I finally managed to complete this chapter after having to pause it because I had so much to study for finals. The title is a nod to the scene where Bert says that he can do magic so they could jump into the chalk picture. Also I just want to clarify that every time a character says/thinks that they had a dream or tell a story about the past I write it like a flashback and the POV might be different from who is dreaming/telling it.

He had been there one hour earlier than the previous day just as she had suggested. He even sneaked out earlier than allowed just to meet her. He had only waited fifteen minutes for her and yet he was scared she wouldn't come at all anymore. He was used to it. Most people didn't like hanging around with him. And he wouldn't blame her. Such a beautiful girl for sure had something better to do as spending her precious time with him. Herbert Alfred, a little boy that barley talked and was very clumsy. The weird boy with greasy hair and always a bit of dust on his clothes.

He was about to leave when he felt a strong blow of wind hit his back. It was coming from the east and it wasn't like any normal wind. He turned around and saw her standing before him. She faced towards the ground and he couldn't figure out what she was thinking. "I'm sorry I'm late I wasn't allowed to leave earlier. I had to do my practise and I can't sneak out of that."

He lifted a brow and asked "Practise? Do you play an instrument?" She looked up and into his eyes with a smile but then shook her hand. "No I have umm… another talent I have to practise every day."

"What is it?", he asked very curious. He never had any real talent, not for an instrument and not for anything else. Also his father wouldn't allow him to invest his time in something like that. "Well … umm…", the girl stammered.

Herbert squinted his eyes. Could she really be nervous about this? Such an elegant girl? But she really seemed nervous according to way she slightly bit her lip and faced down towards the ground again before she continued, "I… umm I shouldn't talk about that. It's umm… my mother said it should be a secret."

Herbert thought about that for a moment and nodded. "Okay.", he said and looked up to sky. Suddenly he remembered the end of their first time meeting. "But what if I guess what it is?" "Hmmm, I guess if you manage to guess it, it's okay.", she stated calmly.

"Okay", he said with a smirk. "I think your talent is magic!", he then blurted out. He could see that she was completely taken aback by his prompt answer when her mouth fell open and she quickly brought her hand up to cover it. "How…how?", was all she could get out at first.

"I…uh.. no of course not. That's silly. You have a great fantasy but that's not it", she tried to deny it but it was already too late, her reaction had given it away already. She needed to work on that, if she really wanted to keep this a secret.

Herbert just shook his head always keeping his smirk on his face. "No, I know it's true. I saw you fly away yesterday. I did think I imagined it at first but now it just seemed logical. Also I think it's okay if you tell me about it because I actually already know a bit about magic. My mother has magic herself but it's not very strong and she rarely uses it because my father doesn't like it", he explained happily.

She looked at him with wide eyes. "Oh. I guess it is okay for me to talk about it then. So can you do some magic as well?" she asked very astounded.

He just shrugged and said, "Well … I don't know. I never used it. And my mother doesn't teach because my father doesn't like it."

Mary held her hand to her chin and though for a moment. "Hmmm… maybe we can figure it out together. And then I could teach you. I could ask my teacher if it counts as practise if I teach someone, then I won't come late anymore", she suggested.

His eyes lit up after she had said that. "Would you really do that for me?", he asked excited but also not quite believing what he had just heard. The girl nodded and smiled. "Oh that's so great. Thank you so much!", he screamed. He had always hoped to learn to do magic someday and now he would learn it from this beautiful girl. He was so excited that he couldn't keep it down any longer and run to hug her.

It took him a few moments to realise how stiff she had become and how awkward this was. He let her go and saw her red face before he could feel his face getting hot as well. He bit his lip and apologized, "Umm.. sorry. I shouldn't have done that, since we don't know each other so well yet."

But when he looked up he saw that she was back to normal again and smiling. "No no. It's okay," she said to calm him down. And then they both just stood there smiling at each other.

