AN: - Written for the Proboards June writing prompt. Thank you again for all the reviews, I really do appreciate them.

Disclaimer: - Written for pleasure not profit… I own nothing!

Rating: - T

Chapter 3

Pulling back the golden velvet drapes, Frau Schmidt opened the window slightly to let some fresh air into the stuffy bedroom. She turned and smiled as she saw Fraulein Maria sitting up and eating her breakfast, heartily. The Governess had made remarkable, almost miraculous progress in the last week or so, largely due to the presence of the children who had been visiting her frequently since she had fully recovered consciousness.

Whilst she still bore the physical signs of her accident, it seemed, that although she fully understood what had happened to her and at who's hands, she had come to terms with it. The accident had been shockingly violent and yet she was happy in the knowledge that Frau Schmidt had passed on the information that she had gleaned from Maria and the authorities were looking into Herr Zeller's involvement in her injuries.

"Frau Schmidt…" Maria called, "will the children be visiting today? I do hope that they can find some time, it really cheers me up to see them."

"Why yes, my dear. They asked me yesterday if they could visit you… um, and perhaps I can ask the Captain if he'd like to accompany them?" Frau Schmidt was interested to know what the Fraulein knew of the Captains feelings for her.

"Oh, I'm sure that the Captain has much better things to do than visit me. The Baroness must have plans for them," Maria sighed.

Maria's reasons for leaving the villa remained the same and as soon as she was well, she would return to the Abbey and take her vows. Whilst she still held feelings for the Captain, stronger feelings than she'd care to admit, it was obvious to her that his lack of concern, highlighted by the fact that he had not visited her once since she had woken up, confirmed to her that she had been deluded about his possible attraction to her and that in fact, the Baroness really had nothing to worry about.

"Maria…" the housekeeper came and sat in the chair by her bedside. "Were you not aware of anything when you were unconscious?"

"No, not really… well, I suppose there were times when I thought that I could hear things, perhaps even feel things but…" Maria's words drifted off as she recalled the Captain whispering into her ear, the warmth of his breath against her neck, the touch of his fingertips as he stroked her cheek tenderly. "But they were only dreams… nothing more."

"What if they weren't dreams, Maria?" Frau Schmidt persisted, "the Captain… he…"

The Housekeeper was interrupted as Maria was unable to supress possibly the loudest yawn that Frau Schmidt had heard. Maria was becoming tired. She still felt drained and the thoughts that she was having about the Captain were becoming distressing.

"Do you mind if I rest now, Frau Schmidt. I would like to be as fresh as possible when the children visit me after lunch."

"Yes, of course, my dear. I'll leave you now."

Frau Schmidt picked up the breakfast tray in one hand and closed the door behind her. She started to walk towards the Captain's suite. It was more than a week since she had found him slumped in the chair next to Maria, an apparently defeated man, devoid of hope. Since then he had spent most of his time in his study with his head buried in the piles of paperwork that had accrued since Maria's accident. He had joined the children for meals and made pleasant conversation but he had not set foot in Maria's room. Frau Schmidt had made sure that she kept him updated on Maria's progress at his request and whilst she could tell that he was obviously relieved that she was awake and recovering well, she could also tell that he was inwardly tormented. It wasn't her place to enquire and she knew full well that he would tell her so, particularly in his current mood but she felt her own heart breaking at the sight of this broken man, who so obviously loved the young woman who had swept into his and his children's lives and yet he seemed reluctant to do anything about it.

She paused momentarily but then turned as she got to the stairs and began to descend them slowly. She had no idea whether the Fraulein felt the same way about him, perhaps she did but whatever was going on in their complicated lives was not going to be easy to unravel. One thing was certain though, she was going to do her very best to help them.

xXx

Breakfast being over, the children excused themselves from the table. Liesl hung back as the rest of her siblings made their way up to their school room.

"Father, we are all going to see Fraulein Maria after lunch. I thought maybe you would like to come with us. I'm sure that she would be very pleased to see you."

"Oh, I'm not sure I'll be able to, I have quite a lot of work to do today," Georg smiled at his daughter tenderly. If he didn't know better he might even think that Liesl was trying to act as some sort of matchmaker, but he felt sure that she couldn't possibly have any idea about how he felt about her Governess.

