Maria woke up early that next morning, and she tried her best to fall back asleep. Last night had been the most beautiful dream she had ever had in her life. The Captain had told her that he had broken off his engagement to Baroness Schraeder, because he was in love with her. He had kissed her, caressed her, held her close . . .

Oh, yes, the dream had been too wonderful to be true. But just thinking about the dream had wakened the fire in her, so it made it impossible for her to drift off again. A lump rising in her throat, Maria sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes, refusing to cry. There was no use crying about a situation that she could not change and a dream that wasn't real.

Or had it been? Her eyes, once they had been cleared of sleep, saw her blue dress laying on the end of her bed. She must have worn it last night, and strangely, she had worn it in her dream as well. After all, it was her favorite dress. Unlike her other dreams, this particular one wasn't fading at all from her mind. Maria got out of bed and picked up the dress. It was still warm. Instinctively, she brought it closer to her face, and could still smell his scent on the fabric. Overwhelmed by this joy, she pressed the dress tight against her, new tears of happiness coming to her eyes.

It hadn't been a dream at all! He loved her!

Looking out her window with a heart that was singing, Maria saw that the sun was just starting to rise. If she hurried, she could watch it rise over the lake. How lovely the sight would be . . .

Maria knew exactly what she wanted to wear – not the blue dress, no. That would be for only her Captain's eyes now. What she chose was a dress almost equally as special: the one she had worn when they had danced the Laendler together. Slipping on the dress, Maria quietly left her room and hurried down the stairs and out the back door.

She had been right: it was truly a beautiful sight to behold. It was not the first sunrise she had seen over the mountains, far from it. But it was the first time she saw what beauty water could reflect and make its own. The colors from the sky all reflected in the calm pool, made alive by the small ripples of a light breeze. The water itself had taken on an almost heavenly quality: it was glowing. Maria had a sudden wish to float across that water, to soak in it's glow, to feel the sensation of being carried . . .

"Beautiful," came a voice from behind her. She gasped and turned to see Georg standing feet from her. Maria hadn't even heard him approach; so engrossed had she been in her own thoughts.

"Yes, it is a lovely morning," she said, suddenly a little shy at the feelings suddenly burning in her heart at the sound of his voice and the sight of him in this new light. She was also shy because of the way he was looking – not at the sunrise or the lake – but at her.

"Well, that too," he said, stepping closer and gently stroking her cheek. His gaze never left her eyes.

Any last doubts Maria had about it all being a dream were swept away at his touch. So overwhelmed was she by this joy that she brought up her own hand to touch his, and kissed his palm, holding it close to her face, inhaling his scent.

Georg's heart was touched by this display of love from her, and cupped her face with both hands, looking into her clear blue eyes. He was surprised to see tears there. "What is it?" he asked, his tone very gentle.

Maria only smiled. "This is real, then."

Georg smiled at his fiance, and knew at that moment that nothing in the world besides this he needed to be complete. He pulled her in closer and kissed her lips. She responded with as much passion as she had ever shown, wrapping her arms around his neck. Everything was perfect.