Disclaimer: Yet again, Mary Poppins is not my property. While dreadful, I must accept that. However, I am borrowing her for this story.

Chapter Four: Homecoming

The echoing gong of Big Ben was chiming the first hour when the winds pushed the small cloud over the London skyline. Below them the glittering lights seemed an oasis from the stormy night sky. The children leaned as far as they dared over the edges of the cloud, issuing delight at the sights that only the birds, and Mary Poppins, were privy to.

"Is this how you always travel, Mary Poppins?" Jane turned her gaze onto her nanny. Mary Poppins shook her head, reaching out to tug Michael from hanging over the side.

"Only over Europe."

Jane's eyes widened at that. "You mean you've been all over the world?" she scooted closer.

"Of course, practically perfect people make it a point to be well-versed about the ways of the world."

Michael returned his attention to the girls, sitting back properly after a receiving another disapproving look concerning his seat. "Have you been to India where all the tigers and elephants are?"

"Quite a few times."

"Did you watch over a Prince Mary Poppins?"

"I've watched all sorts of children, Jane. It is my duty as a nanny of course."

"Are they wonderful to be around? Princesses are always so lovely in the fairytales." Jane 's eyes glittered at the thought of princesses and palaces. "Did you stay in a palace?"

"I would gather that they're like every other child." Mary Poppins tugged at Michael again to sit firmly in one spot. "As for your other question, one's home is one's palace."

Michael craned is neck so he could see over the side without raising Mary Poppins' suspicion. "Where's our house at?" He squinted at the streets far below them, trying to pinpoint his own porch-light from all the others.

Mary Poppins tilted her neck and studied the city, then pointed a gloved finger to a small prick of light a little bit aways from the main bustle. "Just there, Michael. I believe Ellen might be up waiting for your return if that candle is any indication."

"You can see Ellen?" He pushed forward again and yelped as her firm tug saved him from toppling over.

"Michael, you are not a tumble-artist, and I said nothing of the sort."

"But--!"

"Goats but, Michael. There's a candle in your window; Ellen has a fondness for the softer lighting."

Jane nodded, "She's right, Michael."

Michael smoothed out the collar of his jacket and let out a short puff of air. "Oh." The action caused a faint smile to flicker over Mary Poppins' lips before she resumed her neutral air. "How do we get down?" he asked after a quiet moment. "I mean, there's no rain here."

Mary Poppins looked to him, "Why would sensible people like us need rain to get down to the ground when there are perfectly adequate stairs just to your left. Quickly please." She got to her feet and ushered the children to a stairway of smoke much like the very first one they ever saw. After assuring herself of the children's place, she led the march down to the balcony outside the nursery window. Jane and Michael hopped off the last step and hurried to the window, finding the latch unlocked. Relieved, they open the window and slip in quickly.

Following the two, Mary Poppins straightens and glances around. Oddly, the room held only one bed in it and was less of a playroom and more a young girl's hideaway. She glanced to Jane, who was making her way to the bed to flop down upon it, then to Michael. "Michael, your room is..."

"Just down the hall, right next to..." he trails off, his face tightening. "Right next to Mother and Father's bedroom." Mary Poppins leaned forward to gently touch his shoulder but he stands up and tries to keep a straight face. "I'll go and tell Ellen we've arrived." He hurried out before she could say anything to the contrary. She watched the door and averted her gaze to a morose Jane shivering on the bed.

"Come, you should get out of those wet things into a dry nightgown." The position of a caretaker quickly subdues any worries about any upcoming conversations and she helps Jane clean up, gesturing for the girl to sit at her vanity. Picking up a comb, Mary Poppins untangles the snarls from the wilderness and quietly acts witness to the young girl's silent distress.

Jane stared into the mirror, her eyes taking on a glazed look as her thoughts overtook her; then as Mary Poppins made to set the comb down, she lifts her gaze to lock with her former nanny's. "They're truly gone, aren't they?"

Mary Poppins rests her hands at Jane's shoulders, nodding sadly. "I'm afraid so, Jane."

Jane's laugh is bittersweet, "Well, Father did mention at Michael's birthday that he would soon be the new "Lord of the Manor"..." her voice seizes as she continues, "I just didn't expect it to happen so soon."

A gentle squeeze and Mary moves so she's sitting by her charge, slipping one arm about her shoulders. "No one expects death, Jane. He has an unfortunate way of planning his own schedule; whether we would like it or not."

"I'm only fifteen, Mary Poppins, I can't run a household like Mother did!" Jane hiccuped, leaning into Mary Poppin's hold. "I just can't!"

"Shh, shush now. Right now is a time for you to mourn, Jane. Do not worry about what you can or cannot do."

"But--"

"What you can do is allow yourself to grieve, Jane."

Jane sniffled, "what about Michael?"

Mary Poppins tilted her head, "what about Michael?"

"I have to care for him too, Mary Poppins, he's only thirteen." Jane sniffled again, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I don't think I can take care of him--"

"You have Cook, Ellen, and I for that. Jane, all he needs right now from you is an older sister. Leave the care taking to others."

Jane's head snapped up at that. "You are staying then?"

