On Thursday morning, two days after Elizabeth left the hospital, Mary and Bert took the little girl back to the orphanage. Of course, Elizabeth was not enthusiastic and the adults were anything but happy - the wind changed it's direction. Mrs. Fisher, who was just bringing out the garbage, saw the three.
"Elizabeth! Good to see you again."
"Hello Mrs. Fish-"
„Liz!", a scream came out the hall and a few seconds later Matthew came running out and hugged his best friend. "I knew you would get better!" Both were just about to return to the house when Elizabeth stopped.
"Wait," she turned and ran to Mary and Bert and hugged them. Both squatted to hug the girl better. "I would've never survived this without you... Thank you." With their eyes closed, they paused for a moment before breaking away.
"Will I see you again, Miss Poppins?"
"I'm sure ...", Bert interjected and smiled at both.
"And please call me Mary Poppins and not Miss Poppins."
Elizabeth nodded and was about to turn around when Bert put her cap on: „Here… For you."
With a beaming smile, she thanked him before running to Matthew. It was a weird feeling to let her go after that time, Bert was still glad that she was finally healthy again. As he glanced over the orphanage, a gust of wind ruffled his hair.
"You know what that means, Bert," Mary said. He nodded slowly.
"Do you have an hour or two before you have to leave? Maybe we could quickly explore one of my pictures."
She looked at him with a smile: "There is always time for that."
"Close your eyes."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Close your eyes," he repeated with a wry smile.
"Why?"
"Do you trust me, Mary?"
"Of course I trust you and you know that!"
"Well... then close your eyes."
She did as she was told and Bert took a drawing from his jacket pocket and placed it at her feet.
„Don't scare," he warned her, as he carefully took her hand in his, „ready."
A moment later they were in another world and Mary opened her eyes and was amazed: they were in a clearing in a beautiful forest with many conifers. The summer evening sun shone through the trees and dipped everything in a pleasantly warm light. A few meters away was a small fire pit that had not yet been lit. Next to it lay firewood and a wooden bench stood behind it. It was just beautiful. It smelled of forest and the birds sang their most beautiful songs. Mary looked at Bert, who smiled wryly at her: he was wearing simple dark trousers and a green shirt, his hair combed back. She wore a blouse and a skirt, her hair was open. She realized how beautiful even simple things can be. Then something else came to her mind: Bert knew exactly that she will leave today! Otherwise, he probably would n't have carried a drawing around with him. 'He's always good for a surprise,' she thought and smiled slightly.
"Sit down, I'll light the fire."
The nanny made herself comfortable on the nearby bench while Bert took care of the fire pit. He placed the wood, took two sticks, a bowl of dough in it, and joined Mary.
"I thought stick bread would be good."
"Bert ... you forgot the fire."
"Oh, yes, of course," without looking away from her, he snapped and the fire was opened. Mary opened her eyes in disbelief. Bert has never been able to enchant anything, not even in his own pictures! She was sure that was planned, as he smiled cheekily at her.
"But-"
„I was also surprised when this first happened to me", he wrapped the dough around the stick, "It only works if there is already wood or paper lying there. And no, I can't do that only in my drawings."
"You're full of surprises Bert," she laughed and made herself a stick bread. While they waited for their food, both were lost in their thoughts. Mary remembered how well she had been since she was back in London. London did her good, he did her good. Besides, she was still amazed that her best friend was developing more and more magical powers. Bert was reminded again and again that it was Mary's last day here. Oh, how he had missed her and how happy he was when she was standing in front of his door recently. He would be desperate at the task without her. He had taken care of the sick and injured a few years earlier, but that was different. And who knows: maybe without Mary's medicine it would have been worse ... The light of the fire was reflected in his empty eyes, and as Mary looked into it, she felt as if he were somewhere far, far away.
"Bert? ... Bert?", Only when she put her hand on his to pull the bread from the fire, he was back.
"Yes?"
"Your bread, it almost burned," she hesitated and became quieter, „you got lost in your thoughts, right?"
He inspected the bread and broke off a bit before answering, "Yes... I've been thinking... I don't know if I could 'ave done it without you ..."
Mary smiled sadly at him and put a gentle hand on his shoulder: "Of course you would! Everything you've done for Elizabeth lately is incredible... who knows if anyone from the orphanage would have taken her to the hospital? You have recognized everything correctly and have always be calm- that is what the little one needed."
"And what about your medicine? Maybe it just worked later and that's why Lizzy got well? "
„The medicine may have done its part, but you were the key! She is not the first sick child I have seen. Many had no help from their family and their recovery took a lot longer than Elizabeth's. Admit it Bert: you did a great job. Even if it was just a bit of support in your eyes."
Bert smiled thankfully. Maybe she was right ...
They stayed at the campfire for a while before a wind began to blow. He looked at her.
"I think it's time for me to go...", she looked up to the sky and frowned.
"Do you know where to go?"
„No... I have no idea…"
Mary grabbed Bert's hand and a moment later they found each other again in the cool London.
"It was nice to have you back, Mary" Bert admitted, squeezing her hand.
"Yes, indeed..." Both looked at each other in silence for a moment before Bert took his best friend in a embrace and hugged her tightly. He closed his eyes to keep the tears back. Mary put her hands on his back and closed his eyes, too. Now she really realized what she was missing in the past six years. And she just enjoyed that moment.
But the wind became more and more penetrating, so she broke away.
"I have to go now ... goodbye, Bert"
"Goodbye, Mary. And please don't stay away too long..."
With a sad smile, she opened her umbrella and flew away. „I try, Bert... I try..." she muttered as she floated over London.
That was Chapter 6, but you do not have to wait long for the next, as it's almost done ;D
And as announced, it will be a Christmas chapter :3
But it will not be very happy...