A/N: here's the first chapter of the sequel... the first part tells about what vanessa is doing and about the triplets... enjoy

Chapter 1

Eight years later and Vanessa was taking online college classes as the triplets were doing their homework. She was going to be an art major she had tried going to an actual college there in New York, but that didn't work out because she was always late for some classes due to not getting up in time or waiting on the babysitter so she finally decided on online classes.

Noah, the oldest of the triplets, was the last one up every morning and had to be told four times to get up, but besides that he had his mother's artistic skills. When ever he had a pencil in his hand and a piece of paper in front of him he was in his own world and whatever happened around him didn't exist. It was like his escape route from everything bad that had happened that day.

Angel, the second oldest of the triplets, is very different than her brother and sister she was more of the brains out of the three of them. She was always up at 6am and was always the first to have her homework done and hopes of becoming senator of New York someday or least owning her own company, but for now she's an honor student like her brother and sister, except unlike them she's not afraid to admit it.

And last, but not least, there's Allison, the youngest of the triplets, is shy and quiet. She mostly keeps to herself and tries to stay out of everyone's way the best she could. She has the most amazing voice and is part of the chorus at school though people have told her she should be singer someday when she grows up she would rather be a doctor.

After a few minutes of working on her paper for one of her online classes Vanessa looked up at the clock on the wall and saw that it was time to start dinner. She sighed as she picked up the history assignment from earlier that she wrote down and went into the kitchen to figure out what to cook.

"Mom," Angel called from the living room, "Noah won't stop spitting spit balls at me!"

"Noah leave your sister alone," she said mixing the pancake mix as Allison came into the kitchen, "hey sweetie, want to help."

"Okay," Allison said as she sat the skillet on the stove and turned the stove on for her mom.

"Mom! Noah keeps spitting spit balls at me!" Angel said.

Vanessa sighed as she handed the bowl to her youngest daughter, "keep stirring until there's no lumps," then went into the living room, "Noah I told you to leave your sister alone, now go to your room."

"But mom," Noah whined.

"Go and don't come out until I call you for dinner," then she went back into the kitchen as the doorbell rang, "Angel get the door then I want you to pick up the spit balls."

"But they're not my spit balls," Angel said as she went to the door.

"I don't care. You can either pick them up or stay in your room until dinner it's your choice."

Angel went to the door and opened it, "Cody!" then she wrapped her arms around him.

Cody hugged her back, "hey, where's your mom?"

"In the kitchen," she said as she went to go pick up the spit balls.

"Where's Noah and Allison?"

"Allison is in the kitchen with mom and Noah's in his room because he was spitting spit balls at me."

Cody walked into the kitchen as Allison was setting the table he walked up behind Vanessa and wrapped his arms around her, "smells good."

Vanessa smiled, "always does," then turned around and kissed him, "have to work late tonight, you sure you're going to able to handle them?"

"Don't worry, we'll be fine. Besides it's not the first time you've had to work late."

"It's the first time at night I have to work late."

"True."

Vanessa looked at Allison, "go tell your brother and sister to wash up for dinner and you too," then she looked at Cody as she walked out of the kitchen as she sighed, "I told my second boss I couldn't work past 10pm and he said okay, but now he's having me work til midnight tonight. He must hate me or something."

"I don't see why you won't let me help you. I mean you're working two jobs, do you even have time for yourself?"

"Because I don't want any help."

"Vanessa, you have three kids to raise."

"I know, that's why I'm working two jobs, so I can feed them, keep a roof over their heads, clothe them, and everything else that it takes to raise kids," she said putting pancakes on the kids plates.

"I just worry about you," Cody said sitting down.

"I know and I wish you wouldn't. I'm fine," then she sat down sighing as the kids sat down at the table.

Later that night a little after midnight Vanessa walked in and saw Cody asleep on the couch. She covered him up then brushed his hair out of his eyes and kissed him on the forehead. Just as she was about to walk away she felt him grab her wrist making her sit down.

Cody opened his eyes and put a strand of her hair behind her ear, "about time you got in."

"Don't tell me you were starting to get worried about me."

"Yep, you look tired."

"I am," she said putting her face in her hands, "and I have to be up at six, I'm just glad tomorrow is Friday."

"Then why get up at six?"

"Let's see kids and school."

"Oh, well I can take the kids to school for you."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't need help."

"Well I think you do."

Vanessa got up and looked at him, "get out. I don't need you to come into my house telling me that I need help."

Cody got up and looked at her, "why want you admit that you need him?"

"Because I don't, now get the hell out," then she went to her room as Cody left.

A/N: the title of this story is just a working title (was listening to nickelback's all the right reasons album so yea... anyway)... the title may change somewhere down the road, but don't know yet, if ya have a better title then let me know