A/N: This story was written for TheBeeStings (I do hope you enjoy it!) as part of the Proboards Gift exchange. Thanks go to lemancd from the Proboards for casting her eye over this once again. There is a lot of creative license applied in this story, particularly I think when it comes to the involvement of the Nonnberg Sisters!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Rating: T

A Perfectly Decent Proposal

By

Nicky W

Chapter 1

Georg was reluctant to leave his impressionable young fiancée in the care of Maximillian Detweiler, even for the short space of an afternoon. Not because he doubted that Max would be anything but chivalrous, rather he was concerned that his friend might divulge a little too much information about their exploits from years gone by. Of course, Georg knew that Maria was aware of his past but he just preferred that she find out some of his rather racier moments from him and not from the master of all storytellers!

"My dear Georg, you know that Maria is in safe hands with me," he had assured the decidedly anxious Naval Captain, with just the fleeting glimpse of a mischievous grin on his lips.

"Hmmm, it's not your hands that trouble me Max, more that loose mouth of yours!" Georg laughed nervously… but surely his friend could be trusted?

Georg was grateful to Max for helping him through difficult times but he was under no illusion that Max was a supreme scoundrel and more importantly, a shameless gossip.

Since their engagement, Georg and Maria had been able to spend precious little time together. Max had taken his duties as a chaperone very seriously this time, sticking to Georg like a limpet wherever he went, ensuring that under no circumstances could they find themselves alone at any point. This had led to much frustration for the newly engaged couple. Something Max was revelling in.

So, with that in mind, Georg wanted to surprise Maria. He had informed Max that he had to go into Salzburg on business. If he had told his old friend of his true intentions; that in fact he was going to choose Maria's engagement ring, then he knew that his secret would be blown in only a few short minutes. When he returned he intended to persuade Max (by means of bribery if necessary) that he could relax his chaperone duties for a few hours that evening thus enabling Georg to propose to Maria properly… alone… over a romantic meal for two. He had already told Frau Schmidt of his plans and she had promised him that his meal for two would be ready upon his return.

It would take a few hours at most… what could possibly go wrong?

xXx

Maria's day was spent singing, playing and generally enjoying herself with the children as she normally did. She really didn't think that her life could get any better. Nowhere had she felt more at ease and secure. Even when she was at the Abbey, she knew deep down that it was not her true calling. Her already strong bond with the children had grown further since they had announced their engagement. The only thing that could make her any happier would be to spend some time alone with her Captain. Even though they lived in the same house, she missed him. She would see him at meal times and throughout the day but the children would always be there. On the odd occasion that they managed to find themselves alone it wouldn't be long before Herr Detweiler turned up like a bad penny at the most inopportune moment. In fact, they had spent more time together before they became engaged, the irony of which was not lost on either of them.

She knew they had to be careful so that the gossip mongers couldn't spread any of their poisonous vitriol. There had already been much consternation among the elite social circles of Salzburg about how inappropriate it was for the Baron to be marrying his Governess.

During breakfast, Georg had informed her that he would be spending the afternoon in Salzburg on business but that he should be back by early evening. She was extremely proud of him and never questioned his movements, she knew he was a busy man and that his opinions were often sought on various matters, so after a peck on the cheek he had disappeared into his study and she had taken the children to their school room to start their morning's lessons.

xXx

Georg's afternoon had started incredibly well. Within an hour or so he had found and purchased a stunningly delicate diamond solitaire ring by A. E. Köchert that he knew would look beautiful on Maria's finger. Very pleased with himself and his purchase he decided to call upon a friend who he hadn't seen in a while, mainly to find out if he had heard anything unfavourable about his and Maria's engagement. Whilst he cared nothing for his own reputation he did care a great deal about Maria's and if he did find out that anyone had been besmirching his fiancée's good name, then he would have something to say about it.

He spent an enjoyable hour catching up with his old friend who it turned out had heard about Georg's engagement and was genuinely happy for him. Georg realised that since Agathe's death he had become a recluse, shying away from social occasions that were full of pompous bores but he had to admit that he had enjoyed the company of his old friend and before long the conversation had turned to political affairs, something Georg was particularly passionate about. Glancing at his watch he realised that time had run away with him. He made his apologies and quickly headed back to his car with a spring in his step in anticipation of spending some time with Maria. To his dismay, when he tried to start the engine he heard nothing but an incessant whining noise and the motor refused to turn over. He thumped the bonnet in anger, a little harder than he had intended and cursed the burning pain that now shot through his fingers as a consequence.

