This week I have learned that people suck and so does off-season in a big city. Let me tell you. I went from making 500 dollars a weekend to no dollars a weekend…I just want people to come back.

Also thank you so much for all your reviews. You guys are truly wonderful!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the stuff I create, and to be honest, Disney owns most of the things I love anyway.

Veronica

One year, six months, and twelve days. That's how long it had been since Bert had seen Mary. The two had exchanged many letters throughout their separation, some more personal than others, and so far, those letters were enough for Bert. No matter how much she had told him to move on, he knew he couldn't. He remembered back to what Sybil had said five years ago about once Mary captures something, it was hers forever. He didn't believe those words until it was his heart was the thing she had. Bert smiled at his recent letter from Mary telling him all about her adventures in Australia, and how she and the children had gone on an adventure in the Great Barrier Reef. He laughed once again as she talked about her waltz with an octopus as he leaned on the wall.

"Whatcha readin' there, Bert?" Bert quickly folded the letter up and placed it in his breast pocket before looking up at Henry, who had navigated to his side from the typical sweep gathering.

"Nothin' important," Bert watched as Henry rolled his eyes before reaching in and grabbing the paper, "hey! That's mine,"

"Well, if it's not important then you won't mind me reading it," Henry cleared his throat, "Dearest Bert, today the children and I went on the most marvelous adventure. I wish you could have been there. I know you would have had a grand time since you are always telling me about your love for the water…wait," Henry turned the letter over and Bert felt his ears start to burn, "this is from Mary,"

"Yea…" Bert couldn't make eye contact with his friend. In the last year and a half, the sweeps had been encouraging him to get over his crush on Mary because they felt it was hurting him more than anything.

"Mate, when are you going to realize she's gone?"

"She's not gone just…preoccupied," Henry folds the latter back up and hands it back to Bert, who quickly snatches it back before putting it back in its rightful place.

"How long 'ave you two been writin'?"

"Since my birthday…last year,"

"Is that why you have been ignoring all of the attempts on settin' you up with a nice girl, who is 'ere, in London rather than who knows where?" Bert nods, "that's it. Tomorrow you are coming dancing with me and Maude,"

"But I have a job,"

"'Oy Trevor!" Another sweep sticks their head out of the nearby chimney.

"Yea Henry?"

"Can you take Bert's job tomorrow night?"

"Sure can if he takes my job Saturday mornin'." Bert looks between the two and sees the determination in Henry's eyes and nods in defeat. With a smile and a dip of his hat, Trevor is gone.

"So, I will see you tomorrow night at the dancin' hall," Henry looks sternly at Bert, "and try to bring a smile, Bert, ain't no girl gonna wanna dance with ya if ya frowin'." Bert nods and watches Henry. Bert runs a hand over his face in frustration but goes and joins his friends.

Bert sighed and smoothed out his nice shirt once again and looked at the dance hall in front of him, upbeat music drifting out from the doors. He closed his eyes and walked in, quickly scanning the room for Henry and Maude.

"Bert!" Bert turned to the voice and saw Maude waving with Henry and a blonde woman next to her. She gestures for him to come over and strangely enough, he feels compelled to follow her command, curious on this woman that they had chosen for him.

"Hello, Maude," Bert and Maude exchange kisses on the cheek, and smiles at Henry and the blonde.

"Bert, this is Veronica, my friend from work. Veronica, this is Bert, Henry's friend." Bert shakes her hand with a forced smile, but she doesn't seem to notice.

"It's nice to meet you. Maude has been telling me all about you," Bert takes in the woman's features. Her blonde hair flows down her back, her brown eyes glisten with happiness, her skin is slightly tanner than his, and she has a very thin figure. Everything Mary was not. Henry and Maude had chosen the exact opposite of the woman who they were trying to make him forget. The four of them chat for a while, Veronica's body slowly inching her way closer to Bert's which causes Bert to tense up. Henry notices and goes to get more drinks for the group, hoping that the beer would settle Bert's nerves. Two drinks later, Bert was still too tense for Henry's liking but he was chatting and smiling with Veronica more which can only be taken as a good sign. Suddenly, the music changed into a familiar swing beat.

"Oh! Henry, I love this song! Let's dance!" Maude grabs Henry's hand dragging him towards the dance floor, but he gladly follows, leaving Bert and Veronica to laugh in their wake. Bert looks over at Veronica and extends a hand.

"Would you like to dance?" Veronica smiles and takes his hand.

"I would be delighted, Bert." The two dance around for the jovial tune and for a few more after that, but soon Bert realizes that all he wanted to do was dance with a certain blue-eyed woman. Suddenly, Veronica was no longer herself, but Mary, smiling and laughing in his arms instead. The thought suddenly placed a heavy burden on his heart.

"'Cuse me." Bert extracts himself from the dance with her and takes off out the main door. He doesn't even realize he's running until he's almost a block away, and he only slows when he hears Henry calling his name.

"Bert! Bert! Bert! Will you stop running?!" Bert stops, placing his hands on his knees, and as soon as Henry catches up to him, he does the same.

"When did you become a track and field man?"

"Recently apparently," Bert looks over at Henry.

"Whatchu runnin' for? Looked like you and Veronica were having a good time,"

"We were. I was, but…" Bert stands up straight and faces away from his friend, looking up at the night sky.

"Mate," Henry straightens up next to him, "you gotta forget about Mary. You're missin' out on girls like Veronica, who is here and can make you just as happy,"

"That's the thing, Henry, I don't want anyone else,"

"Bert, it's just a crush. Just give it time…"

"It's not a crush!" Bert turns to Henry with unshed tears in his eyes, "I love Mary with all my heart, and until one of these letters," Bert pulls out the letter, "tells me that she's dead, never returning or has found someone else. I'm not givin' up on her because she isn't some crush, she's the woman I want to spend me life with,"

"Even if that means that you're waitin' forever?"

"I would wait till the world ends and even then, I ain't gonna stop waitin' for her. Every time I get one of these letters, it's a reminder that she's thinkin' about me," Bert smiles down at the paper in his hand with the perfectly written script, "and even though it's hard and some days it seems impossible, they give me 'ope. Even though I have great times with other girls, I always have a better time with Mary even if it's just sittin' in the park and listenin' to her read some book,"

"She told you to move on though,"

"Yea, I know," Bert looks back up at his friend, "but I can't. I love her, and no amount of time, distance, or frustration is going to change that. I know I'm meant to spend my life with her, 'ow am I supposed to give that up?" Bert feels a tear run down his face, and as soon as Henry notices it, he pulls Bert into a hug.

"Easy…you don't." Bert has never been one to cry, he tries to be the happiest guy in the room, but there was something about this embrace on a mild March day with a friend that caused all the weight from Mary's words and her being gone that causes his dam to break. He sobs into Henry's arms, and Henry just holds him tighter trying to be the support that his friend needs.

Poor Bert. My little heart. I'm sorry that I have to break him, but hey his two-year wait is gone next chapter. However, if you think you've seen the last of our two lovebirds struggles…sorry to say that I am not that kind.

Love,

KMA