Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Layla Leanne.

A/N: SEASON 3! If I had to choose my favorite season to write so far its Season 3. Layla grows up so much this season with the things she goes through and can't wait for you to all read it. I am very fond of this Chapter. Its not my favorite but I am fond of it.

Season 3 Episode 1

Welcome back, Upper East a long, hot summer away, I see it didn't take much time for you to dirty up The clean slates I gave inbox is overflowing, so let's get to the good stuff, shall we? Spotted Chuck Bass up to his old B.I guess nothing good lasts forever. As for a certain leggy blonde by a Hamptons' pool Looks like Serena left big shoes to fill and someone finds them the perfect fit.

Layla and Jenny lounge by Cece's Hampton house pool side. Dan invited her and Sophie to spend the summer with them which was good because she really didn't know what else she was going to do and she didn't want to spend it with her mother.

"Well, I found just in car's here. Now it's time to go Get you dressed?" Eric walked over holding a magazine and Sophie.

" , I'm not leaving." Jenny moaned.

"I don't want to either" Layla said.

"I don't think we have a choice."

"As soon as we get in that car, it means no more beaches and no more bonfires and no more stalking the barefoot contessa through 1770 summer in the Hamptons is officially over." Jenny groaned.

"So, uh a sit-in?"

"More like a lie-in, at least until the sun goes down." Layla said patting the seat next to her "Join us E"

"You're sure your dad doesn't know?" Eric asked sitting down putting Sophie in his lap.

"Oh, totally.I mean, we hid all the evidence." Jenny said.

"Look, Dan doesn't even know. He's too busy pre-readin all his books for college." Layla said.

"Well Layla has also kept him occupied" Jenny said.

"Eww I don't want to know" Eric said.

"I also snuck onto his laptop and, uh, might've disabled his "Serena Van Der Woodsen" Google alert." Layla said proudly.

"When did you have time to do that with everything you two have been doing"

"Its called a summer fling and its ending when we start school."

"What happens when we get back to the city?" Eric said.

"Then it's Serena's problem." Layla said "As now, we made her a promise. And it is very important to keep those even if they were asked via drunken text from a Turkish pay-as-you-go phone."

"Who would of thought she would of texted you of all people too" Eric said.

"S and I have a unique friendship, this isn't the first time I've kept her secret" Layla smiled.

Dan and Rufus approached them bags in hand.

"Hey you guys aren't ready? Serena's gonna be home by 6:00." Rufus said.

"I mean, how can she even greet us when she gets here? Isn't she taking a vow of silence for a month at the ashram?" Eric asked.

Dan walked over and picked up Sophie.

"I don't know. The eat, pray, love" thing of hers is great and all, I I just highly doubt she can keep her mouth shut a whole month." Dan said.

"Even so, it's time to leave."

"And I think her month is up." Layla said getting up.

"I need to meet up with Vanessa, too, 'cause she apparently has something to tell me about how she spent her summer." Dan said.

"Are you going to tell her how you spent yours" Jenny teased.

"If it comes up."

"Wasn't she in Europe with Nate?" Layla asked smiling at him.

"I believe so" he smiled back.

"Get a room" Jenny said getting up.

They arrived back in New York at the Van der Woodsen's.

"So, uh, Jenny will take Eric's room. With Chuck at the Palace, Eric will take his room." Rufus explained sleeping arrangements.

"Oh, sweet thank you. I really didn't want to sleep under Chuck's dirty girl scout painting." Jenny said to Eric.

"Oh, and, uh, Dan" Rufus said.

"Layla and I will go to the loft." Dan said.

"When Lily gets back, we'll join you."

"Thank you Rufus for letting me stay there this year, since with Sophie dorm room is out of the question, and my mother is not an option"

"Well your practically family" Rufus told her.

"Her and Dan get any closer maybe she'll be your daughter in law one day" Jenny said from over by the magazines.

"Jenny" Rufus said.

"Oh, , there are some packages I couldn't put upstairs." Vanya the doorman said.

Dan walked over to where Eric and Jenny were. Layla behind him knowing exactly what they were doing.

"Oh,what are you doing?" Dan asked.

"Recycling?" Jenny said.

