Life in the von Trapp household was good this summer. The children had the time of their lives with their governess, laughing, playing, learning and enjoying their vacation time. Their father had come to terms with the past and with the passing of his beloved Agathe. It had taken a young woman with a horrible past and some introspection, and he had gradually returned. Georg von Trapp: devoted father, gifted musician, funny storyteller. The Papa the older children could remember, but the younger ones never had the chance to get to know.

He spent a lot of time outdoors with them, in the gardens, in and on the lake, occasionally in the stables, on top of the Untersberg and some of the surrounding mountains. And he had ended a chapter of his life that didn't seem to fit any longer. Elsa von Schraeder had returned to Vienna, none too pleased with the situation, but having seen and felt the change in the man she thought she knew. The national hero she had intended to marry.

But in a rare moment of honesty, she came to the conclusion that it was for the best. She never wanted to be a mother, not to one child and most certainly not to seven. And the man she had encountered in Salzburg was obviously a package deal. A family man who loved his children dearly and was content to spend huge amounts of time with them. A man who couldn't care less about the latest gossip from their aristocratic circles. A man who much rather got dirty playing with his boys than being pressed and dressed in a tuxedo. He had even started to forego the tie and jacket for dinner in the oppressive summer heat that hat invaded the villa. And still he was a sight to behold, even in this more casual look of dress pants and a more traditional Austrian Trachtenshirt, always with patterns in blue hues that brought out the color of his beautiful eyes so strikingly.

However nice Georg von Trapp was to look at, the Baroness had a hard time believing that they would be at all compatible on a daily basis. And to make matters worse, boarding school seemed to be a taboo topic with Georg. She had tried to talk to him several times, but he refused to even hear her out. He told her in no uncertain terms that the children would all remain at home until they wished to apply to a school in another part of the country or even abroad.

She also had an inkling that there was more to that "little governess". She had seen the way he would look at the pretty postulant, when he thought everyone was occupied with other things. There was a look of admiration in his eyes, a tenderness that she had never seen before. Although she wished that the Captain would look at her that way, she was wary of the same thing. Georg von Trapp was an intense, passionate man. She knew that much. Elsa von Schraeder, on the other hand, was more cautious with her feelings. She hid behind an icy exterior, and even her late husband was only given few opportunities to see the woman behind the mask.

Maria, with her heart on her tongue, her exuberance and energy, was much more like Georg than herself – even though their backgrounds couldn't be more different. However, Elsa suspected that there was more to the governess, more to the story why the young woman wanted to be a nun even if there were few people that Elsa could think of that were less suitable for that vocation.

So she had come to the decision that it would be best to let Georg find another love, a real love – and for her to figure out how to continue with her life in these uncertain times.

Georg had come to the same conclusion after much reflection and thinking about the situation. He had spent many nights in his study or in the old rowboat, pulling the heavy oars and gliding across the water. More often than not, he would find himself on the little island where he had gone with Maria that night when Gretl's innocent questions had brought back so many bad memories for the young woman that she had never shared with anyone.

He would sit under the stars and remember the blissful times with Agathe. The births of their children. The joys of being a big, happy family. The love they shared as a couple. He never thought that he would ever love again, that there might be a woman out there that would stir the same feelings and passions that his late wife had. But alas, the Reverend Mother of Nonnberg Abbey had sent one Maria Rainer to his doorstep, dressed in a potato sack, but bewitching nonetheless. The more he learned about this young woman, the more his appreciation grew.

She was an extraordinary person. Not just because she had the guts to stand up to him. Because she loved his children unconditionally – she was so much more than a governess and teacher to them. Because she showed the children what was right and wrong – not by lecturing them, but by making them understand. Because she found a way of challenging the children in their studies but making the lessons fun. She would take the classroom outside into the fresh air and have the children apply their newfound knowledge.

On one of the excursions Georg took to the small island he looked up into the stars – the constellations that had shown him the way when he was a young cadet in the Austrian navy. And suddenly everything fell into place. He loved Maria. It was as simple as that. It was - as difficult as that.

Well, she didn't want to be a nun any longer. He knew that. So he had to court her, show her that he was a nice guy, after all – and that the love between a man and a woman could be exciting and exhilarating and tender and playful. But before he could do that, he had to end things with Elsa. Not that they were ever more than friends, it just never felt right. But he knew that Elsa, well, half of Austria's aristocratic circles really, was expecting a proposal in the near future.

Elsa was a family friend, someone Georg had known for a very long time. She was the only one who could reach the Captain after his wife's death. The only one he would talk to after Agathe had passed. But that wasn't the Georg von Trapp that Salzburg knew, the loving father and devoted husband. The funny friend and mischievous employer who would sometimes play little jokes on Frau Schmidt or the chef.

