Title: Shiver
Rating: M (To be safe—you never know!)
Summary: "Always expect the unexpected." A one night stand leaves Jack with some extra baggage.
Pairing(s): Jack/OC

Author's Note: I come bearing a very early birthday shout out to my sister Kayla. You probably won't see this, but I needed something to put in here because I couldn't possible rant about the latest Harry Potter book (I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it). Oh yes, and the part in to beginning is just a little introduction.It's setting the stage for the mess that…someone puts…people, in.

Anonymous Review Replies:

Mart- Last time there was a "ble" before your name, now there's no 7? Haha, I'm just pulling your leg. Yes, that indeed was a quick update. Try not to get too used to it though…I do tend to get lazy sometimes (Fans of Mend My Shattered Soul know this well…sorry about the lack of updates).Thank you so much for your review, I always look forward to them :).

Fluffy18- You put it well when you said that Garrett "is so badass in that movie." I too will see it. He looks muy caliente. Also, the fact that you said something about the Death Sentence trailer proves to me that someone does actually read my Author's Notes. You have earned ten kudos for that…sorry, I would give you something else, but I don't know what that would be. Name your price…and I'll see what I can do :).

Christinadizzle- You and Fluffly18 (and all you other readers) will find out what Jack is thinking in this chapter…actually sooner than you think. And yes, it was a tad Audrey-centric in the beginning. But I had to do some character development, right?

Thanks to all who reviewed last chapter: Heartbreaker23 (should I be expecting another "new chapter dance"?), Sliver of Melody, Silenced22, Mart (…7), Fluffly18, (the one and only--->) Spikeyhairgood, and Christinadizzle.

But, before I go I just want to know what happened to all those other reviewers? Iris Knotwise, CSIVinDieselAddict, Sessylover18, Chump (ehhh, scratch that..), Tatiana, Dragon Rider Murtagh, and LMA1986.

To you folks I sing a song that speaks my feelings towards you perfectly:

"Where'd you go? I miss you sooo…"

Uhh…something something….sorry that's all I know

Disclaimer: Wow, we're not even at the chapter yet and I've already typed on one whole page…

Chapter Six
Deceive

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."
--Sir Walter Scott

Deception.

It could be defined in it's simplicity as a ruse or trick. It's the art of deceiving, something that everyone does in the course of their lives. Sometimes the outcome of this said, ruse or trick is negative, resulting in hurt feelings or burned bridges. However, if the player holds the right cards and strategically plans their next move, the outcome will be flawless, leaving people to believe every word, every action that you acted out in utter perfection.

But be warned.

This game, this mind game, is not for the faint of heart. One wrong move…

And you will lose everything.

The pressure was almost too much to bear. His knees buckled at the incredible weight on his shoulders. Pressure. The word makes him shiver, makes him flinch, makes him shudder, and makes him mad.

He plucked at the guitar cords with an indescribable cruelty towards them; as if blaming them for the situation he was in. His hands clenched and they turned a violent shade of red as her voice ringed through his head.

"I wish you'd stop acting so immaturely, Jack. Lord only knows when your ruthless actions will catch up to you and you'll be put in a position of disgrace. I just want you to meet your better half; as opposed to those promiscuous girls you've been known to be with. So please, be more careful…before you go and fuck up your entire life."

His guitar hit the adjacent wall and crumbled to the floor into a heap of wood and cords. His clenched hands, now up by his face, slowly came down as he regained his composure.

'She was right.' Was the thought racing through his troubled mind at that moment. He shook his head, trying to get rid of it. 'I won't let her be right.'

He stood suddenly, grabbing his jacket off the floor as he flew quickly from his apartment.

He sat slumped against her door minutes later, although it felt more like seconds, as he waited for her to arrive back so they could further discuss their "situation". Yes, he concluded and expected that it was a problem. But that didn't mean he couldn't find a solution to it.