Any chance of getting back in time for his romantic meal with Maria was now extremely slim. He cursed himself. Why on earth had he not just quit when he was ahead, and travelled back to the Villa after finding the ring?

xXx

Maria couldn't help wondering where Georg was and even though she wasn't worried, she was a little disgruntled that he had missed dinner with the family. What made it worse was that Max had more than made up for Georg's absence. Revelling in the fact that he was able to sit at the head of the table, he took the opportunity to be particularly mischievous with the children. They needed no excuse to become rowdy and after an evening with Uncle Max they were reverting back to their unruly and rebellious ways. Maria was relieved when the time came to get them safely off to bed. Maria dealt with the little ones whilst Liesl read Louisa and Brigitta their bedtime stories.

After closing the girl's bedroom door and taking one last glance down the corridor, Maria decided she would wait downstairs for Georg to return. She had to admit that she was becoming just the slightest bit worried now by his absence.

"There you are, my dear," called Max, from across the hallway. "I was beginning to think that you had deserted me."

Maria turned and smiled cautiously at Max, "I'm getting a little worried. You don't think anything has happened to Georg do you?"

"Well, I shouldn't expect so. I'm sure that his meeting has just gone on longer than expected. He will come striding through those doors before we know it." Max sounded confident but even he had to admit to himself that it was very unlike Georg.

Taking Maria by the arm he led her towards Georg's study in an attempt to distract her from her worries. "Come now my dear, if I'm not mistaken we haven't yet celebrated your engagement properly. I'm sure Georg must have a delicious little bottle of wine hidden away somewhere which would be just perfect."

"Well, I don't think… I mean, I'm not sure we should…" stuttered, Maria, unable to finish her words before the larger than life chaperone silenced her.

"Nonsense, nonsense. Georg would never forgive me for not looking after you properly and whilst some might call me a little, shall we say… self-indulgent, I can certainly see when a young lady is troubled. So, as far as I'm concerned, the best way to banish those worries is to have a soupçon of champagne!" and with a dramatic flick of his wrist, Max had disappeared out of the study in search no doubt of the oldest, most expensive bottle of champagne that he could find in his friend's extensive wine cellar.

Maria groaned inwardly. She hadn't known Max for very long but it was long enough to know that whilst his heart was most definitely in the right place, his head very often let him down. The last thing she really wanted to do was sit drinking champagne while out there somewhere was her fiancé, the man that she loved more than anything else in the world.

She couldn't even say if she actually liked champagne. On the only occasion where she might have been able to try some, she had fled back to the Abbey, petrified that she had committed countless sins by losing her heart to her employer.

"Just look what I found." Max skipped into the room, obviously very pleased with himself, brandishing two bottles. "A Bollinger no less. That fiancé of yours has kept these very well-hidden!"

Before Maria could protest there was a knock on the study door. As it swung open, Franz entered stiffly and with a dismissive look toward Maria he turned and addressed Max.

"I have received a message from Nonnberg Abbey," Maria suddenly became interested in what the decidedly unpleasant man had to say.

"Captain Von Trapp is having a little difficulty with his car and it appears that the Reverend Mother has offered her assistance," Franz imparted the news with a raise of his eyebrow. "He sends his apologies but hopes to return shortly." With a curt nod of the head he dismissed himself and strode out of the room.

How on earth could the Sisters of Nonnberg help a retired Sea Captain who should be more than capable of fixing his own car? Maria was just relieved that nothing serious had happened to Georg, if it had, she felt sure that her heart would shatter into a million pieces, such was the strength of her love for this man.

She heard Max behind her and suddenly he tapped her on the shoulder. As she turned to face him he lifted the bottle in front of her and with a huge grin on his face he chuckled,

"Champagne?!"

xXx

Captain Von Trapp had never quite appreciated how intimidating the inhabitants of Nonnberg Abbey could be. It led him to wonder how Maria could have stood to be cloistered within the Abbey's walls for so long. He felt like a naughty school boy about to meet his fate as he stood fiddling nervously with the rim of his hat. He was waiting for Sisters Berthe and Margaretta, who he had been assured by the kindly postulant who had heard his angry cursing in the street earlier, that they would be able to help him.

Of course, if he hadn't hit the bonnet of his car so forcefully earlier that he had at the very least badly bruised if not broken some of the bones in his hand, he would have been able to fix the car himself. As it was, all he could do was nurse his throbbing right hand until one of the other Sisters came back to tend to it for him.

With Georg's instructions it hadn't taken the surprisingly capable Sisters long to fix his car. Sister Berthe, as hard as she tried, could not hide her excitement at being allowed to sit in the driver's seat to turn the engine and she puffed out her chest with pride as it roared into life.

