Last year Metropolis Kid published a rather awesome HELLSING style Christmas Carol were a grump of a vampire got his comeuppance (I'll send you the link if your interested). This inspired me to do a Mary Poppins version and although I might not be into HELLSING as much as I once was, I still reckon he deservers a round of applause for his writing skills :D As its quite long, I'm going to aim for a update every few days so the final instalment is in time for the big day its self, wish me luck :) It's a bit sappy to start with and a lil OoC, but it's Christmas so I thought what the heck and just did it :D
Disclaimer: I own nothing but this story which will earn me nothing but Christmas cheer. Neither Mary Poppins nor A Christmas Carol are mine. There are however a few quotes from each scattered around in this.
Mostly Movie, but with a little musical and book touches here and there. THIS NOT A CROSS-OVER...merly a mickie-take. You'll see what I mean later.
Enjoy
Chapter One: Getting in to the sprit of things
"T'was the night before Christmas and all though the Banks' house, such a racket was going on, between cook, maid and spouse..." Admiral Boom sung into the cold night air, as the heated argument from the back of number seventeen continued to ring out down the street.
"Especially from the Kitchen, sir!" his shipmate above him laughed, rearranging the strings of decorations rapped around the masts.
"Indeed, indeed!" the admiral replied before spotting in his telescope a familiar figure across the street, half hidden behind a heaving shopping bag.
"Merry Christmas Ms Poppins!"
"Merry Christmas Admiral and too you Boston." the nanny called.
"Thank you misses! Good luck with getting the lil 'uns to sleep tonight with that storm goin' on!" the first mate loudly replied. Mary Poppins acknowledged it with a nod that seemed to say, 'thank you but I can handle it' and entered the little house of her employers…
"Michael, shush they'll hear us." Jane winched as her brother tried to jimmy open the kitchen door to watch proceedings better.
"You shush!" He snapped. "I don't think they'd even hear Admiral Boom's cannon-"
"Jane, Michael that's enough, thank you." their nanny warned, as she manovered around the mass of decorations, with a box of gingerbread in one hand and a box sugar-canes in the other. "Now are you going to help me decorate the tree, or would you rather sit there like frogs on a lily-pad and listen to Ellen and cook arguing over the sprouts?"
The children obeyed and hurried from the kitchen door, taking a box each, neither sure how she'd entered with out them hearing the door open or shut.
"I was only wondering what would be for dinner tomorrow…" Michael grumbled, wondering if the nanny would notice if one of the little biscuit men went missing.
"I'm sure you were, Michael, your eyes are bigger then your stomach." Mary Poppins said sternly hanging up her hat and coat. She softened though as the children set to work. "And you can each have gingerbread at supper, but not before."
The snow was beginning to fall and, although it was too late for them to go and play, Mary Poppins promised that if the snow had settled over night, she would take them to the park on Boxing Day, even if it was the second Tuesday. The children continued happily with their decorating, excited even more by this, so by the time their mother entered the parlour they quite giddy with delight and began skip around her singing something that sounded like 'God rest ye Gerry Mental-men'.
"Slow down my dears, you're making me dizzy." Mrs Banks laughed, picking up a box and revealing a rather ugly figurines and began to arrange them on the table into groups of angels, shepherds, kings and the holy family.
"Mary Poppins, how did it go? Did you manage?"
"Yes, Mrs Banks. I got everything on Mrs Brills list." came the reply, as Mary Poppins pinned two bright red woollen stockings labelled M and J to the mantle. "If she and Ellen have finished hurling abuse at one another I'll go take the bags though to them."
"Oh fantastic, thank you that's so very sweet of you!" Mrs Banks said, beaming at the nanny.
Mary Poppins smiled at the compliment and left the room, the children exchanging grins as the well worn nativity set suddenly returned to its former glory, as if by magic.
"Ellen must have fixed Gabriel's wing." their mother mused when she turned back to table and re-aligned one of the lambs before smiling down at her children.
"The tree looks lovely by the way, darlings. Are you nearly finished?"
"Almost Mother." Michael answered, standing on tip toe to hand the last glass ornament on the tree and stood back to admire their handy work. Jane clapped but Mrs Banks noticed something peculiar.
"The top's a little bear isn't it?" she asked quietly, not wanting to offend the children but Michael shook his head and laughed.
"Of Corse its bear, Mother. We haven't put the star on yet."
"Oh…"
"But we never put star on until Father gets home." Jane frowned noticing her mother's expression. "We never, ever put it on with out him."
