22nd November 1938

Despite it was a very mild November day, London's streets were empty… Nearly dead. This was probably due to the unpleasant, cold rain that came from the dark clouds. But Bert ignored the icy weather because he wanted to do something with Mary this afternoon!

Mary was between the families, so she lived in the house of Uncle Albert, who was in America. Of course she would have safe shelter with Bert, but her uncle was financially better and she knew that Bert would give her his last shirt; and she did not want that.

In addition, the chimney sweep currently worked a lot to survive the winter and he would not be there anyway.

But one thing was clear: Mary was never happier than now! And the happiness was supported when she heard a familiar whistle from outside and it rang shortly thereafter.

With her elegant fingers, she pushed down the handle of the door and opened it.

"Hello Bert," she gave him her best smile.

"'ello Mary," he pulled her closer and kissed her lovingly, which gave him a warning look. "Don't worry... no one 'as seen us."

'Us' - a word that the two used very often but could not quite define. But none of them wanted to address it; at least not yet. Bert did not want to confront Mary and the nanny wanted to wait. She sensed that there was going to be a big change and only then did she want to talk to him about it.

"What are you planning for today, you charmer?"

"I thought of something very simple... Simple but comfortable" he offered her his arm; an offer, which she did not refuse, because she enjoyed his closeness more than anything else.

Together, they strolled through the streets until Bert led them to a nearby, small but very cozy café. However, she noticed one thing during the walk: Bert coughed and sniffed a lot. And he did not look very healthy either.

When they sat down and he had another coughing fit, she could no longer be calm: "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Mary" he assured her with his typical smile and ordered a pot of tea for both of them.

With her eyebrow raised, Mary let the subject rest for now and straighten the napkin in front of her.

After a short while their hot drink came and they talked about this and that. Mainly it was about her jobs but also Elizabeth.

One of Bert sentences, whose voice was getting hoarse, was particularly for the nanny: "I have the feeling that she dissociates more and more from me... She paints less, doesn't whistle anymore an' is generally very closed ... She also talks barely of the 'ospital... she's 'angin' around more an' more with some people in the seedy corners of London an' the suburbs..."

"You are afraid…" it was more a statement than conjecture that Mary voiced; and when he nodded in agreement and looked at her with sad eyes, she wanted to hug him. She could literally read in his eyes how much he missed the adorable little Elizabeth of back then. Gently she took his hands in hers and stroked with the thumb over the back of his hand: "Everything will be fine, Bert... She has probably only a phase at the moment. You just can't let Elizabeth go."

He knew exactly what she meant and agreed silently. She gave him hope.

Nevertheless, Mary herself had to review the course of the orphan:

When she met the girl she was seven years old and relatively small and slender for her age, yet very sweet. The smile had the gift of enchanting everything, and in addition the pleasant pale that only clarified the reddish cheeks; the sapphire blue eyes that sparkled like the stars and the thick, dark brown hair that had a beautiful reddish touch in the sun.

Elizabeth was still thin today, but in an unhealthy way; however, she now had a reasonable size. Her hair has reduced the reddish by half and was almost as dark as Bert's. The eyes have also become a good deal darker and were already partially black; fittingly, they did not sparkle anymore. But what was missing most was the magical smile.

Of course, there were exceptions, but at the latest since the incident with Matthew less than two months ago, she was a different person according to Bert's descriptions and observations.

However, both ended the subject quickly and started talking about the finer things in life: Christmas, for example.

Of course, both wanted to spend the day together and were already planning, as Mary would most likely be leaving soon.

They decided that there was a classic meal and that nobody should spend money on gifts (of course, both had the idea of giving away something self-made).

—

After the tea was drunk and they were just entering the street, it started to pour! But Bert, who floated on cloud seven, did not let the day spoil it: on the contrary!

He took the Marys hand with one hand and placed the other on her waist and began to dance. And instead of complaining or questioning this action, the nanny started dancing, too.

Years ago, this would have been unthinkable and she had thought that he should not be so childish after all; but she simply enjoyed those moments when she could drop the strict facade.

Since the cafe was not far from Albert's house, they danced all the way up there; or they wanted to, but good 50 meters before Bert had to stop, because he got a violent coughing fit.

"I see that you are fine…" Mary said sarcastically as they walked the last few yards.

