Right vs Good Chapter 18: Decisions to be Made, a twilight fanfic

Yay! Reviews! I loves them! Hey everyone.

At the end of the last chapter, I will put in a snippet of the first chapter of my next story. This one took me almost a year to complete because of writer's block, and I kept you all waiting-sorry!-so I'm going to take up to six months to complete my next one. Please keep me on your fave author list if you like my work, so you can read it!

A bit about this chapter: Bella and her kids and Edward are still in Montana. There's been a time lapse-eight years ahead.

Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight, except my plans with PJ to go to Forks this summer! YAY!

Enjoy! XOXO-Ka

Right Vs. Good

by: JudeOrion

Chapter Sixteen: Decisions to be Made

"Kimber, Nick, come help me get this set up."

"Just a second, Mom. Nick, get your freaking backpack off my floor!"

"Get your stupid cat off my backpack!"

"Why is it even in my room?"

"I don't know, why's your shirt in my closet?"

"God, you are such a pain!"

"Whatever."

I rolled my eyes and tucked a graying strand of hair behind my ear. The warm, late summer breeze from the open glass door rustled the last of Kimber's school papers on the coffee table and blew them around the living room. I took them and stacked them back onto the table, which was really an old trunk that Carlisle had lying around for years. I secured the papers with Kimber's glass of water and started putting food onto the table out on the deck.

A couple minutes later, Kimber carried the potato salad out, her ponytail bouncing behind her.

"When are they going to be back?" she asked.

"In a few minutes," I replied. "Is Brett coming?"

Kimber sighed hard. "I don't think so. He's freaking out again." She shrugged.

"Commitment issues?"

"Yeah. I ask if he wants to move in with me next month and he freaks out…So he's going through another meltdown and not calling me back or nothing. I'm getting tired of it."

Nick came out onto the deck and waved the platter of meat and cheese rolls in front of Kimber's face.

"Ugh, get that away from me."

Nick just laughed and set them onto the table. His phone rang, and I recognized the tone set for his dad. He went inside to answer it.

I started to poke the shrimp and pineapple and bell peppers onto the kebob skewers and thought. Kimber was just graduating college, she was starting her nursing at the hospital in three weeks. Personally, I didn't think she should try and make Brett stick to anything he wasn't comfortable with, because I knew it would only hurt her in the end. They'd been together since her Sophomore year at college. She dated a few guys in high school, but only had one boyfriend, when she was a Senior, and they broke up after graduation. I wanted to tell her not to waste her time on Brett, who—although a nice guy—was always a little flaky and skittish when it came to any kind of permanence.

Kimber came up beside me and started poking veggies on the skewers with me. "Besides…I don't love him. We've been together two and a half years and he's nice and everything but I don't love him. I need to focus on my career now anyway."

Good girl.

I couldn't believe she was graduating and moving out soon. I was so proud of her. She had been through so much in her life. A couple of months after her father died her grandmother pretty much became a part of the furniture and Kimber spent all of her time at my apartment. Her grandmother died when Kimber was 16, and I went through the process of becoming a foster parent so Kimber could live with me. There was a time when she felt like she was a burden to me and wanted to quit school and support herself. I tried telling her that I loved her, she was family, she wasn't a burden, she was throwing away her future, but it was in vain. What kept her from leaving in the end wasn't me, it was Nicky throwing a full-on screaming crying tantrum, terrified at the thought of his new big sister leaving him, too.

That day ended with the three of us in a crying hugging mess on the floor, and Kimber promising not to leave the family.

I wanted to adopt her, but it was pretty much a moot point. She was seventeen, graduating high school that year, and already calling me "Mom". But she did change her name to Swan the day she turned eighteen. To us, the paperwork wasn't important. We were a family. She and Nick even fought like brother and sister. He would tease her about being vegetarian, she would tease him about a girl next door to our house that he liked. No matter what, though, the end of the day they would find them doing homework together, or going for a walk, or just playing video games. I knew Kimber was glad to have a brother she could count on and he was thankful he had a sister he could still hug.

Of course, now he was fourteen. He was too old to hug. At least when he thought I was looking.

I looked at Kimber. She'd been through more things than most people. All of twenty-two, survived through a drug-addicted family, a negligent grandmother, a disfiguring scar. She struggled her way through high school, then college, all with the same job, and now here she was in front of me. Strong, self-reliant, and confident. My daughter. I couldn't love her more if I'd given birth to her. She was tall, very tall for a woman, standing at 5' 9" or so. She was no longer sickly-thin, but she was still skinny. She used to hate it because she was very flat-chested, but as she grew into womanhood and reached her twenties, her breasts grew slightly and her hips widened to a swagger-worthy stance. Now, if anything, she was a bit conceited about how she looked. She accepted her scar long ago and came to embrace it as visible verification of her strength. I couldn't be prouder of her.

