6th March 1942
The next morning, Bert woke up to the gentle sun rays that tickled the tip of his nose. And hasn't felt that good in a long time!
The reason for this was the woman lying in his arms, pressing her bare back against his chest.
An uncontrollable, broad smile crept onto Bert's lips: he and Mary were reunited.
It was just for a short time, but he enjoyed every second of it! And he was grateful for every single moment he could spend with her.
Bert straightened slowly and gently so that he could see Mary's face better: she was beautiful as ever, but still he could see the slight lines of worry on her forehead.
A look at the clock told him it was just before eight in the morning - time to get up. Slowly he approached her face with his and kissed her lovingly on her curved, red lips.
To his amazement, Mary returned the kiss directly; apparently she was already awake. She turned and ran a hand to the back of Bert's head to pull him closer.
"Good morning, Mary," he whispered.
"Good Morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Never better," he purred and kissed her again.
The two lay in bed for a while, enjoying their togetherness before finally putting on their clothes and getting ready to start the day.
Bert had an idea that Mary didn't know about, so he was a bit impatient.
The nanny said nothing. A few years ago she might have blamed him for acting like a child. But there were other times and she was glad to see him so lively, happy and above all alive.
For this reason, she also decided to keep her little secret to herself for a while. Yes, he deserved to know about it, but she didn't want to ruin his happiness.
Because she knew that the news would throw him into a deep hole. She wanted to avoid this at all costs. At some point the right moment would come to confess it to him.
Still, she was plagued with guilt and had a nightmare at night. Fortunately, Bert hadn't noticed.
"If ya don't come right away, I'll carry you out," the former chimney sweep joked as he waited at the door and straightened his uniform jacket.
"You wouldn't do that."
No sooner had Mary said this sentence he came up to her, bent down and took her in his arms like a groom would carry his bride.
This amazed Mary and she petrified for a moment. Bert had lifted her up quite a few times, but never with such ease!
"Let me down!" said Mary when she found her voice again. She tried to be serious, but failed miserably.
"Oh no, my dear," Bert went to the door and skilfully opened it with his elbow, "I said I would carry ya and I'll do it."
No sooner he stepped out in the empty hall than Mary put a hand on his chest: "Wait."
Her tone had changed and now sounded much more serious, which is why Bert stopped immediately.
As he had he stopped Mary wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him devotedly. Bert's eyes widened in surprise at first, but then they closed and he sank into another world; in a world where there was only Mary and him. There was no time there, just the here and now. He showed her this by kissing her with pure passion.
Oh how much she loved when his lips caressed hers.
She was addicted to it.
Such behaviour would have been inconceivably years ago. Kissing a man in public was a taboo for Mary at the time. But now she wanted everyone to know that Bert belonged to her.
The two of them did not know how long they had been standing in the hallway when they separated from each other because they had to breathe again.
Meanwhile Mary was on her own feet again and Bert's hands were on her hips.
They looked at each other for a moment with a veiled look in their blue eyes before Bert offered her his arm: "Should we go, Miss Poppins?"
"Of course, Mister Alfred."
Mary accepted the offer with a beautiful smile and together they walked out of the hotel to the well-known neighbourhood called Montmartre.
It was wonderful weather: the sun was shining, there were only light clouds in the sky and it was relatively warm for the beginning of March.
Together they had breakfast in a small café, which was in a small, blue house. Afterwards Bert showed his companion some pretty little places he had discovered in the past few days. These included a small park, a street with lots of artists and a place with a breathtaking view of the arrondissement.
But he saved the best for the end: a chalk picture of London, which he had drew on the floor the day before.
"Okay, close ya eyes and give me your 'and" Bert said amused before turning into the street where the picture was.
"Why?"
"Do you trust me?"
Mary's eyes widened: "What!?"
"Do you trust me?"
She couldn't believe that he was really asking her this. But instead of answering with words, she closed her eyes and held out her hand.
He carefully took her hand in his and led her to the place where he wanted to go.
He positioned her properly before gently whispering "You can open ya eyes now" in her ear.
Mary did as she was told. It took her a moment to see what he wanted to show her; but when she saw it, she held her breah. The picture on the floor showed the park in London, where Bert always drew his chalk paintings. It was spring and the cherry trees were blooming everywhere. But what broke Mary's heart was the little silhouette that looked at the chalk paintings: it was Elizabeth at the age of about six or seven. The age at which Bert met her. Mary's heart warmed at the thought that this little girl had reunited her and Bert. Elizabeth was also the only child she had never really left. And she would never do it, even if the little girl has now become an independent, strong and remarkable young woman.
"I borrowed chalk from a street artist yesterday and painted London," he laughed, "I didn't think I could show you the picture not even twenty-four 'ours later."