His ears perked at the sound of clicking heels, and he stood quickly when he saw her turn the corner. She flashed a smile at him and he responded with a wave as she rapidly approached.

"Didn't I just see you like five hours ago?" She joked as he ignored the comment and they both entered her apartment.

"We've got a problem," He said as she placed her purse on the sofa before sitting next to it.

"No shit," She said removing her heels. "You're baby is growing inside of me as we speak."

He sat down next to her, elbows resting on his knees as his hands rested on the back of his neck. "We've got another one."

Her eyes widened as her whole body visibly tensed. "You didn't get someone else pregnant did you?" She exclaimed as she slapped his arm.

"No!" He let out a frustrated sigh, turned his body towards her and continued. "I didn't get anyone else pregnant. But—our families, what are we supposed to tell them, Audrey?"

Audrey stared at him dumbfounded, "What else can we tell them but the truth, Jack?"

"See, that's the problem. The truth won't work," Jack admitted slightly ashamed of himself. "My Ma, she'll be disappointed. She's already fucking criticized my…ways as being too immature." He rolled his eyes and shook his head, "She wants me to meet someone, and fall in love and all that happy horse shit before having a baby."

Audrey shrugged, "Who says you won't fall in love?"

Jack stared blankly at her. "What—do you mean…me fall in love with you?" He said slowly and carefully afraid to receive another slap…or maybe worse.

"With anybody, I guess," She said quietly, casting her eyes away from his stare as she picked a loose string on the hem of her skirt.

"Audrey," Jack scooted a little closer and he titled his head downward, attempting to make eye contact. "You didn't answer my question."

"Well, that's too bad," She said firmly as her gaze finally met his. "Because that's my answer." Before Jack could retort, Audrey changed the topic back to what it originally was. "So, you must've come here with some sort of plan, right? You don't want to prove mommy right, so you want us to trick her or something?" She asked, acidly.

"I just don't want her to know that I'm having a baby with a woman I met, not even a month ago."

"So, you want us to conjure up this imaginary relationship to make your mother—no, to make yourself feel better about all this?" Audrey stated as Jack replied with a nod. She remained silent for a moment, thinking about how wrong this idea could go. "I just want you to know," She said finally. "That when the shit hits the fan, oh and believe me Jack Mercer, it will hit the fan, I'm so crying wolf!" She replied as she stood and walked into the kitchen.

"So, you agree?" Jack asked hurriedly, as he followed her. "You'll do this?"

Audrey shot a deviled look at him as she pressed the small on button to the coffee machine, "Yes, I suppose so."

Jack grinned and leaned in the doorway watching her pour two cups of coffee. "You know, you really shouldn't be drinking that. Caffeine is a drug," He said as Audrey shoved a mug into his hand.

"Fuck it," She said walking back into the living room and taking her seat. "One cup isn't going to do much damage!" She exclaimed as Jack sat next to her, his mug still in his hands as he watched her place the mug on her lips several times before putting on the coffee table in front of them.

He smiled, again, still watching her.

"I hate you," She replied, as he let out a small laugh, taking a careful sip from his own mug.

"I can live with that," He responded.

Their agreement was simple. Jack's apartment was bigger and closer to Audrey's job and the club he usually performed at, so Audrey would move in and live with him. Audrey sold her fully furnished apartment to Mikaela; although, it was missing a coffee maker due to the fact that Audrey refused to part with it.

They would split the rent in the half. But since Jack had an inconsistent income, Audrey believed that she would most likely put all her money into it. Jack assured her otherwise, reminding her of his upcoming trip to the Big Apple. And Audrey reminded him that it was not yet a done deal, that his band would get signed.

"Think positive, Audrey!"

"Think realistic, Mercer!" Audrey said, her usual rejoinder, as Jack spoke of the wonders of what it would be like to be a signed, professional musician.