"I felt better an 'our before..."

"That's what happens when you dance through the rain" she talked to him like he was one of her charges. As they stood by the door she put her bag down and pulled out both medicine and spoon. "Here" she said after pouring the liquid on the metal, "take this."

"But-"

"No 'but', just do it." Not without rolling his eyes again, he took the spoon from her and took the medicine.

After that, they stood in front of the door and just looked at each other, until Bert broke the silence after several unpleasant seconds: "I think it's best if I don't kiss you... Otherwise you'll get sick, too."

The fact that he had kissed her a few hours before, he urged into the far corner of his head.

"I agree..."

"See you soon, Mary."

"See you soon", before he turned around, he stroked a small strand of hair behind her ear with a loving smile.

Bert was not even ten yards away when Mary shouted after him, "Bert, wait!"

A moment later, she stood with him and held out her umbrella "Please, take it... You can use it better than me."

"But you-"

"I'll pick him up the days...", she kissed him lightly on the cheek before disappearing into the house.

Bert looked after her lovingly and did not open the umbrella until the door slammed shut.

Whistling happily, he went to his apartment.

—

The next day, Mary walked in the direction of Mrs. Corry's shop when someone suddenly called her name and a few seconds later grabbed her wrist.

"What's the matter Elizabeth!?", she could of course have said to the adolescent that these are not decent manners; however, this would be unnecessarily wasted time.

"Come with me!" she wanted to go in the other direction, but the nanny stopped.

"Only when you initiate me into your plan."

"I 'ave a very strange feeling 'bout Bert."

"Do you have any evidence for that?"

The adolescent frowned, "Ev- what?" of course, that word was not in Elizabeth's vocabulary.

"Do you have proof?"

"Yes, me feelin'... Come on!"

'Stubborn!' Thought Mary, but still followed her.

"Well, 'e wasn't in the park today and when we 'ave weather like this, he's always there and sells somethin'!"

"That means nothing at all."

When they arrived at the front door on the first floor after a few minutes, Elizabeth rang and got a meaningful look from Mary. But nobody opened.

Liz put her ear to the door and listened: "'e's in there ... And 'e coughs."

Now the teenager had Mary's complete attention! She certainly did not come up with the cough.

As soon as the nanny had taken care of herself, Liz climbed out of the corridor window onto the tree: "Elizabeth!"

Without comment, she climbed back and went straight to the door, which she opened it with a key: "Bert 'as put the key there so I always a place to 'ide or somethin'"

When the two entered the apartment they were greeted by an incredible cold and they could have sworn that it was a lot cooler than outside! A hoarse but intense cough caught her attention.

They walked around the corner where the bed was and found Bert. Oh did he looked bad!

Any colour had disappeared from his face and the beads of sweat were on his forehead.

But then something happened that questioned Mary's and Bert's worries and doubts of the previous day: while the nanny stood rooted to the spot, Elizabeth went to the patient and examined him.

After asking him questions about his being and giving him another blanket, she went to his kitchen.

"Don't ya 'ave anything there?" she asked horrified when she came back.

He shook his head.

"An' you don't 'ave wood for a fire?"

He shook his head again.

"I'll be back in 'alf an 'our!" she turned to Mary and whispered, "take care of 'im."

With these words she disappeared on the door and walked quickly towards the city.

—

When she arrived at Mrs. Corry's shop after a while, she got derogatory glances from the customers. The shopkeeper, however, who had a considerable age by the way, gave her a friendly smile.

With slow steps she went to the counter and leaned over to the older lady, so that the others did not hear the conversation: "Excuse me, Mrs. Corry but you can do me or no.. can you do a good friend a small favour?" She tried to suppress her dialect as good as possible.

"It depends, young lady."

"You know Bert, right? Bert Alfred,"she nodded in response, "Look ... He's sick and 'as nothing to eat. Could I maybe get food for the next few days? I know I 'ave no money but maybe I could 'elp you 'ere in the shop next week! I can pack and- "

"All right, Elizabeth," everyone here knew her name; but unfortunately not in the good sense, "as long as you promise me that you'll be here at eight o'clock next Monday, you can choose whatever you need."

