Disclaimer!

Thank you to my wonderful friend Heartbroken1 for your great beta skills! I am learning so much from you! Please go check out her stories... they are fabulous!

One thing... Alice was just dying to talk to Edward about what she saw happen with Mike and Jessica... She thought it was hilarious!

Also, This is my LAST chapter to this story. I can't believe it, but it is! I hope you all story alert me so you can find it when I post it! Thanks for reading and all your great reviews!

Chapter 22

BPOV

I was looking forward to our return trip to Forks as the sun, hidden behind thick clouds, rose on the horizon. We would be leaving today. Edward was checking the marine maps for the best area to scuba dive while I checked the pantry with Sue and Charlie, making sure that we wouldn't need to buy any more supplies other than milk, cheese, eggs and fruit.

"Bells, Sue and I can run to the grocery store and pick up the food. Is there anything you need us to pick up for you or Edward?"

"No, Dad, we're fine. We are going to head out in the dingy for a quick dive in a few minutes. Take your time in town if you want to, the weather is going to be beautiful all the way home so there is no rush to leave."

Charlie nodded in agreement as I turned to walk out of the galley. I found Edward on the bridge as he was marking our route home.

"Charlie and Sue are going to get what they need at the grocery store in a few minutes. I told them to take their time and that we were not in any rush."

"That's great. I think we can hit a little reef a mile out from the Island to scuba dive. It should be beautiful under the water today." Edward's smile was huge as he spoke.

"For the next hour or so, I want you to try to hold your breath. We won't be using oxygen tanks when we go down, so I need you to practice not breathing. Our minds will be open to each other so we won't need any hand signals for communication. I am so excited to show you the wonderful world beneath the surface, Bella."

While Charlie and Sue were in town, Edward guided me through a series of check in preparation for our departure. I was amazed at how much he knew about sailing. I listened carefully as he taught me the correct terms for everything, and excited at the prospect of being able to drive the boat on our trip home.

When Edward was done with his checklist. He glanced up am me, grinning. "Ready to go diving?"

I nodded my head as I stood. "I just need to get my swimsuit on."

We boarded the dingy and headed out toward a little cove a mile from the yacht. The water was calm as we glided through the ocean.

"Remember, love, you don't need to breath. Keep your mind open to me so that we can communicate," Edward said as he tied our boat to the buoy that marked the reef for scuba divers.

"I know, nothing can hurt us though, right? Sharks aren't a threat, right?" I couldn't help but ask. I was so afraid of the huge predators of the water as a human and that still hadn't changed.

"No," Edward chuckled, "they can't hurt you, they will sense us as the predators now and won't come near us."

Relief flooded through me. Edward moved to sit on the edge of the boat, flipping the scuba flag up so it was waving high in the air. He handed me a pair of goggles and then reached for his own pair.

"We don't need to enter the water in any special way since we have no gear, but it is still fun to go in the way human scuba divers do."

As Edward finished talking, he leaned backwards and fell back into the water, leaving me alone in the boat. I heard the splash as Edward hit the water in front of me and then within moments felt a splash of water hit me from behind. Spinning quickly, I caught a glimpse of Edward's smiling face before he went under water again.

Laughing, I dove into the water to find him. The water was clear and I easily spotted him about 10 feet below me. You can swim, but you can't hide, Edward, I thought teasingly.

Edward swam up to me, linking his fingers in mine as he pulled me close. Isn't this beautiful, Bella?

It's amazing, Edward. Oh- what is that called? I asked as I pointed to the funny looking fish that had spikes sticking up out of its spine and spiky fins.

That is a scorpianfish, weird isn't it?

The ocean was full of life as the giant manta rays cruised together, feeding on plankton, unconcerned with us intruding. Edward pulled me forward with him.

Edward, those are huge! The hesitation in my voice was obvious.

It's ok, love, they wont hurt you, they're gentle giants.

I swam up next to Edward as we cruised along with the manta rays. Their mouths were huge and their wingspan looked like it was twenty or more feet. I reached out and skimmed my hand across the wing of the closest manta ray, feeling the slick smooth surface.

The vivid colors of the different fish were amazing, everything I could see, everything I could touch was fascinating. We swam deeper, until we were within inches of the reef. I couldn't get enough of the fish that swam around us, the bright orange with the white and black contrast of the clown fish, along side the neon blue and florescent yellow angel fish was stunning.

Edward, look! What is that black and white striped fish with the yellow tail and the funny antenna thing sticking up off its back?

That is the long fin banner fish, and the blue body fish with the yellow outline around its body next to it is butterfly fish. Oh, and down there, that orange ugly thing, nestled in the coral, is a fish frog, you don't see those very often.

When the shadow passed over, Edward looked up, Bella, look! It's so spectacular.

It was spectacular. There were thousands of tiny, shiny silver fish moving together as if one creature. I couldn't help but lift my arms to try to touch one of them.

