AJ ch 5. incomplete

I was out on by the frozen lake, Christopher and his family as well as Jack were ice scatting. They beckoned me to join them, I hesitated this couldn't have been real, I told myself. Jack ran up to me, his mischievous smile convincing me to join them.

"Come play with me," he whispered taking my hand and leading me to the lake. We were both barefoot, and I traced my feet against the smooth surface gliding along merrily. They all smiled at me and I smiled back. "Having fun with your new friends?" someone asked me.

"Yes," was my reply.

Suddenly the ice was gone and I was in the water. I scrambled and struggled to the edge of the water, calling out for help. Jessica came over to assist me. She knelt down by the edge, she was smiling at me. "Please" I begging her, "I can't swim." The others started to gather around us, their smiles becoming wicked. Jessica reached out and took my hands and forced me back into the water. I felt a hand grabbing my hair by the scalp and pulling me out of the water. Jack was floating in the air smiling at me his eyes were dark and sinister. I dangled high in the air by my hair, squirming as he held me above the water.
"Well folks," he jeered, "how about she goes for a swim?" They cheered and he released me. I struggled back to the surface but hands were shoving me forcing my head back under. The horrifyingly familiar feeling of the dark depth below me began to rap around my body pulling me down. I felt the yellow eyes on me.
"They don't like you," I heard Pitchs voice. "What a fool you are to have such a thought. They hate you, your nothing but a burden to them and they want to get rid of you."
I bobbed to the surface. "Your wrong," I sputtered. "This isn't them." I clung to the edge of the ice and stared up into their wicked smiles. They all began to grab me and force me under the water. I felt pain crushing my chest, then it was over.

My eyes shot open and I began to tremble. "It was just a dream, it was just a dream." I repeated over and over rocking back and forth. I eventually calmed down, and realized that it was still daylight. I must have only been asleep for a few hours. I gazed hazily around the room, the lights were off but the light from the window shown in. I noticed that there were clothes laid out on the desk by the window next to a plate of fresh fruit. I walked over and examined them. My stomached growled and I began eating the plate before I examined the clothes. There was a pair of white and gold boots, a white dress similar to mine, a white cloak and a clean pair of underwear. I wasn't sure if these were meant for me or if they were someone else's. I hadn't worn shoes since I came to earth, so they didn't appease me. Nor did the dress, because I felt more comfortable in my roman style white dress, it reminding me of home. But the cloak was absolutely gorgeous, it had a hood and was soft to the touch. I ran my had along the fur trim. I then realized that I hadn't changed my underwear and quickly put the clean ones on stuffing the old ones into a drawer and then I noticed that someone was outside the window, tracing their hand against the glass. They were creating frost in the shape of roses, I smiled knowing it was jack. I picked up a marker from the desk and drew a smile on the glass. He jumped back in surprise and I opened the window.
"Aurora! Wh-what are you doing up?" I didn't want to tell him that when you die in your dreams you wake up.
"I just woke up," I said. "What were you doing to the window?"
"Oh that, I was.. Um well I wanted to leave you a nice surprise." He seemed embarrassed and began to rub the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Their lovely," I said gazing at his work.
"Thanks," I saw him hide a blush. We gazed at each other in silence.
"Do you want to come in?" I broke the silence.
"Sure," he climbed through the window and perched casually on the ledge. I sat back down on the bed, my body was still not use to being awake in the so early. "Aurora?" I looked up at him but was blinded by the sun light against the snow.
"Could you closed the window please it's very bright." He closed it and drew the curtains.
"Aurora," he began again, and I stared at him. "I just came back from the winter clouds and father winters is now trying to get in contact with your sister."
"Oh thank you jack." I felt relief knowing that I would soon be reunited with my beloved little sister.
"Father winter also said that you are the daughter of the queen of the sun and the king of the moon." I nodded. He leaned his crook against the wall and knelt in front of me bowing his head "Then your highness, I will be happy to serve you."
"Jack," I didn't like when people felt obligated to do as I said. "Please don't talk like that." I put my hand under his icy chin so he would look at me, "You are my friend, please don't treat me any different than you already have." He smiled and sat beside me on the bed. I rested my head against his shoulder and I felt him rap his arm around my waist. We sat there for a while, but then I remembered something from before I fell asleep. "Jack, did you kiss me this morning?" I could feel his body tense up and his hand at my waist seemed to get colder.
"Um, well... I-I might have," he began to rub the back of his neck again nervously.
"Why?" I also felt nervous. No one had ever treated me the way he had.
"I don't know, you just looked so beautiful I just felt like kissing you." I felt my cheeks turn red. "I'm sorry if I offended you."
"Oh y-you didn't its just well um..." I was becoming to embarrassed to tell him the truth.
"You don't like me," he said removing his hand from my waist and moving away from me. "I understand." Now I had offending him.
"Jack I do like you," my face was now on fire from embarrassment and frustration. "It's well..."
"Because I'm not a royal," he began to get up to leave but I grabbed his hand. I could feel his eyes on me but I bowed my head in shame.
"It's because I've never been kissed before." I waited for him to laugh at me, like I had see other humans do to others who had never had the same experience as they did. But instead I felt his arms around me in a comforting embrace.
"You don't have to be embarrassed," he whispered, and I returned the hug.

