Franz" Georg replied before walking around the car to open Maria's door
"Oh and Franz, would you please tell frau Schmidt that we have an extra guest for dinner?"
"I've already informed the kitchen of Herr Detweilers wishes to stay for dinner sir,"
"Of course… why not…" Georg mumbled under his breath
"Then would you please tell Frau Schmidt to set another plate, oh and is Herr Detweiler staying the night? I don't remember inviting him, but then again he always drops in whenever fancies him." He replied with an obvious hint of sarcasm
"He said he was here on some business and that his dear old friend wouldn't mind him staying here for a couple of day's sir" He got in the car not bothering to introduce himself to Maria
Of course it didn't go unnoticed by Maria that she got totally ignored by the butler.
"Is he always that- maybe I should come back another time- I mean- I hear you have guests"
"Yes, he is always that stiff, and no I don't want you to come back another time, and yes apparently I do have a guest, but I've known him for a very long time and he will be equally charmed by you" He squeezed her hand in reassurance
"I do hope so…" Maria replied doubt evident in her voice
"I know so" Georg gave her cheek a quick peck before taking her inside
The foyer looked like something out of a dream! White marble floors and big gold chandeliers. Maria tried hard to keep her mouth from falling open just at the sight of it. Now Maria felt terribly out of place again.
"Don't worry Maria, the house won't eat you" Georg whispered in her ear giving her a wink after to which Maria's cheeks turned pink.
Suddenly one of the big French doors leading to what Maria assumed to be the garden opened and two little girls came running in the foyer
"Aren't you going to say hello to your father?" Georg asked which put the girls to an immediate halt
"Of course father! We just didn't see you!" The two girls giggled before running into their father's arms
"I would like you to meet someone," He stood up motioning to Maria
"Hello,' She started
Having had Georg describe the children to her before she now tried out their names "You must be Gretl" She knelt down to the two girls' heights "And you must be…" She showed a mock thinking face "…Marta!" She eventually said adding just enough suspense making the girls giggle furiously
"My name is Maria" she smiled them
"Your father has told me all about you, but he's forgot to tell you how grown you two are… My… you two are practically ladies!" She chuckled.
Georg was so caught up in the scene played out before him he almost didn't notice one of his girls tug at his pant leg "Yes Gretl?" He asked lifting her up in his arms
"I like her father…!" His daughter whispered in his ear
He gave her a peck on the cheek before putting her back down "Why don't you two head upstairs and wash up for dinner before your brothers and sisters arrive and take up all the space" he said ruffling Marta's hair
"Alright father!" Both girls replied before running upstairs
"My, my, are all your children such good listeners?" Maria chuckled
"ah… no… I think not… I think it fades with age…" He sheepishly scratched the back of his head
"Ah… the older they get the more they take after you then?" Maria teased again.
"Very funny…" He sighed before leading her outside on the terrace.
Barely outside the couple almost got run over by his second eldest daughter, Louisa, Maria remembered. The girls' hair was very much out of its array and her dress was soaking wet covered in water and mud reminding her much of Maria herself when she was younger.
"OH!" Said the blonde haired girl "Father I'm sorry-" She started pausing shortly trying to think of the right words before she continued talking again furiously apologizing to her father.
"I- I was just about to wash up for dinner father, I- we- yes we- Kurt and I- you see there was this lady bug we wanted to catch- because Marta likes them so much- I guess it got scared and started flying really far- a-and before I knew it I was in the lake- it was really slippery and I fell and-" She stopped talking when she heard an unfamiliar voice let out a soft laugh
"Oh father I didn't know you were having company I-"
"you know, when a lady bug starts getting a little scared and starts flying away it's a bit hard to catch them with your hand so if you use a jar I will fly in easy most of the time" Maria told the young girl smiling
"T-thank you" She said her face turning a light shade of pink
"Louisa right?" She asked to which the girl nodded and showed a bright smile "I'm Maria, a friend of your father, he has told me so much about you!" Maria smiled excitedly
Louisa was old enough to know what it could mean when her father brought someone home to meet her and her siblings. Liesl, Friedrich and her often talked about the idea. It didn't happen very often; you could say never. She and her siblings did notice that their father had acquired an even better mood lately, so maybe she could be the reason. She seems nice though… Louisa thought.
