Bert was wakened in the early morning by a heavy coughing fit of Elizabeth. Without even thinking about it for long, he got up and went to her. She shivered and Bert touched her forehead: she was glowing. "Are you feeling worse?"

The girl wanted to say something but could only nod. There was pale light in the room, so he switched on the lamp. Then he realized that her skin was more pale than yesterday. It was as if life slowly escaped her.

Mary was awakened by a slight shake on her shoulder and the sound of her name "Bert?"

"We have to go to the hospital," he said in a timid voice and a worried expression.

After Mary and Bert had changed their clothes, they wanted to put on Elizabeth's jacket. But when she had a coughing fit again, the adults saw that she was coughing blood. Without hesitating for a second, Bert picked Elizabeth up, covered her with a blanket, and headed to the door.

There was no wind outside and it was quiet, the city was covered in snow. Normally the silence would be pleasant, but today it was scary. They silently went to the hospital and both hoped that everything would end well. The snow crunched beneath their feet and their tracks were the only ones. Elizabeth's condition has deteriorated despite Mary's medicine. She looked bad the day before but now she did not even look alive anymore. With an empty look, Bert walked along the path, wondering if Liz was really dying. She was still too young and full of energy. She was a sunshine. But now the sun was covered by thick clouds.

Although Mary did not know the little girl too well, she felt sorry for her. But what really tore her heart was Bert. She could really feel his fear of dying. He did not even look at her as his gaze focused on the path. From time to time he looked at Elizabeth, probably to make sure she was still alive.

The way to the hospital felt like half an eternity and when they reached it they stopped for the moment before getting into it. While Bert was silently carrying the girl, Mary did everything you needed a voice for. Due to her poor condition Elizabeth was taken directly to a treatment room- like the day before. The two adults were waiting outside in the hall without saying a word. Mary knitted a scarf while Bert just sat there and kneaded his hands. After about fifteen minutes, the door opened and Bert's eyes flicked up: Liz was taken out of the room, her hand hanging limply down the side. Slowly, he straightened up and watched her afterwards, his face numb. A nurse spoke to them, but Bert only picking up the parts "bad state" and "stationary". The two followed the hospital staff into a small, secluded room at the end of the corridor on the top floor. They stopped outside the room and waited. Mary stood next to her old friend and carefully put a hand on his shoulder as they watched the young nurse. She kindly brought them two chairs and placed them next to the bed, but only when she left the room and said goodbye the others entered it. Timidly, Bert sat down on the chair so he would not wake the little Girl. But he wondered if Lizzy was really asleep, just pretending or not conscious at all? When he worked with the sick and injured intermittently a few years ago, he had seen so much. But now he just don't know.

Both spent the whole day at her bed, only Mary went out to get some groceries, and then they went to a nearby café to eat and drink. Throughout that time, a thought kept popping up in Mary's mind that she should not have: what if it was her own daughter lying in that bed? In addition, the way Bert was worried was heartbreaking. When they were sent home because of the ending visiting hours, she saw how much it hurt him. Mary knew he would take the disease from Elizabeth if he could. As he left, he stroked her hair out of the face and straightened the blanket: "We'll be back tomorrow ... good night"

The way home was just as silent as the rest of the day. Only when the adults sat at the table in Bert's apartment and ate he began to speak: "Why didn't your medicine work?" his voice was monotone.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Why didn't your medicine work. I thought this always works? "

Mary cleared her throat and clasped her hands. How could she explain that to him now? "You know, Bert ... There are people where the medicine will work, like Jane and Michael Banks or the Miller twins," she shivered briefly, "but there are also people where the medicine is only helps partially or does not work at all. As with Uncle Albert, for example", her voice was getting quieter. If their thoughts were correct, then they would have a problem.

"Are you telling me that Lizzy is magical or did I misunderstand something?"

"I do not know, Bert ... I've already seen that the medicine has not struck properly with normal children. But most of the time this happens to those who have something magical about them. Did you notice something ... strange about her? "

Bert thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No ... the only thing that's strange about 'er is that she's so small and petite. Besides, she looks younger than she actually is. And she is very interested in everything. But I've never noticed anything magical about her. "

"Well. But should you ever notice something, please let me know! "

"Why? Would it be bad if she 'ad something magical about 'er? "

"Well ... if it's like you then not. That would only mean that she ages less. But if she has a magic like Uncle Albert or me, then it would be better if she learns certain things. "

„I understand…"

Bert learned that he had something magical about him when he was in his mid-thirties. While it surprised him very much, Mary hardly wondered. However, he could not jump in chalk images or slide up the railing. He just did not age anymore.

After dinner, they talk about trivial things and drank wine before Mary knits and Bert starts to paint another picture. Both were lost in thought- thinking about themselves. They have not seen each other for six years and since Mary came back to London, there has always been a kinda confusing little back and forth between a certain distance, as in this moment, and a closeness, as if they were never separated. Probably this was partly because they were happy to be reunited but also because of the guilt feelings of Mary and Bert's fear for Liz.

Shortly before midnight they made themselves ready for bed. Bert was already lying on the sofa and staring at the ceiling as Mary came out of the bathroom. She studied him and could read the concern on his face. Without looking away from the ceiling, he asked, "What if she dies? All because I didn't send her back to the orphanage soon enough ... "For the first time he voiced these thoughts aloud.

„Don't blame yourself, Bert. You couldn't know she was getting pneumonia," she came to him.

He straightened up and Mary sat down beside him: "But the cough! I- ", her admonishing look silenced him.

"As I said before: you could not know it. And everything will be fine again. Believe me, I have this feeling. "And at that moment, she was doing something where neither of them, not even her, expected it: she leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. She closed her eyes and lingered for a moment. She did not know why she did that. On the one hand, it was probably because of the alcohol she had just drunk. On the other hand, maybe she just wanted it. In the end, it was probably a mix of both. As she slowly released, she whispered again, "Everything will be fine." But she said these words more to herself than to him.

I am not quite happy with the chapter but here it is haha

Soon there will be a chapter where only Mary and Bert are and just talk about old times :)

But in the next one, you'll see what happens with Liz

As always, I'm looking forward to reviews ;D