Twenty-Six

The gardens were just as breathtaking as Maria had thought they would be when she'd looked down on them from the window of her room. Even in the early night lighting, the moon was there to help Maria see the simple beauty. The garden was by no means grand or extravagant, as the gardens at Elsa's villa had been, but one could tell that they were tended with love and care. These English flowers reminded Maria of the wildflowers on her mountain, with their scents more fresh than exotic. The air was rich with the fresh smells of wildflowers and the sea. It was the perfect balm for Maria's nervous and tired spirit.

After wandering around for a bit, she finally sat herself down on a small bench near a lovely rose bush in full bloom. When she sat, taking the weight off her feet, Maria felt the weight of her situation come rushing back to her like a huge wave. All at once, she felt overwhelmed with emotion, and very tired too. So, she rested her elbows on her thighs, and rested her face in her hands as she cried. She needed a release, more than anything, for she knew that all she could do now was wait for her fate to be decided.

Thankfully, she had only cried for a few minutes when her wait ended.

When she felt something warm and gentle take her hands from her face, she was too in shock to resist and let it happen. The tears cleared from her eyes, and there was Georg's face right in front of her. She barely had two seconds to register how bright his blue eyes were before his next action caused her eyes to flutter shut.

Without a word or hesitation, he pressed his mouth to hers in a kiss. His mouth was soft, warm, gentle but firm against her own.

Thankfully, Maria was only frozen in shock for the first second. By the next, her mouth was responding in fervent relief and joy. Her arms wrapped around his neck, bringing him closer, needing him to be closer, to be real. His own arms wrapped around her waist, and brought her down to kneel on the grass with him. Their kiss became a powerful and rejoicing release for the both of them. And when they absolutely needed to breathe, they stayed in an embrace as they caught their breath and their hearts truly joined.

"Well done," commented Bates, who stood just behind his wife at one of the back windows, peaking out at the new couple through the curtains. "Words would have just delayed the inevitable."

Anna chuckled, letting herself rest lightly against her husband of twenty years come spring. "I don't recall our first kiss being quite so passionate, Mr. Bates," she said, her tone lazy and teasing as she shut the curtains.

Mr. Bates chuckled, his mind traveling back to that chilly November night when, if only for that night, all was right in their world and their future together became assured. "Well, Mrs. Bates," he murmured in her ear as his arms wrapped around her waist. "We could have been caught any moment. I'm sorry it was not to your liking."

Anna turned in her husband's arms and put her hands on his shoulders. "Now, I didn't quite say that, John…" She went on her very tiptoes, he was so tall, and initiated a kiss of their own.

The couple outside was quite forgotten between them now.

In the sanctuary of the back garden, Maria and Georg stayed in each other's arms throughout the conversation following their kiss.

Tears had returned to Maria's eyes and soaked into Georg's shirt as she broke the silence: "Don't let me go, Georg, please don't let me go…"

"Never," he whispered into her ear, his hands rubbing her back soothingly. "I'm so sorry I nearly did."

"I understand why, Georg. And I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you on the ferry. I just didn't know what else to do."

"Do not ever apologize for that, Maria," Georg ordered, lifting her head up to look into her eyes. "You said exactly what I needed to hear; if anything, I deserved much worse."

Maria scowled and cupped his face. "Enough, Georg," she pleaded, looking earnestly into his eyes. "No more blaming yourself for things beyond your control and not your fault. No more looking back and wishing we could have done things differently. Because right now, I don't want to look back on a time before this night."

Georg listened, and slowly nodded his head before kissing her again. "You're right," he said, his lips against her forehead. "Let's talk of the future."

"Yes, let's," said Maria happily, making eye contact with him again. "Tomorrow, we'll leave this lovely place and be in London. What's it like?"

"It's a truly wonderful city. When we get there, we'll be reunited with the children again, and I'll make sure we have a week to see London before we ship for America. And, at the very first opportunity, we will marry." He paused when he saw Maria bite her lip and her eyes brighten. "You…will you marry me, Maria?"

Her face burst into a blinding smile. "You silly Captain, of course I will!" she exclaimed, and kiss him so enthusiastically he nearly fell back onto the grass. But he did laugh with joy, and so did she. "I would marry you this moment, if I could," she said so lovingly tears leaked from his own eyes, and she tenderly kissed them away.

"I love you so much, Maria Rainer," Georg told her quietly and seriously, now holding her face. "May you never doubt that again."

Georg and Maria spent the next half an hour in each other's arms, exchanging kisses and tender words, until Maria couldn't quite suppress her yawns. After everything they had gone through today, both were mentally and physically exhausted.

They parted outside their separate rooms with a lingering kiss and an exchange of those most precious and important words: "I love you."

The next morning, they came downstairs all packed and hand-in-hand. They had a hearty English breakfast with the Bates family, who watched them with satisfied smiles.

After their taxi had arrived and was loaded with their luggage, they said goodbye to the good family. Maria hugged Anna tightly. "You've been so good to us, thank you."

"It's our job and our pleasure, my dear," replied the wise woman.

Georg shook Bates's hand firmly with gratitude. "Words can't convey how much I appreciate the talk we had."

Bates smiled. "Once I was a man who believed that the phrase 'true love conquers all' was nothing but tosh; I didn't even believe in true love at all." His gaze caught his wife's beside him. "But if my life has taught me anything, it is that true love is real and does conquer all in the end. So, if anything, it's my duty to make sure that stays true." He looked between the two Austrians. "Godspeed, truly," he said, and kissed Maria's cheek.

"And you, too," said Georg, doing the same with Anna.

As the cab drove away, John and Anna Bates waved as the cab drove away and round the corner. And in the backseat, Maria and Georg held hands and looked ahead, ready to face their future together.

A/N: An epilogue will be posted tomorrow to round this off. So glad you like the Bates's being in here! When I saw that Maria and Georg needed to spend the night in England, I thought that the only place they could possibly stay was in the hotel that is the dream of Anna and Bates with their children.