First words
pairing: dad!Mingi x mom!reader
warnings: fluff
summary: Your sweet little daughter speaks her first words.
The television flickered softly in the background, casting a muted glow across the living room. Mingi sank deeper into the couch, the wheight of hours spent practising singing and dancing clinging to his limbs like gravity itself had grown heavier. His body ached in familiar ways.
He was grateful that his schedule allowed to be home early, it was only 5:30 pm, an advantage when you have a baby that you actually want to see and spend time with. Sadly, he can't be always here this early, especially when they have concerts and tours. But now, comeback completed and already working on the next and the tour had come to an end not long ago, he was glad to spend this extra time with you, his beautiful wife for already two years and your ten month old baby.
Across the room, laughter bubbled like windchimes. You sat cross-legged on a fluffy carpet in the middle of the room, the baby propped up in your lap and steadied by your legs that held your daughter up.
You both had just finished bathing 'little peaches', how Mingi liked to call your daughter. He came up with this name in the hospital, just after you had given birth to the precious little human in an exhausting twelve hours process and he held her for the very first time after she had been checked up by the doctors and cleaned. You still remembered his wide smile as he cradled the 6,5 pounds small baby safely in his arms, rocking from side to side.
"Hello, my little peaches" he had murmured, nuzzling his nose into her rosy cheek, her skin so tender that he was afraid that she would shatter at just a small touch.
Right now, Saejin, her actual name you had chosen for her, meaning 'wisdom and truth' as well as 'beautiful treasure', was swatting her cute little hands at a rattle with pure, chaotic joy. Her cheeks flushed red with excitement, her eyes that reminded you so much on her father's sparkling like she knew that the world belonged to her now.
Mingi's tender stare switched between the TV and his two favourite people. He was so lucky to have such a beautiful wife that mostly cared for your daughter even when he unfortunately couldn't be present due to a world tour. It was cruel for him to be thousands of kilometres away from you but you had reassured that you didn't mind and nearly forced him out of your shared appartment. Sure, sometimes you hated your decision but luckily, Saejin was truly an angle, well mostly.
Her laughter danced through the room as you swayed the rattle from left to right. Absimently, you grabbed your phone to record the cute interaction, your phone gallery full of similiar videos.
Saejin's little tuft of dark brown hair stucked up into the air in small, untameable locks, a gift from you. Apart from the curls, she was a carbon copy of his father. You had seen baby photos of Mingi and you swore that he looked exactly like her. But you didn't mind at all.
As you pressed record, you hummed lowly as you let her catch the rattle and she waved it around herself in a clumsy manner, making you laugh.
"Are you going to be a musician just like dada?" you asked her, propping your phone up on a cushion so that you two were shown on camera. You carefully grabbed her tiny hands with yours, rocking the rattle in a steady beat. As she let the toy go and it fell on the rug, you grinned.
"No, right? You're going to be just like your mama. Mama knew it!" you giggled, caressing her tender skin and giving her a big smooch on the cheek, making her laugh highly and squirm.
"Well, can my little Saejin say mama?" you questions, looking her deep into the eyes which curiously stared back at you.
"Say mama" you exclaimed slowly, emphazising the syllables. With her ten months, she sometimes made small noises already, babbling that weren't really words but really close. It was just a matter of time before she would fill the apartment with her talking. And you were sure she will be as loud as your lovely husband.
"Say mama. Mama" you repeated again, playing with her fingers.
"Mama" she slowly mouthed, the word different from what she usually babbles.
Your mouth clapped open, squealing in joy and pressing her small body against your chest as you rocked both of you from side to side, making her giggle. Your chest filled with pride since her first real word ever was mama. Mama! She really said Mama! This was the best moment of your life, you swore!
You could die from the cuteness how she stumbled over the syllables. Despite her difficulties, she really said Mama!
Meanwhile, Mingi had just listened with one ear to your little antics while following the news. Nonetheless, he picked up the delicate word his little peaches had voiced with her high-pitched voice.
Immediately, his head whipped to you, mouth wide open and eyes big. He was so shocked. Never in his life he would have guessed that Saejin would so soon form real words. He pointed at her in disbelief.
"Did-Did she just?" he questioned and you nodded eagerly, your chest swelling with pride.
"She said her first word! Mama!" you squealed, kissing her cheeks. "Say Mama, Saejin. Mama" you tried again, smile from ear to ear as she once again stumbled over the word.
"Yes! You are a natural, Saejin! Such a smart girl, huh?" Mingi was still too stunned to answer. He was excited to experience such a milestone with his little peaches but honestly, he wanted so desperately for her first word to be Dada. He would be so happy just to hear her mumble it once. Once!
While you began preparing your daughter's bottle of milk a little while later, Mingi had switched places with you, watching his baby play with blocks that she mostly drooled on while she nibbled on them.
Giddily, he lifted her up and into his lap, cooing at her fondly when she immediately held his t-shirt with her small fists.
"Hey, my little peaches. Dada wants to hear you speak. Can you say Dada?" he exclaimed, heart beating fast as he impatiently awaited her answer.
But instead of mouthing the word, she fussed a little, a tiny hand reaching up to reach his dark brown hair that had just the same colour as hers.
He catched it in the air, holding her hand desperately. "Concentrate, peaches. Say Dada!" he tried again but there was still no answer. Disappointedly, he pouted, his shoulders hanging.
You watched him amused from the kitchen, shaking your head with a grin. "Dada" he sounded out once more, not loosing his hope. Saejin layed her head to the side, eyes sparkling in a childish manner.
"Mama" his little peaches answers after a few seconds, leaving her dada devasted and sulking in defeat.
You laughed as you reentered the living room with the warm bottle, brushing through your daughter's hair before giving Mingi the milk to let him feed his baby.
"She's mocking me" he complained, a big pout visible while feeding Saejin.
You snorted, taking place on the couch. "I don't think a ten month old baby can bully you, Mings"
"Either way. I'm really disappointed in you, young lady" he spoke, the last part directly to his little peaches as if he had caught her smoking cigarettes.
"Just say Dada!" he exclaimed wailing, almost sounding like a real baby himself. Instead of answering, she nibbled on her index finger, giving her dad a sweet, toothless smile. Frustrated, he cried out, wiping over his eyes in sadness.
"Don't you love your Dada?" he exclaimed, pointing dramatically at her. However, he couldn't hide his pained smile when she wrapped her entire hand around his one finger, not minding the drool that now sticked to his skin.
Even an hour later while making Saejin ready for bed, he tried to get her to say Dada. But she didn't budge, much to Mingi's dismay.
Little did he know that only two days later, his precious little peaches will call him Dada for the first time, leaving him beaming in joy.