We lay on the bed for a while in silence. Jack lay on his back, one hand behind his head the other resting on my back as I lay against his side. It felt peaceful, but every time I almost drifted off to sleep jack would make sure to keep me awake. But it was becoming harder for me, I wasn't use to being awake during the day. I felt myself soon drift back to sleep.

I was sitting in a dimly light "He doesn't like you," I heard the voice say. "He only wants one thing from you."
"Please leave me alone," I begged.
"He will only hurt you, betray you."
"Please stop!"
"This new life of yours has made you weak. What a fool you are to think that anyone would care about you."
"Please!" I cried out, pitch was getting in my head. He was telling me things that I knew, things that I thought. In a sick way he was only telling me the truth.
"You don't live alone to protect others, you live alone because no one wants to be with you." His voice was hissing in my ear.
"I'm not alone. I look after others."
"Others like Melaina?" No I can't say another word. I covered my mouth. "Where is she!" He demanded and I just shook my head I couldn't tell him. "Fine," he sneered, "I'll just have to pay you a visit at your new place of refuge."
"No!" I begged.
"Then where is she!" his hands were at my throat and I could see pain in his eyes. He truly missed her. I had been afraid for the day that Pitch regained his memories and searched for her. I had seen what he had done to children, some he had killed painlessly in their sleep, others died much more painfully, and few truly suffered by becoming his minions.
"Kozmotis, please. Your going to hurt her." I gasped. Before he was the Nightmare King, he couldn't even bring himself to scold Melaina. But now he might kill the one thing in the universe that he loved, the one person that could save his sanity.
"You stole her from me and now I want her back!" he roared lifting me up off the ground. I pried at his hands trying to free myself from his vice like grip.
"I-I d-d-did what you asked," I choked. "I kept her safe from the monster you were becoming." tears were streaming down my cheeks, every word hurt as I spoke.
"She is my daughter and I want her back!" he tightened his grip, making it impossible for me to breath. Suddenly I felt the comforting cold hand against my cheek.

I awoke gasping for air. Jack rapped his arms around me cradling me as I steadied my breath.
"Are you alright?" he asked stroking my cheek tenderly.
"y-yes..." i gasped rubbing my neck to rid my thoughts of his hands. I looked up into his hypnotic pale blue eyes. There was a kindness with in them that was comforting yet made me blush.
"Your safe with me," he said, kissing my forehead with his icy lips.
"Can we go out side? I want to feel the fresh air and the snow." I was tired of being kept in a space for so long.
"We can do what ever you want."
"Thank you." we left the room to enter the grand hall where yetis and elves were scurrying around. Jessica walked up to us.
"Aurora your up early," she said.
"I was having a hard time sleeping..." what a dark joke.
"Did you like the clothes that I left for you?"
"Oh those were for me?"
"I had them custom made for you. Jack go get the cloak for the lady." with in seconds I felt the soft cloak rap around my shoulders. I clicked the snowflake clasps together.
"It suits you," Jack whispered in my ear. I ran my hands along the soft material spinning around showing how it draped.
"Is.. is this really for me?"
"Well of course its." Jessica said putting her hands on her hips. "Merry Christmas!" I threw my arms around her in a tight embrace.
"Thank you." tears began to build up in my eyes. "I've never received a gift before."

