Georg felt utterly content. No, that couldn't be the word – it was too weak to convey just how he felt. He was elated, delighted, exhilarated; he felt on a high from everything that had happened the previous night. As he drove in the direction of his home, one hand positioned comfortably on the steering wheel as his other was occupied by the irresistible warmth of Maria's own hand, Georg couldn't remember the last time he had felt so undeniably gratified.

His heart had just about beat right out of his chest when he caught the illusive shadow of Maria across the street the night before. She had looked ethereal as the halo-like glow of the streetlamp had captured her figure, robbing the breath from his lungs. The sight of her leaning against that brick wall was all it took for his nerves to rage a storm within his chest. For a moment, he lost sight of his uncertainty and of the hurt that stirred in his chest at her leaving until he was only left with the love and relief that washed over him at the sight of her.

But it had only lasted a moment; one blissful moment where he allowed himself to look upon her without the ache in his chest before the realization that she had run away from him flooded his veins with ice. The realization that she had chosen to leave him without explanation had nearly been enough to make him turn and walk away completely. He had been both terrified and confused at the idea of confrontation – at the idea of letting her confirm all his fears.

It was an eerie setting to confront her. It had been where they had first laid eyes on each other. Georg detested the fact that a grungy nightclub had made such an impact on his life, but ultimately, it had. That nightclub had been where he had found his heart again, and he supposed it would have been a fitting setting to lose it.

His feet had moved before he had the chance to make up his mind. His feet carried him across the street, striding with a confidence he didn't feel. It had only been when he was just about to come within earshot of her that he slowed, eventually stopping completely at the image of her before him. A week he had spent torturing himself over the thought that he'd never see her again, and suddenly she was there, looking as beautiful as ever under the starlit sky. A week he had spent silently missing her, wanting her, longing for her.

A moment had passed, and she hadn't noticed him. She was seemingly lost in her own thoughts and he would have given anything to know what was going on behind those beautiful blue eyes. Was she thinking of him? Did she miss him? Did she long for him too? Or was she simply reflecting on how glad she was to have left?

Almost desperate for her to look at him, he had made his presence known. He had been taken back by the pure disbelief he saw as she raked her eyes over him as if he had been nothing more than a ghost. He almost felt like a ghost, as her eyes seemed to look through him rather than at him. He could recall how nervous he was. He could recall the sweat building up in his palms as she stared in his direction. But most of all, he could recall the startling realization of just how in love with her he truly was striking him in the chest.

Talking to Maria on that vacant Vienna street, Georg could equate the conversation to talking to one of his children when they had done something that they knew he wouldn't approve of. She was unresponsive. The times she did respond were more frustrating than her silence. Her replies had been vague and entirely unhelpful in making him understand why she had left.

Eventually, her replies began to paint a picture – an utterly ridiculous picture. The fact that she had thought he would have gone back on his promise to speak with Elsa had hurt him deeply. What hurt him more was that she had run away with the idea that he had chosen Elsa over her, as if he ever could. Couldn't she see just how much she meant to him?

His declaration of love had felt desperate at best, but at that point, he was drowning in his own desperation to make her understand that there was no other woman for him, just her. Her silence had been unnerving. He had begun to believe that it wasn't just Elsa that made her leave, but the realization that she could never love him back.

The question about the engagement ring had been a bombshell. He cursed whichever snooping maid had planted that seed in Maria's head. He didn't want her to know about the ring. He didn't want her to know just how deep he was in because he feared that she would never feel the same.

The ring in his pocket had begun to feel unbearably heavy. For a brief moment, he had been tempted to get down on one knee right there to prove just how serious he was about her, to dispel her doubts that he would ever love another again. He held on to his composure, barely. It would have been wrong. She was already staring at him with eyes full of uncertainty and confusion, and he doubted an impromptu proposal in that moment would have made matters any better.

So, he did something he had only done a handful of times in his life. He began to ramble. It was utterly undignified, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He needed her to understand how he felt. He needed her to understand that he knew it was too fast, but he was all in regardless.

Her silence had been unbearable, and he was clinging onto a thin thread of control. There had been subtle changes to her features that had allowed him a dangerous surge of hope. She had relaxed ever so slightly, and she was no longer looking at him with uncertainty in her eyes, but rather with something akin to realization with a hint of warmth. He had begun to move then, feeling as if he might combust if he spent another moment without touching her.

He moved slowly. He didn't want to scare her, nor did he want to make her uncomfortable. He stopped just before her, giving her the option to push him away if she wished, but he desperately hoped she wouldn't. As he watched her eyes darken at the closeness, Georg very nearly sighed in relief. He tested the waters gently, dipping his head down to hers. As his forehead met hers, he was overwhelmed with the comfort he found in the contact.

She was so close, and all he wanted to do was kiss her. He wanted to feel her lips against his and revel in the relief. Her breath whispering against his skin was enough to intoxicate him. He wouldn't kiss her though, not until he was sure that she wouldn't run away again. It had taken all the strength he could muster to pull away when he had felt that first gentle graze of her lips.

Over the roaring of blood in his ears, he had barely heard her pleading with him not to leave. That had been enough for the dam inside of him to break. Hearing those words, he knew that for as long as there was breath in his lungs, there was no chance in hell that he would ever leave her. He needed her far too much.

It was then that he had kissed her, and for the first time in a week, everything had seemed right. Everything had seemed better than right, in fact; everything was suddenly perfect holding her in his arms once again.

He didn't dare press for anything more than tender caresses. It was a gift just to be able to hold her again, and he was determined not to take advantage of it, despite how much he desperately wanted to sweep her up into his arms and kiss her until she forgot her own name.

However, his resolve had been shot to hell when he heard those three words escape her beautiful lips. He hadn't expected her to say them. In fact, he would have been just as content if it took years for her to say them, so long as he was able to hold her. But there had been no mistaking them. She had said the three words he had only heard her say in his dreams. His heart had soared then, and he hadn't felt himself come back to earth since.

He had momentarily forgotten himself outside of the nightclub. He had felt himself swept up in the feeling of her lips on his and the shocking realization that he had somehow gotten her love in return, and he completely lost sense of where they were. In that moment, he hadn't wanted anything more than to just feel her and get utterly and entirely lost in her for the rest of his days.

When she had told him that her motel was only down the street, he conjured up the decency to think about the suggestion, when in fact it was a no brainer. He desperately wanted to get her alone, to taste her everywhere, to show her just how much he loved her. Even if she didn't want to necessarily take it that far, he would have been content with just holding her for a while. He would have been overjoyed just to feel her warm, soft body in his arms after their time spent apart.

