Chapter Text
“Mama, can you hear what Gwen’s saying?”
Mary looked up from her reading with Vivian, turned to her and smiled as she let Oscar onto her lap.
“Of course I can. She’s got some wonderful things to say.”
Vivian smiled at the two of them and put the book aside as she dog-eared the page.
On the side lay her newspaper, the date marked April 14th, 1950. Time had gone by, she thought.
Mary glanced at her and saw how she had the very familiar distant look in her eye, which meant she shouldn’t be disturbed. Vivian twitched a little and Oscar giggled.
Vivian frowned mockingly.
“What’s so funny?” She pouted.
Oscar giggled again and Vivian began to tickle him. Mary laughed and joined in.
He begged them to stop and they did.
As he scurried off to play somewhere else with the cat, Vivian leaned over to Mary and whispered a joke in her ear, to which she laughed loudly at. Despite how proper she was, she could always find some sort of nonsense to make her laugh, no matter the situation.
With no particular reason in mind, Mary kissed her, long and fondly, until they heard Oscar nearby and pulled away. He ran back to them and nearly knocked the table over, but Mary stopped it. As she looked down, she realised he had removed his shoes, which she wasn’t very pleased about.
Oscar closed his eyes and hummed a little.
Vivian’s ears perked a little when she realised what it was he was humming- the very song Mary had first sung to the night Vivian had came by her room. Perhaps she’d put on the record and he’d overheard, but she had no idea.
“What are you listening to, angel?”
He opened one eye and smiled. Sometimes, he reminded Mary of Vivian with his antics and mannerisms. “I’m listening to the trees.”
Vivian turned to Mary with an inexplicably joyful smile on her lips that made her laugh.
“What do they say, then?” She asked.
“They say that I’m a nice boy.”
Mary chuckled.
“Indeed you are,” She said with another smile, then touched his arm as she got up. “But this nice boy-” She hoisted him up onto her hip with a spin that made him giggle, “Needs to go have some sandwiches for lunch.”
“Yay!”
And off the pair of them went, down the stairs and out of sight.
Vivian watched them go for a second, then turned towards the city of London. It was beautiful, she thought, but she slowly realised the feeling of comfort came not from the beauty of London but the beauty of these very moments. She’d become so set in her ways of being, doing, seeing, moving. Oscar was already such a big part of her life she felt as if she didn’t know a time without him. But it did not mean her bad memories had vanished all of a sudden. She heard footsteps and saw Mary sit by her side.
She dusted off her hands and gave Vivian a nice smile.
“Are you alright, love?” She asked.
And, for one, Vivian knew she was.
“Yes, I think I am.”
Mary smiled.
It had taken quite some time for her to truly be that way.
You are likely wondering what has happened in the past five years, which, granted, is understandable. But, more particularly, you are likely wondering what happened at Vivian and Mary’s wedding.
Which is even more understandable.
Mary, as promised, had a blue dress made with less ruffles and less, well, Mary to it than the dress from the painting, but nevertheless lovely.
Much to her dismay, that was.
Vivian, as promised after many debates, wore a red suit and red heels, complete with her hair in a neat bun.
As she’d begun to walk down the aisle, after many debates they’d decided she would, Mary watched her with a certain smile which required her to purse her lips in order to contain it entirely. She didn’t know how ecstatic one being could be, but whatever that was, she felt that way.
Vivian had the very bouquet of Mary’s proposal night, kept alive by, well, magic.
Despite having all eyes on her, she could only feel Mary’s as she arrived at the altar. In all honesty, she’d never imagined she’d even get to be in one of those.
They’d gotten together with almost everyone Mary Poppins and Vivian knew, including Alice, who was somehow an ordained minister.
Alice said her part, and when finally she came to announcing they were wed, Vivian gave what she could only chalk up to some sort of relieved laugh.
And when they kissed, it was soft and sweet, and the entirety of the crowd began to cheer.
Mary was slightly glad she’d invited the Banks family, considering how pleased they seemed to be when she finally came down to greet them by the afterparty in the park.
“Well?” She asked with a smile.
Michael and Jane laughed at her, then grinned as Vivian approached.
“It was alright,” Jane teased and Mary laughed.
Vivian put her arm round Mary’s waist and kissed her cheek and the Banks children smiled her way.
“How are you, Jane, Jack?” Vivian asked as Jack approached their little gathering.
Jack smiled. “Alright.”
“It’s rather ironic our weddings were only a year apart, is it not?”
Jane smiled and kissed Jack.
“Only slightly,” She shrugged a little.
“How wonderful was the wedding, Aunt Jane?” Georgie asked. He hadn’t been able to attend due to being horribly, horribly ill.
“Wonderful! Beyond anything I can describe.” Jack said, a huge grin on his face. “In the park, after all,” He took Jane’s hands. “Where we met.”
Jane chuckled and touched his nose. Annabel groaned and Jack laughed with Jane.
“Sorry.”
He blushed.
“You were so lovely to come here simply to see it, Annabel. And you, too, John.” Jane touched his arm and they both smiled at her.
“Also, Georgie’s been helping Aunt Jane with her SPRUCE work for a while, too!” John said with a big smile on his face as he gave him a small side-hug.
Georgie blushed as well.
“But you won a medal for your physics, John.”
The complimenting game went on for more than a quarter of an hour before Vivian and Michael told them to stop playing around.
Michael, Jane, Jack and the Banks children all left after some time, and Mary and Vivian were alone again.
She glanced at Vivian and gave her a smile, then squeezed her hand. She let her hair down, which seemed to shimmer down her back like an oil spill.
