Tehehee.

Disclaimer: I own no one familiar to the movie. End of disclaimer.

Never thought that Lash and Layla had a past relationship beyond the movie? What? You never thought they could have been friends? Are you kidding me? Here! Have the story! My goodness, you've been missing out.

Past

"Jagger." She breathed, but the man shook his head.

"I'm his brother."

"I knew you weren't him...it's just you have his features." The man nodded.

"Ah." He whispered, taking her by her lower back and into the next room, where she could see Lash being placed in a chair to the far right of a table. He didn't seem to know that this was Layla, the girl Jagger was here about. "Come this way, will you?"

Amanda and Sarah followed shortly after, and Layla couldn't hear Sarah breathe anymore. But she heard a quiet sob leave the woman's lips, and Layla nodded. She felt the same. She just couldn't make it come out.

--

"Sarah, go in first." Amanda muttered, taking a hand and placing it onto the woman's shoulder. Layla could only close her eyes. It was only right.

The frail woman brushed a hand through her dark brown hair and sighed, her eyes closing as her right hand held the doorknob. Layla reached over and grasped it as well; turning it for her and letting her hand go. "It'll be alright, Sare."

The woman nodded profusely, and her breathing began to calm as Lash sat there, his feet jiggling against the floor as he waited impatiently.

"Mom." He whispered, his body fidgeting. Sarah ran over to her son in a screeching hug, her eyes leaking with many tears. His arms wrapped around her torso and Layla watched as he was squeezed tightly.

"C'mon, Lay, let's go in here." Amanda whispered, taking Layla by her shoulder and ushering her into what looked like an overview of an interrogation room.

"When do we get to see him?" Layla murmured softly, looking slightly up to her mother. Amanda shrugged.

"In good time." Amanda rubbed her daughter's back as Layla pressed a hand to the glass. Lash couldn't see her - but Layla knew that he heard her hand clap against it. She knew, because he looked straight at the mirrored glass, his eyes squinting to get a good look.

But Layla knew he didn't see.

----

"I haven't been able to hold you for weeks, now, boy. Don't tell me it's okay." Sarah growled, and Lash pressed his left cheek into her shoulder, feeling her push him down into the chair beside them. Slowly they sat, and Lash breathed in deeply as he waited for her to speak once again.

Sarah began to close her eyes again, and her head drooped into her arms. "Mom?"

"I missed you, Lash Livingston." She whispered, her eyes peeking out from beneath her long bangs.

"I missed you too, Mom."

--

Lash watched as Layla stepped through the door, her arms out and clasped together in front of her body, her shoulders high with nervousness. "Lash." She whispered, watching him watch her from the seat, his entire body frozen at the sight of her. His hands fiddled with themselves as he felt eyes on her back, and Lash knew their mothers were watching.

"Layla." He murmured, his hands already around her shoulders and pulling her close. It was a reunion desperately wished for. Granted. Layla pulled away, and Lash held her still, staring deeply into her eyes without a breath.

And without question, three tears fell from the girl's eyes, the boy lifting his thumb to her face to wipe them away. His fingers traced her cheeks, his eyes wandering and following down. Layla watched silently. Somehow, this was required. Somehow, this was needed. She sniffed, and breathed in deeply before throwing her arms around his shoulders, bringing him closer.

"Oh, Lash." She cried, her hands cold on his back as he shoved his face into her hair. Slowly his hands lowered to her waist, lifting her slightly to hold her just a bit stronger - just a bit more lovingly. "This isn't right." She whispered, sobs leaking into his tee-shirt.

His lips were pursed tightly as his dark brown eyes searched her large green ones. He leaned her back slightly just to do so, and there was a glare hidden behind his relieved eyes. The boy snarled, his nose flaring at her as her green eyes swam with love. "I don't give a fuck right now." He hissed between his teeth, his mouth crashing against hers as he slowly let her touch ground. This was a bit startling to even himself, but his eyes closed as he felt her arms wrap around his neck, pulling her up and into his chest. Layla was giving out heaving sobs, her mouth moving against his as she cried. "I've missed you too much." He whispered huskily, his hands gripping her upper arms in place. With a soft, gentle kiss, Layla retreated back a step, looking up at him. There was silence for a moment, each staring at the other - drinking each other in. But this peace was interrupted with muffled giggles, little cries of joy from beyond the looking glass.

