Serendipity

(n.) finding something good without looking for it.

"And somewhere out there is a young lady who, I think, will never be a nun."

Elsa's words were swirling around his head on a loop. Had he been that obvious? It took all his self-control not to sprint outside to where Maria was stood and scoop her up, before professing his love to her. Except he didn't want to scare her off when she'd only just come back to hi- them. For a moment, he was worried that - in the time it had taken him to pluck up the courage to approach her - she had made her way back inside and retired for the night. Then he caught a flash of blue chiffon in the moonlight.

Maria was sat on a stone bench inside the ornate gazebo with her face in her hands, her slight form softly shaking. It broke Georg's heart seeing the young fräulein in such anguish. When he was stood on the balcony, watching over her, she appeared to float through the gardens in such an ethereal way that he hadn't even noticed the melancholy look on her face. Here she looked utterly heartbroken.

His heart truly ached for her.

"You know, I thought I just might find you here." Maria's head shot up, blue eyes sparkling straight at him, even in the moonlight. He didn't miss the way she tried to subtly swipe her thumb under her eyes.

"Oh. I'm sorry, Captain. Was there something you wanted?" She asked, her attempt at cheerfulness sounding forced. The urge to wrap his arms around her to comfort her overwhelmed him.

"Yes! No! I mean. It was strangely quiet indoors, and I knew that meant something wasn't right. So I came to check you were still here." He tried to tease her, but she was staring into the horizon, into the mountains. "Is everything alright, Fräulein?"

She sighed deeply before turning to look at him again. "I needed some fresh air after dinner. Today has been…overwhelming." Sad blue eyes bore into his soul again.

"Yes, I suppose it has." He smiled at her, sympathetically. "We're all so glad to have you back. Nothing was the same when you were away, and it'll all be wrong when you leave again."

"Wrong? But everything will be how it should be. The Mother Abbess sent me here on God's errand, to prepare the children for a new mother. Soon, I will return to the Abbey…" She took another deep breath. "…and I will finally become a nun."

Their eyes met for a split second.

"Yes…" He paused briefly before joining her, standing in the door frame. There was something calming about standing so close to her, a sense of contentment, that everything was going to be alright. "Maria, why did you leave in the middle of the night?"

"I wrote you a note, Captain. I missed the abbey terribly-" He raised an eyebrow at her. "And I was scared…"

Georg was not sure what answer he was expecting, but it definitely wasn't that. Had he scared her? Had he made her uncomfortable to the point where she felt the need to flee his house in the early hours of the morning.

"…scared of how I was feeling." A single tear fell down her cheek; his fingers twitched in an effort to not touch her face and wipe it away for her. "Goodness, Captain. You must think me daft."

"Not at all, my dear." She looked at him again, with a shy smile.

"The Reverend Mother said I must look for my life."

"Is that why you came back?"

She nodded.

"And have you found it?"

"I thought I had…at least I did until I learnt the news of- Well, it doesn't matter anymore. I had an obligation to fulfil with the children, and I came back to fulfil it. I also missed the children dearly."

"Only the children?"

"No…Yes! Isn't it right I should?"

"Well yes, but I was kind of hoping-"

"Yes?"

"That you would change your mind about leaving again." Those beautiful blue eyes he often found himself lost in went wide, slightly scandalised and defiant.

"I'm sure the Baroness will be able to make things fine for you, Captain." She replied, curtly.

"Oh, Maria." Georg couldn't help visibly cringing at her misunderstanding at his words. He turned to her and took one of her hands in both of his. "There isn't going to be a baroness. We called off our engagement."

"I am so sorry, Captain. This is all my fault. I didn't mean for any of this to happen." He could see her thought process spiralling. She let go of his hands as she started to pace the gazebo. "If only I had stayed put in the abbey. I've ruined everything."

"Your fault?" Georg asked, utterly baffled. What on earth was she talking about?

"Yes." She replied simply. For a moment, she looked like she was trying to find the words to her explanation. She'd started pacing again and prattling on under her breath. Then, with a slight glimpse of hope, she turned to face him again. "Captain, why did you part ways with Baroness Schraeder?"

"Because, my darling." Georg gently pulled her closer to him. "I am in love with you. And you can't marry someone when you're in love with someone else, can you?" She closed her eyes and smiled.

He'd wondered for a moment if he could have said something more romantic. Until at least he noticed the huge wave of relief sweep over her features. "No. I suppose not."

They were now so close to each other, he saw her lips twitch in anticipation. Georg gently guided Maria's face to his, catching her bottom lip between his in a sweet lingering kiss. Her lips were as soft as he had imagined and his heart soared when he could feel her smiling against his lips. It was a kiss that only lasted a moment, but as he pulled away, it was obvious that it had left them both breathless. Maria's eyes fluttered open a few seconds after the loss of contact. She smiled shyly at him again and Georg knew he was in it deep with her.

He then pressed his lips to her neck, eliciting a soft sigh from his fräulein. "I've been waiting for you to do that since the party, when we danced together." She said, finally. He could sense her blush, even in darkness. "Even if what I was feeling terrified me."

Georg wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled when she rested her head on his shoulder, deepening the embrace. "I apologise for making such a mess of things, my love. I could have saved us both a lot of hassle and heart ache."

He felt her laugh into his shoulder. "I should thank Frau Schraeder. If she hadn't sai-" She stiffened for a spilt second. "Oh. Well that doesn't matter now, either, I suppose." And she lifted her head to smile at him, again.

Had they both been that obvious (and oblivious) that Elsa felt it necessary to play matchmaker? Georg wasn't sure how he felt about Elsa confronting Maria, but that was a conversation for another day. Right now, he had Maria in his arms because she chose him over her calling to become a nun. He could hold her close and revel in her guilt free. Something good had come from Elsa's meddling, even if both himself and Maria hadn't realised themselves until they were apart from one another.

He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt Maria snake her arms around his neck.

"I'm in love with you too." She whispered as she softly kissed his cheek.