TITLE: Broken in Two (3/?)
AUTHOR: Rebecca Parker
EMAIL: LaVelleBelle@aol.com
RATING: PG-13
PAIRING: M/L, K/T, M/T, (almost) M/K (Yes! You'll actually start to see it soon!)
SUMMARY: An AU take on "End of the World" where Future Liz comes back instead of Future Max.
FEEDBACK: Yes please!
DISTRIBUTION: At my site (http://www.ourowndestiny.com) and FINNatics. All others, please ask.
DISCLAIMER: Jason Katims owns all. I just own an intense love for "End of the World"
DEDICATION: To Jenfr, the reason I wrote this story and to Mike, who can never get enough of Max/Kyle.
NOTE: The title is from a lyric in Sheryl Crow's "I Shall Believe". Also, I apologize to anyone who is reading this solely for the Max/Kyle. I know it's three parts and there's no real sign of it yet, but I promise you- it's coming! I'm just trying to get to that point and there's some stuff I have to go through first! Thanks for your patience.



She'd been standing in front of the mirror for ten minutes. Kyle wasn't sure what to think.

"Tess?" he finally asked, leaning against the door frame to her bedroom and staring at her reflection. "Is everything OK?"

Tess sighed, turning around. "Sure. Everything's fine. I'm just trying to figure out what exactly is wrong with me."

Kyle couldn't help it and let out a laugh. "You're serious?"

"Don't laugh at me, Kyle," Tess said, a hurt look on her face.

"There's nothing wrong with you," Kyle said, crossing his arms.

"Well, obviously there is," she said angrily. "I mean, I have men ignoring their destinies to NOT be with me. It doesn't exactly inspire confidence in myself."

"Max Evans is an idiot," Kyle said, stepping closer to her. "It doesn't exactly inspire confidence in your home planet that they chose him as a leader."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she said, leaning against the desk. "Max will be a great leader. I just won't be there with him when he is."

"What do you mean?" Kyle asked, suddenly feeling his heart beat faster.

"I don't know," Tess said, shaking her head confusedly. "I just have a lot to think about."

"Tess," Kyle said, touching her arm, "there's nothing wrong with you. Max is a fool, and you know what?"

"What?" Tess asked, looking up at him tiredly.

"I'm glad. Because maybe other guys might get a chance now."

Tess smiled. "Other guys?" she asked, the corners of her mouth turning in a sly smile.

"Well, you know," Kyle said, moving his hand away and stepping back a bit. "I mean, you do know, right?"

"I think I have an idea," she said, grinning. "So tell me Kyle- What does Buddha have to say about women?"

"Oh," Kyle said, becoming more comfortable with their increased flirtations. "He's a big fan."

"Is he?" Tess asked, smiling as she stood only inches from him again.

"Big fan," Kyle repeated, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her back as he pressed his lips against hers. He had wanted to hold her like this since the moment he first saw her and even more so since he came back and got to know more about her than just her measurements. He held her, deepening the kiss and was about to move his hand lower when the phone rang.

"Damnit," Tess said, reluctantly breaking out of the kiss.

"Don't pick it up," he said, moving his lips to her neck and kissing her there instead.

"I have to," she said, releasing herself from his arms and taking a deep breath before moving to the phone. "Hello?" she answered, the phone to her ear. She looked at Kyle as she listened to the voice on the other end of the phone and nodded. "Sure," she said. "Uh huh....Ok, an hour."

She hung up the phone, her hands shaking a bit.

"What's going on? Is everything OK?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah. I just- that was Isabel. She just wanted to hang out. You know, girly stuff," she said, nervously running her hands over her shirt. "I'm sorry Kyle. I have to go."

"But we have an hour," he said, stepping closer.

"I know but I have to get ready and there's a few things I need to do before I go," she said nervously. "I'm sorry Kyle. We can talk later."

"Talk," Kyle said dejectedly. "Ok. Well, I'm just gonna read so if you need me," he said, "or want me, I'll be in the living room."

"Good to know," she said, waiting as he left the room and closing the door behind her.

*******

"She's coming?" F-Liz asked, her voice low as she sat on the edge of Max's bed.

