This is the 'long' awaited sequal to The Strong One, my most sucsessful story yet, and I just wanted to say, thank you for all of your reviews for this story, and all my others, it means a lot to me. I hope you guys like this, and I hope you'll tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but Leigh, and Logan, and

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

He had promised her, he had promised her that he would never leave her, that he would alway be by her side, and protect her. But he was gone, and she had a feeling that he was never coming back. She had always thought that he'd be there, by her side for all of eternity, and she knew, knew that he had never felt the same way. He wouldn't just pick up and leave her like that if he did. She had loved him, she had loved him so much that she would do anything for him, and obviously he proved that he wouldn't do anything for her. He just got up and left her like that, like everything that had happened to them in the last years were just a game to him. She was heartbroken, for the third time in her life, she was heartbroken, and she knew that nothing could heal her broken heart.

She thought everything would end up perfect, they would grow old with each other and watch their grandkids play in their front yard, but evidentally, Gabriella was going to be the only one doing that. 'I let that prick have a baby with me,' She thought bitterly. She couldn't believe that she had fallen for his fascade. She was confused, he was the one that had welcomed her with open arms, he had showed her 'false' love for so many years, that she would've never thought that he would do something so hurtful, it wasn't like him. And Gabriella hated it when he didn't act himself, it made him a monster, and that was the one thing that Gabriella had hated most. Monsters.

She knew that it wasn't fair to her, but it definately wasn't fair to their kids. They didn't deserve this, they had been asking why daddy hadn't been home in a while, and Gabriella didn't have the heart to tell them that he had left them, in all of his glory. She remembered the day like it was yesterday, that was the worst day of her life, that, that was the day that had tore her world apart, and she knew that she was on the rollarcoaster of life alone, well without him. And that one little fact edged into the back of her mind told her that she wouldn't make it that far, no matter who or what was by her side for it.

"Gabi?" She was snapped out of her thoughts and turned to the man in front of her. He was abseloutly gorgeous, there was no doubt it that. His electric green eyes stared down at her, filled with concern, as he flipped his black bangs from his eyes. "Are you alright?" He whispered to her, his hands gently running up and down her arms.

She nodded, offering a small, but false smile. "I'm perfectly fine Jesse," She told him softly, staring at him, before kissing his cheek to reassure him. "I promise you,"

He smiled and nodded, obviously buying what she had said as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, before staring into her eyes. "If you need anything sweetheart, anything, don't be afriad to call me, alright?"

She shrugged. "Of course, I know Jess," She looked up at him. "Have fun,"

He grinned devlishly. "If you call sitting in a room filled with stuck up managers that have nothing to talk about but booze and money, then yes, I will be having the time of my life," He retorted sarcastically, making Gabriella giggle softly.

She leaned up and kissed him quickly, before pulling away and looking up at him. "Get going Jess,"

He grinned at her charasmatically before nodding, as he pulled her in and wrapped his arms around her slender waist. "Don't miss me too much,"

"I'll try not too, Logan and Leigh are going to keep me quite busy," She laughed slightly.

He smiled. "Tell them I love them, alright?" He told her, and stepped out the door, knowing that if he didn't leave now, he would never leave. His manager would kick his ass if he was late again, so he softly blew a kiss to her, before leaving.

She nodded. "Will do Jess!" She called after him, before shutting the door, breathing in deeply and sinking down to her knees.

She didn't know how much longer she could lie to him, all he had done was care for her, eversince that one night, the one night that she had been broken, by the one who had held her heart, the one that still did. She knew this wasn't fair to him, all Jesse wanted to do was please her, to make her happy. She knew that Troy had done that in the beginning to, but his so called love had turned out to be false, and she really didn't want to be broken hearted again. She wasn't going to let those walls around her heart falter and fall anytime soon, no matter how much she knew Jesse wanted it, needed it. She knew that she needed something different, and she didn't know if she could give Jesse what he needed, if what she needed, who she needed was entirely different.

It had been three years, three years since he left her. Three years, no goodbye, no call asking if she needed help, no call to see if she was doing alright. He stopped all contact between them, and her kids. She didn't understand, she did nothing to make him leave, the kids did nothing to make him leave. It was all just a big game, that all life ever was to him, she realized, a big game, one that Gabriella knew he was way to good at for his own good. She couldn't let go of him, she wouldn't let go of him, no many how people convince her that it would turn out better than if she didn't. You couldn't let go of a person you love that easily.