"What Whoa, whoa. Oh my God!" Dan said looking at a magazine he just picked up and spotting Serena "So much for "eat, pray, love."

"Well, you know, I guess she got the "love" part right." Layla said over his shoulder looking at a picture of Serena hanging off a guy.

"You can't say ? Dan?" Jenny asked.

Dan's phone rang.

"Hey Vanessa… Uh, yeah, I was just about to head down there."

Layla looked outside and saw a billion paparazzi outside with a limo. Serena sitting in the limo.

"Serena's home." She said.

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to reschedule." Dan said hanging up.

"Oh, God Serena" Rufus said running outside to get her.

As for Serena Van Der Woodsen? You left America a star. But after your exploits in Europe You've come back a supernova. And yet, nothing explodes without a fuse. I wonder what or who make yours.

The next day Layla walked into a coffee shop Sophie on her hip. She spotted Vanessa and Dan talking and walked toward them.

"Oh, we hooked up one night in Prague, but it was not a big deal." Vanessa said explaining part of her summer.

"I did not need to hear that" Layla said.

"Layla" Vanessa said hugging her.

"I wanted to come by and say hi and Dan may of mentioned you were meeting."
"You talked to Layla about meeting me."

"It came up" Dan said looking at Layla.

"You two aren't?"

"Oh no, of course not. That's so 2008" Layla said.

"Anyway after I came back and started hanging out at this place"

"Please tell me you're not working here." Layla said.

"I am so done serving coffee."
"Thank God." Dan said.

"Just made some new friends one in particular. He was here this morning."

"Oh so you are dating someone." Dan commemted.

"His name's Scott, and I think you guys would really like each other. We actually met him here in the spring like 5 seconds. He just transferred. We've been hanging out,and,okay, maybe there's been a little bit of flirting."

"Is he cute?" Layla asked.

"No Layla" Vanessa joked.

"I am not wanting to know for me I just want to know for you."

"Yes, he's very cute."

"Layla has learned she likes someone and it took all summer to figure it out" Dan said.

"You two spent the summer together?" Vanessa asked.

"Yeah" Layla said.

"Are you sure you two aren't, I know how last summer started"

"Like I said so 2008"

"Wait is it Riley?" Vanessa asked.

Layla looked away like she didn't hear anything.

"Oh my god, when did you realize?"

"Uh its an awkward conversation." Layla said.

Vanessa looked form Dan to Layla and then back to Dan.

"So 2008 huh more like this summer. You two had a fling!"

"No, it was strickly friendship."

RILEY:HEY BACK IN TOWN IF YOU ARE WE SHOULD MEET UP. HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL YOU

"Well V and Romeo I have someone to meet."

"Do you need me to watch Soph?" Vanessa asked.

"No, I'm good. Riley adores her."

"So Layla, using her daughter to win a guy."

"And what guys have I been winning over with her?" Layla raised an eyebrow. She got up and put Sophie back on her hip. "It was good seeing you V."

She arrived back at the loft where she told Riley she would meet him.

"So this is where you'll be living?" Riley asked walking in.

"Again, yeah" Layla said.

"Right when you were dating Dan last year?"

"Its so good to see you Ry" She said hugging him.

"You two, so I was think tomorrow we should work on a song to get you into Juillard at Semester."

"As much as I would love too I have an event to go too, you should come." Layla said.

"Yeah, um I'm suppose to be bonding with my brother so…"

"Yeah, he can come too I would love to meet him" Layla said nervously. She really wasnt looking forward to Jason but she knew it would eventually happen.

Spotted Serena Van Der Woodsen giving Carter Baizen the slip. But what happened between them when TMZ was M.I.A.

Layla looked at her phone and then looked back up.

"You okay?" Riley asked noticing that the post bothered her.

"Yeah, I just…its nothing" she lied.

BAIZ:I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.

"Who was that?" Riley said watching her read the text.

"An old friend. Can you watch Soph. Dan should be home soon I just really need to go" she said.

"Yeah no problem. Is everything okay?"

Layla grabbed her purse off the counter and went toward Central Park. She found Carter standing by a tree. A certain tree that meant something to them.

"Baizen" Layla said.

"Thank you for meeting me" Carter said.

