A/N: I still have no idea where I'm going with this, but vague ideas are often my greatest! I hope you enjoy and thank you so much for the joyous welcome back to MP fanfiction. If you had noticed, I didn't really leave haha. If you're interested, my Little Mermaid fic is entitled Fathoms Below, give it a shot or not. I do hope you enjoy this chapter though, and even though it seems rather obvious as to what's coming, I could be lying to you. Ahh, the joys of foreshadowing. Well enough ramble, get out there and read! (And review!)
Mary slowly descended down to the rooftop, touching one foot down gracefully before landing with the other. She put away her umbrella and looked up at Bert, who had a cute, stupid grin on his face.
"And what are you staring at?" she asked.
"You know wot? I love watching you fly in, you're so graceful when you land up here," he said, still smiling. Mary blushed.
"All part of the job," Mary said.
"And how was the job today?" Bert asked casually. Mary's smile fell as Bert asked. "Wot? Wot happened?"
"Nothing I just...I said goodbye," Mary said forlornly.
"But you always have to say goodbye," Bert whispered, taking her hands in his to comfort her.
"Yes but, not like this. This was the last goodbye, the Banks will never need my services again," Mary said. "Not that they really needed me this last time, I think I only went because I wanted to have more time with them."
"And wot's wrong with that?" Bert asked.
"Bert, we've talked about this before. It's unfair. They don't need me and I have to help who I can with what I can," Mary sighed.
"Oh? And who says?" Bert asked.
"Well...well I suppose...well I do. I mean, the wind is my guide but, it just always felt like the thing to do," Mary replied.
"Will the wind guide you to someone else?" Bert asked.
"Eventually, when someone needs me. Of course, someone always needs me," Mary sighed.
"Don't you ever get time for yourself though Mary? I mean, I know I don't understand all of this but, well can you help me to?" Bert asked. Mary smiled kindly at Bert, and took his arm in hers to walk over to the edge of the roof.
"First off, I get plenty of time for myself thank you, how do you think I ever spend time with you?" Mary smiled.
"But is that all? I mean, if you spend all that time with me that is," Bert winked.
"Yes I do," she laughed. "And second, let's sit down before I begin on your other question." She and Bert sat down on the edge of the rooftop, their feet dangling side by side, their hands intertwined.
"You don't have to explain anything to me you know," Bert said.
"I never explain anything," Mary said wryly. "Except of course to the man I love."
"Well if you put it that way," Bert teased as he leaned in for her tale. Bert was honestly curious, he always felt he knew Mary better than anyone, but then again, no one ever really knew Mary. She breathed deeply before beginning.
"I was born here in London, raised here in London, and well, never stray far from London," she smiled. "I'm sure your burning question is about my...magic. I was born with it, most of it anyways. I didn't quite get the knack of the umbrella until I was about ten," she chuckled at the thought. Bert laughed too, enchanted by her tale. He couldn't really picture Mary as a child, much less being an ungraceful flier.
"My parents weren't alarmed, they had their own special qualities about them. You know Uncle Albert, if that gives you any idea of what my family was like. I was an only child, not that I minded, nor did my parents want another one. Of course, when the first one is practically perfect, what more can you ask for?"
"Nothing," Bert smiled and pecked her on the cheek.
"Don't interrupt," she teased. "Like I said, I lived comfortably in London all my life, up until my parents death. I was sixteen at the time, nearly seventeen. I took it hard at first- I left for Ireland for a time before returning to London. Upon my return I decided to become a nanny. I needed a job and it felt right, like something I should do. I found the wind would guide me to children and families in need, and I took pleasure in changing their lives. My family was gone, but that didn't mean other families didn't deserve to lead loving lives," Mary said.
"Oh Mary, I never knew, I'm so sorry," Bert said as he squeezed her hand.
"It's quite alright Bert, it's behind me," Mary smiled. "Of course you remember when I met you."
"You were in that beautiful dress that I got chalk all over," Bert laughed. "I'm still sorry."
"Oh but it was my fault! Remember? I was wearing that silly dress to go to tea at Uncle Albert's and I was reading a book while I walked through the park. I stumbled over you and fell down beside you, and like a perfect gentleman you picked me up and set me right," she laughed.