"I know my dears," Mrs Banks sighed and sat down on the settee, pulling her little darlings close. "But you know as well as I do that your father will be late tonight. Far later then you two ort to be up." The children sighed and mewed sadly, cuddling up to their mother. Mrs Banks sat there and cuddled them back, quite content in their company. In fact it wasn't until the clock in the hall began to chime the hour that she reluctantly sat up and gently prized the little ones off her.
"Now off to bed, my darlings."
"But Mother-" Jane started then turned to the nanny who'd been stood in the doorway, "Mary Poppins tell her we can stay up until father gets home." But rather then agree with her charges, the nanny stood firm as usual.
"You heard you mother, now bed." Mary Poppins said, folding her arms. "Perhaps if you asked her nicely, I shall wake you when your father gets home."
Normally this tone would convince the two and they would be putty in her hands but tonight, Jane and Michael began to whimper, whine and pout, listing off any excuse they could.
"I won't be able to sleep if we don't put the star on the tree!"
"And we can't go to bed with out seeing Father!"
"It's not fair!"
"And it's tradition!"
"If Jane's not going to bed I'm not going to bed!"
"I'm not even tired!"
They continued like this until the nanny silenced them by holding up a finger. As a rule, Mary Poppins wouldn't think twice about this behaviour, but tonight, her resolve loosened a little and turned to her employer for an opinion.
"What do you propose, Mrs Banks?"
"Well it is past their bed time," the woman answered. She was trying her best to be firm, but the looks on her young ones little faces was making it very hard. "But George would be terribly upset if he missed the children. And it is a tradition I suppose-" Jane batted her eyelashes as Michael put on his best smile and Mrs Banks felt her resolve crumble completely. "Oh I suppose it wouldn't hurt if they were up for a little while longer…"
Thankfully the nanny didn't seem to mind.
"Very well Ma'am." Mary Poppins smiled before turning to her charges. "But they must at get bathed and dressed for bed first and foremost. If you are needed to be carried up to bed because you've fallen asleep, I will not have it in your dress and shirt." Jane and Michael grinned in delight and hurried for the nursery. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
The two of them paused half way up the stairs then dashed back, flinging their arms around Mrs Banks.
"Thank you Mother!" they coursed, each giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Your more then welcome my dears." She smiled as they turned and began to hurry the nanny upstairs to get ready for bed, the one time of the year when they would be excited by the daily routine.
And so it was that the evening flew by. Bath suds became snow in the children's minds, while tea was served out to the four ladies. When they'd made sure A Glass of sherry and two plates containing carrots and mince pies had been prepared for a certain someone, Jane and Michael offered to help Ellen and Cook with the remaining tasks left to do before dawn.
Jane set about with Ellen to lay the table and her mother to pick out a dress while Michel helped in the kitchen, (under Mary Poppins guidance) to peel potatoes and chop carrots, anything to keep them busy. So much so, that when it came to nine o'clock, the children were (as Mary Poppins had correctly said they would) indeed feeling rather more then a little tired. Ellen stoked up the fire and she and Mrs Brill proceeded to tell ghost stories until the nanny had sent them scurrying back to the kitchen with a withering look for making the children hide behind the sofa in fright.
By half past, Jane and Michel were calm again and nearly asleep. It was certainly easier to keep control of the children at this time of year, even if it was only temporary. All one would need to do remind them of how only good children got presents. Michael hadn't even complained when Mary Poppins refused him to cook chestnuts on the fire by himself, for fear he might get burnt. They knelt quietly by the fire side, while Jane sat on curled up the couch with Mrs Banks.
"Mother," the girl said sleepily, "do you think when we have the star on our tree; the wise men will come here?"
"Maybe Jane." Her mother laughed softly stroking the little girl's hair.
"I hope they bring a new train set if they do." Michael yawned clambering up on to his father's chair. "Mine's broken and I sure it'll be a lot more use then Frankie- franking-"
"Frankincense." Mary Poppins corrected and began turning over the chestnuts with a toasting fork, as though regretting the intrusion on a private moment between mother and daughter. The room fell quiet again, aside for the crackle of flames until Mrs Banks broke the silence.
"Mary Poppins, what's your family doing this Christmas?"
"Bert says every ones going to Uncle Albert's for dinner," Jane grinned. "And that Mrs Corry is cooking it."
"Are you going to have it on the ceiling, Mary Poppins?" Michael asked his eyes half closed.
"On the ceiling?" Mrs Banks giggled. "Oh you children have such wonder imaginations, don't you agree Mary Poppins?"
The nanny didn't have chance to answer as front door suddenly swung open with a snap, making every one jump. Ellen scurried out from the kitchen at tried to help the master of the house while Mrs Banks untangled her self from her daughter and hurrying them both into the hall.
