A/N: And here we are, with the first chapter. So here's how this works. The first half of this is the Sarah timeline, where John chooses Sarah. The second half is the Six timeline, where John chooses Six. They both cover the same timespan, but things unfold differently. I'm curious to know what you guys think, so please leave me a review.

"…Sarah."

Of course I chose Sarah. I had to choose Sarah- it was the only choice I could make. I know I was in love with her, and Loric love is permanent, so therefore I still love her. And if I love her, then I can't leave her, right?

So then why do I feel so guilty? I don't owe Six anything- I mean sure, I liked our walks in Florida, and yea, maybe there was a moment there where I wanted to kiss her, but it was just a silly crush. It had to have been. Because Loric love is permanent. Isn't it?

"Have you lost your mind?" Six screams, bringing me back from my thoughts. "Did she perform a freaking lobotomy on you? Have you completely forgotten our mission? Are you just going to sit there and let me try to save our planet by myself? Are you? Answer me!"

She raises her hands to the sky and a crackling streak of lightning touches the ground just a hundred yards from me. I back away slowly, hoping she isn't so mad that she'll attack me.

"Six!" Sam says. "Calm down!"

He grabs her shoulder, but she twists out of his grip and glares at him, smoking with rage.

"I will not calm down! Not while that idiot is abandoning me for her! And you!" she says, addressing Sam directly. "You could have stopped him! He asked you for advice, and you could have just told him to do the right thing!"

"I can't tell John what the right thing is, Six," Sam says calmly. "It was his decision to make."

"I'm sorry, Six," I say, trying to calm her, "but I love Sarah. And I have to follow my he—"

I'm cut off by a massive boom of thunder that shakes the entire playground. The metal chains holding the swings up snap, leaving the seats to tumble to the ground.

"Don't you dare talk to me about love," Six says, storming up to me until she's right in my face. I back away even further, clutching Sarah's hand. "Because you have no idea. No idea how- how…" she turns suddenly on her heel and walks away, and I can hear her sobbing. Sam offers her his shoulder, but she ignores him. "Don't you care?" she asks. "Don't you care about the people whose lives hang in the balance? The people who may die in this war because you're so goddamn selfish? Don't you even care about me?"

I turn my back on her and start to walk away with Sarah. I can't look at Six. Not the way she is now.

"Fine then," Six says. "See if I care. Sam and me will be fine by ourselves."

"Um… actually, Six," Sam begins, looking incredibly nervous, "I promised John that I'd stay with him whatever choice he made. Even… even if he chose Sarah."

He backs away quickly after finishing, evidently worried that Six will hurt him.

"Oh, that's just perfect, isn't it?" Six says. "You too, then. That's okay. Don't worry about me, Sam. I'll be just.. just… You know what? I don't even care anymore. Come here, Sam."

Sam looks at her warily, but approaches nevertheless. To my surprise, she reaches out and hugs him, leaning in to whisper something in his ear. With my enhanced senses, I can just make it out. She said: "Keep him safe. From the Mogs, and from her."

Sam gives her a nod when they break apart, and then walks slowly over to Sarah and me. He looks back at Six once, and I can tell it's killing him to leave her.

"I hope you're happy, Sarah," Six says loudly once Sam arrives. "You've won, now. Both of them. Have you thought of any other ways to make my life a living hell yet?"

Sarah huddles next to me, fear in her eyes. But despite that, she looks happy for the first time.

"I knew you'd come back, John," she says to me, ignoring Six. "I always knew you would."

Six, realizing she isn't going to get an answer, turns and walks away into the woods. I watch her until she disappears amongst the trees. I'll probably never see her again. Or any of the other Garde, for that matter. That's what I gave up, when I said Sarah's name a couple of minutes ago.

But I have Sarah, and she's all I've wanted these last few months. So why do I feel so empty inside?


"…Six."

Of course I chose Six. I had to choose Six- it was the only choice I could make. I might have loved Sarah, but as much as she means to me, no one person can come before our mission. Six was right about that. And since Sarah forced me to choose between the mission and her… well, if she's that selfish then maybe I'm better off without her.

"Betrayer!" Sarah hisses. She walks right up to me and spits in my face. "You said you'd never leave me, you liar!"

Then suddenly Six is beside me, her hand on my shoulder, staring Sarah down.

"You can leave now, Sarah," she says. "He's made his choice."

