7th December 1941

Bert was out with eight others from his division. Among them were Johnny (which he was happy about because he could take care of him) and Andrew (which he was not happy because they didn't get along).

Bert had never been someone who liked to start an argument. But with Andrew it was different. You should actually think of a 31-year-old man that he knows when it's enough. But Andrew was provocative.
A few days ago he accidentally got to see the photo of Mary and Elizabeth and made very inappropriate comments that Bert doesn't even want to think about. Both were corporals. And since the argument started in October, Bert subconsciously wished to be promoted to sergeant before him. Simply because he knew Andrew would otherwise bully him, if he was promoted before Bert. He would think he's the boss now - especially in front of Bert.

The former chimney sweep looked to his left, where Johnny proudly stroked his new badge - he was now Lance Corporal. Johnny has changed in the past weeks and months. He was no longer so nervous and much more careful in everything he did. On the one hand, this was a good thing, as it may have survived longer. On the other hand, Bert missed the young man he was back in march. They hadn't known each other for a year, but the lovable Johnny was slowly becoming the cold soldier John.

There was a small village not too far away on the horizon. But then there was a painful cry. In reflex, everyone went straight to the ground and grabbed their weapons.
But then Bert realised: it was a cry from a child!

He slowly got up, but Johnny pulled him down: "Are you crazy!?"

Andrew rolled his eyes: "Let him. Maybe he'll die because of his stupidity and curiosity. Then at least he won't put us in danger anymore!"

"Shut up, Andrew! That was a child," he said before standing up and letting his eyes slide over the area. And indeed: almost 150 meters away from them, Bert saw a child's head in a ditch.

Without hesitation, he walked quickly towards the child. But he always kept an eye on his surroundings- who knows who was there, too.

As he arrived at the ditch, he saw two children; boys to be precise. The smaller one fearfully hid behind the larger one. The lower leg of the bigger one was trapped under a rock. But they both looked at him with their big brown eyes. They looked... scared. A fact that Bert understood; he would also be afraid in their place.

Since Bert didn't speak their language, he got rid of his weapons and held up his hands in a defensive position. He wanted to symbolise that he had no bad intentions. Then he pointed to the older boy's foot and tried to gesture somehow that he wanted to free him and examine him.

The boy nodded, his black curls wiggling. In the meantime, the other eight came closer and watched everything from a reasonable distance.

Bert rescued the boy very carefully and looked at his foot: it was bleeding and swollen; but still nothing seemed broken. The boy could probably play again in just a few weeks.

"Peter, can ya bring me yer bag?"

Peter Pegg was the medic who was on the way with them. He was young and very inexperienced. But despite everything, a good guy.

While Peter brought his bag, Bert took a towel from his backpack and poured some of his water on it. He slowly approached the wound, but stopped shortly before and looked at the boy questioningly. When he nodded, Bert cleaned the wound.

Shortly afterwards, the medic carefully placed his bag next to Bert and took a few steps back; nevertheless, he watched everything very carefully.

Bert took all the utensils he needed and put a bandage on the foot. Last but not least, he lifted him out of the ditch and patted him lightly on the shoulder to say "You were brave".

The boys made a gesture of thanks before turning towards the village. But the injured one turned shortly afterwards and limped to Bert. When the boy stood in front of him, he waved him down. After a moment's hesitation, Bert crouched down and it didn't take a second for the boy to give him a hug. Bert briefly petrified before releasing the hug and nodding to the boy. Then he limped back to the smaller one and both went towards the village.

Bert watched them for a moment before turning to the others, who were staring at him in disbelief.

"What?" he asked, handing Peter the bag again.

He was also the first to say something: "How can you do that? I mean... These were practiced moves. Not by a layperson at all."

"I was a medic in the trenches from 1916 to 1918. And some things ya just can't forget."

But then his eyes widened. Bert realised what he had just revealed.

"Then you were very young, weren't you?" Johnny asked worried.

"We also have young men with us in the division... including you Johnny-Boy," Andrew said as he passed, bumping into Bert on purpose.

"Why aren't you a medic now?" Peter asked.

Bert shrugged: "I don't know .."

Then he followed, followed by the others, in the direction Andrew was going.

When they got back to their division late in the evening, the men went to bed.
While the others fell asleep almost instantly, Bert lay there staring up.

In the corner of his eye he saw the slight flickering of a candle and he had to smile slightly: Mary and Liz loved to set candles in his flat at Christmas time. They thought that everything looked warmer and friendlier.

An event that happened almost exactly 10 years ago suddenly came to his mind.

December 5, 1931

Bert was not alone at the time - he was with Mary Poppins and Elizabeth.

Mary, since she was currently between the families and Elizabeth, because she had begged in the orphanage. It would be Christmas soon and she would so much like to spend this time with Mary and Bert. The wish was granted to her, which made her overjoyed. So they spent a few days in December together. It even went so far that the two of them, of course only after his consent, decorated his flat. And they found out that both Mary and Elizabeth were lovers of candles, which is why a small light lit up on every corner.

An incredible bond has developed between the three since last winter. Elizabeth was still so infinitely grateful to the adults that they cared for her so lovingly during her serious illness. In addition, Mary and Bert were always there for her! No matter whether it was because she had done something dumb again or when she lost her best friend. And Bert has developed into her personal doctor, because whenever she was injured, he took care of her wounds. The adults also loved the little girl.

In the evening, after they had finished decorating, everyone was doing something: Mary sat on the sofa and flipped through a sketchbook, Bert made tea and Elizabeth wanted to draw.

But when Bert came out of the kitchen with the teapot, he saw that Liz had fallen asleep at the table. He put the teapot in front of Mary: "I'll be right there."

With soft steps he went back to Elizabeth and carefully picked her up; but she did not let it wake her up. Mary turned and gave Bert a questioning look, but he just shrugged.

"Can ya maybe put the blanket aside?" He whispered, pointing his head towards the bed. Mary nodded and got up to do it. Gently, as if holding something very fragile in his hands, he put the girl down and covered her. The nanny took a few steps back and watched everything. Her heart warmed when she saw how lovingly Bert looked after Liz.

Bert looked at Elizabeth for a moment and was just glad that she was fine. He felt sick at the thought that she almost died a year ago. And now she was lying there peacefully and happily. The diffuse light from the candles flickered on her skin and reddish hair. Slowly he leaned down and hesitated a moment before giving her a light kiss on the forehead: "Sleep well, Lizzy."

After this thought, Bert got up and walked a few meters. Then he stopped and looked at the sky with his hands in his pockets. He wished nothing more than to be back in London with his loved ones.

But his feeling told him that the war would go on for a while. And who would know how long he could survive all this without getting injured?

Small preview: the next chapter will be a Christmas chapter ;D
I'm trying to upload it on December 24th or 25th.

Otherwise, as always, I hope you enjoyed it :)