Even so, he had trouble keeping his hands to himself on the walk over. In truth, he had troubles keeping his hands to himself whenever he was near Maria. There was something about her that ignited a possessive, needy urge to touch her that he hadn't felt in years. Still, he tried to dampen the arousal coursing through him. He had no expectations from her for the night before them.

Everything had changed, however, when they were alone in her motel room and she had turned back to him with darkening eyes burning with the need he felt. It was then that he considered that the past week had been as much torture for her as it was for him. She had left with the assumption that he didn't feel the same for her, while he had been left with the assumption that she was running away because she could never reciprocate his love.

Everything he needed to know was clear then. She had missed him too. She loved him too. And if he was reading the desire in her eyes right, she wanted to be as close to him as possible. That realization alone was enough to make him act, enough to make him move as his need for her begun to be unbearable.

Still, he waited just in case he was misconstruing the look in her eyes due to his desperation to be with her in every sense of the word. He hadn't, and the first press of her lips was enough for him to let go of all his preconceived worries and just act on the pure unadulterated lust and desire pumping through his veins.

She was heavenly, and dear god, he had missed her. Everything else fell away until it was just her and him and the need to be as close as possible. He had been determined to take things slow, he had been determined to make the reunion last. His plans were foiled when her dainty hand had slipped beneath his boxers and gripped him gently in an act of boldness he hadn't anticipated.

She had completely unhinged him with a single touch, and he felt his restraint vanish into thin air. He could focus on nothing else but desperate need to have her naked body pressed against his. He could vaguely remember stripping them of their clothes in an animalistic fashion. He could vaguely remember covering her body with his own. He could vaguely remember rolling them so that she straddled his legs. He could remember in vivid detail the look in her eyes that sent a surge of arousal through him, and he could never forget the mixture of relief and pure want that took over his senses. He could think of nothing but Maria when she wrapped around him and he was finally encased in the heat of her body.

It was far from the soft, languid reunion he had initially set out for, but it was perfect nonetheless; she was perfect. He couldn't have asked for anything more when she nestled into his side afterwards, her head laying against his chest, listening to the heart that beat for her. In that moment, he had felt nothing short of lucky beyond what he deserved.

Knowing that he would be able to take her home with him the next morning, Georg had fallen into a blissful sleep. The week of tossing and turning had caught up with him, allowing him to fall into a deep and peaceful slumber with the woman he loved nestled into the crook of his arm.

Waking up, Georg had briefly panicked. Had it all been a cruel dream? His panic was short lived, however, as he felt her gentle weight against him, her bare, silken leg slipped between his own. Instinctively, he had pulled her closer with the intention of never letting go. However, his situation was becoming precarious. His body had suddenly become very aware of her soft skin against his, the way her arm draped across his abdomen, and the warmth breaths against his neck that were coming from her parted lips.

He was very tempted to wake her, but he held back. He wanted to make it home relatively early. No doubt the children were wondering where he had run off to, and he was beyond excited to see their faces when he walked through the door with Maria by his side. No, he certainly didn't have time to love her the way he wanted.

Wordlessly, he had extricated himself from her embrace as gently as possible. When she didn't wake, he smiled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before making his way to the bathroom. With a quick shower, and a stern reprimanding to his body to stop acting like a teenager, Georg dried off, changing into the clothes he had arrived in the day before.

He tried to get his hair under some semblance of control using his fingers, but it was futile. The damp locks had stubbornly spilled across his forehead. Shrugging, he had set upon his next task – waking Maria.

He nearly didn't have the heart to wake her. She looked entirely too peaceful laying upon the bed, her hand resting on the spot where he had been next to her. He had sat on the edge of the bed, his hand finding its way into her hair to brush the soft strands as he watched her. She was beautiful no matter what she was doing or wearing, but there was something about the peace and innocence in her features as she slept that took Georg's breath away.

Slowly, Maria's eyes had opened, a smile forming on her face as she stared up at Georg lovingly. He couldn't resist then. He bent down to place a chaste kiss on her lips. He wouldn't mind waking her up like that for the rest of his life.

With a little coaxing, Maria sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest as a blush formed on her cheeks, aware that she was wearing nothing. Georg had only chuckled, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek before leaning close to whisper in her ear.

"You don't have to hide. You're perfect."

With that, he had planted another kiss on her lips before turning away, seemingly making himself busy on his phone to give her some privacy. He mindlessly scrolled through the number of emails he had missed, keeping his eyes averted as Maria went about picking up her clothing. If he glanced up, he was sure that they wouldn't leave the motel for hours.

When he heard the water turn on for the shower, he had let out a sigh, his hand falling to the pocket where the velvet box sat comfortably against his thigh. He had pulled the box out and flipped the lid open. He wondered why he had brought it in the first place. He knew he wasn't about to propose. If he had thought for a second that he would, the fear in Maria's widened eyes when he told her the ring was for her had quickly extinguished the idea.

She needed time. He needed time to prove to her that she would always have a home with him and his children. As he looked at the ring sitting in his palm and knew he wanted to see it on Maria's hand one day. He knew it likely wouldn't be anytime soon, but the idea alone was enough to leave him as giddy as a schoolboy.

He had snapped the box closed and shoved it into his pocket when he heard the water turn off. When Maria had emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, he was struck by an overwhelming sense of love just at the sight of her. Yes, he thought, I'm going to marry her one day.

Once she had been all packed up, he took one of her bags as they made their out of the room. He had turned back before closing the door behind him, a sense coming over him that he was forgetting something. His hand patted at his pockets. His keys, wallet, phone, and the ring were all safely secured. With a shrug, he closed the door, attributing it to leaving behind the hurt they had both experienced over the past week, and moving on to a new beginning.

Georg slowly came out of his reminiscence of the morning and back to the car. While he was enjoying this dream-like state he felt as if he was in with Maria, he knew there were still things that had to be discussed. He knew that they hadn't talked about everything they needed to. He had gotten the most important part off his chest – he was in love with her – but there were still things that had to be said about how things would work between them now. There were still unanswered questions and uncertainties that needed to be addressed.

As he looked over to the passenger seat where she sat, he believed she was thinking the same thing. The way she worried her lower lip between her teeth while her brows furrowed in thought indicated that she too was thinking about what was needed to be said.

"Maria," he said softly, bringing her from her reverie. She looked over at him, releasing her lower lip as she gave him a gentle smile. "What were you thinking about?"