Logan and Leigh. Her precious angels, they didn't know anything about what was going on with their mother and father, all they knew that she was sad all of the time, and another man was over a lot. Leigh who was now five, thought that he was nice, he took her everywhere with him, and bought her ice cream. Logan didn't know what to think, most three year olds didn't. All they knew was that they need to get their mother happy, and fast.

GABRIELLA sighed and knocked on her best friends door. Luckily after Troy left Taylor had comforted her, and they had gotten that much closer. Chad even supported Gabi, and told her that it would be alright, he was even mad at Troy, and they were best friends. She was highly thankful that she had good friends, if she didn't she didn't know where she would be right now, probably where she was all those years ago, back on the streets. She couldn't ask for better friends, she loved them dearly, but no matter how much they encouarged her to let go and have fun, she just couldn't.

"Gabi!" Taylor gasped, breathlessly. "Finally you're here! Bradin wont stop grabbing my hair, and Logan keeps on getting into everything!" Gabriella couldn't help but giggle softly. Bradin was a cute baby, with rich chocolate brown skin, and dark brown eyes, whilst his afro bobbed everywhere. Just like his father.

"Tay, don't worry, I'm here. Where is Logan?" She asked, looking for her son, which was sadly, a splitting image of his father.

"Over there," She pointed to the little boy, getting into the DVD stand. Gabriella sighed, and picked him up.

"Mommy!" He chanted, giving his mom a tender kiss on the lips. "I missed you! Auntie Taylor said that you'd be here soon!"

She smiled. "I'm here now," She said softly, giving her son a loving kiss on the forhead. "Where's your sister?"

"She's playing with Halle," The little boy told his mom, and she nodded, putting him down before looking at Taylor. "It's amazing how fast they grow up huh?" She asked as she tickled the little baby's stomach in Taylor's arms. "You're so cute," She cooed.

The little baby giggled, and snuggled into his mom, before his eyes drooped and he fell asleep. "Finally, he's asleep!" The young woman exclaimed quietly, putting the baby down.

Gabriella smiled and nodded. "Where's the husband?"

Taylor sighed, annoyed. "Out playing basketball," She told her best friend.

"Typical," Gabriella laughed, slightly. Basketball had become her least favorite sport, it was her ex's favorite sport. She couldn't stand knowing that he could be watching the same game, and not be in the same room as her.

"I know, he spends more time with that sport, than me and the kids," She sighed, and giggled softly, seeing her husband come in with a sullen expression. She kissed him quickly. "What's wrong Chad?"

"I got beaten!" He exclaimed. "I can't believe it!" He yelled, not noticing that Gabriella was in the room. All of the sudden the door opened and in walked the one guy that Gabriella thought she'd never see again, she quickly hid her face.

"Aw Chad's pouting to his wife," He laughed. "I didn't beat you that bad dude, only fourty points," He shrugged and looked at Taylors stunned face, obviously she didn't expect him to be here. But Taylor had known that he was back for a while now, 'why did she look so stunned?' He thought to himself, but he soon found out, when he saw the brunette, the same brunette that he had left so many years ago.

"Gabriella?" He breathed softly. Gabriella shook her head, she wasn't ready for this. She looked up at him, before tears started to gather in her eyes.

"I've got to go," She managed to get out, before she looked at Taylor. "Can you drop them off later?" She looked at her pleadingly and Taylor nodded, furiously.

"Of course Gabs," She told her, before Gabriella ran out of the house and down the streets, silently crying. She couldn't believe that he had walked back into her life, and she knew, she knew that if she didn't gather all of the strength that she had, she'd fall for his fascade, and really, she couldn't afford that.

Well I think that was a semi-good introduction to this. Troy was who she was 'thinking' about. You're probably all confused and pissed at me because I made them split up, but it had to be done. Just to clear things up Jesse is her boyfriend. I'll explain everything as it moves along, but I hoped you liked it!! If you can just press the little purple/blue button at the bottom, it'd really make my day. I'll try to update this as much as possible, but don't expect it to be every other day, like The Strong One, because I'm starting school again soon, and I really need to buckle down. But anyways, Review please!