30th May 1932

Bert had something very special in mind for Liz's 9th birthday. It was nothing material as it was last year, but it was by no means less important!

The fact that Lizzy loved the roofs was nothing new and it seemed that everyone in the city knew that; but what particularly fascinated her was the view of London's sky from the roofs.

She always wanted to watch the stars at night and wanted to learn more about them, but Miss Fisher sent her to bed at the best times.

However, Bert was able to negotiate that she could be with Bert on her 9th birthday and stay awake for a long time.
Mary Poppins was also there; even if it was a Monday and not a Tuesday.

The three of them were out all day. First they were in the park, then they explored one of Bert's chalk paintings and had dinner in a small restaurant.

When the sun set and almost disappeared on the horizon, Bert put on his new cap and a wry smile: "Ready for yer last birthday present, Lizzy?"

The little ones' eyes lit up and it took a little moment before she said "Yes!" and nodded eagerly.

"Alright! Then come with me."

Bert went ahead; behind him came Elizabeth and then Mary.

He led her to one of the highest roofs in London. At least one of the tallest, for whose chimney he was responsible.

When the three Londoners arrived at the top, the sun was almost completely gone and the first stars were shining in the dark sky. Bert saw Elizabeth's jaw drop slightly when she had the perfect view of the city: "What did I tell ya? There's the whole world is at your feet. And who gets t' see it but the birds, the chimney sweeps an' ", Bert shuffled Liz' hair, "the stars."

"Wow" said Lizzy, and her eyes shone like the stars.

"But that's not what we wanted t' show you... I talked to Miss Fisher and she said that you can watch the stars with Mary and me today... 'appy Birthday, Lizzy."

The two sat on the edge of the roof and let their legs dangle down when Bert showed and explained the constellations.

As he did this, Mary watched the scene; her heart becoming warm.

30th May 1942

Bert was lost in his thoughts and looked up at the starry sky. He would never have thought that ten years later, on Liz' 19th birthday, there would be war and his little "family" would be torn apart.

But now he was sitting with his section in a new division and could be ordered to the front anyday.

It was already dark when he started writing the birthday letter to Elizabeth. He would have started writing earlier, but he hadn't had time for that. It was a chaotic day and everyone seemed to get injured; including him.
Bert had twisted his foot and Peter had to calm it down first. However, both suspected that it was just a sprain and not a ligament tear or even a broken bone.

Dear Lizzy,

Happy 19th birthday!

I would give you your birthday present personally and hug you if I could... But unfortunately this is not possible in times like these.

But you still get a present! Mary and I bought you something. Or Mary bought it, but it is still from both of us. Then you have something that reminds you of both of us. She will send it to you with her letter.

Do you remember your 9th birthday? That day I explained the constellations to you?
I wish I could turn back time ...

How are you? I hope you are feeling well! And how are Hans and Martha?
Please greet them.

Take care!

Bert

"Hey," came the sergeant's ear as he set the pen aside- it was Peter.

"I wanted to ask about your foot..."

Bert looked at his foot and stroked it with his free hand: "Everything's fine... Really."

"Good..." Peter's eyes fell on the letter in Bert's hands, "Who are you writing to? Mary? "

"No, t' Lizzy. It's 'er birthday today."

A sad smile crept onto Peter's lips: "How old is she?"

"Nineteen."

"Two years younger than me," Peter sat down next to Bert and looked at his sergeant, "you are worried about her, aren't you?"

Bert nodded: "Almost more than about Mary...", he saw the medic's questioning look and continued, "I know that Mary can an' will take good care of herself an' avoid difficult an' dangerous situations. But Lizzy throws herself from one danger t' the next… "

Bert got up and took a few steps. He scratched his head and picked up the letter. "I showed 'er the stars for the first time on her 9th birthday. Mary and I took 'er t' one of the highest roofs," he laughed dryly. "I remember that day like it was only yesterday... I said that only the birds, chimney sweeps an' the stars could 'ave that view... I never said it out loud, but the more I think about it, the more I see Mary, Lizzy an' me in that statement.
I'm, logically, the chimney sweep. Mary is like a bird t' me. Her whistle sounds like the song of the singin' birds, her gait is so smooth that she almost seems t' fly. And Lizzy... Lizzy is a star. "

"A star?"

"Yes... Mary came up with this statement only a few days later. And I 'ave t' agree with 'er: As a child, her eyes always sparkled, she was a cheerful child and shone just like the stars."

Peter smiled sadly when Bert spoke proudly of Elizabeth. Oh, how he'd like to tell her what her foster father is going through. Then an idea came to him.

"May I write to her? I mean to Liz. "

"Of course! I wanted t' send 'er a birthday letter, but I can wait a few more days."

"Not necessary! Just give me a half an hour."