She seemed to hesitate, as if afraid of voicing her concerns aloud. He gave her hand an encouraging squeeze, wanting to let her know that he would listen to anything she had to say. He only hoped that she was comfortable enough to tell him what was on her mind.

"Well, I was just thinking… what happens now?" her question came timidly causing Georg to smile. She was still quite new to everything that was happening between them, and in a way, he was glad to be able to experience this new discovery with her.

He brought her hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss to the back of it.

"What do you want to happen?" he asked. When he saw her look of confusion from the corner of his eye, he corrected himself. He couldn't ask her such vague questions. "Well, I suppose the first thing we should discuss is what is going to happen when we get back."

He felt her hand tense in his own. He had suspected that their return home would be a point of anxiety for her. After all, they hadn't told the children prior about their relationship. Liesl had known, but Georg was sure she hadn't passed the information on to her siblings after Maria had left. He had known Maria was nervous about telling the children before her departure, and he reckoned that her nerves about it had only heightened after her leaving. Not only would she have to explain why she left, she would also face scrutiny for their relationship.

"I'd like to tell them," he said firmly. She was quiet for a moment, her head turned to look out the window once again as she took in the green of the rolling hills they passed. He worried briefly that perhaps she wasn't ready to announce their relationship to the children. "Of course, that's only if you're comfortable with that. If you don't want to tell them-."

"No, no. I think they should know," she said quietly without turning away from the window. A silence fell over the car again and Georg wondered what she was thinking as she stared intently out at the scenery whirling past them. He didn't have to wait long before he got an answer in a broken whisper. "What if they aren't okay with it?"

His heart fell slightly. Did she not know just how much his children had come to adore her? Love her? He too had wondered what his children would think, but he wasn't concerned in the least. No matter what, he was sure their devotion to Maria would never falter; however, the change in circumstances could be a little confusing. Liesl had taken the news well, but not all his children were the same.

"It might be an adjustment," he told her, squeezing her hand a again. "It's new, and they might be a little thrown off, but at the end of the day, they adore you and they are going to be so happy to see you."

She squeezed his hand back, turning away from the window to look at him. He glanced over, offering her a smile of encouragement.

"I guess it's just a little odd. I'm their governess, and you're their father," she stated. As he saw her head dip down to look at her lap, Georg knew that she had said the words more to herself than to him. "That is, if I'm still the governess."

He had expected this line of discussion to come up. He knew how it would look if she remained under his employ. While he couldn't give less of a damn about his reputation, he had to consider how Maria might feel. It wasn't only his name that would come up in conversation in the gossip of the household staff.

He weighed his options. In truth, he didn't want her to leave. After a week of missing her presence, he desperately wanted to keep her close. He knew he was being selfish, but he wasn't quite sure what he would do if he couldn't see her everyday. Besides, he wasn't sure he could hire another governess after the impact Maria had on his children. His children had been completely enchanted by her, and he felt that nothing else could compare to the bond they had created. He feared the pranks and unruly behaviour might make a return.

"It's up to you," he said despite his desires. He wouldn't keep her on in an act of selfishness if she wanted to leave. It wouldn't be fair, no matter how much he wanted her to stay. "If you want to stay on as the children's governess, I'm entirely on board. However, if you're uncomfortable staying now, I will understand."

She seemed to think about this for a moment. For what couldn't have been more than a minute, Georg felt as if hours were passing in the unnerving silence of the car. He found himself anxious to hear what she had to say. He held out hope that she would tell him that she wanted to stay.

"People will talk," she stated uncertainly. Georg nodded stiffly. He knew they would, and he detested it. He knew some of his staff, especially the younger maids, were prone to turn a situation into something entirely different that what it was – he had learned that much from the engagement ring slip up.

"Yes, but that doesn't bother me," he said. He felt her eyes on him.

"It doesn't?" she asked. He shook his head, looking over at her.

"It doesn't, because I know, and you know, that I love you. That's not going to change just because people have decided to misconstrue our situation," he told her, turning his eyes back to the road. "But if it bothers you, I understand."

She was quiet once again, his words washing over her as she thought about what she wanted to do. Georg couldn't blame her for wanting to think it through. In truth, their relationship complicated matters significantly. However, in his own selfish desire for her to stay, his mouth opened to voice an idea that had been rolling around his head since the previous night.

"What we could do, is you could finish out the summer with us and in the meantime look for a job for September. I have connections with one of the schools in Salzburg, and I could send a recommendation in for you," he suggested. When she tensed beside him, he brought his attention to her, noticing the twinge of discomfort on her face.

He suddenly felt very foolish. He didn't even know if she wanted to stay near Salzburg. He had assumed so without so much as asking what she wanted. The thought of her wanting to take off to another country, or even another city, made his fingers flex uncomfortably on the steering wheel. He couldn't imagine her moving so far away, but he knew it wasn't his decision.

"That is, if you want to stay in Salzburg, of course," he added weakly.

"I'd like to stay," she replied quietly. He felt relief course through him. After only just getting her back, the idea of her leaving was enough to make him feel dread in the pit of his stomach.

"I can send a recommendation in when we get home," he said, a smile on his face. Once again, he felt her tense, wiping the smile from his face. "What is it?"

"Wouldn't it be… wrong?" she asked after a brief moment of hesitation. Georg let out a sigh. Once again, he knew how it would be perceived.

"Well, I'm recommending you purely based on the way you've managed to handle my unruly children this summer. If we weren't together, I would still put a recommendation in to the school if you asked me to," he told her, the sincerity coating his tone. She looked up at him, the disbelief clear in her eyes.

"Really?" she asked. He nodded.

"You've managed to do something that no one else has been able to do, including myself. A few months ago, I would have never imagined seeing my children both so well behaved and happy, and it's because of you," he said. He saw the blush begin to form on her cheeks from the corner of his eye. He smiled. He truly loved having the power to darken her cheeks in an endearing hue.

"It wasn't just because of me," she replied. Georg let out a chuckle. Sometimes he believed she was far too humble. He knew that if she hadn't come into their lives, things would have likely remained as they had been before. He would have still been running away to Vienna each chance he got, and the children would have been chasing out every governess that walked through the door. Somehow, he doubted that anyone had the resilience, patience, and nurturing personality that Maria possessed.

"Nonetheless, I'd like to put a recommendation in for you, but I won't do it if you aren't comfortable," he said. He watched a small smile form on her face.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to try," she replied quietly. He felt his heart speed up at the implication that she would stay with them until the summer was over.

"So, you'll stay on?" he asked, trying to expel the hope from his tone. It was futile; he ended up sounding like one of his children on Christmas morning. He heard her giggle causing his heart to swell in his chest.

