"No, please wait!" Maria was running around the kitchen with a towel in her hands. "Gretl, just wait one moment, I'm going to pre-heat the oven and then I'll help you."

Gretl sighed putting the bowl back down on the counter. Marta was trying to adjust her apron.

" That's it, I've got it. Did you two wash your hands?" Maria asked the girls.

Both nodded, eager to get started.

Maria helped Marta with her apron and tied Gretl's one a bit tighter.

Making a quick check on her list. Yes she had all the ingredients.

"You can put the flour and the water in the bowl, be careful or you'll be covered in flour." Before Maria finished her sentence she knew she should have warned in advance. Gretl started coughing because the flour gotten in her face.

Laughing, Maria took the towel that hung on the counter to wipe the little girl's face.

Marta was laughing at her sister. "Don't laugh!" Gretl was a bit agitated.

"Fraulein Maria told you to wait for her." Marta snapped back.

"Alright girls, Let's take this slow. I've never done this before either." Maria helped Gretl pouring the remaining flour and water in the bowl. "Marta do you need help?"

The little girl shook her head. She was always the careful one, not only around strangers but also in her actions. She never 'dove' into anything. Maria saw Marta scoop up the ingredients very carefully.

Maria's mind wasn't really focused on their task. Last night the Captain had sung Edelweiss. Her heart had skipped a few beats when he watched her. The last notes had her captivated as his eyes held hers as if she was the only one in the room.

"May I start mixing?" Gretl was impatient, snapping Maria out of her thoughts.

"One moment dear. Let me check the recipe. And wait this time until I finish reading so I can help you." Maria smiled at the girls.

"We have to put in the sugar, oil and yeast and salt," She was grateful that the chef had measured out all the ingredients in advance. Both girls did as Maria told them, even Gretl was being more careful this time.

"Now we can Mix." Martha smiled.

"Yes you may." Maria gave them their whisk.

Both girls started with a good amount of energy. Gretl bit on her tongue, mixing as if her life depended on it.

"This is hard, Fraulein Maria." Marta was trying to get the ingredients mixed also.

"It is, and it takes time. I'll help you in a minute." Maria started helping Gretl.

"We're back." Liesl came in the kitchen. Laughing at the sight in front of her.

Gretl covered in flour, Maria hanging over her, helping mix. Both with their tongues between their teeth.

"Oh good can you help Marta, please?" She asked Liesl.

"First you got to wash your hands!" Marta ordered her oldest sister.

"Where are the others?" Maria looked at the door to see where they are.

"They found another bush of blackberries in the garden. That way we have more. They'll be here in a few minutes.

"Alright I think this is beginning to look a bit like it should. Now it needs to rest for a few minutes." Maria took the 2 bowls and set them on the counter.

"We'll wash up a bit and then we'll make room for the kneading." The girls started cleaning.

The other children walked in. "Can we help?" Louisa asked.

"Maybe we can help Gretl and Marta kneed the bread and the others can wash the blackberries and cut the lemon for the jam. Is that alright Fraulein Maria?" Liesl suggested.

Maria woke up from her daydream, "Yes of course it is. I'll be right back." Excusing herself she walked to the bathroom.

Why were her thoughts always wandering to their father.

He was on a trip with the baroness, apparently they had a few arrangements to take care of. The party planning had started at breakfast and the baroness insisted he would join her.

She was happy he wasn't around, the last few days his presence has made her insecure of her own feelings.

She was here for the children, preparing them for a new mother. And she was going to be a nun. Why did she think was, she is going to be a nun.

Splashing some water in her face she knew she needed to go back to the kitchen.

"Alright, let's make this bread!" Maria straightened her shoulders.

"And jam!" Kurt exclaimed.

The governess ruffled the boys head. "Go a head and make it with your brother and Brigitta. Do you have all you need?" Maria asked them. They nodded.

Maria switched between the children. All of them had fun, she wished their father could join them. Oh there I go again thinking of him.