He nodded. "Yeah. I'm meeting her at the cafe in an hour."

"How did she sound? Did she- I mean, did she sound interested?"

"She sounded nervous," he answered, folding his arms in front of him.

"That means she's interested," F-Liz said, getting off the bed and moving to the window. "I mean, why wouldn't she be? You're what she always wanted."

"Liz," Max said, his voice sad. "Are you sure? There's not another way we can do this."

"I don't know. Maybe," she admitted, turning back to him. "But what's at stake- what we can lose- we can't take that risk."

Max nodded. He realized that being a leader meant making sacrifices, but he never expected to have to give up any chance for his own happiness. When he thought that he and Liz would never again be together- it made his head spin. To think it was a decision he had a part in- it made his heart hurt. "I know," he finally said, his voice sadder than F-Liz had ever heard it.

"Max," she said, reaching out her hand to him.

"No," he said, stepping back suddenly. "I can't. If I even touch you again, I don't think I'll be able to do this."

F-Liz nodded, slowly moving her hand back to her side and casting her eyes downward. "You should get ready," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Max moved into the bathroom without a word and closed the door behind him.

****

An hour later and Tess sat at the table in front of the Crashdown, nervously fiddling with her straw and hoping the blouse she had chosen was as sexy as she hoped. She had felt bad about lying to Kyle, but she didn't think he would take the news that she was going to see the man she hoped to marry very well considering they had been in the act of making out when she got the call.

She looked up, watching as people passed and waiting for Max to appear. He had sounded so strange when he called her- he had asked her if she wanted to have lunch with him because he regretted that they never spent time together. Those were words, and sentiments, that she had always hopes for, but never expected from Max Evans.

"Tess," Max said, arriving at her table with a smile he had worked on for the last hour. He needed to be convincing. He needed to concentrate on how good she looked in that shirt and how soft her hair was. He needed to focus on how beautiful she was and not think that no matter what- she just wasn't Liz. "You look great," he said, slipping into the chair opposite her and nervously folding his hands.

"Thanks," she said, surprised. "You look nice too."

They stood there silently for another minute, neither knowing quite what to say and finally Tess spoke. "Thanks for calling me. I- I missed spending time with you too."

"Everything's just been so crazy," Max said. "With Nasedo dying and the Skins- there hasn't been much of a chance for socializing."

Tess frowned at the mention of Nasedo and had to take a deep breath before she began again. "I know," she started, shifting in her seat nervously. "That night we talked- I loved that."

"I liked it too," Max admitted, and he had. He looked over her shoulder to where F-Liz stood across the street; her face hidden under a wig Isabelle had used for Halloween once; her eyes covered by dark sunglasses. He took a deep breath, trying to remember the words they had planned for this moment. "I want more of that," he said, watching the look of surprise on her face. "I know I've made some choices that you don't agree with- most of them having to do with Liz, and I noticed something."

"What's that?" Tess asked, nervously sipping her Coke, her heart beating fast as she hung on his words.

"You've stuck by me," he went on. "Every decision I've made, you've been behind me the whole time and I love that about you."

Tess almost passed out on the spot, struggling to comprehend what Max was saying. "What are you saying, Max?"

"I'm saying- I haven't appreciated you and I'm sorry," he said, moving his hand to hers and holding it. "And I realized something- about my destiny."

"Yes?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"I want it," he finished, looking up at her. "I want you."

"You want me?" she asked, unbelieving. "Is this a joke?"

"No," Max answered quickly. "It's not a joke. It's what I want."

"What about Liz?" she asked. "You expect me to believe that you just don't want to be with her anymore?"

"I don't," he said, trying to muster every shred of believability that he could. He had never told a more bald-faced lie. "What Liz and I had- it wasn't important. What you and I have- it is."

"Max, I-" Tess said, fumbling for words and before she could form them she noticed Liz standing behind them. "Liz," she said, looking up at the girl whose heartbroken face nearly took away the joy of Max's words.

"I- I'm sorry," Liz said, moving away from the table, unable to look at Max; unable to believe what she had just heard him say.

