The Second Jolly Holiday
Author: BroadwayStarlet
Source: Mary Poppins
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I do not own Mary Poppins. She belongs to P.L. Travers, Walt Disney, Cameron Mackintosh, the Sherman Brothers, Julian Fellowes, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe, Tony Walton, Bob Crowley, and many other people who collaborated on the movie and stage musical. Special thanks also to the amazing actors who have brought Mary and Bert to life: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Laura Michelle Kelly, Ashley Brown, Gavin Lee, and Caroline Sheen. The characters Emma and Lucy are my own creation, though.
Summary: This started as a short vignette about Mary and Bert's wedding. It got a little longer. Bear with me. This is also kind of a sequel to my other fic, Practical Perfection. It might be best to read that one first, since it's kind of a prologue to this one now. I suppose you could read this without reading that, but really...I would love it if you read that one first. This is only my second Mary Poppins fic.
Special thanks to my beta, Katie, who helped me with character development, plot, and fangirled with me over Mary, Bert, LMK, Sheeny, Jules, and Ashley last fall Yeah this story is really old and I'm just getting around to posting it a year later. Read and review please!
Chapter 1: The Park
It was a bright, sunny spring day in London. Mary Poppins sat on the bench in the park. Her new charges were two girls, Emma and Lucy, and they were enjoying sitting by the stream under a large beech tree, reading. Mary Poppins didn't bring a book; instead she watched the wind blow lightly through the trees and the water flow musically in the stream.
This was Mary's first day with the ten-and twelve year-olds. Emma and Lucy had already witnessed a hint at Mary's magic; she had incredible influence over their parents – something other nannies had yet to achieve. Lucy, the twelve year old, believed she didn't need a nanny. When Mary Poppins marched into their parlor that morning, she introduced herself as their new nanny. Lucy wrinkled her nose at the term "nanny". Lucy realized that at age twelve, her own mother didn't have a nanny and went to parties with other little girls her age.
Lucy didn't know how, but Emma had already become attached to the strange young woman who arrived that morning carrying an ugly carpet bag and an umbrella with a parrot head on the handle. Maybe this Mary Poppins lady had already used the same influence on Emma as she had on their parents. Lucy shrugged off these thoughts and followed her new nanny and Emma to the park.
Mary missed her previous home, the Banks household at Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane. Cherry Tree Lane wasn't far from here, in fact, it was on the other side of the park. She smiled as she thought of the children, Jane and Michael Banks, and their first outing in this park. Then she thought of what made that day stick out so vividly in her mind; she was with him in a world he had painted, and she had made come to life. It had been, as he called it, a jolly holiday; and the best day of her life so far.
He should be here by now, she thought to herself. He always knew when she had a new family, and he always knew where to find her. Maybe his feelings had changed? Just when she'd finally allowed herself to feel something for him, and told him how she felt… Maybe he didn't love her after all.
Practically perfect people never permit sentiment to muddle their thinking, she reminded herself. She straightened up unnecessarily on the bench; her posture was already perfect. She wouldn't allow herself to feel upset by his absence.
She gazed to the skies, checking to see if she could spot any sign of him there, unsure why. Kites, maybe? He was selling kites right before she left the previous week. She was always the one who traveled in the sky, not him. Silly woman, she told herself.
Then she heard it. A man was singing as he strolled on the path towards them. There was no mistaking that charming Cockney accent.
"Chim-chiminey chim-chiminey chim-chim cher-ee, a sweep is as lucky as lucky can be…"
Her eyes lit up – he was finally here! She made her perfect posture even straighter (if that was possible), and waited for him to see her. A lady never rose and ran to greet someone, even if Mary Poppins wanted to with all her heart. The man was suddenly at her side.
"Chim-chiminey chim-chiminey chim-chim cher-oo, good luck will rub off when he shakes hands with you. Or give you a kiss, and that's lucky too…" He leaned to kiss Mary on the cheek. "'Ello, Mary Poppins. Beautiful day, ain't it?"
"Oh, Bert, it's so good to see you," she said, beaming, her eyes shining with joy as she stared up at him.
"Sorry I'm late," he said. "And 'ow are you, darlin'?"
"Oh, Bert," she scolded. "Don't call me that here in public, Bert, especially in front of the children."
He rose to his full height and glanced by the tree and the stream. "'Ow are the new charges?"
"They're fine, Bert. I had to...influence…the parents a little to hire me, I do believe the children suspect me of some kind of magic or nonsense of that sort. The older girl is a little arrogant, but the little one is very sweet."