The bread has risen two times already and the jam was cooling down. They cleaned the kitchen and were ready.

"This bread will take a while to get backed, why don't we go outside for a little while." Maria suggested.

The captain walked in the house. Ah that smell, the combination of fresh bread and homemade jam.

Walking to the kitchen he saw his governess opening the oven.

Turning around she saw the captain smiling at her. Almost letting the bread fall out of her hands.

"Oooo." She quickly put them down. "You're home early." She smiled at him.

"We ran into Max, him and Elsa are convincing an orchestra to play here. They don't need me with that." Georg rolled his eyes.

"I'm still not sure how the Baroness is going to put all of this together in two weeks." Maria shook her head.

"Oh she can do it in two days if she wants. She loves parties and planning" Georg laughed.

"You not so much." Maria had observed their conversation over breakfast this morning. "No, not really." He shrugged.

Maria's hand were still in the oven mittens. Trying to figure out how to get these bread out of their holder without ripping them.

Georg walked toward her laying his hand over one of her arms. "You need to let them rest for 5 minutes and then they'll slip out easily."

Maria flinched at the contact of his hands. They felt warm against her skin when he retrieved

his hand, she felt some sort of lost feeling.

Please he's your employer, don't be ridiculous, you're becoming a nun.

"I'll be right back, letting the children know their bread will be ready in a few minutes." She didn't know why but she hoped he would still be standing there when she returned.

Walking out on the terrace she turned around. "The children would love it if join their lunch." As would I she thought.

"I'll join you, he looked straight in her eyes." He started undoing his tie a bit.

"Lovely, I'll let them know, they will be excited." With that Maria walked off.

A few minutes later she re-entered the kitchen.

"The children are setting up a picnic, the weather is perfect." She stopped her tracks.

Seeing that the captain got rid of his jacket and had rolled up his sleeves.

His hands in the mittens turning around one of the breads. Maria giggled.

He looked up at his intruder. "Are you laughing at me?" Georg smiled.

"Never pictured you as a houseman." She giggled again, walking to the counter standing beside him.

"I'm sure there are a lot of things you don't know about me, Maria. Maybe I'll let you find out in the future. " Georg winked at her.

"I would love too." She blurred out. Her cheeks blushed, why do I always say what I think.

Now he laughed at her. Flipping over the other bread he took of the mittens letting his arm go behind her, accidently or maybe on purpose he brushed his hand over her back when he put down the items that weren't necessary anymore.

He'd already put a cutting board and breadknife on the counter. "Could you get some plates?" He asked Maria.

The captain sighed when he cut the first piece. "Oh Maria, smell this. This is one of my favorite things. Freshly baked bread, still warm, crispy crust, mmmmm."

He took a bite from the heel he just cut.

Why does he call me Maria? She looked at his face, totally relaxed while chewing that small piece.

He saw her staring at him. "Want some?" He offered.

"I don't want to spoil my appetite, Captain." She declined.

Getting a spoon out of the drawer and taking the freshly made jam she wanted to starts making the sandwiches.

"Come on, I know you want to! Smell it, it's delicious!" He kept insisting.

Somehow the kitchen felt small, he was standing so close. "You want some jam with it?"

He took the spoon out of her hand and scooped a bit onto the crust where he just took his bite from.

Maria turned around to put some cups and bottles on a tray. She really shouldn't be this close to him. I need distance.

When she turned around his face was close to hers. "Just one bite, for me." He held the crust in his hand guiding it to her mouth. Not knowing what to do, she took a small piece. Their eyes never leaving. She moaned, he was right. This was heaven.

She felt a drop of jam on the edge of her mouth. Before she could wipe it away she felt his finger on her mouth. Clearing the jam from her lips he brought his finger to his own mouth tasting the jam she spilled, eyes still locked.

Oh help. Her eyes wandered to his mouth, licking her own lips.

"Yes, definitely one of my favorite things." He smirked at her.

Written for the March writing prompts. Challenge; Write a scene/story that includes the smell of fresh baked bread.