"Yes, I'll stay on," she told him. He felt a grin spread across his face as he pulled her hand to his lips once more. He was overjoyed at the prospect of having her close. Even if there was a possible time limit on it, he just enjoyed the thought of being able to see her every day.

"But I think we should talk about how things will work," she said quietly. Georg nodded. They had to discuss how they would work in a houseful of staff and children. Before, they had been able to sneak around without any eyes falling upon them. Now that they were announcing where they stood with each other, Georg knew the children, and especially his staff, would be paying closer attention. It wasn't ideal in the slightest, but it was the reality of the way things would be between them.

The fact that she was working for him didn't make matters any easier. He knew it would be a tricky situation. Despite his initial beliefs, Maria was professional in her line of work, and he knew that she didn't want it to be seen as otherwise. He knew he would have to distance himself from her while she was performing her duties, lest he make her uncomfortable in the slightest.

"Yes, I suppose we should talk about some boundaries," he said rather absentmindedly. He almost dreaded what was to come. He had thought that expressing how he felt about her would let his feelings quiet to a dull simmer, but it had done the opposite. The fact that he knew she loved him too had only let the flames of his love for her burn brighter inside of him.

He found himself dreading the idea of them being apart, even if they were under the same roof. In a week of her absence, he didn't want to spend another moment without her by his side, but he knew the reality of it was that she needed space from him to do her job. He hated the idea, but he knew it was the way it had to be.

He waited, letting her take the lead. The most important thing to him was her comfort. He would let her decide what she wanted. He would let her dictate the space she felt she needed.

"You should spend time with the children," she stated tentatively. He nodded. He knew where she was going with this. If he spent time with his children, she would undeniably be there.

"I will behave like a perfect gentleman," he told her, hoping to dispel any worries she might have. Her skeptical gaze made him think twice. "I will!"

"Okay," she replied. She sounded entirely unconvinced, and Georg let out a scoff.

"Have I ever given you a reason to believe otherwise, darling?" he asked. He saw her flush from beside him, and he immediately regretted asking the question. Had he unknowingly been unlike a gentleman in the past?

"Well…" she trailed off. Georg felt heat prickle at his face.

"Well what?" he asked anxiously. He dearly hoped he had never made Maria uncomfortable. She hesitated, but he swore out of the corner of his eye he could see a smirk on her face.

"Do you remember when I came to ask about Kurt's science project?" she asked. Georg strained to remember the event. He couldn't remember, for the life of him, a question about Kurt's science project.

"I'm afraid I don't recall," he admitted.

"That's because I never got the question out," she replied. He nearly laughed. He remembered several times that she had come down to his study in which it ended with her backed up against a bookshelf or his desk. Then, he had the restraint to stop things before they had gotten out of hand, but he could clearly remember not many words being spoken.

"Well, I-."

"Or what about the time we went swimming in the lake, and your hand just happened to-."

"Entirely accidental, I assure you," he interrupted her. And it was true, his hand had accidentally grazed her backside as they had been playing a game with the children. It had truly not been intentional on his part, but whether his hand had lingered a moment longer than it should have was debateable.

"Or how about when we had that picnic with the children and-."

"All right, I concede. I was ungentlemanly in the past. I will keep my hands to myself," he said, determined to stop her before he had to relive the afternoon that he had seemingly lost his mind, practically ravaging Maria on a picnic blanket with his children just barely out of sight. As he glanced over, he caught the small smile on her face. He smirked before adding, "In front of the children."

There was that blush he so loved gracing her face. He smiled to himself in silent victory. He supposed he would never get tired of making her face flush. His victory was quickly dispelled when she released his hand in mock offense.

"Georg," she reprimanded. He let out a chuckle, his hand falling to rest on her leg in some desperate need to be constantly touching her. Perhaps keeping his hands to himself would prove to be more of a challenge than he initially thought.

"I can't help that you are entirely too irresistible for your own good," he replied. She tried to hide the crimson hue that had painted her face by looking out the window, but Georg had caught it, his heart swelling with a semblance of masculine pride.

She continued to look out the window, a silence falling over them once again. Whether she was aware of it or not, her hand had fallen on his, her fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on the back of his hand.

He was once again left to ponder what was going through her mind in that moment. He could feel the subtle shift in the air between them. Whereas it had been rather lighthearted before, there was a tension subtly seeping into the car.

He knew she was nervous. The tense set of her shoulders told him that much, but he wondered what she was most nervous about. Was she afraid the children were upset with her? Was she worried of what they would say when they told them? Or was she more afraid of the venomous gossip that would undoubtedly spread through the staff?

Perhaps she was worried about the change. Everything would change once they made it to the house. He knew he wouldn't be able to be with her as he wished to. She would no doubt be preoccupied by the children, and he was glad for that. He was glad his children cared for her so fiercely. He was glad that she cared for his children in return. However, he couldn't help but feel almost jealous.

The children, he was sure, wouldn't want to separate from Maria. They had missed her something terrible, and they wouldn't leave her side. He knew that once they entered the threshold of his home, finding a moment alone with Maria would be next to impossible. For a brief moment, he wondered why the hell he had made them leave Vienna that morning. They could have stayed another night, or perhaps a few days. There would be no children, no gossip, no Max to intrude the few moments he did get alone with her. It would just be him and her alone for a few blissful days.

"Georg," Maria called his name, bringing him from his thoughts. She had been looking at him, and he briefly wondered if she could see what he had been thinking written across his face. He forced his frown into a smile.

"Yes, darling?" he replied. He could sense her apprehension, and he briefly felt dread fill his veins. He hadn't imagined the shift in the air. The wary look she was giving him, and the way her fingers stilled atop his hand made his whole body tense.

"There was something else I wanted to talk to you about," she stated, unsure of herself. He cocked an eyebrow. The reluctance in her tone told him that whatever she was about to say was making her uneasy.

"What is it?" he asked. He noticed her sharp intake of breath. He felt the nerves in the pit of his stomach ignite. He doubted whatever she was about to say would capture the lightheartedness that had been between them before.

"The night we met, you told me that you didn't do that sort of thing often," she said. Georg nodded stiffly as he kept his eyes firmly on the road. He had a feeling of where this conversation was going, and he wasn't sure he had it in him to explain himself eloquently. "Is that true?"

