Work Text:
“The little guy’s getting pretty big, huh?” Alan asked as he sat next to Pete on the couch. He looked over at where Martin was toddling around on a playmat that had been set down in the garage. Way, Babe, and Charlie were in a circle around him, encouraging Martin to practice his walking skill. It had, unfortunately, devolved into a contest of who the baby liked the most when Babe announced that he was Martin’s favorite when the kid went to him. Charlie had claimed that the pup just wanted to see Babe’s cross necklace, and Way had looked agonized.
It’d been impossible to get the three to do any sort of work or training since. Pete was supposed to be there so Martin had someone to look after him and Way would feel comfortable getting back to work at the garage after so long of just spending his time looking after pup, having stayed out of the garage while his shoulder healed and then during his pregnancy and as the baby was young. Way thought Martin wouldn’t be able to handle being without both of his parents during the day.
Alan knew Way was the one who couldn’t handle it. So Pete had come in so Way could focus, knowing his pup was right nearby in case he got anxious.
“It really seems like it was only a few days ago that he was a newborn,” Pete said fondly. “Now he’s already walking.”
Martin tipped over. Way and Charlie both grabbed him. There was a bit of a stand-off between them as to who would get the baby. Martin solved the issue by fussing to be let go so he could sit down and start babbling instead at his mother and uncles.
There were lots of recognizable sounds, but it was still just babbling. “Has he said his first word yet?”
“Not yet. He’s been saying the sounds for Mama and Papa, but not at us, and always repeated the way he’s doing now. Way’s been trying very hard to get him to say Mama to him. I think he’s worried Martin might say Phi or Lhung to Charlie first.”
Alan could only imagine how devastated Way would be if Martin’s first word was something relating to Charlie. He snickered a bit at the mental image. Pete smiled a bit too, so Alan was sure that the image had been strong enough to go across. “I bet you’ve got your heart set on him saying Papa, huh?”
“I do. But it would make Way so happy if it was Mama… it would be so cute.”
Alan realized he should have expected that. Pete was so enamored with Way that of course he was also rooting for their son’s first word to be Mama just as much as Papa.
Probably overhearing their conversation, the three adults tried to encourage Martin to speak. Way pulled the baby closer and said, “Pup, can’t you say Mama? Mama.”
Martin repeated the ‘ma’ sound, but followed it with more random babbling, looking down at his toys.
“C’mon, kid. Say Phi. That’s easy, isn’t it?” Babe tried. The pup just blinked at him. “What’s that look for?!”
Way didn’t have to worry about competition from Babe. For some reason, Babe was no good with talking to kids. He spoke to Andy like the teen was a little kid, and now spoke to Martin like he was an adult.
Charlie, on the other hand, took naturally to children. He got Martin’s attention by holding his little hands and cheerfully tried, pausing after each name to see which caught the pup’s interest, “Hey, noo! That’s your Papa over there. And Lhung.” Martin babbled randomly again, adding in ‘pa’ and ‘lhu’ sounds. But nothing real. “And that’s Way-”
“Don’t make the kid call his mom by name, Charlie!” Alan called over. Babe flicked Charlie’s neck as a scolding, making Charlie cringe.
“I’m P’Charlie, but that’s too hard, so I can just be Phi. Phi.”
“Eee… ah.” Martin started bouncing, yelling, “Aah!”
Alan and Pete both laughed. Charlie didn’t give up. “Phi.”
“Martin, say Mama, not Phi. Please?” Way tried.
“Bah,” the pup responded, making Way sigh.
“How about Phi Babe? Phi Babe.”
Babe scoffed. “Charlie, if he can’t manage Mama, how’s he gonna manage my name?”
“It’d be cute!” Charlie defended. “C’mon, pup. Babe. Buh-ay-be? Bay-be. Baaay-buh. Beh-ay-buh.”
“Stop. You’re making Babe’s name sound awful.” Alan had to agree with Way on that point.
“My name doesn’t sound like that. You’re messing with his brain. Don’t listen to Charlie. Stick to the easy stuff. Papa.” Babe ignored the horrified look from Way. “I meant for Pete! And you know I think it’s weird to call you Mama! That’s me.”
“Way actually has a kid, Babe.” Babe pointedly ignored Alan’s comment.
“Bah,” Martin started. “Ba- bah beh buh. Beh-buh-buh.”
“So close! Babe! Babe.”
“Behbuh!” Martin lit up, reaching for Babe. “Behbuh!”
They all looked at Pete for confirmation. He looked shocked. “He means it.”
Charlie cheered, lifting up Martin to praise him. “You did it! You said Babe!” Alan clapped to go along with Charlie’s cheering.
“Behbuh!”
“Why?!” Way groaned. “It hardly even sounds like it!”
Babe smirked, completely smug about his name being the pup’s first word. “Nice job, kid!”