"I feel empty, Lash." She murmured, her arms holding tightly to his wrists. "And now I just kissed you - this is so not my right choice..."

"Layla, be quiet." Lash growled, easily ripping his wrists from her grasp and placing her in a seat. She stumbled a bit, but nevertheless sat down, looking up at Lash as he snatched up her hand, fiddling with her small fingers. "Any mention of Stronghold will just piss me off." He grumbled, lifting her hand up to his face, kissing each fingertip. Layla just stared up at him, not able to look away as he sat down across from her. "You're here to see me, right?" She nodded. Lash closed his eyes, and Layla moved her hand to his cheek, her soft white fingers easing their way into his hair, causing him to tilt slightly, his cheek nuzzling into it, his nose inhaling her scent. "Then we shouldn't discuss him."

"Then what should we talk about?" She whispered, Lash's eyes opening with ease, feeling her hand caress his hair, moving strands away from his eyes. Sighing, his arms wrapped around her waist, picking her body up and into his lap, his face in her neck. Lash breathed calmly as Layla ran her right hand through his hair with care, her left arm wrapped around his shoulder. Slowly his lips rested against her skin, and his nose nuzzled into the back of her ear before he muttered anything intelligent.

"How about we just sit here for a while, Lahlah. I'd rather not talk about anything." His left hand held her knees close to him, and she nodded, sending out a shaky sigh.

"Okay, Lash." She muttered, her fingers delicately playing a soft rhythm against the back of his neck, down a bit of his spine. She breathed deeply. "But we are going to talk about why you chose to go along with Gwen's plan."

"Soon." He whispered, his nose sliding back and forth against her neck.

"I know."

They lay still for another ten quiet minutes, and Lash broke the serenity with a nibble to her earlobe. "Layla?"

"Mm?" She muttered, clearly falling asleep. It's apparent that it's been a while since she's been this comfortable.

"I'm sorry." She used the hand that was behind him to wipe her eyes of whatever type of grit that she had sustained over time with, and leaned back to get a good look at him. "I'm sorry." He repeated, his left hand softly caressing her pale white arm, his eyes trailing up from his lap to the tip of her forehead, kissing it with a bit of laziness. Silently, her hand held his face, and she gave him a hollow smile.

"Lash, it's okay. Just tell me when and I'll listen." Lash looked down at her lap as he chuckled once, and entwined their fingers against her thigh. "I'm staying till I get an answer, too. I don't care if Mum and Sarah leave." He kissed her cheek, sucking in a bit of the skin as she giggled.

"Alright then." Layla hooked her arm around his neck once more, pulling him just a bit closer. "Hey, don't tease me." He muttered laughing, lifting his face from its place at her neck.

She rolled her eyes. "Like I didn't do that by walking in here." Lash held her tightly, sniffing to himself.

"Okay fine." He whispered, turning her slightly so that he could see her clearly. "I'll tell you." Layla squirmed a bit, but stopped once she saw the look on Lash's face.

"Wait," she said excitedly, holding out her hand and jumping off his lap. "Can we lay down, please?"

"Why?" He asked, taking it in his fingers and feeling the tingling sensation shoot up his arm.

"Jus-, please?" She begged quietly, her eyes pleading as she hopped onto the table beside them. He shrugged, leaning her down before climbing on next to her, his arm wrapping around her waist before he dipped his head into her collarbone, closing his eyes.

"Okay then?" He muttered, feeling her left hand search for something of his to grasp. Entwining their fingers he heard her sigh in relief, and breathed in before speaking again. "Alright."

"Kay now you can tell me."

"You might be mad at me - you aren't going to interrupt?"

There was a pregnant pause. "I can't make any promises, about that, Lash."

"I understand." Clearly. He sighed, nuzzling his nose into her neck before sighing again, only this time, more slowly to cause her to shiver.

"Lash, please. The story. I need to know."

"I know. I know. Let me try and figure out the beginning." He felt her hair tickle his nose, and he knew that she was nodding her head. "You remember when Stronghold and Peace beat me and Speed that day in Gym class?" He didn't wait for her to respond. "Well Gwen cornered me after I got out of the locker room, and said that I could get back at him by taking part in her plan."

