I know you've all been waiting for this. I felt bad about missing Reader Appreciation Day yesterday, so . . . here you go. The letter that's caused so much trouble in Tie Me Here in Time.

I don't own Twilight, its characters, or anything else that is publicly recognizable. Dexter, his family, and these words are mine. Please don't steal.

Baby,

I know you're surprised to get this and I hope you're not crying. Please don't be angry with my dad for giving this to you when he does, because I asked him to keep it from you.

You're sleeping next to me while I write this and I just can't get over how beautiful you are. You're so innocent when you sleep, B. Luckily, I've been introduced to the real Bella, the one who laughs at crude jokes almost as often as she makes them and who could drink me under the table when I was "allowed" to have alcohol (You didn't snitch to Dr. Hale, right? I'm still trying to figure out how he knew about that drink on my 21st).

I don't know when Dad will give this to you, because I asked him to give it to you when he thinks you're ready. It could be the day after my funeral, it could be your wedding day (you are going to get married; I don't care what you think), or he could leave it to you in his will. I kind of like not knowing. At the same time, I hate knowing you'll think I forgot you until you get this.

Do you remember when we were eight and you decided we were going to get married? You were making me play house with you (I always hated that, but did it because it was you) and I think we had like, nine teddy bear babies. You told me that day that our life was going to be just the way we were playing - we'd grow up, get married and have lots of babies. I kind of hate that we aren't going to have babies together. I really hate that I'm not going to have the chance to call you my wife.

You're mumbling something that sounds an awful lot like "Don't go" right now. I wish I didn't have to. I wish I could fall asleep and wake up healthy. I don't like being this way, you know. I hate being this weak and knowing the end is coming. And lately it's been like this horrible, drawn out version of This Is Your Life, because so many people are dropping in to "visit." I want to call them on their bullshit and tell them I know they're wanting a chance to say goodbye.

Do you know how much I love you? I've known since we were small that you were it for me. I always thought 'til death do us part was going to define our relationship, but I never thought death would come so soon.

I hope you've done what I asked and moved on. Babe, I'm not dumb enough to think people aren't going to chastise you for moving on. I've seen the way the world works, and I know people think they know everything when they know nothing. You're probably going to have a whole host of people telling you that you're moving on too fast, no matter when you decide to do so. Tell them to go fuck themselves, because I asked you to move on - dying wish and all that. No one ever faults the living when they're doing something the deceased asked them to do, right?

Never forget that no one knows what's best for you but you. You, and you alone, are the only person alive who knows what I said to you when we were just being together, cuddled up in bed.

You're the love of my life, Isabella Marie. Not many guys can say they met the love of their life at three days old, but I can. For a few more weeks, anyway. I don't want to stop writing to you and I hope you aren't disappointed that I'm not waxing poetic about how I love you and fawning over memories we made together, the way I did in so many of the letters you saw me write. I can't do that to you, B. You were there for every single one of those memories and I know you, they're locked in that brain of yours.

I'll say it again - I love you. I could attempt to outline the reasons why or what exactly I love about you (everything), but it's you, B. I don't have to, because you know. I just didn't want you to feel left out. As much as I want to sit here and do all that lovey stuff, I can't because my time with you is limited. I'd rather stop writing now and remind you how much I love you when you're awake, than lose another second of watching you sleep.

You're the best thing that's ever happened to me.

-D

I hope this helps you understand why Bella reacted the way she did initially.