"It's incredible, Bert." Mary didn't look at him; her blue eyes were still on the chalk picture.
The artist eyed Mary fondly as she carefully examined every detail. But then he saw something in her eyes: tears.
He gently put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her towards him.
"Would you like t' explore it?"
She turned her head so that she could look him in the eyes: "Yes."
They took each other by the hand, looked around again to make sure no one was watching, and jumped into the chalk drawing.
As soon as they were in the other world, they immediately felt more comfortable. There was something that felt like home. And this feeling was reinforced by her new clothes.
Mary wore the clothes she often wore in the early 1930s: a light pink blouse, a blue blazer and a matching skirt. Her hair was pinned up and shimmered slightly reddish in the sunlight.
Bert, on the other hand, wore the clothes he would much prefer to wear than the uniform: black trousers which were torn at the knees, a white shirt full of chalk dust and brown boots.
"Welcome 'ome, Miss Poppins," Bert said with a sweet smile.
Mary said nothing, just snuggled up to him as they slowly passed the gates to the park.
While she was simply enjoying her time with the man she loved, he was stuck in his thoughts.
Would he ever had the chance to create chalk drawings in the park again? Would he ever be able to play music there again? Would he ever see the park in general again?
His eyes wandered to the woman who snugged herself against him. Years ago he could only have dreamed of it, but now he was sure that she felt the same way he did. Would she otherwise travel to another country at such dangerous times just to see him?
Yes, the wind had brought her to him. But he was sure that she also contributed a lot to it.
All thoughts of the past months that she might not want him anymore were pushed into the corner and erased.
Bert wanted to spend the rest of his life with Mary. Only Mary.
And at that moment he swore that he would propose to her as soon as he had found the perfect ring and was granted leave.
"I love you," he whispered into her hair, savouring in the light vanilla scent.
"I love you too... And you can't imagine how much."
They looked at each other.
Bert raised an eyebrow: "You don't know you so sentimentally."
"Why should I hide how I feel? I'm afraid that I-" Mary broke off and put on her well-known, cool mask and took a few steps, "Forget it. It's not so important. "
"You are afraid that you'll regret that ya never told me before it's too late... Am I right?"
Mary turned, her eyes were now red and tears rolled down her cheek: "Of course you are right."
"Oh Mary."
Bert went up to her and hugged her. No sooner had his arms wrapped around her delicate body than she started to cry.
He said nothing. He just hold her and let her show her emotions.
He wanted to calm her down and tell her that she had nothing to fear; but he knew as well as she did that this was not true.
Unfortunately, the chance that he would die in this war was relatively high. He had already survived a war, but at that time he was just a small medic, who was most of the time in field hospitals.
Now, however, he was a sergeant who could be sent to the front lines every day.
"I don't want to lose you," sniffed Mary, clinging to him like a little monkey to his mother.
"You won't... And if anything ever 'appens to me… Well... Then I will 'aunt you as a ghost."
"Bert!" She sounded horrified.
"I'm sorry. I- ", Bert was interrupted by a laugh that he hadn't heard in a long time.
It was a child's laugh. It was the laugh of "Elizabeth?"
Mary looked at him in amazement when she asked. But he shook his head: "She is not 'ere... Unfortunately... The laugh comes from the silhouette that I painted. It is like all other voices: just a prop."
"I see... I wonder how she is..."
The two settled on a nearby bench, which stood between a group of cherry trees. "I don't know," Bert answered honestly, tapping his feet nervously. "Did you find out more? I mean... ", he made an indefinite hand gesture, "You know. "
"You mean our relation?"
Bert nodded.
"No, I did not. But to be honest… I don't know if I still want to find out."
"What? Why!?" Panic rose. Did she want to leave Lizzy behind?
"Elizabeth and I developed such a strong bond. In one of her last letters she had written that I have always been like a mother to her. And if I'm honest... she's like a daughter to me... Bert, we both raised her more or less, we were always there for her and gave her a place to live. I don't want this image of a family to be destroyed if we find out that we are only very distantly related." Mary paused and looked at Bert: "Family doesn't have to be blood, Bert. You taught me that. "
Bert eyed Mary a moment after she finished her sentence before he took her head in his hands and kissed her.
"I'll do everything in my power that we all can be together in London again soon. I promise that!"
But they knew this would not happen soon. But what was worse: as soon as Bert said that, they got a strange feeling. A feeling that told them something was going to happen.
I would like to thank you wholeheartedly for the feedback on the last chapter 3
Every time I get a new review, it's like Christmas and birthday at once xD
I hope you like this chapter as well :)
This is also the 50th chapter of this story! :D