"Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses."

- Ann Landers

Welp, this has taken forever! But, I am finally publishing something for the first time in months and I suppose that is all that matters! What a bonkers fall I had! Lots of writing to be done, just none of it was for fun! I would dabble in this story if I could stay awake long enough at night! I also struggled with where I wanted the story to go - it's kind of at a critical junction - the future of the story depends on today (and it's canon...go figure!)! Haha

Anyway, enough babbling. Here is the cumulation of those many evenings - chapter 25 is almost done, too. This was one honkin' chapter that I had to break into two pieces, lest it take me another few weeks to get something posted!

ooOoo

The next couple of days passed rather happily at the villa. The sun came out for a beautiful string of warm-to-borderline-hot days, but in the evenings, it had been cool and comfortable as lighter air streamed down the mountain side. The children were settling into their new world order with their father back in their lives, and they could not have been happier.

There were, however, strange things happening at the villa.

The Captain was not around the villa nearly as much as he had been in the immediate aftermath of the "argument". He seemed to have been tied up with engagements in town - either with the Baroness or his solicitor, and he was also occupied the past two evenings. However, without fail, he was always back at the villa a few hours before dinner and then he would make a point of talking to the children and playing games with them in the yard under the shade of the big maples that graced the lawn.

Maria and the Captain's regular evening meetings had also been upended. Two evenings ago, after dinner, an acquaintance of the Captain, Herr Bittner, had stopped by to discuss the sale of some horses, so Maria kept the children upstairs - entertained and quiet. Even the Baroness spent most of the evening in her room since horses were not something she cared to consider if she didn't have to. Then last night after dinner, the Captain, the Baroness, and Uncle Max went into town for an evening at the theatre.

The Captain's sudden scarcity meant that Maria found herself wondering from time-to-time if the man was purposefully avoiding her.

Of course, the Captain didn't owe her the gift of his time, however, she found herself missing her interactions with him terribly. It was strange to realize how significant a part of her life he had become. Maria saw him at the breakfast and dinner tables, and again in the late afternoon, but it was never just the two of them anymore. What also was strange was that the Captain didn't even acknowledge their lack of time together. In the beginning, he had always apologized profusely if he was unable to make their regularly scheduled evening meetings. Maybe this was just how it was now that they had settled into a routine?

But really, what could Maria expect? She could not demand that he spend time with her. The Captain had other people to entertain and even she could understand that they were much more important than humouring the governess each evening. But then why had meeting with her been so important in those early days?

Maybe it was nothing – it was all in her head?

Well, perhaps it was the Baroness who was directing the Captain's activities, possibly trying her best to keep them both away from the children? Every afternoon while the Captain played, she sipped lemonade from her perch on the terrace, usually with a scowl on her face.

Maybe the Captain was feeling embarrassed after their trip to visit the late Baroness? That day seemed to mark the beginning of this recent change in behaviour. That seemed unlikely, though. Maria was certain that he was relieved that she was there to support him. He said as much on the way home in the car that afternoon.

Whatever it was, it was confusing, and Maria realized that trying to figure it out would just continue to feed the gnawing feeling she had in her chest whenever she thought about it.

However, just simply being confused about his sudden avoidance measures was the least of her problems. Even though the Captain was physically scarce and seemed to be avoiding spending time alone with her, Maria routinely caught him regarding her intently whenever there was an unguarded moment between the two of them.

How could it be that the looks he gave her in the company of others made her feel like they were alone?

Just yesterday afternoon, for example, the Captain had been kicking a ball about with the boys while she was sitting under her favourite tree with the littlest ones. When she looked up from her sketchbook, he was watching her closely. He stared for a moment, smiled wickedly, then winked, and turned his attention back to the impromptu football match. Meanwhile, Maria was left with the feeling that a hundred butterflies had just taken flight in her stomach.

Hours later at the dinner table, while helping Greta cut up her roast, Maria could sense someone was watching her.

Again.

Looking up, she locked eyes with the Captain. However, this time he didn't throw her his trademark Cheshire Cat's grin, nor did he try to look nonchalant about being caught. His eyes bore through her, almost as though he had no sense that she was looking back at him. Normally, Maria was the first one to back down, always finding something random to hold her interest instead of the Captain, but this time she did not look away. She looked back at him as hard as he was looking at her. The Captain only snapped out of his trance when the Baroness said something witty and had clasped on to his forearm.