…

They were walking towards Mrs. Corry's shop, while Bert was thinking about the dream he had the night before. It was part of the reason why he was so excited to see Mary that morning. But walking down the street together with Mary and the children had made him calm down a bit again and let him think everything over calmly. Suddenly they stopped and he looked up to see that they had arrived at the shop. He remembered that Mrs Corry would call him by his full name, since the first time she met him he hadn't gotten his nickname yet. He smiled, knowing that this visit would bring up even more happy memories about their time as children and he hoped that Mary would feel the same and stop worrying while they were there.

When they entered, they immediately got greeted by the owner of the shop, "Oh what a wonderful surprise. Mary Poppins! And Herbert Alfred as well. And who have we here?" the old Lady, who owned the shop they just entered, greeted them and looked at each one of them while speaking.

"These are my current charges. Jane and Michael Banks", Mary Poppins answered her question about the two children at her side.

"Such cute little angels", Mrs Corry commented making Jane and Michael smile and blush a bit. "So what do you want to buy?" Mrs Corry asked looking at their nanny expectantly.

"I think a dozen pieces of gingerbread, 3 for each one of us would be quite wonderful, please", Mary Poppins answered.

The old lady looked at her and added, "Hmmm… I think I'll better make a baker's dozen out of this for good luck." When she said that she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing a bit quieter than before, "Who knows maybe you'll need it."

Mary looked at her pinching her brows together. "Thank you. But I don't think I ever needed luck before and I don't think I'll need it now", she replied acting very confident. But somewhere deep inside she felt odd. Apparently even Mrs. Corry felt that something was going on. But she knew she couldn't let any of her worry show and she hoped Mrs. Corry would understand that. She could feel Bert putting a hand on her shoulder for reassurance.

Luckily the old lady nodded understanding. "Hmm… Anyway I insist that you take the extra one, Mary. I know how much you love gingerbread", she said smiling and handed her one of her best pieces of gingerbread.

Now it was Marys who blushed even if it lasted just for a second. She happily took the piece of gingerbread and smiled at Mrs. Corry. "Thank you very much, Mrs. Corry. That's very nice."

"Everything for my favourite customer", the old women replied with her smile becoming even bigger. Then she looked like she remembered something. A few seconds later she revealed what she thought about, "Oh, I still remember when you and Herbert where children. Always laughing and always so happy when you came here and got some gingerbread."

Jane and Michael looked at each other and then at Mrs. Corry when they heard that. Imagining Mary Poppins as a child seemed impossible but that made it even more interesting to hear how she acted as a little girl. "Please tell us more about Mary and Bert as children", Jane pleaded.

Mrs. Corry looked at Mary, who held her hand to the top of her nose, blushing even more than before. "Please Mrs. Corry, don't do that. That wouldn't be appropriated right now"

"But Mary, you were such a cute little girl. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. I'm sure it would be very interesting and lecturing for them to hear about the wonderful and nice girl you were", Mrs Corry explained lovingly.

"She's right Mary. It would be a great example of an always friendly girl who became a wonderful woman", Bert added smiling broadly at her. This was better than he had expected, because he was sure Mrs Corry's stories about their past, would help a lot to ease Mary's and also his own mind even more. Even if Mary didn't seem to realise that at the moment.

Mary took a deep breath and gave in when she realised that there was no use in arguing with them, "Okay, I guess it would be fine. But please don't make it too long. I want to be home for tea." They properly where right, it would make a great story and it would take her mind away from the worries that were bothering her deep down.

The older woman smiled at Mary and nodded. Then she turned to Jane and Michael and started to talk, "Okay children please sit down on the couch and I tell you the stories of the first time Mary Poppins was here and how she introduced Herbert to me." She lead them to the couch in the corner of her shop were they all sat down together. Then she began the first story, "Well, the first time Mary Poppins came into my shop she came with her mother…."

Jane and Michael listened intensely to what the old lady told them. The whole time they just stood quietly next to Mary Poppins, looking from one person to the other as they spoke, very confused as what was going until Mrs Corry told them about Mary Poppins and Bert as children. Now they were very excited and eager to find out more about the past of their nanny and her best friend.