Disclaimer: Stephenie still owns as much as she did when I posted this morning.

THIS is the final chapter.

Thank you IAmToWait for encouraging me to extend the o/s 'Letters' and for pretty much holding my hand these few months. I've really enjoyed it. Now we just get more time to work on Accidental Atonement, yes?

Dear Edward,

Thank you so much for the three of them. If I'd never loved you and subsequently lost you, I would never have them. And I wouldn't trade them for the world.

Love,
Bella

The sun rising over Virginia Beach was a beautiful sight, one that Bella had enjoyed very much for the past six years. Of course, on this morning the sight wasn't in the sky or the water. It was sitting in the sand, all pink ruffles and blond curls, rosy cheeks and shining blue eyes.

"I need more water, Daddy," her little voice demanded sweetly. Her daddy obliged even though he knew the sand would soon absorb anything he returned with. In a few minutes he would be running back to the water's edge with his daughter's little blue pail… again.

Bella watched from beneath the shade of a large umbrella. Her pale skin and swollen belly no match for a hot, southern summer day. She smiled as her husband lifted their daughter and carried her to the water. The two of them waved and grinned before challenging each other in a water fight. Emily would win. She always did when it came to battles with James.

True to his word on the day they met, James did eventually call Bella. It wasn't until Bella's college graduation, nearly a year later, that they finally saw each other again. He spent a week in Seattle with her and met her family and friends. When it was time for James to leave, Bella decided to go with him.

She never looked back. If Edward's death had taught her anything it was to not wait, to take the chances as they came. Nothing was certain in life so Bella wanted to make certain that she lived hers well.

Their relationship wasn't easy, but they were happy. She was happy. They survived two deployments before James was injured and honorably discharged from the Army. Emily was barely a year old at the time.

Bella was glad the sleepless nights were behind them. She could happily kiss her husband goodbye each morning and know that he would return safely to her at the end of the day.

As much as she loved James, it sometimes made her sad to think that there would be no green-eyed babies in her future. That she loved someone like Edward for so long and all she really had to show for it was a stack of letters and a wounded heart. Bella always tried to see the reasoning behind things, though. If Edward hadn't had died she would have never even met James. She would probably still be pining away for a boy who could never decide what he wanted.

Bella struggled to get to her feet as James and Emily made their way back to her. Her husband tried not to laugh as he helped her up and rubbed a wet hand over her belly. Their son would be joining them in a few short weeks. After months of fighting over names, James and Bella finally decided on one.

See, Edward was the reason for her happily ever after, just not in the way she'd ever thought he would be.

XOXO