Disclaimer: For the final time in this story, the characters don't belong to me. They belong to PL Travers and Disney.

Chapter 7: Playful Surprises

"Aunt Jane!"

The name echoed off the walls as Georgie, John and Annabel Banks came flying into the room, chased after by Ellen and Andy. Michael shushed them quickly, reminding them of visiting hours (and the night nurse was being more than gracious as she was still secretly keeping tabs on Jack's health as well), but it didn't stop them from clambering onto the hospital bed, Georgie scrambling onto Jack's lap as his brother and sister squished up beside them.

"I see the whole gang is here," Andy teased dryly. He stepped up next to the bed, squeezed Jane's hand. "It appears that would be my exit."

"You don't have to leave," Jane said graciously, squeezing his hand back.

"Someone's gotta go so Fiona don't feel left out," Andy teased. "She said as much when I told her everyone was here in the hospital." Imitating Fiona's Irish accent, Andy said, "'What do you mean, you're all at the hospital? Don't I feel left out!'" The adults in the room laughed.

"Thank you," Michael told him, standing to shake his hand. Andy shrugged.

"Weren't nothin'," he said. He nodded to Jack. "Nice to have met you, Jack. Wish it woulda been under better circumstances." He laughed. "Better weather, too."

Jack shook his hand as well. "Weren't nothin' but a bit o' rain. Sides, somethin' good came out of it, somethin' always does," he told Andy honestly. "'Glad to have met you, Andy. And thank you."

Andy took his leave, leaving the Banks family, Jack, and Ellen alone in the room.

"We're glad you're all right, Aunt Jane," Annabel told her. "We've been worrying all day."

"Oh, it was nothing," Jane shrugged. "This family's not much without a bit of adventure, now are we?"

"This family could do with a bit less adventure, you ask me," Ellen muttered under her breath. Jack caught it and gave her a look that plainly said he agreed.

Michael coughed, trying to hide a laugh, and Jane put a hand on his arm as she added, "I'm fine."

"What did the lightning hit?" John wanted to know. "Andy said it made a big booming sound, and it scared everybody."

Jane shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't know," she told her nephew. "Whatever it was, it was very close."

Georgie reached up, snagged Jack's hat off his head. Jack shook his head and flicked the brim. The boy giggled and squirmed in Jack's lap. "Why are you here, Jack?" he asked the leerie.

Jack, Jane, and Michael exchanged a look. "Oh, your aunt an' I had plans for tonight," Jack said. "Weren't gonna let a little thing like her bein' in the hospital get in the way."

"Oh you did, did you?" Michael glanced sideways at his sister.

Jane used the hand that wasn't still enveloped in Jack's to whack her brother in the arm with a backhand. "As a matter of fact, we did," she said. She looked at Jack. "This isn't what I had in mind, though."

Michael grinned cheekily. "What did you have in mind, exactly?" he asked the two of them, enjoying the flush of color on both his sister's and Jack's faces. Luckily, they were both saved from having to reply by the doctor coming in to check on the two of them.

"This really isn't necessary," Jane argued as Michael let them into her flat with the key. Behind him was Jack, his arm in a sling, per doctor's orders. He'd wrenched his left shoulder more than he'd thought, and the doctor said to rest it the next couple of days.

Good thing I'm already all right at doin' my job one-handed, Jack thought as he surveyed the interior of Jane's flat. He'd only ever been as far as the doorway. Now, he felt himself being ushered in by Michael, though Michael was shooting him a look that plainly stated, Don't try anything funny-she's still my sister.

Jane made her way to the sofa and sat down. "Michael, really. I don't need a babysitter."

"Nor do I," Jack muttered under his breath, leaning his back against the wall that separated the kitchen from the living area.

Michael was grinning like the cat that ate the proverbial canary. "Oh, I know," he said. "I just would feel better about it all, considering you did have a minor concussion today, sister dear." He gave them both a wave. "Get some rest, you two. I'll call later, Jane." With another sidelong glance at Jack, he let himself out of the flat.

"Interestin' fella, your brother," Jack noted, once Michael was out of earshot.

"That's putting it mildly!" Jane rolled her eyes. "Jack, you don't have to stay. You've got a job to get to, and I'll make it fine on my own."

"The lights can wait a bit," Jack shrugged with his good shoulder. "It's staying lighter out now anyway." He sat down next to Jane on the sofa, keeping a respectable distance.

"Speaking of light…"Jane began, shifting so that she was facing him. She put an arm on the back of the couch and leaned back. "Thank you, for the story." At Jack's surprised look, she continued, "I drifted in and out most of the day. I didn't catch all of it, but enough to tell you how sorry I am about your father."

Jack tried to adjust so he was facing her, couldn't get in a proper position with his arm in the sling, and gave up, taking it off and tossing it across the room. Jane laughed. "Disobeying doctor's orders?"

"You heard the story," Jack pointed out. "'S not the first time."

"Fair point," Jane conceded. "You're an amazing man, Jack."

"I'm not," Jack disagreed quickly. "Just been lucky 'nough to have good people cross m' path when I needed 'em to."

"Sweeps are lucky," Jane offered. "I think your luck started when you met Bert. Or at least, it rubbed off a bit. After all…if you hadn't met Bert, you'd never have met us. The first time, I mean. You'd never have met Mary Poppins, never become a leerie…" She looked at him. "And we'd never have met you the second time, we'd never have saved the house if it hadn't been for your help."

"Nonsense," Jack said. "Was Michael's drawing that saved your house."

"Yes, but if you hadn't caught Georgie in the park that morning on the kite…"

Jack shook his head with a smile. "We're goin' to have to agree t' disagree, Jane," he said. "I've had just as much luck meetin' you all as you think you've had with me." He could see Jane coming up with an argument. He slid over one cushion on the sofa, gently pressed a gloved finger to her lips. "Save the arguments for the rallies," he told her, letting his hand slide under her chin to tilt it up so her lips met his.

When they finally broke apart, Jane laughed softly and bit her lip. "I think I saw some of those lights you saw with Mary Poppins."

Jack grinned. "Me, too."

They never told Michael, though he strongly suspected when he called Jane later that evening, and even though Jack was gone to light the lamps, that the doctor's orders to rest might have been ignored, just a little.

Fin.