Edward reached for my hand, pulling me up with him until we were intruding into their path. The wave of fish swayed as a unit, avoiding us. The school of fish became two unified forms, swirling on both sides of us. The sea teemed with them, thick clouds of silver so tightly grouped that they seemed fused together. We stayed in the center as the fish swirled around us, holding on to each other. The light brushes of their bodies, tickling our skin as they swam by. The intimacy of this was so intense, that as the last of the silver grunts passed, I couldn't help but feel a sudden loss.

Let's go back down, love. I want to see if we can find any conk shells to bring back.

Smiling, I looked at Edward, Can we just stay down here forever? It is so beautiful.

Edward smiled, but shook his head. Charlie and Sue would get worried if we never came back to the boat Bella.

Eeww! I shrieked silently. This ugly scary looking head popped out between two rocks on the sea floor. Its teeth were huge as it stared at us, almost grinning. What the heck is that?

I could hear Edward laugh as he pulled me back towards him, it's a moray eel, it can't hurt us, but they are mean little suckers.

I couldn't help but shudder as I took one last glance at its ugly face.

A slight movement caught my eye a few yards to the right of us. Fear shot through me as I struggled to move further away. I felt Edward's hand on the small of my back as he reassured me. It's a sand shark, don't be afraid, it will not harm us, Bella.

I still don't want to be around it, sharks are sharks, Edward.

We swam further away from the shark. As we rounded the edge of the reef, I saw a few turtles swim in front of us. They were so graceful as they glided in the water.

Edward pointed down at the reef. Do you see the starfish and sea cucumbers?

I nodded my head, the starfish were a bright blue color and the cucumbers had a funky red and white striped design.

Over there is a lobster, and a few feet to the left is some shrimp.

We found a few empty shells on the ocean floor and put them in our mesh bag so we could get them back to the surface. I knew Esme would love these for souvenirs.

I was having such a good time watching this little world that when Edward tugged on my hand and told me it was time to surface I was shocked. But we just got down here, let's stay for a few more minutes, please?

Bella, we have been down here for 2 ½ hours, we really do need to get back.

I put on my best pouting face. Please? Five more minutes?

Edward rolled his eyes. Alright, love, but then we need to get back.

Those five minutes went by too fast, but we were able to see more sea creatures and some more fascinating fish. On our way back to the surface, we encountered a pod of dolphins. They were so magnificent as they swam and danced in the water. They didn't fear us as they swam closer to us. I reached out to one, hoping it would come closer so I could touch it. I was amazed as it nudged my hand with it's nose. The feel of its skin was leathery and soft.

Surfacing completely, I took in a deep breath of air. The dolphins stayed with us at the surface for a few minutes before moving on. As I watched them swim away, Edward swam up behind me, wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug.

"Lets do this again Edward," I whispered.

"Of course Bella, if I knew that you would enjoy this so much, I would have taken you sooner."

Resting the back of my head on his shoulder, I closed my eyes. I wanted to bask in this feeling of contentment for as long as I could.

When we returned to the yacht, Charlie and Sue were waiting for us.

"Did you have fun, Bells?" Charlie asked.

"Dad, it was amazing! I loved it."

Sue twined her fingers with Charlie, "We went a few days after we got here. It was very interesting and our guide was really good about teaching us the different hand signals and things to watch out for. We saw so many beautiful fish and creatures. I hope our pictures turned out," Sue said as she twined her fingers in Charlie's.

I turned to Edward. "Why didn't we take a camera down with us?"

"Next time. I have always dived alone Bella, I didn't think about it."

"Well, we will have to go again very soon then," I joked.

We got things put away and prepared to set sail. The afternoon was clearing up so we wanted to get out to sea before the sun poked through the clouds. Charlie entered the room, crossing over to Edward.

"Hey, Edward."

"Charlie, you and Sue ready to leave?"

"Yes, but I was wondering if I could take a turn sailing part of the way home?"

"Sure, Let me just get us out to sea and then I will let you take over until you get tired."

"Thanks Edward, I guess I will go find Sue if we are about to set sail, Hey Bella, would you like to play a few games tonight?"

I smiled at Charlie, "Sure Dad, that sounds fun."

"Great, Sue and I will pick out a few and we can bring them up here so we can all play while we are sailing."

After making it out to sea, Charlie took over the controls. Edward brought me out on the deck at the back of the boat, the wind was warm on my skin as I watched the beautiful colors of the setting sun. Edward wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.

"I will love you forever, Bella." he whispered before brushing his lips across my crescent shaped scar he had made just a year ago.

Melting into him, I smiled, "Forever and always, Edward."

...The end...

A/N:

Thanks to all my fabulous readers and reviewers! I will be posting my next story in a few days... It will be a series of one-shots. They will all be connected into 1 story...

Thanks again to my beta's, Kristigirl & Heartbroken1!