"You wanted to get back at him?" She whispered, her fingers wavering over his arm. "But Lash, it was only one game."

"We were undefeated, and that's besides the point." He muttered, clasping her hand to his body and smiling. It felt good knowing she was still there. "She told me, that..." He tried to think of something that could wheel around his main reason. He couldn't tell her about his nightmares.

"That...?" Layla urged, her face turning into his and stroking the hair above his ear. It felt good.

He breathed deeply. "That she would keep you safe, that she knew how much you meant to me, Layla." Layla hadn't interrupted him. They weren't the right things to say, but they weren't lies. Gwen did promise that she'd be okay after the attack.

And in reality, she was. She was more than okay. She was with her friends - fighting him. And Speed - Penny. "But she never said anything about what the Pacifier did - she only had told Speed to grab it. And being him, he asked no questions." She nodded again. He felt like she was a sponge. He'd give her a bit of information, and she'd take it, waiting to be squeezed to be let out. With that in mind, he used his left hand to squish her waist, and she eeped, squirming beneath.

"So you went along with her plan without knowing the hardcore details? Lash how stupid do you feel? You know that you could get out early because of that?" Lash nodded. He knew. But he thought he deserved this. "Lash, you could be out - right now. You just made a mistake." Her voice lowered. "Come home with me."

"I'm coming home at the end of the Spring, Layla." He heard her protest a whimper, and he kissed beneath her ear. "I'm not leaving yet. I deserve this." He pursed his lips together before starting over. "Can I finish?"

"Yes."

"Okay. So Gwen lied to me and Speed. Penny knew all along, cause she was in on it since she was in middle school."

"Power trip." Layla muttered, causing Lash to nod silently. "What did she say to get you in on it?"

"I'm getting there." He whispered, dreading this moment. "You know how badly I hated Stronghold in the beginning, right?" He didn't wait for her to respond again. "Well that day when he beat us, it just hit me in the face, really. And Gwen just milked it to the point where anything she said to taunt me only took me deeper into wanting to pulverize him. So anything she said, anything that led me ideas to hurt him only brought me into her plan. She didn't tell me much as to what she was really planning, but she knew how much I hated Stronghold. She promised me a fight with him if I went along with her." Layla only shook her head, gasping short sobs into the air. "Lahlah don't - please. It kills me to see you unhappy." He pressed his forehead to her neck, breathing in deeply and holding it there, waiting for her hands to grasp into his hair and whisper her OKs.

"I guess I should be used to it by now, Lash - you two completely hating the other. It's tiresome, but hearing it from you just hurts me." She coughed a small laugh. "It sucks." The redhead hit his chest with her palm lightly, her nose in his own hair. "I hate you for it."

"You hate me?" He whispered gravely, his mind racing back to his nightmares. Lash didn't want her to. He feared this. Practically his entire life. He didn't want her to. He didn't want her to.

"No." She murmured, her lips hitting his shaggy hair. "I could never really hate you, Lash Livingston. You're my best friend." She chuckled as she stroked the side of his head, and he felt the soft beating of her heart, the pulse in her neck. "You're my best friend that hates my other best friend, but you'll always be there for me, Lash. Even when you're here."

"I promise never to disappoint you again, Lahlah."

"You can't keep that."

"Yes, yes I can. Watch me."

She scoffed and he pulled away, opening his eyes, despite the screams in his mind not to. "Lash, for all you know, you could be disappointing me right now." Her eyes flashed. "Which you are. Now lay down." He gave her a small smile as he lowered back down, his nose in her hair as they both breathed heavily.

"You know what I miss most?" He muttered aloud, his thumb stroking her stomach as her fingers traced his face, his eyes closing against her fingertips.

"What?"

"The nights we spent together."

"Hmm. Me too..." Lash could feel the smile in the air, and he kissed her cheek, breathing out loudly. "But this is somewhat like them."

He laughed. "We're laying down on a table where our mothers can watch our every move." They heard small giggles from the observation room. "See?" Layla shook her head, a smirk on her face. "It's not exactly like being home." He smiled at the thought, now clearly missing their bed.

"Oh shush, Lash." Her lips touched his forehead, and he let the tingling sensation take him over, causing his spine to react, the shiver traveling through to the girl in his arms.

----

Cuteness. Aw.

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