Chapter 36: A Birthday Never to Forget
The next few years for the Wayne family were some of the happiest years Bruce and Harley had ever experienced in their entire life. They left the mantle of the Bat to Nightwing and Ivy, who surprisingly enjoyed taking up the roles of Batman and Batwoman, but it was probably just because they had bonded while filling in for them. So why not continue doing what had brought them together? Bruce and Harley were more than happy to let the two of them take over, due to the twins taking up their attention almost 24/7.
As for the twins, being the son and daughter of the Dark Knight and Harley Quinn, they were full of energy constantly. They were quite the handful, even for the man use to beating up some of society's worst criminals. However neither of the pair would change their kids for anything. As the kids grew, their fast crawling around the mansion floor soon became unsteady walking. It wasn't long before the twins were able to say their first words, and much to Alfred's annoyance, it was "Alfie."
As time progressed the Wayne family celebrated the twins' birthdays. According to the twins, they loved it when their "uncles" came to visit, especially for their birthdays. Oddly enough Waylon, Crane, and Edward enjoyed to be called "Uncle Way", "Uncle Cray", and "Uncle Ed"( Nigma tried to get them to say Edward, but much to his dismay the word was too much for them and Ed stuck). The twins also enjoyed it when their godparents, Ivy and Dick, came to visit them. And today, everyone was coming to visit the twins once again, because it was their eighth birthday.
The pair haven't even had the sugar-induced rush that the birthday cake was destined to bring and already they were running around the house, full of excitement for the party to begin. One-by-one the guests arrived, carrying of course gifts for the birthday boy and girl.
"Come on Uncle Way please let us open your gift!" Thomas pleaded, jumping up and down trying to reach the present cradled in Croc's arm.
"You know I can't say no to you Thomas." Croc replied, bringing the present down to Thomas' level. The birthday boy was about to reach for it when Croc quickly brought it back out of the kid's reach, "Ha! Nice try! You know presents come after the cake!"
"Hey!" Thomas yelled, his cheeks puffing out in irritation, "I thought you said you couldn't say no to me!?"
"Well I didn't say no now did I?" Croc answered, flashing the boy a toothy grin and ruffling his hair before joining the rest of the adults in the dining room.
Edward and Crane were already there, with Uncle Ed playing "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" with Abigal. Crane was sitting at the dining table, watching them and smiling as he sipped on a freshly brewed cup of coffee. As Croc laid his gift on the table next to the others, Crane gave the "I'm watching you" look to Thomas, who grinned sheepishly before giving up on his quest for the presents and joining his sister. After all, Crane was guarding the presents and no sweet talk whatsoever would work on the stern man.
"Wow Uncle Ed. You're awful at this game." Abigal concluded after Nigma pinned the tail on the donkey's head.
"It was just a fluke!" Nigma quickly replied, crossing his arms, "I bet I could beat you in a game of riddles!"
"Riddles are boring though."Abigal stated, which earned a gasp of shock from her uncle.
"Harley and Bruce aren't raising you kids right! Riddles are amazing and stimulate your mind! Something you kids desperately need!" Edward ranted, which earned an eye roll from both Abigal and Thomas.
At that moment Bruce came into the room, carrying a few plates of food that both Alfred and Harley had prepared in the kitchen adjacent to the dining room. Bruce couldn't help but interject into the discussion, "Riddles are boring Edward. Especially to kids who don't have the brains for them."
"Hey!" Both Abigal and Thomas shouted at the same time, which earned them chuckles from the adults in the room.
"If we're making fun of the birthday brats I want to get in a few digs."a voice called outside the room, followed by the arrival of Dick and Pamela. With their Uncle Dick and Aunt Pam the last to arrive, the twins grew even more excited. After all, the party could finally begin.
As if on cue, both Alfred and Harley came into the dining room, with Harley carrying a huge three-layered cake in her arms. Thomas and Abigal rushed to their seats at the end of the table as the huge cake was placed before them. The room full of family began the old tradition of singing happy birthday to the pair, and afterwards they finally got to make a wish and blow out the candles. As the cake was quickly devoured the next course of action was what the twins had been waiting for all day, the opening of the presents. As the two tore into the wrapped gifts the adults watched in amusement, conversating among themselves.
"So Red how does it feel to be a married woman now hmmm?" Harley asked her friend, not even trying to hide her smirk. Pamela looked down, rubbing her wedding ring tenderly. In fact, both Dick and Ivy had just gotten back from their honeymoon last week.
"It's going quite well. I must say it's rather fun tying a man down and making him do whatever I want."Ivy stated, trying her best to wave off her friend's teasing.
"Pam you know Dick would do whatever you want even if you didn't have that ball and chain on his ankle. That boy worships the ground you walk on." Harley stated, which Ivy couldn't help but smile at.
"True. However I like the added benefit of marriage because I like what is mine and I want those other girls out there to know that he belongs to me."Pam stated, her eyes following her husband as he shoved his face fullof the cake.
"You always were possessive of your toys." Harley added.
"Like you're one to talk." Ivy retorted, " You and Bruce still act like love struck newlyweds despite having those two hellions running wild."
For a minute the two best friends didn't say a word. Each of them gazing at their husbands with a small and content smile across their lips. Finally Harley broke the silence, after contemplating to herself, " We got lucky. People like us...we usually don't get happy endings."
"...Indeed."Ivy agreed. "I'm glad we were able to be saved..."
The two were shaken out of their conversation when Abigal rushed up the them, wielding her favorite present she had gotten, which surprisingly was from Killer Croc. Abigal held it high over her head, showing it with pride, "Look what Uncle Way got me!"
