The Thing about Dreams…

Enjoy!

V. The End

'Ow do you know?' His friends would sometimes ask him.

In which he would reply, 'I don' know mate…I jus' know is all.'

Just as he knew now. Without really knowing…somehow he just knew that if he continued up the steps of the large and beautiful cathedral in downtown London that he would find Mary Poppins on its roof tops. Sometimes he just knew where to find her.

But Bert never thought of this as a gift or a trait of his own. He simply believed he had the ability to find Mary only when she wanted to be found. And with the west winds having blown in just this morning he was sure he knew she was reaching out to him to say her goodbyes.

It had been two whole weeks since he'd last dreamed of Mary. As of the last two weeks his dreams had been the hazy strange not really there type of dreams that one would expect to have on a nightly basis. Actually very boring compared to what his dreams had been before. But the important thing was that he could tell when he was dreaming.

Like today, the sweep thought as he pushed open the church's roof door stepping out into the sunlight, doves scattering at his intrusion, the sun shone bright and the few clouds drifted to show off the deep blue heavens. There was no way on earth a day such as today could not be real.

However as beautiful as today was the sadness that it held could not be denied either…because today the chilly west winds that blew with occasion would take her away.

Bert stared at the woman who stood looking towards the sky. She stood near the rooftops ledge where a flutter of doves rested about her feet and atop the gargoyles head she stood next to.

Calmly he spoke, "Nice to see again, Mary Poppins."

She turned to him then and smiled, "Nice to see you too Bert."

Removing his cap he made his way toward her, her smile becoming more inviting.

"I'm glad you're here. I thought I would have to leave without saying goodbye."

Looking past her to the blue sky she herself had been admiring Bert conversationally spoke, "Wouldn't be the first time you've done that."

Mary instantly switched to exasperated, "Please, Bert, not this again!"

"I'm sorry, I understand that…that…" He looked to her then, "I just 'ate to see you go Mary."

She eased into understanding, "I know…goodbyes are not a pleasure for me either. Especially with the children."

"'Ow's the 'appy bunch?"

"Peachy." Mary spoke tartly, "I left them playing records and doing silly dances with their aunt. They hardly noticed when I walked out the door."

"In your everlastin' words Miss. Poppins; that's the way it should be."

"Quite right." She agreed, however Bert could still hear just the barest hint of bitterness in her tone.

Bert allowed a smile of condolence, "So then, where to next?"

"I don't know. I never know."

A moment of silence passed between them and the winds began to pick up. Mary looked to Bert feeling her time running short. "It was imperative that I spoke with you before I left."

"Oh?"

"I had to be sure…I didn't want to leave on a sour note you understand."

Bert looked to her then and Mary said, "I did that once before…and I swore never to do it again."

A loving smile pulled on the sweeps lips he moved toward her and extended his hand. She placed her own slender hand into his, with a light grip he then allowed his other hand to fold affectionately over both her hand and his.

"Me and you, Mary, thick as thieves. Only thicker."

"Don't compare us to unlawful men. You know I dislike that expression."

For a moment Bert only smiled fondly at her then slowly almost cautiously he spoke, "You know…we've already said our apologies Mary."

For a moment Mary stared at him with wide curious eyes. For a moment Bert felt a little foolish for ruining their goodbye. But then she unsurely spoke, "I thought you said…what happened in dreams didn't count."

Bert stared in surprise, for a moment his voice failed him before he finally managed, "You…you remember?"

Mary furrowed her brows looking at him quizzically, "Of course I remember how could I…!" Suddenly dawning fell upon her features. "Oh dear…" She sighed pulling her hand from his grasp, "I'm afraid you still don't understand…"

For a moment Bert could only stare incredulously. Then he moved away from her rubbing a frustrated hand over his face. For a moment he stood with his back to her while Mary watched him patiently knowing he wasn't his usual cheerful self at the moment. He turned to her and his accusing expression proved her correct,

"You promised me Mary. You looked me in the eye and swore that you were not playing with my dreams!"

"I never-!"

"I lost Angelica cause 'o you!"

"I'm sorry! But you must understand it was never my intention to-!"

"I don't think I can ever fully believe a word you say Mary! It pains me to say but…" He ran his hands through his hair looking for a moment as though he wanted to pull it out, "I 'onestly don't think I can 'ave this conversation right now…maybe when you get back yeah? In another year or so!"