"Thank you, Mrs. Corry!", With these words she disappeared on the shelves and selected various foods. What she did not know was that the elderly lady liked Bert quite well and was glad that Elizabeth had offered to work; at least she would not steal.

—

After about forty minutes, Elizabeth, who made a brief stop at the orphanage, stumbled back into the apartment and cleared out her rather large bag in the kitchen.

"You know that I only have a flu, don't you" said Bert, who wanted to get up but was pushed back into the pillow by Liz.

"Later you end up like me a few years ago… So lay down!"

"Alright, Doc!"

While Mary prepared the food (Liz's was a very bad cook, but she could make very good tea and coffee), the adolescent wrote down Bert's symptoms and course of illness and studied her books. At some point, she somehow also fired the fireplace.

Often that day Bert tried to get up, because he was supposed to feel better, but he was repeatedly sent back to bed.

With a sad smile, the nanny quietly watched this scene. Maybe there was still hope for Elizabeth-she took good care of her patient, and for the first time, Mary had complete confidence in her.

Besides, she did everything very carefully and thoughtfully. To be honest, Mary saw a future doctor in her. Sure, she would have to do a lot for it, but the potential was there!

Bert's acquaintance, Julia Smith, was also positively surprised by the knowledge and interest she displayed; she also did not doubt a career in the hospital.

After dinner, Mary Poppins looked at the notes, which lay on the table in scrawly writing:

- Hot forehead

- Cough

- Red throat

- Stuffy nose

- Chills

- Fast pulse

Course:

Started with tiredness on Monday and on Tuesday afternoon the coughing started, also became a stuffy nose. Chills in the evening and since Wednesday he had the rest of the symptoms mentioned above.

- flu?

What to do?:

- Drink a lot

- Stay in bed

- Sleep

- Stay calm and do not go to work

- If it does not get better send to the doctor!

Additional Notes: On Tuesdays, received medicine from Mary Poppins, never had such heavy symptoms.

Mary was amazed at how she wrote: very different from the way she talked! She probably saw something like that in the hospital or read something in one of her many books.

But as soon as the author noticed that her notes were read by someone, she pulled them way and put it ashamed in her pocket.

"That's ... that's nothin'..."

"Of course that's something, Elizabeth... where did you learn that?"

"I saw that in the 'ospital ... I know I'm not a doctor, but I think they're not doing it for no reason."

"As a matter of fact."

"Why didn't your medicine work?" Of course, the teenager knew Mary had something magical about her; she was also once there when Albert was laughing and hanging at the ceiling and since then more or less privy to the world of magic. In addition, she also noticed that Bert has not aged a day in the eight years, where they knew each other now.

Mary stiffened: they were exactly the words Bert used almost a decade ago. And she reacted in a similar way as then: Mary cleared her throat and clasped her hands. How could she explain that to her now? "You know, Elizabeth... There are people where the medicine will work, like the Miltons but there are also people where the medicine is only helps partially or does not work at all. As with you, me and Uncle Albert, for example""

"I understand... Are there any reasons for that? Like... are there any similarities among the people? "

'If only you knew...', Mary thought. But she immediately dismissed that thought as she remembered that unlike the other three, Elizabeth had nothing magical about her.

"Not that I know... I'm sorry."

This quickly scribbled Liz on the back of her piece of paper before turning back to Mary, "Will you stay the night here?"

"That's what I wanted, why?"

"Please pay attention that he drinks enough and that he stays in bed..."

"I promise."

"Thanks...", she said goodbye to them and went back to the orphanage.

The next few days Elizabeth came by again and documented the disease. Amazingly, Bert was completely healthy after a few days. However, Lizzy was completely exhausted; according to her, from the whole back and forth, since she had helped out sooner in the shop than discussed with with Mrs. Corry.

The latter made Mary and Bert more than happy and again they had hope, hope for a good future for Elizabeth.

As always, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and would be very happy about reviews! : D

I wrote something on Insta, which I would like to mention here:

For Part II, there will be 4 more chapters that I would like to have written by Easter at the latest. After that I want to take a little break, because I still have

- must learn (am a bad student tbh)

- write 2 scripts (actually 3 but one is for your own project and therefore can wait)

- to make a movie that is a bit more complicated.

Of course, I also have to work hehe

However, my plan is to start Part III in May, as I am very likely to have a lot more time during the summer :)