Why was he acting this way? That was the million-dollar question. His behaviour was chilly and a wee bit distant, yet he seemed intensely interested in her. Maria prided herself on being able to read the Captain and his moods rather effortlessly, but this...well, he had turned the ship around and was charting a different course – and she was struggling to figure him out.

"Is this what hunting ships in a submarine is like?" Maria wondered to herself.

So, today was Monday again...day three of "scarce" Captain. Not that Maria was counting.

At the breakfast table, Maria was not surprised to learn that the Captain and his guests were going into town just before the noon-hour.

Again.

This time the Captain had business to attend to, and the Baroness and Uncle Max were going to have brunch with a cousin of the late Baron Schraeder. As a result, Maria decided to plan a fun, outside day for the children – without the Captain.

Again.

Maria and the children packed a lovely picnic basket which they carried away from the villa on their bikes, and they all ate their lunch in the sunny grove down the lane. They climbed trees and listened to the cicada bugs screeching in the canopy. The sun beat down on their dirty faces and knees; Maria felt so utterly content, despite the nagging feeling that something, or someone, was missing from this scene.

By mid-afternoon, they had all returned home and stowed their bikes away in the shed beside the boathouse. The children had all gathered by the lakeside and were wading in the water trying to cool down after their bike ride. The sun was relentless this afternoon, and since the Captain was not expected to be home until closer to dinner, Maria decided to indulge the children with the chance to have a quick swim.

Everyone ran into the house, hooting and hollering, and soon they all paraded down to the lake from the villa dressed in their swimsuits and each one had a towel in hand. Even Maria was ready to splash about in a navy swimsuit borrowed from Liesl.

The younger girls did not last long in the water, however; they were soon complaining about being cold. As a result, Maria found herself sitting with the younger girls and their dolls in the warm sun while she watched on as the older children played in the lake. Maria's eyes never left them, and she was always watching out to make sure they were safe.

Captain or no Captain, it was a glorious afternoon and Maria was so glad to be a part of it. He, however, was still such a mystery: she was going to have to think about that one.

ooOoo

Unlocking the door to his study, Georg fumbled with his keys and a stack of papers that he had picked up in town from his solicitor. This time it was some documents that had been sent to him from his father-in-law through his lawyer, Arnold Haberlander. Top Secret. He didn't even tell Elsa what they were about. Although they had been together almost two years, she made it very clear that she did not approve of his resistance to changing ideas. Given the contents of the package, it was just safer if she didn't know about them. The future success of the British Navy depended on the security of these plans.

Closing the door behind him, he threw the envelopes onto his desk and flopped into his desk chair. His eyes caught the print of the Siren and Ulysses once more, and he fought to retain his composure, ignoring the copper-haired sprite...

...again.

Georg shook his head in frustration. He had to make hay while the sun shone! Now was not the time to get lost in the work of William Etty, particularly in the delicate form of the copper-haired seductress. For the next while, Elsa would be incapacitated. They had left the restaurant early because Elsa had complained of a headache coming on – no doubt the result of one too many mimosas over brunch today. Or perhaps it was just too much of that buffoon Schraeder's ramblings? Regardless, with the children and their Fraulein nowhere to be found, and Elsa not needing his attention for the foreseeable future, Georg took the opportunity to use this quiet time to get himself organized and get some of the work done that John required.

He slowly unwound the red and white string from the metal grommet that held the envelope shut. Georg popped open the envelope and then poured the papers onto his desk. He errantly flipped through the bundles, unfolding the crisp white paper and skimming the words and diagrams on each page. It was at that moment he heard it: a happy din rising from the yard. Apparently, Georg wasn't as alone as he had originally thought.

He shook his head and tried to focus once again on the papers in front of him, but his ears deceived him. Georg finally paused and focused his attention on the voices of the children, his ears highly trained to detect and decode sounds. What were they up to?

It could not be, could it?

Rising from his chair he made his way to the window, gently pulled back the drapery, and surveyed the scene before him.

Familial bliss...that is what he saw! The children were splashing and kicking in the water – they were obviously having a fun time, but they were not carrying on like hooligans. The little Fraulein always had them under her thumb.

Scanning the waters of the lake, he counted their heads: "1 – 2 – 3 – 4 um...oh, one popped out from the surface of the water – 5 … but where were the others...? Three heads were missing…"

Georg swallowed hard and rubbed his eyes, and then rubbed them again. What the hell?