The question hadn't exactly caught him off guard. He had briefly wondered that if one of the maids had discussed the ring with Maria, then what was to stop them from relaying the mistakes of his past that had no doubt been circling through his staff for years? He knew he had built up a reputation within his household after Agathe's passing. The long days of never being home and the excessive drinking at the time had made sure of that. Luckily, his children had never been privy to the gossip, and he had only hoped that it would have been the same for Maria.

Had it been a contributing factor as to why she had left? He wondered how long she had that question poised on the tip of her tongue. He wondered when she had come to doubt him on that bit of information. She wouldn't be entirely wrong in her doubts, and yet, Georg had hoped to avoid this topic of conversation. He regretted the ways in which he had acted after Agathe's passing; he hated himself for the things he had done.

He had done abominable things, both before Agathe and after. He had done things he wished he could take back. He had done things that now made him feel sick to his stomach when he thought about them, and he feared that revealing such information to Maria could make her feel the same.

She was looking at him expectantly, waiting for an answer. He glanced over to her and saw a frown beginning to form with each passing second that he didn't open his mouth to answer the question. He let out a sigh.

"Yes and no," he replied quietly. Her brows furrowed at his pathetic answer, her eyes burning through him with the various questions he knew were brewing beneath the surface. He knew he had to explain himself. "I loved Agathe very much, as you know."

He watched as she nodded slowly in understanding, but the confusion never faltered from her features. He steeled himself for the explanation he was going to give, knowing there could be a chance that Maria would think differently of him. Taking a deep breath, he gathered his strength to speak.

"When she died, I wasn't myself. I don't know who I was, really. I was lost. After her funeral, I went to Rome for about six months. In all honesty, I don't remember much of that trip. I drank copiously and ignored every call from home. I know it was wrong, but I wanted to forget. One morning, I woke to find someone else in my bed. I don't remember how it happened or what exactly had taken place, but I could put the pieces together. I felt terrible. I headed home that afternoon, full of guilt and anger at myself."

Georg paused, looking over to Maria who was no longer looking at him, but staring out at the road that stretched out before them. Her hand had left his, instead resting in her lap as she toyed absentmindedly with her fingers. He couldn't read her face. Her features remained neutral, but he sensed her apprehension. He took a shaky breath before continuing.

"I went home. I thought maybe the distance had helped. I thought maybe I could come home, and things would go back to normal. They didn't. Her absence was more present than ever. I started going to Vienna. I told myself there was work to be done, but mostly it was a means to escape. I told myself what had happened in Rome would never happen again, but it did. I would drink and find a woman in a bar and regret everything the next morning, vowing to never let it happen again.

"I hated myself for it. I hated what I was becoming, but it didn't stop me. Max knew what I was doing, and for a while he stayed quiet. He let me do whatever I thought was necessary to get over my grief. Eventually, he confronted me and told me I needed to stop the drinking. At first, I didn't want to listen, but Max made some compelling arguments. What kind of example was I setting for my boys? The drinking dwindled, and then Max introduced me to Elsa, no doubt hoping she would make me settle down."

He spared another glance at Maria, the only indication that she had been listening being her furrowed brows as she tried to put the pieces together.

"When I told you that I hadn't done anything like that in a while, I hadn't been lying. I hadn't done anything like that in two years, but I hadn't been entirely honest that night," he said. Maria nodded, but she remained unreadable. He wondered what she was thinking. Did his admission change everything? Would she only see him as a merciless cad? Would she begin to doubt his feelings again?

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I'm not proud of what I did and how I acted, and I didn't want you to be acquainted with that part of my past, but was selfish of me not to be entirely honest with you," he said, hoping for some sort of reaction. He didn't get one. She stayed unnervingly silent. "Do you think less of me?"

Finally, she turned her head to look at him. He could see the twinge of confusion behind her irises, but what he didn't find was the hurt and disgust he had expected to find. Slowly, she shook her head, her hand taking his and interlacing their fingers once again. He let out the breath he hadn't known he was holding.

"You're not that same man today. Everybody has a past, and yours doesn't make me love you any less. I just wanted to know," she stated simply. He was struck by the earnest tone in her voice.

"I love you," he replied. It was those three words that he felt so acutely in his bones in that particular moment. He had felt the need to shelter her from his past. He felt that her lessened experience might make her disgusted with the things he had done, but he had once again been proven entirely wrong by her. She never ceased to amaze him with the wisdom and empathy she possessed that was far beyond her years.

She squeezed his hand, giving him a look of devotion that made him consider pulling the car over to kiss her senseless to show her what her words truly meant to him. He settled for bringing her hand to his lips once again, hoping to convey all that he felt.

He felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. In truth, he hadn't considered his past dealings much while he had been with Maria. He had really only focused on her and the way she made him feel like a new man. His past hadn't once come to the forefront of his mind as something that he felt the need to speak with her about. Only now that he had told her things he had never been open with to anyone besides Max did he realize he had been holding those memories back. Now that he had told her about the mistakes he had made, he had felt a wave of relief wash over him.

He came to recall that he hadn't been open with anyone like that since Agathe. Even Max only knew the basics of the grief induced haze that had taken over Georg's life for a time. In truth, Georg had avoided the topic with Max, knowing Max would be disapproving. They had talked vaguely of the mistakes Georg had made, but Georg had never openly admitted anything to Max.

Being able to be so open with Maria was something that made his heart swell in his chest. He could feel the wounds of his past begin to heal. He felt the scars of his heart begin to fade, and he finally began to feel as if he could start anew, that he wasn't repressed by his mistakes and his grief. It was a good feeling, a blissful feeling that Georg hoped he would never go a day without.

The silence that followed was companionable. It was a comfortable sort of silence between two people so at peace with each other that no words had to be spoken. Georg was just happy to sit there with Maria beside him. He didn't need to say anything else. He felt comfortable with where they were and what they had spoken about.

Maria seemed comfortable enough. She looked out the window, but the tension in her shoulders had released. She looked far more relaxed now, and he couldn't be happier about that fact. He never wanted her to be uneasy with him.

As they got closer to home, Georg began to feel his heart race. He could imagine the children's faces clearly as he brought Maria into the house. He could picture the excitement, the joy, the relief. Whether Maria believed it or not, his children loved her fiercely, and her absence had been a cloud that had descended upon the household.

"I have an idea," he said after long moments. She turned to face him.

"What is it?" she asked. He smiled at her before turning his eyes back to the road.

"Why don't we surprise the children?" he suggested. Maria eyed him carefully.

"Won't it already be a surprise?" she questioned. Georg nodded.

"Well, yes. But the children will be sitting down for lunch by the time we get there. I was thinking that if you go to one of the sitting rooms, I can collect the children and bring them to see you after they eat," he replied. Maria smiled softly.