I smiled at Kimber and said, "I think that's a good idea."

She nodded and fell quiet. A few minutes later I heard a car pull up and then Charlie came through the back door, arms loaded with drinks. Billy followed him, holding plastic plates and cutlery in his lap.

"Where do you want these, Bells?"

"There's a case over there with ice in it, Dad. Billy, those can go on the picnic table. Thanks so much for grabbing that stuff. Where's Jake?"

"He's helping Mel to bed. She's got a migraine so she's going to try laying down for a while, "Billy said.

"Hmm." I furrowed my brow. Mel was on her third pregnancy and it was the worst one yet; just one of the discomforts she had was frequent migraines. They'd been here three days and this was her second one. "I hope she feels better soon."

"She should. Just needs some rest. Plus it's hotter here than over there."

"Yeah. Maybe she needs to drink more water?"

"I'll tell Jake."

"Tell me what?" Jake walked through the door with bags of decorations. He set them on the table and started rooting through them.

"Mel needs to drink more water. That might be why she's getting more migraines."

Jake nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. I'll make sure she does." He started hanging lanterns between the tree boughs hanging over the deck.

"Bells, when was the last time you mowed your lawn?" Charlie asked.

"Mmm…about a month ago?"

"It's starting to get long. Want me to cut it for you while I'm here?"

I dropped a bamboo skewer in surprise and it fell through the cracks in the deck. "Um…I have someone coming tomorrow to do it. Thanks, though, Dad." Emmett and Jasper liked to split the lawn in half and see who could do their half faster. Seeing as they were coming tomorrow, I made sure to have plenty for them to do.

Charlie clapped me on the shoulder and took a swig of his beer. "Sure thing, Bells." He looked over the railing of the raised deck into the backyard that blended into the woods. "You sure got a nice place here, sweetie."

I smiled at him in thanks. I'd lived there three years, and it was the first time Charlie had been to my house. My house. I loved my house. Two stories, built on a hill, with a wraparound porch that ended in a huge deck over the steep backyard. The yard evened out about thirty yards before the first trees of the woods. Technically, only the first ten yards was my property, but there was nothing to block us, so we used it. There was a fire pit dug into the ground with logs set around it for seats. Willy and Maggie, Jake and Mel's kids, were screaming and running around down there. Inside there was a huge kitchen with granite counters, no real dining room but the kitchen kind of blended into a space for a table. Three bedrooms, plus a semi-finished basement with a couple of makeshift guest rooms. My room faced East, so I could lay with Edward in bed and watch the sun rise with him.

Of course, that usually just lead to better uses for the bed.

Dad and I were chatting about the house when Nick came out and grabbed a handful of chips from a bowl. I immediately knew he was up to no good.

"Hey. What'd your dad have to say?"

"He's going to be here in about an hour."

"Are Dylan and Evan coming?"

"They'll be here soon." Nick pulled something from behind his back and lobbed it over the deck before I could say, "Don't you dare."

"Nicholas Newton!"

He and Charlie were doubled over with laughter. Willy was sopping wet, looking around for the culprit. He looked up at the deck and his eyes narrowed. He started running up the stairs and Nick beat it inside. I caught Willy by the shirt as he passed me.

"Oh no you don't, Drippy. You dry off before you go chasing Nick through the house."

"I'm not gonna hurt him!"

I bent to his ear and whispered, "Get him back, be my guest, but you're not going into my house soaked."

"Got any more water balloons?"

"Under his dresser in a shoebox," Kimber said. I gave her a look. "What? I was looking for Tally. She likes to hide under things."

"Go play with your sister. I'll let you know when the coast is clear," Charlie told the little boy, and he went back down to the lawn.

Two hours later, the sun was setting behind the house and slightly to the left. Nick and his friends, twins in his graduating class, were getting a fire started in the pit. Charlie had steaks grilling in the barbeque. Kimber was reclining in a lawn chair with a couple of her girlfriends, laughing over martinis. Jake and Mel were talking with Mike and his new girlfriend. Me? I was leaning against the sliding glass door, taking it all in. It was all slightly surreal. Kimber was graduating college tomorrow. Nick was turning fifteen next month. Mel was having her third baby next month, also. My dad was here, balding and old, with a few less teeth and a bit more gut. Billy came, too, in his new power wheelchair, saved from the junkyard, gutted and re-wired by Jake, the mechanic extraordinaire. My family.

Who I may possibly be giving up soon. Depending on how tonight's discussion went.

