Allie held her arms out to her dad as her shoulders began to shake. She was a goner too. Though they initially took a waltz position, they dissolved into a swaying hug whispering into each other's ears, smiling, and wiping tears. They had come so far together.

"Dad…thank you for choosing me. You sacrificed your career on the leadership track…" Allie lamented.

"I sacrificed nothing." Nathan held her head in her hands and kissed her forehead. "It was never a sacrifice. You are and always have been worth it. I would do it a thousand times for you, Allie. You are my beauty from ashes. My greatest joy from my deepest pain."

Tears streamed down Allie's face as Nathan wiped each one tenderly. The love in his eyes was apparent to all in the room.

"You are the best father I could have ever asked for. I love you Dad. Our dreams are really coming true aren't they? This feels like a beautiful dream." She rested her head on his chest as Nathan reached up mischievously and pinched her side. Allie jumped and exploded in a fit of giggles.

"Daaaaad!" She pointed a finger playfully at the lop-sided grin he was trying to hide.

"What? I thought you were dreaming. I was just making sure..."

Allie shook her head and rolled her eyes as she took her father's offered hands. They waltzed through the rest of the song as eyes filled with tears around the room taking in the father-daughter pair.

The song ended and the guests joined the dance floor pairing off. Nathan and Allie ended in a tender embrace as Nathan kissed her hair. Robert approached to dance again with his new wife. He held out a hand to Nathan and shook his father-in-law's hand firmly.

"Be good to her Robert. She's a treasure."

"I know Sir. I will." Robert promised somberly.

"Besides, that office is awfully small," Nathan teased.

"Don't I know it…and it's my desk now. You've got your own upstairs." Robert teased back.

"I had it first…" Nathan continued but Allie stepped between the two with a hand on each of their chests as she shook her head at the men she loved most.

"Alright you two…save it for the office.." she laughed grabbing both men's hands.

"Nathan, that's so childish," Bill interrupted with a grin. "We all know it was actually my desk first."

"You would know all about childish, Dear." AJ teased with a kiss to Bill's cheek which elicited a deep blush. Bill recovered by dipping AJ low and brought her back up to his lips in a quick chaste kiss. They laughed together as he turned with her whisking her about the floor.

Robert, Allie, and Nathan laughed together each holding Allie's hand. It was good to see Bill so happy and finally in love.

"May I, Wife?" Robert asked as he held out his other hand to her.

Allie blushed and nodded as she took his hand and dropped her dad's. Nathan's heart dropped as reality sunk in. She was a wife.

It was then that Elizabeth tapped Nathan on the shoulder, "Excuse me, Sarge? Do you have any room on your dance card for me and a couple of little ladies?"

Nathan straightened at the sweet sound of his wife's voice and turned to take in his own beautiful bride and two younger daughters. All three of his girls were smiling up at him ready to dance.

Jack and Will approached their parents on the dance floor. Jack took Rosaleigh in his arms to dance while Will took Abby as she let out an excited squeal to dance with her big brother. Elizabeth rested her arms on Nathan's shoulders as he cradled one hand on Elizabeth's belly and one on her shoulder. The seven of them danced together as a family in the center of the dance floor as the other couples danced around the perimeter.

The Grants were a beautiful sight to see. They were a family that had grown from honor and forgiveness. A family grown from love that was worth fighting for.

Nathan's eyes misted as he stored this memory in his heart. His family had only grown since he had first arrived in town—growing both metaphorically and physically. He was surrounded by people who loved him and rather than lose a daughter, he had gained another son.

As the dancing came to a close, clean up had begun, and guests started to say their goodbyes, there was still one goodbye left. Allie stood wrapped in her shawl with Robert by her side. It was time.

She hugged each of her siblings and then her mother as she worked up the courage to face her father.

"I love you Mom. Thanks for everything."

"I love you too dear daughter. Have a wonderful time with Robert. We'll be here when you get back." Elizabeth hugged Allie close and stroked her hair.

Nathan approached Allie with tears already in his eyes and gave Allie one last hug. He whispered in her ear, "I love you Allie girl. I always will. You know where to find me and I'm always here for you." He kissed her head and then cradled her face. "You are a beautiful bride…inside and out. I love you. Be good to each other."

Allie's eyes brimmed with tears as she hugged Nathan again. "I love you too Dad. So much."

"I'll take good care of her Sir. I love her." Robert put a hand out to Nathan in a promise.

"I loved her first. Remember that." Nathan's eyes bored into his with seriousness tempered with a father's love and protectiveness.

"Yes Sir. I will Sir." Robert quickly responded with a slight quiver in his voice.

"Thanks Son." Nathan whispered as he shook Robert's hand with both of his. "You're a good man Robert. I couldn't give her to anyone else." His eyes softened as he put a hand on Robert's cheek.

Robert let out the breath he was holding. "Thank you Sir."

"You're welcome Son. See you both soon."

"Good night Dad. Thanks for everything. I love you." Allie smiled as she took Robert's hand.

"Love you too Sweetheart." Nathan managed to reply.

"Byyyyye Allie!" Abby yelled delighted to see Sargeant and Newton pulling up with Uncle Lee driving the decorated wagon. Robert helped her up and Allie turned and waved goodbye to her family and gathered friends who were trickling out from the schoolhouse.

She and Robert were heading to a nearby cabin that Aunt Rosemary had prepared for them for the night. In the morning, they were catching a train to the newly refinished Banff Springs Hotel for a honeymoon week in the mountains of Alberta.

Allie was clearly ecstatic as she slid closer to Robert who took the reins from Lee with a nod. They were brimming with excitement as a young couple in love just starting out on their new journey together.

Nathan and Elizabeth joined hands and waved goodbye to the happy couple. Jack looked at his parents, then at Allie, and took his father's other hand. Will, Rosaleigh, and Abby followed suit and they stood as one big family unit joined by hands and hearts.

As Allie and Robert turned the corner riding off into the sunset, Elizabeth turned to her husband tenderly. "You can stand down Sarge. She's safe with Robert."

Nathan chuckled and turned to his wife. "Am I that easy to read?"

"We've been married almost a decade, Love. Besides, the whole town knows how much you love your daughter. She's ok. She's happy…and she loves you. C'mon…take us home Sarge."

Nathan smiled at her and kissed her quickly. He looked down at his two sons and two daughters who were looking up at him expectantly.

"C'mon Dad. Let's go home." Jack encouraged.

Nathan smiled, squeezed his hand, and nodded. And so they left, hand in hand walking through town creating a beautiful picture of the ever-expanding Grant family.

A/N:

This story's title was inspired by the Tim McGraw song "My Little Girl" which is a perfect ballad from Nathan to Allie. If you haven't heard it, I highly recommend looking it up on YouTube. The lyrics are perfect for them.

Thank you also to Sherri pn1thrasher for being a willing beta reader for this project. It was her suggestion to also include elements of the song "I Loved Her First" by Heartland which was the song my dad and I danced to at my wedding 13 years ago. (It was also the song that Sherri's husband and daughter danced to at her daughter's wedding).

Hope you enjoyed it! -Amy-