AN: This alternate ending starts where Niall has returned to take all the fae back to Faery with him. It is after Sookie's birthday and right before Jannalynn's Were trial. Eric revealed the night before that he knew she had the cluviel dor. What if she hadn't been so shortsighted and had actually thought creatively about how to best use her wish? She could have killed the whole flock of birds with one stone if she had embraced the idea of becoming strong enough to protect herself and her loved ones, instead of always being the victim. She could have saved Sam's life and still kept Eric if she were no longer a mere human. She never wanted to become a vampire, which makes sense for a sky faery with a natural affinity for the sun, but vampires are not the only supernatural creatures with speed, strength, rapid healing, and eternal youth and beauty. What if she actually considered all the options, instead of allowing her insecurities to prevent her from seeking viable solutions?

Bold words are quoted directly from Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris Chapter 15

"Will you close Faery? For good?"

"Soon," he whispered, his lips again uncomfortably close to my ear. "You have not asked yet who told your lover that you have the . . . object."

"That would be a good thing for me to learn."

"You need to know." His arms grew uncomfortably tight around me. I made myself relax against him.

"It was me," Niall said, almost inaudibly.

I jerked back as if he'd pinched my butt. "What?"

The brilliant eyes bored into mine. "You had to know," he said. "You had to know what would happen if he believed you had power."

"Please tell me you didn't engineer the whole Appius thing?" That would be more than I could bear.

"No Eric is unfortunate in that people feel the need to take him down a peg, including his own maker. The Roman wanted to keep control over so vital a being even after his own death, which became far more likely once he turned the child. So unstable. Appius Livius Ocella made mistakes in his whole long existence. Perhaps changing Eric was his finest hour. He created the perfect vampire. Eric's only flaw, his only weakness, is falling hopelessly in love with a human, like Fintan did."

I froze, my thoughts centered on Niall's last sentence. I knew Fintan had been obsessively in love with Gran, even though she didn't return his feelings. He had even pretended to be her husband so he could be close to her in a way she would accept, after she had turned Fintan away. He had protected her and their offspring until he was brutally murdered, when I was nearly seven years old. I was certain Gran would still be with me now if Fintan were alive, though I never would have met my great-grandfather then. In fact, my parents wouldn't have been murdered either, if Niall's enemies hadn't gotten to Fintan first.

Could Eric truly love me that much? Would he still be hanging around even when I got old and gray? I finally admitted to myself I was uncomfortable thinking of Eric's love being that strong, because I was selfish enough not to want to share his undead existence forever. It felt so wrong to become a creature of the night, to forever be denied the pleasure of sunlight caressing my skin.

"But . . . I don't want to become a vampire," I whimpered quietly, admitting my concern to my great-grandfather, believing he would understand, even if nobody else could.

"Of course not!" Niall agreed wholeheartedly, appalled at the idea. "Sky faeries need the sun to recharge their essence!" He peered down at me, cocking his head to the side, searching my eyes for something and shaking his head slightly when he didn't seem to find it. "Besides, vampires cannot mate with one another forever - eventually they must part. So if you became a vampire, it would doom your relationship as much as if you stayed human."

I blinked, taken aback, but I knew he spoke the truth. It was the reason vampire marriage contracts were only for a century, even with love matches. Two alpha predators could not maintain their relationship for extended periods of time, because they would eventually feel the need to battle each other. I had been told this before, by multiple vampires. I was relieved it wasn't an option, but sad at the same time. Niall looked like he was waiting for something. When I just stared up at him in confusion, he shook his head impatiently.

"So our relationship is doomed no matter what?" I asked, feeling heartbroken.

"Of course not!" he snapped. "Are you really so shortsighted that you can't see what's right in front of you?"

I stared up at him, wide-eyed, a kernel of an idea taking root in my mind. Niall nodded in satisfaction, content I was finally on the right track. In the blink of an eye he'd carried me downstairs and set me gently on the couch while he dealt with the fae waiting in my living room.

I looked over at Dermot, my great-uncle who looked so much like my brother that everyone in town easily accepted he must be related to us. Though he was hundreds of years old, the half-fae still looked younger than my brother did. I remember my Aunt Linda, who had died of cancer. The health, beauty, rapid healing, and eternal youth benefits had not survived the dilution to quarter-fae, so I knew I had no hope with my current eighth-fae status, even though I possessed the essential spark and my Aunt Linda had not.

I was pulled from my introspection by Dermot's suggestion he stay with me, instead of returning to Faery with the others. In the end, he chose to go with his father, rather than be trapped here forever. We could all see from Niall's expression that Dermot had made the right choice, and Dermot basked in his father's approval. I hastily rose to say my goodbyes, not wanting either of them to leave without a hug.

I even started crying, which I hadn't expected. They all kissed me, even Bellenos, though I felt his teeth scrape lightly on my cheek, and I felt his chest move in a silent chuckle.

Niall made some mysterious signs over my head and closed his eyes, just like a priest giving a blessing. I felt something change in the house, the land.

And then they were gone. Even Claude. I was the only remnant of fae left in America.

Vampires aren't the only ones with eternal youth and beauty, as well as the strength and speed necessary to battle other supernatural creatures, I thought. Even a half-fae like my grandfather Fintan was able to hold his own against a vampire opponent. Both species had their weaknesses, of course, and were always vulnerable to a surprise attack, but that couldn't be helped. I realized Dermot's half-human side had also made him immune to the effects of iron and lemon, thinking of how he handled the tools while working on the attic and the sweet tea he drank when Claude wasn't around. That was a significant benefit to not being a pureblood fairy.

What about the faery scent that drives vampires wild? I worried, thinking of how even Dermot had to leave when Eric or Bill came over, then remembered Niall was able to block his scent. Fintan was also able to mask both his scent and ours as well. Niall admitted he couldn't track him and wasn't able to find us before Fintan passed away, so Fintan was able to shield his entire family. That was an important consideration. There would be no point in being enough of a faery to have the benefits if it meant Eric couldn't be around me without going crazy and trying to kill me himself.

I remembered how Bellanos had used fae magic to create wards around my house. If I had the knowledge and ability to use that magic, I'd finally be able to protect myself and my loved ones. Instead of always being a victim. I'm tired of being the easy target, the weak link.