"Okay," Jack began, one night as he sat next to Audrey on their bed. Yes, their bed. Jack believed that in order for them to appear as a couple, they had to act like a couple. This meant sharing a bed, a thought that made no sense to Audrey, who didn't think that sharing a bed gave two people 'couple status'. "I've been thinking."

"Eh," Audrey groaned as her eyes stayed glued to the book she was reading.

"We need to come up with our story?"

"Oh, you mean the story where we both got drunk, had wild sex, then a few nights later got drunk again, and had sex while you wore a broken condom resulting in my pregnancy?" Audrey asked as she placed the book on the nightstand next to her.

"No, not that story. The story where we met then fell in love, and then I—fulfilled my duty as a man!" He said, as Audrey furrowed her eyebrows and shot a dirty look towards him.

"How is that any better?" She asked, crossing her arms. "'Fulfilled my duty as man'?" She mocked including an imitation of Jack's low voice. "What the fuck is that?"

"Yes! I'm spreading my seed, carrying on the Mercer line!"

"You mean, Mercer-Clark." Audrey corrected, as Jack shook his head.

"Oh no, my kid is not having a hyphened last name!" Jack argued as the looks he was receiving from Audrey became more and more unpleasant.

"Oh that's real mature Jack. Besides, the last name of our child isn't of big importance, now is it?" Audrey asked.

"No," He answered conclusively. "But we still need a story for how we met."

"Fine, here's the story. We met one night at Colony. I watched you perform and later that night, after your set, you found me at the bar and tried to flirt with me. You failed, I wrote a review regarding your band and you sent flowers in response with a little card asking me to meet you at the Corner Café for lunch. I went, you charmed your way into my heart, and the rest goes from there."

Jack shrugged, "Sounds good enough."

Audrey rolled her eyes, "Well, what do you want it be?"

"We met at Colony because you couldn't keep your eyes off of me---"

"That's so unrealistic," Audrey interrupted and Jack placed on finger on her lips.

"Our eyes met, and it felt like the world had stopped moving. It felt like we stared at each other for hours. Once the set was finished, I went backstage, and all I could think about was talking to you. I went back out into the bar to find you but you had left. The next night I hoped that you would be there, and with five minutes left in the show I saw you. Your---" Jack paused as he looked at Audrey's eyes.

"Hazel," She said, after Jack's finger fell from her lips.

"Hazel eyes met my blue. Immediately after the song I got off stage and introduced myself. And from there it's history."

"Wow," Audrey began, as she bit down on her nail. "That was…"

"Amazing?"

Audrey shrugged, "If you like sappy stories like that."

"You're just mad because my story was better than yours," Jack stated as he turned off the light and lay back comfortably on his bed.

Audrey nodded, "Whatever you say, Jack," She said as she yawned, her eyes becoming heavy as she drifted off to sleep.

Morning came all too quickly and Audrey's eyes fluttered open to a stream of sunlight beaming in through the window. She put her hand in front of her eyes blocking the light as she shifted slightly, only to be kept in place by an arm.

She froze as she saw Jack's arm slung over her body, holding her close to him. Audrey slowly and carefully peeled his arm away, hurried out of bed and into the next room. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute, but she couldn't decide if it was due to the shock of the incident or because deep down inside she felt safe having Jack hold her like that. And though she would never verbally admit it, either way, the small act still gave her butterflies.

She jumped slightly at the sudden ringing of the phone and answered it quickly so it wouldn't wake Jack. "Hello?"

"Who the fuck is this?" The voice on the other end of the phone, said rudely.

"Well, you called me, so who the fuck is this?" Audrey replied back.

"This is Bobby Mercer, and I know you're not my brother Jack. So who the fuck is this?"

Oh. Shit.

Author's Note: Uh-oh, Bobby Mercer is now in the picture Ladies and Gents! Did you see that one coming? Okay, these constant updates are crazy! Do you think they're happening too fast? Should I give you readers more space between chapters? I have the feeling that I'm going to receive responses saying "no"...:)