Then, suddenly, music began to play very, very softly, growing louder by the second.
Vivian took a long, very emphasized bow and looked up at Mary with a smile.
Other guests began to join in the center of the park with their partners and danced. Mary laughed and took Vivian’s offered hand.
“May I have this dance, milady?”
Mary rolled her eyes, although she had quite a smile on her lips. “Of course.”
Vivian laughed as she began to lead Mary in the waltz, glancing around at many others who followed suite. She held Mary’s hand tighter and spun her around. She saw, out of the corner of her eye, Jane and Jack together, and Alice and Madeline- whom she never would’ve expected to be together, in all honesty- and then turned to Mary.
The wedding went far into the evening, until all the guests had, slowly, one by one, taken their leave and said their goodbyes. Miss Lark, the Park Keeper, the Bird Woman, the Banks, Alice, Madeline, Topsy and Arthur, Jack, and everyone else.
Mary turned to Vivian with a soft smile and laughed, looking down as she sighed.
“Are you alright, Mary?”
Mary looked up and grinned. “I’ve never been better.”
Vivian took her hand, and said nothing.
It was perhaps ten minutes until they finally arrived at their home, the jacaranda tree now in full bloom, its leaves scattered around it like presents by a Christmas tree.
Another thing you might be wondering is if the Loughty household has changed in any way.
Which it has.
What was once the storage room is now Mary and Vivian’s room, complete with wool carpet and paintings, along with a newly-built veranda of sorts.
What was once their room is now awaiting its own comfortable setup.
The living room, kitchen and front garden has remained as it always does, other than the candles Vivian has scattered everywhere. Aunt Petunia had also funded the paintings which were on the walls, given that the money she had sent in an envelope to her home was ‘for a wedding present or two’ and she also mentioned she wished them well. It may have made Vivian’s eyes water, but she needn’t mention that.
It was at this newly embellished household that Vivian unlocked the blue door, still bright as ever, set down her keys on the nearby stand, took off her coat and Mary’s off her arms, and picked up an envelope.
Mary glanced at it as she removed her shoes, which she did not often do but likely had sore feet from all the walking they had done.
For a simple, slow moment, Mary stood in silence and admired how Vivian looked. When she finally looked up, Mary turned away and blushed.
Vivian gave a sweet little laugh and turned her towards her so she could kiss her. Mary gave a small noise of content and smiled as Vivian’s hands wrapped around her waist.
With a small sigh, Vivian pulled away and touched her forehead to Mary’s.
“Was it as wonderful as you hoped, Mary?”
Mary looked up and gave her a smile like none Vivian had ever seen before, nodding. Vivian laughed and touched her cheek, kissing her once more.
She then picked up the envelope and read it over.
“It’s for you,” She said as she handed it over.
Mary frowned. “Who on Earth could want to send…” But her voice trailed off as she read it over. Without any warning or expression change, she ripped it open and put a hand to her mouth in surprise. Vivian frowned a little. “Mary, what’s the matter?”
She looked up, frowned, then looked away as her eyes began to water. She handed the letter over to Vivian for her to read.
“Bert?”
Mary only nodded.
Vivian laughed and put it down on the table as she followed her to the living room. Mary made her way over to the piano they had bought, knowing she played now- which often meant she would be concerned with something when she did so- was a peculiarly nice treat for Vivian to listen to.
She played something Vivian knew, a Debussy Arabesque, which was her personal favourite and always seemed to cheer her when she was down, as most music did.
Vivian recalled singing to her some nights to help her fall asleep when her mind would not allow it.
As she listened to her play, eventually standing by her side simply to see her expression as she played, she grinned. Upon finally finishing, Mary had a simple smile accompanied by rare tears. At least, rare so that Vivian had never seen her cry.
She sat next to her on the stool and rubbed her arms, then grabbed her hands.
“Were you upset by his letter, love?”
Mary raised her eyebrows and let go of her hands to emphasise her words.
“No, not at all! I was only…” She sighed. “Surprised. I think Jack must’ve made some contact with him for my sake and,” She put a hand to her heart and laughed. “To think. To think the last thirty years I’ve been gone I truly thought I’d never hear from him again. Yet, there he is. Claiming to be in London for a month, friends with your neighbour, of all people.”
Vivian laughed and kissed her cheek.
“Would you like to invite him over?”
Mary laughed.
“I assume you’d like to meet him, although I’m very, very certain it’ll be awkward. He has no means of knowing you or even possibly understanding, well, all this.”
“Is he that old fashioned, then?” Vivian asked as she got up to make some tea.
“Not very much. He may just not understand why I might like women as well as men.”
Vivian smiled and hummed as a yes before switching on the kettle.
It whistled after a moment or two and Mary came to sit by her, dimples touching her cheeks.
“Mary, are you bi?”
She frowned.
“I mean, bisexual?” Vivian clarified as she turned around to face her, crossing her arms.
Mary shrugged. “If that’s the word for it,” She ushered the thoughts away with a hand, “Then I suppose so.”
Without any warning, she asked, “What are you?”
“Human,” Vivian wrinkled her nose with a laugh.
Mary gave her a look and Vivian smiled.
“I’m gay.”
“Well, yes, I know that. But what’s the word for it?”
Vivian sighed.
“Homosexual. Otherwise known as gay, lesbian, the whole plethora.”
Mary chuckled and leaned onto her elbows, which Vivian raised an eyebrow too. Mary smirked and gave her the same.
“Here’s your tea. Rose flavoured, your favourite.”
