For the next three days, it rained in Burgess. Lightly, then late at night a bit harder. She was just trying to get the Jack's attention. He wouldn't last long and that he would be crashing through the patio that night. She decided that she was going to step it up another notch if he didn't show up. And, she wasn't sure why it didn't turn to snow. It should, with Jack's influence. She figured it must be because she didn't want it to. She wanted rain and her powers did not work well with other influences. They barely worked with her influence.

She'd been keeping Pitch away, but she was sure he hadn't even been trying to get into her head. His Nightmares were probably still watching her. They probably reported on what happened between her and Jack. If she were with the King of Nightmares when he heard, she would have smacked the smirk right off his face. Forget being respectful. Forget that he knows her fears and could easily control her with them. She wanted to hit him. Hard. And then maybe again, if she got the chance.

She was laying on her back in front of the TV when she heard a knock at the patio door. She smiled and turned onto her stomach to stare at the pissed off Winter Spirit who was soaking wet from head to toe. He tried the door and when it opened he looked even more pissed off, "You just leave this open?"

"You're inside now so you can lock it." He did and she laughed softly, standing up. "You might want a shower or something. Hot tea? Change of clothes, maybe?"

"If this rain would just freeze, I wouldn't be having this problem" he glared. Skyla lifted her left hand and the rain clinging onto the spirit started freezing and falling off of him, turning to snow then disappearing completely before it hit the ground. "How do you do it, Sky? How do you always manage to find a way to piss me off more than I thought possible." he started pacing in front of her, "You're driving me insane, Sky-"

"That's what people call love."

"Stop." he paused in front of her. "Just stop. I need you to stop the rain, and stop trying to make me stay and stop-"

"Loving you." she finished. He looked at her blankly and she dropped onto the couch. He didn't join her and she told him, "I will never stop loving you. I just wish that you could love me, too. Like you said you did. Like I trusted you to. I'm not going to stop the rain, either. Without you, everything-"

"Shut up, Sky." he snapped. She doesn't react more than slumping farther into the couch. "I don't want to hear it. I need time" he said slowly, "Do you have any idea- I'm immortal, Skyla. To let you in at all is- I'm taking a chance. I've given you my heart both literally and in every other way possible. Hell, I've even given you my body! That was a damned mistake-"

"Just say it" she interrupted. She's sick of the arguments. She could go back and forth with him forever but it was time for them to make an adult decision. He was going to keep saying things, and she was going to keep realizing just how much he regretted being with her.

He stayed silent for several moments. When he did speak, it's so quiet she barely hears, "This was all a mistake. I should never have..." He turned away from her and headed back to the patio. Unlocking it, he said, "I'm not coming back. You can drown Burgess but I'm not coming back. I tried, Sky. And you just pushed me to a breaking point."

"Don't go, Jack!" She scrambled off the couch and hurried up behind him, wrapping her arms around his mid, "I can't tell you why, other than the obvious, but it's really important- I need you to stay with me. I need- I need you and-"

He didn't reply.

"You needed me once. You needed me to trust you. You needed me to stay. That's what I need from you now." She decided to take a chance. It was close, but she hoped the lie wouldn't be crossing one of Pitch's restrictions. "It's the nightmares. I-I'm having trouble controlling them without you. They're getting worse-" She broke off, letting herself sob. It was from her frustration, but if he thought she was crying then maybe he would stay. It was an awful thing to do, but she was desperate. He'd said it to her before. Protecting the Earth, the children, was way more important than their relationship. She didn't want to believe it but she had to. This wasn't some global warming crisis, this was Pitch Black. Nightmares. The Dark Ages. Fear running wild in the streets and in homes and every crevice it can squeeze into. The Guardians themselves might not stand a chance against him this time. She had to do what she had to do and she would cry about it later.

"I told you... I wanted to go after Pitch and... Why didn't you let me?" he leaned back against her. "He's hurting you. That's why all of this happened. It's all Pitch..."

It wasn't true. But she would let him believe it. Earth- Her Earth- was in trouble. "Just stay with me. Fight away the nightmares for me, but don't go after him. What if he tricks you and something happens..."

"I don't want to go after him, Sky. Believe it or not... I'm afraid of him, too. Not just because of the nightmares and the fact that he threatens everything, everyone that I care about." He put his staff against the patio door and turned around in her arms, putting his own around her. He held her tightly and admitted, "I think I'm too much like him. He's lonely and for so long he wasn't believed in-"

"It was like that for a reason, Jack. He doesn't help people. Fear isn't a bad thing, but what he does with it... He's a monster, Jack. You are nothing like him."

"You don't know... How hard I've been trying to convince myself of that."

She pulled away just enough to meet his eyes, "I miss you, Jack. Please come home. Please stay with me and... Trust that I need you more than anything right now. I'll do anything if you'll just-"

"Anything?" he asked, quirking and eyebrow. "I can just ask and you'll do it?"

"Y-yes. Anything."

