"What-" was all her blue lips could produce
"These two are alive!" the man shouted behind him. He placed the two youngsters on the bottom of the boat and checked the adults. He sighed and gently pushed the two into the water. He grabbed his paddles and rowed as fast as he could to the rescue boat. A nurse on the boat helped get the children on board and into warm blankets.
A tear that had slipped from Mary's eye dropped into the water making the image disappear.
"Well they are alive, at least we know that." Bert said standing
Mary stood as well "But they are all alone Bert, I know they are frightened and lost. We need to get there."
"Mary, its one thing to show up in the middle of a city, no one would notice you. But to fly in and show up on a ship, we would be noticed." Bert reasoned with her.
"Not necessarily, what one person sees another doesn't have to." Mary opened her umbrella and reached for Bert's hand. Bert sighed and took it. Soon they were floating through the air. Once they reached the cloud Mary opened her carpetbag and brought out some jackets and scarves.
"It's very cold where we are going, put these on" she directed.
"Mary, I think we need to talk." Bert said as he placed the scarf around his neck. "About that kiss earlier."
Mary sighed and looked at him "I'm not going to lie to you Bert, I do love you, but we can't be, not now."
"Why not? Why can't you just quit being a nanny and come back and live with me. I can make life great for you Mary, a big house, servants anything you could ever want."
Mary knew he wasn't lying. Bert was an eccentric man who loved to do odd Jobs to keep him busy. Nobody in their right minds would guess that he was really a very rich man. Making his money in the shipping industry, Bert was able to let everyone work for him and do just as he wanted.
Mary looked into his pleading eyes. "Bert, I want to be with you, I have no doubt that that you could give me anything and everything I have ever wanted. But the curse, I can't break it. Maybe one day we can be together, but not now."
"I'll wait for you, forever if I have too." Bert caught her chin and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Mary shivered at the contact. She placed her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Your too good for me Bert, you deserve someone who's perfect, not practically perfect."
"Practically Perfect is all I ever hoped for my love." Bert whispered into her ear.
Mary pulled away from the embrace and looked down, they were over the boat that was taking Jane and Michael to America. Taking Bert's hand she opened her umbrella and stepped off the cloud once more. Gracefully floating to the deck of the boat. A man came around a corner and Bert ducked out of sight. Mary stood there and looked the man straight in the eyes, but he couldn't see her. She looked at Bert "I told you, what one person sees another doesn't have to."
Mary and Bert looked for an entrance to the cabins. Once inside they searched every bed, finally coming across Jane. Mary gently shook the girl to wake her. "Jane" she softly called out.
Jane slowly came out of the sleep she was in. When she finally realized who was there she almost leapt from her bed to hug the woman. "Mary Poppins! You came for us!" Jane was overjoyed. Mary held the girl tightly to her. "It's okay Jane, I'm here now, and everything is going to be alright." She whispered into the girl's hair. Jane pulled away from the embrace. "Mother and father, we don't know where they are" Jane started to cry and Mary hugged her once more. "I know, I can't find them either." Mary lied to her. "But we will, I promise you." With that Mary started to sing
Stay awake, don't rest
your head
Don't lie down upon your bed
While the moon drifts in
the skies
Stay awake, don't close your eyes
Though the
world is fast asleep
Though your pillow's soft and deep
You're
not sleepy as you seem
Stay awake, don't nod and dream
Stay
awake, don't nod and dream
The child slowly drifted to sleep and Mary placed her back down. Bert came over and placed an arm around her shoulders. "What are we going to tell them about their parents?" She asked
"I think the truth would be the best thing." He answered
There was an empty bed next to Michael, Bert took Mary's hand and led her too it he laid down and brought Mary down with him. She snuggled in next to his side and placed her head on his chest. Slowly Mary drifted off to sleep as Bert watched her. "Sleep my love, it's been a long day" He whispered and kissed her head. Soon he was out too, dreaming of the days soon to come when Mary became his wife.