Jack and I walked side by side through the snow. he walked steadily with his crook in his hand. I could feel his gaze on me as we walked. My thoughts started to drift back to what Pitch had said, "He only wants one thing from you." what did it mean? At this point I could careless about the horrible things Pitch was saying about my new friend.
"Aurora?" I turned to look and him, his silhouette was casted against the setting sun. His snow white hair glistened in the light, and his eyes seemed to shine when I looked at him.
"Yes?" There was a faint blush on his cheeks and I could tell that he was embarrassed to ask me something. But instead he reached into his pocket and held something out to me in his hand. It was the crystal that I had used in my escape.
"I've been meaning to give it back to you." I took it from his hand and examined it. I had forgotten that he had found the cabin that I was held captive in, and he had kept it for this long as well. The magical fire properties with in it must have been gone, and yet Jack was still able to handle holding it with out being harmed by its power.
"Keep it," I said handing it back to him. "If you wear it around your neck, it will keep you safe."
"Thank you," he smiled and examined it then from his finger tips created a chain of ice which he strung the crystal on around his neck. "what is it exactly?"
"Lunar crystal, strongest and most powerful in the universe. And I guess now they are my only source of power." I ran my fingers across the crystals around my neck. I felt his cold hand on my chin lifting it up so that I would meet his gaze.
"I promise you, Aurora." His eyes were so piercing that it made me quiver. "I will do what ever it takes to get you safely home."
He continued to stair at me still holding my chin with in his hand. He came closer nearly inches from my face. I could feel his cold breath against my warm skin, his eyes examining me. I felt my flesh grow hot, my heart began to race and my knees started to tremble. What was happening to me? I had never felt like this before. How could Jack, who I have only known for a few days now, turn me hormonally distraut like a human. His wonderfully cold skin brushed against me and I felt his icy lips press gently on mine. If this is what its like to be human than thank you Pitch. This incredible feeling, I felt breathless, as if nothing in the world mattered but us. The kiss may have lasted only a brief moment but I didn't care. I sighed and giggled. I could see his devilish smile, I had to turn away to hide my bright red face.
I felt his hand on mine. I turned back to him, he was examining my hand caressing it lightly with his fingers.
"Your skin is like a shining pearl," he lifted it closer to his face. "and its so warm," he said kissing the back of my hand. "And yet you don't flinch from my touch, why is that?" He looked curiously at me.
"My mother is queen of the sun so I am use to being hot, but the cold is just so calming." He inched close to me, still holding my hand is his. He stuck his crook in the snow, and leaning closer brushing loose strands of hair out of my face. I felt my face turn hot again, my heart was racing again and desperately wanted to feel his lips once more.
"Tell me everything," he whispered, locking me into a trance with his hypnotic eyes.
"Everything?"
"Yes," he nipped at my nose. "I want to know everything about you."

So I told him my life story.

I ended my story there and turned to look at Jack who was sitting beside me in the snow. He was quiet for a while, taking in all the information that I had just told him.
"Where is Melaina now?" he finally asked
"I-I can't tell you. I took a vow to protect her, and I can't tell anyone where she is. I am sorry."
"I understand," I felt his arms around my waist pulling me between his legs where he cradled me. My heart began to race again, it felt wonderful just to be held. "How long were you alone up there for?"
"I-I don't know. It only feels like a few years, but I know its been centuries." He pulled me against his chest.
"You won't be alone again, I promise." His strong arms held me tighter, and felt safe. I felt the chill of his hands as his fingers began to intertwine with mine. I felt my cheeks grow hot. How could one person make me feel so gitty. I felt his head as it rested on top of mine and he signed.
"I've never felt this warm before," he whispered and began rocking me back and forth as if I was a child.

"Do you miss it?" he asked
"Miss what?"
"Traveling the galaxy, it sounds like it would be amazing."
"It was," I sighed remembering all of the wonderful places I traveled to. "But for now I'm enjoying the snow." he released my hands and wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me even closer to him. My cloak couldn't keep me from feeling the chill of his touch. I had never been held like this before it was nice and yet I felt timid, it was such a foreign feeling I wasn't sure what to make of it.
"So," he said pulling my hood down and stroking my hair. "You really like the cold." he whispered in my ear. A tingling sensation ran trough my body.

