ok. i know someone requested some Maes and Elysia fluff with this scenario...i cant remember who though and am late for work so cant check back through the reviews...sorry!sorry! i hope this is what you were looking for, oh ye mysterious requester of drabbles. if you could let me know that would be awesome. -proceeds to hang head in shame-

The sound of crying had him out of bed and to the door, knife in hand, before his brain actually processed the sound or the action. Back in the bed, Gracia rolled over, blinking blearily.

"Hmmm?"

"Be right back." He settled the knife back into its bedside resting place, kissed his wife on the forehead, pulled on a pair of pants, and made his way to the houses only other occupied bedroom and the source of the pitiful crying.

Inside, in the dim light of early morning, he made out the form of his daughter, curled up into a defensive ball, tiny fingers clenching her blankets.

"Hey cutie." He called out, shutting the door behind him as he entered. "Why dontcha wake up a bit. Daddy's here." He settled on the edge of the bed and mussed her hair, watching her twitch awake as her cried ended in an awkward sort of hiccough.

"Da?"

"Yep. What's all this crying for? Did I miss one of the monsters that were hiding under the bed?" He leaned over, trying to look under the bed, and in a theatrical bit that would make any clown jealous, managed to fall off and land is an amusing heap on the floor. This elicited the desired giggle, and he looked up at her, apparently crestfallen. "Daddy forgot his glasses again."

Elysia laughed, nightmares apparently forgotten. She held her stubby arms out, obviously trying to help her father off the floor. Maes was a step ahead, hauling himself onto the bed with a sigh. "Well, since I cant see if there are any I should stay and keep watch." He intoned solemnly, settling back against the headboard.

This was obviously a phrase Elysia knew well, for she snuggled up against him, plopping her head on his left thigh and in moments had drifted back to sleep.

Maes smiled down at his daughter for a while before deciding that Gracia wouldn't mind too much if he spent the next hour or so before he went to work here with his daughter and closed his own eyes.

late for work, will express my love of my reviewers when i get back tonight. the drabble!bunnies have been hitting hard, so i am SURE i will have another one this evening. until then...baibai-fireun