The Imprint or the Blood Singer

Chapter 25

 Masen wasn't meant to start school till the second semester but she liked it so much and Mr. Anthony didn't mind taking in a new student early. Maisie was fixing Masen's lunch box while Edward was teaching her a piano piece he had been working on for a few days now.

Despite the large amounts of money built up over the years from Carlisle, Maisie and Edward wanted to try being financially independent— it was also something else to add to their attempt at a normal life. Being incredibly talented at music and English, Edward started writing books and was already publishing piano pieces under a pseudonym. Maisie finally picked a major, still choosing to do online school, in art history. She had also decided to work on bigger paintings and sell them, also under a pseudonym.

"Alright little wolf, you'll be late for school if you don't go now," Edward said.

Masen pressed her forehead to his and then jumped from the piano bench. She followed Maisie to the car. Maisie strapped her in and made their way to the school. The car had barely pulled up when Masen bolted out the car seeing her friend, a girl Maisie had learned was named Emma. She and Emma walked hand in hand into the school building. Maisie smiled but also felt her heart tug.

If this was normal life, Masen and Emma would be best friends forever. But they wouldn't be in Forks much longer. Edward looked eighteen and so did Maisie, people would only accept the lie up until twenty-one. Maybe twenty-three if they really wanted to push it. The family would have to move and Masen would have to start all over at a new school and they would have to do it again and again until she graduated. The only reprieve for their baby would be when she went off to college, she'd be able to stay where she wanted without anyone knowing about Maisie and Edward.

After dropping Masen off, Maisie drove to La Push. She took off her engagement ring and finally placed it on her anklets. Maisie exited the car and phased. It felt pretty good. She hadn't phased in a while and Sam had taken her off of patrol completely after Masen was born, stating Maisie had a family now and the pack could hold their own. Not that Maisie liked patrols to begin with but it was the only real reason to phase so she decided to voluntarily put herself on patrol when she had time. Today was her first day back and she was with Quil and Embry.

Maisie smoothed out the wedding dress. The day was finally here. It had started to snow a little bit but nothing was sticking. Emmett set up a pavilion last minute and brought out a bunch of heaters for the outside wedding. It wasn't a very big event yet Alice pulled out all the stops anyway. Maisie smiled at her dad as he prepared to escort her down the aisle. The guests cooed as Masen threw the petals down the aisle. Edward's face lit up as he saw Maisie. For Maisie it was like all time had stopped. No one else was there but her and him.

The reception was just as exciting. Because of the cold, any of the human guests with exception of Charlie and Bella left after the ceremony. Maisie was embarrassed as the pack made their speeches— whereas Jake and Leah were nice enough to keep it sweet, Seth, Embry, and Quil embarrassed the absolute shit out of her. She only felt better when Rosalie recounted many stories of Edward that Maisie had never heard before, the blonde sending winks her sister-in-law's way throughout the stories.

"Maisie, Edward. Your cousins sent a wedding gift," Carlisle approached the two after a slow dance. "They apologize for missing, Irina couldn't because..."

Maisie nodded as Edward took the gift and set it down. Irina was still upset they had killed Laurent but in the pack's defense, he was trying to attack Bella. Jacob cut in for a dance with Maisie and then Jasper, Emmett, and Embry. Each congratulated the couple. The party was over when the newlyweds saw Masen yawn for the fifth time in a span of four minutes and noticed somehow she was missing a shoe. Edward scooped her up and they made their way back home.

Three suitcases were sitting in a corner of the living room when the family made it back to the tiny cottage. Because the school accepted Masen early, Maisie and Edward decided to push back their honeymoon to the school's holiday vacation and make it a family event.

Maisie put Masen to bed and after reading a chapter of a book, at her request, joined Edward downstairs. Sometimes he would stay in bed with Maisie, other times he softly played piano all night helping his wife and child sleep to the quiet notes of the keys.

"I have something for you."

"Hmm?" he kissed Maisie twice and she pulled out the small box.

Edward opened it. He smiled taking the gold bracelet out of the box, it matched Maisie's anklet. She watched him put it on.

"I told you I would get you something with the pack symbol on it."

"I love it. And you."

"I love you too."

It had been so long since Maisie stepped foot in an elementary school in the midst of the holidays. There was a lot more construction paper and tinsel on the walls than she remembered. Masen was in the holiday program so Maisie and Edward were going to watch. It surprised them both at first, Masen still didn't talk much but she was ready for the program and was even given lots of lines.

It didn't take long for the news of who Masen's parents were to ring through the schools. The Cullens became very popular in the PTA, all the parents thought it was so commendable for them to adopt Maisie's niece and if she or Edward ever needed help to not hesitate and call them. The couple also didn't miss the looks of pity from some of them, they thought it was such a shame that the two of them had to give up their youth to raise this child. If only any of them knew the truth. Maisie and Edward ended up sitting in the second row by Emma's parents and watched the program. Masen and Emma both ran up to them after it ended.

"Oh, you both looked so lovely in your little costumes. You did great."

The two girls smiled up at Maisie. Emma and Masen looked at each other before Masen nodded her head.

"Um, Mrs. Cullen?" The girl's voice was small but determined. "Can I come over to your house?"

Maisie and Edward had to laugh. It was a classic tactic, get your friend to ask the question so the parents can't say no. They would've said yes anyway if Masen had asked. They talked with Emma's parents and agreed that Maisie would pick the two girls up from school on Monday, which was the last day before break, and Emma could sleepover that night. The children high-fived before Masen grabbed Maisie and Edward's hands to walk back to the car.