"But Father, you've been spending so much time working, especially since Fraulein Maria has been getting better. Before that we hardly saw you at all. Please, Father. Come and see her."

How could he deny his eldest daughter? Seeing Maria would certainly set his mind at ease. Frau Schmidt had been keeping him appraised of her recovery and she seemed to be doing well but the last thing he wanted was for her to have a relapse, which she might well do if she saw him again and remembered anything that he had said to her.

"Very well, I surrender," he laughed and held his hands in the air. "Come and find me when you are ready to see Fraulein Maria." He took hold of his daughter's hand and squeezed it gently before bringing it to his lips.

"Now… you must get on with your studies and I must get on with some work," he stood and escorted his daughter to the stairs, leaving her so that he could seek sanctuary in his study once more.

xXx

Liesl knocked softly on Maria's door and after hearing the quiet acknowledgement of their Governess, the children filed into the bedroom. They swarmed around Maria but Georg was stopped in his tracks as he saw the full extent of Maria's injuries. Since he last saw her, the bruises that now covered half of her face were angry and black. He could feel his throat tighten and his eyes begin to sting as he thought of the pain that she must be having to endure. He hung back watching, as one by one the children hugged Maria and kissed her on the cheek. The little ones clambered onto the bed and he could see her wince silently as they inadvertently sat on one of her many bruises. Marta and Gretl snuggled under her arms as the boys talked ten to the dozen about the unsuspecting creatures they had found during one of their many adventures in the garden. Georg didn't think that this woman could be any more perfect. She was stunningly beautiful, even with a battered and bruised face. She had an overwhelming capacity to love and how he wished that she loved him even a fraction as much as she loved his children.

He stepped forward slowly not wanting to interrupt the wonderful scene that was playing out before him and as he did so Maria looked up for the first time.

She wasn't expecting to see the Captain standing at the foot of her bed, why he had decided to come now was rather a mystery. Never the less, a broad smile swept across her lips and her eyes lit up at the sight of him. He had lost none of his appeal. Dressed in a smart blue suit and tie he looked devilishly handsome. She cursed herself for being so impulsive but she truly felt wonderful and when he smiled back at her she swore she could see tears in his eyes.

"Captain… I didn't expect to see you. I thought perhaps that you would be too busy with the Baroness. The children have told me how little they've seen of you."

Georg walked to the side of her bed. The children were busy tidying various things in Maria's room, freshening her water jug and arranging some wild flowers they had picked in the garden, so he took the opportunity to take a seat beside her.

"May I?" he gestured towards the chair.

Maria nodded and he settled quietly beside her.

"Um, yes, I have been quite busy. I'm sure that the children have been looking after you though." He began to feel guilty about abandoning her and he only wished that she knew how much time he had spent next to her in the first few days after the accident.

"They are wonderful children; you are so lucky Captain. They are such a credit to you," Maria purred as she looked over at how they were all busying themselves around her room.

"I think you know, Fraulein that it is you that I have to thank for my children's improved behaviour and compassion. Without you I'm not sure what would have become of us," he smiled at Maria and she could see something more than just gratitude in his eyes. Such was the intensity of his gaze that she almost forgot to breath. His piercing blue eyes were becoming darker as she stared adoringly into their crystal clear depths.

Becoming increasingly uncomfortable by the feelings that he was evoking in her, she looked down at her hands.

"I'm sure the Baroness will make sure that the children remain on the right path. They are lucky to be getting a new mother to love them." Her words weren't entirely truthful or genuine but for the sake of the Captain, she wanted to be positive about his impending engagement.

"Maria… the Baroness has gone back to Vienna. She hasn't been here for over a week."

"Oh, I see… I thought that you would be engaged by now, after all, that's why you organised the party… isn't it?"

Their line of conversation took him by surprise but he wasn't shocked by Maria's forthright questions. It was one of the things he had come to love about her. She was straight talking and honest. Just what he had needed to make him come to his senses about so many aspects of his life that he needed to be improve.

