Maria was just starting to stand back up when it donned on both of them that there was only one shower. The looked at each other for a second and then took off toward the bathroom. Maria got there first and slammed the door shut. "Nice try Els." She said using the nickname she knew her sister hated.
"You were just closer." Elsa said.
"No, I was just faster." Maria said.
"Just hurry up." Elsa said.
Maria was tempted to do just the opposite but she had to wake the children up, so she showered quickly and then was off to wake the children.
Pretty soon every one was on their way downstairs. The Captain had just gotten down with the children arrived. They were just getting settled when Elsa came downstairs. It took all of Maria's not to burst out laughing when she saw the nice little bump on her sisters forehead, from where she had hit her that morning.
"Elsa, what happened to your forehead." Georg asked.
Elsa just glared at her sister, while trying to come up with something other than what really happened.
"She fell out of bed this morning." Maria said trying very hard not to start laughing. She knew that her sister just HAD to look perfect all the time and that bump was driving her crazy.
Georg just looked between the two. Judging by Elsa's glare and Fraulein Maria's chuckling, Elsa may have fallen out of bed again that morning, but it was not the cause of the pretty good sized knot on her forehead.
"That had to hurt." Georg said.
"It did." She said looking straight at Maria.
"How did you fall out of bed?' Gretl asked.
"Um…" was all Elsa could say.
"She went to stand up but she just rolled out of bed and landed on the floor. Apparently her brain decide to take a little vacation." Maria said, biting her lip to keep from laughing.
Elsa just glared at Maria while the others where trying to keep from laughing also. Elsa looked to Georg for help but found he had the same look as everyone else. She glared at Maria again before standing up.
"Now that I think about it," She said, "I'm not that hungry." She bent down and kissed Georg. "See you later daring." She said before she left the room.
When the group was sure she was out of earshot they finally let the laughter they had been holding go.
"Did the Baroness really fall out of bed this morning, Fraulein Maria?" Marta asked.
"Yes," Maria answered, which wasn't really a lie since when they kicked each other off the bed the first time it had been early morning.
"Did you ever fall out of bed last night?" The Captain asked. Something in the way he asked it made her look up. When she saw the look on his face she knew he already knew the answer.
"Well, the Baroness has a tendency to kick." Was her answer. But before he could say any more Liesl spoke.
"She kicked you off the bed?" She asked.
"Yes."
"That had to hurt." Brigitta said.
"It did but, I got her back." Maria said
"How?" Gretl asked.
"I pushed her off."
The group chuckled.
"Well, children what do you want to do today?"
Elsa had barely made it out of the dinning room before she heard the laughter. Well, two can play at that game Maria. She thought. She was not about to let her younger sister get away with humiliating her. She at down on the living room sofa to think about what she was going to do. She was so deep in thought that she didn't hear Georg come into the room.
"Tired, darling?" He asked. She jumped.
"Oh! Georg you scared me."
"I'm sorry darling."
"It's alright. And yes, I guess I am a bit tired." She said.
"Didn't sleep well last night?" He asked innocently.
"Not really."
"So what's the deal with you and Fraulein Maria?" He asked. She just looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you two seem to have issues, that's all."
"We do not have issues, we're just…" She tried to find the right word, "different. That's all, we're just different."
"Are you sure that's all it is?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm sure." Ok, so that was a complete lie, but he doesn't have to know that. "Where is M- Fraulein Maria any way?" If he noticed her slip he didn't mention it.
"She and the children are outside playing a game." He answered.
"Oh. Well I think I'm going to try and catch up on the sleep I lost."
"Ok, darling. See you at lunch?" he asked.
"Yes." She answered and headed upstairs. She had no intention of sleeping. She had noticed in Maria's closet that there was the ugly…I don't think you could even call it a dress, she thought. She recognized it from before Maria went to the abbey and figured she must have worn it when she left to come here. She went into the closet and grabbed all of the clothes Maria had made and all of her nightgowns. She then traveled down the hall to her old room. She smiled when she noticed the floor was still soaked. She then proceeded to dumped all of the clothes on the floor and spread them out to make sure they all got wet. She grinned and made her way downstairs.
She could see Maria running around with the children. She could not understand how Maria was so good with them. Georg had told her about the countless tricks the children would play on their governesses. She was even a little nervous about meeting them. It was obvious that they craved their father's attention, and she was glad they had found their father again, but something was a little different about him.