"Ellen please I am more then capable of taking off a coat by myself. Just Hang it up." Mr Banks grumbled.
"Good evening, George!" His wife beamed, giving him a peck on the cheek. "Is any thing the matter? I was being to wonder whether they'd ever let out tonight."
"Welcome home father," his daughter giggled, fastening her self around his middle.
"Yes yes, good evening to you dear….Young lady, what are you still doing down here?" He said addressing Jane. Michael sleepily padded out from parlour, dropping his nanny's hand to join his sister at their father's side. "Allow me to rephrase that, what are you two still doing up?"
"We were waiting up for you father." Michel said, as Mr Banks prized them off him. "We had ghost stories, and ginger bread and Mary Poppins was just going to tell us about having Christmas dinner on the ceiling…"
"We had a lovely time! And we saved you the star for you to put on the tree," Jane agreed, then noted her fathers expression and mumbled, "We thought you'd be pleased…"
"Did you really? And who I wonder gave you permission to stay up?"
"Well I-" His wife started but was cut off.
"I did, Mr Banks."
"Now why doesn't that surprise me?" Mr Banks muttered, his glare toward the nanny intensifying. "I have had enough of this nonsense. Off all three of you!" He snapped at the Mrs Brill and the Scullery maid who were hovering by the kitchen door. "I see no point in paying your wages when it's clear none of you-"
"Mary Poppins," His wife interpreted. "Perhaps you should take the children up to nursery."
The nanny nodded and steered her charges upstairs. "Come along you two, spit spot. I'm sure Mrs Brill will put the mice pie and sherry for Father Christmas to find."
"But-"
"Jane, I said you could stay up until your father came home. now he's home, I think its high time for bed, don't you?"
"But-"
"The star can wait till morning Michael."
"But-"
"Mary Poppins, I am not finished speaking!" Mr Banks barked, making everyone jump again. "You and I need a serious word. Jane Michael, upstairs."
Jane and Michael obeyed and indeed headed upstairs. Granted, they didn't actually go into the nursery, but stayed huddled on landing, so they had done exactly what they were told too. Their father didn't notice anyway, he was to busy destroying the happy mood of the evening, right there in the hall.
"Mary Poppins this is indeed the last straw. I am extremely disappointed in you." He stated at the nannies impassive face. "I don't deny that I am to a degree loosely responsible for allowing the children to spend their day on worthless frivolity, but this exactly the sort of nonsense I've been trying to stamp out of the pair of them!"
"But George they're only children."
"Winifred, I am aware of their ages but it is high time they learnt the seriousness of life and in light of what has happened…" He paused for effect, only to be faced with a mask of indifference. "I think that tomorrow morning Ms Poppins should find another household to disrupt."
Mary Poppins didn't even blink at this, despite the uproar that suddenly came from all corners of the room.
"No you can't! I won't let you!"
"You can't throw her out on Christmas sir!"
"Mary Poppins, please stay!"
"Come on sir, be fair-"
"George, think of the children-"
But Mr Banks silenced them.
"Winifred I am thinking of the children, Jane, Michael get to bed and Ellen, Mrs Brill your more then welcome to find another placement but if not, I suggest you get back to the kitchen and find something else to do!" He turned back to the nanny, her lack of response angering him further.
"I am disturbed to find My children up at almost ten o'clock, snacking on gingerbread and on to of that, chattering about having luncheon on the ceiling! I want no more nonsense in this house. They need discipline and order. They need to know that there is will be no Christmas dinner on the ceiling, and there is no such thing as Father Christmas!"
At this the Mary Poppins' eyes went as round as saucers and in one swift movement she was up the stairs.
"Well that's hardly a civil way to end matters!" Mr Banks called up to her, as the nursery door slammed shut. He turned and crossed the empty hall into the parlour. Ignoring the decorations he pored himself a whisky and sat in his chair. There the master of the house began to read the evening paper, secretly smug he'd finally won against Mary Poppins for a change.
Had Mr Banks being paying attention to the all members of his house hold, instead just the nanny, he would have seen not one but six pairs of eyes go wide and five not-so-practically perfect jaws drop at this remark. Mr Banks didn't see on the landing his son and daughter's faces suddenly crumple before the pair bolted to the nursery. Nor did he notice his wife dash upstairs after the children along with the nanny; the latter's feet not even touching the floor as she swept up the banister. He didn't even hear the mutterings of the kitchen staff as they returned to kitchen, aghast at what they'd seen and heard.
George Banks noticed none of this, because, as every one knows, a Christmas Grinch notices nothing past the end of their nose…