Mary smiled at her and touched her hand, her one finger cold from the presence of the ring. Vivian admired Mary’s, ran her fingers over the metal and gave her a grin.
“The world wouldn’t be the same had I not met you.”
Vivian laughed.
“Would it be grey, dull, very London-like?”
Mary grinned and looked outside at the beauty of the London Spring.
“No. It would be an eternal winter.”
Vivian seemed to like that answer very much.
The next morning Mary woke, sweat on her forehead and tears down her cheeks.
Surprisingly, Vivian had not stirred one bit from the ruckus she had caused by waking up, which pleased her as she hoped she would not wake her.
How was it possible, she thought, to look at someone and fall in love with them all over again, as if it were the very first time?
Without disturbing Vivian, she climbed out of the bed and made her way over to the door, unlocking it, then to the bathroom. She glanced at Oscar fondly after she came out of the bathroom, having wiped off the tears from her cheeks and calming down whilst looking in the mirror.
And perhaps sneaking a few glances or two at herself, but what could she help it? Admiring oneself in mirrors was a Poppins character trait.
Oscar snored rather softly as he slept, not turning nor tossing, a simple smile on his lips. She touched his cheek and kissed his forehead, then went back into her room. As she shut the door, Mary could hear some shuffling around being done as she locked it.
“Are you alright, Mary?”
Mary turned around and smiled, then allowed her hands to fall delicately at her sides as she walked over to the bed.
“Yes, yes,” She said, then laughed as she put the blanket over her with a warm smile. “Only a nightmare.”
Vivian, propped by her elbow, smiled sleepily.
“About what?” She blushed. “If you don’t mind, that is.”
Mary sat up a little, then touched her hand to Vivian’s- ice cold, as always- to warm them up and feel more comfortable.
“My mother. I seemed to be having a nightmare regarding her death. Goodness, it felt real.” She sighed. “Her death, then her funeral. And then, only her. In almost a void of nothingness, she turned to me, then walked away and smiled. I kept calling, and calling, and calling, but she didn’t turn around. That’s when I woke up.”
Vivian, her eyebrows raised, said, “How peculiar.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I mean, how peculiar that it seems exactly like the conversation, except yours was not one of those, that I had with my father.”
“You talked to your father?”
“In my dreams, yes. It was awfully frightening.”
Mary kissed her and pulled her in close to her as she lay down. Vivian smiled against her lips and then let Mary rest her head on her chest. It was interesting how one as pronounced as Mary Poppins seemed to be shorter than Vivian.
Vivian stroked her hair and played with it until she fell asleep, at around three in the morning.
It was Oscar, and the door, who woke them up.
“Mum, there’s someone at the door!”
He shook Mary a little, who immediately got up. Vivian followed suite, soon disappearing with Oscar downstairs to open the door. As Mary was changing into her everyday attire, she heard Vivian call, “Mary!”
Utterly unprepared for visitors, she walked down the stairs and began to slowly step towards the door, her hands in front of her, uncertainty, shifting between positions. The familiar figure at the door, whom she had not seen for thirty years, might have had an enormous part in it.
“May I just say you look,” He shot her a grin so dashing it reminded her of him entirely just by looking at it. “Lovely as always?”
Mary gave a very soft gasp, then laughed as she put her hands to her mouth in surprise.
“Bert, is it truly you?”
Vivian stepped aside, looking down and blushing a little, feeling out of place somehow.
“‘Ello, Mary. How are you on this fine day?”
She chuckled. “You haven’t changed one bit.”
He put his hands in his pockets as he stepped inside, Vivian closing the door behind him with an uncertain smile on her lips. She hadn’t been prepared for visitors, either, what with the robes she was still wearing.
Mary glanced her way and, with the smallest, most unseen glint in her eye if one had not paid proper attention, smiled at her.
Vivian looked down with a blush, then grinned at Oscar as he came down the stairs.
Bert chuckled as he saw him, now hoisted up onto his mother’s hip.
“Well, then!” He said. “Is he yours?”
Vivian smiled and turned to Bert. “Indeed he is.”
“What a chap, he looks.”
She let Oscar down and let him go over to observe Bert as he did all adults he did not know. He circled around him with a frown, which Bert laughed at, looking up to Mary. She gave Vivian another wonderful smile and grinned.
“Can we keep him?” Oscar suddenly asked.
Mary laughed and Vivian did, too.
“Certainly not,” She said, hoisting him up onto her own hip as she kissed his cheek. “But we can do something about more often visits, if Bert would not mind?”
It was not even a question, it seemed, with how quick his response was. He tipped his cap and grinned.
“Of course, I’d love to.”
Mary smiled, at Bert then at Vivian, and nodded as if to ask her to ask him to leave.
“Bert, if you wouldn’t mind, we’ve some things to do at the moment.”
Bert nodded and grinned.
“Of course. Have a wonderful day, everyone.”
Oscar waved and he returned it, then opened and closed the door.
It was in the summer of 1947 that Mary and Vivian were climbing over a garden wall, carefully minding the flowers growing through the concrete, running like rivers trying to find their oceans.
Hand in hand, they finally found themselves in a field as big as an ocean, filled with wonderful lavender and the most soothing smell. Vivian ran so fast that she tripped over her own feet, landing with a thud on her back and laughing, pain shuddering through her entire upper half.
Mary laughed and carefully lowered herself onto the ground, twiddling an assembled bouquet of lavenders between her hands. She braided them until she had a sort of crown, which, when Vivian had sat up to overlook the beauty of the field, she placed on her head.
Without any complications whatsoever, she laid down onto her back and glanced up at Vivian, who joined her soon after. She intertwined their legs and was soon, accidentally, on top of her.
