Stephenie Meyer owns all things twilight.

BPOV:

I was in love with Edward. I almost fell over as the realization hit me. This was the first time I had ever experienced feelings like this. I had to tell him, but I didn't know how.

"Hey, Alice," I began, "if you were say in love with Jasper, how would you tell him? Would you just blurt it out or wait for the right time or set up something romantic? Because I'm really not sure and-," Alice placed her small hand over my mouth.

"Breathe, Bella. You're talking faster than me right now," Alice said with a giggle. "Now, when I told Jasper I loved him it just felt right. It wasn't a heat of the moment situation. It wasn't because he said it first. I knew what I was feeling in that moment and I had to tell him."

"What?" I shrieked, "You told Jasper you love him? When? Where? How? What?" I looked to Rose but she just stood there, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Rose, what are you smiling about?" It was like they had a joke that only they knew about.

"Well, I may have told Emmett that I love him, too." In the time that it took for my two best friends to declare their love, I was only able to figure out that I was in love.

"Well, this is just great! Bella is behind the curve yet again," I joked dramatically, making Rose and Alice laugh.

"It's not a race," Rose stated. "Don't feel like you have to tell Edward, just because we told our guys."

I didn't feel pressured though. I knew I would tell Edward, and hoped that he would feel the same.

Half an hour later we were on our way to meet the boys for breakfast. Every time I looked at Edward, I would blush, thinking of how I loved him. I had to tell him soon or I would bust.

"So what do you girls want to do tomorrow when we dock?" Edward asked. I was relieved to hear that he wanted to spend time with us when we dock, and I hadn't just been presumptuous.

"Well, I'm definitely going shopping the minute we dock," Alice, said. " Tanya told me some great things to get while we're in San Salvador."

"Of course, Alice," I sighed. I knew Rose and I would have to try to control her spending. She would be devastated to max out her credit card on the first island.

"We have to swim too!" Alice continued. "I hear the water is so clear you can see to the bottom anywhere you swim!" She continued to prattle on, but my thoughts turned to a very shirtless Edward and me swimming in the clear blue water of the Caribbean.

EPOV:

After Alice had finally kicked me out of the girls room, I made my way back to my own. Emmett and Jasper were waiting for me when I got back.

"So," Emmett began while I groaned. "What happened between you and Bella last night?" Did he really think that little of me to think that I would take advantage of my Bella while she needed me?

I indulged his idiocy for a moment while replying, "We did it." I kept the most serious face as Jasper and Emmett looked at me bug eyed.

"You did it?" Emmett asked incredulously.

"Yes. Of course. We went to sleep about ten minutes after you guys left. What did you think I meant?" Jasper began laughing loudly while Emmett realized how stupid he was being.

"So what really happened last night?" Jasper asked concerned. "Is Bella okay?"

"Yes, she's fine now, but that dream she had really shook her up. She asked me to stay with her, so I did."

"Well thanks to Bella's dream, I got to spend the night with the woman I love in my arms," Emmett said with a grin.

"What?" I said loudly. Emmett put his hands up in defense.

"I know, I know. Emmett McCarty, the great playboy, has fallen for one girl. I can't believe it myself, but Rose is too amazing not to love." He said with great conviction. I looked to Jasper to see his reaction to this, but he just stood there smiling.

"I told Alice I love her too."

I couldn't believe it. My two best friends were in love and I couldn't be happier for them. My thoughts were immediately brought back to Bella and me. I had never experienced anything like I felt with Bella. Each time we touched it was like an electric shock going through my system. It had felt so right comforting her last night, having her in my arms.

That's when I remembered. I had called her 'love' last night. I didn't intend to, but it had slipped off of my tongue easily. It seems my heart was expressing what my head couldn't quite wrap around. I was profoundly, genuinely, and sincerely in love with Bella Swan.

"Guys," I stated dreamily, "I'm in love with Bella."

"I'm glad you finally realized," Emmett said while slapping me hard on the back.

"What do you mean 'finally realized'?" I asked confused.

"Edward, my man" Jasper started, "the way you've been looking at Bella had said everything you just realized." I laughed. They had realized it before me.

"Let's go get some breakfast," Emmett stated as his stomach growled. I was more excited than ever to see Bella now that I had made this realization. I just had to figure out how to tell her.

During breakfast, I would look at my beautiful Bella and she would blush. I loved that I could make her do that. Each time we locked eyes, I wanted to tell her that I loved her, but I don't think she would want to hear that for the first time at a table full of our friends.

After deciding what should be done the next day we all agreed that we would go swimming. We changed in our rooms and met back at the pool.

I almost fainted when I saw Bella enter the pool area. She wore what could technically be called a bathing suit but left little to the imagination. It was a white and peach bikini that tied as a halter behind her neck. The matching bottom piece tied at the sides with two thin strings.

"Close your mouth Eddie," I heard Emmett say. "You're letting flies in." I immediately shut my mouth, which I didn't realize was open, and glared at Emmett. He only laughed as he went to greet Rose. Jasper and I followed suit.

"You look amazing, Bella," I said as I whispered in her ear. She instantly blushed and quietly thanked me. I gave her a quick kiss, not able to resist her lips any longer, and led her over to the lounge chairs the guys had reserved.

