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Martha looked out the window and found her targets in the garden. Crouched down, heads nearly touching, she had no idea what Alfred was talking to Bruce about to make him so still and focused, but it almost made her wish for a camera in her hands. Almost.
She heard the front door shut and the housekeeper distantly say, "Welcome home, Dr. Wayne. She's waiting for you in sunroom." Martha grinned to herself as she listened to Thomas' hurrying footsteps.
"Hello, darling," he greeted her. "Have they spotted you?"
"Hello, my love. Not yet." She flashed him smile, waving a water gun at him impatiently as he set down his blazer and briefcase. "Come on, before they move." Thomas snickered, and she could see the layers of stress falling off him as he rolled up his shirtsleeves. "Follow me."
As quietly as two adults in casual or business-wear can be, Martha and Thomas slipped out of the sunroom and into the garden. Neither Bruce nor Alfred had looked up, but Alfred's hand gave a little wave that meant he acknowledged their presence. He was saying something about worms.
Ten feet away, Martha gave the nod. Together, they brought up their water guns and let loose.
Bruce shrieked the way only a four year old can and Alfred nearly fell over as he shouted. "Scoundrels! Hooligans! Quickly, Master Bruce, with me!" and with that Alfred scooped up the little boy whose screams had dissolved into giggles and raced away. Thomas and Martha pursued with war cries.
As they rounded the corner, they were met with a blast of water. "Noooo!!! The hose!" Martha laughed, using Thomas as a shield, still trying to aim for Bruce.
"Why is it so cold?" Thomas roared, twisting away.
Bruce was puddle of giggles laying across Alfred's feet. "My thoughts exactly, Master Bruce," Alfred responded to the boy with a madcap grin of his own. "Let's see them try to take us unawares again."
"Alright! Pax!" Martha cried out, trying to keep the water out of her eyes.
"We surrender!" Thomas tossed down his water gun and threw up his hands. "Mercy, please!"
The hose was lowered. "We are men of honor, are we not sir?" Alfred replied. "Bruce, lad, turn the water off." The boy scampered to do so.
Thomas grinned. "Of course, sir." He let his head fall back and stretched out his arms to the sun. "Hell's bells, it's a blistering day. I swear, I'm nearly dry again."
Martha immediately sprayed him in the face. Thomas yelped and Alfred barked out a laugh. Bruce collapsed into giggles again. "Mama sprayed him in the face, Aflie! She got Papa!"
"Yes she did," Alfred snickered. "Well done, ma'am."
"Thank you, Alfred."
Thomas looked at his smug wife and bodyguard butler with an air of deepest betrayal. "Treachery on the field I say, treachery."
"Well, you did drop your weapon, dear," Martha replied coyly.
The pool to her left caught his eye. Thomas looked her dead in the face and smirked. Martha dropped her smile and glared back. Two minutes later, her scream was cut off with a large splash. As she came up for air with a gasp, there was a smaller splash as Bruce, squealing, joined her.
Laughing, she scooped up her brilliant boy and asked him, "I think Papa should join us in here, don't you Brucie?"
"Yessss!" howled Bruce, waving at Thomas. "Papa jump in! Alfie, in!"
Thomas attempted to wave them off, chuckling. "No, my darlings, I don't think I will."
Martha just looked at Alfred. "I'm calling in that favor," she declared.
"Done, ma'am," Alfred replied, and before Thomas could blink he found himself tackled and flying into the pool. Alfred's arms stayed around him as they went under, and cheers greeted them once they broke the surface.
"You're terrible, the lot of you, and I love you both," Thomas declared, making a break for the edge. Neither Martha nor Alfred made a move to stop him this time. As he hauled himself up, grumbling and trying unsuccessfully not to smile, he heard high-fives being exchanged. "Terrible, I say."