"Wow Abigal. That's amazing!" Harley replied, patting her daughter on the head as she ran off to show the rest of the adults.
"How does Waylon know the perfect gift to get the twins every year?" Ivy asked, a mixture of shock and anger.
"I don't know but he even manages to beat us at it every year." Harley answered, just as equally shocked and angered as her friend.
Hours later the birthday party finally began to wind down. All the guests soon left, leaving the Waynes and Alfred alone once more. While Thomas and Abigal played with their new gifts Harley, Bruce, and Alfred cleaned up the aftermath of the party.
"You know Harley you could help clean up."Bruce stated, turning to his wife as he watched her devour what was left of the cake.
"I am helping to clean." Harley rebuffed, her mouth full of cake, "I'm cleaning up this cake pan."
A slightly irritated Alfred snatched the cake pan away from her, causing Harley to act as if someone has stolen her favorite toy on the playground, "Master Bruce, perhaps now is a good time for you two to get out of the house. Especially since you and Mrs. Wayne here aren't exactly well-versed in the ways of Mr. Clean."
"So while Bruce got trained by ninjas and monks, Alfred was trained in the ways of tidying up by the bald guy?" Harley interjected, to which the two men ignored the comment.
"Granted Alfred we aren't as good at cleaning the house as cleaning the streets but we can still help."Bruce replied, to which Alfred shook his in protest.
"It's quite alright Master Bruce. Besides, it's been years since the two of you have been out by yourselves. I think you and Miss Harley deserve it." Alfred answered, "Worry not the twins' bedtime is only an hour or so from now. I think I can handle the Dynamic Duo."
"Well it would be nice to patrol the streets again. I feel a little rusty and could use the exercise." Bruce said, pondering aloud.
"Same here!" Harley stated rather excitedly, "Beating up baddies is the perfect date night!"
"...Can't you two go to a dinner and a movie like normal couples do on date night?" Alfred stated, sighing, to which both Harley and Bruce acted like they didn't hear him.
"We will try not to be gone too long Alfred. Just make sure the kids are in bed in an hour. Two hours at the max." Bruce instructed as he and Harley made their to the foyer, on their way out.
"I'm not a teenage babysitter sir. I know how to raise your rambunctious spawn." Alfred retorted.
Pretending to go out on a night on the town, Bruce and Harley dressed for the part. Thomas and Abigal said their good-nights to their parents and watched them leave in the car, before quickly going back inside and breaking in their new toys. Alfred continued cleaning what was left from the party, humming to himself. After everything was cleaned the butler glanced up at the clock on the wall nearby and saw that an hour had passed, and it was time for the twins to get ready for bed.
"Master Thomas and Miss Abigal!" Alfred called as loud as he could, "It's time for bed! Please go wash up and get ready!"
In reply, he heard two loud huffs of annoyance coming from the room nearby. He couldn't help but smirk as he heard their quick and heavy footsteps race down the hallway and upstairs to their rooms. He was about to go upstairs and watch them brush their teeth, something Abigal in particular wasn't thorough about, when all of the sudden the front doorbell rang.
DING DONG!
"Who on earth could that be this late at night?" Alfred wondered, hurriedly making his way to the foyer and to the front door.
Perhaps Harley had forgotten to pack her utility belt again, something Master Bruce had always gotten onto her about. Then again, why would they knock? Surely they didn't forget their key. It was probably some reporters, trying to catch the Waynes off their guard and get a late night interview, especially since the twins birthday was all of the Gotham newspapers earlier today. Alfred slowly opened the door, prepared to shoo away the late night guests.
"I'm sorry but Master-"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
It took a couple of seconds for Alfred to register what had just happened as the old butler fell backwards onto the foyer floor. Blood start pooling around where he lay as he finally looked forward and noticed that three bullet holes were scattered along his chest. He tried to speak but no words came. Only blood.
"Oh my. Bloodstains are so hard to get out. You have your job cut out for you old boy." A voice cackled as a figure walked into the foyer, out of the darkness of the night and into the light.
It was the Joker, smiling as always as he loomed over the fallen Englishman. In his right hand, a pistol, which he twirled around his finger. He laughed as he placed his purple hat and trench-coat on the nearby coat-rack, as if he was here for a friendly chat with old friends.
"I hope I'm not too late for the party! After all, how could you have birthday party without a clown!" Joker stated, extending his arms in a grand gesture.
Hearing footsteps descend the stairs above, Alfred cast his gaze behind him, seeing the twins rushing down the steps. Focusing on where his feet were going, Thomas didn't even look up as he called out, "Alfie what was that noise? Did you drop..."
His voice trailed off upon finally looking up and seeing Alfred lying in a pool of his own blood and a strange man in a purple suit, with a sinister smile and white make-up on his face, standing over him. The man turned his green crazed eyes upon the two kids, his smile growing ever wider.
"Ah! It's the birthday kiddies!" Joker stated, laughing, " Are you ready to get your last birthday present from your dear old Uncle J?"
Author's Note: Just a quick announcement. Due to requests and my ever yearning to please my readers, I have decided to do a side-story involving Dick and Poison Ivy's romance. It will take place alongside this one, and will go deeper into their relationship. The story will be called "Blue Rose", so look forward to it! I'm currently working on it right now so I cannot say when the first chapter will be posted. Just keep a lookout for it! I am also considering doing other side-stories and one-shots in this universe. Unsure at the for supporting me and reading!