Special Delivery

Nothing from the Twilight Series or Ms. Meyers works belong to me!

EPOV

As a result of yesterday's shopping excursion by Alice and Rosalie, their favorite pastime, I was chosen as the designated pickup and delivery man for all of the goods they couldn't carry themselves. It wasn't enough they showed up with an entire car loaded with shoes, sweaters, dresses, coats and lots of unmentionables, but what didn't make it in their car, I was then called upon to recover from the shops in Burlington. Normally I wouldn't care how much they purchased, but this time I was being roped into their shopping adventure.

Apparently they found an 'absolutely fantastic' bookstore, it was 'charming' as my lovely sisters classified it. So having no self-control when it comes to shopping, they bought books. It seems they purchased so many books that fitting them into Alice's car was a problem and not wanting the shop owner to get suspicious when they picked up the boxes and carried them out, they asked me to be their delivery man. Now, I'm left with the task of having to drive into Burlington to collect my sisters' latest acquisitions. I began growling as I thought about this.

I wanted Jasper to join me, but Alice wouldn't allow it because the whole reason she went into the store was to buy Jasper a present. She didn't want him to know about the gift, so he couldn't keep me company or assist me with getting the books to the car. There was no way I was going to ask Emmett to come, all too often when going out in public Emmett would find some way to embarrass me. So I was left making the trip on my own.

The drive into town was quick, I did love driving; it wasn't like I had anything to do either, so I wasn't as put out as I was convincing myself. In fact, it was somewhat of a relief to be out of the house and away from couples. I was enjoying our new home but getting behind the wheel of my Volvo again was refreshing. I began to relax as I thought about how I was actually beginning to think of our new house as a home. Our last place of residence never held that appeal for me.

As I walked down Church Street I realized it was a quaint little street, but as usual it was like many others across America. After the amount of years I've been around, the allure of streets such as this have lost its appeal. Alice's enthusiasm for shopping was not one that I shared. I found the bookstore Alice directed me to, North Country Books it looks appealing enough.

I held the door open for a gentleman as he exited. I was instantly hit with a very familiar scent; it hit me like a ton of bricks stopping me in my path. It unnerved me and as I got further into the shop my whole body tensed. This was a scent I was very familiar with; it was the smell of freesia. The fire in my throat erupted, my stomach tightened and the venom started to flow into my mouth. It couldn't be though; this could not be my la tua cantante.

Panic flooded through my veins, I looked around the store for the source of the aroma, but the only other person was a man behind the counter. Gaining control of my breathing so that the smell did not completely overcome me, I slowly approached. Instantly the scent intensified, I knew my eyes must have been black as the blackest night; I tried to collect myself to mask my emotions on my face. There was something within the vicinity of this counter that held the strongest of the scent.

When the man looked at me, I saw his initial reaction, fear. It quickly changed to a reserved smile as I gathered myself. "Can I help you?" he asked.

Before answering him, I scanned the store quickly to ensure that there was no one else around. "Yes, I'm here to pick up a purchase that was made yesterday evening. It's under the name of McCarty, I was told the order would be ready this evening."

The man's smile became very warm and wide. "Ah yes, the boxes are right over here," he gestured to the corner as he began walking from behind the counter. Looking over to the location he indicated, I was surprised to see 10 boxes. Alice and Rosalie had definitely gone overboard.

"If you don't mind I will begin loading them into my car," I stated as I approached the corner. Again the scent increased as I drew near the boxes. My mind was racing, how could this be? I knew the gentleman that I was standing beside was not the owner of the scent. This could only be one individual, my angel. But how, how is this possible, she's in Forks, 3,000 miles away.

"If you give me a moment to get my jacket I'll help you carry these to your car." the man said as he smiled at me. I nodded, as I stood rigidly held in place, struggling to control the monster within me.

"Thank you I'd appreciate your assistance. Is there any paperwork that needs to be completed before I leave?" I asked him. The scent had been the most intense at the counter so I was hoping for a chance to get near it, perhaps it held some answers.

"Well, yes that would be great. I'll need your signature on the bill of sale verifying that you picked up the order," he said as he walked back to the counter. I followed him fighting back the venom and the desire to run from the store to find the source of the scent.

As I approached, I noticed a jacket draped over one side of the counter. I said casually, "It appears one of your customers has left their jacket behind." I pointed to the jacket hoping he would have a clue as to the owner.

He chuckled and said while putting it on the stool behind him, "That's my assistant's jacket. She was a little over excited to get home and left it behind. She probably didn't even realize there was a chill in the air based on the mood she was in. I remember being that age, your age as a matter of fact." He smiled and held out the paperwork for me to sign.

As I was signing the form I realized the jacket was the evidence I needed, finding her will be easy. She works here, so I just need to come back to the store. "Shall we, if you follow me I'll lead you to my car." I said as I went back to the corner and lifted two of the boxes.

"I'll just get my jacket." He went towards the back of the store and I quickly moved behind the counter and held the jacket up to my nose. Inhaling deeply, I knew without a doubt this was Bella's sweet appealing scent a combination of freesia and strawberry. I quickly headed back to the corner before he came back.

Now that I knew with everything in me that Bella was in the area, I wanted to get home, I needed to get home. Alice must have seen this; I was going to have a discussion with my sister as soon as I walked in the door!

