Okay, so this is my first 24 fic! *chorus of horray's* just my imagination? Okay.

So, those who have read my fics before, will probably know how terrible I am at updating sometimes but I wrote this whole chapter today and I'm loving writing this so far so hopefully they'll be more to come real quick!

I don't own 24, as much as I wish I did... These characters are not mine.

I'm from the UK, so I've tried to make the dialogue in American 'terms' but spellings and stuff it's mainly UK English.

This chapter is an introduction I guess to Audrey's life before she met Jack (before day 4) and I hope y'all like it!

(It's not beta read so there's bound to be many mistakes...)

In this fic, Audrey will be as old and have the same birthday as her actress, Kim Raver, just to save over-complicating things.

Please enjoy this!

Chapter 1 - All-American Girl

03:46 P.M. - July 23rd 1975 - Rocky Beach, Warwick, Rhode Island

A 7 year old girl with beach-blonde hair tied up in a long plait that bobbed freely up and down ran across the white sandy beach in Rhode Island. Slightly further behind were her mother and father, James and Alicia Heller. Young Audrey Louise Heller ran freely around the beach. She loved the smell of the ocean. She loved the feeling of the sand underneath her bare feet. As much as she loved running around, all she wanted to do right then and there was swim in the sea. She turned around to face her parents who were walking peacefully behind her.

"Please can we go swim?" She pleaded, dragging out the ease in the word please, knowing that her parents were unable to resist it when she said it like that. James and Alicia looked at each other, each knowing that inevitably they'd give in.

"Well, if we must…" James said, shaking his head, earning a laugh from his daughter.

"Oh, you two can, I'll watch." Alicia said, smiling.

"Oh but mommy, you have to come with us!" Audrey protested, waving her arms about in objection.

"Come on, honey." James added, looking pleadingly at his wife. Alicia laughed.

"No, but you two go, have fun!" Alicia insisted. Audrey knew that there was no way her mother was going to change her mind, so she went back to trying to convince her father.

"Come on, daddy! I want to go swimming!" Audrey said, pointing to the deep blue ocean to her left. James sighed and laughed.

"Okay, sweetheart. Let's leave our clothes here with mommy and go swimming!" Audrey got so excited. Alicia looked lovingly at her only daughter as she took off her pink and white flower-covered beach dress to reveal her light blue swimming costume. Audrey loved that swimming costume so much - she insisted on wearing it every time they went to the beach or went swimming. James had neatly folded up his light shirt and placed it next to Audrey's dress by the side of Alicia. He took his daughter's hand as they walked the 20 ft distance to get to the water's edge. Audrey tentatively put one foot into the water, testing how cold it was.

"Ooh, daddy, it's cold!" She said, still extremely excited.

"Well," James started, he put his hands on his hips and looked as his daughter who looked back up at him, "if it's cold, maybe I should step in first?" Audrey laughed at her father's suggestion and nodded. James stepped forward into the water with both feet.

"How cold is it, daddy?" Audrey curiously asked.

"Well, it's… I have a better idea." James replied, smirking. He picked Audrey up in both arms and ran further and deeper into water. James had got up to his knees in the water, Audrey may have only been 7 but she was tall, so the water there would only reach her upper thighs. James swung Audrey from side to side, making her get closer to the water below her each time. Audrey laughed every time. James pretended to drop her a few times, which earned a few screams from Audrey followed by much laughter. After about half a minute, James held Audrey about 3 inches above the surface of the water, and then dropped her in. Her head disappeared under the water for a few moments before she stood back up.

"That's freezing daddy!" She exclaimed, laughing. James laughed. Audrey saw this as an opportunity to have some fun. Using her right arm, she splashed water right across his bare chest. After the initial shock of the cold water, James splashed her right back. They stayed splashing water at each other until Audrey dove under the water and emerged about 10 seconds later further away from where she just was. She'd been swimming since she was 3, and she was extremely good. Even though she was just 7, she could swim an entire length of the pool underwater.

"Well that's not fair," James shouted to Audrey, laughing "I can't get you if you're all the way over there!"

"Ha ha!" Audrey yelled back.