Mary laughed as she touched her cheek, then kissed her.
Vivian rolled over and lay on her stomach, running and weaving her fingers through the thick lavender with a smile.
“Could I kiss you again?”
Mary nodded and turned so she could, her hand at her collarbone, moving a little downwards before Vivian flinched, ticklish.
Mary laughed and threaded her fingers through her hair, then dragged down until she’d released the small kinks in them.
Vivian was busy admiring her ring with a grin as Mary sat up, then laughed at her expression.
“What’s the matter?”
Vivian shrugged, sitting up too.
“I would not mind spending a week here. Perhaps a month or two.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dare. I’d get too cold.” She shivered for effect.
Vivian chuckled and kissed her cheek, then blushed and looked away, now admiring the field.
Mary, she could see out of the corner of her eye, was about to kiss her cheek, and so she turned so she could kiss her. A laugh came from her lips as she touched her cheek, pulling back only to return to her lips.
“Goodness, your lips are soft.” Mary said with a smile, causing Vivian to blush and look away.
She gave her a grin and leaned her head against her shoulder, now laughing as the pair of them admired the scenery, their fingers intertwined.
Vivian sighed and Mary smiled.
“I’m very in love with you, and frankly to merely see you makes me happy.”
Mary looked up and laughed. “Really, how incredibly rude.”
“How so, Miss Poppins?”
“Well,” She shifted closer and grinned at Vivian. “I never got to return the compliment.” And she kissed her once more, then got up and began to run.
As she fell down, she winced and Vivian laughed, doubling over slightly as she did so.
Mary gave her a certain sort of look that meant she did not approve of her actions.
“Pardon, pardon, it’s only funny if you’re not the one on the ground.”
Mary smiled, took Vivian’s offered hand and got up. “Thank you,” She said as she dusted herself off, then linked their arms after kissing her forehead, having to go up onto her tiptoes for her heels dangled in her hands from all the running she had done.
The very next morning, when Vivian had gotten home, Mary had been shaking a blanket out. Oscar beside her, sitting and eating by the table, grinned at his mother below and waved.
She waved back, and turned around.
A look of discomfort passed on her face and Mary called out to her. Vivian smiled.
“What happened?”
“Nothing much,” She claimed as she went up the stairs with a grin on her face. But, in truth, there was something. She thought she’d seen her father, and in truth, she’d been awfully frightened upon thinking she had.
But all she did was play some guitar for her wife and son, pretending all was well.
When she later told Mary, she was hugged and told there was nothing to fear. From then on, she’d always known that she could never fear something if she had Mary and Oscar by her side.
And that was enough, was it not?
☂
“It is not my birthday.”
“It most definitely is, Vivian.”
“Give me a calendar, please, it isn’t and I will prove it-” Vivian glanced down at the date and she laughed. “Oh, never mind. Happy birthday to me.”
Mary chuckled and kissed her fondly, grabbing something out of her apron pocket to give to her. Vivian raised her eyebrows and grinned.
As she watched her unwrap her gift, she smiled at the little things about her- She looked lovely with her hair up, strands of it falling so prettily, so much so Mary had trouble resisting tucking them back just to look into her eyes.
It was a dress, red and sleek, something Vivian would never choose for herself. But when she put it on, my did she look marvellous. She emerged from the bathroom with a sheepish smile and grinned at Mary as she did a little twirl.
“Is it alright? I think it’s too tight and-”
Mary put a finger to her lips and kissed her hand.
“It’s wonderful, Vivian. I knew it would look so on you. Do you like it?”
Vivian nodded. “Merci, mon amour.”
Mary curtsied. “De rien, ma fleur.”
Vivian raised her eyebrows and chuckled. “That’s- Thank you, Mary, so much.”
Mary smiled warmly, a blush touching her cheeks, travelling along her ears and her neck with a certain red Vivian thought resembled a poppy.
“You look-”
“Beautiful?”
Mary nodded and laughed. “Don’t put words in my mouth, Vivian. I still require some breakfast.”
“A diet of the impossible, I presume?” She linked her arms with Mary and they laughed as they walked down the steps.
It was at around eleven that Mary went to pick Vivian up, Oscar in the back seat of the bicycle she had installed.
It was at around eleven fifteen when Oscar asked, “Mum, why don’t I have a grandpa and grandma?”
Mary turned around briefly, then set her eyes back on the road ahead.
“Ozzy,” She called him this often when she had to explain things. “I don’t know how to explain this, angel, but…”
“Explain what? I’m four years old, Mum, I understand.”
Mary smiled. He was beginning to sound like her, and she could admit she liked it, at least a little bit.
“Well, love, I don’t have a mother or a father. Neither does Mama.”
Oscar’s eyes went downwards sadly.
“What… What happened to them, Mum?”
“Mine or your mother’s?”
“Either, Mum.”
Mary sighed. She truly hadn’t expected to explain such a detailed story whilst riding a bicycle to a college.
“Well, my mother passed when I was five, and I never knew my father.”
“Why?”
Goodness, she knew he was getting to the age of questions, but it was already daunting.
“Well, I don’t know. My mother was left alone after me, and there’s no further story.”
“Why?”
Mary laughed. “I don’t know, sprout.” She found it hard to answer them, especially. He asked more questions than even Gwendolyn.
And the nicknames began to increase in number, too.
“And Mama? What happened to her parents?”
Just as Mary was about to answer, they had arrived at the school. She hoisted Oscar onto her hip, kicked out the stopper of the bicycle, then kissed his cheek.
