A/N: This game is amazing, and I love it to death. This little ficlet thing was spawned out of my head cannon, which is not to say it may also play into a story involving an OC or two. I just though it would be cute, so... Yeah. :P

Corvo was awaken to something burrowing itself into a nest consisting of his side and all of his blankets. He opened on eye to glance at the window, mentally sighing when he realized that the moon had barely even reached its highest point, before addressing the tiny ball of warmth.

"Emily…? What's wrong?" Despite the awkwardness of their position, he maneuvered his arm under her and pulled her up so he could see her face. She grinned at him a bit, then settled her chin on his chest.

"I had a nightmare…"

Corvo breathed out a quiet sigh, then smiled softly at her, "Do you want to talk about it? You can stay with me, but you have to share the blankets…"

Emily laughed, pulling a bit of the blanket free for him, "It was just… My mom… and Havelock… I'm just scared. Ghosts and stuff…" She trailed off, shook her head, then nuzzled back into his side. "It's just silly, Corvo. I know you'll protect me." With that, she closed her eyes.

A few minutes passed, and the Lord Protector was just about to fall asleep himself, when the young empress prodded him in the ribs, "Corvo…?"

He responded with a tired grunt.

"…Did you love my mom?" That effectively woke up the poor man.

He flushed a bit, reaching up to rub the back of his neck with the hand that wasn't holding onto her. How in the Void was he supposed to respond? He shook his head and spoke carefully, "Yes… Very much…"

The ten-year-old was silent for a few blessed seconds, in which Corvo wondered if Jessamine was laughing down at him and whether or not he could get away with saying nothing more.

Alas, the Outsider apparently had different plans.

"Why didn't you marry her?"

Mentally hitting himself in the face, he dragged a hand down his face, "We didn't think it would work. I would have rather protected her with everything that I was, then have to stand beside her at stuffy balls and stand back as someone else was charged with defense… Now, come on, Emily… A little girl like you needs her rest. Especially an empress…" He tucked his hand behind his head and closing his eyes.

Emily continued to stare at him, before shrugging, "I guess… Good night, Corvo… I love you… Daddy…"

The man's eyes shot open, and he had to remind himself to breathe. After a second, he shifted a little and kissed her forehead, "I love you, too, Emily. Now go to sleep."

She smiled and curled up with her eyes closed. He was tempted to think she was asleep.

"Hey, Corvo?"

"Emily. Sleep," he warned, drowsily.

She was quiet for all of two minutes, "You know, you still need to teach me how to fire a crossbow."

"Emily."

"Or a pistol, maybe? "Emily."

"Or both!"

"Emily. Go. To. Sleep."

She huffed, but did as she was told, content with knowing her daddy, real or not, would protect her from the nightmares. Until she convinced him to teach her how to use a sword. That thought made Corvo bite his tongue to keep laughing out loud. She would try. She was her mother's daughter, through and through.