"I'd like that," she told him. "I can't wait to see them all again."

"I'm certain they feel the same. We all missed you," he said.

"I missed all of you too. Even Max," she said with a small giggle. Georg smiled at the mention of his friend's name. He felt he owed quite a bit to Max, for if it hadn't been for Max, Georg may have never left the sanctuary of his study the night before.

"You know, Max is the one who told me to come find you," he told her.

"Really?" she asked, her brows furrowed. Georg nodded with a chuckle.

"It wasn't that I didn't want to look for you. I did. I thought you had left because you didn't feel the same way about me, and I felt that I had to respect your decision. Though now that I think about it, I think I was more fearful of finding you and confirming that you really didn't feel the same way about me," he told her, his smile falling from his face. Maria squeezed his hand.

"I'm sorry that I left like that," she told him quietly.

"I understand why," he said, "I just wished you had talked to me before you decided to leave."

"It was wrong of me to doubt you. Please forgive me," she said. Her eyes were so earnest and remorseful in that moment that Georg felt his heart beat twice as fast. He knew there was nothing to forgive. The way she had left hurt him, yes, but he had been just as much to blame.

"Only if you can forgive me for ever giving you a reason to believe that I could ever want to be with anyone else," he replied. Maria smiled, giving him a small nod of agreement.

"I didn't think Max liked me," she said after a moment.

"You didn't?" he asked blankly. As far as he knew, Max had been nothing but kind to Maria. Max had expressed many times, in front of Maria and without Maria present, that he thought she was a lovely girl.

"Well, he was kind, and very sweet, but I thought because he was such good friends with Elsa that he may not like me for, erm, getting in the way," she replied.

"He might not have always been a fan of the idea, but he truly does think highly of you. He knew I was in love with you before I did," he said, a fond smile on his face. Max truly did know him better than most people. "He asked me the night of the dinner party if I was in love with you."

"Were you?" she asked tentatively. He could see the spark of curiosity in her eyes when he looked over at her. He swallowed, feeling a surge of emotion flow through him. He could pinpoint the exact moment he knew he was in love with her, even if he hadn't quite been ready to admit it to himself.

He nodded slowly, his heart racing as he braced himself for his next words, having never said them aloud before.

"That night, before the dinner party, you were singing with the children, and I had walked past the door. I remember stopping to listen. I've always adored the children's voices, but yours happened to stand out. I remember not being able to take my eyes off you," he told her, feeling her hand squeeze his as she listened attentively. "It was then that I think I realized I was in love with you, though I didn't want to admit it."

He glanced over to see her eyes sparkling back at him. He let a smile grace his face.

"I think I started to love you that day in the gazebo," she said quietly. Georg could recall the day vividly. It had been the first time he had been so open with someone in so long, recounting the horrible events that occurred after his youngest's birth. While he had initially believed his vulnerability would have scared Maria off, he had been wrong. It warmed his heart considerably to know she had begun to love the broken pieces of him that day.

He was overwhelmed by emotion, and unlike other times, he wasn't overcome with grief, or loss, or anger at the world. He was overcome with peace, with happiness, with hope for what the future held. Holding her hand, Georg knew that he was finally on a path of the worthy man that he had wanted to once again become after the passing of his wife, and he made a silent vow to himself in that car that he would never lose sight of the precious second chance he was being given.

It was almost to his disappointment that he turned onto his street, almost. He was overjoyed to see his children, of course, but he had almost wanted the drive to be longer. He almost wanted to have a little more time alone with Maria. A lot had been discussed between them. A lot had been cleared up, and a lot had been revealed. After being so entirely open with her on the drive, it felt oddly impersonal to walk into the house where he was unsure when he would have another moment alone with her.

As he parked, he released Maria's hand, taking the keys out of the ignition. She gave him a sweet smile before getting out of the car, her eyes filled with an uncontained excitement that he knew was solely for his children. He couldn't help but smile at her eagerness. He followed suit, extracting himself from the car.

As Maria went to pass him into the house, Georg caught her hand once again, pulling her gently back to him. Her brows furrowed in confusion as his arms encircled her waist.

"I just want a minute with you," he said softly. Her hands came to rest on his chest. "Once we enter the house, I won't even be able to get close to you for the rest of the day."

She smiled up at him, her smile so dazzling that Georg felt breathless. Slowly, he lowered his head, capturing her lips with his in a slow, intricate dance that he hoped would satiate his need for her for the afternoon. He should have known it wouldn't be enough. As her lips met his, he could only find himself wanting her all over again. Everything they had talked about, everything that had been said had charged the air between them, leaving behind sparks of need within him.

He parted quickly, reluctantly removing his lips from hers before he felt as if his desire for her would become too much. He took a shaky breath, willing himself to find his control. He opened his eyes to find her staring up at him with a look of pure adoration. He couldn't fight off the smile that formed on his lips, neither did he want to.

Wordlessly, Georg took a step back and gestured to the house. Together, they made their way to the front door, his hand poised on the small of her back. They entered silently, not wanting to make anyone aware of their return. They could hear the distant, subdued chatter of the children and Max coming from the dining room.

He pulled Maria into one of the sitting rooms. As they stood in the center of the room, Georg smiled down at her, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders.

"Are you ready?" he asked quietly. He wasn't just asking if she was ready to see the children; he knew the answer without asking the question. He was also asking if she was ready to announce their relationship to the children, which in a way would be cementing the feelings between them as well as making their relationship that much more real.

"Yes," she whispered back. He smiled once again, placing a simple kiss on her forehead.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," he told her. She nodded, a nervous smile on her lips. With slight hesitation, he turned away, walking out the doors of the sitting room. He only turned back when he had to close the doors, shooting one last encouraging smile in Maria's direction.

He walked off then, making his way to the dining room. He couldn't help himself from grinning foolishly. He felt completely giddy as the sounds of his children became louder. He would finally be able to tell them the news that had been burning on the tip of his tongue. He would finally be able to express what he felt for Maria. No more hiding, no more secrets, and no more doubts.

He appeared in the doorway of the dining hall, his silence making his presence unknown. For a moment, he watched as his children ate. Liesl and Fredrich, along with Max, tried to make some sort of conversation to engage the younger children, but they seemed entirely disinterested. They were just as he left them – subdued and subtly grieving a loss.

He watched quietly. He knew they had been somewhat miserable after Maria had left. After all, she had become the first adult they had grown to trust after their mother had passed. She had been the first person to be open with them, and she had treated them as the children they had never quite gotten to be. A subtle smile played on his lips. Soon, he would be able to take them to Maria. Soon, he would be able to see the smiling faces he missed so dearly. Without further hesitation, Georg stepped further into the room.