"I NEVER touched your dreams!" Cried Mary so furiously that the very atmosphere seemed to shudder making the doves take off in a mad dash into the blue leaving a flurry of white feathers to rain on the two. "I'm sorry for what I've cost you but it was never my intention to draw you in! It was a mistake a god-awful mistake!"

Bert's anger was suddenly placed to a screeching halt. Mary looked close to tears…never in all his life had he known her to cry let alone come close to it. A wave of guilt like no other washed over him as he tried to understand, "Mary Poppins please I didn't…I don't…draw me in?"

She looked to him incredulously like it was something that he should have already figured out. Angry and distraught she cried, "Bert…the dreams were my own! You were coming into my dreams!"

A strange silence fell over them as Bert took in the words. He stared transfixed and bewildered.

"Wha…?"

'Why do you always wait to touch me…?'

Mary instantly raised a hand up to place against her mouth as though shocked that the words had escaped her! "Oh my goodness…!" She whispered as Bert continued to stare.

Softly he spoke "Your dreams…so your memories…that would explain the children…"

'Mary 'ow is it that I've already met the children that you've known for over a week without ever really meeting them? 'Ow is it that I met the same exact children in a dream?'

She turned her back on him with mortification closing her eyes tight. Bert stared at her in fascination. "Mary…?"

"Don't, Bert!" She hissed violently, "Just…"

'Why must you question reality now!? Isn't this okay!? Are we not hurting others!? Are dreams not better!?'

"You were dreaming of me? …Those were your dreams? I was…in your dreams?"

"Does it make more sense to you the more you continue to say it?" She snapped rudely though her voice wavered with the threat of tears.

Bert stared, "But you said…you said you never tampered with anyone's dreams Mary. You lied!"

"Not a lie!" She cried though she kept her back turned to him, "I really have never tampered with anyone's dreams. You were tampering with mine…or maybe…" She took in a deep shuttering breath trying to calm herself, "Maybe…I was just dreaming too hard…too loud."

The next silence that followed was the longest. Slowly but surely a smile crept upon the chimney sweeps features. Mary raised her opened her carpet bag and pulled out a kerchief. As she dapped daintily at the ends and corners of her eyes Bert softly spoke, "People tend to do that sometimes Mary."

Mary turned to him then her cheeks rosy with chagrin "Do what? Dream so big they pull other people in?"

His smile pulled into a grin, "And crickets! What dreams they were!"

Her rosy cheeks ignited into a full flush as she lowered her head in shame, "What could you possibly think of me!?" She muttered completely mortified, "I…they were supposed to have been private! I do so apologize Bert I-I…I…!" water welled up at her eyes again as Bert erased the distance between them in two quick strides to pull the embarrassed nanny into a hug.

"There, there love. No 'arm no foul." She buried her head into his chest to hide the tears and shame, "Shh, shh, it's alrigh'…you once told me in a dream that nothin' I could ever do would keep you away from me. Well the same goes double for you Mary. I love you now just as I 'ave since the first day I laid eyes on ya. Except…per'aps if possible maybe even more so now than then."

She pulled back to mumble, "How can you say that? Because of me you've suffered for nearly a year now…you said so yourself in the last dream…"

He chuckled lightly, "Well…I thought I was goin' crazy, I did but…I would hardly call it sufferin'."

Suddenly a thought struck him, placing his hands on her shoulders he gingerly pulled her back so he could look down to see her tear streaked face, "Mary you said 'nearly a year now'."

She looked up to him, "That's right."

He nodded slowly, "Aye…you've been having such big dreams that I've been getting sucked into 'em for nearly a year…startin' around the time…around the time me an' Angelica started gettin' serious yeah?"

Mary lowered her gaze away from his, "Oh dear…" she muttered.

Silence followed as he allowed himself a moment to think. He furrowed his brows, "But…'ow could you have possibly known?"

Her gaze returned to his but this time with a look of slight annoyance, "First explain to me how a light-bulb works."

His grin returned teasingly, "Avoidin' the question Miss Poppins? Not very perfect like I must say."

"I simply mean it would take too much time to explain and once done it would be difficult to comprehend."

"I don't find it hard at all to comprehend that you've been keepin' tabs on ol Bert and got a wee bit jealous when I got me a girl."

Her eyes widened with incredulous indignity, "Me!? Jealous!?"

"Those were awfully, big dreams, Miss Poppins!"