With these words, the medic sat down next to Bert, took writing utensils out of his pocket and began to write.

Mary Poppins was sitting on the sofa in the apartment in London, drinking tea while looking out the window.
She couldn't believe it was Elizabeth's 19th birthday. She would be twenty next year! Well.. Hopefully she would get twenty...
But she immediately dismissed these bad thoughts!

In order to change her mind, the nanny reflected on the most beautiful moments of the past few years. But then a dark shadow emerged again, reminding her that Elizabeth was on her way and might soon be in danger.

"At least she's been writing regularly now," Mary murmured, going to the desk; writing was a good cue.

Dear Elizabeth,

I wish you all the best for your birthday!

I hope you had a quiet day and that you are fine.

Unfortunately, I can't give you very big presents (I don't want you to have to carry too much unnecessary). But as Bert certainly wrote you, we will give you something together!

We hope you like it.

Take good care of yourself

Mary

After writing the letter and putting it in an envelope, Mary added a small red velvet bag.
With artistic letters she wrote "Elizabeth" on the envelope and threw it into the chimney. The letter was gone within seconds.

She sat down on the sofa again and poured the last of the tea from the teapot into her cup.
She was nauseous. Unfortunately, this has been the case lately.

She smiled slightly when she thought of an incident almost exactly a year ago:

Mary was putting her signature on the letter as the front door opened and Elizabeth entered. She was soaking wet and immediately took off her dripping cap.

"Hello, Elizabeth."

"'Ey," she reached for a towel and dried her hair, "'ow are ya?"

"I am a bit nauseous... Why do you ask?"

With a wry smile, Liz stepped closer to the desk, not answering the question.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Mary asked with a raised eyebrow, looking at the woman standing a few yards in front of her.

"Maybe it's just your concern… But 'ave ya visited to the doctor? Maybe you're pregnant."

"I can assure you that I am definitely not pregnant! Besides, from whom?"

"Well, maybe... from your sweet'eart?", Liz's voice sounded sarcastic.

"Elizabeth!"

"What? Its the truth."

This day was so incisive for her that Mary was actually at the doctor a few weeks earlier due to the nausea. After all, she had slept with Bert in Paris, which is why 'pregnancy would be so more possible as you might think', as Elizabeth would say now.

But she wasn't pregnant; a fact that actually made her sad.

How much she wished to have her own little family with Bert. Mary saw in her mind's eye how Bert was happy to hear of the news of pregnancy and how he would take care of her.

She could also imagine exactly how he would react when he saw and held their child for the first time in his arms. She saw how he would teach the child everything he knew and how he would try to do everything right.

And he would! He would do everything right because he was the very best father a child could imagine.

Mary closed her eyes and tried to suppress the tears. But she didn't succeed, which is why she started crying bitterly.

About 430 miles away, Elizabeth sat on the roof of the house where Hans and Martha lived and looked at the stars. She leaned against the chimney and let one leg hang down to the side.

She had no idea how long she had been sitting there when a burned smell tickled her nose. She immediately whirled around and a second later two letters came out of the chimney.
But there was more because a strong wind suddenly came up and just a moment later another letter flew into her hands.

Elizabeth frowned when she looked at the envelopes. One was from Mary and one from Bert. But the third handwriting was unknown to her.

Curious as she was, she opened this letter first:

Hello Elizabeth,

First of all, I want to wish you a happy birthday!

You are probably wondering who this stranger is who is writing you a letter. I'm Peter Pegg, medic in the same division as Bert.
We are not only in the same division, but also in the same section, which is why I have a lot to do with him.

Bert often talks about you and you can sees aw muh he cares about you by the way he talks.
When he talks about you he is proud... but also full of worries.

As I know and assess him, he may never write it to you, but every time you don't write for a while, Bert becomes very sick with worry.

I don't want to unsettle you with this statement, but I think that you have the right to know what I'm getting.

Please take good care of yourself in times like these!

Best wishes

Peter Pegg

A sad smile crept onto Elizabeth's lips as she read the letter. Even if she didn't know him, Peter was somehow sympathetic to her. He seemed to be taking care of Bert and that was one thing Liz liked.

"I'll answer 'im tomorrow," she murmured, reading the other two letters. First Berts, then Marys.

But as she read Mary's letter, a strange feeling came over her... Two strange feelings, to be precise.
One thing told her that Mary was not well. The other told her that Hans' mood had just changed suddenly.

Without even examining her gift, she stowed the letters in her pocket and climbed down from the roof.

Then she stormed into the kitchen and found a pale Hans.

"What 'appened?" She asked, breathing heavily.

Hans held up a letter and his voice was weak: "I have to go to the front..."

This story is slowly but surely moving forward; D

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

How are you? I hope you're well! :)