Owen was three months and twenty-four days old when he spoke his first word. 

It was a warm August evening; Blaine was in the kitchen, trying to decide what to make for dinner and Kurt, having just returned home from work, was laying on the floor in the living room with the boys. 

“Can you say ‘da-da?” Kurt cooed at Olly, who only grinned and kicked his chubby little legs. “Hey, Owen, say ‘da-da.’”

“I’ve been trying to get them to say that all day, babe,” Blaine called from the kitchen. “Except, my word was Papa.”

“They’re so gonna say Dada first.”

“Yeah right!” Blaine laughed. 

“Hey, Owen, Olly, da-da loves you. Da-da loves you more than anyone else!”

Owen stared up at Kurt with wide eyes; Olly garbled happily and kicked his legs even more. 

“I think Olly is gonna be our little athlete. He’s got quite the powerful leg muscles,” Kurt said. 

“Oh, I know! And Owen, he’s gonna be smarter than all of us. I just know it. He gets this look in his eyes. I can practically see his brain working to learn and understand,” Blaine said, abandoning the veggie burgers to lean against the bar and gaze lovingly at his sons. 

“They’re both so amazing,” Kurt grinned at his husband. 

“DA!”

Both fathers’ eyes widened in shock. 

“Which one said it? I wasn’t looking at them, I was looking at you!” Blaine asked, quickly moving to kneel next to Kurt. 

“I don’t know, I was too busy staring at you, too, dear.”

“Olly, did you say Da? Da-da!” But Olly only giggled and sucked on his fist. 

“Owen, say Da-da!” Owen cocked his head to the side thoughtfully. “Da-da,” Blaine repeated.

And then he said it. Like a lightbulb had gone off in his brain, a huge grin spread across his little face. “Da! Da!”

“Yeah, buddy! That’s me, I’m your da-da,” Kurt said excitedly, reaching for his husband’s hand. “Blaine!”

“I know, babe,” Blaine said, discreetly wiping a tear from his eye. “That was so good, Owen.” Blaine leaned down to kiss his son’s forehead. 

While Kurt and Blaine lavished attention on his brother, Olly decided he did not like being left out. So, he did something about it.

“NO!”

Blaine and Kurt’s heads snapped up. 

“Did he just...” Kurt trailed off.

“Yep. Our son just told us ‘no.’”

“Well, I don't suppose it will be the last time.”