I pushed that thought to the back of my head. Now wasn't the time to think about that.

XOXO

Everyone was sitting on the deck or around the fire, eating. I stepped up next to the picnic table.

"Excuse me! Everyone, can I have your attention, please?" Conversation ceased among my friends and family; everyone turned their faces to me. "Thanks for coming out to this party for Kimber's graduation. Whether it was 45 minutes—" I gestured with a grin to Mike and his girlfriend, Chareese, a local radio hostess. "—or eight hours—" I waved my hand to my father, Billy, Jake and Mel, their kids—my uncle, brother, sister, nephew and niece. "—thank you so much for coming. I remember the first day I met Kimber. I gave her a ride to school that morning, and you wouldn't know it looking at her now, but she was the shyest, quietest person I'd ever met. When I dropped her off at school she looked so small and scared I was worried she would be eaten alive." I chuckled and so did the gathering. I looked at Kimber and she was smiling at me.

"As I got to know her, though, I saw a young woman who had gone through so much, and was so courageous. She blew me away. Over just the first couple of months I got to know her, I came to love her like a daughter." Great. My voice was cracking with effort of holding back tears. "She is my daughter. And I couldn't be prouder of her than at this particular moment. She's struggled her way through a hard life, and she's persevered throughout lows and sailed through her highs in joy. And now here she is." My eyes were filling with tears. I looked over to Kimber and her own tears were falling. I held my hand up to her and she pushed up off her seat and came to me and I hugged her tight to me.

"I love you, Mom."

"Love you too, baby."

Everyone clapped and whooped and I brushed Kimber's tears away from her face.

"Nick, will you bring it out, please?" Nick ran into the kitchen, then back out with a cake shaped like a big K. The frosting was hot pink and purple tiger striped (Thank you, Chareese) and there was a black velvet box resting on top of it.

"What's this?" Kimber asked.

"Open it up," I told her with a smile.

Kimber picked up the box and opened it up. Her green eyes grew huge and she screamed. "No way!" She looked up at me from the key and I beamed at her. "No way! No freaking way!" She tossed the box onto the ground and ran to the edge of the deck where the ground was only a couple of feet below, jumped over the rail and ran up to the side of the house, where the driveway was.

She screamed ecstatically even louder and we could hear a horn honking frantically. Everyone rushed out to the front, either by jumping the deck as Kimber had or going through the house. I lead the group, first to go out the door and to the side of the house to see Kimber in her new Focus. Yeah, it was a few years old, but it was the best I could do for her. Jake contributed by building the engine himself. So it basically ran like new.

"Oh my God, Mom!" She jumped out of her new shiny pink—yes, dear God, it was pink—car and threw herself at me in a hug. "Thank you so, so much."

I laughed, happy to see her so excited.

This had to be the best feeling in the world.

XOXO

The party had completely dispersed by eleven and we had decided to the major clean-up the next day. We were all in too good of a mood to worry about cleaning. Kimber had taken Nick for a quick spin around the block in her new car. I took a quick shower and when I entered my bedroom the first thing I saw was Edward lying on my bed.

"Hey," I greeted him.

"Hi, beautiful. How did it go?" he asked with a touch of sadness. He had been so disappointed he couldn't go to the party tonight, the whole Cullen family had, really. I shed my robe and crawled next to Edward; I crossed my leg over his own and rested my head on his shoulder. His arm came to wrap around me. I kissed his mouth gently.

"It was all right. She loved the car."

He smiled. "I figured she would. Especially since you got it painted pink."

I smiled and snuggled into him. "I'm glad you're home. I missed you this week."

"Me, too."

These past eight years had been…stressful when it came to Edward. The end of that school year, the Cullens "moved" to another town. Everyone kind of split up for a while. I felt guilty about it, but they assured me it was time for a few years to their own devices as couples. Edward stayed with me for the whole of the eight years, and for that I was so grateful. We told Nick and Kimber about what the Cullens were a few years ago. Nick was like me—he kind of took it in stride and it didn't' matter to him. Kimber was kind of freaked out, though. She wouldn't talk to them, be around them if she could help it. She came around eventually, though. I think the biggest part was her humiliation at realizing that Jasper could read her emotions—namely a crush she'd had since she first laid eyes on him.

Other than those two, Edward's presence was a secret. It caused us a few fights. I didn't want him to feel obligated to stay with me if he wanted to go with his family. He told me in a roundabout way that I was being an idiot and he wasn't leaving me. After a few years I finally accepted it.

He had just come home after a week-long hunting trip with his family as a reunion. I couldn't resist the urge to cuddle up next to him like I hadn't seen him in years.