"With chalk all over me hands," Bert laughed.
"It wasn't your fault it was white," she giggled. "But I fixed it didn't I?"
"Right in front of me, you gave me quite a shock," Bert laughed.
"I don't think you were quite as shocked as you were when I took you to tea," Mary laughed.
"Well now, a sweep like me doesn't go runnin' about in his chalk drawings everyday now does he?" Bert smiled. He leaned in close to Mary, she hesitated, then came in for a passionate kiss. "Remember what you taught me that day?"
"Mmm, I believe it was something like 'supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,'" Mary replied.
"You knew I needed a word to describe you after we'd met," Bert teased, then kissed her again. "I'm sorry, I got you sidetracked."
"Well you sort of know the rest," Mary said. Bert gazed at her lovingly. "What?" she asked, unnerved by his stare.
"I'm trying to picture you trying to get the 'ang of that umbrella..."
"Oh behave," Mary said, playfully hitting Bert on the shoulder. "Did you have any other questions?"
"Well, what happens now. If you're done with the Banks, now wot?" Bert inquired.
"Well, I'm not sure. There's always a little time in-between before the wind points me in the right direction. Whoever needs me next," Mary said. Bert smiled at Mary, storing this new information away. He was immensely surprised that Mary had revealed anything to her at all. He gazed out into London, the lights barely twinkling at the current time of night.
"It's getting late isn't it?" Bert said.
"Yes, I suppose I should go see Uncle Albert. No doubt the wind will decide tomorrow and he'll want to have seen me beforehand," Mary said.
"Can you see me before you leave. I'll be working all day, the Lord Mayor's chimney is awful stuffed up. Perhaps in the evening, here?" Bert pleaded.
"Well I'm not sure, usually I go straight away. I mean, I'll see you on my next day off, whoever my charges are. I'll try," Mary conceded as she kissed Bert on the cheek and stood up to open her umbrella. Bert got up as well.
"I know you feel that this is what you have to do but, don't you ever do what you want to do?" Bert asked.
"No one is making me help these children, I truly want to. The wind is simply a guide and a guardian, but I take my duties seriously. If people need me and I can be of service with my talents, then why shouldn't I? It would feel selfish otherwise, and you are too for trying to steal me away," Mary teased.
"Oh I'm not trying to steal you, I don't think I could. My umbrella could never compete with yours," Bert teased back.
"That offer I gave you to keep my magic still stands. I'd gladly give it to you," Mary whispered as she leaned in close.
"Then you wouldn't be Mary Poppins," Bert replied before kissing Mary for the last time that evening. He watched as she departed into the night sky, and waved before she disappeared across London. Bert was satisfied with the evening, he had never planned on learning so much about the woman he had loved for so long. He wasn't completely satisfied however, and he had a plan. The Lord Mayor payed Bert handsomely, and with all the saving he had done over the past three years, Bert knew he'd be ready for his evening on the rooftops the following day. The only obstacle was getting to Uncle Albert when Mary wasn't around...
What a ham! And what a sneaky devil he is too. But he's handsome so he gets away with it. One of my top ranked lines in the movie is when Mary replies to "what is all this unseemly hullaballoo" by simply staring, before a wry smile and says "I never explain anything." True, but I think Bert always knew or would find out her past eventually. Notice she doesn't really explain anything, she just makes Bert think she did! No, I'm not a fan of "they met when they were kids" or the whole "I'm a slave to the wind, I'm so depressed" ideas. Yes, Mary and Bert have a past- no, it didn't began in diapers. Yes, she pays attention to the wind- no, it's just a metaphor for how she's a woman who is never tied down. Anyhoo! Sorry, I'm off to Camp Lots of Drunk Relatives this weekend. If I return safely, as in not at the bottom of the river under a canoe, then you'll have a lovely lengthy update from me! I will be in Chicago after that though so if I can't get to some wifi you're stuck until next Thursday. Sorry, you'll have to use your imaginations for a while. Hope you liked it, please review!
Love you darlings, Elizabeth