Judging by the reviews y'all have given, I take it you like the first chapter? I was really worried about it being too out of character, or too sappy. Or, being just plain crap. Also, in this story Maria is more mature and less innocent and naive (if that made sense?).

Thank you guys for the reviews, I thrive on them!

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything, at all. I don't profit from anything. Also, all mistakes and such are mine because I do not have a beta reader.

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"My Maria..."

I sat there in disbelief. There stood Maria, leaning against the threshold of the gazebo. She was back! Was she here to stay?

Maria slowly made her way towards me. The look on her face was soft, yet indecipherable. She truly did look like an Angel with the sun shining on her hair, and it making her skin glow.

When Maria finally stood in front of me, she gently cupped my jaw in both of her hands. "Georg darling, please look at me?"

As I did, she wiped a stray tear from my face. My voice was rough but quiet as I said, "What made you leave?"

Maria looked nervous as she took a deep breath. "On the night of Baroness Shraeder's "grand and glorious" party, she... as I was getting ready, she said to me, that you were in love with me but would get over it. Then she gave me a dirty look and I left because I felt... I don't know exactly what I felt. I suppose I was scared of not having my love returned."

I put my hands on her waist and pulled her onto my lap. "I am sorry you had to go through that, Maria."

She then did something that in all honesty, shocked me a little. Maria leaned in and kissed me. The kiss was relatively chaste, but it left me reeling. Her lips. My God were they soft, softer than I'd have ever imagined they'd be.

After our kiss came to a natural end, I rested my forehead against hers. "Why don't we go into my study? Max and the children will be back in a few hours and I'd like some alone time with you."

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Once we were in my study, I clicked the lock shut and turned to sit in my office chair. Then I beckoned Maria sit on my lap. "Come here, you."

Once she sat on my lap, she rested her head on my shoulder and ran her fingers through my hair. "You know Georg, Reverend Mother always says that when God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window."

"What else does the Reverend Mother say?"

Maria lifted her head off of my shoulder to look at me. "Your home is where your heart lays."

"Have you found your home... Maria? Does it lay with the children and I?"

Maria nodded her head and whispered, "Yes, it does lay with you and with the children." When she said that, the look on her face was filled with love and adoration.

The silence that followed, was reassuring and the tension... The tension between us was deliciously palpable. It made me think of wanting nothing more than to make love to Maria. Just the thought of doing so, made a rush of desire shoot straight through me. The unfortunate thing is I can't do anything about it for the time being.

"I love you, my Maria. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

She smiled, "I love you, my darling. There is nothing I want more, than to be your wife and a mother to the children."

I couldn't help myself as I leaned up to snare her lips into a steaming kiss. The sweet taste of her lips was amazing.

Maria's tongue licked my bottom lip and nipped it. I gasped in surprise, and then she took the opportunity for her tongue to tangle with mine. It drove me wild as our kisses got deeper and more passionate.

Our kissing was cut short by a knock on the door. "Georg? are you in there? "

I rolled my eyes in irritation. "Just a minute, Max and I'll come and unlock the door."

Maria stood behind me while trying to make herself a bit more presentable, like we hadn't just been kissing each other senseless.

As soon as I unlocked the door and opened it, Max shoved his way in. Why, I haven't a clue.

Max said in surprise, "Oh, Maria, you're back!" Max paused a minute and asked, "Maria could you leave Georg and I alone for a few minutes?"

Maria nodded and kissed me on the cheek, "You can find me with the children, shall you need anything."

Max had his eyebrow raised, and I nodded in answer to his silent question.

Just as Maria closed the door, Max asked me, "You guys didn't to anything did you?"

Before I could say anything, Maria poked her head in the door. "Oh please Max, if we had done anything, you probably would have heard me scream."

My God she's a little minx.

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I hope that y'all enjoyed this chapter! The reason it took so long to update, was because I was nervous about how well this turned out. Let me know what you think?