So here it is, the sequel to Life Changing Moments.

Casey opened her eyes and stared at the clock. When she saw the time she rolled over quickly to see that Derek was already up. Throwing her robe on she rushed down the stairs and into the kitchen to see Derek standing over the stove flipping pancakes.

She smiled as she watched him toss the chocolate chip pancakes onto the platter and pour more batter on the griddle. Chocolate chip pancakes had been a tradition on the first day of school since Gage had started pre-school. Even after Derek had started in the pros he was always home on the first day of school and he had made chocolate chip pancakes. This was the eighteenth year such an event had occurred.

She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "It smells wonderful," she said as she placed her chin on his shoulder and peered down at the food.

"Well, you know me, I have one specialty so that's what they get," he said turning his head so that he could place a kiss on her forehead.

"No, they get exactly what they want. If those girls came down this morning and there was anything besides chocolate chip pancakes on that table, we might have a meltdown on our hands."

Derek began to shake his head no and a look of panic overcame him. "Please don't say the 'm' word. I still don't think I've recovered from the one Jenna had when Whitney walked in with the same Louis Vuitton that she had bought a couple of days ago. I will never understand girls. If Edwin had shown up with the same backpack as me I wouldn't have thought twice about it."

Casey rolled her eyes and placed a kiss on his cheek before pulling away. "And that is why you're a man. Unfortunately it was a very big deal to her. It's her senior year Derek and she wanted everything to be perfect on the first day."

"Hey, don't mention the 's' word either. I'm in great denial about that and I'm going to live in denial for as long as I can. And I told her to go buy a new bag, which she did."

"Well, I think your little world of denial may be hard to live in seeing as you'll be at the school with her everyday. Are you sure you're ready to jump in there and do this?"

"Case, they called and needed me. When you loose your coach a week before school starts you don't have a lot of options and I'm thrilled to be volunteering. I can't wait to walk the halls of Thompson High again."

"Yeah, and it doesn't hurt that you can keep a really close eye on the girls either, does it?" she asked him pointedly.

He shrugged his shoulders and the smirk she loved so much graced his lips. "Well, if that happens to be one of the perks of this whole deal, then I'm not complaining. Plus, you know I'm excited to have Jordan coming to help me. I'd do anything for that kid. He and Gage were best friends the whole way through high school and when his dad died I said I 'd watch out for him and I meant it. It's a damn shame, he has to sit out his first season in the NHL because of that knee injury but he'll be a great asset to me this year."

"I think you want him around because it'll remind you of Gage."

"I won't deny it; I'm guilty as charged. I miss that boy like crazy. We have a real lack of testosterone around here and Jordan staying with us a while sure might up the quota to a manageable level."

"When's he supposed to turn up?"

"He's meeting me at my office this morning. I guess he'll have everything loaded up in his car and then this afternoon we can unload everything and get him settled in here."

Casey was about to respond when Whitney came through the doorway. "Mmm Daddy, they smell so good," she said as she grabbed a plate and started placing pancakes on it. "The first day of school is the best," she added as she placed a kiss on his cheek.

Casey watched in amusement as Derek lit up with the compliment from Whit. Those girls had him totally whipped and he didn't even care. Whatever they wanted, they got. When Casey would try to tell him that maybe they should make them work for something he would just laugh and tell her that he worked all those years so they wouldn't have to.

"Where's your sister," she asked as she took a plate herself.

"Where do you think?" Whitney said as she rolled her eyes. "She's upstairs making sure she looks like God's gift to man, like she doesn't already."

Casey cringed a little. Their girls loved each other but there was a healthy rivalry there with them being only two years apart. They were both wonderful girls in their own right. Jenna was small and petite with beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes while Whitney was equally as beautiful though a lot taller with dark hair and blue eyes.

As if one cue, Jenna came through the doors acting as if she owned the place. "Ooh Daddy, those look delicious," she said as she threw her arms around him and gave him a kiss.

And once again Derek got that look on his face and once again Casey rolled her eyes. Whipped, she thought to herself with a grin.

So what do you think? Do you want me to continue? Let me know!