A/N: This story is a sequel to "No Safe Place" and it would help to read that first if you haven't (it isn't very long). So many of you asked if I could change the not-so-happy ending. This is my attempt to do that. I appreciate the interest in NSP and give special thanks to augiesannie for her help with this first chapter of the sequel.

I do not own 'The Sound of Music' or the characters. This is for fun. I think. No, I'm having fun. Really. Please leave a review. I'm not above begging. You've been warned.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

From Kahlil Gibran "On Love"

Chapter One

"We'll have tea," Georg told the waiter, and then turned to Elsa who forced a smile. "Maybe some sandwiches? Cakes? Both?"

"Sounds lovely," she muttered half-heartedly. He could hear the annoyance in her voice but ignored it. When the man took his leave, she looked at Georg and shook her head. "I don't understand why we didn't just meet somewhere for a drink. Augustin Karl doesn't like to do business with a man who won't have a drink with him, darling. He says he isn't sure he can trust a teetotaler."

"After all the rain we've had lately, I just thought it might be nice to enjoy the sunshine," Georg replied evenly. "Besides, the lieutenant is interested in my name and my money. He'll have to accept that I've become a man who saves his wine for dinner and look elsewhere for a drinking partner."

"My point," Elsa continued, the edge in her voice less subtle, "is that it has been three months and you've done your penance." Seeing Georg's brow tighten, she quickly softened and ran her hand up and down his forearm. "Oh, I know… you're a man of honor. Still, don't you think it is time to forget all that?"

George responded with an exasperated sigh, so very tired of having this argument over and over. He wasn't punishing himself. He really could not stand the taste of liquor any more. Even the smell of it made his stomach turn. He supposed she could be right. Why was he still wrestling with the guilt of what he did when Fraulein Maria forgave him?

But does a man of honor become so drunk that he forces himself on a poor girl like he did? Not that he could remember exactly what he did, only that her fingernails and some miracle of God prevented a bigger tragedy. Until that moment, he had been hard pressed to see how a woman as irrepressible as Maria could ever become a nun, but in the end she treated his pitiful apology with more mercy than he knew he deserved. If there was one thing for sure, the incident forced him to see how wrong he was about her. He was wrong about a lot of things.

When Elsa returned from Vienna few days after it happened, he knew he had to tell her so he could ask her to forgive him as well. Even though their relationship was still somewhat undefined, Elsa still stood to be socially embarrassed should the incident somehow become news. At the very least, he thought she would feel betrayed. But when he finished explaining everything, her reaction caught him completely off guard.

"You don't have to explain anything to me, Georg. It was a mistake. An innocent mistake."

"You're handling it a lot differently than I expected."

"Oh, really? You expected me to cry and make a scene? You were drunk and didn't know what you were doing. Poor judgment. That is all it was."

"Elsa, do you understand that I nearly…"

"But you didn't. Really, Georg, there's no need to be so dramatic! I dare say that girl over reacted enough for everyone."

"Elsa!"

"What is it you want me say? That I forgive you? What for? These things happen. I honestly do not care."

Her words still left him speechless. She called him a man of honor and yet it was clear that Elsa had no idea what honor meant to him. In a world that was descending into mind numbing chaos, honor was truth. It still bothered him months later that she was so unfazed by what she considered a mere indiscretion, one that could be absolved with a casual wave of her hand. And it bothered him that she couldn't seem to exercise the slightest sympathy for Maria. In fact, she seemed more annoyed by his concern for the young postulant than by what he did.

It was a preoccupation that he couldn't quite understand either. If it was guilt, he reasoned, it should have disappeared in the kind light of his pardon. It didn't matter. Even if he could be freed from the feelings of guilt, too many regrets remained. Regret that she left before he could at least try to make amends. Regret that the memories of the amazing things that happened in the short time she was with them were tainted, not only for him but for his children. Or maybe… just maybe, his regret was because he heard such contrition in her words before she left.

"You are not entirely to blame. I put myself in the situation. In fact, I hold myself in the majority for blame, not you… I should have minded my own business. None of this would have happened… What's done is done. I guess the worst part is that everything has to end."

She not only forgave him, she blamed herself. He told himself that he should feel relief and gratitude that things didn't turn out worse. Why couldn't he convince himself that he just made a stupid horrible mistake, and that nothing he did now could reverse it?

He knew the reason. Seven reasons, actually. Seven sad children who suffered from her sudden departure, who still clung to the memory of her by singing the songs she taught them, only now they were mournful elegies. He couldn't even bring himself to replace Maria after she left. It would have only made things worse. He gave serious thought once or twice to trying to bring Maria back but never acted on it. He had no right.

Georg was pulled back to the present when the waiter returned with their tea and an assortment of cakes and sandwiches. Elsa returned to the subject of Augustin Karl. The lieutenant contacted him in recent weeks about a business opportunity and was supposed to meet him that afternoon to discuss the details. Georg was sure it was a complete waste of time.

"No one knows the Mediterranean like you do, Georg," Elsa argued.

"I don't think it's for me, Elsa," Georg said with disinterest. "They would operate out of Trieste. I would have to be away an inconsiderable amount of time."

"To be honest, I would think that is part of the appeal. Darling, there was a time when you couldn't bear to be in Salzburg for more than a week."

"That was before I made a promise to my children, Elsa. I can't leave again, not like before…" Georg's voice faded as a small commotion caught his eye.