"What's the issue then? With the family?"
"I haven't figured that out yet."
Bert gave a mock-gasp. "Mary Poppins, are you losing your touch? You can usually figure things out instantly."
"Well, I have my suspicious, Bert, but I believe I am losing my touch. I haven't exactly been focused since we parted last week." She blushed. "I've been praying for a new assignment since I left your side, so I wouldn't have to be away from London very long, so I could see you again."
"Don't flatter me, Mary." He smiled. He leaned to kiss her cheek again, but she put up a hand to stop him.
"Not here, Bert, please."
Bert rolled his eyes. "Of course, of course. I only thought…"
"I know."
"So the family?"
"Yes. I believe the family doesn't pay attention to the children. A bit like the Banks family, except the parents aren't ignoring each other, just the children. Everything will, of course, come into focus if we let things play out for a bit."
Bert moved around the bench and sat next to her. He reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. "I'm sure you'll be wonderful," he whispered. He gave her the fastest kiss on the cheek, so she didn't even have time to protest. "I love you, dearest Mary." His voice was so low that she could barely hear him, but his words were clear, and his breath tickled the tiny curl of hair near her ear. "And I missed you."
"I appreciate your faith in me, Bert," she said, obviously struggling to come to her senses after his kiss, his touch, and his words. Bert's pride swelled that he'd just had that kind of affect on, in his opinion, the most perfect woman in the world. Mary lowered her voice to a whisper. "Now, I kindly ask you not to touch me here, as you know the effect it has on me."
He grinned. "I'll be the perfect gentleman."
"Thank you, Bert. We shall have time to ourselves later, I promise. Now, I think you should meet the children. Children! Emma! Lucy! Come here please!"
The children obeyed. Lucy sneered at Bert.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Bert, per'aps you've 'eard of me? I paint in the park and I'm also a chimney sweep. I do a little bit o' ev'rythin'."
Emma curtseyed sweetly. "I'm Emma Jean Norrington. I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Bert."
Bert cocked his head, and removed his hat. "Just Bert, please, Miss Emma. And your name is?"
"Lucy Anne Norrington," she replied, not bothering to curtsey. Lucy was surveying Bert's sooty clothing. "Mary Poppins, you know this man?"
"I do, Lucy. He's an old friend of mine."
"Now, what 'as Mary Poppins shown you since she arrived?" Bert asked.
"Just the park, which we have of course seen before," Lucy said. "Nothing special."
Mary Poppins rolled her eyes, but Bert smiled. "Only the park? Well it always starts out that way. But when you're with Mary, things start 'appening."
"Oh, Bert, must you give everything away?"
"They don't know what things, Mary," he winked. "'Ow 'bout what I like to call a jolly 'oliday?"
"Sounds delightful," Mary said. "Girls?"
"Go somewhere – with him?" Lucy asked, dumbfounded.
"Of course, Lucy. He's my friend, and he may join us if he likes. And you might learn to use your manners and not judge someone by their appearance."
Lucy huffed. But little Emma reached for Bert's hand and then Mary's. Mary smiled at Bert. Lucy followed them to the heart of the park.
They reached a fork in the path, and paused. "Go on a little further, girls. Take the right path," Mary said. Emma grabbed Lucy's hand and they ran ahead.
Bert stepped closer and grabbed Mary around the waist. He kissed her lips deeply. Mary wrapped her arms around his neck. Bert lifted her off her feet and hugged her tight.
Around them the sky became bluer, the grass greener, and flowers bloomed brighter, in all colors as far as they eye could see. In front of the girls who ran ahead, a cheerful stream, a bridge over it, and a peaceful gazebo appeared. The girls gasped and turned wide eyed to each other.
"Lucy, your dress!" Emma pointed.
"And yours!"
Their dresses had changed. Lucy's was pink with a lace collar and hem, and Emma's was identical, except blue.
Behind them, Mary and Bert were still enjoying their passionate reunion kiss. Finally Mary pulled back.
"Oh, Bert," she gasped. "I missed you so."
"Mary Poppins, you look tip top from top to toe, if I may say so." He grinned, knowing that he'd used that line on her before.
She blushed. She did look beautiful. Her dress had changed, like the girls'. It was long, lacy, and white with a red bodice. Her umbrella was now a lacy parasol.
"Thank you. You look fine, too, Bert," she kissed his cheek. Bert's attire had changed into a formal suit, without any soot or grime. In fact, he looked so dashing that just looking at him made her heart flutter. "My, my, you clean up well." She winked. "Now let us try and find those girls. They can't have wandered too far."
