Chuck VS First Words

Note: This takes place during VS The Unknown, Grace is about 8 months old.

***555***

Sarah woke up alone and though the sun was up she knew it couldn't be very late based on the angle through their bedroom window. Sure enough as she rolled to Chuck's side and looked at the clock it was merely 5:30.

Sarah stretched and actually contemplated going to back to sleep when she heard a sharp, but happy cry from the living room. Grace was up. Sarah smiled and slipped from the bed, she found Chuck's discarded dress shirt from the night before, she had enjoyed taking it off of him, and her panties and slipped them both on.

Chuck had the baby on his lap, his hands holding her securely under her arms so she was standing on his thighs. The little girl saw Sarah right away and pointed laughing and bouncing.

"Is that mama?" Chuck said and looked over his shoulder with a goofy tired grin.

"What's everyone doing up so early on a Sunday?" Sarah asked as she waved at the baby who continued to giggle.

"Someone was babbling away in her crib and I didn't want her to wake you up," Chuck said as he accepted a kiss from his beautiful wife.

"How long have you been up?" she asked as she ran her fingers through his hair, scraping along his scalp and getting that dreamy grin she was hoping for.

"An hour," Chuck shrugged, "it's Sunday, I'll take a nap later."

"We didn't fall asleep until after 1:00," Sarah did the math.

"And who's fault was that?" he smirked at her.

"You did not seem to be protesting," she poked him in the knee with her bare toe as she curled up next to them and reached for the baby.

"Da da da da," the baby babbled and pointed to Chuck.

"Yes, that is Dada," Sarah tried not to sound disappointed.

Grace had started calling Chuck Dada a few weeks ago, the new parents beamed with joy but weeks had gone by now and despite much encouraging Grace had not said Mama. She clearly recognized and loved Sarah unconditionally, but still the young mother wanted to hear the sweet babbling words.

Chuck wiggled his fingers at Grace and she reached out a wet sticky hand, why were babies always sticky? – and grabbed on to Chuck's finger.

"You got me," he feigned capture and flopped over on to Sarah's lap until both of the girls in his world were laughing.

"Dada is a silly silly gorgeous man," Sarah said in baby talk and Grace laughed more, shaking her little fists in glee.

"Want some coffee?" Chuck offered.

"Sure," she smiled and captured his lips as he sat up again.

"Good morning," he smiled against her lips.

"Good morning," she looked him in the eye and let him know that she was still as enamored with him as she had been after their date the night before.

"That shirt looks familiar. It looks better on you," he traced a finger along the edge of the dangerously low-buttoned shirt.

"It looks better on the floor," Sarah whispered in his ear.

Chuck grinned and went to make coffee. By the time the couple was done with their second cup of coffee Grace was fading, her early morning antics had worn her out and she was nodding off on Chuck's chest as they watched a cooking show.

Chuck stood with the little girl in his arms and walked her back to the nursery, when he exited the room he noticed Sarah was gone from the couch and the TV was off. He peeked in the kitchen before heading back to the bedroom where Sarah was back under the covers and his shirt was back on the floor.

"Well, hello there," Chuck got his own clothes off in record time.

"You're so sexy when you are all sleepy and rumpled," Sarah said as she mussed his hair further as he slid in to her embrace.

"Last night I was sexy in my 'crisp well-tailored' suit," Chuck countered.

"Oh you were," Sarah purred as she rolled him on his back and slipped her warm soft body on top of him.

"Weekly date night was a really good idea," Chuck sighed as he trailed his fingers up and down her sides as Sarah kissed along his collar bone.

"We are lucky to have Alex and Morgan right next door and my mom close enough to babysit, we need to take advantage of that and have a little quality time, where we can talk like adults," Sarah reasoned as she decided she wanted him on top and shifted their position.

"Speaking of baby talk, is the 'dada' thing bothering you?" Chuck asked as he arched under her.

"No," Sarah said unconvincingly.

"I…" Chuck started but he didn't really know what to say, so he stopped and doubled down on his efforts to recapture the searing heat of the night before.

Later when they dozed in the now full warm morning sun Grace awoke with a cry of 'dada' and Sarah buried her head in the pillow.