"You haven't really texted me in a long time so I figured it was important."

"I need your help."

"Okay, I knew that comment was going to bite me in the ass." she said remembering what she told Chuck in the spring. Karma was a bitch.

"What?" Carter asked confused.

"Never mind."

"You look amazing by the way" Carter said smiling at her.

"Carter" Layla said trying her hardest not to return it.

"Old habits never die"

"I can't believe I fell for this. I had to leave a friend with my daughter to meet you. Which I am still figuring out why I did meet you."

"Layla Leanne Archibald a mother, never saw that coming."

"What do you need Carter?"

"You and Serena are friends, well now you are?"

"Yeah, well when it comes to you I guess we have that connection."

"I'm worried about her."

"The whole thing with her dad, she told me while drunk that you were helping her. Didn't approve but you have tried in the past."

"Yeah."

"Why do you need my help?" Layla asked.

"She's out of control. I'm sure you saw the post."

"Yeah you only texted me a few minutes after, I was still processing you being in town."

Layla turned away from him.

"Lay, please I wouldn't of texted you. I have totally respected you not wanting to be near me. I mean the restraining order really was that necessary?"
"So I bent the truth a little when it comes to you, Chuck thought he was helping" she said turning back around.

"You're afraid what people may think when they find out more happened then what Gossip Girl posted? Yeah I saw the post. Did Georgina send that? I know she knows a lot about that summer."
"Look meet me tomorrow at the polo match." She said.

"As your date" Carter smied at her.

"Why not" She said smiling. She was about to enter a whole new battle with herself.

The next day she met Carter at the entrance to the match. She had found a babysitter in Brooklyn to watch Sophie. Her original plan was to bring her but now with Carter as her date she didn't want her there.

"You always did look pretty in yellow" Carter said behind her causing her to turn around to face him.

"You don't look bad yourself Carter, of course you never did look bad" Layla commented.

"You missed my scruffy faze then"

"Glad I missed that one."

"Ready" he asked holding out his arm.

"Defineitly" She replied taking it.

"By the way, I got an invite to this after you invited me as your date"

Layla looked at him weird.

"Seriously, how?" She asked.

"I know I couldn't believe it myself."

They walked over and stood by some fences. She let go of his arm and leaned on the fence facing the crowd while Carter faced the field.

"I'm sorry" he said and she looked over at him.

"For what?" she asked.

"That night" he replied.
"What night are we talking about?" She asked turning around to face the same direction as him.

"Really Lay?"

"The night you left?"

"Yeah."

"Why did you leave, it made no sense? Everything was perfect."

"I still to this day have no idea why I would leave an amazing girl,it was a huge mistake and I have regretted it since."

Layla smiled at him.

"I forgive you that is until you screw that up" she said laughing.

"I'll try not to but you know me."

"It will happen I'm counting on it." She said making his smile fade.

"Carter" She heard behind her. They both turned around and spotted Dan and Blair.

"Waldorf" Carter said.

"Layla?" Dan said curious as to why she was with Carter.

"Layla why are you with him?" Blair asked.

"It's a long story, Can't say it's good to see you." Carter said.

"No, you can't, not after what I'm about to tell you. The invitation you got to come this party wasn't exactly what you thought."

"Spare me., I'm someone's date."

"Mine to be exact" Layla said "Whats going on here?"

"Where's Serena?" Carter asked.

"This him?" a guy asked and Blair nodded "You've been served."

"What the hell is this?"

"It's a restraining order." Dan said.

"Yeah I got that, it's not the first one I've gotten" Carter said then glanced at Layla.

"Sorry about that" Layla said.

Carter opened it up and read it.

"This says I have to stay away from Blair Waldorf."

"Yeah, and until further notice, you'll find me by Serena's side." Blair stated.

"Seriously what is going on?" Layla asked.

"Why are you here with him?" Dan asked.
"Like he said it's a long and complicated story, one I am not ready to quite talk about."

"Step within 100 feet of me and you'll be arrested. And about how far you think he is from me?" Blair asked.

"Yeah, I don't think he's far enough." Dan said.

"I agree. Security"

Serena walked over.

"Hey! Hey, uh, what's going on here?" Serena asked.

