"Okay, so father says a hundred for this weekend, Duke and Aunt Kate says fifty on the instance that Grayson takes too long so (L/N) takes matters into her own hands, Drake says seventy-five for next month on their anniversary. Barbara's placing the same amount for two weeks from today, Stephanie's betting forty-five for six months, Cass bets thirty for nine months... and Todd says next year... with sixty-nine dollars."
"Heh, yeah I did." Jason comments, causing young Damian Wayne to furrow his brows in annoyance.
"Hi everybody! I'm back!"
A youthful child-like voice fills the halls of the Wayne Manor followed by heavy breathing between hollers.
"Hey, sweet pea." Jason is the first to reply; picking up his darling niece into his arms and planting a kiss onto her forehead.
"Whatcha doing?" the innocent girl asks, looking down at the pile of cash with curiosity.
"Oh, it's nothing, Sparrow." Tim answers, piling the dollar bills together. "Don't worry about it, cutie."
"That's a lot of money, Uncle Tim!" Sparrow points out; blue eyes never leaving the pile of money in front of her. "That doesn't look like nothing... are you hiding something from me?"
"It's alright, it's nothing for you to worry about." the youngest Wayne insisted; bluntness laced in his voice.
"Daddy says it's not nice to keep secrets from others." the spunky child retaliates, crossing her arms and huffing shortly afterwards.
"Well, I'm guessing that daddy forgot to add that it took him seven years to tell your mom about Nightwing." Duke remarked, shooting his niece a sly grin.
"Mommy says he didn't tell her because daddy loves her and doesn't want her to get in trouble because of him!" Sparrow fumed, growling at her uncle. "Now tell me what's going on or I'm calling my parents!"
"Figures they'd teach her about manipulation by now." Tim whispers to Stephanie behind his hand.
"Sparrow, we're playing a game." Bruce says nonchalantly.
"Oh, I love games! Can I play?" the billionaire's granddaughter asks with much enthusiasm.
"It's a different kind of game, only for grown-ups." Barbara explains, walking over to her niece to cup her cheek as a sympathetic gesture.
"That's not fair... Uncle Dami is only nine years older than me and he's playing."
"Not really, mini Grayson." Damian interferes. "I'm spectating this so-called game. Besides, you need money to play."
"Sweet pea, we're playing a guessing game here." Jason adds, gesturing his free arm towards the pile of cash on the table. "You see, each of us takes a guess on when your dad will ask your mom to marry him."
"And whoever gets the most accurate guess takes the money!" Tim finishes, flashing the little girl a charming smile.
"Okay..." Sparrow replied, dragging out her words. "but how about my parents? Can they play?"
"I'm sorry, but they can't, Sparrow." Alfred answers. "They would clearly have an advantage."
"Besides, it's more fun playing the game without them anyways." Jason reasoned. "Just don't tell your mom and dad, alright?"
"Okay, Uncle Jay." the (H/C)-haired girl replied. "I won't tell mommy or daddy."
The following day, as the small blue-eyed girl returns to the Wayne Manor, Sparrow Grayson runs straight up to Damian's bedroom; crumpled dollar bills clutched in her hand.
"Uncle Dami!" she yells, pounding her other fist against the wooden door. "Uncle Dami, open up!"
"Sparrow," Damian groaned as he lazily swung the door open. "what is the meaning of-"
"I want to place a bet!" the young niece exclaims, waving the cash hastily with her arm. "Six dollars that daddy proposes to my mom by the end of the night!"
"Um, Sparrow, I don't think I could-"
"Shut up and take my money!"
The youngest uncle of your daughter was struck by her persistance. Though he had formerly questionable morals, Damian Wayne could never have the heart to take advantage of his niece like this. Regardless of technical terminology, he viewed the blue-eyed girl as his sister.
As enough silence passed between the two, Sparrow sighed in defeat; knowing he was too stubborn to take the cash.
Maybe stubborness runs in the family?
"Fine..." she muttered, staring at the ground to avoid meeting the green-eyed Wayne's gaze. "if you won't take my money... Alfred!"
Within seconds, Alfred arrived at the scene.
"What appears to be the matter, Miss Sparrow?" the elderly butler inquired.
"Uncle Damian won't let me play his game! I even brought my own money!" she whined in response, followed by a childish pout. "Can you take my six dollars and bet for me?"
"Miss Sparrow, you know that I certainly won't take your money if your uncle won't accept it." Alfred reasoned, which was further met by an agreeing nod from Damian and a frown by your hurt daughter. "However... I suppose there's no harm chipping in some money of my own in your name."
The azure-eyed child beamed at the sight of her grand-uncle pulling out some dollar bills out of his own wallet and handing them to the blood son.
Damian's eyes widened as he counted the cash that Alfred just handed to him. "Pennyworth... you might be biting off more than you can chew here."
"It's no issue, Master Damian. I'm honored to bet in Miss Sparrow's name." Alfred replied, clearly unfazed.
"Alright, suit yourself."
Moments later, Dick Grayson arrived at the Wayne Manor to pick up his daughter following his shift from the Blüdhaven Police Department.
"Where's my little ray of sunshine?" His voice boomed throughout the halls of the Wayne Manor, causing his energetic daughter to rush towards his presence.
"Daddy!" the girl yelled from excitement, running straight into her father's arms. "Do you think we can still pick up mommy? You worked too late again!"
"Oh I wouldn't worry about that, lovebird." Dick replied.
"Pay up suckers! Ms. Soon-to-be-Grayson is in the house, y'all!"
A loud, boisterous, feminine voice echoes all about the manor as you stride into the main corridor of the Wayne residence. You hold both ring fingers into the air; the left finger graced with a silver band and a glistening diamond embedded in the centre.
"Say what now?!"
It was only then, Bruce, the remaining batboys, Alfred, Duke, and Cassandra approach the Graysons; the slender butler hands the stock of money to his grand-niece.
"Congratulations, Miss Sparrow. One thousand dollars in your name." Alfred says.
"A thousand dollars?!" Dick exclaims; dumbfounded. "We only chipped in six bucks! How did we score an extra five hundred?"
"Consider this an early engagement present, Master Dick." the elderly man answers, followed by a single nod of affirmation.
"Hey, foul!" Jason cries out, frowning down at the quite cunning (H/C)-haired girl. "Sparrow, didn't we tell you to not tell your parents about the bet?"
"And didn't I tell you that my parents said it isn't okay to keep secrets, Uncle Jay?" your snarky daughter remarked, sticking her tongue out towards your soon-to-be brother-in-law.
"Oh didn't they?" he says, redirecting his gaze towards your fiancé and yourself; a devious glint shone in his emerald eyes. "Well then, I guess there's no better time to explain why mommy's been screaming out your dad's name at night-"
"Shut up, Todd!"
On instinct, your lover took it upon himself to cover your precious child's ears as the father-daughter pair, along with the rest of the Wayne clan, simply watched as you chased down Jason in a fury of rage; spewing death threats while the latter bellowed evil laughter that filled throughout the manor.
This family was going to be the death of you.