“Why don’t we let Mama tell you that, love?”
Love, angel, sprout. Whatever words she used certainly didn’t change the love she had for them, how adorable he was.
As they entered the classroom, Vicky and Leroy and John all fawned over Oscar for a moment, up until Mary and Vivian told them class was dismissed, and they left reluctantly.
Vivian kissed Mary and Oscar, then grinned at the pair of them together.
“What’s the occasion?”
Oscar smiled. “It’s your birthday, Mama.”
Vivian laughed, looking down with a blush on her cheeks.
“Yes, it is, love. Do you know…” She took Oscar from Mary’s arms. “How old Mama is today?”
He shook his head and she smiled.
“I’m thirty-five today, love.”
His eyes widened. “That’s three tens and five ones! I thought you were two tens, Mama.”
Vivian blushed and laughed again, turning to Mary. She wondered how she’d ever be able to explain her own age to Oscar. Perhaps he’d come to terms with it.
They exited the building, receiving many looks and smiles towards Oscar, which they returned.
The bicycle shone a little in the dim light of the afternoon, and Vivian got up onto it, Oscar on her lap as Mary sat on the front seat. She smiled briefly as she turned to the pair of them, as if asking if they were ready to go yet. Vivian nodded and smiled at her, then touched her shoulder for a second. As quick as she had, one hand was around Oscar’s waist and the other sturdying on the sidebar of the bicycle where a basket-like box was.
There was something truly odd about the time they lacked together because of having Oscar around. It was not his fault, mind you, but Mary had felt slightly neglected, although she daren’t mention it aloud. Despite the lack of conversation on the ride home, many words seemed to be said simply by Vivian’s thoughts. She was almost glad Vivian couldn’t see her expression for she seemed to be smiling awfully much.
“Here we are,” Mary smiled as she climbed off the bicycle, Oscar hopping down from his mother’s lap and Vivian following suite- of course, off the bicycle.
As Vivian was about to walk off, she could feel Mary’s hand touch her own, very awkwardly brushing past it as if she hadn’t meant to at all. Vivian smiled at her and glanced down, then took her hand.
If anything, she was also missing the time they had together.
“Right, chop-chop, soldier, it’s hair-washing day.”
Oscar gave a groan and Mary chuckled as she watched Vivian lead his upstairs to the bathroom. Gwendolyn sat in the corner of the kitchen with a tail-swishing, almost questioning attitude that made Mary uncertain of what she could want now. She walked very slowly over to her, fluttered her fingers until she floated and-
Oscar stood with a gaping mouth as she took her in her arms, and her eyes widened.
“I- I was not…”
“Mama!”
For a brief moment, Mary was afraid he was frightened by her magic, but when Vivian waltzed down the stairs, the look she shared with Oscar meant the world to her.
“Have you never seen Mum do magic before, love?”
She stooped down to his level as the ‘o’ his mouth formed disappeared slowly, his head shaking.
“Well,” Vivian took his hands and smiled at him. “I’ll tell you a little secret…” And she muttered something Mary couldn’t hear, to which Oscar widened his eyes and grinned extremely widely.
“Sure!”
He giggled as he ran back upstairs. Vivian let out a little sigh and Mary’s features softened.
“Whatever did you tell him for,” She gestured upstairs, “That to happen?”
Vivian shrugged, but a playful grin now placed itself on her face.
“I only told him that you could show him something later. That is, if you wouldn’t mind. I think he’d come to terms with the fact.”
“Oh, speaking about terms,” Mary said as Vivian turned to walk upstairs, “I told him about my mother.”
Vivian raised her eyebrows.
“And, how’d that go?”
“Well,” Mary shrugged a little as she crossed her arms. “It went well enough. I told him why, after many, many questions and very few answers, although-”
Vivian shifted to face her.
“I never told him yours.”
“My story? About my parents? Mary, it’s far too harsh for his age.”
Both were equally startled as they heard Oscar call from the top of the stairs, “What’s too harsh, Mum?”
Mary looked up and shook her head.
“Nothing, angel. Mama will be there now.”
Vivian laughed a little and wiped her forehead.
“I’ll see you soon. Hope he’s not too squeamish this time.”
And off she went.
After Oscar had washed his hair, or, rather, had his hair washed by his mother, he and Mary had agreed to surprise Vivian by visiting a place far-off, the woods to the North that Vivian had told Mary she had once visited as a child.
But it was not just for her birthday, particularly, that the three of them would be attending the woods. It was the very woods Mary had envisioned the picnic dream they had had during her coma.
And, although she hadn’t mentioned this to Oscar, she had intended to recreate the picnic one day.
It just so happened that it would be today.
As Vivian came down the stairs, wiping her hands on an apron, she frowned at the smiles on Oscar and Mary’s faces. She hung the apron on the hook and smiled at them.
“What on Earth is happening? Please don’t tell me this is some sort of joint surprise, Mary Poppins.”
Mary shrugged one shoulder, her gaze to the ceiling, which indicated that is was indeed a joint surprise- something she knew Vivian would at once appreciate and despise.
Her eyebrows raised and her arms crossed, she laughed at the pair of them, then gestured to the picnic basket on the table.
“What’s all this, then, love?”
Mary chuckled and kissed her cheek. “It’s for a picnic,” She whispered. As she pulled away from her, her heels a loud click in the silence of the house, she could hear Vivian gasp softly. Her hand went to her mouth and she smiled at Mary.
“A picnic, or the picnic, Mary?”
Mary chuckled and touched her cheek.
“Ew.”