Tess looked over at Max, whose eyes were fixated on his clasped hands in front of him. "Max," she said, "You should go talk to her."

"Why?" he said, looking up at her, hoping he could hide the heartache he was feeling over causing someone he loved so much pain. "She needs to know the truth."

"So you're serious?" Tess asked, taken aback. "You want to be with me?"

"Yes," he said, taking her hand again. "Do you want to be with me still?"

"Yes," Tess said, smiling widely. "Of course."

"Good," Max said, relieved. As hard as this was going to be, he knew he was saving them all by doing it. He squeezed her hand and smiled at her. "Let's eat."

*****

F-Liz had never been so appreciative of sunglasses before in her 30 years of life. She stood there, her eyes wet with tears as she watched Max and Tess. She had been more surprised than ever when she saw her 17 year old self walk up to the two of them and, judging by the pain in her heart she had suddenly felt, overheard the two of them talking. She remembered suddenly the long shifts she had worked days prior to the Gomez concert and couldn't believe she hadn't remembered she would be there.

She felt a part of herself fading away as she watched her younger self walk away from Max and Tess and, despite the fact that only a day before she had held Max dying in her arms, F-Liz had never felt so sad. To save the world, she had to sacrifice every happiness she would ever know and she had no doubt that she would ever be anything but alone.

She watched as Max and Tess ate their lunches and chatted, all the while holding hands and she almost cringed when she leaned over to kiss him. She could tell Tess had caught Max by surprise, but when she watched Max's hand reach to touch her cheek, that patented Max Evans move that always made her knees weak, she had to look away.

It was then that she saw Kyle walking up the street, his eyes growing wide as he watched Max and Tess kiss and she saw her own pain reflected on his face. "Kyle," she whispered to herself, remembering the man he would be and the love he had always had for Tess.

She watched as he walked up to the two of them and she wanted to get closer; to be able to hear what was going on, but somehow she had a feeling that she wouldn't have to hear to know.


****

There wasn't enough Buddha inner peace in the world to stop Kyle from going up to them; from balling his hands into fists as if ready to strike at any moment. If there was one thing, one person, who never failed to get under his skin, it was Max Evans.

And Tess. She got under his skin in a completely different way, but looking at the two of them now, he couldn't tell who he was angrier at.

"What the hell is going on?" he asked, staring down at them and the guilty looks on both of their faces.

"Kyle," Tess said, moving her hand from Max's and looking down. "I-"

"What happened Max? Taking Liz from me wasn't good enough? Going for a record?"

"It's not like that Kyle," Max said, standing up. "I didn't even know you and Tess were together."

"We're not," Tess said, her voice meek.

"We were about to be," Kyle said angrily. "Or am I hallucinating the fact that we kissed about 2 hours ago?"

"No," Tess admitted. "You're nice Kyle, but Max is- he's my destiny."

"Your destiny," Kyle said, laughing. "Your destiny is a 17 year old guy who probably couldn't get it up if he wanted to."

"Hey," Max said, getting in Kyle's face. "Kyle, calm down. I'm sorry but Tess is right- we're meant to be together and there's really nothing you can do about it."

"Is that so?" Kyle asked, feeling the anger inside reach a boiling point.

"Yes," Max said, his own voice agitated. "Kyle, I shouldn't have to wait to see if you like a girl before I can make a move. I wanted Tess and you know Tess wanted me."

"Since when do you want Tess anyway? What happened to Max and Liz, the 20th century Romeo and Juliet?" Kyle spit out sarcastically. "Got tired of her and thought you'd try someone new?"

"Kyle," Tess said, jumping to her feet. "Please calm down. I'm sorry if I misled you, but I want to be with Max."

Kyle could hold it in no longer and before he could gather the inner strength to control himself, his fist flew into Max's face, and although he knew Max would probably just heal himself later, he felt relief. "You're done Max," Kyle said, backing up. "Don't ever come to me or my father for help again."

Max stood there, the pain in his eye searing as he watched as Kyle walked away.

Across the street, F-Liz gasped in realization. "Damnit," she said. This wasn't going to work.

To Be Continued....