I remembered the feeling when I was going through puberty, he was making my hormones run wild.
Suddenly his icy tongue was caressing my neck and I gasped at the sensation.

My muscles tighten, as he began to run chilly light kisses on my neck. I had to now fight back the burning sensation that I recognized as sexual impulses.

My mind was racing, I had always been taught to act proper like a princess should but my body was crying out for his attention. In school I had learned about sexual urges and how I must control them until I was properly married and I had spent eons above the Earth watching humans and how they willing gave into theirs.
I was tired of being alone, if I had been turned human then I might as well enjoy it.

I gave in to him. I arched my neck allowing him better access and I reached up and intertwined my finders in his soft snow white hair. He wrapped his hand around mine, and with his other grabbed my breast. My nipples hardened instantly at his cold touch and I moaned. He continued kissing my neck occasionally letting out a moan.
"Jack..." I signed. His kissing became more intense.
"I love how you say my name," he whispered moving his face closer to mine. I looked into his hypnotic eyes, and I could see his desire, his want for me. I couldn't resist him, I was fire and he was ice, we were perfect together, explosive almost. I tugged on his hair trying to move his lips toward mine. A smile formed on his purple lips and I could hear a deep throated chuckle.
"Eager princess," he teased pressing his lips to mine. He began to move his lips against mine as if massaging them and I mimicked. I felt a warm happy sensation erupting with in me. This was the first time that I felt anything in a very long time, and I didn't want to let it go. It was wonderful and I began to cry. Suddenly he pushed my lips apart and I felt the icy touch of his tongue enter my mouth. I gasped at the chill of him as his tongue explored my mouth. I began to suck on his tongue instinctively and he let out a deep throated moan. I was panting now, my head spinning, my heart racing, I felt alive, no longer warm.
His lips parted from mine, "I want you," he panted, his icy breath stinging against my skin. I saw it in his eyes an almost animal like instinct, and it cared me. I couldn't even mutter a reply before his lips were back on mine.
'What about me did he want,' I thought, and then I felt it. His manhood pressing up against my rear. How could I have been so stupid.
"Jack..." I mumbled trying to free myself from lips from him. but he only moaned and began lifting up my skirt.
"Jack!" I shouted and pushed myself out of his arms. He looked stunned that I had stopped, baffled even as If he wasn't use to the rejection. I sat there in the snow wrapping my arms around my legs, pulling my hood back up to hide my face from him. A man had never touched me like that, had said those things, and it all seemed to much. I wanted to be held, I wanted to be kissed, I wanted to be loved. But lust wasn't something that I had ever thought of, it made me uncomfortable, and it made me tremble slightly.
"Aurora?" I turned away, I could tell that he was trying to see my face. "I'm sorry if I offended you." He crawled over to me and placed his hand on my leg but I pushed it away. "please don't shut me out, I'm sorry."
"What were you trying?" I mumbled.
"I couldn't help myself, I thought thats what you wanted me to do."
"Why, I told you that I had never kissed anyone before, what made you think that I wanted that?" He was quiet for a while, and I looked up at the ashamed expression on his face.
"Then please tell me something," he said his voice low and calm. "Have you ever thought about kissing someone before I kissed you?"
"I always wanted to.." I said.
"Who?" why he was asking me these questions.
"no one in generally, I just wanted someone."
"did you want me to kiss you?" I looked up at him, his expression was hanging on my answer. He was very attractive, and to think that someone like him would be interested in me made my heart skip a beat.
"Now I do." He was getting closer to me.
"why."
"because i don't feel alone," he raised his eye brow he wanted me to say more. "I like the cold feeling you give me." His hand was against my cheek and around my waist holding me close.
"Have you ever thought about being with someone before?" My eyes were locked with his. His body was now practically on top of me.
"Yes." How was he able to make me tell him these things. He kissed my forehead.
"Do you trust me."
"Yes." I closed my eyes, I was afraid of what he might do to me.
"Aurora?" his voice was in my ear, it was calm chuckling even. "You can open your eyes." I looked up at him and he was smiling down at me. "Well?" I was confused.
"What?" Then I looked around and I realized that we are in the air. "Jack!" I gasped, and He laughed at my surprised reaction.
"I thought you might have missed the feeling of flying." I stretched out my arms to feel the wind.
"I did!" he held out at arms length and we flew across the frozen tundra. "I've never flown with anyone before."
"Neither have I. Its much more fun when you have some to be with."
"It truly is." I turned and he was starring smiling at me, I blushed and returned his smile. He pulled me in close to him.
"Aurora, can you walk on air?" he asked, and I felt him forcefully throw me up into the air.
I went screaming up into the air on a gust of wind. As I fell back down I landed on a soft surface and heard Jack laughing at me. When I opened my eyes again he was lying in front of me still laughing.
"That wasn't funny!" I said jumping up and pushing him over.
"It works though," he said grabbing and pulling me down, "your on the clouds." I looked around me and the soft surface that I had landed on was the clouds. I was so excited that jumped up and kissed him.
"Oh Jack, I'm sorry," I had to contain myself I was over excited and my face grew hot at realizing that I had impulsively kissed him, I had just had the urge. I then felt his cold hand on my back and cheek pulling me back to his wonderfully icy lips for more.
"I'll control myself this time," he whispered and I clung to him never wanting to let him go, pressing our lips together and continuing that massaging motion. I giggled and he looked up at me.
"I'm in the clouds," I giggled falling back onto the soft surface. He gazed down at me curiously. "Jack, what are the winter clouds like?"
"Well," he said laying down next to me. "Its very cold there," he chuckled.
"I figured that, what about people what are they like?"
"Well you will be looked after by my friend Snip and Holly."
"Are they nice?"
"They are some of the nicest people that you will ever meet."
"Is it just you and them up their?"
"No there are ice nymphs, who you should stay away from they are nothing but trouble, my father, and many other people."
"What about your mother?" he went quiet and I realized that I must have asked the wrong question. "I am sorry."
"She was a human." Now I went quiet, entities and humans never mix and when they do it never ended well. "but thats the past." I could see the pain in his eyes as he gazed at me. "It doesn't matter now." he leaned up and kissed me with such intensity that I thought I would explode. "You truly are a shining light." I smiled at him.
"Yes and some times you have to ketch a light." With that a sprang to my feet.
"I have to ketch you?" His expression was delightfully amused. "what will you give me if I ketch you?"
"What ever you want," His devilish smile appeared. "But its going to be hard to ketch someone who can run at the speed of light." And with that I was off, but I played fair, not running as fast as I could.