"So is everyone here then?"

"Yeah, downstairs. Alice is teeming with excitement to see you. She's barely contained as is, so why don't you put some clothes on and come downstairs. Will Kimber and Nick be home soon?"

"Yeah." I nodded and looked up at Edward's face. How did I get so lucky? How could he still want me? I kissed him on the lips again and lifted myself off the bed. He looked at me with the same lusty gleam in his eye from eight years ago. As I dressed, I wondered to myself.

My hair was turning grayer every month. I found full-fledged crows feet the other day. My skin was starting to sag and my breasts, which had somehow survived two children, were finally starting their descent down my chest. Edward still looked exactly the same as when I first sat next to him in Biology class so many years ago.

It didn't make sense to me one bit. But I wasn't about to disturb the peace.

The front door opened and I heard Kimber and Nick chatting in loud, excited voices. They halted abruptly, then we heard a loud scream and a growl.

"Emmett! Holy crap!" I hear Nick yell. I looked to Edward quickly; he had a wry smile twisting his lips so I knew there wasn't anything wrong, probably just Emmett being boisterous.

"So you're sure about tonight, then?" Edward asked.

"I've waited long enough. I need to have this talk with the kids."

"And if they say no?" he whispered. I sighed hard.

"I've already told you. I don't think they will. But, if they do—" I cut off Edward's protest by holding up her hand. "then we'll…take it from there."

Secretly, that was my biggest fear. If the kids didn't agree with what I wanted to do…I didn't want to think about what would happen.

I slipped my feet into my slippers and pulled my sliver-flecked hair into a braid.

"Ready?"

"Let's do this."

I took Edward's offered hand, ready to head into the firing squad.

XOXO

Hey everyone! Hope y'all are enjoying the last bit of Right Vs. Good.

Ok, I always loved it when an author would have an interview of the characters. So my very good friend did one up for me! Thank you so much PJ, for doing this for me. You rock!

Enjoy, everyone! I tried to write these as objectively as possible :P

XOXO

Kimber: What do you think of Bella treating you like another daughter?

I love it. I finally have a mom I can count on. Just anyone I can count on is amazing.

Mike: What the hell were you thinking when you spewed those vicious lies about Bella being an unfit mother?

*Looks to the floor in shame* Well, I guess…I wasn't thinking. Things with me and Bella hadn't been good for a few years. I was angry. I lashed out at her, since she was the easiest target. I know now that I had no right to take it out on her. I'm very sorry I did.

Edward: What made you think that you even stood a chance at regaining Bella's affections?

I didn't. *Chuckles nervously* But if you had found the love of your life, if you had a second chance to win her heart, wouldn't you try, no matter how bleak the chances?

Josh: What made you think that Edward was the one whom Bella was talking about when she said that she loved another?

I saw the way they looked at each other. All the time. It was clear she felt something toward him, even if she didn't admit it. She tried to deny it, but…I knew it was him.

Nicky: What was it about the Cullens that made you feel secure enough to connect with them?

*Mumbles*

What was that, sweetie?

I don't know. They play with me an' stuff. Rose plays with me. An' Emmett makes me laugh.

Esme: What do you think of Nicky?

Oh, he's so sweet. And intelligent! Very shy, yes, but he reminds me of the children I used to teach when I was human. He's so…happy, despite the things he's seen. I love him dearly.

Rose: Does Bella having a child change your outlook towards her?

No. Any woman can have a child. The fact that she's such a good mother makes me…think differently of her. I guess I respect her more. I think she's an idiot for willing to be with Edward again. But that's for a different reason. *Shrugs* She's a good mom. I'm proud of her for that.

Jasper: What does Nicky feel around Edward?

He feels friendship, mostly. Happiness. Trust. He feels very at ease with Edward, more so than ever with Josh.

Alice: Can you see what Nicky's future holds?

*Smiles coyly* Well that would give away the ending, wouldn't it?

Carlisle: Has there been a discernable difference in Edward after this last chapter?

*Smiles contentedly* It's like a weight has been lifted off of his shoulders. He is easier to get to laugh, to lighten up. Why? What happened?

Emmett: How the hell did you do it? I mean how did you know what to do to bring Nicky out of his shell?

*Winks* Kids are easy, man. You just laugh with 'em. Make sure they're comfortable above everything else. And make 'em feel safe. I've always made people feel safe anyway. Plus Nicky's a good kid. He's easy to get along with.

Bella: What do you want from Edward & the Cullens now?

*Looks to her lap and speaks softly* I just don't want them to leave again. I'm so happy now that everyone is back in my life. I'm terrified they're going to disappear in the middle of the night.