For the first time, the wind wasn't telling Mary Poppins where to go.

As long as she could remember she had been hearing about the families that needed her service from the wind, but then it suddenly stopped blowing. She looked around her to see if anything had truly changed, but nothing was particularly out of the ordinary: the birds were still singing, the umbrella still spoke, her bag was still full of the most peculiar objects… her magic was still working, just she didn't know where to work.

Mary had been living in a little inn in Stratford, cozy and outside of the city. It had been a couple months since she had left the Banks children and she was getting restless quickly without any work. She didn't know what to do with herself, or what was wrong.

Then she thought back to her roll in the hay with a certain chimney sweep in one of his chalk worlds…no, that wasn't possible. It wasn't. It just couldn't happen; it didn't fit with her lifestyle or what she was doing with her time… She went to the doctor locally and found it to be true: Mary Poppins was pregnant.

She was not worried about this news, it was just a slight change in plans. She went into London in search of Bert and knew exactly where to find him at that time of day: in the park, working as a one-man band for all the money passers-by would toss in his hat. "Mary Poppins." He enunciated clearly, cutting off his piece a little early just to see her standing in his little audience. She gave a curt nod as if telling him to continue his piece. He did exactly that, and when he finished he collected the coins the audience was willing to give and ran straight up to Mary. Still wearing all of his instruments he just extended a hand to her though he wanted to wrap her in the fondest embrace he could. She accepted his handshake willingly and recommended them going to dinner. He went back to his flat to get dressed and she agreed to meet him at the restaurant so that they could sit down and chat.

Bert saw her sitting in front of that small cafe in the square, waiting for him with a menu perched in front of her face. Her blue petticoats rippled around her and filled the seat. Her black coat and hat gave her an ominous but streamlined presence that could be recognized from across the street. He felt like he was watching an angel from across the street, her hair perfectly smoothed away from her rosy cheeks and her lips turned up into a slight smirk. He approached her and sat down across from her, starting with a compliment before he even picked up the menu. "Mary Poppins, you look beautiful." She blushed.

"Charming as ever, Bert." She said coolly, not even looking up from her menu.

"What brings you back to London? A new family?" He asked, looking around her for any clues. "Usually you bring your new charges with you when you first come visit me." The waiter came by and he ordered for the both of them. "Tea and cakes, and a glass of rum punch for the missus." She held up her hand as if to dismiss the punch. The waiter went on without another word and took their menus, disappearing back into the building.

"Am I really that predictable?" Mary teased him a little.

Bert shrugged. "You've been ordering the same thing since I've known you. Always tea, cakes, and rum punch." She raised her eyebrows. "But no rum punch this time, I see."

She shook her head but sat in silence until the teapot came out with the two glasses and a small tray of petit fours and cucumber sandwiches. "Bert, I was intending on talking to you about something."

He continued to put little sandwiches on his and Mary's plates. "Go on, Mary Poppins. I'm all ears."

Mary Poppins took a deep breath and started to pour his tea. "I'm pregnant." She announced, completely nonplussed. Bert's jaw dropped. "Don't just sit there with your mouth open like a codfish." He closed his mouth very quickly but his mind was still running. What did this mean? he wondered but didn't think to ask. Is it mine? She must be joking. Mary can't be pregnant, she just can't be. This is Mary Poppins we're talking about. "Now do you want cream and sugar? Two sugars per usual, I assume."

Bert nodded, uncomfortably fixing the cuffs of his sleeves. He finally mustered the strength to ask the question on his mind. "Is—is it—"

She gave her usual smirk of mild judgement. "Honestly, do you think—of course, Bert." She handed him his cup and began to fix her own. He took a deep breath and swallowed his tea quickly. It didn't do him as much good as a large swig of rum punch would, but it did just fine for the situation. "Now do you have any further questions or shall we move on to another subject?"

What questions didn't he have? There were so many things he wanted to know, but there were so many questions he knew he wouldn't get answers on. What was she to do? How was she feeling? How did she feel about him, or about the child, or… anything really? Were they going to live together? How was he going to help her, or was she requesting him to not help? Only one question came out. "How long have you known?"

"Not terribly long." She told him, holding her teacup steady. Mary took a sip and then continued. "Not even a full day. I wanted you to know as soon as I did." Well at least I was the second to know, he thought pridefully. "Now don't go off getting big headed. I figured you had the right to know. You're the father, after all."

He hadn't thought about it like that. Bert was going to be a father. Was he going to be a good father? He didn't know. He hadn't thought about it. He hadn't really had time for it to register. Had Mary Poppins thought about things like that? Probably not—not with him—after all, he still couldn't call her by her first name without including her last, even after all these years. The more he thought about it, the harder he realized it was to swallow his cucumber sandwich. He cleared his throat and tried to clear his mind. "Well what is next for you, Mary Poppins?"

"This doesn't change anything." She insisted and put her tea down for a few moments. "I will go and look in the paper for any job listings, become a nanny again, and I will work just as hard as I always do. You will continue doing what you do, it'll be like nothing has changed at all." She grabbed one of the petit fours and popped it into her mouth gracefully (which, to Bert, was an amazing feat; how does one eat a miniaturized cake and still manage to look as regal as she did?).

He knew it wasn't that simple. His mother had been a working woman up until he was born and she didn't work afterwards. Of course she only lived until he was about five… that was entirely besides the point. If anyone could do it all, it was Mary Poppins. He believed that with all his heart. "Why don't you stay with me until you find a new job?" Mary Poppins put a hand on her collar at the very mention of that. "You need a place to stay. After all, we're family now, ain't we?"

Family, thought she. It's been so long since I've had one of those to call my own.