8th September 1940

Bert woke up first the next morning and first had to recall what happens when his thoughts started to remember everything: he was in a cellar to protect himself from the air raids. His eyes fell on Mary Poppins and Elizabeth who were lying next to him, sleeping. On the one hand this sight warmed his heart, but on the other it broke it too; for both had deep lines of worry on their foreheads, which testified to a restless sleep and negative thoughts.

Slowly he got up and went through the cellar, which was only dimly lit. He let his eyes wander over the relatively large and slightly crooked room, when he noticed that the family was no longer there. Presumably, they went through the door back to the apartment. A note on the desk caught his attention:

Dear Miss Poppins,

Due to current events, we will release you from your duties the next days. Inquire about your loved ones - like we do. We also brought the little boy to the hospital to my sister. So do not worry about him anymore because I think he is in good hands!

See you again on Wednesday the 11th September.

- Edward Potter

Bert tried to make as less noises as possible, so he would not wake the other two, but he came with his arm against metal can, which caused the typically loud and metallic noise at impact. Immediately, the women jumped up and Elizabeth subconsciously threw herself in front of Mary.

"Sorry," Bert murmured guiltily and he was really sorry. But then his brain processed what had just happened and a sad smile crept on his lips: Elizabeth apparently saw herself as a kind of protector.

"Damn it, Bert!" Groaned the young woman, rubbing her temples.

Mary looked around and noticed the absence of the family: "Where are the Potters?"

Bert just shrugged as he handed the letter to Mary before sitting down on a potato sack and retying his shoes. As he did so, Elizabeth went up the stairs and listened.

"What are you doing?" Mary asked, putting the note aside.

"I think we can get out..."

Nobody said something.

Mary and Bert headed for the stairs when Elizabeth stopped them: "No! I'll see if everything's okay!" Even before the chimney sweep could protest, she was already outside.

"This girl's drivin' me crazy!" He shook his head and Mary put a hand on his shoulder. Instantly, he calmed down and took a deep breath. How much even a light touch could do.

The nanny was about to answer when the door opened and Elizabeth peeked in, "You can come... Seems we can go 'ome!"

Home, where was that? It was clear to Bert, but not to Mary and Elizabeth.

The two women thought about that silently on the way through the ruined city. Mary, however, thought more about it than Elizabeth, as she always hurried to injured. There were relatively many medical professionals on the road and had to do all handful. The Nanny has never seen so many injured people at were seriously injured, the others only lightly. And some… were dead. Her gaze shifted from the injured to Bert, who wore a strange expression she could not interpret. So they trudged through the streets for a few minutes until they arrived at a crossroads.

"You can go t' the appartment, I'll go t' the orphanage and see if they're okay... Take care," Elizabeth said before she disappeared and left the two.

Since the young woman was gone so fast, neither Mary nor Bert could say anything, so they just watched her go. However, the chimney sweep's facial expressions were worried, which of course Mary noticed.

"She can take care of herself, Bert. She is strong."

The rest of the way was very quiet, as each hung in their own thoughts and was anxious to see if the house was still standing; because if this was really destroyed, Bert would be officially homeless. The nanny ran a cold shiver down her spine as she thought of this possibility and subconsciously she took his hand in hers and squeezed it lightly - as he noticed this he gave her a worried but hearty smile. Not that both were very interested in material things, but he needed a roof over his head, especially as winter approached! Only a few meters away and they would know if their concerns were justified.

Bert let out a sigh of relief when he saw that the house was was still standing, apparently without any damage. In general, it seemed as if the road was a slow pace, both went to the stony building and up the stairs to the first floor.

The apartment actually looked like it had left her and a sad smile crept up to his lips. And he noticed that Mary smiled at him as well. Without thinking about it, he put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close so that they were in a half embrace.

But he quickly resolved it when he realised that there was still some distance between them despite yesterday's incident. But was this really the case? They have not seen each other for a year, but Bert still had feelings for Mary and it seemed to him that she, too, wanted no distance. Would she have gone to the apartment with him? Otherwise, would they have been sitting in the cellar so entwined? Questions over questions whirled around in his head, waiting to be answered. Maybe all this would clear up in the near future?

Without saying a word, Bert went into the kitchen and put water on, he was sure that a calming tea was more than adequate. As he turned, he noticed that Mary was standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room, looking at him with a look he could not read. He took two steps toward her, separated only by one arm's length.

So they stood there for an felt eternity, until Bert broke the silence: "I missed you."

"I missed you, too... And I think you can not imagine how much," her voice was atypical for her, for she trembled slightly and softened to the end.

Again, they looked at each other before they came together and hugged each other as if their lives were hanging on each other. Bert buried his face in her hair as she clung to his shirt; and both had to fight against the tears which came out from under the closed eyelids. Bert eased the loosened slightly and kissed her timidly and lovingly on the forehead. Then their eyes met again and they could read in the other's eyes that both thought the same thing. That's why their faces were slowly approaching and the next moment her lips were on his. The kiss was full of emotions and unspoken words - words that you some people can not tell- you have to show them. At that moment the past year and the day in September were forgotten and they were in the here and now - together!

His hands slid to her waist as hers moved from the shoulders to the neck. One found her place at the back of his head after a short while and pressed against it to intensify the kiss. They ignored the whistling of the kettle and generally, at the moment, they were alone, as if they were the only people in the world.

The next moment Bert did something, which was rather daring: he lifted Mary up. To his surprise, she did not protest but clung to him so that they did not have to solve the kiss. He carried her to the sofa, where he carefully lowered her and, after he had left her lips, simply admired her.

"Did I ever tell ya 'ow beautiful you are?" He kissed her forehead when a knock reached her attention.

With a frown, Bert went to the wooden door and opened it. In front of him was none other than Elizabeth, but her look and her behaviour got him: she was pale, dirty, with disheveled hair and just seemed tired. But what gave him an unpleasant goose bumps was her empty look.

"Everythin' alright, Lizzy?"

No Answer.

Instead, she passed both and stood rigidly in the room.

"Did something happen?", the nanny tried her luck, but got no answer.

Mary and Bert exchanged questioning looks. Something had to happen, because even when she was with all the injured and dead, she was not so strange. Or was she only processing this now?

But when Bert started again, she finally opened her mouth: "The orphanage was destroyed."

Here's the 3rd chapter :) I hope you liked it! I know its a typical transitional chapter but they're important, too ;3

I already finished chapters 4-6 and I think I'll upload them every Wednesday and Sunday. I'm curios about your reaction to the 5th chapter! (It has 4k words and a Rating M warning... But more in the "foreword" of the chapter)

As always I would really appreciate a review :)