From their table on the sidewalk, he could make out a group of young children marching along the sidewalk, their hands joined to form a long chain of bodies presumably to keep the smallest among them from falling behind. But it wasn't the spectacle of the children that captured his attention, but the figure they followed as they went along. A young nun walked with her back to his view, pointing out the sights to her charges.

He couldn't believe it, that she would appear as if his thoughts could magically conjure her. He often wondered what he would say if they were to meet again. What if she spotted him sitting there? Should he approach her first, or wait for her to…

Just then she turned around. It wasn't her. It wasn't Maria. Georg thought he should feel glad to avoid an awkward run-in, but instead he discovered he was rather disappointed. It would have been nice to see her one time, even from a distance, just to know that she was well. Maybe if he knew she was able to put it behind her, he could as well.

He watched the nun and her contingent continue on their way until they were out of sight. He pictured his own children floating down the streets of Salzburg dressed in the hideous curtain clothes. And Fraulein Maria in charge, taking them over hill and dale having – how did she put it? Having a marvelous time.

"Hello? Georg? Are you listening?"

"Huh? What did you say, dear?" Georg tried to bring his attention back to Elsa, but his voice remained absent and detached. She sighed, then laughed nervously.

"Really, Georg. Talking to you lately has been like talking to the wind." Georg gave her an apologetic look, but didn't say anything. For some reason, the sound of her voice wasn't as soothing as it once seemed when she tried to discuss certain things. Her usual wit seemed to lack timing and propriety. There was a time that he longed to be with her because she could pull him out of his loneliness and make him laugh. He could always relax in her company, but lately it was a chore to converse.

"I'm listening now," he said, giving her another smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Do you remember all the fun we had when you came to visit me in Vienna?" There was a hint of desperation in her voice.

"I remember," he agreed. They did have some good times together, it was true. And he was very thankful to her. Still, it felt like a lifetime ago that he was escorting her to the opera and countless parties. More than that, it felt like it was someone else's lifetime.

"Well, I miss it, Georg," Elsa said. "Please don't misunderstand, I'm honored that you brought me to meet the children. But I'm feeling restless here."

"Then you should go back to Vienna," he urged.

"The thing is that it isn't Vienna I miss, it's us."

"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean," he replied without looking up from his tea. "Has it been so awful?"

"Oh, no, not at all," she laughed softly. "You have a lovely home. And I have enjoyed meeting your friends. But it seems the purpose of my coming here has been lost, and I…" Her voice dropped and Georg was forced to look up at her. As soon as their eyes met, she laughed again. "Oh, why be so serious? Augustin will be here any minute and it would be a better idea to discuss what you're going to tell him."

"I… I don't know if there is anything to say about it, Elsa," he said, trying to be gentle. He knew he was about to disappoint her. He was still fond of her and he did want to make her happy. "I just can't go away." Elsa scoffed, and once again he felt perturbed. "My children, Elsa. I just can't leave…"

"Have you considered boarding school?"

"Simply out of the question."

"You have a house full of servants."

"Yes, well… I'd like to keep it that way."

"Then hire a governess!"

"Ha! Easier said than done. Twelve! My children managed to run off twelve…," He suddenly realized what he was saying. He looked at Elsa and smiled sadly. "I mean, eleven. They did nothing to make the twelfth one leave. She was the one they wanted to stay."

"Couldn't you ask her to come back?"

"What? Elsa, you do realize I mean Fraulein Maria, don't you?" Elsa stared at him blankly.

"Yes."

"The circumstances under which she left… I mean, I couldn't. And she wouldn't." Elsa threw her hands up in surrender then began to silently fiddle with her cigarette holder. "I'm sorry, Elsa. It must seem like I'm nothing but excuses. But it isn't just the children. The navy is the only career I've ever had. I know nothing about business." Georg tapped his fingers on the table as his mind spun at her outrageous suggestion. He couldn't… could he? And she wouldn't… would she? No, he couldn't think of one circumstance in which she would possibly agree to comeback.

Unless…

"Ships, darling! You know ships!" Elsa leaned forward as she became desperate again. "Oh, Georg, we can be together in Italy. I told you how much I've missed the way we were. I just know if we could go away, it will be like that again." For the first time Georg understood that his months of self-pity took a toll on Elsa. He reached across the table and took her hand.

"Elsa, my dear, I'm sorry that I've neglected you," he said softly. "If it will make you happy, I will listen to Lieutenant Karl's proposal and give it serious consideration."

"Thank you, Georg," Elsa sighed in a mixture relief and gratification. "That is all I ask."

They fell into compatible silence as Elsa poured more tea. Georg feigned a bored interest in the people come and going around the square. The truth was that his mind was racing a mile a minute. Why hadn't he thought of it before? Until now, the idea of asking Maria to come back seemed impossible. But if the thing that made her leave was gone… yes, why hadn't he thought of it before? If he left, she could come back.

When Augustin finally arrived, the matter was already settled in Georg's mind. He would join the lieutenant in Italy as soon as he could make arrangements for someone care for his children. By the time they left the café, Georg was in a very good mood.

For the first time in months he believed there was a chance he could do something to restore happiness to his children and set things right with the woman who was the reason for it in the first place. The only thing that tempered his excitement was the uncertainty that he could convince Maria to come back.