Sarah holds her ground. "There's no way you're going to get away with this, you selfish bi—"

Six's mood changes instantly. She delivers a mid-word punch to Sarah's jaw, knocking her flat on her back. I involuntarily gasp in shock. I… can't believe Six just did that.

"Don't you dare," she growls. "You're lucky I don't believe in killing 'innocent' people."

"Six!" Sam says. "Don't hurt her."

He rushes over to Sarah's side, helping her up. She has a massive bruise on the left side of her face that she rubs tenderly. She steps towards Six like she's going to hit her back, but thankfully Sam has the wherewithal to hold her back. I do the same for Six.

"Let go of me!" Six says, trying to squirm out of my grasp.

"Not until you calm down," I say. "And apologize to Sarah for hitting her."

"She should be the one apologizing to me!" Six insists. "She jeopardized our entire mission by trying to lure you back to her."

"I know, Six," I say. "But she didn't succeed, so don't worry about it now. And it's not fair for you to be fighting her. She's not Loric like you are."

"Fine," Six concedes. "I just want to get out of this place anyway."

"Sorry I punched you," she says to Sarah. "But you deserved it," she mutters, only loud enough for me to hear.

"That's good enough," I say, releasing her.

"Now it's your turn," Sam says to Sarah. "Six didn't deserve to be called what you… well, what you were in the middle of calling her."

Sarah rolls her eyes. "My sincerest apologies," she hisses, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "The noun I was using to describe you was utterly inaccurate and completely without cause and I am dreadfully sorry for any and all—"

"Oh just shut up already," Six says. "I get it- you're not sorry."

I gesture to Sam, and he releases Sarah, who huffs gratefully.

"Come on, John," Six says. "We should really be going."

There's still one thing I have to do before I leave.

"Could you just give me a minute with…" I gesture towards Sarah, who's sitting on a bench, slumped over defeatedly.

Six nods. "I understand," she says. "Me and Sam will just be over here. But John- please try to make it quick. We don't have much time."

She and Sam walk over to the other side of the park, leaving me to go sit next to Sarah. Her eyes are brimming with tears, and she refuses to look at me once I sit down.

"I really am sorry, Sarah," I say. "I didn't mean, ever, to hurt your feelings, but the mission comes first. If it's between you and Lorien, my planet has to come first. I hope you understand."

The words sound incredibly heartless coming out of my mouth, but there's not much I can do about it. I meant what I said.

Sarah sighs. "I… I think I can try to understand. But- John, why does it have to be with her?"

"Because she's Loric," I say. "She's like me. We're from the same planet. The same planet we're trying to save, and that means it has to be with her. Because nobody else could truly be able to help me with what I need to do."

Sarah sniffles, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. She's still beautiful, even with the tears rushing from her eyes, the bruise on her cheek, the dirt on her back from when Six knocked her to the ground.

"Do… do you still love me?"

"Yes," I say. "I do."

But as the words leave my mouth, I find myself wondering at their truth. The way I've been feeling about Six lately, it's been making me wonder- is it possible Henri had it wrong? Is it possible for the Loric to be like humans; to be able to love more than once? And the more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that maybe a Garde and a human can never truly experience love together, because they simple weren't meant to be. No matter how wonderful, and compassionate, and beautiful the human is. Even if the human's Sarah.

But I say yes anyways. Because there's no point in telling Sarah the truth, in sullying her last memories of me with even more grief and pain than exists already.

I lean forward and kiss Sarah on the cheek.

"Be happy, okay?" I say. "Just… forget about me for now. Because- well, I might not see you again. I might not survive this war. And even if I do, I wouldn't want to endanger you."

I know I'll never see Sarah again. I know that. Because no matter what happens, I don't think I could stand seeing her again, knowing that things could never work between us.

"You should go now, John," Sarah says. "You've got a war to fight. And I'll be thinking about you. Praying that you'll win, and save us all."

"Thanks, Sarah," I say, getting up from the bench. "It means a lot to me, knowing that you're always supporting me."

"I'll see you, John," Sarah says.

"And I'll see you too."

More lies. But it's worth it, if she'll be happier that way.

I walk slowly towards the area where Sam and Six are waiting.

"Ready?" Six asks once I arrive.

"Ready," I say.

We start to walk into the woods, away from the only love I've ever known. I don't look back. Even once.