Blood ties – Deep dark : alternate ending

Disclaimer: don't own the characters though I'd love to!

Warning: you're entering unbetaed territory.

What happened when Henry closed the door of his bedroom leaving Vicki crying ?

She was crying her heart out, her sobs chocking in her throat. She hugged herself and bent forward, doubling up in pain. It felt as if someone had just ripped her guts out.

Seeing Mike leave without even a glance had been hard enough, but the worst part had been Henry's reaction. For the first time ever, she'd seen tears welling in his eyes and then his jaw set, he'd told her he was leaving without her. "So be it," he'd said. It'd sounded like a death sentence. She knew he was leaving and would not come back, that she would never see him again.

She'd lost him because of her inability to choose him because she felt guilty for Mike. She knew it was over with her ex-partner, had been for a long time, to tell the truth, ever since she'd set her eyes on the vampire. But she felt responsible for Mike's screwed up career, her subconscious telling her to make it right, though she didn't have a clue how to achieve that miracle. And she was gonna lose Henry in the process.

When he'd looked her in the eyes and told her it was over, strong resolve in his gaze and then closed the door of his bedroom behind him, she'd felt as if her world was crumbling to pieces. That's when she knew for certain that she could not possibly live without him, that she couldn't let him leave her.

She walked to the door of his bedroom, not planning, not thinking, only feeling, trusting her instinct. She couldn't leave him in there and not tell him what she felt.

"Henry," she called through the door, tapping softly on the wooden panel. "Henry? Please, let me in."

She could hear him shuffling through the room but he did not answer. She laid her forehead on the door, suddenly drained, and whispered: "Henry, please, I'm begging you, open this door..."

"Why, Vicki?" She heard his voice, ragged with pain, whispering back from behind the door. "Don't you think you've hurt me enough already? You've made yourself quite clear. You didn't choose me. You're staying here. I'm not. End of the story," he added, snorting. "Now, please, Vicki, have mercy on me – just go."

"Henry! You stubborn idiot! Open the door! Or so help me God, I'll find a way of opening it myself, even if I have to get hurt." She was yelling, banging on the door, suddenly furious that for once he was resisting her.

She heard him sigh and he unlocked the door. She pushed it open and saw him head towards his bed. She caught his hand before he could lie down and tugged at it. He looked up, her touch making him tremble. His eyes were still filled with tears and he had never looked as forlorn as today.

"Vicki, why are you doing this to me? You clearly don't want me. Let me go." He was torn to pieces. It had taken all the willpower he had to walk away and she was again in front of him! He couldn't face it a second time. What did she want from him? He'd already offered her everything he had: his trust, his love, his fortune, his life... How could she be so selfish?

"No," she whispered, coming to stand an inch from him and taking hold of his other hand. Her eyes locked with his and, seeing his quizzical look, she added: "I don't want you to go, but if you must leave, I'll leave with you. I was wrong to say I can't. What I can't is live in this world without you."