I felt the cold air from him as he tried to keep up. I would occasionally turn to see him reaching out but I was too far ahead. He wasn't running like I was he was using his powers over the wind to try to ketch me, he even tried to blow me over, but you cant stop someone who could move at the speed of light. But then the cold feeling disappeared, and it scared me. I turned and Jack was no where to be seen.
"Jack?" I called out, but there was no answer. A strange cold feeling came over me, this was the same feeling that I had gotten when I was Pitch's captive, it was a lonely scary feeling. I started to panic, could Pitch have been there, could he have Jack. "Jack!" I called out again, but there was still no answer. I was scared, I didn't want anything to happen to him. "Jack! Jack where are you!" I cried out, "I'm done playing, you win just please come out!" How could a simple game turn into something like this? I began to cry, I don't want to be alone trapped above the earth never to return home. After the incident with Pitch I had become claustrophobic, I didn't like being alone it was a horrible feeling.
There was a rush of cold air coming from underneath me, nocking me over.
"Surprise!" he shouted holding up a flower made of ice. He looked scared at my expression. "Aurora... what's wrong?"
"Where have you been!" I cried.
"You were too hard to ketch so I just well...brought you a flower." he handed it to me and I studied it. It was beautifully made of ice delicate from such care that he had made it just for me. "Whats really wrong?" the sincerity in his voice made it clear that he could have cared less about the stupid game.
"I got scared." I looked up into his hypnotic blue eyes. "I couldn't find you and I felt so alone. I thought...I thought may be something had happened." He sat down beside me and wrapped his arms around me.
"You got scared, thats actually really cute, you like me," he teased curling his legs around me. I felt enveloped by him, safe and happy. I closed my eyes and relaxed, I wasn't sure about what he was doing to me but never wanted to leave his arms. "Aurora," he whispered, "your glowing." I opened my eyes and my skin was glowing like it use to. "Is that normal?"
"Yes," I smiled and rested my head against his chest.
"It makes you even more beautiful," he said kissing my cheek. "will you always glow now?"
"Only when I'm happy."
"Then from now on I'll make sure your happy."