"Oh, your friends, uh, are trying to have me removed." Carter said, "Well all of them but Layla and she has more rights too knowing our background. You have any clue as to why?"

Layla glared at him.

"Right, because you're stalking me."

"Stalking You?" Layla stated "Seriously Serena, Carter isn't a stalker!"

"Look, you don't have to talk to him." Dan said.

"You wanna tell them the truth or should I?" Carter asked.

"What's the truth?"

"Yeah, Carter. What's the truth?" Serena asked.

"Sooner or later, you're gonna be alone, with no one taking your picture. What will you do then?" Carter asked.

"What is he talking about?" Blair asked.

"Miss Van Der Woodsen, the first chukker is about to need to take position for the first throw in." a man name Nacho said.

"Yes, of you, , goodbye, Carter."

Carter started to walk away and Layla went after him. Following him to a horse.

"I'm gonna borrow this horse." He said.

"What are you doing Carter?" Layla asked.
"Chasing Serena. I'll text you later okay"

"Yeah, just be careful. Just because I hate you doesn't mean I don't care about you."

"You my friend will always care" he said and went off after Serena

She watched him chase Serena.

Later on she stood alone wondering where they went.

"If you see Blair, will you tell her I went home" she heard behind her. Chuck. Damn she hadn't spoken to him since the graduation party.

"Yeah of course" Layla replied.

"I see you and Carter are on speaking terms." Chuck said.

"I'm helping an old friend Chuck, that's it. Congrats by the way. On finally telling her. I knew you would. I'm really happy you're happy."

"Thanks, and when it comes to Carter, don't get hurt."

"Thanks" she said smiling and watched him walk away. She looked around hoping to see Riley but she never did.

She arrived back at the loft that night and spotted Dan sitting at the bar.

"I see you relieved the babysitter." Layla said.

"Yeah and I paid her too." he said a little hostile.

"Why are you mad at me?"

"Really Lay, after the things you have said about Carter you invite him today."

"Yeah, him and I have a past but Dan that was highschool and I just want to restart and Carter apologized, and he needed my help."

"So all is forgiven because he apologized?"

"You don't know him or that summer!" Layla yelled.

"No one does because you wont even tell Chuck, which causes concerns because if you cant tell him then it had to bad."

"Let me handle my issues with Carter" Layla said slamming the door.

She found Carters hotel room and knocked on the door. He opened it and let her in. He stood there shirtless. Layla got lost staring at a small tattoo that lay above his heart. She knew the tattoo well. He had gotten it with her. Her intials LLA lay there.

"Hey," she finally said.

"Hey" he smilled.

"Did you get to her?"

"Yeah and I have to tell you"

"You slept with her."Layla said shaking her head.

"Yeah it's"
"Lets forget about it" Layla said kissing him. Carter pulled away "What's going on?"

Layla sat on the bed in defeat. What was she even doing here. Carter sat next to her.

"I'm sorry" she said not knowing what came over her.

"Don't be, I was actually enjoying It" he replied.
"Why did you pull away then?"

"Because if you and I are going to be involved you need to know something"

"What?" she asked

"Its about that summer"

"What about it?"

Carter stood up and reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to her. She unfolded it. It was a marriage licences.

"You're married?" she yelled.

"Look again" he said.

She looked now and spotted her name as well. She quickly looked at the date. Sure enough it was that summer.

"We're married. I'm a wife. A mother I could accept but a wife? How is this possible?"

"Look if…"

"How long have you known?" she said interrupting him.

"I found it this summer in my things" he said sitting down next to her.

"I'm someone's wife. No I'm Carter Baizen's Wife. How is this possible I was 14. It that legal?"

"I guess there it is. You're going to need time."

"Yeah" She said looking at him sincere "But can I stay with you tonight, I had a fight with my roommate and I just need somewhere to go and my usual place is occupied."

"Of course, you can stay with me anytime"

Growing up means one thing independence. We all want it. Sometimes we use other people to try to get it for ourselves. Sometimes we find it in each other. Sometimes our independence comes at the cost of something else and that cost can be high. Because more often than not, in order to gain our independence we have to fight. Never give up. Never surrender.