The five year old little girl ran across the grass, holding a dandelion. Summer had come, and Abigail couldn't wait to give her father the gifts summer brought. She had always lived up to the meaning of her name, and she and Robert were inseparable. Robert had wondered at first what she would think when she learned he hadn't become her father in the usual way. They might have let her live her whole life never knowing, but she was too smart for that.

Abigail had realized, as young as she was, that she didn't look like Robert or Bae. When she'd begun to ask questions, Belle had told her the story. Belle told her as much as a young child could understand. She wanted her to know just how much Robert was her father, far moreso than if he had merely contributed genetics.

Robert had chosen to love her as his daughter, when he might have chosen to have nothing to do with her. The little girl understood that clearly, and she loved him all the more for it. She never stopped to think that a different man had anything to do with her. Robert was the man who read to her, tucked her in at night, and fixed her breakfast in the morning. There was no memory she had that he wasn't a part of. She never failed to show him she loved him as much as he loved her.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! I picked a flower for you!"

Robert picked her up and swung her around. When he stopped, he held her standing on two steady legs. The surgery to fix his crippled leg had worked this time. He could walk and run as if he'd never been in an accident. Belle and Bae had been right beside him through every step as he'd learned how to use his leg normally again. Every moment of rehabilitation had been worth it.

His first dance with Belle might not have been at their wedding, but it had been just as special. As a pawnbroker, Robert had a never ending variety of unusual things in his shop. One item he'd never been able to make himself sell was an old phonograph. As soon as he was able to use his leg normally, he'd set the phonograph up. Perhaps he and Belle had danced for longer than he should have that soon, but he wouldn't have undone a second of dancing with her.

Now he only kept the cane "Just in case, for when Abigail starts dating," as he liked to joke. On that summer day, the family was enjoying being outside together, and he was taking an active part in all they did. Bae and Abigail had a good game of soccer going earlier. No matter the age difference between them, Bae was still a loving big brother to her. The two had even talked Robert into joining them in a game. He joked about being too old for such things, but it was clear he enjoyed it.

Belle would have said Robert actually seemed younger than the day she had met him. Part of it was his limp being cured, but it was more than that. He had such joy in life now, and that seemed to do him good physically. That joy would last. The family had a reason to celebrate that day. Robert had gone back for testing every year since his treatment. That year he'd hit the oh so important five year survival mark. The doctors could find no sign of the cancer returning, and told him there was no reason to think he wouldn't live past a hundred.

The family had invited their friends over for a cook out to celebrate. Abigail was eager to help. She tucked the dandelion into Robert's pocket, and went inside a moment to hand a bouquet of more yellow blossoms to Belle. Then she went to spread out the cloth since they would be eating outside. Bae already had the grill going. Jefferson and Grace, Archie, Ruby, and Mr. Dove would be arriving soon. Ruby even said she'd be bringing extra ketchup and pickles, whether Granny liked it or not.

In fact, most of the town had stopped thinking of Robert as some sort of monster. People started remembering that he did have a soft side. Besides, no one who saw him with his wife and children could deny he loved them. There had been surprised talk around town when he'd taken on the role of father to Abigail, even though everyone knew how close he and Bae were. By the time Robert and Belle had their new son together, his being a loving husband and father was the image of him people were more familiar with.

Abigail had been so excited to be a big sister, and when little Hamish arrived she started reading aloud to him right from the first day. She had her mother's love of books, and had developed Robert's taste in poetry. Once the baby had been crying in the night. Belle had woken up before Robert did, and went to see to their son. When she went to the nursery, she found Abigail already there, reciting "Sleep Well, My Bairne."

With the company about to arrive, Belle brought the baby out to join the party. She had no more than made it out the door when she heard Robert's camera go off, snapping a picture of them.

"Robert! I'm a mess! You can't take a picture of me now!" Belle protested.

"You look beautiful," he told her with a smile.

"You are going to make me regret giving you that camera," she playfully scolded him. He kissed her, only to have Bae interrupt by taking a picture of the two of them with his phone. Belle glared at him, then laughed.

"You're as bad as your father."

"Sorry, Mom. I couldn't resist," he teased.

As it was, the house was already filled with photographs. There had been so many celebrations and family trips already. No one doubted there would be many more to come.

The celebration that day was a wonderful one. Abigail was allowed to stay up past her bedtime to help make smores for dessert, but then Robert told her it was time for young ladies to get their rest. The little girl minded, and Robert and Belle both read to her and tucked her in. She laid there afterward, but was drawn back downstairs by the sound of soft music.

She snuck a peek between the stair rails, and caught a glimpse of her parents dancing. They held each other close as they moved around the floor, and she smiled as she watched. Life couldn't get any better.