In the middle of the lawn on a red and black checked picnic blanket, Marta and Gretl were curled around Maria like a mother cat with her kittens. Georg could tell that Maria was watching the children in the lake like a hawk, she was always so concerned for their safety. Gretl and Marta were focused on their dolls and some tiny teacups and saucers.

Georg soon felt his heart skip a beat and his mouth became parched almost instantly. Although he could only see her side profile, Georg was struck by the way Maria's golden hair shone in the sun, the droplets of water in her hair scattering the sun's rays. But if he was honest with himself, that was not really what captured his attention. It was the damn navy-blue swimsuit Maria was wearing, her modestly only protected by a large towel wrapped around her waist.

Since when did the governess swim?

His traitorous eyes followed the long lines of her neck and across her shoulders and down her lean arms. He had an immediate flashback to the morning in the barn last week when he had grabbed her from behind, holding onto those long, soft, and strong limbs with all his might.

Oh, what he would give to be in that position again right now...

His eyes darted around his study, almost as though he needed to make sure that no one knew that he was staring. Once he was assured of his privacy, his eyes followed an imaginary finger that traced a hot path starting at the tip of her nose, sliding down across her lips and over her chin, down her long neck, and eventually disappearing into the top of her swimsuit pulled tight across her chest... down and down...His view was blocked momentarily by a fluffy bath towel wrapped around her waist, but he was soon rewarded with a view of her lean and long calves that were rounded off with a dainty pair of bare feet.

Georg closed his eyes tightly and bit down on his index finger, trying desperately to forget the vision of the little Fraulein and the way her porcelain skin contrasted with the dark blue of her swimsuit.

Even with his eyes closed, that was all he could see.

What could a man in these circumstances do other than give up?

He opened his eyes and breathed deeply. As he stood in the window, he felt his body stirring. That all too familiar burn that started in his stomach and spread lower across his midsection. Mind you, he had not felt it quite like this in a very long time.

He shook his head and stomped back to his desk, practically throwing himself in his chair in frustration. Running his hands over his chin and through his hair, he tried in vain to erase the image he just saw on the back lawn, and he was suddenly reminded of the many reasons why he had been trying his damnedest to avoid her the past two days.

It was obvious: without even trying, Fraulein Maria was completely and utterly under his skin.

What made it worse was that he suspected that Elsa was onto him. She was not at all happy with him for spending so much time with the governess. Elsa chided him on taking lunch again with Maria the other day; she didn't even feel that Marta's presence made the outing socially acceptable. Elsa was not immune to jealously, that much was certain. She was feeling left out and snubbed by the governess of all people, and no doubt worried what society would think of her if the man who was courting her was lunching with the governess. Again. The other night after Harold Bittner had gone home, he had weathered one of the grandest lectures he had received since his early days in the naval academy! Elsa even had the nerve to quote the words of Charlotte Bronte through old Mrs. Fairfax just to point out how dangerous the whole situation looked to outsiders.

Georg had work to do to make it up to her; he knew that. The life he had known in Salzburg just over a month ago had shifted so dramatically that he hardly knew what to make of the changes himself some days. It was no wonder Elsa was struggling with the transformations that the new governess had wrought - particularly the changes she had wrought in him. Consequently, for the past two days, he threw himself willingly into Elsa's chosen activities, for penance...and indeed, for his own sanity.

In a moment of self-reflection, Georg had decided that the reason why he had chosen to make himself scarce of late was Elsa. Plain and simple. They had been together for the better part of two years. He brought her here to the villa with the intention of seeing for himself if she would be a suitable mother for his children. He brought her here on approval. He realized that he needed to be more attentive to Elsa out here in the country - the quaintness of Salzburg could not compare to the salons of Vienna. Here, Elsa was completely out of her element.

Georg had said all along he did not really want a wife, and since he did not love her, being with Elsa was a convenient arrangement; one that would not betray Agathe's memory. He could settle for a life of friendly companionship if it meant that the children would have a stable family. Elsa's society connections and understanding of what it was like to be a woman of Austria would help his daughters to make their way. This was something he could not give them regardless of his newfound relationship with the children.

So far, the mothering "test" did not seem to be working out the way he had hoped. Despite the little Fraulein's attempts to bring Elsa and the children together, Elsa seemed to avoid the children at all costs. He needed to figure out how to get them to spend more time in each other's company if this was to work out the way he had planned. Perhaps by joining the children in activities in Elsa's company, things would naturally work themselves out between them. Removing Maria slightly from the picture would make Elsa feel more confident, since the governess was a natural with children and Elsa was at a total loss.