Together, they took the right path. As expected, the girls were standing on the bridge to the gazebo.
"Mary Poppins!" Emma waved to them when Mary and Bert rounded the corner and came into view. "Mary Poppins, what did you do?"
"Do? Why, Emma, I've done nothing!" She smiled. "Do you like it?"
"It's beautiful," Emma said. Lucy smiled and nodded.
"Lovely dresses, girls," Bert said, winking. "Now, I believe there is a carousel just around that bend. Run along and we'll catch up." Emma and Lucy joined hands and ran in the direction Bert had pointed. "Seems that they've warmed up to me, Mary."
"I'm glad," she said. She took his hand. "Oh, Bert, this is lovely. Thank you for your help."
"You're the loveliest flower in the park," Bert said, hugging her close.
"Oh, Bert."
"Now, m'dear, you should stop scolding me like that," he said, laughing.
Mary wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly on the cheek. "I'm sorry, Bert."
"…Though, I suppose, I deserve most of the scolds from you, Mary. You know best…"
"I love you, Bert. I'm so glad I have you with me."
Bert led her across the bridge to the gazebo. They sat on the whitewashed bench in the shade of the gazebo. "I love you too, my Mary." She leaned her head against his shoulder. They heard the faint tune of a carousel around the bend.
"Should we go find the children?" Mary asked, hoping for him to refuse. She didn't want to leave his side. But she knew she should ask, after all, they were her duty.
"They're fine, I'm sure," Bert said. He kissed her hair.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. They sat in silence, listening to the breeze, the flow of the stream, and the twinkle of the carousel song.
"Mary," he whispered.
"Yes, Bert?" she sighed into him.
"Marry me."
Mary raised her head from his shoulder, staring at him with wide blue eyes. "What!"
"I'm serious. Marry me."
"Bert! You…I…we…?"
Bert laughed. "'Ave I really rendered you speechless, Mary Poppins?"
"Bert," she began. "What in the world gave you the idea to ask me to marry you?" Bert's smile faded. "I mean, of course…I love you and I'm flattered…but Bert!"
"I don't want it to just be like this – only seeing you when you're in London or when the children ain't looking or on your days off. I want to 'old you and love you every day of my life."
"But, Bert, we can't."She paused. "I'm sorry, Bert – darling, I don't want to hurt you, but I don't see how we could marry…You know what I am!"
"But you can't be a nanny forever, Mary," he said. "Eventually, you'll be done with all this, and you'll need someone to take care of you –-" Mary let out a haughty gasp. "Oh, don't be so prissy, Mary. Do you think your powers will last forever?"
"I don't know, Bert, but the Elders will never agree to let me go. I'm –-"
"I know – practically perfect."
The Elders, a sort of council of magical nannies, had visited her years ago and told her she was to be a nanny and bring families of England back together. They explained that certain powers would grow over time. She was bound to work for the council as long as she lived. They told her that a jack-of-all-trades named Bert was to help her. He had some powers too, and they would work together whenever she was assigned to London.
"They'll never let me marry you," she said. She looked on the verge of tears for the first time in all the years he'd known her.
"We'll have to try," Bert said. "On your day off we will go appeal to the council."
"But, Bert! They told me, I'm bound to this duty as long as I live."
"They never intended for us to fall in love, Mary. Maybe they'll have a soft spot…"
Mary frowned. "Fine, Bert. We will ask. But if they say no, I'm afraid they'll strip me of my duty or part us. What if they move one of us out of London? What if they forbid us to see each other? Bert, I don't think I could ever be happy if I couldn't see you again."
He kissed her cheek. "You're worrying too much. What if they say yes, and only alter your duties a bit – so that we can be together, but you can still work for families?"
"Bert, I love you too much to risk never seeing you again." A tear ran down her cheek.
"Come now, Mary, don't cry, my love." He hugged her close. "We have nothing to worry about until next Wednesday." He handed her his handkerchief.
She wiped her tears. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm such a silly woman, crying over this. This is ridiculous. No one should ever see me like this," she moaned, trying to stop her streaming tears.
He kissed her cheek. "I think we should go find the children."
She nodded. "I'm sorry, Bert. I ruined our jolly holiday."
"No, you didn't. Any day's brighter with you in it."
Author's Note: Want more? There's more where that came from. This is a full-length story. But first? Send me a few reviews! Thank you!