So this is something I cooked up today and if it goes as planned then it will only be three parts. I have already started the second part and hope to have this story done by tomorrow. I figured I would just post the first part up now so I better get a ton of reviews! Happy New Year everyone and I hope you enjoy!


Title: Layla

Author: Me

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I do not own anything!

Summary: An old friend from Jesse's past sees him after many years and has a secret.

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"I'm so nervous Le; I haven't seen her in over four years. She probably won't even remember me." Jesse said fidgeting with the steering wheel.

"Jesse, you took the time out to find her and now you'll go through with it. Besides four years isn't that long." Leon said seriously.

"I wasn't really trying to get in touch with her I was just messing around on the computer one day and I really did find her!"

That was the truth though, sure Jesse had thought about her on more than a few occasions these past years but, he had figured that she didn't want anything to do with him after he picked up and left his hometown San Francisco. She and Jesse had been very good friends, always together and when they were sixteen they had even gone as far as to lose their virginity to each other after homecoming. Then a week later a friend of Jesse's asked him to leave for Los Angeles and without another thought he packed a bag and left only leaving her his silver chain and a goodbye. She wasn't too thrilled either because the last thing he saw was her angry face and he rounded the corner. Not really knowing just how bad he had hurt her.

Now here he was, back in San Francisco with Leon sitting in his car outside of the restaurant that she works at. Jesse knew that just behind that door she was there, working without a clue. Leon was the one to talk him into going and he even came along to make sure he went through with it. Jesse was happy at first but by the time they had hit San Francisco he wasn't too excited anymore and felt like he was going to vomit.

"Just come on, she might not even be working." Leon said trying to ease his nerves. Jesse nodded slightly and slowly moved out of the car. They walked up to the large Italian restaurant and when they walked in they were struck with an amazing sight. This was one of the nicest places they had ever seen.

"Hi, table for two?" The young brunette asked.

"Um, yeah actually we're looking for Layla." Leon said putting his hands in his pocket.

She smiled and waved for them to follow her. She seated them in a booth by the window and set down the menus. After they sat down she told them that this was one of her tables and that she would wait on them. Jesse nodded and continued to take deep breaths. He was beyond nervous and very uncomfortable; he felt that only a bottle of nerve pills and some vodka could cure him.

Leon didn't waste anytime looking over the menu since he hadn't eaten anything since they arrived. It was silent until a young woman with very dark brown hair, walked up. Wild curls were pinned to the nape of her neck, she wore light makeup and a black, fitted dress that went to mid-thigh with a small apron tied around her waist that held her order book. Jesse looked up and his eyes bulged with surprise; she was beautiful and looked just like she did when he left, only older. Her facial features were perfect and flawless and even though she wasn't smiling he saw just a slight hint of those huge dimples. She was too busy writing something down in her order book to notice them just yet. Leon looked up and tried not to gawk before he looked over at Jesse and silently asked him if that was her. Jesse nodded and looked up at her again. Leon had expected some young innocent looking blue collar type of girl but, when he saw her he knew that was not the case and he silently gave Jesse props for getting her.

"Ok, sorry about that, what can I get you guys to drink?" She asked, looking over at Leon.

"Uh, just coke I guess." He replied. She looked over at Jesse and stopped short.

Her jaw nearly dropped at the sight of him, with an instant old memories started to flow through her head as her eyebrows knitted together in anger.

"Hi Layla." Jesse said nervously.

"What can I get you to drink?" She said; her intentions were to completely ignore him and treat him as a normal customer.

"Uh, anything." He replied looking down at his hands that were resting on the table in front of him. She nodded and walked away without another word. Once she was gone Jesse sighed and looked over at Leon with regret in his eyes. Leon wasn't sure if it was regret for leaving her or regret for even showing up.

"She is probably the hottest girl I've ever seen you around." Leon joked. It didn't work though.

"She's still pissed Leon she doesn't want me around you can see it in her eyes." Jesse said sadly. Leon shook his head.

"Just give it a chance." Leon replied before looking over the menu again.

Layla returned a few minutes later with a tray holding their drinks. After she set Leon's down, she spoke briefly.

"I got you a Dr. Pepper your favorite." She said nonchalantly. "I'll be back in a few to get your order." She walked away.

Jesse smiled to himself, she was pissed at him yet she brought out his favorite soda. On cue, a few minutes later she came back and indeed took their orders. Jesse decided to try and talk to her.

"Can we talk Layla?" He asked. She looked at him, her face was blank.

"I'm working," She spat.

"I know; it doesn't have to be right here right now. Whenever you can." He replied trying to ease her from the anger. He knew she had a right to be angry but shouldn't she be excited to see him after four years. He sure was excited to see her but she was still holding on to that anger and he knew that it would be tough to break her.