"That's it!" James shouted back as he began running over to her. Audrey ran away, laughing, but James' legs were bigger than hers so he caught up to her within seconds and began kicking water at her. She turned around and began doing to same thing. Alicia sat halfway down the beach. She had her knees up to her chest and was reading her book, but had gotten distracted by watching James and Audrey mess around. She smiled and laughed quietly to herself. She loved Audrey dearly, but she'd always been a daddy's girl. The two of them were having so much fun, it truly made Alicia so happy to see them both so happy. Alicia went back to reading her book, but just a few minutes later she heard the excited screaming of her daughter as she and James ran up the beach.

"I win!" Audrey yelled, throwing her arms up in victory as she reached her mother first. James trailed a few seconds behind, gasping for breath. Alicia laughed.

"Looks like daddy could do with some more running practice." She said.

"No way!" James declared, laughing as he sat down on the sand next to his wife. Audrey felt left out being the only one standing so she walked behind them both and sat down in between them. A few moments passed before anyone spoke.

"I'm hungry." Audrey stated.

"Me too." Alicia agreed. Both of them looked pleadingly at James to agree with them. James sighed, and laughed as he looked at both of his girls.

"Well, I guess I'm hungry then too." The three of them set about collecting all of their things. Audrey put her dress back on over her almost dry swimming costume and James put his top back and and helped Alicia put their few items back into their beach bag and they set off walking back to their car. Just before they reached the stairs, James stopped and said, "we need a picture, of all 3 of us." James asked a man who was walking past if he wouldn't mind taking a photo for them. The man agreed. James handed him his instant camera and went to join Alicia and Audrey. He put his left arm around Audrey's chest and his right one around Alicia's waist and held them both tightly. The man took the picture and handed the camera back to James. They waited a few moments for the photo to come out. The camera was only small so the picture was only a few inches big, but it was lovely. They were all smiling and they all looked genuinely happy.

"Well," Alicia said, "hasn't this been such a lovely day." James and Audrey agreed.

"But I'm still hungry." Audrey said, looking up at both of her parents. They both looked back at her, they laughed and smiled.

"Okay, sweetheart, let's go get some food." James said. Audrey ran in excitement up the wooden beach stairs followed by James and Alicia.

07:57 P.M. - November 16th 1978 - Heller Manor

James and Audrey returned home after Alicia's funeral earlier that day. James looked sadly around the front room of their manor. After the funeral it made everything so much more real, he was a widower. Audrey had not cried during the service. She made sure that she didn't. She couldn't cry, crying was a sign of weakness, and she couldn't show that she was weak so she kept a brave face through the whole thing. James looked at his daughter who was a few steps ahead of him, taking off her black pumps and placing them with all the other shoes alongside the wall. He knew she was just putting up a brave front, but he couldn't help but admire her ability to stay strong. He'd cried a few times during the service and he was just amazed at how Audrey was able to keep it together.

"Are you okay, dad?" Audrey asked, looking up at her father. The question shocked him, he was supposed to be asking her that, not the other way around.

"Yes, sweetheart, I'm fine. How are you?" He asked, genuinely concerned.

"Well, mom wouldn't have wanted us to grieve, and mourn and be sad. That's not what she would have wanted. She would have wanted us to miss her, yes, but at the same time, she'd have wanted us to continue on with our lives and succeed and enjoy the time that we have." Audrey answered. James smiled, admiring his daughter's ability to look on the bright side.

"You know what, Audrey?" He asked, she looked curiously back at him, wondering what he was going to say next. "You're a wise head on young shoulders." He said, he smiled and looked down. Audrey thought about that for a moment, before smiling also.

"Dad…" Audrey said, her voice was trembling, she had no idea what she was going to say next.

"Come here, sweetheart." He said. He outstretched his arms and Audrey walked forward into his embrace. He held her tightly and stroked her back gently. She wrapped her little arms around his back and rested her head on his chest looking towards the chair in the living room where Alicia always used to sit. She still refused to cry. So she just let herself be held tightly by her father. "You know, Audrey? You're so much like your mom." James said, not to initiate conversation but just to offer some words of comfort to her. "She was as strong and as tough as you. You're like a mini her." He said, smiling softly to himself. Audrey laughed ever so slightly. "It may hurt now. Even if you try and make yourself immune to the pain, the loss… It will still hurt. And it will hurt for a while. You'll see things daily that remind you of her, and that bring back memories of her, some making you want to laugh, some making you want to cry, some making you extremely angry and some making you smile. It will hurt, every time you think of her for a while. But over time, it will hurt less and less. I'm not saying you'll forget about her, you just won't feel the pain, the sadness, that you felt, she'll just recur as a happy memory. One you'll cherish, one that will make you feel happy, make you feel warm inside." James hugged his daughter tightly. "I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too, dad."

