A/N: Pretty short little one shot for you since my main project is almost finished. It's a bit sugary but I kind of wanted to write something sweet. Hopefully, I'll finish my main story up later tonight, but for now, enjoy.

"Alright Dad. We should be back sometime tomorrow. Bedtimes at 8 and call us if you need anything." Cosmo said, turning towards Cassia with a small smile, "Bye sweetheart. Mommy and I love you."

"Mommy..Daddy…don't go.", 3 year old Cassia's voice whined, cowering behind the couch. "S-she'll hurt me."

"Sweetie, grandma's not here right now. It's ok.", Linnie (Papa Cosmo) smiled, before turning to his son, "Don't worry Cosmo. I have things under control. You go enjoy yourselves now."

Cassia let out another cry after the door shut, leaving Linnie alone with the child. He turned around and reached his arms out to her, as if he were asking for a hug.

"Sweetheart, it's ok. Grandma's out of town right now for work. It's just me. Aw, there there now.", he said softly, picking the child up, "Shh...you'll be ok. I promise."

"W-When are mommy and daddy coming back?"

"Tomorrow baby. They won't be gone long.", Linnie whispered, rubbing Cassia's back, "You want something to eat? Have you had dinner yet?"

"N-No."

"Well honey, why don't I make us some dinner and then we'll read together? I think that might make you feel better.", Linnie asked, placing the child on the couch. "Here, it won't take me long to make us some dinner. Why don't you watch some TV while I cook? I think Doc McStuffins needs some help with a patient."

Linnie smiled as Cassia started laughing. Doc McStuffins wasn't real! How silly of him! He made sure the child was watching the show contently before turning his back to cook. He cooked the chicken salad in a pot before letting it sit for a little while, steaming up some carrots and slicing fruit up as side dishes. He spread the chicken salad into finger sandwich bread, before placing the meal onto plastic trays. He also grabbed out two plastic cups and pour milk into each one.

"Cassia? Dinner's ready, darling. Wash your hands in the bathroom please."

Everything went surprisingly well for Linnie. Although Cassia would still occasionally ask about her parents or if grandma was coming by later today, they had a pretty good night. Linnie read to Cassia while he was in a rocking chair, allowing her to fall asleep in his arms before tucking her in.

He had decided to watch a little bit of TV before turning himself in for the night. He poured himself another glass of milk before flipping through the channels, unsure if there was anything good on. Finally, he settles for some late night news, frowning at the riots and violent encounters some fairies had with each other. When will people learn to act more kind towards each other?

Suddenly, Linnie heard a loud crying sound coming from Cassia's room, jerking his attention straight away. He got up and rushed into her room, watching Cassia toss and turn while crying her eyes out.

"Cassia? Sweetie! Wake up!", Linnie yelped, rubbing her back until she looked at him, tears still spilling from her eyes, "Come here, Cassia."

She kept crying as he picked her up and sat back down in the rocking chair, holding her and rocking her slowly and softly.

"There there. It's ok sweetie. Shhh…", he sighed, "It's ok. You're ok. What's the matter honey?"

"P-Papa? I had a bad dream.", Cassia said through sniffs. His grasp on her remained gentle but tightened a bit.

"Aw baby. What was it about? Do you remember?"

"Grandma came here..and she kept hitting me."

"Oh dear. That is scary. Well, she's gone now. She's not coming here to hurt you. It's ok."

"H-how do you know?", Cassia asked, looking up as Linnie dried her eyes.

"Like I said, she's out of town right now and isn't gonna come back until later. By then, mommy and daddy will be back. A-and even if she did come back early sweetheart, I won't let her do anything bad to you. I promise.", Linnie said, still hugging and rubbing her back, "Can you tell me some more about your bad dream?"

"S-She started screaming and yelling. I didn't know what she was saying, but then she started hitting me. A-and it hurt. Really really bad. Grandma's always so mad and I don't know why. Have I been bad?"

"W-Well honey, I'm not sure why she's so angry either, but no. You haven't been bad, darling. Sometimes adults just don't do what's best for the people around them because they are so angry at other things."

"B-but why did she hit me?"

Linnie wasn't really sure what to say next. He figured that Cassia's nightmare was reflecting off the last time she and Cosmo visited, when his wife, Nora (Mama Cosma) was screaming drunk. Though he knew she meant to hit him and not Cassia, it seemed to Linnie that she hadn't quite gotten over what had happened. He hugged her tighter and kissed her on the cheek, continuing to rock her back and forth.

"I'm not sure, sweetheart. But I promise I'll keep a better eye on you next time. There there now. It's ok to cry.", he said, allowing her crying to continue. He rocked her back and forth for a while until she eventually fell asleep once more. Still cuddling the child in his arms, he carried her from her room to the guest room he had set up, placing her gently next to where he lied down.

"I-I'm sorry people seem to be angry all the time, but just remember that I love you, and your mommy and daddy love you too.", Linnie whispered before kissing her on the cheek once more, pulling the silk covers up so they could finally get some sleep. He didn't hear so much as a small whimper the rest of the night.