She made to move away from him, "Oh, I am quite through with this!" Bert however quickly grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her back to him so she collided insistently to his chest. She looked up to him in surprise as his one arm snaked around her small waist holding her tightly against him while the other hand raised up to place behind her neck holding her steady. He leaned in close as her hands rose up to place against his chest. Her breath stilled in her throat her heart pounding madly as his nose brushed against hers his lips so close she could almost feel his smirk, "Awfully big dreams…" He muttered before capturing her lips with his own.

The feeling is instant and somehow there is no comparison at all. The real thing is far more better than the dream. Hands down.

In no time at all their minds were lost to each other as her hands raised up to tangle in his hair and his hands roamed over her soft curves. The kiss becoming more fervent and demanding and it took every bit of will power for Mary to break away turning her head to the side. Her mind a fuzzy whirl as Bert began to place eager kisses against her neck. She closed her eyes tight trying to calm her hormones. Softly, regrettably she spoke, "Bert…please stop."

His trail of kisses stopped but he allowed his lips to linger in the nook between her shoulder and neck. Mary was still and poised not sure, should he continue, if she would have the strength to stop him again. However slowly and also regrettably he moved away. He still held her close but moved back far enough so that he was able to look properly down at her again. Mary's hands intertwined behind his neck, her blue gaze held a tone of amends while his held that of understanding. As they allowed themselves to come down from their high they simply held each other in silence. Each taking the other in.

Finally she spoke, "I truly wish it could all be different."

He lowered his head down so that his forehead touched against her own, "It could be you know…" He spoke lowly. "If only you would let it Mary. We could be-"

"No." She said firmly and with finality, "It…we can't." It was said in a way that held no room for conflict.

He never knew why he would always try to get her to stay when the answer never changed. But with each earth shattering denial such as this one he would take his time before answering thusly, "I understand love…" Even though he never truly understands.

He just knows that in order to keep her he has to understand. And hope that one day when he asks her to stay her answer will be different.

She lowers her head down to his chest as he simply holds her for his last remaining moments. He hears her speak soft and cherishing, "Bert…I love you too." He hugs her tighter.

But all good things end and the west winds were only getting stronger.

Eventually she pulled from his hold. Eventually he released her all together.

Their hands remained bound together. Their gazes never leave the others.

"Is it silly to be missing you already?" She asked after a moment's time.

"Not silly at all Mary Poppins." He said with a kind smile. She smiled back.

She pulled one hand away and took a step back she pulled her other hand away and he held fast. Just a brief second longer until eventually he lets her go completely. Her hand lingers before falling away to its release altogether. She moves away and he stays put. He never moves to follow or chase after her. He knows it'll cause more harm than good.

She is back at the rooftop's edge where she gathers her carpet bag, adjusts her hat properly on her head, places her gloves firmly over her hands, and grabs for her umbrella. All of this she does in a timely manner never once meeting his gaze.

Not until she is just about ready to slide open the umbrella. The winds push on impatiently as she turns to look to him.

Still standing loyally where she left him he smiles knowing and lovingly at her.

Her heart breaks a little and her shoulders sag. Her blue eyes hold sadness as she repeats; "I wish it could all be different."

This time his reply is, "Aye, so do I Mary."

Her lips purse as she lowers her gaze to the ground. Then she looks to him again, with an expression of having made up her mind, and her pretty red lips pull into a small almost bashful smile. "You know the funny thing about dreams Bert…after you wake up; eventually you'll get to dream again."

He blinks. Then a slow grin pulls on his features.

Her face reddens just slightly and her blue eyes shine with promise before she turns away from him again. Her umbrella slides open and she carries away quite gracefully with the wind. He stands watching with marvel and adoration until her figure grows smaller and smaller and disappears altogether in the blue London sky.

And he continues to stand watching after her longer still. Till he is completely sure her presence is gone. Till the west winds have died down to just normal non-magical winds. Till it is just him and the doves and the rooftops of London.

He thought about the last few minutes of his time with the magical nanny. She had dreamed of him. Dreams so grand that she had sucked him in somehow. She had missed him, she had wanted him.

And she would dream of him again.

He placed his cap back upon his head. And as always after her leave or upon her leave he spoke out to her, "Try not to stay away too long Mary." Knowing wherever she was she could hear him.

It still reigned true that reality was better but until she descended back into his arms again he decided dreams would make due for a happy substitute.

With a nimble skip in his step he left the lovely cathedral rooftop whistling a happy tune as he did so.

He wondered what he would be today.

~Fin~

Wow, I am so sorry for the wait! The final chapter was supposed to have been here like long ago. But I'm happy I finally found time to post. Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.^^

To all who reviewed and to all who simply continued to read.

Thank you.

Peace-)AR