04:03 P.M. - March 26th 2000 - Rose Hill Manor

Paul Raines watched in anticipation and admiration as Audrey walked down the aisle in Rose Hill Manor. All their guests stood up and watched as she made her way towards the altar. Paul thought she looked truly beautiful. Her dress was pearl white, it showed off her amazing figure and flowed out slightly at the bottom. The dress was strapless and made her look absolutely stunning. She had on small pearl earrings, a pearl necklace and basic but beautiful white high heels. Her hair was tied up using braids. Two strands of hair were strategically left loose and dangled down on each side of her head, just in front of her ears. She also had on her mother's wedding Tiara. James had given it to her a few days prior to the wedding saying that Alicia would have wanted her to have it. It looked perfect on her though. It was quite thin, but beautifully decorated with small diamonds and small pieces of silver. She held her bouquet of flowers tightly with both hands. Her father was standing on the right-hand side of the aisle, they smiled at each other. He was so proud of his daughter. She reached the altar and stood opposite her husband to be. The priest led the ceremony. Everyone watched in awe for the couple.

The time came for the vows. Paul went first.

"With this ring, I give you my heart. I promise from this day forward, you shall never walk alone. I will be by your side through thick and through thin. May my heart be your shelter, and my arms be your home." Audrey blinked back a happy tear as he slid her ring onto her finger and proceeded with her vows.

"With this ring, I give you my heart. I promise from this day forward, I shall love you for eternity. You will never be alone again for I will always be by your side. I will pack your lunch, make the bed and always kiss you when you're mad. And you will catch the spiders and hug me all the time." Everyone laughed.

"I will?" Paul asked, jokingly.

"You will, now let me finish." Audrey said back, earning a laugh from her family and friends. "I love you, for not just what you are, but for what I am with you too. I will hold you hand, and I will love you, forever."

"You done now?" Paul asked playfully.

"Yes." Audrey replied laughing. She slid his ring onto his finger gently and then looked up at his eyes.

"With the power invested in me by the district capital," the priest said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife." He looked at Paul, "you may now kiss the bride." Paul raised his left hand and cupped Audrey's right cheek in it and they looked into each other's eyes for a moment before they kissed each other. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she swung hers around his neck. Everyone clapped. They slowly broke the kiss and looked out at their family and friends. Audrey looked directly at her father first. He smiled back at her. It was the biggest and widest smile she'd ever seen him smile. Before she realised what she was doing she ran forward and hugged her father. He hugged her back. He was insanely proud of her, and proud to be her father.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart." He whispered into her ear.

"Thank you." She replied and hugged him even tighter.

Audrey had spent the past half an hour socialising with her guests when the music suddenly began playing. It was 'Your Song' by Elton John. Their song. Paul made his way through the crowd and led his wife to the centre of the room. Everyone made a circle around them to watch their first dance. Paul had his left hand on her waist and his right hand holding her left. She held his left hand with her right and her left hand was situated on his shoulder. They stared into each other's eyes as they listened to the lyrics.

And you can tell everybody this is your song

It may be quite simple but now that it's done

I hope you don't mind

I hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is while you're in the world

"I love you, Audrey." Paul said.

"I love you, too." She replied.

"Did you really mean what you said, about me having to catch the spiders?" He asked, laughing.

"Well, one of us has to, and it sure as hell isn't gonna be me." She replied. They both laughed.

"I guess I'll have to then. Oh and I'm holding you to something else."

"To what?"

"To you making the bed."

"Oh I hate you." She said, jokingly.

Shortly after their first dance, everyone sat down to have food. Everyone chatted amongst themselves. About half an hour after they'd all finished their food, it was time for the traditional father-daughter dance. The song Audrey had chosen was 'What a Wonderful World' by Louis Armstrong as when she was a child, James would always sing that to her just before she went to bed and when she needed cheering up. James and Audrey stepped into the middle of the room and began dancing and talking.

"I like the song choice." James said, smiling.

"I thought you would." Audrey replied. "It took me ages to decide on which song to use. It was between two."