She would also have to be a fool not to notice that every now and then his gaze would drift from his laughing children to Maria. It would only last a second or two before he would jerk his head away to where one of the children were. She could tell he was attracted to her, not that she was surprised, Maria was beautiful. Always had been. But Maria had a way of getting under men's skin. Without even realizing she was doing anything. She decided she wasn't going to let it get that far this time. She walked up and wrapped her arms around Georg.
"That was a quick nap." He said.
"Well, I just couldn't seem to fall asleep." She lied.
"Hopefully you'll get a better sleep tonight." He said.
"Hopefully." Although she knew it wouldn't happen.
"Father! Father!" Marta said running up to Georg.
"Yes?" He asked picking her up.
"Is it time for lunch yet? I'm starving."
"Yes, darling, I think it is."
"Yay!" Came a boy's voice.
"You hungry too, Kurt?" He asked.
"Aren't I always?" He asked back. He and Marta chuckled.
"Well why don't you call your brother and sisters in for lunch?" with that Kurt took off running. Marta jumped down, and ran after her brother. Soon the whole family was in the dinning room.
There was light conversation during the short lunch and soon everyone was outside again. The children and Maria played while Elsa and Georg sat on the terrace. They kept the conversation light and cheerful. Not long after lunch did Max finally show up. He had been talking to her and Georg for about ten minutes when he got a good look at Maria's face. He looked questioningly at Elsa who nodded her head. Max waited till Georg had to go in and find something for one of his children before he started laughing.
"I should have come back sooner."
"It's not funny!" Elsa said.
"Yes, it is! I'm guessing she's the one who gave you that bump on your forehead." He said still laughing.
"Yes, she hit me this morning. As if the fact that we're both here isn't bad enough, a water pipe burst in my room and now I have to room with her."
Max started laughing harder at that thought. He had dated Elsa in high school and was one of the few people who knew Maria and Elsa were related. He caught Maria's eye while she was playing with the children and watched as she started laughing. She excused herself from the children and went and sat with Max and Elsa.
"Max! It's good to see you again." She said hugging him.
"It's good to see you too. Elsa told me about you're living situation." He chuckled
"UGH!" Both Maria and Elsa said at the same time. Georg chose that moment to appear back on the terrace.
"I think that word sums you up pretty well, Max." He said.
"Funny, Georg." Max said.
"Taking a break from the children Fraulein?" Georg asked.
"Yes, I don't know where they get all that energy." She replied.
"It has always baffled me too." The group talked for a little while longer, until Frau Schmidt declared it was time for dinner.
Afterwards Maria led a group of tired, full children upstairs to their rooms. She helped them get ready for bed and said good night. She then made her way to her room, fully intent on going straight to bed. She got to her room and opened her closet only to find it empty, save for that ugly dress she wore on her first day. Elsa. She knew she had taken them, now all she had to do was figure out where she put them. She was looking under the bed when Elsa came in.
"Looking for something?" She asked innocently.
"You know exactly what I'm looking for." Maria snapped.
It was a good thing Maria's head was still under the bed, otherwise Maria would have seen the smile Elsa couldn't keep off her face.
"I'm sure I have know idea what you're talking about."
"Yes, you- OW!" Maria screamed as she hit her head on the bed. Elsa couldn't contain her laughter.
Maria pulled her head out from under the bed just when Max and Georg came in. Neither were sure what happened. Maria was on the floor rubbing her head while Elsa was laughing hysterically.
"What happened?" Max asked.
No one answered him though, Elsa was laughing so hard she couldn't have formed a sentence if she wanted to, and Maria was busy trying to figure out where her clothes were. Then, a light bulb went off in her head. She immediately stood up and walked towards Elsa's old room, she opened the door to find all of her clothes on the floor, soaking wet. Some even had the beginnings of mildew on them. The others had followed her, and when Elsa got there she started laughing harder. Max was struggling not to laugh also as he realized what happened. Georg just chuckled. Well that explains why her 'nap' was so short. He thought. He looked at Maria. She looked like she was ready to throttle Elsa, who was still laughing and had no clue of the look Mar-Fraulein Maria was giving her. He chuckled a little. Why do I have a feeling this is just the beginning?
"Looks like you're going to need another nightgown. I'm sure Liesl will let you borrow one." He said.
"But what about my other clothes?"
"The ones that haven't mildewed we can let dry. I'll have some new material sent here in the morning."
"Thank you." she said as she proceeded to grab her clothes. Only one thought went through her mind while doing so, THIS MEANS WAR!
A/n: Well there's the second chapter! I hope you guys liked it! If you did just hit that nice little button and tell me :D