This chapter ended up a lot longer than expected… Please read and review!

As always I do not own the sound of music or the characters as much as I may wish I did!

Enjoy! Xx

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Chapter 5

Excitable footsteps and lively voices hurried towards the house, Maria stirred as the world around her began to come back. As they reached the front door the footsteps slowed and the voices hushed. The door creaked open gently, the sound waking Maria and she opened her eyes. She could hear the gentle shuffling of little feet passing outside the study, and the whispers of the children as they debated what to do. Maria sat up slowly and strained her ears, managing to catch a little of the conversation happening outside.

"Do you think Father wants us to stay with Uncle Max and the Baroness until he finishes what he's doing?" Marta's voice echoed a little in the spacious hallway.

"Adults are so boring" Gretl whined. She loved getting out of the house, but Fraulein Maria always entertained them with some new game or interesting song. She let them paddle in the fountain on a hot day like today, wave at the passengers of passing trains but the Baroness had just wanted to sit in the café on the edge of the square and look at the same view for hours. Gretl was now sick to death.

"Well Uncle Max and the Baroness are taking a walk around the gardens now so I'm sure we can escape to our rooms for a while." Liesl suggested "Best to stay out of Fathers way for now."

Inside the study, Maria had failed to notice Georg waking until hearing Liesl's comment made him sigh with deep regret.

"What have I done?" He shook his head "What must they think of me?" Maria took his hand as the patter of feet outside got more and more distant.

"Georg, they love you!"

"I want to change" the passion in his voice, brought on a new wave of emotion for Maria.

"You have changed, now you just have to show them." She searched is eyes trying to read his mind. Her brow furrowed as she saw defeat, while her heart ached for him; she couldn't bare to see him like this. How short a time she had known this curiously complex man, she couldn't explain the wealth of feelings she felt for him.

"Will you help me?" Maria was shocked and immediately sensed this was first time he had asked for help in many, many years. She could hear it in the way that his voice cracked, that he was more than just struggling and she wished with all her heart that she knew more.

"Always" She hoped the word held the same meaning for him as it did for her. Whatever the outcome of her conversation with the Reverend mother tomorrow she would always be there for him and the children in some way or another. "I should go and see the children, they will want to know that everything is okay."

"I want to speak to them before dinner" Georg stressed, taking Maria's hand and kissing it lightly, his lips brushing across her knuckles. "Thank you" he whispered, his breath on her skin sending shivers down her spine.

Maria's eyes darkened, taking Georg's breath away, he knew he felt what she was so obviously feeling but he wanted to do this right; he wanted her to be certain of what she wanted.

"I don't want to go" Georg understood the double meaning in her words. Maria did not want to leave him in this moment, she would happily stay with him in his study for the remainder of the day. But what made his heart skip a beat was the way that she looked at him as she said those words, the look in her eyes expressing her longing to be by his side for as long as was humanly possible.

"I know" He leant forward and placed his lips on her forehead in chaste but meaningful kiss. "Go now, they will be missing you" Maria nodded, standing and moving towards the door, she turned back to him, a slightly nervous smile on her face.

"I'll see you later?" She knew she didn't really need to ask but her emotions were so overwhelmed with uncertainty, she needed something definite to cling to.

Georg found her question endearing, understanding that need to be sure of something.

"Without a doubt" And with that she left, Georg sighed, stood and went back to his desk.

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For both Georg and Maria the rest of the day felt like it was never going to end.

Maria found the children playing a round of cards on the floor of the girls bedroom. They sat in a circle, Gretl sat on Liesl's lap and Marta snuggled up beside her obviously all playing the same hand. Which meant that Liesl was playing and the girls were pretending, acting in a very studious way as if they had invented the game themselves.

She had sat with them for a while, letting Friedrich and Kurt try to teach her the rules. Later Maria encouraged them to venture outside; trying to convince them that there was nothing evil or old about the Baroness proved to be a problem, much to Louisa's amusement whom had obviously fuelled the younger children's opinions of the poor woman. Finally, having promised them that their Father would have no objection to them sitting down by the lake, Maria and the children headed outside for some well needed fresh air.

Eventually dinner time came and with the Baroness and Max already seated, Georg met his children at the bottom of the stairs. Maria remained slightly behind them watching the beautiful scene unfold as Georg showed courage beyond anything she had ever seen, apologising for his actions since their mother had died. Welcoming his children into his arms, he told them how much he loved them. Georg let the tears fall as his little ones expressed how much they had missed him and Liesl and Friedrich showed him unconditional support at his willingness to let them back in. Maria stood on the last step unable to keep her happy tears at bay as the children laughed with their Father for the first time in years.