We returned to Christopher's work shop, being before the autumn sun was up, everyone was asleep, except us. The hallways were cast in my glow as we waltzed through, dancing and laughing in each other's arms as we made our way to my room.
"Shhhhhh..." Jack cooed. "you need to stop giggling, if you wake Mrs. C up.."
"She'll be mad and you not me," I teased knowing it was true, waving the flower he had made me in his face. When we arrived at my door, he blocked the entrance to my room with his crook.
"To enter you have to pay the toll." He gave his mischievous smile.
"and what would that be?" I leaned in closer.
"A kiss." I leaned in and pressed my lips against his, then entered the room followed by him. There were new clothes laying on the desk, a white silk night gown. I walked over to it, placing the flower on the desk so that I could examine the dress. It was modern, something that I wasn't use to wearing but it was beautiful with thin straps and snowflake lace trim.
"Mrs. C. is probably the best clothing maker. She's been working on several different things for you."
"She has been making clothes for me?"
"She made you that cloak, and that night gown, she even made me my sweater."
"She is a remarkable woman."
"Just a bit strict," he chuckled rubbing the back of his neck, the way i've seen him do when he felt awkward. "I can leave if you want."
"Oh, its fine if you just turn around." I saw his devilish smile and I blushed, I was fine with him being in the room while I change, which was strange. I was glad that he was respecting me, but deep down I was secretly hoping that he was watching me. I removed the cloak and laid it on the desk, then I began to remove my dress and I caught a glimpse of him trying not to peek at me and I blushed.
"Your turning pink," he chuckled.
"I do that sometimes," I giggled pulling the straps over my shoulders.
"You keep amazing me," he whispered in my ear spinning me around to face him.
There was a hunger in his eyes as he examined me up and down, he gave his devilish as he clutched his crook at a distanced. I examined him as well, I could tell that he was aroused and I noticed the growing bulge in his pants. He reached up and stroked my cheek with his cold hand, I closed my eyes and held his hand there. His other hand wrapped around my waist and I heard the crook hit the floor. I opened my eyes again, and he was starring intensely at me. Suddenly I felt the desk behind me, as he pushed me up against it. He was dominating me, no one had ever done that, and I liked it. As I felt the passion from his icy lips I couldn't help but think about everything I liked about him; I like the way he looked at me, I like that he made me feel beautiful, I like that he didn't treat me like a princess but as his equal, I liked how I felt happy around him, I liked everything about him and I loved his icy touch. Could someone actually fall in love so quickly?
He suddenly pulled away from me and removed his sweater. His white undershirt clung to it revealing his muscular torso.

I felt like stone just gazing at him, and the tingling sensation returned to my legs. I had never seen a man undressing up close before. He turned and leaned forward, the crystal around his neck dangling between us.
"My you've turned completely red." he teased nibbling on my ear. I giggled but then I realized that he was now looking at behind me with a worried expression. I followed his gaze and saw the sun rising and felt the all to familiar groggy feeling.
"Jack, please don't let me fall asleep." I begged as He stroked my hair.
"I'll stay with you, I promise. But you need to rest," He picked me up and carried me over to the bed and as grew more tired. He was easily able to hold me against his chest with one arm as he lifted the soft blankets with the other and placed me with in them.
"Please Jack," I protested.
"I know," he cooed, running his long fingers though my hair. He was so gentle with me, and his touch made me unafraid of the impending nightmare. "I promise tonight is the last night you will have a nightmare." He walked over to the desk and pulled out a piece of paper, and began scribbling on it. He then folded the paper and threw it out the window where it disappeared.
"What did you write down?"
"I just asked a friend of mine to help me, well help you." He smiled down at me, then climbed into bed next to me.
He put his arms around my waist and I snuggled up against his chest resting my head between his shoulder and collar bone. I could hear his heart beating rhythmically, and his cool breath grazed my skin. I never felt more at ease than I did at that moment. I felt his free hand gently stroke my cheek, his long fingers running threw my hair. Why does he make me feel so at peace? I wondered. I opened my eyes to his gaze. He smiled warmly at me.
"Your so... beautiful," he whispered, I smiled and closed my eyes again. He was so comforting, that I never wanted to leave his arms. For the fist time in my time being grounded I felt relaxed as I drifted off to sleep.