***555***

"Sarah ready?" Alex asked as she entered the apartment.

"Almost," Chuck said as he tried to wipe baby food off his face while juggling the baby.

"You are a mess," Alex laughed.

"She's in a throw first ask questions later eating pattern," Chuck shrugged and raised the baby up and kissed her sleeper covered tummy.

"Sorry, I'm coming," Sarah jogged out of the bedroom in her gym clothes, her hair in 2 pigtails just like Grace's only longer.

"We've got time," Alex assured.

"Bye, baby," Sarah approached.

"Bye," Chuck smiled.

"I meant the actual baby," Sarah giggled and scooped a messy Grace up and tried to find a spot on her face to kiss that was not covered in banana or yogurt.

"Fine," Chuck sighed.

"You take care of daddy, OK?" Sarah asked the 8 month old.

"Dada dada," Grace chanted.

"Yep, dada," Sarah pressed her lips into a line and nodded as she handed the baby off.

"Enjoy your spin class, although I am unsure how that is possible," Chuck cringed.

"I'll be back in a couple hours," Sarah kissed him softly and followed Alex out to the car.

"Just you and me kid," Chuck said to Grace and airplaned her right in to the bathroom to wash off all her breakfast.

Once cleaned and deposited in her walker, Grace proceeded to entertain herself with the literal bells and whistles it contained while Chuck cleaned up and ate some breakfast of his own. He was finishing a cup of coffee when he heard it.

"Mama…ma…ma…" Grace continued to play obliviously.

"Grace!" Chuck flew across the room and dropped to his knees in front of the little girl.

Grace looked up, her bright blue eyes wide, "Dada," she smiled.

"No, no. What did you just say?" Chuck now thought he must have misheard her.

"Gah bah gah gah," the little girl babbled.

"Oh Grace, we have to work on your vocabulary," Chuck plopped on the floor and played with his daughter.

A couple days later and Sarah was out with Emma and Molly leaving Chuck once again alone with Grace. She was napping while Chuck caught up on a video game, the baby monitor turned up over the sound of gunfire on screen.

He heard Grace snuffle a bit, a sure sign she would soon be up either in tears or happy senseless babbling. Chuck wanted to finish the round he was in the middle of so he was thrilled when no tears came and Grace started talking to herself.

"Mama ma ma ma," she said clear as a bell.

Chuck hopped up, forgetting the game and grabbing a photo of Sarah from the table.

"Da da," Grace cheered from her spot standing at the rail of the crib, a new trick in the past few days.

"Hi Grace, who is this?" he held the picture up.

"Mama!" Grace cheered, then looked around, "Mama?"

"Oh no," Chuck realized too late his mistake.

"Mammmmmaaaa…." a wail erupted from the small child.

"Oh Grace, oh no, baby…mama will be home soon."

"Mama?" she perked up at the word.

"Soon," Chuck said as he scooped her up and rocked her close.

Grace's tears subsided and she snuggled against Chuck's shoulder, her warm wet face in the crook of his neck. Chuck managed to dislodge her long enough to change her diaper and feed her a snack but she snuggled back in as her father sat down to watch TV.

Chuck heard the sound of Molly, Emma and Sarah chatting as they approached the apartment so he stood up to greet them, Grace still snuggled in to him.

"Hello," Sarah smiled as Chuck opened the door.

"Gracie, look who it is?" Chuck turned his body so the little girl could see and she nearly leapt from his arms.

"Mama!" she cheered.

"Oh Gracie," Sarah beamed and accepted the baby, dropping her purse and the couple of bags she had in her hands at her feet.

"She woke up missing you," Chuck crossed his arms over his chest.

"Oh baby, I am right here," Sarah kissed her daughter's head and went to sit on the couch, Molly joining her as Emma moved to the kitchen with Chuck to fix some tea.

"I'm so glad Sarah got to hear Grace say 'mama'," Emma smiled.

"She actually said it about a week ago, but then she didn't say it again and I thought I was hearing things. I wanted to tell her, but I thought it would be better if she heard it for herself."

"And?" Emma looked back at Sarah who was still beaming as she bounced Grace on her lap.

"I totally made the right call," Chuck grinned.