And yet, if he was honest with himself, he knew he was avoiding Maria for much, much bigger reasons.

He knew from the very beginning that he was attracted to her, and he struggled mightily with that realization. Georg grimaced as he recalled his conversation with Maria the day before she went into town with Leo: "...a man can have a crush on you despite your unconventional vocation. It just happens! We can't control who we find attractive and when, can we?" Truer words were never spoken!

He had thought, however, that he had managed to pull himself together, that he had parked that burning sensation he felt whenever he was in her presence; but, he was so wrong! After their encounter in the cemetery just 3 days ago, something had stirred; the ground beneath his feet had shifted.

Again.

If he had thought his life had been turned upside down a few short weeks ago when she gave him a dressing down on the landing, he only needed to reflect upon the past few days to realize that she continued to move mountains. Their impromptu lunch date last week – the day that she helped Leo with his dress shopping - made him realize that it had been years since he had felt so comfortable in someone's presence while dining out. No false fronts, genuine and true conversation. It was so easy. Despite having had lots of practice, it was never that way with Elsa. Maria was also the first person from whom he could readily accept comfort from for his loss, knowing her sentiments were sincere and true, and not part of some hair-brained scheme to become the next Baroness Von Trapp.

It all started much earlier than that, though. Georg knew from the moment that Maria walked out of the doors of his ballroom and into the light that she was attractive.

Beautiful.

Sparkling.

A glow from within he had never seen before in anyone.

Lean and strong with a hint of softness and curves that were hidden by that horrid dress she was wearing.

So many images of her were burned into his brain, he just could not shake it. He saw her everywhere he went. At the Banhoff. In the window of his favourite tailor in Vienna. In the print of Ulysses and the Siren. When he heard her voice or saw her face around the villa, his spirits would lift. He had it bad.

Maria...Maria ...how long had it been since he had thought of her as just Fraulein? A human like no other, so capable of loving and giving and changing the way others thought and felt. Her love for his children spilled over into her natural care and concern for him, and for them all as a family.

Her habits often irritated the hell out of him, but with time, he had to admit that they became somewhat endearing. He seized all possible opportunities to push her buttons, to fire up the colour in her cheeks, to provoke her emotions. The two of them quickly fell into a fast friendship, and he greatly enjoyed her company.

Georg's initial attraction to her was tempered by more intense feelings of gratitude and wonder, and to some extent, he felt that they had connected through their shared grief. Not to mention the fact that Fraulein Maria was also a postulant, promised to God no less, and was 20 years his junior.

He somehow felt safe in the knowledge that they were simply good friends, and that all the complexities of their lives made them more remote to each other than the Cape of Good Hope was to Austria.

In the cemetery at the foot of his beloved Agathe's grave, however, that safety net came crashing down like a house of cards.

That day in the pouring rain... the way she had read him, comforted him, supported him, and understood him...It quite literally shook Georg to his core. Maria continued to surprise him with the many splendid ways in which she could connect with him on an emotional level. He keenly recalled his initial embarrassment when she appeared at his side in the rain while he knelt in a crumpled pile beside Agathe's grave. He flinched when she wrapped her arms around him, only to feel a sense of comfort that had evaded him for almost four years.

And then a few short moments later when they stood facing each other in the rain and he could not help but notice how beautiful Maria looked. A moment of grief that was punctuated by feelings that he never expected to encounter again. Especially in a cemetery at the foot of his wife's grave! Suddenly, he wondered if he was capable of feelings that could help him to want a wife after all; to be a husband again?

Could it be that it wasn't the idea of marriage that bothered him? Maybe it was the person he was supposed to marry?

Georg could sense that something had shifted that day for Maria as well, although he could not say with certainty how. The way the little Fraulein looked at him sometimes, the air would be knocked out of his lungs. Their eyes would lock...she would all at once find herself at a loss for words, her cheeks would burn, and she would suddenly find the pleat of her skirt to be the most fascinating thing on the planet.

The other night at the dinner table when she had caught him staring (for lack of another word), her eyes looked up suddenly and met his, but this time she did not back away. Her persistence threw him totally off-guard; and the way she looked at him...what was going on behind those beautiful blue eyes of hers?

