A/N: Short and sweet, a bit I did for the dare thread on Beasts Lair. Fluffy, but with a bittersweet aftertaste.

It was time for Ilya's nightly bedtime story. It would have taken a nuclear war to move Kiritsugu away from the comfy armchair in her room as Ilya clutched her stuffed rabbit in his lap.

"What do you want to hear tonight Ilya?"

The five year old considered the question.

"I want to hear something with a princess."

"Alright."

"And... and… a castle!"

Kiritsugu smiled and closed his eyes as he rocked back and forth. "I can do that.

"Once upon a time, in a far off land, there was a little boy. He lived in a little village on a small island. He was happy there. But one day, he had to leave, as no man could live there. So as he traveled the world, he met many interesting people, and saw many beautiful things.
But nothing to him was more beautiful than the Princess of the Land of Endless Snow. She was as innocent as the flakes that fell around her, and as pretty as them as well. He fell in love with her the moment he saw her. And she loved him as well. And one day, the King invited the man inside the castle."

Ilya's eyes were starting to close from the rocking motion, and her grip on "Mr. Fluffles" was loosening. Kiritsugu continued rocking back and forth.

"The King had a task for the man, and made him his knight. It was a difficult task, but the knight was more than confidant that he could do it. He was to bring back a magical cup, for the kingdom needed its holy powers. So the knight traveled the snowy wastes, searching for the magic cup. He traveled far and wide, and saw even more wonderful things and collected many small trinkets that other travelers had thrown away to show the Princess. But no matter how far he traveled, he could not find the cup."

Ilya's eyes fully closed, and "Mr. Fluffles" found himself acting as a pillow.

"Sad and mournful, he returned to the home of the King, who was displeased with failure but interested in the journey the knight had taken. As the knight recounted his tale to the King, he reached inside his bag, and pulled out a cup carved of wood he had found lying in a ditch, tossed aside by some random traveler.

'I could not find the cup that would save the kingdom, but I did find this cup. It is sturdy, and well made, and I give it to you in the hope it will serve you well,' the knight said, as he handed the cup to the Princess.

The instant the cup touched her delicate hands, it transformed. It was now ornate, covered in the finest of jewels, and reflected the light in a thousand ways and patterns. It was the cup the knight had been sent to find, taken by someone who had no knowledge of what it was, and given with the purest of intentions. And so the kingdom was saved, because the most precious things are thrown away by those who do not know what they are worth."

Kiritsugu finished his story despite Ilya being asleep, as Irisviel was listening in as she usually did from outside the door.

"It was a good story." Iri said, walking up behind the armchair and hugging him around the neck as Ilya snuggled tighter against her husband's chest.

"You liked it?"

"Of course. I always like your stories."

The two gazed down at their sleeping daughter, and wished this moment would last forever.