He sighed, leaning his forehead against hers, "I don't want anything from you, Sky. And I don't want to stay. We were stupid to think this could work out. You're special. I love you. But we've been fooling ourselves long enough." He reached into his hoody pouch and brought out a small red box, handing it to her. "Goodbye, Skyla."

She tried to open it but he made her hand close over it. He pulled away from her and turned to grab his staff. "Jack, please. If you won't stay tonight then what about tomorrow? I need you here."

"Stop the rain, Sky. And don't you dare make it again." Without looking at her, he opened the door and stepped out into the rain.

Before he could take off she told him softly, "It's okay if you hate me. I'll never stop loving you but I will give you space. I'll start pretending you're invisible, if that's what you want. But stay. Stay with me. Until Sunday. Please."

"Why Sunday?"

"I can't tell you. But I will. If you still care, I'll tell you after."

"And you'll pretend I'm invisible?"

"If that's what you want me to do. Yeah. Whatever you want. Just stay." She noticed he was getting wet again and waved her hands, clearing up the rain. It beaded off him slowly and she resisted the urge to put her arms around him again.

"That is exactly what I want. I'm trusting you, Sky. If you screw up at all, I'm never coming back. Got it?"

"Yes. Thank you." She stepped back and, before turning around, asks, "Do you want this box back?"

"I don't need it. Give it back to Brandon when you get the chance." He turned around and walked back into the apartment, closing then locking the door. "Get some sleep. And remember; I don't exist."

Skyla watched his face for a few seconds then shrugged, smiling. "Right. Who the hell is Jack Frost?" His expression didn't change and her smile faltered. "Just so you know, I talk to myself a lot when I'm alone. Goodnight. Love you." Before he could respond, or more likely not, she turned on her heel and started walking towards the bedroom.

"Love you.."

She barely heard him say it. Between one step and the next she made a decision. She turned back and walked over to the couch, sitting down on it heavily. Leaning forwards, she turned the box around in her hands.

"Skyla. Go to bed." Jack told her, standing in front of her. "Look at that tomorrow if you want, but not now." She ignored him, pretending he was invisible like he asked. The red box had a little latch on it in a gold trim. She opened it, just a little. "Sky!" Jack knelt in front of her and pushed the box closed again. "Why can't you just listen to me?"

It was difficult pretending he wasn't there when his hands closed over hers. She didn't move, just enjoyed his gentle touch while she could. Staring hard at the box, she ignored his figure moving closer to her. Not talking to him was starting to bother her. He was there, leaning in close, and she couldn't say a word. It was her fault; she started on her end of the deal early. He had given her until morning to start ignoring him, so why hadn't she waited? Well, there was no point, for one.

"Skyla, I'm right here. You know that. And you know you can't ignore me." He spoke the words right next to her ear. Skyla fought against shivering from the cool breath. He was playing with her. His lips touched against her jaw and slowly travelled along it. She kept staring past him, then through him, at the little box in her hands. He was still there though. And as his lips touched hers, all she wanted to do was close her eyes and kiss him back. "Sky. Angel. My love, I know you want to kiss me. After everything we've been through... Do we have to go over this again? Kiss me, there is no punishment."

She could disagree. And if he knew why she had to play by his stupid rules then he wouldn't be trying to make her snap. The situation would be completely different. Probably in a bad way. Her mind ran wild with scenarios. Most involved him trying to convince Skyla that she could break the deal like it was nothing. And then several other things happening because she was beginning to believe that he really did regret being with her. That it was all a mistake and he would never trust her again or get close to her unless to make reason for himself to leave.

"Skyla..." He whispered against her lips. "I don't want to leave. You know I don't. Just kiss me back and I'll... Do whatever you want" His right hand left hers and rested gently on her arm. "Forget going to sleep"

Skyla had had about enough. She stood up, causing Jack to fall back. She bit back a smile and, leaving the box on the couch, hurried to the bedroom. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she heard Jack enter the room. She carefully looked and saw him lean against the dresser. Turning to her right, she turned on the heater.

"Is that necessary? It makes me uncomfortable, Sky. I won't be able to stay..." She reached over and pulled the plug out, then threw the comforter off herself, turning towards the window again. She heard as Jack pushed off from the dresser, "Now that was definitely not necessary. You're going to freeze like that." He grabbed the comforter and threw it over her again. Then, carefully, tucked it around her before kissing her forehead, smiling, "Tomorrow is going to be fun. Just remember that you asked for this."

She's asked for a lot of things. Like to live a normal, mortal life. And on Sunday, she would have it. Pitch would eat his words, Jack would leave her. She would have the normal, human life she always wanted. But she wouldn't have the Winter Spirit that she needed. The love that she needed. She might as well be alone, even with her friends, both new and old. No matter what either of them said or did, she was in love and always would be. But to ask for him to stay with her longer than Sunday? She couldn't ask for that. He was right and she wasn't sure she deserved another chance. Ever.


NOTES:
Hi there!
So I'm trying to put together a playlist for this fic
If you have any ideas please let me know!
*hearts*