AN: This is my first time writing Mary Poppins fanfiction, but this story simply wouldn't leave me alone. It may be a little OOC in some places and it's a bit unlikely, but I've tried to make the plot as believable as possible. I realise that this probably isn't all from my own head, but I've read so much Mary Poppins fanfiction it's hard to tell where the ideas are coming from. If I have copied any of your work, I am deeply sorry, please believe me when I say it was a complete accident. If it bothers you, please just PM me and I'll change it. Thankyou for reading :)

WARNING: Slight mention of child abuse, although it's not too bad. If that bothers you, please don't feel compelled to read it, feel free to skip that part.

Bert Alfred felt like the luckiest man on earth. He'd been married to Marry Poppins for almost three years now, and at the moment she was between jobs at nannying, so she'd come home. He walked through the streets of London at a leisurely pace with Mary on his arm and he couldn't stop the smile that was spread across his face.

"Honestly Bert," Mary said. "I've been home for two days now, I would have thought your smile would have faded by now."

"An' why would I do that? 'Ere I am, the 'appiest man in the world, an' you're askin' me why I'm smilin'." Mary laughed.

"I doubt you're the quite the happiest man in the world."

"You're right," Bert said. "Now, if we was on a roof, with all th' other sweeps, then I would be th' 'apppiest man in the world." Mary shook her head, but Bert saw a small smile on her lips and she leant her head against his shoulder.

It was approaching dusk when they saw a disturbing scene in their park. There was a father, and a little girl who couldn't have been more than seven standing there. The father was clearly cross and he grabbed the little girl round the arm and began to pull her home sharply. The girl cried out and slipped from his grasp and the father turned around, taking her arm roughly and he said something that made her cry. Bert took Mary's arm out of his and, without taking his eyes from the scene before him, said. "Mary, 'ow 'bouts you go an' see where th' Constable is."

"Bert..."

"Don't worry, I only wants to 'ave a little chat with him." Mary looked at him worriedly.

"Be careful Bert."

"I'll be fine. You go an' find th' Constable." Mary walked off quickly, frequently looking back over her shoulder as Bert approached the father.

"'Ere now, what's all this 'bout?"

"It's none of your buisness, sweep," the father said angrily. Bert looked him up and down. The man was clearly quite poor, wearing tattered and ragged clothes and his breath stank of beer. Bert shrugged.

"I just heard th' little lass a-crying an' wondered if I could be of assistance."

"Well I'll thank you not to pry into my business."

"I only wanted to 'elp."

"Well your help isn't wanted here, sweep." The little girl wriggled out of her father's grasp and hid behind Bert.

"What's your name then, lass?" he asked.

"Beatrice," the little girl replied.

"You!" the father said. "Come here at once." Beatrice shook her head and hid further behind Bert. The father turned on Bert. "Give her back!"

"I 'aven't taken 'er guv, she's right 'ere." The man was clearly an angry drunk and he was in no mood to be reasonable.

"Give her back!"

"Now guv," Bert said. "If you'll just calm down..." As soon as he said it, a lot of things happened at once. Mary rounded the corner with the Constable at her side, Bert looked down to check that Beatrice was all right and the father swung his fist which connected with Bert's chin.

Instantly Mary was at Bert's side. "Bert!"

"I'm fine Mary." Bert felt his jaw. "Cor, that's gonna ache come tomorrow." The Constable had blown his whistle and several other policemen were aprehending the man and taking him off to the policeman. There was a small sniffle and someone tugged at Bert's trousers.

"What about me mister?" Bert looked down at the little girl then up at the Constable.

"Constable, what 'bout this little 'un?" The Constable looked up.

"Just tell her to run along home." There was another small sniffle.

"Please mister, there ain't nobody at home."

"Isn't anybody," Mary corrected. "And what do you mean, there's no one at home? What about your mother?"

"I ain't got a mother."

"Well," the Constable said, thinking hard. "I suppose she could do a lot worse than go home with you two for the night... if you don't mind that is?"

"Of course not," Mary replied.

"Don't mind at all," Bert said.

"Good, we can reunite her with her father tomorrow," the Constable said. He nodded to them and turned to follow his men to the police station.

Bert looked down at Beatrice. "Do you 'ear that, Bea? You're comin' 'ome with me an' Mary."

The girl gave a small smile. "Mister Bert," she said reaching for his hand. "And Miss Mary."

The next morning found the three of them at the police station, and Mary already had an arm wrapped around Beatrice's shoulders in a protective gesture. "Mr and Mrs Alfred," the Police Inspector said. "If you would just step this way." He led them into his office and Mary left Beatrice sitting outside with a promise to come back. "I'm afraid we have a problem," the Inspector said when they were seated.

"What kind of a problem?" Mary asked.

"It turns out that the man we arrested yesterday evening was also a thief and a crook, he's looking at about five years in jail. The problem is that we cannot find any living relatives for his daughter. If we can't find anyone to take care of her then she will have to go to a children's home."

"Not if I c'n 'elp it," Bert said instantly, thinking of the years he had spent in an orphanage after his parents died. Mary laid a hand on his arm.

"Is there nothing we can do, Inspector?" she asked. The Inspector looked at them thoughtfully.

"I suppose you could adopt the child, if no one else comes forward to claim her. It would be permanent as well, her father is not suited to care for a child, so she wouldn't be returned to him when he came out of prison." He looked from one to the other. "I'll leave you to think about it for a moment," he said, standing and walking over to his secretary's desk.

"What do you think Bert?" Mary asked.

"You know what I think. I'm not lettin' 'er nor anyone go to an orph'nage, not if I c'n 'elp it. What 'bout you?"

"I don't see why not," Mary said. "But what would we do when I'm away on nannying?"

"I c'n look after 'er. Or Uncle Albert could when I'm a sweep. If I 'ad to I could take 'er with me. It ain't a problem, Mary."

"Well, if you're sure."

"I am."

"Very well, Inspector?" He turned. "We will take care of the child." He smiled.

"Excellent, if you could just fill out this form for me..."

Beatrice looked up when Mary and Bert came out of the office. "What's gonna happen to me?"

"You'll be coming home with us," Mary said.

"We're gonna be you're new parents, Bea," Bert said, smiling. "Ain't that fine?" A smile crossed the girl's face and she jumped up before hugging her new parents.

It's a bit fluffy, I know. The next chapter should be up very soon, but with my track record, I'm not promising anything.

If you would like to leave a review, that would be lovely.

Catkin Thief