A/N: It's very late and I'm very tired and this is probably just chalk full of typos (more than the usual I'm sure) but I wanted to present you all with this. Thank you to those of you who update your own fanfics or suggested some to me- you're all a godsend. So we continue once again with magic-less Mary! Do enjoy and do review!
Mary awoke the next morning with a yawn, relishing in her well-deserved extra sleep. After getting dressed, she went downstairs, a greeting grunt coming from Uncle Albert as she passed him and entered the kitchen. Still feeling a little groggy from her extra sleep, Mary reached for a tea cup from out of the cupboard and promptly dropped it on the floor, causing it to smash into several small pieces.
"Oh!" Mary yelped in surprise.
"Alright dear?" Uncle Albert called.
"I'm fine, I'll take care of it," Mary called. Mary snapped her fingers at the broken pieces of the tea cup scattered across the floor. When nothing happened, she let out a heavy sigh. "Oh, bother."As Mary bent over and began to pick up the pieces as carefully as she could, Uncle Albert entered the kitchen.
"Are you sure alright?" he asked.
"Quite," Mary said, continuing to pick up her unfortunate mess.
"Why don't you just...you know," Uncle Albert said vaguely.
"I can't," Mary said.
"Oh not again."
"I'm afraid so, but under different circumstances this time."
"What do you mean my dear?" Uncle Albert wondered.
"I'm sure you recall the last time. Well, Bert and I sort of made a pact," Mary said as she straightened up and went to throw away the remnants of the tea cup she had broken.
"Pact?"
"An agreement. I offered for him to have my magic- permanently. He turned me down, suggesting I wouldn't be Mary Poppins if I didn't have it. Of course, at that point we had finally made clear our feelings for each other, and I no longer felt it would impair our relationship if I were...a little different."
"Rightly so," Uncle Albert replied with a nod.
"But I did offer, and let the offer stand. I hardly expected him to call me on it nearly three years later once he proposed to me," Mary chuckled. "But that is so very much like Bert."
"You mean he has your magic, for good?" Uncle Albert asked warily.
"No, it's on loan. Bert didn't want me to stress over the wedding, which I'm going to do regardless, but he asked to borrow my magic to do it himself," Mary smiled.
"I see," Uncle Albert smiled as well.
"Really? I don't. I can't even begin to fathom what he has planned," Mary said nervously.
"Well, when is the wedding?"
"I haven't the faintest idea Uncle Albert," Mary said with a sigh, but she couldn't help trying to hide a small smile.
"That's alright. I'm sure Bert has everything under control," Uncle Albert said with a reassuring smile, which grew into a loud chuckle. "At least, I hope so. You're a disaster without your powers," he said with a laugh.
"You all seem to think you're so very funny when I'm without my magic," Mary growled.
"Oh come now my dear. What are your plans for the day then if you're not being a nanny and you're not being wedding planner?"
"What time is it?"
"Half past ten."
"Oh goodness!" Mary exclaimed, not realizing how long she had slept.
"Don't worry dear, you needed it. So what's the plan now?"
"Well, I had thought I'd pay Jane and Michael a visit. I know it's awfully soon of me to go back, but they deserve an invite to the wedding. I'd invite George and Winifred but I'm not sure what Bert has up his sleeve. He does have my magic and he's rather flashy with it," Mary said with a smirk.
"And you're not extravagant yourself..." Uncle Albert mumbled under his breath.
"What did you say?!" Mary exclaimed with a freezing blue-eyed stare. Uncle Albert was saved, however, as the bell rang and he rushed to answer the door.
"Bert my boy! Come in!" Uncle Albert boomed from the hallway.
"Bert?" Mary questioned, coming into the hall.
"At your service," Bert laughed as he picked Mary up and spun her around, stealing a kiss no sooner than her feet hit the floor.
"But what are you doing here? It's not even eleven yet," Mary asked, thoroughly confused. She eyed Bert up and down, noticing that he was exceptionally clean from head to toe. "And you're not filthy with soot. What's going on here? I thought you had to work."
"I did," Bert smiled knowingly.
"I don't understand," Mary said, puzzlement written all over her face.
"Your magic does wonders to a chimney. Cleaned meself up alright with it too," Bert laughed.
"Well aren't you selfish," Mary laughed.
"Not at tall. Only wanted to get a jump on the day so I'd have time to see and get some other things arranged," he said with a wink.
"Is that so?" Mary asked with a sly smile.
"Absolutely," Bert replied, giving Mary a peck on the cheek. "What about you, sleep alight?"
"Oh just fine. I broke a dish this morning though," Mary blushed.
"You are a mess when you're not full o' magic," Bert laughed. "Are you sure you can go two weeks without it?"
"Two weeks?"
"That's when we're having the wedding!" Bert said excitedly.
"That's awfully fast. And you need it the whole time?" Mary asked.
"Most of the time," Bert nodded. "Look don't worry Mary, I'll get it all sorted out. Just trust me."
"I do Bert, with all my heart," Mary replied.
"And all of your magic?"
"That too," Mary said with a sigh.
"Good, now do you have a non life-threatening activity planned for today that doesn't require magic. I have some things to take care of today..."
"Stop making fun of me. You know full well I am not clumsy or prone to accidents when I am completely myself, thank you. And, I thought I would pay Jane and Michael a visit. Is that allowed?" Mary asked with a scowl.
"More than allowed love, required. And tell 'em Bert says 'ello," he said, kissing her on her forehead before going out the door. Mary stood happily in the hallway, drinking in his loving goodbye gesture.
