9 months old, breast fed and waking 5 times+ a night

[Smoke Jaguar]

it's just an emotional need

Not quite sure, still, why an emotional need is a 'just'? I know that DS gets more comfort out of one of his numerous night feeds than he needs the nutritional input at that hour and I haven't been able to take the step where it's a negative - it's just a 'thing' that is part of our nights, and is obviously just as important to him as nutritional value. Actually, he probably understands the comfort factor and wouldn't comprehend the nutritional factor at all. Comfort and survival are so intertwined, aren't they? Coming to terms with it and accepting it makes it a non-issue for us. That doesn't make me 'perfect', just less stressed about it
I think the main difference, though, between us and other people whose kids don't attain that mythical 'sleeping through the night' is that, among other things in my approach to parenting, we sleep in the same bed at night. It takes so much stress out of it because none of us really wake for those feeds (I'm talking between 2 and 4-5 feeds a night). Staying up to finish assignments still ranks as the number one cause in my life of sleep deprivation.
My DP may not exactly be an 'earth daddy', though he does understand the path of least resistance, and is consequently very happy with the arrangement. It doesn't interfere with our relationship or our intimacy. Anyway, 'co-sleeping' is an intuitive choice for us that I have since found in also supported by science
Anyway, just to let you know that it is perfectly normal for a baby of 9 months to be night feeding - there is no 'should' either way about it. My 22.5 month old doesn't appear to be anywhere near night weaning yet. On the upside, he IS using a potty and the toilet - there's always a balance!
ETA: water is even less 'satisfying' than breastmilk. If you're not sleeping in the same bed, then won't you still have to get up to him? I'm just thinking it would be just as easy to give the breastfeed if you're getting up out of bed, as it would to find the kitchen, a glass, get water and bring it back? You might find that if he does like the feed, his body will want another 'drink' sooner.