"Well, it was nice meeting you, b-but I think it's best if I go wash up now…" Louisa quickly excused herself. "Thanks for the advice!" She beamed up at Maria before running inside
Georg grabbed Maria's hand again taking her further into the gardens.
"Good afternoon Father" He heard Brigitta call. She was seated on one of the benches wrapped up in a book.
"Good afternoon Brigitta" He replied
"Friedrich and Kurt are by the big tree fixing the tire swing, but they'll wash up for dinner soon I think," She started "I wanted to go wash up for dinner too but I got wrapped up in my book again" She replied giving a sheepish smile now looking up from her book. Her cheeks turned pink at the sight of his father's company.
"Oh, I'm sorry for not introducing myself, My name's Brigitta, but guess you've already heard father say my name" She smiled
"Oh yes your father has told me much about you, Jane Austin is my favorite author too," she winked at the girl before stepping forward to extend her hand "I'm Maria" She smiled back at the girl
It completely baffled Georg how she so easily connected with his children. Just in the mere time of 15 minutes he managed to make 4 of his daughters' day just a little better.
"And where might Liesl be?" Georg interrupted the two. He had a feeling where she was, but he asked Brigitta for confirmation anyway.
"Euh… I- ! don't know father…" She quickly replied. A little two quickly for Georg's liking.
Seeing her father's raised eyebrow she quickly restated her answer
"She is in the gazebo…"
Ah the gazebo… Now Maria had a feeling what this was about. Georg had told her about his eldest daughter seeing a boy he didn't quite like nor approve of. Maria quickly was at Georg's side again trying to calm the quickly raising anger.
"Why don't I go meet her, and then you can help the boys?" She asked but before he had even the chance to say anything to disagree she already was headed for the gazebo.
"Oh I like her father!" Briggitta giggled before quickly hiding behind her book again upon receiving a stern look from her father. Yet another reason for Liesl to avoid the confrontation.
Coming closer to the gazebo Maria saw a boy quickly kissing the girl's cheek before grabbing his bike and practically racing out the gardens.
"Hello," She said leaning against the gazebo's opening.
"Oh! Hello! I didn't know father was having company I-" The girl started
"well, he wasn't exactly on time informing you of it" Maria laughed at their quick decision
"Say, your father doesn't really like him much does he?" She laughed again "I'm Maria, and you must be Liesl"
"Yes I am, and no father doesn't really like him, he doesn't like any boy who comes in ten feet of me for that matter" She rolled her eyes
"Well I think it just means that your father loves you very much and he want's to protect you"
"I suppose so," she replied hesitantly
"Your father asked me to tell you that dinner is ready in half an hour" Maria reminded the girl
"Oh yes I know," She started getting up
Maria touched the girls shoulders "I think your father just needs a little time, after all you are his first daughter, and it would help if you have your father meet him once instead of having to sneak around all the time hmm?" She chuckled
Even though Liesl had only just met Maria it felt nice to have a woman to share things like this with. With her mother dying when she was 12 she never really had a motherly figure or confidante to talk to. It felt nice.
"maybe I'll try and have my father meet him sometime, thanks!" she said before both walked back to the villa.
Dinner went surprisingly well that night the dinner table was full of laughter and everyone seemed to have been taken by Maria. Well how could they not? Georg mused to himself as he looked across the dinner table to where Maria was sitting. A small blush appeared on her cheeks as their eyes met. It only deepened when Georg gave her a small wink.
Luckily Max had some meeting or another in town so he wouldn't be present at dinner tonight. He loved his friend dearly but sometimes he could be at places he knew he wasn't wanted sticking his nose into business he wasn't supposed to. This was one of the occasions where he didn't need Max around just yet.
After Dinner they went to the family room where Maria taught the children a song called the lonely goatherd and everyone was having a wonderful time, and of course the song was very funny. Especially his two youngest daughters couldn't stop giggling.
"Alright, alright, off to bed," Georg said to his children "And no buts!"
he looked at his older children "You can do some reading or a quiet game of cards upstairs but I expect you to be in your pajamas before that"
"Can Maria read us a story?" Martha asked to which Gretl loudly agreed
"I can manage that I think!" Maria giggled at the two girls "Lets go!" She got up from her spot on the rug and the two girls eagerly followed her. Before she knew it they both grabbed one of her hands.