"Well, Captain Von Trapp. It seems that here at Nonnberg Abbey we have once again come to your rescue!" chirped the Reverend Mother sarcastically from behind him.

He turned and winced as he caught his heavily bandaged right hand on the wing mirror of the car and such was the pain, it took him all of his self-restraint not to utter some blasphemous remark that would ultimately see him banished to hell.

"If I may suggest it Captain, I really don't think you will be able to drive yourself back to your Villa with that injury." The Reverend Mother (although she would never openly admit it) had a fondness for the Captain and she knew how much Maria loved him, so she would never forgive herself if anything were to befall him after leaving Nonnberg.

"Really, there is no need for your concern. I'm sure that I can manage and I must get back to Maria!" He realised that his tone was a little desperate and he was sure he had seen the Reverend Mother raise her eyebrows in surprise.

He felt the need to clarify his last statement, "It's just that I wanted to surprise her you see. I had arranged to have dinner with her and spend some time al… erm, with my children," he stopped himself before he divulged the real reason for wanting to return to Maria so desperately.

"Hmmm, well, we cannot have Captain Von Trapp's children deprived of their father, even for one meal, now can we?" chuckled the Reverend Mother before turning to the two Nuns standing beside her. "Sister Margaretta, Sister Berthe, you can both drive an automobile can you not?" The Sisters nodded quietly. "Then you shall take Captain Von Trapp back to his Villa. One of you can drive the Captain's car and the other the car belonging to the Abbey."

The two Sisters looked toward each other, both struggling to conceal their excitement at the prospect of their little adventure outside the Abbey's walls.

"Well, what are you both waiting for," the elderly Nun snapped. She then smiled at Georg, who tilted his head and gave her a half grin by way of acknowledgment, before turning on her heels and returning to the solitude of the Abbey.

Feeling his jacket pocket to make sure Maria's ring was still safely nestling there, he thought, please let me get back in one piece, hoping that the sanctity of the location would ensure that his prayer was heard.

xXx

"Oh NO, Herr Detweiler, I really don't think I should… I mean I've already had…"

"Nonsense, my dear girl, and please… it's Max now," oozed Max as he reached forward with the champagne bottle trying desperately to locate the rim of Maria's champagne flute. A task that was becoming far more difficult with every glass he consumed.

Maria had to admit that she quite liked the champagne, once she had got used to the bubbles which had a habit of tickling her nose and it was making her feel pleasantly relaxed. So much so that she found herself giggling at some of Max's more elaborate stories.

After a few more glasses, Max sidled up to her on the settee and plonked himself down clumsily, spilling some of his Champagne in the process. Maria sniggered and moved across the settee in a most unladylike manner.

"Soooooo, when are you going to tell Maxie all the disgusting little intimate details of yours and Georg's courtship, hmmmmm?" slurred Max, unashamedly leaning heavily against Maria's shoulder.

Maria, who would normally be shocked, found that she couldn't stop herself from giggling. She pushed Max's shoulder playfully and he in turn began to laugh uncontrollably.

"That isss for me to knoww and you to find out…" Maria attempted to tap her nose with her finger but failed miserably to hit the target.

"Jusht one juicy itshy bitshy little detail, thatsss all I…" drawled Max, before his eyelids drooped and his chin flopped forward onto his chest.

Bringing her hand up to her mouth to stifle a giggle, Maria found herself to be incredibly tired and in the end the giggle turned into an enormous yawn. She wasn't drunk enough to forget that Georg still hadn't returned, so she decided just to close her eyes for a few moments. After all, he was sure to be back soon…

xXx

Georg was finally able to breathe as his car turned into the Villa's winding drive. The two Sisters of Nonnberg that accompanied him on his journey may have appeared to be sedate and innocent but once behind the wheel of a car, their more adventurous side seemed to overtake them.

Sister Berthe applied the brakes forcefully, which sent stones flying behind the wheels and he was sure that he heard her let out an excited little yelp as she did so. Sister Margaretta had to apply her brakes with equal enthusiasm as a result and the car behind skidded slightly as she did so.

"Thank you, Sister. I am extremely grateful to you," Georg sighed as he eased himself out of the car. "I fear that Maria has probably retired to bed or else I would gladly welcome you in to see her."

"Oh, no, no. We must get back or the Reverend Mother will send out a search party for us." With a polite nod the two Nuns got into the Abbey car and with a slight spin of the back wheels they set off down the driveway.

xXx

The Villa was quiet as Georg opened the front door and stepped into the hallway. His eye was drawn to the light from his study and he felt his heart leap at the faint chance that Maria might have waited up for him. Opening the door slowly, the first thing he was aware of was a low, rumbling noise coming from the direction of his settee. As he stepped closer he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. There, completely comatose with his mouth wide open was Maximillian Detweiler, snoring like a bulldog and hugging a bottle of his best Bollinger as if it were a childhood teddy bear. What was even more perplexing was the sight of his fiancée, equally as unconscious, resting her head on his friend's shoulder.

