Hey everyone. This is my first West Wing story and one of my first stories actually.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, just borrowing for creativity. Everything belongs to NBC and the writers, producers, and creators.

Note

This contains SPOILERS for 12/11 episode. By spoilers I mean like the clips they show, "stay tuned for scenes from an all new west wing." Obviously I haven't seen the episode yet, but it looks awesome. Enjoy….

Ellie's POV:

I'm getting married today, at the White House. It's the ironic combination, for the duration of my father's presidency I have struggled to stay out of the limelight. I have avoided family outings, parties, galas. My parents have both accepted this, but a wedding was not to be overlooked. My father had to turn this into a political solution for every issue on his plate; sadly as the leader of the free world he has a lot of those. However, he's my father. I remember Lizzie's wedding, it's been a while, probably about thirteen years, he could hardly let go of her. I'm next, me Ellie, today is my day. For the daughter my father never understood, the traditional time to leave the ultimate nest has come. I think though, that I left that nest years ago. Sometimes growing up, I felt like I was never there to begin with. My father never understood my aversion to his presidency; Lizzie and Zoey were always beside him supporting his campaign. Where was I? I was in medical school. My mother stood by most of my decisions, which was enough for my father, Abigail Bartlet is a force to be reckoned with. She also sympathized with my inner turmoil. I often wondered if my father loved me like he loved his other daughters. Was I failure in his eyes, or did he simply not understand me. Interestingly enough, when Zoey was kidnapped, it was I who stayed with him, not Liz.

I guess that the White House has always unsettled me; I still fail to navigate the doors of my father's office correctly. This dress is beautiful. I suppose, despite the awfulness of having to be in agreement with every possible detail of world policy, that this day holds memories I'll never forget. I'm making them right now. I twirl; yes I am capable of finding my inner child, the dress flows from my body. My hand falls to my stomach; my child will be so lucky. Suddenly it's all too much, the baby, the wedding, marriage. I just want to be a little girl again, curled up in mom's lap, or listening to my dad read a bedtime story. I feel tears bubble up. It must be the hormones; this is the happiest day of my life, that's what every bride says.

Suddenly someone knocks, "Ellie," it's my dad.

I frantically try and stop the tears, "come in."

Jed's POV:

I open the door and see a vision. My beautiful daughter looks like an angel, there's only one problem. An angel, or any bride, should not have a face streaked with tears on her wedding day. I step forward feeling my concern bubble up, it's fatherly concern, even now I feel the urge to rock her to sleep like I did when she was a baby crying in her crib. "What's wrong?" I know something is amiss.

She looks at me and I'm caught by the look in her eyes. She's happy, but there's a flicker of confusion, I realize that I know it well. It's not about the wedding, it's about something else.

"Ellie, are you okay, is the baby okay?" I know the baby is fine, but the grandpa in me has to ask.

She nods and wipes her eyes again attempting a smile, "the baby is fine dad."

"What then?" I know opening up to me isn't something she's good at.

She always talked to Abbey, and often not even to her. Once she went to college, we lost sight of her. I suppose it wasn't her fault, I was busy too. Guilt shoots through me, a father should never be too busy for his daughter.

"I was just remembering how hard it was for you to let go of Lizzie," her voice is quiet.

I'm surprised she actually started talking so I stay silent watching her face.

"I was feeling for my baby and wondering if you were going to have the same difficulty letting go of me." She still isn't looking at me.

I still am not entirely sure I understand her, but I know now I was right to an extent. The look she had in her eyes was something that's been there for a long time, and it has to do with me.

"Sometimes I feel like you've already let me go," her words are almost mouthed.

All I know at that moment is pain, then anger, and finally resignation. Ellie has never believed I love her in the same I love my other daughters. How can I convince her? The realization comes to me in a flash; she doesn't need to be reassured of past love, but of future love.

"Ellie, giving a daughter away is difficult for any father. Giving Lizzie away was admitting I didn't have a say in her life, respect and love yes, but control no. She belongs to someone else, I become a bystander, and I was no longer the center of her life. I think for us, the circumstances are different. The feeling that I've let you go isn't the kind of letting go that you think it is. I haven't given away love for Lizzie, and I won't give away love for you. My love for my family, my daughters has and always will be constant. There is no ebb and flow in pure love Ellie; you will learn that in your marriage. You have always been independent and we often haven't seen eye to eye, but Ellie, those elements don't alter love. They don't alter a father's bond with a child. I don't want to give you away today, any more than I did with Liz. For you however, things were not as they were with Liz, every relationship is different between parents and offspring. Ellie, I love you as my daughter, not compared to Liz or Zoë, not as someone who strove to create a life away from my over protectiveness, and not as the middle daughter, but as my child."
Her eyes are watering and she looks relieved, hesitant and stunningly beautiful.

"You look like an angel," I wipe the tears away with the handkerchief I have in my pocket, it is meant for Abbey.

"I love you daddy," her voice is shaking, but strong.

I hold her in my arms, she's leaving me today, but I know now that we have bridged a gap. She knows my love, she understands the purity and she's ready to be married.

"Dad, you look pretty dashing too," her smile warms my heart.

"Only the best for my girl," I tease her.

"You're always going to be my dad," she smiles and this time her eyes are clear, shining with happiness, love and excitement, they sparkle.

"I'm so proud of you," I adjust the veil on her head and she kisses my cheek.