"Fine, my shift ends at six, you can meet me at the bar around the corner." With that she left to check on her other tables.

After Layla put the orders into the computer she leaned against the table and took a deep breath. When she got into work today she was in a good mood but, seeing Jesse had made her upset. Why now? After four years he decides to show up, at her job no less.

"Hey you ok Layla?" Shana, her co-worker asked.

"He's here." She said quickly.

"Who?"

"Jesse."

"The Jesse?" Shana asked. Layla exhaled loudly and nodded before leaving to pick up her orders.

Layla delivered their food and told them to enjoy before she finished up her other tables.

Later that night Jesse sat next to Leon as they waited for Layla to show up. Finally, ten minutes after six still wearing her work dress. The only thing different was she had unpinned her hair so her long curly hair was free and flowing down her back and shoulders. Jesse sighed then smiled at her as she sat down.

"So why meet here? We're not old enough to drink yet." Jesse said trying to make a lighter conversation. She just glared at him. "Come Layla you can't be mad at me forever."

"If you only fucking knew." She hissed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jesse asked.

"Nothing," She said waving over the bartender. He smiled and nodded, giving her, her usual; cranberry juice.

"Why did you leave me?" She finally asked him after a minute of silence. He fumbled with his hands.

"I wanted to get out of here Layla, I didn't think it would hurt that much." He mumbled.

"You didn't even ask me if I wanted to go!" She snapped; frustrated.

"I'm sorry! What else can I say?!" He snapped back. Layla was being unreasonable and it was starting to upset him. He knew his decision was stupid but it's been four fucking years and she was purposely being mean.

All the while Leon was sitting on the other side of Jesse sipping his beer and quietly listening to the commotion beside him.

Layla sat quietly thinking of what she could say next and when nothing came to mind she pulled out money for her cranberry juice and stood up. "I have to go…" And with that she left. Jesse growled in frustration as he watched her walk out on him. I guess it was pay back.

"Come on Leon," He looked up confused.

"Nah, I'm gonna stay here for a while." Leon stated. "You go ahead though just come back and get me." He already knew what his intentions were and that was to go to Layla's house so she couldn't avoid him anymore.

Jesse got into his car and followed the directions from the paper he had. Except he took a turn too soon and got lost which only delayed him about fifteen minutes. Finally he found his destination and pulled next to the curb. He shut off his engine and stared across the road at the quiet apartment. He could only see one light on from where he was and again he was nervously sitting there working up enough courage to go up there. Finally after about ten minutes he figured it was now or never so he rushed out of his car and up to her door. Without another thought he rang the doorbell and closed his eyes. After a minute she opened the door with a gasp.

"Did you follow me?" She yelled.

"No, I had your address." He said lowly; not meeting her gaze.

"Look we need to talk about this please?" He pleaded. She looked behind her nervously before she let him in hesitantly. Jesse smiled a thank you and slowly followed her in. She pointed towards the couch while she took a seat in the chair across it.

"Look Layla I'm really sorry for leaving, I was young and stupid but, I still don't understand why after all these years you're so pissed at me." He started the discussion.

"Jess, you wouldn't understand really, things got really hard after you left and when I really wanted to talk to you I couldn't because I had no way of getting a hold of you. You were just gone." She replied truthfully.

"Why did things get hard?" He asked.

She put her head in her hands and leaned forward. The tears were starting to well up in her eyes and she didn't want Jesse to see her. She finally got her composure back and was about to tell him when a small voice came from behind him.

"Mommy?" Her head shot up in shock as she stood quickly. Jesse looked behind him and smiled even though he was also in shock. Layla never told him she had a daughter although she just now started talking to him at all.

"Come on baby let's get you to bed." She picked up the small girl and carried her down the hall.

Jesse waited patiently for her to come back; he was intrigued now. His little Layla had a daughter. Regret soon hit him because he wasn't around to see it. How could he be so stupid to just up and walk away? A few minutes later she came back and she was getting fidgety like when he gets nervous.

"Layla why didn't you tell me you had a kid, congrats!" He yelled laughing. "What's her name?" He asked.

"Delilah Rae," She said cautiously.

"Delilah Rae," He repeated. "That's really nice."

"How old is she?" He asked. He was truly interested, he was an uncle! Well if she would allow him to be Delilah's pretend Uncle.

"Almost four." She replied, almost a whisper.

She couldn't meet his gaze so she resorted in looking down at the coffee table while he shot off questions to her. Jesse just nodded happily; he thought it was great but when he thought about it he realized that she had this kid when she was barely seventeen.

"Jesse," She said quietly. He nodded. "Two months after you left I found out I was pregnant." She said; tears started to spill out of the corners of her eyes. Jesse's smiled faded.

"You mean she's—" He pointed to himself.

"Yeah, she's yours." She mumbled, cutting him off.