~Thursday, October 8th 1903

My Beloved Sherlock,

I have been long in writing to you, and I beg your forgiveness on that matter. It was your words that held me to keep this page

blank for so long. It was in the interest of safety that you said to me, 'Time helps the heart grow fonder' to which I replied, 'For a short time

perhaps, but for longer it will only serve to help the heart forget and move on,' You promised me that you would never let that happen, and I

returned the sentiment.

I must now write to you that in the late August of this year our son, Nero, had his eleventh birthday. He has your brilliance and my

cunning which together compromises our combined intellect, and our devilry. In itself this is the best news that I have to tell to you, and I am

regretful that it is so.

On a distinctly less cheerful note, more the purpose of this correspondence than anything, I write my dearest, to inform you of my

continuing illness. I had not thought to tell you of it before, but I suppose that now is as good a time as any beforehand. I am truly regretful

that I had not the occasion to write to you previously. Do not worry but a little though, my darling, for I do not say terribly, for it is not so.

Again, worry little, dear.

Be that as it may, if it is within safty's restrictions as regards the birth of our son, I beg you ~ should anything befall me, you will come

and claim him, for he is altogether alone without me. He needs the affections and attentions that you can afford to him. Your infinite care and

love means the world to me, and to those others on whom you choose to bestow them.

Forgive my poor penmanship, for it is not only with heavy heart but with unsteady hand that I write this letter. I fear that it will come to

naught. No matter, my coughing has stopped and I now must end this letter in a significant way. It is the only way in which I feel I can do

you justice, ever and at all for everything that you have done for me.

I do and forevermore love you,

Yours,

Irene Adler

Baring-Gould Based, see chronology for an explanation of the date. Oh, forget it. It's the day of her death. I say consumption.

I Love their interaction and am a big fan of Holmes/Adler expecially the RDJ movie version and of course, Baring-Gould. Read on beloved

fanatics!

InkspellWeaver