It took us two trips to the car to load all the boxes. Each time I entered the store the scent would hit me hard, the monster inside me longing for the taste of the blood that sang to me. My reactions were making the shopkeeper nervous. As much as I wanted to leave, he wanted me gone. I could smell the fear coming from him.

I took the last box and said goodbye without shaking his hand. If I shook his hand I didn't know if the monster would take control, just feeling the warmth of his hand and the blood pulsing through his veins would be enough for my instincts to take over. It didn't matter that he wasn't the owner of the sweet blood I longed for, the monster inside was gaining control as I stood in the store surrounded by her scent.

I was home within minutes and raced inside the house, calling out for Alice. She was quickly by my side with her wide smile that brightened every feature on her pixie like face. After getting a good look at me her smile disappeared, "Edward, what's wrong." 'Nothing could have happened I would have seen it. So why does he look like this?' "Edward?"

I was pacing the room, my fists balled, every muscle tight wanting to unleash my anger. Even though I had some relief no longer being exposed to the scent, my memory had stored it and the burning in my throat was still persistent.

"Alice, what have you done?" I shouted. I turned on her "You knew this and purposely held this knowledge from me. Do you know what could have happened?" I screamed at her. I was out of patience all control had been used while in the bookstore.

After hearing the confrontation, everyone in the house came into the room. Alice had a smug look on her face and her hands on her hips. Everything inside me wanted to pounce on her. Suddenly I felt a wave of calm, "Jasper Don't! Do not control my emotions right now! I could have used you about 20 minutes ago; I certainly don't need your efforts now. Alice, explain yourself right now!"

She maintained her self-righteous stance, "Edward you never would have gone had I told you what Rose and I had discovered. You would have fought me for days and punished yourself in the process. Now that you know what do you intend to do about it?"

I looked at the faces around the room; they were all puzzled except Rosalie. She stood in the entryway with her arms crossed on her chest I scanned her mind. 'Maybe this wasn't a good idea, why did I let Alice talk me into this.'

Turning back to Alice, "So you didn't only manipulate me, you used your persuasive efforts on Rosalie too. You had no right Alice, this is not for you to decide." I began pacing again. I needed to run, get as far away from her smug face as possible.

"Edward, I saw it. It's good, let me show you."

"NO, NO! I do not want to see Alice; you know what I've been going through. I honestly don't know what you were thinking." I sat on the couch and pinched the bridge of my nose trying to gain control.

"I've seen enough! What's going on?" Esme asked.

"Ask Alice." I said as I closed my eyes and put my head back on the couch.

Everyone turned to Alice waiting for her to explain. "Rosalie and I went shopping yesterday and one of the stores I entered had the scent of Bella. I couldn't believe it, I left and told Rose what I'd found. While I was telling Rose, I had a vision of Bella. She was eating with some girl I've never seen before. They were in a local restaurant so Rosalie and I walked up and down the street to find it and we did."

"ALICE, TELL ME THAT YOU DID NOT APPROACH BELLA?" I had jumped off the couch and was screaming in her face.

"No, we just went inside so I could see if it really was the same place, we never saw Bella, Edward." She was so excited she could barely contain herself.

"So Bella's here? In Burlington?" Emmett said confused. Rosalie smacked him on the back of the head, "Haven't you been listening?"

"Please, go on Alice" Carlisle said as he took Esme's hand and they walked to the couch to sit down.

"Well, once we realized it was truly Bella, we went back to the store and purchased several books. We wanted to buy as many as possible so Edward would have to pick them up. If he went to the store himself, he might run into her. We were hoping she would be there when he went. But that didn't happen…I see that now." She came to my side and said, "Edward I'm sorry, but this is great news."

"Edward, what happened at the store?" Carlisle asked. 'Please tell me you didn't loose control' He remained calm but I could see the concern in his eyes.

"It was similar to the first day that Bella entered our lives. The scent was overwhelming and I had to do everything I could to control myself. Nothing happened, I never saw Bella." I said quietly.

"Edward, nothing will happen, you love Bella." Alice said excitedly.

Sighing heavily I sat on the couch and put my hands through my hair. "Alice, for someone so bright, how could you not see what this would do to me? I haven't been near Bella in a year's time; her scent brings out the very worst in me. Did you honestly believe I would get that scent and not have my instincts prevail. It took me weeks to become accustomed to the pull that her blood has for me. If she had been there I don't know if I would have been able to control myself" I leaned forward putting my head in my hands and sobbed.

When I looked up again, everyone had left the room except Alice and Carlisle. The two people closest to me had stayed to help me work through the emotions that were bombarding me.

"Edward, we need to discuss this." Carlisle said in a firm quiet tone. "What will you do now that you know Bella is in the area?"

"I don't know. I want to see her again, but I'm afraid my instincts will take over once I get near her." I was shaking my head in disbelief. How could this have happened?

"Edward, please let me show you my vision." Alice pleaded.

"No, Alice. You and I both know your visions can change. Depending on circumstances and decisions that are reached the outcome can be completely different." I said defensively. "I need to think, I need time to work through this."

"Edward, perhaps you should go to Denali and stay with Tanya. Maybe time away will help you to view this properly." Carlisle suggested.

Shaking my head, I looked up at him and said, "I'm not sure what I should do. There is a large part of me that wants to seek her out and tell her I love her, but then I remember everything that happened and I know that we have no future." I got up from the couch and began pacing again. "You're right Carlisle, I need time to think…I'm going for a run!" I swiftly walked out the door and ran faster and further than I had since coming to Vermont.