As if she knew he was waiting, she appeared at his door. His heart sank at the look of her. She wasn't the same governess as the day before. There was no smile. Her eyes were tired and lacked her usual spirited joy. Even her skin seemed different… was she always so pale?

"Please, Fraulein… come in," he said, standing. "I have some things to say to you." She obeyed, but only with a few steps. She made no effort to sit or look him straight in the face.

"Captain, I…"

"Please, let me speak first," he interrupted. "I've been trying very hard to find the right words to say to you, but I don't think there really are any right words. You deserve better than excuses. What I did to you was inexcusable. I'm deeply ashamed of myself, Fraulein. I am very sorry that I hurt you." He heard his own words and cringed. It was pathetic. Maria swallowed and took a deep breath, running her fingers through her hair nervously.

"Thank you, Captain. I accept your apology."

He waited, but she didn't say another word. He wanted her to be angry with him. It wouldn't necessarily make him feel better, but her subdued manner and understanding made him feel even worse.

"I wish you would be angry with me. It's what I deserve. I should make you take a swing at me to make you feel better. I'd feel better." Maria finally looked at him, and there was a momentary flash in her eyes.

He walked around the desk and approached her.

"Please don't come closer," she said evenly.

"I only wanted to give this to you," he explained quickly. He dropped the cross in to her palm. She turned it over in her hands, inspecting the broken chain.

"Where did you find it?" She asked softly.

"I didn't find it, Fraulein… apparently, I took it, uh… it was in my hand when I woke up," he muttered. "I will have the chain fixed, of course, or replaced if needed. It's the least I can do."

"The least you can do…," she repeated slowly, her voice trailing off into her thoughts. Suddenly she flashed her eyes at him again and struck him across the face with her open hand. "You didn't just break a necklace or tear up a dress, sir. I don't have the years and experience in war that you do, but what little confidence and sense of self I had... you shredded all of it. I have never felt more humiliated and low about myself in all my life, Captain. There! Does that make you feel better?"

"No, it doesn't," he answered. "But it helps me understand how much I hurt you. I'm truly sorry, Fraulein. It seems that I have done nothing but repay your kindness with contempt from the moment you arrived. I need your forgiveness or I'll never be able to live with myself. As you know, living with myself is a pretty fragile state for me as it is."

Maria finally broke her steely glare. Her face and body fell as she dropped into a chair and lowered her eyes to her clenched hands.

"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

"Fraulein?"

"I forgive you, Captain. Please forgive me. 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 started that argument at breakfast. That's what I came to talk to you about, you see. I wanted to apologize for interfering. It wasn't my place." Maria wiped her eyes.

"It must have been a shock to find me as I was," the Captain said with embarrassment.

"You must remember that I didn't always live in a convent," she said with a wry laugh. "I always helped my uncle when he got that way. Maybe that is why I thought I should help you. I should have minded my own business. None of this would have happened."

"You should never apologize for being kind," he replied. He wondered if she even realized that if it weren't for her, he would be having a very different conversation with his own daughter. "You didn't do anything wrong and you certainly didn't cause what happened. That is on my head."

"What's done is done," Maria said with a cleansing sigh. "I guess the worse part is that everything has to end. I've already said goodbye to the children. I don't think they believed my reasons, but I couldn't be honest, could I? I only came here to tell you that I'm leaving." She stood up again, nodded her goodbye and headed toward the door.

"Please, wait," he implored. "I know I'm in no position to ask for anything from you, but please… stay. The children love you so much. They need you."

"And I love them, but I simply cannot stay, Captain. Not now. Thank you for letting me live in your world for a little while, but I'm really looking forward to returning to mine. Good bye."

And with that she was gone.

The End

Author's note: I hate this ending, but like I said I'm in a totally pissy mood and sad and tragic work better when I'm in a pissy mood. I banged this sucker out so I wouldn't kill people… poor keyboard. Anyway, tell me you hate it too, I don't mind.