Vivian turned to Oscar and laughed. She put her hands on her hips and shook her head, walking over to him with a smile.
“Are we too disgusting for you, love?”
Oscar giggled as Vivian began to tickle him, then scooped him up onto her hip.
“No!” He said immediately, hoping she would stop. Mary joined her and grinned.
“Alright, you two. Let’s go on an adventure, shall we?”
Vivian almost grinned, but pursed her lips to avoid it as she found it silly. But, as she held the door open for Mary and Oscar to walk out, she was given a wonderful smile, which was accompanied by a kiss. Vivian laughed and smiled at her, then ruffled Oscar’s hair as she grabbed his hand.
He smiled and, out of nowhere, said, “I love you, Mama.”
Vivian blushed and couldn’t contain her smile as she turned to Mary.
“I love you too, sprout.”
And she hoisted him up onto her hip as they walked to the nearest bus stop, heading towards somewhere unknown.
Well, for all Vivian knew, that is. Mary seemed to know exactly where they were going by the certain glint in her eye and the way she gripped the handle of the bus seat.
The final stop, devoid of people, was the most interesting of them all.
“Mary?” Vivian asked tentatively, an eyebrow raised and a smile on her lips. “What exactly do you plan to do… here?”
Vivian gestured to the expanse of trees in front, and it was then, and only then, that Oscar Loughty-Poppins noticed the wonderful sight in front of him.
His eyes and mouth were wide, and Mary giggled, turning to Vivian with the particular smile she reserved for her.
Vivian blushed and took her hand, striding towards the woods after she grabbed Oscar’s hand.
“Mama, there’s a river!” He began to run towards it, Vivian chasing after him as she shot Mary a grin.
As swift as the wind, she chased after them and tackled Vivian and Oscar to the ground, and they all fell with a thud.
Osar giggled a lot as Mary kissed him, then smiled as Vivian helped them up. She kissed her cheek and laughed.
For a second, Vivian watched as Mary led Oscar over to the river, lake, or whatever this body of water could be called. Mary took off Oscar’s shirt and sat down, her knees huddled to her chest as she watched him play and splash about.
Vivian smiled and walked up to where she was, then sat down without turning her way. Mary did, though, and kissed her cheek.
With a laugh, Vivian turned to her and pulled her close, but not to kiss her, simply to hold her. Mary chuckled as well and let her do so, putting her arms around her neck as she sat with her legs over the riverbank.
“I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Mary hummed in agreement.
Oscar waved up at them and they both waved back.
“What do you say we join him?”
Mary laughed. “Join him? It’s bound to be deathly cold in there, Vivian, how could you want to-”
Her eyes widened and her eyebrows raised as Vivian took her hands, now suddenly warm.
“Please?”
Mary blushed and rolled her eyes with a sigh.
“Oh, alright, then,”
She gestured to the river and Vivian grinned as she pulled off her shirt, then her jeans. She slipped off her shoes and gave Mary a cocky smile as she walked down the rocks carefully. Oscar giggled as she scooped him up in her arms, tickling him until he couldn’t stand it anymore, laughing so hard he begged her to stop.
She finally did and looked up to see Mary, a blush on her cheeks as she descended into the water, practically weightless. She gave Vivian a small eye-roll, though her lips were in some sort of smile, and hugged Oscar tightly.
“It’s warm, isn’t it?” Vivian asked.
“Of course it is, unless you’re unable to feel it?”
Mary laughed as she said that, then touched Vivian’s arm and kissed her cheek.
She looked her in the eye and they exchanged a sort of mutual agreement. Very slowly, Mary touched over the scars on Vivian’s stomach, ever so often wincing on her behalf as she felt through the grooves and lines.
Vivian laughed as she finally caught Mary’s wrist, shaking her head. The signal was received immediately and Mary apologised as though she’d caused her immense harm or intruded a secret of the utmost importance. Vivian ushered it off and told her she’d nothing to worry about- it was only a case of worrying about the nature of scars; perhaps they’d open up if too irritated by her touch.
That seemed to ease Mary’s turmoil, if only for a little ounce.
Vivian smiled to herself as she watched, out of the corner of her eye, Mary changing back into her dress- Vivian’s favourite one on her, as it just so happened.
Mary clutched Vivian’s shoulder suddenly as she’d just put on her shirt and coat, then smiled as Vivian put her own hand over it. Moments like these often had no reason behind them other than the simple fact of wanting to remind each other they were there or that they loved them. Oscar, having now been helped to put on his shirt, was grinning ever so widely, a trait he’d likely inherited from Mary.
“Mum, can we go to the field? I saw a deer there.”
Mary turned to Vivian for confirmation and received a smile.
“Why not?” Vivian shrugged. “There’s no harm in staying here for some time.”
Oscar giggled and squealed a “Yay!” as Vivian lifted him onto her back for a piggyback ride.
“How fast do you think I can go, Oz?”
Oscar sighed and hummed as he thought. “Three hundred thousand miles!”
Vivian laughed. “Very close!” And she ran with him, her and Oscar’s laughter echoing against the rocks and the tree bark with a certain sound Mary liked.
She laughed and caught up with them in a few moments, shivering a bit until she was in the sunny field.
There was, indeed, a deer. Not just one, many, many of them were grazing, although they were luckily far enough to not be scared by the family’s presence.
“Mama, can I braid your hair?”
Vivian raised her eyebrows at him. “Do you know how to, Oz?”
He nodded enthusiastically, then pointed to Mary. “Mum taught me the other day.”
Vivian shot her a grin and Mary returned it, her gaze shifting to the sky to avoid any proper explanation.
