Allie tapped on her bag nervously as she made her way down the aisle of the plane. She knew an airman was going to pick her up, and that it would still be a little while before she met her dad, but she was already feeling excited and slightly panicked.

What if he knows right away that I'm not Grace? she worried. What if he takes one look and sends me home? Will he like me? Will this work?

Her worried thoughts carried her down the hall to where family members and others were waiting for people to come off the plane. She peered around for the airman her Dad had sent to bring her home. Grace had said their father had to work late that day.

Which gives me a few more hours to worry like crazy about everything, Allie thought ruefully. She shook her head and kept looking for some sort of sign or a uniform.

It took a second yell of "Grace!" for Allie to remember that this was now her name. She whipped her head towards the voice calling out for her sister.

It was her father.

He was tall, with hair more gray than brown. He wasn't exactly fit for active duty, but he still looked like he hit the gym on a somewhat regular basis. He wore a broad smile as he waved at her. His brown eyes were warm with love and humor.

Allie didn't normally cry over things, but her eyes quickly grew teary. Her dad looked wonderful.

She clutched her carry-on and ran towards him.

"Hey, munchkin!" Dad called out as she jumped into his arms. Allie squeezed him tightly, and he held her close and planted a kiss in her hair.

She knew she should respond verbally, but she couldn't focus on anything other than the wonderful hug. He felt so warm, and she just wanted to stay in his arms for a while. Allie felt like she'd been missing him holding her for her entire life.

"Miss your old man, huh?" Dad asked. She could feel his face crinkling into a smile. He kept her wrapped in the hug as if he had all the time in the world for it. Allie was so grateful for that - she didn't want to let go.

She nodded in response.

He squeezed her tighter. "I missed you, too, Gracie."

Allie winced involuntarily. She'd known all along that he would be calling her Grace or Gracie, but she hadn't realized that something in her would hurt at the knowledge that he thought he was with his own daughter instead of her. She wanted to be seen as herself. She wanted him to love Allie Carter, his daughter even if it was through a freak of physics.

But she couldn't let on yet that she wasn't Grace. She squeezed her father tightly before releasing him and pulling back. "I thought you were sending an airman to get me!" she said with a laugh, her voice wavering a bit as she contained her emotions.

"Well, I didn't think I'd be able to cancel my meetings for this afternoon," Dad admitted as he slung an arm around her shoulder and began walking her over to baggage claim. "But it all worked out, and now I get to spend the rest of the day with my favorite girl."

Allie grinned. Before she could open her mouth to respond, however, he suddenly stopped short and peered at her.

"You got your hair cut," he said wonderingly, touching the bluntly chopped ends of her bob.

She nodded. "I got someone at camp to do it," she lied. "I really liked it." At least that second part was true... she thought a little guiltily.

Dad smiled as he ruffled her hair affectionately. "It looks great," he acknowledged encouragingly. "Makes you look even more like your mother."

Allie smiled back as they resumed moving towards the baggage claim. Her dad glanced up, noting that some pieces of luggage were already starting to roll out on the conveyor belt.

"Alright, sweetie," he said, giving her a pat on the back. "Let's get your bag and go home."

Home was a two story townhouse. Allie knew from Grace's diagram of it that her bedroom was behind the right window on the top floor. It was the only room Grace had a full picture of on her phone - she'd taken it after Aunt Vala had helped her remodel it last summer.

Allie still couldn't believe she and Grace knew several of the same people. Aunt Vala, Aunt Janet, Uncle Daniel, and Uncle Teal'c all knew them. Grace even knew Uncle Cam, although she'd only seen him a couple of times. Apparently he was more her Mom's friend than her Dad's.

The main person she didn't know and Grace did was currently rolling her suitcase from the back of the car with a broad smile on his face.

"It's good to have you home, kiddo," Dad said warmly, patting her shoulder before moving towards the door into the house.

"Good to be home, Dad!" Allie replied, making sure not to sound too enthusiastic.

She'd probably sounded too excited in the car. He'd asked about how camp was, of course, and she'd told him about the competition and the friends she made. He had been proud to hear that she went back for her friend "Renee" when she was stuck dangling in the obstacle course.

"That's my girl," he had said warmly. "We never leave a man behind."

Dad opened the front door, allowing her to step in first before he closed it behind them. Allie began to insist that she could take her luggage upstairs on her own - but she was interrupted by a big, barking dog.

Grace had told her about the dog their dad had picked up from an animal shelter a couple of years ago. His name was Homer, which didn't surprise Allie at all. Dad definitely loves The Simpsons.

"Hey, Homer!" she called out happily.

Homer, however, was a bit reluctant to approach her. He hung back, still barking at her a bit as if she were an intruder. Technically, Allie supposed, I am.

Dad's brow wrinkled. "What's gotten into you, Homer?" he asked, moving forward to pet the dog. Homer settled down a bit, and Allie laughed a bit nervously.

"I probably smell weird after a summer away from home," she explained. She grabbed the handle of her suitcase before her dad could get back to it. "I'll take a shower. That should help!"

"Ah! Hold on!" Dad came over and took the handle of her suitcase once more. "I've got this."

Allie rolled her eyes, but she was secretly pleased that he was jumping to help her get settled in to the house. She knew his overprotective nature annoyed Grace at times, but having been without him her entire remembered life, Allie was grateful to have a dad present who cared.

"Here we are!" he exclaimed in satisfaction, setting her suitcase on her bed. Allie liked the surprisingly large room. Grace had a nice queen sized bed, a sturdy desk (covered with science books, of course!), a couple of bookshelves, and an oversized bean bag that Allie just knew Vala had a hand in picking out. Overall, the room was neat and cozy.

"I'll let you go ahead and get your shower," Dad said, rubbing his hands together as he walked back towards the hall. "Oh! I know you're on the runner's diet now, but since this is a special occasion - what say I fix up some steak for dinner and follow it up with chocolate cake?"

"Yum!" Allie agreed with a laugh. Best. Dad. Ever.

Thanks for all the reviews, follows, and favorites! Melanie38 - we'll find out who Sam's boyfriend is soon... Hehehe.