"Things have changed. The Baroness won't be coming back to Salzburg, at least not to see me," he replied bluntly.

Maria could sense by the Captain's reluctance to talk about the Baroness that it was a conversation that was best kept for another time, even though she was incredibly intrigued by the news and couldn't help thinking that maybe her accident had something to do with it.

"The children have missed you very much since the accident, they asked about you every day," Georg whispered as he continued to gaze at her, unable to look away from her beautiful soft features.

"Was it only the children… who missed me?" she stared closely at his expression, as the gravity of her words dawned on him.

"No…" he became flustered, "I – I mean yes. Isn't it right that they should miss you?" was his ruffled reply.

"Of course… I was only hoping that…" Maria was interrupted as Kurt proudly placed a beautiful vase of flowers on her bedside table and promptly knocked over the glass of the water that she kept there.

The Captain jumped up as the water drenched his trousers and he frantically brushed the water droplets away trying to minimise the damage.

"Oh, never mind, don't worry Kurt, accidents happen," she chuckled as Georg looked less than impressed with his son.

"Right, children," he clapped his hands together to get their attention. "It's time for you to get some fresh air. Liesl, you are in charge of your brothers and sisters. Now off you go." The children scuttled out of the room, each waving cheerily to Maria as they left.

"Please don't be angry with Kurt, Captain. He is such a lovely boy who just needs to slow down sometimes," Maria laughed, as she observed how uncomfortable the Captain looked with his wet trousers.

"I'm not angry with him," Georg muttered and then gestured towards the bed, "but just look at your sheets, they are soaking wet."

"Please, don't worry. Frau Schmidt will change them for me but perhaps if you could just help me into the chair?"

Georg stared at Maria as if she had made the most ridiculously inappropriate request.

"It will be easier for Frau Schmidt, that's all," Maria felt it necessary to enlarge upon her request seeing the disconcerted look on the Captain's face.

Maria had injured her left ankle in the accident and wasn't able to put any weight on it so she was yet to properly venture out of bed.

Leaning over, Georg wrapped his arms around her and gently raised her to a standing position. As he did so, he could feel her fingers grazing his skin as she brought her own arms up and slid them around his neck, pulling herself closely to him. Her body was pressed firmly against his own and he could feel the swell of her breasts against his chest. His breath hitched in his throat as she unknowingly pushed her hips into his. She melted into him and he was uncertain where his own body ended and hers began. Weariness caused her breathing to become laboured and she rested her cheek against his. If only he could stay like this forever. His mind returned to the night of the party as he stood, inches away from her as they danced. If only he had listened to his heart they may have ended up in the very same tormentingly, erotic position. God knows there had been many nights where he had dreamed of it, longed for it.

"I'm just going to carefully turn you towards the chair," he whispered into her ear, realising that she was tiring. As he did so the hairs at the back of her neck stood on end at the sensation of his warm breath against her skin. He turned her slowly and she could feel the contours of his body; his chest, his hips and his strong protective forearms in exquisite detail.

Tentatively, he began to lower her to the chair and she looked up at him, a mixture of gratitude and longing etched on her face.

Seeing that she was settled he brushed down her nightgown and placed a blanket across her lap. He reached over to where the vase stood and picked out a delicate blue flower and handed it to Maria.

"It's a beautiful colour, don't you think? It matches your eyes perfectly."

Maria began to blush as an embarrassed smile spread across her lips and all she could do was nod in gratitude, words seeming to completely fail her.

"Well… now that you're comfortable, I'll ask Frau Schmidt to come and see to your sheets," Georg shrugged. Whilst he didn't want to break the magic of the moment, he knew that she still needed to heal and the best way that she could do that was to rest.

As he headed for the door, Maria called after him.

"Captain… thank you," she smiled, a genuine smile that lit up her whole face. "I'd like it if you came to see me again, that is, if you want to?"

"I would very much like to… thank you."

With a renewed sense of purpose, Georg von Trapp pushed his shoulders back and made his way out to the garden to spend some well needed time with his children.

xXx

A shorter chapter but at least they are moving in the right direction! As always, I'd be very grateful if you would consider leaving a review. Thank you