Hello Psych-Os and Readers! Okay…it's been over a year since I last updated and for that I am deeply apologetic. It's been strange year and a busy one at that. I was writing a lot in my spare time, but never finishing anything. Now, however, it is summer and to beat the heat today, I decided to complete a short but sweet ficlet I have had saved in my computer for months. I'm not making too many promises, but I'm going to work on being a little more regular with updating stories, including the Heart of Life, the Spider-Man one, for those of you who have asked. If you haven't read that one but are enjoying Starfish Spencer, I'd recommend it! :) Please leave feedback!

Baby Skills

"Come on, sweetheart, say 'DA-DA'" Shawn opened his mouth wide as he spoke so that his small daughter could see how it was done. She reached forward, sticking her finger against his lip.

"aaaahh…." She sounded. Shawn raised his eyebrows, closing his mouth so that he could kiss her finger.

"That was close," he told her supportively, taking her tiny hand in his. "Try again…DA-DA."
But this time, Phoebe just stared at him as though he was a mildly interesting bird. They were in the Psych office, sitting on one of Phoebe's baby blankets. Shawn was supporting her back with his hand, even though she was already able to sit up on her own.

"DA-DA," Shawn prompted again. "Say DA-DA."

From across the office, Gus snorted out a laugh. Shawn looked up at him.

"Is something wrong, Gus?" he asked. Gus feigned innocence and kept his eyes on his computer.

"No, no, go back to your vocab lesson," he said loftily. Shawn gave him a look and turned back to his infant daughter. She was eying his bowl of Froot Loops on the desk. Shawn reached up and picked out a purple one. He held it in front of her.

"Okay, Phoebes, I'll give you this Froot Loop," he offered. "If you say one out of three: Dad, Dada, or Daddy."

Phoebe stared at the Loop, following it as Shawn moved it left and right, like a puppy transfixed on a tennis ball.

"DA-DA," Shawn said again. Phoebe's lips puckered into an 'O' and she let out a little hum. "Dada, Phoebes…Daddy…"

Phoebe blinked at this, looking away from the piece of cereal and at Shawn instead. He smiled encouragingly and nodded.

"Daddy,"

Phoebe pointed at him.

"Ah," she said, her cheeks rising with a smile. Shawn returned it.

"Even closer, baby girl," he said. "You're getting there."

Another snuffling noise sounded from Gus's computer. Shawn's eyes shifted towards him.

"Seriously, buddy, do you need a tissue or something?" he said. Gus pretended to stifle a smirk.

"No, no, Shawn, I'm good."

Shawn eyed him a little while longer before turning his attention back to Phoebe. She was transfixed once more on the Froot Loop. He sighed.

"You get points for trying, Phoebes," he gently handed her the purple ring and watched her suck on it, making sure she didn't choke. "But you'd make Daddy really happy if you could just say—"

Gus let out another sound. Shawn raised his eyebrows.

"Okay, Gus," he said, standing. "You think you can do better?"

Gus laughed again.

"Shawn, please, I can get this girl talking in seconds," he scoffed. He hopped out of his desk chair and crouched next to Shawn. "You got to look them right in the eye and say it very firmly."

Shawn clicked his teeth and turned his head.

"Man, what does it look like I'm doing?" he asked.

"I don't know!" Gus replied. He shook out his shoulders and looked directly at Phoebe, who had finished her Froot Loop. Her eyes traveled from her father to Gus. "Phoebe, say 'Uncle Gus'."

Both Shawn and Phoebe gave him a downright sassy look that plainly asked how he thought she could say all of that if she couldn't say 'Dada'. He thought and then tried again.

"Say, 'Gus'," he said. Phoebe opened her mouth to test the word.

"Guh…" she sounded. Gus's eyes widened and he smiled, nodding.

"Us…Gus."

"Guh…" she started. Gus motioned with his hands wildly, mouthing out his name. Phoebe concentrated very hard. Shawn watched eagerly. "…Ssss…"

"Yes!" Gus cried, grinning and jumping up and down on his haunches. "Now, put those two together."

"Guhh…."

"Yes!"

Phoebe turned suddenly to Shawn, who blinked at her.

"…ah…" she flailed her hand in his direction, slapping her fingers against his palm. "…sss…."

Shawn shook his head, sighing.

"Man, I can't believe my daughter's first word is going to be your name," he said. Gus looked at him indignantly.

"What's so bad about that?"

"Nothing," Shawn said. "Except for the fact that she's supposed to recognize her own father before her Uncle."

"Come on, son, she recognizes you more than she recognizes anyone," Gus said. "Besides Juliet."

"But still, she should be saying my name!"

"Guh…"

"She'll say it eventually,"

"…ah…"

"I guess it just goes to show you who has baby skills and who doesn't," Gus smirked, standing and starting to walk away.

"….sss…"

Shawn opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off.

"Gas!" Phoebe yelled, pointing at Gus. "Gas, gas, gas!"

Shawn gaped gleefully at his daughter and then turned to Gus.

"Gas!" Phoebe cried again. Shawn was filled with joy.

"That's right, Phoebe," he nodded, laughing. Gus looked sourly at Shawn. Phoebe, seeing her father's reaction, immediately began to giggle. Both Spencers pointed at Gus, laughing and repeating.

"Gas, gas!" Phoebe squeezed her eyes shut with a smile. Gus tried to look stern, but soon he was smiling too. His goddaughter had that effect on him.

"Okay, okay," he said, raising his hands up in the air.

"Terrific baby skills, Uncle Gas," Shawn laughed once he had caught his breath. Gus clicked his teeth.

"At least she's closer to my name," he pointed out. Shawn was about to reply to this but was again stopped by his daughter.

"Dada," she said quietly. Both Shawn and Gus froze, eyes widening.

"Oh," Shawn started.

"My," Gus continued.

"Dada!" Phoebe repeated. Shawn spun around. Phoebe was reaching up to him. "Dada!"

"Yes!" Shawn whooped. He reached out and lifted Phoebe up into his arms, hugging her close to him. "That's it, baby girl, you did it!"

Phoebe giggled as her father danced her around the room.

"Boom, Gus!" Shawn exclaimed. "Suck it, suck it…suck it!"

"I think you mean Gas, Shawn," Gus said calmly, sitting back down at his desk. Shawn faltered for a second.

"What?"

"Gas," Gus repeated. "Uncle Gas, that is."

Shawn stared at him, holding Phoebe on his hip.

"She said my name first, Shawn," he said contentedly. Shawn gaped at him.

"Gus, I—"

"Gas."

Shawn blinked and looked at Phoebe. She looked back at him innocently.

"Dada," she said, touching his cheek. Shawn smiled slowly at his small daughter. Maybe it didn't matter if she had said Gus's name (or a variation of it) before his. Hearing her say it now was just enough. Besides…

Maybe renaming Gus was a stroke of genius on Phoebe's part.

"Okay," Shawn shrugged, sitting on his desk chair with Phoebe in his lap. "Have it your way, flatulence."

So what did you think? My fanfic-writing skills are a wee bit rusty so any advice welcome. Also, as Psych has ended and a lot has changed, I'm considering incorporating those changes into any future stories. It won't make much sense to previous ones, but we'll see! :)