The evening meal became quite a merry affair, seemingly much to the Baroness' discomfort. Maria couldn't help but wonder if this woman even liked children at all, she was pleasant enough of course but by no means a natural mother. Everyone at the table seemed somewhat relieved when Elsa announced that although she thought Salzburg was a beautiful place, she was not made for such a secluded life and would be returning to Vienna in the morning. Maria and Georg shared a knowing look and Maria breathed an inaudible sigh.

The evening seemed to come and go rather quickly for the majority of the household, with the children complaining a little when bed time came around and Max and Elsa retiring shortly afterwards leaving Maria and Georg alone in the drawing room. No longer feeling the need to keep an appropriate distance between the two of them, they had snuggled up on the sofa and stayed in silence, simply enjoying each other's company.

Reluctantly they said goodnight and parted outside Maria's room. It took all the strength Georg had not to follow her into her room and prove his love to her with a fiery passion. But he knew that the proof of his lasting intentions, proof that he did not just want her to satisfy some infatuation and lust, would come from his patience and his upmost respect for her.

So they went their separate ways but neither slept. The were both too caught up in the events of the day and the nervous anticipation of tomorrow. Peaceful sleep just would not claim either one of them, so Georg paced his room attempting to pray and feeling foolish for his lack of faith while Maria knelt at the foot of her bed and prayed feeling foolish for her doubt.

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As soon as the first signs of dawn appeared on the horizon Maria was dressed and ready to go. She was used to early mornings at the abbey so it was not as if this was overly unusual. She quietly exited her room and made her way downstairs determined not to wake anybody else up.

She knew the first bus of the morning was not more than half an hour from now and that a leisurely walk to the stop at the end of the road could aid her in calming herself. But as she headed towards the back door, assuming it would be open as that is where the other staff members entered to begin preparations for the day, she noticed the door to Georg's study was slightly ajar.

Concern flooded her mind causing her to drop her bag and head towards the room. Maria peeked in through the door to see Georg sat at his desk with his head in his hands. Her breath caught as she took in his tense posture and she quietly entered.

"Georg?" His head lifted from his hands as he looked for the source of the voice, seeing Maria he immediately stood to greet her.

"Maria" He looked tired she observed, probably as tired as she felt and her heart went out to him.

"Did you sleep at all?" She asked and Georg shook his head "Neither did I, I thought I would get the first bus into town this morning. I don't want to drag this out any longer."

Maria's voice shook, the weight of the moment crushing her fragile resolve and tears filled her eyes. As a tear fell onto her cheek she laughed,

"I don't know why I'm so nervous, whatever will be will be…It will be Gods will…" She choked back a sob, angry at herself.

"Maria" Georg wanted more than anything to reach out and hold her but he was afraid of making it worst.

"You may think me stupid but I believe everything will work out for good even if it means sacrificing the things you want most" She lifted her eyes to meet his "But I am praying with all my heart and soul that his will for me is you!"

Georg walked towards her,

"I don't think you're stupid at all, I admire all that you are" Maria smiled weakly and took his hand.

"I should go" She whispered giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

"I'll walked you out" without letting go of her hand, Georg walked Maria out of the study and into the hall. Side by side they walked to the steps leading to the back door. Just as she was about to climb the stairs she stopped sensing Georg's reluctance, Maria turned to face him.

"What is it,Georg?"

"Maria" he whispered with so much unspoken love, she went week at the knees. Suddenly Georg pulled her flush against him and captured her lips in the most heart wrenching kiss. Every single emotion in his body was poured out as he explored her mouth, his arms holding her as close to him as she could possibly be.

He felt her tears land on his cheek as one arm wrapped around his shoulders and the other hand got lost in his hair. Maria responded with more passion than he could ever have wished for, opening up to his gentle advances against her lips. She couldn't breathe, her chest was screaming and her boiling blood roared in her ears but she didn't care. Maria was completely consumed by Georg and there was no where else she would rather be.

Eventually the need for air became too great and they parted, hearts racing and heads pounding. Georg gently kissed her forehead, an action knew could quite easily become his favourite habit should he have the opportunity to do so , and took a step back.

"Go before my heart overpowers my brain and I no longer see this as a good idea." Maria nodded and walked up the steps. As she opened the door she turned back to look at him.

"Whatever the outcome… I am yours, My love" And she was gone.