"Well… ahem…" Georg cleared his throat "Well, I might as well tell you now that I like Maria and that I brought her here to meet you all becau-" He was cut off by one of her children
"Because you're in love with her!" Brigitta Exclaimed
"Tsk, what do you know about love?" Liesl said before adding "Don't put words into father's mouth it's very unbecom-"
"It's true though, isn't it father?" Louisa cut in. His children had him all figured out.
"Well… if you put it like that…" He replied with a sheepish grin "Maria and I are quite taken with each other and we are willing to see where things might go, if we have your permission, that is"
"She seems nice," Kurt started
"Yeah and she seems to make you happy" Friedrich added
"And she doesn't hate us," Louisa laughed
"And she's very beautiful, but I guess you've noticed that father…" Liesl said with a teasing grin
"you don't really need our opinions;" Brigitta started "you've been going out with her for weeks"
she does notice everything…
"it's not like your going to snap just like that break it off with her- Ouch!" she got stomped on her arm by Liesl
"Not that you need to father!" She quickly restated "She's really nice!"
"Yeah if anyone it should be her" Louisa smiled
Georg let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you" He smiled.
"I was thinking of inviting her to our picnic this weekend, if that's ok with you that is"
"she's shown me a lovely spot on the mountains and I think if you're really nice she'll show it to you too…"
"Tell her she's welcome to come" His children all agreed
He gave all his children an extra look, hug or caress on the cheek before sending them off to bed. And just when the children stood up to go Maria reentered the family room.
"Goodnight father, Goodnight Maria" His children politely wished the adults goodnight
When Maria heard the children's footsteps on the stairs she started speaking "So what's the verdict?" She said with a chuckle, but there also was a hint of anxiousness evident in her voice.
"They really like you," Georg started moving closer "So much so that I have their permission to invite you to our picnic this Sunday"
"Oh that does seem lovely…" Maria breathed
"come," He took Maria's hand and led her across the foyer.
He stopped in front of a high door and opened it letting them both in. Behind the door was a study with two of it's walls filled with books. There was a large oak desk and in front of it was a small settee facing the beautifully hand carved fireplace. the bookshelves, desk, the fire place and all other wood detailing were made of oak leaving the room seemingly dark but still it gave Maria an instant warm feeling. The large window facing the gardens was lined with deep red curtains from the same material used on the settee and desk chair, a soft velvet. This must be the most beautiful study she has ever seen.
"Again, It won't eat you," Georg chuckled "Since you've shown something special to you I'm now showing something that is very special to me"
Maria still looked around in awe
"Almost nobody ever comes here, except for me and my housekeeper, I wanted you to see it before I drove you home" Georg explained
"It's beautiful…" Maria managed to bring out
"Please sit," Georg motioned for one of the big plush chairs in front of the fire
She took a seat letting herself sink into the chair. She closed her eyes enjoying the comfortable silence. She heard Georg softly rummage by the fire place. A few moments later she felt the warmth of a slow starting fire grazing her legs.
"Already falling a sleep dear?" Georg chuckled
"No I was just enjoying this lovely chair" she said keeping her eyes closed while a smile appeared on her lips
"I must be terribly boring then if you prefer a chair over me" Georg teased her some more.
"you were the one who offered me a seat" Maria now slowly opened her eyes not able to contain her laughter. Looking to her right she saw that Georg took a seat on the chair next to her.
"Well, that I did, but sitting alone can be terrible boring to my way of thinking" Georg replied now also laughing
"Well, what does your way of thinking suggest then?"
"Please come," Georg motioned for her to stand in front of him and with one swift movement he let her slid across his lap. Her back was resting against one of the armrests and her legs were draped over the other. She softly laid her head to rest upon his shoulder.
"Hmmm…" She let out a sigh "This indeed is much better; I have to admit that I like your way of thinking…" She moved up to let her lips softly touch his
"well, now I have to confess for myself that I quite like your way of thinking too fräulein!" He said before letting their lips touch again now in a more passionate kiss than the one before.
Suddenly the door flung open.
"Oh!" Maria exclaimed before falling off of Georg's lap right onto the floor.
Who is at the door? You'll find out in the next chapter! I'm not really sure about this one yet, but I wanted to have something up, please let me know what you think! I can really use the feedback!