Sorry this took a bit longer than anticipated. I went to Disneyland and now I just started Spring Quarter. Anyway, I know you don't really care, so how about I let you read?

I continue to own nothing.

"Christopher Herbert," Mary calls over her shoulder from her place at the stove, "Don't you even think of attempting to climb on that chair."

The four-year-old sheepishly puts the chair away. Mary raises an eyebrow.

"Were you being naughty?" Mary asks.

"No…"

"Really?"

Chris scuffs at the floor with his shoes.

"Christopher Herbert," Mary warns. "What did I tell you about the floor?"

"I don't know."

"We don't scuff it. Now, I believe I asked you a question. Were you or were you not being naughty?"

"Yes, I was… But- but I want a cookie! I'm hungry!"

"Dinner's nearly on the table. Go wash up before your father comes home. We can discuss the possibility of a cookie after dinner."

"But-"

Mary gives him a stern look. "Goats butt, birds fly, and children who don't wash up for dinner shan't have any dessert."

Christopher runs out of the room to do as his mother bids him. Mary sighs and returns to making dinner. She smiles when she hears the door open.

"Mary, you 'ere?" Bert calls.

"Kitchen," she calls back. He finds her and wraps his arms around her waist from behind. "Well, hello," she looks up and smiles.

"'ello," he grins, kissing her neck.

"How was work?" she asks, tilting her head to give him better access and wrinkling her brow as she tries recall what he said as he left that morning. "You were a… screever today?"

"I was goin' to, but then it was perfect kite-flyin' weather, so I did that instead. I 'ave to say, what with that wind, I'm a little surprised you're still 'ere."

She glares at him. "And leave our son unattended? Just to follow the wind's fancy? Really, Bert!"

"But you will 'ave to leave?" he asks.

She wipes her hands on a dish towel. "Tomorrow, I should think. I've arranged for Mrs. Corry to take Christopher during the day. You can pick him up in the evenings on your way home."

She smiles at him, but she knows it looks faked. This is the first time since Christopher was born that she's leaving and she's terribly anxious about it.

He notices the apprehension in her face. He always does. "'Ere, Mary, don't you worry about a thing. Chris an' I will be just fine. Nothing to worry your 'ead over."

She looks away and studies the floor.

"Come on, don't feel bad! We've always knew it would come. Chris is ready. An' we'll see you on your day off! An' admit it, you've been itchin' t' get out an' do something."

There it is—he's hit on the real source of her guilt. It isn't that she has to leave, so much as that she's looking forward to it. "Bert-" she tries to start, but he cuts her off.

"Mary, I understand it. You've been a picture perfect wife an' mother for the past four years. But you're more'n that."

"Bert, I love being married to you," she tries desperately to explain. "It's everything I've ever wanted. And you must know how much I love Christopher. He's my entire world, but-"

He shuts her up with a kiss. "I've known you for 'ow long now? An' I've known since th' moment I met you that you're meant for so much more'n being somebody's wife. That doesn't change just because it's me you're married to. If I didn't love that about you, if I wanted to change it, I wouldn't love you at all. Don't you worry about me'n Chris. We'll be just fine. You go an' 'elp those kids. They need you."

She swallows a lump in her throat. "So," she says, trying to change the subject. "A kite vendor today?"

"Yep," he replies, wrapping his arms around her waist again. "But right now, I think I'm more interested in being an 'usband."

She laughs and swats him away. "Dinner's almost ready. Go check on your son. Make sure he hasn't fallen into the sink or something."

"You know, you could just snap the table set," he points out as she shirks out of his arms and places silverware on the table.

"And encourage that son of yours? Do you have any idea the sort of mischief he'd get into if he figured out how easily he could make things happen?"

"Oh, so 'e's my son now that we're talking about 'im being mischievous?"

"And where do you think he got it from?"

"I think, personally, 'e takes after 'is mother. She's tricky!"

"I most certainly am not!"

He kisses her cheek. "Yes, you are. I'll go see 'e's washed up," he promises and leaves before she can respond.

She stamps her foot. "I am not tricky!" she calls after him.

His head pops back into the kitchen. "Yes, you are," he grins.

"Yes, you are, Mummy!" Christopher agrees, running into the kitchen. "I'm hungry!"