"Ah, love," Uncle Albert sighed.
"Oh don't you start," Mary said with a stern grin on her face as she went upstairs to prepare for her outing to see Jane and Michael.
"Touchier too when she's out of magic," Uncle Albert said to himself once she had left the room.
"I heard that," Mary called from the top of the stairs. Uncle Albert just laughed to himself as he went into the kitchen for more tea. Goodness knows he had plenty of it now.
Mary took her time as she made her way to Cherry Tree Lane. She was normally a very quick-paced person and very difficult to keep up with- it came naturally to her. Today, however, Mary was taking time. She wasn't sure if she just slowed down when she didn't have her magic, or perhaps she was afraid of causing herself harm, but more than anything, she was stalling. Mary had barely had anytime to wrap her mind around getting married, and having to break the news to her two favorite charges seemed impossible. Mary usually wasn't one to get tongue-tied, but she couldn't for the life of her think of how to tell Jane and Michael, nor did she know how they would handle the news. Before she knew it, Mary had arrived at the Banks' doorstep, and still she had no idea how to breach the topic of her engagement. She rang the bell before someone noticed her deliberating on the front doorstep.
"Mary...Poppins?" a very confused Ellen asked.
"Good morning Ellen," Mary smiled congenially.
"Come in, come in," Ellen said pleasantly. "I'll get the master." As Ellen disappeared, Mary looked around the house. Nothing had changed, but then, she had only left a few days ago. As she was waiting, Mary could hear the faint sound of laughter coming from somewhere deeper in the house. It sounded like Mrs. Banks, which wasn't hard to believe. Then a more baritone laugh joined in with her, and Mary smiled. So Mr. and Mrs. Banks didn't really need me last time, Mary thought. And it appears they're not even concerned about employing another nanny. Mary sighed contently.
"Mary Poppins?" Mrs. Banks asked as she emerged from the dining room. Mr. Banks was right behind her.
"Mary Poppins?" he inquired with as much curiosity and confusion as his wife.
"I realize I just terminated my employment, and only left a few days ago but-"
"Don't be silly, come in," Mr. Banks smiled.
"Why thank you Mr. Banks," Mary smiled, feeling some of the pressure lift from her shoulders.
"And to what do we owe this tremendous pleasure?" he asked with a broad grin.
"Well Mr. Banks, Mrs. Banks," Mary began, nodding an acknowledgment to Mrs. Banks, "I haven't decided to find employment elsewhere yet, and I thought I might be permitted to spend a little time with Jane and Michael today. I have some news for them that they may be interested in hearing. That is, if you don't mind I borrow them for the afternoon."
"Not at all," Mr. Banks smiled. "They're upstairs, right Winifred?"
"Yes dear," Winifred smiled at her husband. "Ellen?"
"Yes mum," Ellen said, appearing from behind a curtain.
"I'll get them Winifred. Go back to, cleaning, or whatever you were doing before Ellen," Mr. Banks said as he got up to find his children. Once he had disappeared upstairs, Mrs. Banks turned to address Mary.
"You're back so soon! Not that I mind, you've done wonders for this family. I don't mean to pry but, what about you? Are you going on to find another family...it seems you can't bear to leave this one," Mrs. Banks smiled.
"Actually mum-"
"Oh do call me Winifred, you've only known me for how many years now?"
"Actually Winifred, that's why I'm here. I didn't expect to see the children so soon but, I had some news for them that really couldn't wait," Mary said vaguely, and in a fit of nervousness, she patted the back of her hair, checking to be sure it was properly in place. It was a common action of Mary's, but this time Mrs. Banks noticed something different.
"Is that a...OH!" she gasped, seeing Mary's delicate diamond and sapphire ring. Mrs. Banks hurried closer to Mary, taking her hand to examine it further. "Who?" she asked, as Mary turned the brightest shade of red to date.
"Bert, the chimney sweep," Mary said softly.
"I knew it," Mrs. Banks smiled warmly. How did everyone else know about it, Mary thought smugly. Mary silently cursed herself for not wearing her standard white gloves, but how could she wear both the enormous ring and her favorite accessory? She hadn't quite figure that one out.
"I couldn't be happier," Mary said absolutely honest and sincerely heartfelt.
"Oh and I couldn't be happier for you Mary Poppins," Mrs. Banks squealed delightedly. Mr. Banks had returned with Jane and Michael- they had been giggling about something together, and Mary turned to see the end of a play wrestling match between Mr. Banks and Michael.
"Alright settle down you two," Mrs. Banks laughed.
"Really," Jane sniffed, ironically in a very Mary Poppins-like way. Mary suppressed a laugh.
"Oh George, Mary Poppins has some wonderful news!" Mrs. Banks exclaimed. "Oh I'm sorry, you wanted to tell the children yourself somewhere. Oh now I've muddled the whole thing."
"It's quite alright Mrs. Banks," Mary said.
"Tell us what?" Jane asked.
"Yeah, tell us what?!" Michael exclaimed.
"What's the news Mary Poppins?" Mr. Banks asked.
"Please tell us Mary Poppins," Jane and Michael said in unison. Mary rolled her eyes.
"Oh, if I must, I must," she sighed. Everyone in the room leaned in closer. "I'm getting married," she announced.
What a horrid place to stop right? :) tee hee! Sorry! If I'm bored again at work you'll be receiving another lengthy update so don't worry. Hope you enjoyed it and please review! (Though I know those of you reading this blabber will anyhoo because you're my loving, awesome, adoring, beautiful, intelligent, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious fan base and friends!)
Love, Elizabeth