Tidsoptimist
(n.) a person who's habitually late because they think they have more time than they actually do; a time optimist.

It was the Captain's suggestion that they all take advantage of the sunshine and the children decided they wanted to have a picnic in the mountains, like they had done with Fräulein Maria a few weeks prior. The air was far too stuffy to stay indoors and the mountain air would do everyone the world of good. The excitement of the outing buzzed through the entire villa.

Trying to find a dress appropriate for the weather and a picnic in the mountains was proving to be quite difficult for Maria. Over the past few weeks, the Captain had provided her with a lot more material as a thank you for the positive changes she had brought to the house and to their lives.

As a postulant in the convent, deciding what to wear wasn't necessary because she wore her habit and a wimple. When she would visit the mountains in her habit, she had no reason to worry about ruining or getting dirt on it. Now she had a wardrobe full of beautiful chiffon, crepe and cotton dresses. Dresses that she would not want to ruin doing such things. Maria knew that, amongst many things, leaving her dresses behind would be extremely hard; one in particular that made her feel rather beautiful.

That dress was not at all appropriate for a trip into the mountains. Far too lovely and delicate. No, she needed something much more practical. She'd almost given up by settling for her plain dirndl, when she caught sight of the new dress she had made still draped over the chair by her dressing table. It was a pastel yellow colour with capped sleeves, cinched at the waist and fell just below her knees. Paired with her straw sun hat, it was the perfect outfit for the Austrian sun.

Once she'd stepped into it and buttoned it up, she allowed herself to quickly admire her reflection. It was a pretty dress and she couldn't help the small smile back at her reflection.

What would the Captain think? Would he approve? He always had something nice to say about her dresses, especially ones he'd seen for the first time. He notices everything. Does he like yello-. Maria shook her head. Why should you care about what Captain von Trapp thinks of your dress? He is courting Frau Schraeder and you are going to be a nun, for goodness sake!

Whilst it was apparent the Captain and herself had developed an easy friendship since the boat incident a few weeks ago, something felt different since the evening where he had sung Edelweiss during their evening of music in the parlour. Since then she had found herself enjoying his attention and compliments much more than what was probably deemed appropriate. The way his gaze lingered in her direction made her shiver and she found herself seeking him for some form of conversation frequently, never entirely sure why. It suddenly dawned on her that vanity would not be the only sin she might be guilty of by the end of the summer holidays.

Whilst sat at her dressing table, Maria started to brush her hair, until she noticed her sun hat was no longer hung on the bedpost at the bottom of her bed where she had left it last. It didn't help that she was also looking for her left shoe. She was certain she was already running late! It took several more minutes of looking in her ensuite, the wardrobe, even the chest of drawers when she finally found her missing shoe under her bed. Two shoes and no hat was going to have to suffice, especially when she was sure she keeping everyone waiting downstairs.

In hindsight, sprinting from the governess' bedroom, through the hallway and then down the stairs wasn't one of her most well thought out ideas. The stairs were much more slippery in the villa than they were at the abbey, which she found out the hard way. One minute she could see Captain von Trapp looking up at her impatiently, the next she was in his arms because he had caught her after she lost her footing and flew down the last quarter of the flight of stairs. His face was so close to hers and she tried her hardest to prevent the rosiness she could feel threatening to fill her cheeks.

"Fräulein Maria! Are you okay?" She heard Brigitta ask, but her eyes were transfixed on the Captain's.

Captain von Trapp raised an eyebrow and smirked at her, still holding onto her tightly. He seemed to delight in teasing her lately.

Although his teasing look turned more intense, as if he was gazing right into her soul - the same way he had done when he had serenaded them all with 'Edelweiss' that night. For a moment, he looked like he was about to say something, until everyone was brought back to their senses at the sound of Baroness Schraeder clearing her throat.

The spell was broken and Maria was back on her feet, disappointed in herself at how sad she was that the Captain was no longer holding her.

"I was just going to say goodbye before you all left, darling." The Baroness said, finally, each word dripping in their usual syrupy tone, eyes burning a hole straight through Maria, as if to remind her of her place. Maria's mortification was painted across her face. "You ought to be more careful, Fräulein." She continued as she approached the Captain to give him a quick peck on the lips before making her way back towards the terrace.

Everyone one now stood at the bottom of the stairs awkwardly.

The Captain was the first to break the silence. "Well…Shall we go then?" The delight in all seven children roared in the foyer as they all started to race out of the door, leaving their father and fräulein alone.

"I'm sorry, Captain. I would have been down sooner, but my hat and then my shoe and then I remembered the time and-"

"Woah, Fräulein! Slow down."

"But, Captain, I-"

"It's not like it's the first time we've had to wait for you." The teasing glint returned to his eyes and he smirked at her again, causing her to smile shyly at the floor. "Come on. Let's go and enjoy the sunshine while we still can."

He motioned for her to go through the door first, but just as she had reached the door she caught a glimpse of something familiar. Over the Captain's shoulder was her straw sun hat, sat on top of one of the many opulent vases by the door.

"Aha! That's where it went." She shouted, triumphantly, causing the Captain to jump. Maria was slightly amused at his confused expression. "Although I don't remember leaving it there." As she reached to put it on her head, she could hear a chorus of seven mischievous giggles coming from the other side of the door. She may have won them over, but it appeared she was still the main attraction of a few practical jokes.

Once reunited with her hat, she walked back towards the door.

"Is that a new dress?" Captain von Trapp asked, that same gentle look in his eyes. Maria nodded. "You do look lovely in yellow, Fräulein."

"Thank you, Captain." Maria tried her best to hide the breath that had caught in her lungs, glowing at his kind compliment as she smiled.

He smiled back at her. "Shall we?"

As Maria had stepped out of the door, she hadn't noticed Max stood at the other end of the foyer, who had raised his eyebrow before the warning look the Captain had flashed him as a consequence.

"Right children. Have we got everything we need? Who has the picnic basket?"

Friedrich proudly lifted the basket at his governess and was rewarded with a kind smile in return. The Captain shortly joined them outside.

"Let's go then, shall we?"

A/N This came from me re-reading chapter 2 (Carapherneila) of this, after procrastinating doing my coursework during reading week. I've wanted to expand on the dress flashbacks - and this happened :)