Part of him wanted to just walk away from the disgraceful pair and leave them there to be found by Frau Schmidt or even worse, Franz, the following morning. However, he knew no doubt that the blame would lay firmly on Max's shoulders and however hard he tried to feel disgusted with Maria, he just couldn't bring himself to.

His concerns about leaving her with his friend had been confirmed.

Gently, Georg stroked Maria's cheek in an attempt to wake her, "Maria, darling. It really is time that you were in bed." He took hold of her hand trying to get her to sit up but she just kept flopping back against the settee when he lost his grip. It didn't help that he was trying to do everything one handed. After several attempts he had managed to rouse her enough so that she could sit unsteady but unaided, the next step was to get her to her feet.

As he did so, she draped her arms around his shoulders and turned her face towards his. She was trying extremely hard to focus on his eyes which Georg found quite amusing as she was obviously finding the task almost impossible.

"Georrrrg, you're home," she shouted and Georg had to cover her mouth with his hand for fear that she would wake the entire household. "Whatshhh the mat…" she tried to continue but he raised his finger to his lips to silence her.

They stumbled up the staircase as quickly as they could. His hand protested but he knew that he had to do something to get Maria out of sight so in the end he scooped her up into his arms to carry her the final few steps to her bedroom.

God forbid anyone should see them!

Closing her bedroom door behind them he placed her gently on the floor but she continued to cling to him and brought her other arm up behind his neck. Maria lurched forward and they stumbled noisily backwards into the door with a clatter.

"I missed you tonight," she purred as she slipped her hand under his lapels and began toying with the buttons of his shirt.

"Erm, Maria, I don't think this is quite the…" he tried to protest but his head was swimming and he was sure he was starting to feel as intoxicated by her touch as she was by the champagne.

Clasping his hand over hers he pulled it from beneath his shirt. My, even when she was drunk she was as dextrous as she was when she was sober and had managed to open a fair few of his shirt buttons.

"Maria, I can't… we can't. Not like this… not now," he groaned as her fingers now raked through his thick dark hair and he felt her warm breath against his neck. He closed his eyes and fought back the urge to act upon his building desire.

He wanted her… so much.

"Please, Maria… this is so hard for me."

"Sssshhhhh…" she whispered into his ear. "Do you know how delicious you are, because you are really very, verrrry delicious."

Oh God, please forgive me, he thought before he gently took her chin between his thumb and fingers and guided her mouth to his. He licked her lips slowly before exploring every inch of her mouth. She smelled of lavender and lemon and tasted of champagne which he found frustratingly erotic. His mind wandered to a time when they would be married and he imagined all the things he would show her, all the things he would do to her.

They broke apart breathlessly and Georg finally came to his senses. As much as he wanted to make love to her, he wanted it to be a time when she would savour every sensual touch and more importantly, remember it the following day! He couldn't take her innocence from her, not like this. He was an honourable man and the very fact that he had thought about it made him look heavenwards and ask for forgiveness.

Taking her by the arms he pushed her back from him gently. Maria looked disappointed but that feeling was soon overtaken by exhaustion as she was unable to stifle a huge yawn. She stumbled backwards onto the bed. Georg just stood and looked at her for several minutes. She was so beautiful, his gorgeous Maria.

Lifting her carefully, he moved her up the bed so that her head nestled upon the pillows. Now came a dilemma. Should he undress her or leave her fully clothed. She didn't look particularly comfortable in her dress, shifting and squirming. There was nothing for it. He would just have to undress her as discreetly as he could.

This was another thing he imagined often, but it had never been like this. He felt as if he was defiling her in some way. He slipped her dress off her shoulders and gently raised her bottom so he could slide it from her body. It was no mean feat as his hand was now throbbing uncontrollably. He tried not to, he really did but in the end he couldn't help but let his eyes travel over her beautifully toned body. Even with her modest underwear she was stunning and he made a mental note that he would be sure to buy her something more elegant for their honeymoon!

This would do, he said to himself. There was absolutely no way on this earth that he would remove her undergarments without her permission. That was something he wanted to do on their wedding night, something that he would take his time over not a hurried task in order to get her comfortable for bed.

He drew back the covers and slid her long, silky legs beneath them. Tucking the covers around her he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight, my Sleeping Beauty."

xXx

Well, I hope you are enjoying it so far... but there's more to come! Please do review if you'd like to. :)