"Two to one, Mary," Bert laughs. "You're overruled."

"Oh, go wash up," she glares, but her traitorous mouth curves into a smile instead of a frown.

0ooo0

Later that night, Mary sits in the living room, reading a book.

"Mary?" Bert asks, entering the room. "You coming t' bed, love?"

She looks up and smiles. "In a moment," she lies.

He frowns and sits down next to her, but doesn't say anything.

"Really, Bert, I'll just be a minute."

"No, you won't," he replies. "If you don't think I know when you're lying, Mary, you don't know me at all."

She sighs and puts the book in her lap. "Is Christopher sleeping?" She'd said goodnight to her son earlier that evening, before father and son had their customary reading time.

"Like a rock," Bert promises. "Now, why won't you come to bed?"

"I'm just not tired."

"Mary." He gives her a look that says he knows her inside and out, and that he knows she's lying.

She sighs, marks her place in the book and places it on the side table. "If I sleep, then it will be tomorrow and I'll have to leave."

He tugs her into his arms. "'Ere, Mary, what's this? I thought you were excited."

"I was. I am. But that doesn't mean that I won't miss you," she admits, resting her head on his chest.

"We'll miss you too, Mary. But this'll be good. You miss 'elping people, I know you do. You shouldn't let the little bit of nerves you 'ave stop you from doin' something you want to do."

She nods.

He brushes her lips against her temple. "Don't stay up too late," he warns.

"I won't."

He gets up and walks to the door before turning around. "But, Mary?"

"Yes?"

"Y'know, sleeping isn't the only thing that can be done in bed…"

"Bert!" she scolds, her eyes widening in shock and her cheeks tinged with red. He shrugs with a charming grin and leaves.

She shakes her head with a laugh, but quietly clicks out the light and follows her husband.

0ooo0

"Chris, come on outside," Bert calls into the house.

"I don't wanna!" Chris yells back.

"Suit yerself," Bert says. "I guess your mum will just 'ave t' deal with th' fact 'er only son doesn't want t' welcome 'er 'ome."

Chris comes running out the door, limbs flailing. "Mummy's coming home?" he asks, colliding into his father's legs.

Bert laughs and bends down to pick up the tyke. "Look there," he says, pointing up towards the sky. Chris' eyes follow his finger and he claps excitedly when he sees the umbrella.

Soon, Mary's feet lightly touch the ground. Chris squirms out of Bert's arms and sprints towards his mother. She barely has time to drop to her knees and open her arms before he hits her at full-force.

Bert's throat closes up and he fights tears watching Chris and his mother reunite. Mary pulls the little boy to her breast, holding him as close as she possibly can. Bert smiles damply when he sees the bright smile on her face and the tears in her eyes.

Finally, she releases her son and pushes him back to arm's length. "My!" she sighs. "Let me get a look at you!"

Chris squirms uncomfortably under her gaze. "I missed you, Mummy," he says.

Bert thinks he catches a tear fall from her eye, but Mary quickly brushes it away. "I missed you too, darling," she replies. "Were you good for you father?"

"Yes," Chris promises. "I was very good! We had pancakes for dinner!"

"For dinner!" Mary exclaims with a laugh. "What sort of topsy-turvy world has your father had you living in?"

"A fun one! We drawed pictures!" Chris responds enthusiastically. "But I still missed you! And Daddy did too. Lots and lots."

Mary smiles. "And I missed you both more than you could ever know," she replies. Bert catches her eye and they smile at each other. "Christopher, why don't you go inside and get those pictures? I'll be there in a moment to see them."

"But-"

"No buts," Mary smiles. "Now, spit spot!"

Christopher sprints off and Mary stands again. She takes a couple of steps towards her husband, but he meets her halfway and sweeps her into his embrace, kissing her passionately. She returns the kiss with equal fervor and wraps her arms around his neck. It's a long moment before they realize that they're still standing in the front yard of their house.

Mary blushes lightly. "If I'd have known that's the kind of greeting I'd get, I'd have left ages ago!"

He takes her face between his hands and looks at her seriously. "Don't even joke about that," he demands. "It's not funny at all."

She sobers up quickly. "You're right. I'm sorry. I've missed you terribly."

He grins. "Welcome 'ome, Mrs. Alfred."

I hope you liked it!

-Juli-