A/N: In 1962, P.L. Travers wrote another Mary Poppins book, "Mary Poppins From A-Z," in which each chapter was a new adventure where things beginning with the chapter's letter would appear. In my take on that idea, each chapter will be based on a word beginning with each letter.

None of these will be continuous, so OC names will change from story to story. Anyway, I hope you enjoy! :)

- ACH

Disclaimer: Do I really have to say it? It breaks my heart every time... :P

Apprentice

19— London

"Lily, you have to concentrate, sweetheart." Mary ran a hand through her daughter's dark hair. Are you concentrating?"

"Yes, momma."

Her blue eyes were narrowed and her eyebrows creased in determination as she stared at the large bag of flour set on the kitchen table. Mary was attempting to teach her six-year-old daughter, Lily, how to begin to control her magic. As she and Bert had expected, their daughter had inherited Mary's rather unique talents. They knew soon after Lily's first year; normally young children would cease to be able to understand the language of the wind and the stars, but when Lily never forgot, Mary elatedly told Bert that their little girl was going to need magic lessons. She was up for the challenge; this was going to be incredibly different from nannying, and the fact that it was her own daughter… her heart swelled with pride and love at the thought. They had started out small—no flying just yet, Mary had joked—sending light objects zooming across the room and such, but they had moved past that and Lily's newest task, moving the fairly heavy bag of flour, was proving to be rather difficult for the little six-year-old.

"Momma, nothing's happening," Lily said, unmistakable frustration in her voice. She had been staring at the bag of flour trying to make it float for nigh on ten minutes now with no results, and, as it often is with young children, her ability to pay attention was waning.

"Just give it one more try and then we'll make cookies, alright, darling?"

"Okay, momma!" she said excitedly.

Works every time, thought Mary with a smile. No child can resist the promise of a batch of delicious, warm cookies.

Lily's eyes moved from her mother back to the bag of flour. She continued staring at it intently, willing with every fiber of her tiny being for it to rise. She still could not access the power within her, however, and the bag merely crept silently across the tabletop. Mary had turned to get the bowl and spoons ready, so she did not see the very full bag of flour as it teetered dangerously on the corner of the table. Nor did she see when its weight, combined with the, albeit minute, force of Lily's mind, finally pushed it over the edge.

The powder exploded as the bag hit the floor. Flour covered everything, and when Mary turned around, her eyes grew wide, but they softened when they rested on the image of her daughter, covered from head to toe in a thick, white coat, hiding from her mother's searching gaze behind her hands.

"What did you do, young lady?" Mary asked, a large smile stretching across her face.

"Nothing," said Lily innocently, clasping her hands behind her back and swishing the skirt of her once blue dress, soft clouds of flour floating off as she moved.

"Really? Are you sure? You wouldn't happen to be lying, would you?" Mary asked, narrowing her sparkling eyes in challenge.

"No…" Lily said, trying to suppress her smile and giggles by attempting to imitate her mother's expression.

Mary bent down to her daughter's height and looked deeply into her eyes; that look that plunged into her heart and saw what was there. Lily knew she had been caught and her giggles finally escaped her.

"I thought so," Mary said with a laugh. "Not a problem, though." She snapped her fingers and the empty bag of flour immediately flew up to the table, the powder itself following suit and returning to its place inside the burlap bag. Lily had seen her mother's displays of magic numerous times, but she still couldn't help but feel awe-struck with every new occasion.

"When will I learn to do that, momma?" she asked eagerly.

"With time and practice, Lily, you'll be able to do anything," Mary replied beaming, her eyes afire with pride.

Bert walked in at that moment and his heart melted at the scene. Mary held Lily in her arms, dropping light kisses on her forehead, cheeks, and nose, while she giggled in hysterics. Mary's eyes connected with his, and she set Lily down and told her to very carefully retrieve the eggs from the icebox for the cookies. She skipped happily away and into the connected room, leaving Mary and Bert, for the moment, alone. Bert approached Mary and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"So, how's the sorcerer's apprentice coming along?" Bert asked with a bright smile.

"She has a long way to go," Mary laughed happily, "but she'll get it eventually. I, myself, only gained full control when I was sixteen," she said, her eyes warming at the memory. "Lily has plenty of time."

"I can't imagine you at sixteen," Bert said, kissing her softly on the lips. "Are you sure you weren't this age and this lovely forever?"

"I am completely certain of that," she said with a laugh. "Now if I will stay this age and this lovely forever… that is an entirely different question." Her lips curled into a beautiful, sly smile and there was a slight pause, the silence broken by Lily humming gleefully to herself as she placed the eggs on the table beside the bowl.

"Are you claiming immortality, Mary?" he said mockingly, but she could see the seriousness evident in his expression. Her brilliant blue eyes twinkled mysteriously as they often did when she had a secret. She looked deeply into his eyes and kissed him softly on the cheek.

"So could you," she whispered with a knowing smile.

She left him gaping at her, mouth open and brown eyes wide, as she returned to Lily's side, mother and daughter laughing merrily as they made cookies together, cracking eggs in the large bowl and mixing them with the flour from the newly restored bag. Lily wiped flour on Mary's cheek, her large blue eyes sparkling much like her mother's. Mary tapped Lily's nose playfully, a luminous smile spreading across her face, leaving a white flour mark where her finger had been. Their musical laughter erupted again and it echoed across the room, creating a light, happy atmosphere that filled their hearts.

Bert looked upon them, the two loves of his life, from across the kitchen and sighed contentedly. Life couldn't get better than this, he knew, and, if his interpretation of Mary's statement was correct, it seemed he would be able to enjoy their love for eternity. That wonderful thought in mind, he joined them at the kitchen table and wrapped his arm around Mary's waist and smiled for joy as he baked cookies with his beloved wife and daughter.