He decided that he would take Elsa to a place that he despised, but he knew the Baroness from Vienna would love. He took an afternoon off from his family and took her to Wolfgangsee, one of the most beautiful places in Salzkammergut, where the high society spend their summer days doing what they did. They had coffee and cake, sitting in the shade on the terrace of a beautiful café. And while Elsa seemed to be in her element, Georg felt his feet twitch. He wanted to feel the grass under his feet, to jump into the refreshing clear lake water and swim as far as his arms and legs would take him.

But he couldn't. He had to sit on a wooden porch, dressed in suit and tie, and listen to Elsa's rambling about Baron this and Baroness that. After there was a lull in the rather one-sided conversation, Georg took his chance. He took Elsa's left hand into his right and looked at her. "Elsa, are you happy here in Salzburg?" he asked. A simple question that had no simple answer.

She took her time answering. Elsa knew what he was really asking, and she knew that this was the conversation that she had prepared herself for, but was dreading at the same time.

"Georg, let's be honest, shall we?"

"Yes, please", he answered. "It's no use, you and I. When two people talk of marriage…" But she interrupted his lame attempt at an apology.

"I like it her very much. I think Salzburg is one of the most beautiful cities in Austria, and the countryside is gorgeous. But it is not Vienna. And I belong to Vienna. With all my acquaintances, all the glittering salons, even all the gossip. That is my world, and I have come to realize that it is not yours."

Georg was surprised, to say the least. "You are right. And I apologize for pretending to be someone I really am not during the time we saw each other in Vienna. The man you see here is the retired sea captain, the real Georg. I had lost myself after Agathe's death, as you very well know."

"Yes, Georg. I know. And I am very fond of you. Also of the man who rolls around in the dirt and competes with his sons. And the one who has a tea party with his girls. It is just not a world that I know or am comfortable with. I never had any children, couldn't have them. So I never developed relationships with children and don't really know how to behave." Georg stroked Elsa's knuckles tenderly. She wasn't a bad person, they just weren't right for each other.

"Elsa, I'm sorry I can't give you what you are looking for. I am fond of you, too. But first and foremost, I'm the father of my incorrigible brood and I want to be the guide and guardian that they deserve."

Elsa smiled at him and looked directly into his blue eyes, his best feature, she thought. "And maybe the good Lord will see fit that you father some more children", she said. Georg almost choked on the coffee that he just drank and looked at Elsa.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, I don't think that your Fräulein Maria will ever be a nun, do you?" she said, grinning at his adorably confused face.

"No, I don't think so either. But Elsa, believe me when I tell you that nothing has ever happened between Maria and me", he stressed.

"Oh, I do believe that, Georg. After all, you are honorable. And honest. I am very sure about that. This is a very welcome change from most of the man in our circles and in Vienna, as you very well know."

"Elsa, I know all about the reputation that precedes me. And there is some truth about my being a wild sailor. But that all changed when I met Agathe. I was always faithful to her, I never even looked at other women. I thought you were a save deal, an arrangement, if you will. I would not, could not, love you, because I thought I could never love again. But then Maria came, totally unexpected and not at all what I thought when I inquired about a governess at the abbey. But then it turns out she was just what we all needed. I have no idea if she will accept me as more than a friend, but I know that she brought love back to my house and to me."

"I know, Georg. I can see it in the looks you give her. And I wish you all the best for the future, because you deserve to be happy. And so does she."

Georg got up from his chair and went to Elsa. Against all rules of society, he gave her hand a little tug and hugged her to his chest. "Thank you, Elsa", he whispered. Elsa returned the sentiment and was glad about her decision.

"Now, will you take me to the train station? I have packed my little bags and am all ready to leave for Vienna."

Another surprise for Georg von Trapp. "This fast?" he asked.

"Yes", Elsa said. "I don't want to be in the way any longer."

"Elsa, I hope you will find someone in the future, someone who will be your perfect mate. You are a beautiful, caring woman, even though you hardly ever let anyone see this side of you."

"Don't make me tear up, Captain", she said, thinking that this chat had been much more agreeable and friendly than she had originally feared.

So Georg had taken them both back to the Villa where they picked up Elsa's luggage. Maria and the children were up on one of the hills, so she had no chance to say good-bye to either of them – even though she would have liked to. The Captain drove her to Salzburg's main station. He waited with her until her train to Vienna was called and they shared another friendly hug. "Don't be a stranger, Georg", Elsa said. "And I mean it. You know my house is big enough for all of you".

"Thank you, Elsa. For everything", Georg said and kissed her cheek.

And that was that. Before going back to the villa, he opened up the convertible – something Elsa didn't care for very much as he had learned in the last couple of weeks. As the wind blew through his locks, he whistled a happy tune on his way back home, hoping that Maria and the children were already back from their excursion.

-SCHNIPP-

So, it seems this story hasn't come to an end after all ;) Thank you for your reviews and opinions. I have another chapter in the works that has a lot more M+G in it... but I felt the Captain had to do the honorable thing first!

Please, let me know what you think. Please?