All of these conflicting feelings and Maria's kindness towards him had Georg hell-bent on avoiding a one-on-one encounter with her ever since. He seemed to be losing his composure the longer they spent time together, especially time spent alone. By keeping the children and Elsa nearby, it was safer. They would keep him on his best behaviour. He needed time to think, to plan, to figure out what his next tactical maneuver would be. He could not possibly send her back to the Abbey early. What would the children say? What was he thinking? He could not bear it himself!

And yet, planning for the future was hard when Georg was struggling mightily with two things: guilt and fear. Guilt, because he had been courting Elsa for two years and never once had his emotions been touched the way Maria touched him. The other, fear: because what if Maria felt something, too? What if he fell for her? He knew he was teetering dangerously on the precipice. One misstep and he'd be over the edge, possibly with disastrous consequences for them both.

No, Georg had to remember that Maria was completely unattainable, even if it took him a few days at a chilly distance to convince himself of the fact. She had pledged her life to God, and even if she had not, she was half his age and surely did not deserve a relationship with a widower with seven children. If the convent wasn't for her, then Maria should have a family of her own and be married to a younger man who could drive her wild and give her babies.

And yet, the Devil on his shoulder asked Georg in that moment: "why it couldn't be you that drove her wild and gave her babies? After all, Captain, you do have experience in that department". Georg swallowed hard before rubbing his hands through his hair again, clamping his hands over his ears, trying to keep the taunting at bay. The image of Maria on the lawn in her bathing suit burned into his subconscious.

Georg was spinning in circles. The frustration was so obvious, he wasn't sure what he should do next!

He knew that acting on lust was absolutely out of the question; he respected Maria too much. He could not treat her like the many flings he had in his youth. Even if he wished for it and Fraulein Maria happened to reciprocate his feelings, Georg could never have a formal relationship with the Help. He would be the laughingstock of Salzburg. How many poor sots had Max and Elsa dragged through the mud for having socially inappropriate relationships?

Georg was also afraid of the pain. He had lost a love once, and it almost destroyed him and his family. Although he didn't love Elsa, it was almost better and easier that way. He would never need to worry about his heart being broken again. However, if he continued to spend time with Maria, he knew he was at risk.

What did feelings have to do with any of this? He, in good faith could not act on them; it just wasn't done. He did not want to hurt her, either. Not after everything she had done for his children. For him.

Although he absolutely hated not being in her company the way he had desired the past few days, he understood that continuing this way was the only way to keep the ship sailing as it was supposed to. Elsa was the answer. He had to throw himself back into Elsa's world, just like a month ago. Just like he had the last two years when he was trying to forget everything at home. Georg needed distance so that he could forget the spark that Fraulein Maria lit deep in his chest whenever she entered the room.

Good God, was he running away again?

Continuing his inner battle, Georg thought briefly about the children: he didn't want to miss out on them, they had to believe that he had changed for good, so running away from them was out of the question. Fortunately for him, he felt that things were safe with the children nearby; with Elsa, even more so. As long as they, he and the governess, were not alone, it would all be ok.

After silently reassuring himself that he was on the right path, his focus returned briefly to the tri-folded papers on his desk. His traitorous legs, however, wanted nothing to do with these plans, and they soon took him out of the chair, and he again found himself in front of the window.

Although he had seven wonderful children frolicking about the grounds - that he loved so very much - she was all that he saw. Maria was standing now, clapping her hands together, obviously getting the children ready to come in for dinner.

Every moment he had spent with Maria since they met flashed before his eyes like a silent picture. Her imaginary dance partner, the way she blew the whistle at him, the day of their argument, his make-shift ceremony with beautiful blue fabric to acknowledge her bravery, the way she floated along the Weg after shopping with Leo, that rainy day in the cemetery …so many moments. For someone he initially pegged as a wild child, she had poise and grace that only served to intrigue him further.

Damn it!

He shook away his stray thoughts and forced himself back to his desk. He would hide in his study for a while so he and the little Fraulein would not cross paths until dinner. After all, he sensed she would be dreadfully embarrassed to know he had seen her so under-dressed, and he didn't dare expose himself to a close-up view of everything he had just seen from his window. If he did, it would be him whose cheeks would be burning this time around.

Discipline.

That is what Georg needed, and sooner rather than later! Sighing, he realized that although he had a plan, he had never felt so out of control in his life. Running away seemed to be the only solution.

Again.

He had no choice! He had a strange sense that his destiny, like the sands of Mattinata, were slipping through his fingers.