Chapter Text
First words are important. They are important milestones in any child’s life.
Charlie’s first word was apparently ‘da-da.’ When Danny had heard that, he had never been more sure to not take Charlie away from Stan. Charlie was a daddy’s-boy for sure, and that was good thing, considering he had three from the time he was four years old.
Eric’s, way back in the day, was actually ‘Dan.’ Danny had walked around ecstatic for days after that. He was his nephew's favorite so much that his name was his first word. Danny already adored the kid, but that solidified things for sure.
Nahele told them a story once, about his mother sitting him down and telling him all sorts of stories about when he was a baby - things she knew she’d never be able to tell him when he was older and wanted to know - and said his first word was ‘mama.’ He wasn’t sad when he told the story, but proud. He would always have that story - and connection - to his mother. It was his first word. First words were important.
Like “Danno.” Grace was a late talker, well past her first birthday when she started talking. She was actually walking around nice and strong before she started talking. Danny would always get onto Rachel, telling her to refer to themselves as “mom” and “dad” and she never did. “Danny” or “Daniel” led to Grace wanting his attention and calling him “Danno.”
Needless to say it stuck.
First words are important, at least in the McGarrett-Williams (he wasn’t going to concede on the name thing just yet) clan. Nine months old, however, is way too young for a first word, and yet here was Steve bragging that Jack had spoken.
“He just babbles, babe,” He tried to tell him. “He can listen better than he can talk right now.”
“He said ‘nap!’” Steve insisted as he plopped them down on the couch next to Danny. Danny’s bad leg was propped up on the coffee table, his wounds still fresh. “I asked him if he had a good nap and he said ‘mmm nap!’”
“So he was repeating what you said, not that he knows what it means.”
“Why are you being so negative about his first word?”
“I’m not being negative, I’m just saying it’s probably not his first word,” Then he leaned into Jack’s vision, and Jack drew back into himself, grinning. “Can you say ‘nap?’”
Jack only reached forward to pat Danny’s nose. Danny moved his face so he could blow a raspberry on Jack’s arm and the baby pulled back with another deep grin.
“Is that ‘Danno?’” Steve tried. Jack looked up to him, wide, smart brown eyes. “Who is that?” Jack pulled back in and grinned again. He dove his head into Steve’s neck, still rubbing his nap out of his eyes.
“So am I going to be ‘Danno’ and you’re going to be ‘daddy?’” Danny asked, leaning down on Steve’s shoulder to get closer to Jack’s face. Jack noticed him and then turned his head away quickly, only to look back just as quick in a short game of peek-a-boo. Danny made an exaggerated gasp and Jack sat back up, pushing away from Steve’s chest with a happy sound.
“Why not?” Steve asked. He focused on Jack again, “Who am I?”
“‘Mandur,” Jack told him right away.
Steve’s mouth fell open, then he cupped Jack’s head, pulling him towards his neck quickly. He turned to Danny, who was sharing a similar wide mouth.
“You heard that, right?”
“Yes I did.”
“That was a really good first word,” Steve praised, and Jack sat back up again, face slack. Then he saw Steve smiling and he smiled again and plopped back down on his chest.
“I thought you said his first word was ‘nap,’” Danny said, amused at Steve’s antics.
“Nope, you’re right. Just babbles.”
“No, I think you’re on to something.”
“His first word was ‘Mander,’” Steve said, refusing to look at Danny, but with a obnoxious grin. He knew exactly what he was doing.
“I’m going to go with ‘nap.’”
He sat Jack back up, “Who am I?”
“‘Mandurrrr,” He said again, this time with a bit of a growl.
“Alright!” Steve said smiling wide, holding his hand up, “High five!”
Jack reached forward with a grin to smack Steve’s hand.
“Did you have a good nap?” Danny tried.
Jack lifted both hands in celebration, “Mmm nap!”
Steve grimaced as Danny celebrated with Jack, giving him his own high five.
First words were important. Which is why they would always argue over what Jack’s first word was every time the topic came up. Because first words are important. Important and vital and, later in his life, Jack would smile every time it came up because the story behind his first word was more important, in his opinion.