“She teaches me things sometimes when you’re at the school.”
Vivian smiled and turned her back to face him. She would never mention this, but the simple fact of them being in this field altogether nearly made her burst into tears.
Never, ever, ever would her younger self have imagined she’d be this far and this happy in the life she lived.
Mary, not missing the gleam in her eye as she tried to hold back the tears and covering her face with her hand as if shielding it from the sun, looked down and smiled to herself. There was something truly wonderful about her, and not for one moment did she ever think she’d be with such a person as Vivian. And what’s more, to have a child- of all things, a child of her own!
The thought made her so gleeful she had to turn to avoid breaking out into some odd smile.
That very exchange had the pair of them looking like oddballs, but Oscar did not mind one bit. He’d always been told it was strange to have two mothers, but what did anyone else know about having two mothers? What was different about it than having one man and one woman?
Vivian had had to explain it to him that it was not fair, but as long as he didn’t mind anyone, it would disappear. She never mentioned the word ‘hopefully’, but he understood it hadn’t disappeared yet.
It was unfair, but there was nothing he could do about it, so he let it be.
“That’s a wonderful job, Oscar. I love it.” Vivian observed the braid, with a few flowers braided in, and kissed his cheek.
“Thank you, Mama.”
And off they went, cold bodies, warm hearts, and grins that they feared would last them a lifetime.
“Mama?”
It was night, late, and Oscar had wandered into the lounge to find Vivian taking her medication. She quickly swallowed and walked over to him.
“What’s wrong, sprout? It’s very late, you should be asleep.”
He nodded slowly and clutched the teddy bear Annabel had bought for him a few years ago- at least it wasn’t in shreds, Vivian thought.
“I couldn’t sleep.” He mumbled, looking down.
“Did you have a nightmare, then?”
He nodded and blushed a little. She smiled and took his hand to lead him up the stairs.
“I’ll tell you a story,” She said as she tucked him in, careful not to disturb Gwendolyn, who was asleep by his feet.
“What kind of story, Mama?”
“Mum told me you wanted to know about my parents- how about that one?”
He nodded eagerly and clutched his bear as she put his duvet over his chest.
Mary, awake for a long time already, got up by the noise of Vivian’s voice. She went to stand by the door as she wanted to observe the pair of them together.
“So… they left you?”
Vivian chuckled and ruffled Oscar’s hair.
“You’re really cushioning the load, Oz. But you’re four, so I understand that. Yes, they left me.”
His eyebrows raised and Mary stifled a laugh.
“All alone? You…” He retreated into himself a bit. “You won’t do that to me, Mama, will you?”
Vivian’s eyes widened and she shook her head as she pulled him close, her ring glistening in the reflection of the window.
“No, never, sprout! I love you too much and I’d never, ever forgive myself.”
He grinned and giggled, squirming at how tight her grip was on him. “Mama, let me go.”
Vivian grinned. “Never.” She kissed his forehead then let him go.
Mary turned and inhaled, feeling her eyes fill with tears. She’d heard the whole story, but from her point of view, and it pained her. She’d never heard the full story, and my was it truly terrible.
After some time, Mary could hear Oscar snoring and the small sound that were Vivian’s footsteps against the wooden floor.
She tried to close the door and make haste to the bed as if she’d never been there in the first place, but Vivian had already seen her.
“It’s terrible, isn’t it?”
She smiled as she closed the door, turning to Mary who sat on the bed.
With a hot blush on her cheeks, Mary nodded solemnly.
“I didn’t mind that you listened, only- Do try and be discreet next time.” She shot her a wink and Mary laughed.
Vivian walked towards Mary and sat down next to her, using one hand to push away some unruly curls of brown hair and then touch her cheek. It was so silent, one could hear a pin drop. Vivian’s breathing seemed to be only as loud as Mary’s, and as she put her hand over Vivian’s, she couldn’t help but smile.
Vivian smiled and kissed her fondly, leaning a little into her as she did so. Mary’s hand pulled at her waist to try and bring her closer, if that were possible.
Vivian made a small noise of content, pulling away for only a moment to catch her breath, then resumed. Mary threaded her hand through Vivian’s loose hair and smiled against her lips.
“Goodness,” She whispered as she pulled away to catch her breath. Vivian laughed and stirred her hair about.
“Sorry, did I intrude- I should’ve asked.”
Mary shook her head. “No, it was alright.”
Vivian laughed again. “Only alright, then?”
And in response, Mary pressed another kiss to her lips and stayed there for some time.
“Now, we should sleep. I assume I smell of sweat and tablets, so let me change.”
Mary walked over to her side of the bed and put the duvet over herself as she watched her change.
As Vivian merrily settled into bed, she checked the clock; at least it was only one. She leaned her head against Mary’s chest and glanced up at her for a simple smile.
“I bloody adore you, you know that?”
Mary resisted the urge to smile as she put a finger to her lips.
“Oscar’s right next door.”
“I don’t mind. Just know I love you, with all of my messed up, strange piece of heart I have left.”
Mary laughed but was deeply touched by it. So all she did was play with her hair until she fell asleep.
☂
“Vivian, love, are you coming?”
Vivian stepped back from her easel, dusting off her hands as she took off her apron. The painting in front of her nearly made her squeal out of joy.
It had finally, finally been finished. ‘It’ was a portrait of her family- Gwendolyn, Mary, Oscar and herself- that had taken her three months to paint. She hoped their reactions would be a excited as hers was.
“Just a moment! Would the two of you come up here?”
