TITLE: Broken in Two (Part 1/?)
AUTHOR: Rebecca Parker
EMAIL: LaVelleBelle@aol.com
RATING: PG for now. This story will eventually feature some non-explicit slash.
PAIRINGS: M/L for now.
SUMMARY: An AU (Alternate Universe) take on "End of the World". Definite twists ahead.
FEEDBACK: Yes please!
DISTRIBUTION: At my site (http://www.ourowndestiny.com) and FINNatics. All others, please ask first.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of these characters. All I own is an intense love for them and the episode "End of the World"
NOTE: The title comes from a lyric from Sheryl Crow's "I Shall Believe"
DEDICATION: This fic is written for Jenfr, one of the truest and kindest people I know.



"Max," Liz cried out, clutching her dying husband to her. "Max, please! You can't leave me."

"Liz," Max said, his voice weak and shaking as blood began to trickle from his mouth. "You have to stop it," he said, his words beginning to slur.

"How?" she cried, feeling a string of tears clear a path down her dirty cheek. Four days on the battlefield and she was almost as physically weak as she was emotionally. Michael and Isabel had died only hours earlier and Tess- for all they knew, Tess was dead as well.

Maria and Alex had died almost a year ago- her two best friends taken from her in an explosion rigged by the Skins. Liz had been a wreck, and if not for Max, her ever faithful husband, she would most likely have crawled down to death with them.

She shook Max, her hands trembling as they slowly became redder with his blood. "Please! Max! How can I help?"

"The Granolith," Max uttered, his voice barely more than a whisper now. "Go back. Fix things- with Tess."

"No," Liz said, shaking her head. "Serena said it wasn't- Max, I can't leave you."

"You have to," Max said, closing his eyes. "I love you Liz."

"No, Max," Liz cried, moving her lips to kiss him, her heart sinking when he didn't respond. "Max," she whispered, holding his still body to hers. She cradled him for a few minutes before she heard footsteps rushing towards her. Reluctantly, she let go of Max and scrambled to her feet.

"Liz!" a voice cried out.

"Kyle," she answered, walking numbly towards him.

Kyle appeared, his beard coarser than usual, his arms covered with cuts and bruises. "Liz, thank God you're alright. Where's Max? They're coming this way."

"Max is-" Liz started, her eyes directing Kyle to the spot on the ground where Max's body lay.

"Oh my God," Kyle said, falling to his knees and taking his best friend's cold, lifeless hand. He shook his head, fighting to keep back the tears men weren't supposed to let fall. He looked up at Liz, any spirit he had left; now gone. "The King is dead. It's over. It's all over."

Liz held her arms to her chest, her whole body shaking as she turned to the Granolith. "Not yet," she said, walking towards it. "I have to go back. I have to fix things. Maybe- Max seemed to think it might make a difference."

"Liz," Kyle said, rising to his feet and going towards her. "Are you sure? Serena said you can never come back."

"So?" Liz answered. "What's there to come back to if this doesn't work?"

Kyle nodded, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Go now. They'll be here soon and then we both die."

Liz's eyes darkened with sorrow as she clutched her friend to her in a fierce hug. She took the crystal that lay by Max and placed it in the Granolith, waiting a second for the explosion of light and force that she knew would follow. A moment later and she was somewhere she had never imagined she would go before- inside. She stared out at Kyle, who looked up at her with a reassuring smile. She closed her eyes as she felt some force pull at her and waited for it all to be over- and to start again.

****

Max stared at the words on the page in front of him, but somehow they just weren't getting through. He had a Chemistry test the next day, and although he was fairly comfortable with the material he knew would be covered, he was never one to slack off in the studying department.

He fiddled with his highlighter, carefully coloring the words he thought most important. He quickly lost focus, and his eyes turned to the two tickets which lay atop his copy of "The Odyssey".

He picked them up, running his fingers over the corners of the tickets. He had bought them on a whim a few nights before. He always considered Gomez to be Liz and his band- driving back the morning after their night in the desert, they had listened to their CD the whole way and Max had never been happier.

He sighed, placing them back down on the desk, unsure of whether or not he would even ask her. Things were so tense between them now; so unsure. As much as knowing Tess and knowing what she knew had been helpful, knowing her had also been a curse. There wasn't a day that went by where Max wondered where he and Liz would be if Tess hadn't intruded.

Max turned back to his book, determined to clear his mind of his heart and concentrate on his studies. He had just flipped to the next chapter when something, seemingly, exploded outside his window. He jumped out of his seat, his hand at the ready almost instinctively.

He squinted his eyes at the bright light from outside his window and stared nervously at the set of legs that appeared. A moment later and there was a body atop those legs- and two familiar eyes staring at him.

"Liz?" Max asked, confused as he took in her shorter hair, the tired look in her eyes, the small wrinkles that adorned her forehead.

"Max," she answered, and he knew then for sure- this wasn't his Liz. He raised his hand to her in defense. "Who the hell are you?"


To be continued...