AN: I'm sorry about the long hiatus. I had some personal stuff come up and when I meant to post this I lost the file. My computer crashed so I lost this chapter and had to re-do it. There's only one more chapter left and so to make up for my long absence I'll post the last chapter by tonight. As always, I hope you like this chapter and I don't own anything you recognize from the Wonderful Disney.

It had been a little under two weeks since the rainy Second Tuesday that Bert and James saw Mary Poppins and her latest charges. They acted as though nothing had changed, except of course, Jane Banks and William Evans were officially engaged. James didn't mention that Bert was royalty to any of the other sweeps because he knew the man was always just going to be Bert. The future bride and groom accompanied the nanny and the other children when they went to the park. William and Jane went off to talk, close enough where they would still be chaperoned by Mary Poppins, but far enough away that they can have a private conversation. The others went over to where James and Bert were drawing. Neither sweep looked up from their work for a few moments.

Bert smiled when he noticed the small crowd. "'ow are you, today?" He looked at the children, but his question was meant for the women silently studying his picture. He knew Mary Poppins would bring the children here today. Today, she needed him and he needed her. He longed to be able to wrap his arms around her and comfort her but all he could do was offer her a small smile.

"Fine. How are you?" Michael glanced at the two men as he answered. Neither looked particularly happy today.

Bert smiled at the boy. "It's a new day." Was all he said. James frowned and continued working on his drawing.

"Better than yesterday." James added. "Yesterday was awful." Mary Poppins glanced at him and raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

Bert elaborated. "Charlie's replacement was 'orrible. Don't know 'ow he messed it up so bad…. Not only did 'e take a long time to work on what shoulda been a quick job but he damaged the flue and all the tools…." Though Bert hated speaking badly of someone, the kid did a bad job of it and he and Tom needed to take care of it.

James added his thoughts. "He put all of us behind schedule 'cuz we were the ones who had to clean it up. So we had to explain to our own jobs why we were late and that put us even more behind. And then we lost costumers and houses because we weren't on time. Now we'll have to cover it and…." He stopped because he knew Bert and Tom got the worst of it. They were in charge and being the boss meant they had to deal with the employees and angry customers. They were responsible and they had to fire the temporary sweep.

"Luckily, Charlie'll be getting' back today so don't have to deal with it anymore." Bert said, stifling a yawn. He looked utterly exhausted. "Sorry, didn't sleep much last night." He knew his wife also had a restless night, considering today's date and the one they lost so many years before. He wanted to reach for her hand, but it wasn't proper. Not here in the park. Not with people around. Not when she was the nanny.

"Bad dreams?" Annabel asked. She knew whenever she had nightmares she didn't sleep very well.

That made Bert smile. "Nothin' you need to concern yourself with, lit'le lady."

Annabel opened her mouth to answer but whatever she was going to say was forgotten when Jane squealed and threw her arms around her future husband. He responded by giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek. After the exchange he offered to walk her home, but Jane politely refused. Excusing herself to join Mary Poppins, Bert, James and her siblings.

Jane's happiness was infectious, making the rest of them smile. "William and I were talking and he thinks it's a good idea for me to go to school. To University! He said I'll be able to take classes. I can go! Father was convinced I shouldn't but if William says I can… " She grinned.

James was happy for her. He knew William cared a great deal for Jane and she cared for him. James realized after spending more time with the Banks that he was more like an older brother and he was fine with that. "So you know what you'll study?"

She shook her head, frowning. She hadn't thought about it at all. "I don't know…but maybe languages? I feel that could be interesting…"

Bert caught Mary's eye. "How 'bout Latin?" The Sweep asked.

"Nobody speaks Latin anymore, love." Mary Poppins answered in perfect Latin. They laughed as he continued the conversation in a language the others wouldn't understand. She smiled.

It is good to see you smiling, especially today. His eyes tell her and she looks down. She nods but reminds him they should speak English around her charges… though she said it in German.

Bert looked again at Jane. "Then maybe French?" That was in Spanish and James grinned. Bert knew the boy would translate if he kept it simple.

"What's French got to do with Spanish?" The younger sweep asked.

Jane blinked. "You know Spanish?" That surprised her. She knew he knew art but languages, was something new.

James shrugged. "Un poco… a little." He held his index finger and thumb close together to demonstrate. "Some of the sweeps know Spanish, so they've been helping me learn it. Tony's been teaching me."

Bert snorted at that. "Tony's Italian, not Spanish. The languages are similar but different. He said you been learnin' well though." He figured after the day they all had yesterday, James deserved some recognition.

"Can we go in the pictures, please?" John asked Mary Poppins. He knew better than to interrupt when the adults were talking but Michael told him Mary Poppins would take them to the beach or fair or circus in one of Bert's drawings.

"I will not make a spectacle of myself in front of everyone in the park today. Now why don't you and your siblings go play? You too, James." She answered, looking from each of the Banks' faces. Her tone of voice let them know she would not answer any questions today.

Once the children had gone to play, where Bert and Mary Poppins can still keep an eye on them, Bert studied her face. "I thought you don't put ideas into people's heads?" He teased as he continued drawing. She shook her head, but smiled sadly at him. She watched him draw and she could tell he was drawing the Thames River. She remembered the first time they went and how much fun they'd had. The colors he used perfectly captured the way the sun looked on the water. "How long are we staying?" he could the winds were changing soon.

She glanced over at the children. "Less than I week. A few days at the most, I'd assume. They're doing a lot better than when I arrived." She smiled. He nodded, pleased they were behaving.

"No more trouble then?" he smiled. "No gettin' into mischief?"

"They're good kids. Very well-behaved now. Their parents seem to be more invested as well." Mary Poppins smiled. "Won't be long now."

They watched James run after a giggling Barbara. Bert smiled. "'E's doing better, too. Came for him as much as the Banks, didn't ya?"

"He's grown a lot in the past few years." Was her only response. She looked around and though nobody was watching, she couldn't reach for his hand no matter how much she wanted to. "How's Tom?" he knew the true meaning behind her simple question.

"Busy." Bert smiled. "Let me take today off… when I shouldn't 'ave. Not with us leaving so soon." She frowned. "But 'e said that he needed to get used to runnin' things without me for a bit."

"We'll be back—"

"We'll always be back to London." Bert agreed. "But he does want some sort of trinket from wherever we end up. Eloise promised the girls some sort of souvenir and a story from where we come back from."

She smiled. "I do believe that can be arranged." He laughed. "You've been working a lot, then?"

He nodded. "Have to. To get ready for leaving. Tom's the only one who knows we'll be gone soon. Tell any of the other sweeps and word'll spread like wildfire. Won't hear the end of it…" he nodded in the direction of the children. "Then James'll tell them and they'll beg you to stay…"

"Leaving's gotten more complicated as the years go by."

"Enough of that, Miss Mary. No more talk of leaving" He smiled and so did she. "The next day off probably won't be London so where do you want to explore?"

She laughed. "That depends on my assignment, love."

He held up his piece of chalk. "Not with this, it doesn't. We can go anywhere." He reminded her, with a laugh.

"Well now I think it might be time to take the Banks home. I'm sure Jane is up to her ears in wedding preparations ad decisions…"

"Plus with what she learned today about going to school. She'll have to think about what lessons she'll want to attend." Bert whistled to get the kids' attention. "But the park is a good for clearing your mind o' things like that."

As they wandered over, their smiles were worth it. "Good day to you all." Bert tipped his hat, watching Mary Poppins. She took the children by the hand.

"Goodbye, James. See you later. Now come along, children." Mary Poppins instructed as they headed back to Cherry Tree Lane.