Mary Poppins thought on her words before she spoke. "I will stay until I am no longer needed." Jane seemed satisfied with that answer and tucked her head back to Mary Poppins' shoulder. Absently, Mary Poppins brought up a hand to smooth over Jane's tresses and the two sat there, Jane in her grief; Mary in her thoughts until the door opened and Michael stepped through, followed by an anxious Ellen and a frantic Cook. Both were in nightgowns and dressing-robes, Cook looking as if she'd seen a ghost.

"Cor! It can't be! Mary Poppins, is that you?" Cook exclaimed, stepping around Ellen and Michael. "You found the children, then?"

Mary Poppins got to her feet. "Yes, thankfully I was nearby when I spotted the carriage."

Ellen's voice was quiet. "So, they both...?"

Mary Poppins nodded, eyeing the children. "It seems the sudden storm snapped an ancient oak and the carriage was in the way of the falling giant."

"I remember the horses screaming." Michael looked up at the three adults. "It was sunny and then it wasn't. Father was on the old country road to the lake, and..." he cuts himself off, trying to be the young man he's expected to become now. "It was a terrible accident."

Cook exchanges a glance with Ellen, "Mary Poppins, I suppose you can direct the proper authorities to collect the ... to..." she stops herself, then makes motions with her hands. Mary Poppins catches on without missing a beat. "Oh. Good. I shall call for the constable, then." Cook smiles sadly to Jane, then exits.

Still rooted on the vanity seat, Jane let out a loud yawn, quickly excusing herself. Ellen clucks her tongue. "You two should be in bed now. It's just past the witching hour, you know."

"Could we eat first?" Jane goes to Michael's side. "We've not eaten since tea."

Ellen nods. "Of course Dearie." She turns to leave, stops, and faces Mary Poppins. "How about you, Mary? You interested in something warm after a night like tonight?"

Mary Poppins blinks, a bit taken-back at the first-name only usage but agrees to a plate. "Tea as well, if you would be so kind."

"Mary Poppins, you saved the children. Tea is nothing in repayment." Ellen disappears through the door in a swish of cotton. Michael watches her go, then stares down at himself.

"Michael, will you be all right dressing yourself?"

He shrugs, "yes, Mary Poppins."

"Spit-spot, then," she said as gently as she could. "Before you catch cold."

Jane returned to her side, looking lost. "Mary Poppins?"

"Yes Jane?"

"What happens to us?"

"Now Jane I--"

"I know, Mary Poppins. I want to know what happens afterwards." Jane looked sheepish for her interrupting. "We're both still children."

"Well," Mary Poppins sat on the foot of the bed. "I expect that there will be a reading of your father's will to determine what happens with the estate, and with the two of you upon chance of an untimely death. Most likely, there will be a period of where it is just Cook, Ellen, and myself watching over you until a legal guardian can step in."

"I don't want to leave home."

"That depends on the will, Jane," she interjects gently. "However, seeing as this is your father's house bought and paid for, I'm more than sure that you'll be able to stay here, finding a suitable caretaker, of course." She stood quickly, not allowing Jane a chance to think on that last part. "Michael should be ready, and you need food. I, myself, could use a spot of tea."

The mood surrounding the makeshift dinner was subdued, Jane, Michael and Mary Poppins at one end of the table, Cook and Ellen at the other. Everyone seemed to be focused only on their own plate of sausage and mash, though no one was truly eating. Mary Poppins found that even she wasn't feeling as practically perfect as per the normal.

After a fair amount of time, she decided that the children truly needed rest and bid goodnight to Cook and to Ellen before ushering Jane and Michael upstairs. Jane walked ahead to her room, leaving Mary to tuck in Michael alone.

"Are you sure you don't want me to set up a cot in with Jane and I?" she asked, turning down the covers for him.

Michael shook his head, clambering into the bed and settling himself. "No." He stayed quiet as she tucked the covers about him and smoothed a hand over his brow. As she made to leave, he caught her attention. " ...but can you leave the door open, just in case?"

Mary Poppins nodded and left the door halfway open, then entered the old nursery where Jane already was in bed. "Is the side-room still functional, Jane?"

"Yes, Ellen used it when I came down with measles last year."

"Very good." Mary Poppins took her carpet bag into the other room, setting it on the table. "Still the same, I see."

"We had no need for a nanny after you left us."

"That's a good thing, Jane."

"Yes Mary Poppins."

Mary Poppins pulled out her own nightwear and felt better once she could set aside the damp coat and dress. Turning down her own covers, she allowed a final look to check on Jane. "If you need me Jane, I'll be right here."

"Yes Mary Poppins."

Mary Poppins climbed into the small bed and pulled the covers up. Closing her eyes, she heard Jane whisper a goodnight before she allowed herself sleep's embrace.

Author's Note: The note is at the bottom of this chapter to make the reading switch between chapters easier. I couldn't recall if Jane and Michael were ever truly given ages so based them off the age of the children recommended for the stage (10 and 8) for when the events took place. This takes place, from Jane being 15, 5 years after the movie. I am going to take some liberties so bear with me. Once again, thank you for the reviews. They're a real treat. smile