"What was the other one?" He asked, curious. Audrey looked away for a moment which confused James before answering his question.

"Unforgettable, by Nat King Cole." She said, looking back at her father. James could now understand why she hesitated before saying it. Although it was before Audrey's time, 'Unforgettable' was the song that Alicia had danced to for her father-daughter dance at their wedding back in 1964.

"Audrey, I know it's been 22 years, but I don't know, maybe it's the wedding but… How are you finding this day without mom?" James asked. Audrey couldn't look at him because if she did she felt like she'd start crying which she couldn't do, so she laid her head on his chest, looking away before she answered.

"It's kind of… I don't know how to explain really, but I guess I always imagined that on my wedding day she'd be here, you know?" James held his daughter tightly.

"She's still watching out for you, sweetheart. Wherever she is."

09:56 P.M. - 17th April 2009 - Raines' Home

"You're never here!" Paul yelled at his wife from the left hand side of their bedroom.

"It's not my fault!" Audrey yelled back.

"It is! It's that freaking job of yours!" Paul shouted angrily.

"Well my job helps protect this country! So, yes, being special advisor to the secretary of defense for the U.S. will mean unpredictable hours!"

"Well, marriage is a two-player game. And it doesn't work if just one person is willing to put in the effort!"

"Well then maybe we should have thought about that then, shouldn't we." Audrey said. She turned around to face away from Paul as tears streamed down her face.

"I guess we should have. And anyway, you only have your job because your father is the secretary of defense and he still feels sorry for you after you lost your mother." Paul said bitterly. That was it for Audrey. They'd had many heated arguments over the past month, but he'd never gone that far. She stormed out of the bedroom and down the stairs, tears still flowing freely down her rosy cheeks. She still had her work clothes on so she grabbed her phone, phone charger, her purse and headed for the front door. Paul realised that he had gone too far and ran down after her. "Audrey, babe, I didn't mean that." He apologised upon realising that his wife was heading straight for their door. She didn't say anything. She threw open the door and then slammed it behind her. It was pouring with rain but she couldn't go back and get her jacket now so she kept on walking. The tears were still streaming down her face. She walked the 100 metre distance to the local park and collapsed onto one of the benches hysterically crying. She couldn't stop the tears from coming so she just let them fall. Sobs racked her body and she was shaking violently. But suddenly, she felt a strong, sharp pain in her stomach. She cried out in pain. She held her stomach with both hands but the pain was not getting any better. She could feel some kind of substance coming from her inner thighs. As much as she could see in the dark, it was a deep shade of red. It must be blood. She thought, which panicked her even more. Another sharp pain caused her to shriek out in pain once again. Everything suddenly became so blurry and she was overwhelmed by the feeling that she was falling. She could make out a woman yelling to nearby people for help, but then everything went black.

12:30 A.M. - 18th April 2009 - Sibley Memorial Hospital

Audrey awoke with a pounding headache. She opened her heavy eyelids and looked around. She could see a paneled ceiling and the tops of walls. She sat herself up slightly and took a proper look around. She was in a hospital. The walls were cream coloured, there was a window looking outside to her left, and a wooden door to her right. She was in a room on her own. She looked behind her and realised she had an I.V. in her arm, and multiple ECG leads attached to her chest. She felt a slight pain in her stomach and wondered what it was so she lifted up the thin hospital sheet she had over her and looked underneath her thin, almost paper-like hospital gown and to her surprise, didn't find anything. Just as she'd pulled the covers on back over her, a nurse walked in to update her vital signs.

"Oh, you're awake!" She said, smiling.

"Yeah… What happened? Why am I here?" Audrey asked.

"I'm sure the doctor will be in shortly." The nurse replied whilst adding to Audrey's chart.

"Wait, please can you tell me where I am and why I'm here?" Audrey asked, again. The nurse contemplated answering. Nurses weren't supposed to tell patients things like that before a doctor, but Audrey was just a desperate woman wanting to know why she ended up in a hospital at gone midnight.

"You're at Sibley Memorial Hospital, and you had a miscarriage. A woman found you in a park and called 9-1-1." She replied. She walked out of Audrey's room, leaving Audrey alone with her thoughts. Then it hit her. She was pregnant, with Paul's child, with her douche of a husband's child, but she'd lost it. Many different emotions flooded in. But confusion and denial were definitely the strongest.

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