A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Sorry that I haven't had a lot of time to update – school is really crazy! Anyways, please enjoy and review!

A few days later, Kelsey walked in through the front door of her home, having just been released from the hospital. Nick and Sara couldn't be more relieved that she'd been given a clean bill of health after her brush with death. The physical threat was gone, but they still worried about what was going on in her mind. They followed the teenager inside, and stood by as she looked around the living room, like a soldier returning home from war after years and years.

Kelsey couldn't believe how good it felt to be home. Being in the hospital really sucked, and she couldn't wait to get out. She looked around, touching some family photographs fondly, just taking in the smell and the feeling of home. Being home had been a personal hell for her for a while now, but what Warrick had said to her in the hospital really made her think. Her parents were trying to help her. That was their job. Why did she keep pushing them away? She'd forgotten why over the years, but she figured it was pent-up anger about her real father leaving. She resented Nick for wanting to fill that role in her life, when she should have been thanking him.

As Kelsey turned around, she saw that her parents were watching her closely, still was concern in her eyes. They looked relieved to have her back home again. Chloe still didn't quite understand, and she just swung herself around her father's hand. Looking at her parents now, she saw so much love in their eyes, and it hurt that she'd caused them so much pain and worry. Why had she been so selfish? Thinking about all the things she'd done over the years, it was too much at the moment, and Kelsey had to excuse herself to go outside and be alone for a while.

Her parents knew to leave Kelsey for now, knowing the time would come to talk with her again. Kelsey needed her space, and they'd seen that she was teary-eyed, a sign that she was opening up and showing her emotions again. Well, emotions other than anger.

Kelsey ran to the swingset at the side of their yard, the one that Nick had built himself for her when she was five years old. Though her legs were a little too long now, she sat down on one of the swings, and let herself rock back and forth. Kelsey let the gentle breeze waft through her long brown hair, the smell of the outdoors, the sounds of the birds chirping nearby. Her dad used to push her on this very swing for what seemed like hours on end. He always wanted to stop, but Kelsey would never let him. She loved sitting out here in this swing, knowing that his hands would always catch her on the way down, and send her back safely.

Suddenly Kelsey felt two hands on her back, giving her a gentle nudge. She giggled and looked back to see that it was indeed her father. He smiled back, and Kelsey saw those familiar, comforting laugh lines on his face.

"Do you remember when you were little, and you used to make me push you until my arms turned to Jell-o?" He asked his daughter, as she swung back and forth. Nick gave her a gentle push each time she came back to him.

"I was just thinking about that." Kelsey told him, enjoying the feeling of being pushed again like she was a little girl.

"Yeah?"

"It was always one of my favorite things to do with you. I mean, besides using you as a human jungle gym." She remembered fondly.

Nick felt his heart wanting to burst out of his chest. She was talking to him. She was actually talking to him, and sharing her feelings and memories. Kelsey hadn't done that for years, and he couldn't be more relieved.

"Yeah, I can attest to that." He smiled, watching her chestnut hair blow back and forth as her body did the same. When she was a little girl, that hair used to be tied back in braids, and she would sit on his lap and tickle his nose with the ends.

It was silent for a few moments, just a relieved father in the backyard pushing his daughter on the swing. They'd done in time and time again when she was little, but this time felt different. Nick almost felt like they were returning to how their relationship had been when she was little, if only for a few minutes. Back when she would tell him all her problems, when she had hugs and kisses for him all the time, when she trusted him.

As Kelsey continued to let her father push her, she again started to think about her biological father. Did he think about her, as much as she thought about him? What kind of relationship would they have if he never left? Kelsey had always longed to have him return, to come surprise her one afternoon and pick her up from school. To come give her an excuse as to why he'd been gone all these years. Part of her wanted this, but part of her knew that she would never want a real relationship with him. She already had her real father right here with her, pushing her on the swing. Kelsey realized that if her father had never left, Nick could never have come into her life. He had done so much for her, and was never obligated to do so. He did it because he loved her, without question. Loved her like a father should love a daughter.

"Daddy? What did you think of me the first time you saw me?" Kelsey wondered curiously. The question caught Nick off guard. What a question – how could he describe that feeling of being instantly connected to her? To know that he wanted to have a special role in her life? Nick smiled before starting, still pushing her gently.

"I never thought I'd seen anything so precious." He told her honestly. "I'd just come to pick your mom up for our first date. You were about six months old, and you were sitting there in your little hopper, all wide-eyed, bouncing around. Your mom was running a little late and the babysitter wasn't there yet, so I told her I'd watch you while she finished getting ready. When she left, you just stared at me, like 'who is this guy, and why does he think he can date my mommy'? You started crying after only a few seconds." Nick laughed at the memory, remembering how frightened he was.

"I didn't know what to do. I'd never really been around babies before, but something told me I needed to pick you up, so I did. Your head was on my shoulder as I cradled you in my arms. I was afraid I was going to hurt you because you were so small, but then you stopped crying. You fell asleep within a few minutes, and I'd never felt anything so fulfilling as having you asleep in my arms."

Nick stopped pushing Kelsey on the swing, letting the motion slow down before grabbing the chains to stop her. Kelsey felt a tear in her eyes, hearing the story of their first meeting. He'd been her real father since the first time they'd met. Her biological father had shown no such love towards her. Nick held onto to the chains after she'd stopped, and could hear her sniffling a little, but stayed standing behind her.

"That's when I knew I loved you like a daughter. I knew I could never let anything happen to you." Nick paused, placing his hands on both her shoulders. "I still won't let anything happen to you, Kelsey." He said softly.

Kelsey felt tears flood her eyes, hearing of his devotion to her; that blind unconditional love that only a parent has for his child. DNA or not, Kelsey knew Nick was the only father she had ever known, or would ever need. She stood up and flung her arms around Nick, letting the tears out. He held her close as the relief spilled through her body. Relief in knowing that she didn't have to do this anymore. She didn't have to keep shutting them out. She didn't need her real father, because everything she needed in life was right here. Kelsey had a mother and a father who loved her more than anything, and a little sister who thought the world of her.

"Daddy, I'm sorry." She sobbed into his shirt, as he rubbed her back in support.

"I know, baby. Everything will be alright." Nick told her, kissing the top of her head. They just stayed like that for several minutes, as Nick rocked her gently and held her tightly, relieved that she finally seemed to realize.

Nick pulled her head back from his chest and held it in his hands, just taking in her face. Her expression had changed – she'd looked so angry and resentful for years now, but now her face was much softer. It was the face he knew from when she was younger, and he was still her hero. Nick kissed her forehead gently and smiled. There would be a lot of work ahead, but now that Kelsey had made the revelation that her parents were trying to help her rather than spoil her fun, they were both sure that Kelsey would finally be okay.

"Come on, baby. Let's go inside."

THE END! Finally! Well, this was really fun to write, and I hope you enjoyed the ending. Please let me know your final thoughts, and thank to everyone who read and reviewed.