"Cannon ball!" Emmett yelled and before I knew it, Bella and I were covered in water. We looked at each other and she immediately burst out laughing. Her laughter caused me to laugh. When we discovered that all of our friends were covered in water too, our laughter increased.

"I swear, he's a child," Rose said sounding like she was exasperated but her smile gave her away.

Soon we were all in the pool, splashing about and having a good time. Emmett offered to get the girls drinks and us guys went to get them.

"No, I really think you should leave now," I heard my angel say. She spotted me and pointed in my direction, "There's my boyfriend now." I got a sudden thrill as she told the guy next to her that I was her boyfriend. I was brought back to reality when I saw the man lean extremely close to my Bella's face and whisper something to her. She looked disgusted and I picked up my pace to reach her.

"What's going on here, beautiful?" I asked when I reached her. I didn't like how uncomfortable she looked.

"Edward," she said relieved as she tried to make her way to my side but was stopped by something. That something was the stranger's hand. I grabbed her arm and gently pulled her from his grasp. How dare he touch her? Emmett and Jasper noticed this and came to stand around him in somewhat of a circle.

"Who is this?" I asked through clenched teeth.

She wrapped her arms around me and replied, "I have no clue."

"How rude of me," he said. "I'm Mike Newton." He was a bit shorter than me, with spiky blonde hair that had too much product in it. I briefly shook his hand to discover that he had a very weak grip.

"Well, why don't you go back to the insane person who agreed to come on this trip with you," Emmett stated in a very intimidating voice. Mike finally noticed Emmett behind him and was surprised by his size for a minute before regaining his composure.

"Not until I learn this brown-eyed beauty's name," he said in what he probably thought was an attractive voice but just sounded creepy to my ears. Bella cringed beside me.

He reached out to touch Bella again but I grabbed his arm and twisted it slightly.

"I highly suggest you leave us right now," I said in a low voice, "before I do something I regret." I threw his arm back to his body with a smacking sound.

"Jeeze, a guy can't have a little fun," he said while backing away. "I'll see you around, sugar!" he yelled before running in the opposite direction.

Rosalie and Alice came over to us laughing hysterically.

"Who was that creep?" Alice managed to ask between her laughter.

Bella shuddered, "Apparently Mike Newton."

I wrapped my arms tighter around her and asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she replied. "He was just weird."

"Why were you alone?" I asked suddenly. I didn't even want to think about what could've happened to my sweet Bella if she were alone for much longer with that guy.

"I didn't feel like swimming anymore, so I got out and Rose and Alice stayed in," she said with a shrug.

"I'd prefer if you weren't alone on the ship," I said. I didn't care that I was being overprotective. My only concern was for her safety.

"Yeah," Emmett agreed. "Especially with guys like Mike running around. That goes for all of you girls."

"You guys are being overprotective," Rose said with a sigh. I gave the guys a look telling them to drop it but we all knew that we would be keeping a close watch on the girls.

I looked to Bella and she smiled up at me erasing all traces of anger that I felt towards Mike.

"Will you walk with me?" I asked her. I had something I wanted to discuss with her. She nodded her head yes.

We left our friends and walked around the outer deck of the ship. We stopped at a spot near the front of the ship and stood by the rail. I stood behind her, my arms on either side of her.

"Bella," I began but she stopped me with a passionate kiss. She parted her lips slightly and I took that as my cue. I deepened our kiss until we both needed air.

"Wow," was all I could get out. She turned in my arms and looked into my eyes.

"Thank you for protecting me today, Edward," she said with a smile.

"It was no problem, love." The endearment slipped out, yet again, before I could stop it. I was upset that it had slipped out but I was also hoping that she had heard it. I needed to tell her how I felt. I couldn't wait any longer. Her blush told me that she had heard what I said, so I continued.

"Bella, these past couple of days have been the best of my life. Now that I've met you I couldn't imagine not hearing your sweet voice everyday, or holding you in my arms," I touched her cheek, "or seeing that cute blush of yours. I love you Isabella."

She was quiet and frozen in my arms. That worried me. What worried me more was when she buried her head in my chest and started crying. I stroked her back absently while scolding myself.

I'm an idiot. How could I tell her without knowing how she felt first? She obviously doesn't feel the same way.

"Bella, you don't have to say anything. I understand," I said quietly. I began to pull away from her until she looked up at me with the biggest smile on her tear-stained face.

"Edward! I love you too!" she said as she threw her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. I returned the gesture, careful not to crush her with all the excitement I was feeling.

She loved me. This amazing, klutzy, beautiful girl loved me. I softly kissed her lips, trying to convey all of my love and happiness in that moment. When we broke apart she smiled and turned around. I placed my arms around her waist and she leaned back onto my chest. That was how we stayed for a long while. Holding each other, thinking about our new relationship.

a/n: so what do you think? i had fun writing this chapter. that's probably how i'd react if edward told me he loved me! oh and don't worry, that's not the last we see of mike!

make sure you leave me some reviews and tell me what you think of the story! suggestions, critiques, praise! all are welcome!