A father in a dream often stands in for authority and protection, along with the expectations, spoken or not, that came with them. Seeking his approval in a dream can reflect a standard you're still measuring yourself against, while a protective father-figure may point to a need for security you're currently missing. The dream usually asks whose expectations you're actually trying to meet.
Mars conflicts with those who are ruled by Venus, and Venus conflicts with those ruled by Mars. - Picatrix (Andalusia, ~1000.AD)