"Hello," he announced his presence, the joy in his tone hard to contain. Eight pairs of bewildered eyes turned towards him. The children eyed him skeptically. Georg knew that while he had been forcing a cheerful face on for them for the past week, not even Gretl had bought it. He had been much like them in the way that he had been much more subdued, as if a dark cloud had hung over him ever since Maria's departure. He had no doubt that they were wary of the way he smiled so brightly now.

Georg's eyes landed on Max, who had a knowing smile on his face. The sparkle in Max's eyes was clear. He looked utterly satisfied with himself, knowing the reason for Georg's uncontained joy. Georg could only give Max a grateful nod in acknowledgement, knowing he would have seek Max out later to give him a proper thanks.

Georg heard his children mutter a greeting once they got over the initial shock that he was standing there. He took in their downcast eyes and solemn faces. His heart would have broken for them if he didn't know that those solemn faces would be turned into smiles in moments.

"How was your trip, father?" Liesl asked. Her tone was much less lively than he was used to, and it struck his heart in a funny way. As much as Liesl had taken on a leadership role with her siblings from a young age, he had been able to tell by the look in her eyes that Maria's leaving had affected her differently than the rest of his children. She hadn't just lost a governess, but she had lost a friend and perhaps her closest confidant.

"It went very well, thank you Liesl," he said, feeling his grin spread across his face. He found himself very anxious to bring them to Maria. In fact, he found the words on the tip of his tongue, hoping that the news would wipe away their frowns, but he held off. Their faces when they saw her would be more than worth it. "When you're finished eating, I have something to show you."

The children shared wary glances between each other, likely put off by their father's good mood and the ominous promise of him having to show them something.

"What is it father?" Marta asked.

"I brought you a gift back from Vienna," he told them as neutrally as he could, trying to not let on to the surprise. The children eyed each other again as Max watched in amusement.

"I think we're about done here," Max announced, pushing himself up from his chair, seemingly eager to watch everything unfold. The children followed. Georg could scarcely hear the scraping of the chairs against the floor above the beating of his heart.

"Is it a puppy?" Gretl asked hopefully as Georg began to lead them out of the dining room. This time, he didn't fight the chuckle from escaping his lips.

"No, it's not a puppy," he replied. He heard exasperated sighs come from his youngest two children as they walked on either side of him. His brood shuffled behind him, and as Georg glanced over his shoulder to look at them, he saw the confusion etched into their features. The closer they got to the sitting room, the more his nerves buzzed in anticipation.

He stopped just in front of the sitting room, resting a hand on the door handle. His foolish grin was out in full force. This was it – this was the moment his children would be reconnected with their beloved governess, and the moment where he would finally be able to stop hiding his feelings from the people who were most important to him.

"Are you ready?" he asked. He received a few uncertain nods. In an almost theatrical slowness, Georg turned the door handle before pushing the door open to reveal Maria standing in the center of the room, her eyes significantly brightened at the sight of the children.

It was his youngest two that had moved the fastest, charging through the threshold into Maria's open arms with their cries of joy sounding through the air. The older five had a delayed reaction. For a moment, they stared into the room, blinking at Maria as if she were only an illusion. Kurt and Brigitta moved next, joining their younger sisters in Maria's arms.

Slowly, his eldest three entered the room, moving towards Maria. Fredrich gave Maria a warm greeting, and Georg caught his blush when she reached out to cup his cheek. Louisa, being the most stoic of his children, surprised Georg by pulling Maria into a fierce embrace, nearly toppling her over.

However, it was Liesl's reunion that touched Georg's heart the most. His eldest daughter stood watching Maria with admiration and love, the tears in her eyes clear. Maria reached her hand out to grab Liesl's before pulling her into a tight embrace, as the two greeted each other.

Georg watched in awe as his children formed a small circle around Maria, each one of them vying for her attention to tell her all about what had happened while she was gone. She glanced up, her eyes finding Georg's from across the room. He could only smile, sending a small wink her way as he watched the scene unfold before him, his heart feeling undeniably full.

He felt a hand clap on his shoulder, and Georg turned his head to find Max looking at him, a broad smile on his face.

"Would it be indelicate to tell you 'I told you so'?" Max asked. Georg let out a light laugh. Georg had never liked being told that he was in the wrong, but in this particular situation, he both knew that he had been wrong, and he was far too happy in the moment to stoically defend himself.

"Thank you," he told Max, his features becoming more serious.

"You don't have to thank me. I simply pointed out what you were too blind to see," Max replied. "Though if you really want to thank me, I wouldn't mind a trip to your wine cellar."

"Fine," Georg said with a hearty chuckle. "But you better go before I change my mind."

The pair's eyes gravitated back to the little cluster of Georg's children that surrounded Maria. Georg could only watch in pure delight. There were smiles on each of his children's faces, a sight he had grown to miss dearly. Everything seemed to fall into place. Maria's presence had brought back a light to the household – that fact was undeniable in the way his children positively beamed now.

"Are you going to tell them?" Max inquired. Georg turned his attention back to Max. His friend had been watching him carefully, and the smile that Max had planted on his face told Georg everything he needed to know; Max could tell just how deeply his entire family cared for Maria. He nodded slowly, turning back to his children and Maria before taking a step towards them. Max's voice stopped him. "Georg?"

"Hm?" came Georg's distant response.

"Congratulations. I'm very happy, for the both of you," Max said, smiling. Georg nodded gratefully, his grin seemingly permanently etched onto his face. He watched as Max left the room, seemingly wandering off to the cellar. Georg couldn't bring himself to ponder how much wine would go missing as his feet carried him closer to the group in the center of the room.

For a moment, he stood at the edge of the group, watching his children excitedly chatter away to Maria all at once. He heard voices exclaim how much they had missed her, as well as he heard voices recounting tales of what they had done without her. It was a chaotic scene at best, and yet, the pure joy he was seeing from his children almost made him wonder if he should wait to tell them the news. Almost.

"Children," he said over their voices, catching their attention. They all looked to their father. Maria's eyes landed on him as well, a nervous smile on her face. He gave her a reassuring nod. "We have something to tell you."

His children were silent, watching him carefully. It was only Liesl who wore a knowing smile on her face, the excitement bright in her eyes as she anticipated what was to come. Georg moved then, standing next to Maria as he steadied himself for what he was about to announce. He looked over to her to find her already watching him, a warm smile on her lips.