Soon enough, Mary, with Oscar on her hip, came up the stairs to see what was all the fuss. Vivian stepped to the side so she could show them, and Mary’s jaw dropped. She turned to Vivian and her hand went to her mouth.
“Oscar, do you see this?” She pointed to it and let him down as he went over to the canvas.
“Who made this, Mama?”
She pointed to herself and he smiled so wide she thought he’d burst.
“You did? It’s so cool!” He hugged her around the waist and she grinned. Mary, in turn, hugged her too, then kissed her cheek as she picked up Oscar once more.
“You’re lucky I can still pick you up, angel.”
He stuck his tongue out and she touched his nose. Vivian laughed and smiled.
“Right. Should we be off, then?”
Mary nodded and off they went.
The festival came quicker than Vivian had thought it would. Very soon, it would be back to the overcast weather, and she cherished the clear blue sky with its wonderful blossoms peppering the pavement.
The first thing they’d registered was the music- loud and pompous, although rather enjoyable in her opinion, was composed mainly of flutes and string instruments.
She turned to Mary and took her hand, along with Oscar’s.
Before she had the time to register, the Banks children were in front of them and saying hello to Oscar.
Oscar, slightly shy but eager to talk to them, partially hid behind Vivian’s leg. He was much too tall for that, which one could contribute to the height of Vivian, his mother, and it was funny to Georgie.
Now 20, 21 and 22 years of age- in the order of Georgie, Annabel and John Banks- it was a rare occasion for all three of them to be in the same place at the same time.
“Really, Miss Ruby, we’d love to take him off of your hands sometime,” Annabel persisted, “He’s so adorable!”
Georgie laughed and waved at him.
He waved back, to everyone’s surprise, and tugged at Vivian’s shirt so she could pick him up. She grinned and hoisted him up onto her hip with a grin.
“Say hello, Oz.”
He smiled and said, “Hello!”
The whole trio of the Banks children all grinned and chorushed a ‘Hello’ back.
A distant sound, likely Michael’s voice, called out to the children and they turned back to check whom it could be.
“Sorry, Miss Ruby- I mean, Vivian. We have to go, Father’s calling us for lunch.”
Georgie waved goodbye and John did too, then they were off.
Vivian turned to Mary and they laughed together. Vivian took her hand once more and smiled.
“Come on. I intend to have some sort of confectionery here.”
Now, that very afternoon was filled with confectionery indeed. Candyfloss, cakes, all sorts- most went to Oscar and the pair of them ended up finishing it.
By the time they’d finally sat down somewhere, a familiar voice said, “I presume you’re staying, Miss Poppins?”
Mary turned at the sound of her name and raised her eyebrows.
“Mrs. Earnest, is that you?”
The balloon woman grinned and nodded.
“Pleasure to meet you, miss.” She stuck her hand out and Vivian shook it. “Miss… Vivian Ruby, is it?”
Vivian sensed the magical personality she possessed, the same one Mary had, and she grinned.
“Vivian Poppins, in all fairness.” She turned with a blush to Mary, who gave her a smile.
The balloon woman, Mrs. Earnest, smiled at the pair of them.
“Well, I won’t disturb you three any longer.” She grinned at a woman approaching her, and it was only then Vivian noticed she was in a wheelchair. The woman smiled.
“Goodbye, ladies. Tabitha, let’s go see the musicians.”
And they were off.
Now, perhaps it was the last time they’d see someone familiar. And it was.
But familiar to them, yes- to Oscar, no. He’d seen some schoolmates and asked Mary if he could go and play with them, and she agreed as long as she could watch him by the playground. He agreed and then they were off.
Sitting alone, Vivian couldn’t help but think.
And, as she watched the whole festival in wonder, she thought, “Father, if there’s something to ask forgiveness for, what should I ask? What I am, or what I’m not? And Mother- whom I have never known, more so than the man meant to be my father, which should I regret? What I became or what I did not?”
She asked these to her parents- not those she’d had as a child, but those she had been destined for. The right ones, the ones that were hers, the perfect grandparents for Oscar and wonderful in-laws for Mary.
And that was when she looked up.
The sky, which had once been populated with people gallivanting on balloons the last time she had been in this moment, was now empty. Empty, empty, empty.
Unlike her life, it should seem. She was forever grateful for all she had, every single puzzle piece which composed this peculiar masterpiece she could call her own.
She could see Mary and Oscar approach, and she grinned at them.
Mary sighed as she sat down onto the bench once she’d tucked a strand behind her ear and shifted her hat.
“Oh, shit, sit down quickly before my wife comes.”
Mary rolled her eyes, a blush on her cheeks as she laughed.
“Language,” She reprimanded her as she adjusted her hat once more. “But you’re wonderful, so I shan’t mind too much.”
Vivian gave her a grin, and she turned to her with a laugh.
“What?”
Vivian shook her head, looking down as she laughed.
“Are you happy, Vivian?”
Mary’s grin was equally as wide as her own and a blush rose to her cheeks.
Vivian laughed and Mary gleamed, turning to look up at the sky.
Oscar came to sit by them and Vivian smiled as he leaned against her. Mary grinned at the pair of them and took Vivian’s hand discreetly, kissing her knuckles.
“Yes. Yes, I think I am. Or at least, I’ll try to be. Whatever it takes.”
She sighed and put Oscar onto her lap after moving closer to Mary and putting one hand on her leg.
As she turned to Mary, she found she had tears in her eyes. Ellen had once told her that some questions she would never get the answer to. But goodness was she glad this one had one.
“Thank you,” She said, and the three of them turned to the sky with a glint in their eyes.
And, as all good things do, their tale came….
To an end.