"Maria and I," he stopped. He was suddenly at a loss for words. He had thought about this moment more than he cared to admit, and yet, he struggled to find the right way to put it, the most delicate way to tell his children. "Well, you see, we…"

Georg felt Maria's hand grab his tentatively in what was seemingly an act of courage. He looked over at her once again, feeling his strength come back to him, feeling his words come back to him. As he looked back to his children, their eyes were focused on the joined hands of their father and their governess. Brigitta and Louisa's mouths hung open at the sight while Fredrich and Kurt looked rather confused. Marta stared blankly at their hands, while Gretl looked between the adults skeptically.

"Father," Gretl began, her eyes peering up at him, "is Maria your girlfriend?"

Georg was once again at a loss for words. He wasn't sure how to answer the question. He and Maria hadn't quite discussed in depth what they were, and frankly, the term girlfriend seemed rather juvenile to him. Somehow, having been married once and fathering seven children had made the label seem years behind him. However, he couldn't quite figure out the right word.

"Well, I-," he paused again, looking to Maria. She gave a light shrug of her shoulders, her smile never disappearing and her look of admiration unwavering. The next words from his mouth came out as a breathy whisper, "yes."

He could feel the bewildered eyes of his children on him. When he looked back at them, with the exception of Liesl, their mouths hung open. Naturally, he knew they would be shocked. Even with Elsa, he hadn't ever announced that he was romantically involved with her. The children had come to their own conclusions of his relationship with Elsa, but he had never taken the time to confirm them. To have him stand there now and cement his feelings for Maria was something the children would have never expected.

It wasn't long before the string of questions came. The children talked over each other once again, each with a question about what the future would now hold.

"Will Maria stay?"

"Does this mean she can't be our governess anymore?"

"Is she going to live with us?"

"Does she know how old you are?"

At the last question, Georg felt his face prickle with heat as Maria giggled beside him. He looked over, shooting her a look of mock offense, but it only made her giggle more.

"Yes, Maria will be staying with us until the end of August. In the meantime, she will still be your governess, and I expect you will all be on your best behaviour now that she's come back," he said firmly. The children all nodded excitedly, thrilled to have Maria back.

It seemed that his announcement had been rather forgotten as the children began to offer to help Maria to get settled back in. He knew that the announcement hadn't been forgotten. He knew each of his children would process the information, and there would likely be more questions that came from them, but for the time being, they were more preoccupied by the excitement of having Maria back home, and he couldn't blame them; he was positively thrilled to see her standing there in his home when a day ago, the possibility had seemed highly unlikely.

He couldn't do anything but smile. It was clear as his gaggle of children pulled Maria out of the sitting room that they loved her and were overjoyed that she was back. He had been right in his assumption that she would be nearly impossible to get to, but he found he didn't mind. Watching his children with Maria, he felt his heart swell. She fit so naturally with them. It crossed Georg's mind that they felt undeniably like a family, and as Maria and his children disappeared from his sight, he patted his pocket where the velvet box was sat and hoped that one day, he truly could make all of them a family.

Georg lay in bed that night feeling utterly drained. The day had been chaotic. Between the long drive from Vienna, and the newfound energy of his children upon Maria's return, he was exhausted.

He had been right when he had thought he wouldn't get a moment alone with Maria once they entered the house. It seemed that one of his children was always by her side, telling her a story about something that had happened in the week she had been gone. Georg had been happy enough to just sit back and enjoy the happiness of his children, but he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. He longed for a moment with Maria alone, if only to just hold her close.

After putting the children to bed, he had an opportunity to be alone with her, but it was short lived. Before he could even pull her into an embrace, Liesl had come out of her room to ask if she could speak to Maria privately. Georg didn't mind, he really didn't. He adored that Liesl looked up to Maria and could confide in her, and he knew they had a lot to catch up on after a week apart, but he couldn't help but selfishly want time with Maria.

They had decided, or rather Maria had decided, that she would sleep in the governess's room. Georg had agreed without hesitation. After all, he had promised to keep things professional while she remained under his employ, as much as it was tearing him up inside. At this rate, he would never get a moment alone with Maria again.

He understood her reasoning completely. If one of the children needed her, it was best she stayed in her own room. It was best that they sleep separately to avoid the gossip of his staff. It was best that their sleeping arrangement did not consist of them being together, but now that Georg lay in his rather empty bed, he couldn't help but feel a little bitter about the decision.

He missed the feel of her in his arms. He longed to hold her, to hear her small, steady breaths as she drifted off to sleep, to feel her warmth against his chest. He longed to drift off to sleep with her next to him. As he fitfully tossed in his bed, he came to the conclusion that he would have to be satisfied that she was under the same roof.

After tossing and turning a few more times, he found himself finally get as comfortable as he could. He let his eyes close and let sleep begin to take him, where he assumed that he would at least get to see Maria in his dreams.

Sleep completely evaded him when he heard the creak of his door opening. He sat up slightly, his eyes straining against the darkness as his groggy mind tried to make out the figure standing in his doorway. In the dim moonlight filtering through his window, he could recognize the shadow as none other than Maria.

"Maria?" he questioned, suddenly doubting that he was awake. Perhaps he was already dreaming. She took a step further into the room, before shifting from foot to foot, unsure of her welcome.

"I couldn't sleep," her voice came. Georg's mind felt hazy from the near slumber he had achieved. He didn't quite believe she was there. Surely his mind was playing tricks on him.

"I know we said I'd sleep in the governess's room," she said when he had remained silent, "but I-I-."

"Come here," he said without a second thought. Truth be told, he missed her, even if he had technically been with her for most of the day, it had been torture not being able to reach out and touch her as he had held his promise to keep his distance around the children. If she was allowing him this, if she was going against the rules that she had made between them to be with him, he certainly wasn't going to question it. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to simply hold her.

She padded across the room, crawling into the bed next to him. He opened his arms, and she eagerly went to him, burying her face in his chest. They said nothing more. Georg wrapped his arms around Maria, finding himself more comfortable than he had been all night.

As her breathing became shallow and steady against his chest, a sleepy smile formed on his face. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head as his eyes drifted shut. Finally, he began to drift off to sleep, finding immense comfort in the warmth of her body.

A/N: I apologize for the wait on this chapter, and that it's a little all over the place. The last couple of weeks have brought up some personal issues, and I've been trying to write in between dealing with these issues. That being said, I'm afraid updates might be slower.

I have a few more chapters planned out, but gradually, we are getting to the end of this story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you to all of you who have reviewed, it means the world to me.