AN: Please...*cowers* read it before you kill me! Im really sorry...
Okay, Im going to ask now...review with who your most favoritest Mason son is. Mine...you'll find out at the end! ;)


"Ben".

And there he is. Sitting up in the tree, 20 feet in the ground with one leg dangling off his branch and the other straight out in front of him. His face is all scrunched up, as if he's in loads of pain. He's filthy; covered from head to toe in dirt and grime, and looks like he could use a good meal or two. At the sound of my voice, his eyelids popped open, revealing his beautiful green irises. His mouth formed the shape of an 'o' at the sight of my slightly panicked and battered look and body.

Hal and Maggie's heads snap up to look and spot Ben, too. They let out a synchronized gasp, and Hal quickly yells out "Ben! Is that you? Are you okay? Can you come down or do I need to come and get you?" "N-no. I'm fine. Just umm, just gimme a minute. Al–baby, are you okay?" he asks, sounding worried. Questioning why I wouldn't be okay, I start to answer him, when I feel my body hit the ground and see darkness surround me.

When I wake up, I don't know where I am or how I got there. Looking around, I recognize what could be a doctor's office, but I'm not sure. Wanting to locate myself, I start to stand up, only to have cautious, familiar, warm arms surround me, gently tugging me back down to my bed. "You're not allowed to get up yet, Ms. Clumsy."

My body reacts faster than my mind does and I whip around and throw myself at the voice I've been dreaming of for three months. It's a voice not only special to me, but tons of other people in the second mass, too. It's Ben's voice.

He instantly hugs me back, crushing me to his chest as if when we part I'll disappear. I don't know when I started to cry, but the tears are streaming down my face at a rapid pace. I lock my chin over his shoulder, holding him in place and not allowing him to escape my grasp.

I notice we've both been cleaned up and changed clothes, but don't know where or how. But that doesn't matter. What matters is Ben, and that he's finally back. I feel whole again; like I can finally take deep breaths and fill my lungs with air and the sweet scent of Ben. Never again, will I let him leave me. Never ever again.

We sit there for who knows how long just holding each other and making up lost time without each other, it seems. Finally, I look up and tilt my head towards him, signaling for him to do the same. He does, and we share a tender kiss so wonderfully love filled, it leaves me breathless. Ben and I have such a mature relationship that we don't need to suck each other's face off to feel like a couple. We actually have things in common and can uphold an actual conversation.

That's part of the reason I love him so much. He's not only my boyfriend, but also my best friend. He understands me better than anyone. I trust him with everything, and would never doubt him. I love him.

We get up from my bed and I ask him "Where are we?" Chuckling, he replies, "Charleston, of course." Surprised, I look around, realizing this must be the hospital wing. It's very white and clean; a good sign. There's a bed, a table with a clipboard and pen sitting on it, a lamp over the bed and a room light overhead, and a door. We must have been close when we were last camped, I think. "How long was I out?" I voice, figuring it's a good thing to know. "A little under a day and a half. You really scared me, Ally. What happened back there? You looked so frightened and then..." he trails off, his voiced mixed with worry and confusion. "There's—a lot you need to catch up on."

We walk around Charleston trying to find a familiar face anywhere. We see tons of faces, but no one strikes a memory. Ben and I talk some more, mostly him catching me up on what I missed while unconscious and what he did while away. He tells me that he found the Skitter rebellion, and they are based near Charleston. He also explains how he was following the Second Mass, but only as a starting spot for his search. He would come back every week or so to rest and catch his breath, then start off again, in a new position. That's how he kept up on what the 2nd Mass was doing. AKA what trouble I was causing. That's also how he found out about my new fighter status. When he brings that up, he is NOT happy.

"Ally, about how many times did I tell you to not EVER touch a gun? Just take a guess." He starts what I can tell is going to be a long rant. I sigh and mumble "a lot". "Then why the HELL are you parading around waving an assault rifle like it's a trophy! Did you listen to me AT ALL? How could you jus—" "LISTEN!" I cut him off, tired of being ranted to. "You weren't here to dictate my choices, so I made them myself. I appreciate your concern, but back off. You aren't my dad. So chill, relax, calm your self. I'm still alive, aren't I?" He looks a bit stunned, probably due to my snapping. I don't usually snap at him, unless for good reason. And it was a good reason this time. I'm a big girl; I can make my own decisions. I voice exactly this to him. After a few minutes of thoughts, we decide to let it go for now, and probably for the best. We don't need to argue on our reunion.

We see some perimeter soldiers reporting to a general about some Skitter activity, so we take the chance to ask where all the Second Mass. civilians are. The guard snootily tells me he doesn't know or care, only to get a sharp smack on the back of his head by Ben, being told to not talk to me like that. Smirking, I grab Ben's hand and drag him down the hall, and he just mutters under his breath the whole time.

Laughing, I pull him along quicker, because I spotted his father just turning a corner at the end of the hall. "Mr. Mason!" I call out, attempting to draw his attention. He stops and looks back, surprised, probably by the formal title, only to recognize his son and me at once. Smirking lightly, he waits for us to catch up, before turning to my with a playful grin. "Now young Miss Brooks. How many times have I told you, to please call me Tom, oh hell, DAD even? I might as well sign the adoption papers, for you've been my daughter in my eyes since you two started dating. I won't tell you again, Al." He laughs and hugs me tight, like a father would do with his only daughter. But I guess, that's what I kind of am to him, and the rest of the Mason's, too. Besides Ben, it'd be weird if he thought of me as his sister...

We all walk down the hall together, and Tom recounts how happy he is to have Ben back, again, thanks to me. Shaking my head and blushing, I try to shake off his appreciation. I had done it mostly for my own benefit. Being clumsy all of my life, I don't think twice when my feet fly out from under me. I figure I had tripped over another invisible ledge in the flooring. But what surprises me is how Ben and Tom loose their footing, too. Looking around I notice that all of the walls are shaking; light fixtures swinging and chunks of loose ceiling are falling. Ben hurls his body over my own; trying to protect me from getting injured even further.

When the shaking dies down a bit, Tom jumps to his feet and takes off running down the hall, calling out to us "Be careful and get somewhere safe! I have no idea what's going on!" Ben flies up too, grabbing my hands and dragging me up and with him as he dashes after his father. Trying, hopelessly, to get my feet under my soaring body, I groan out in frustration. Mistaking it for pain, Ben mumbles an apology and pulls me onto his back. We continue our race through the halls as the walls and floors and ceilings continuously shake and twist, like we are in some sort of spinning room.

When we finally reach the outside doors, tons of people are pouring out into the cold Charleston night. We all gather in an unorganized clump, everyone finding his or her friends and families. Ben and I spot Tom, Hal, Matt, Maggie and Anne in the front of the mess, standing with Weaver. We push our way through the throng of people until, out of breath, well I am at least, and we are standing with them. After a few minutes of no talking, I open my mouth to question what is happening, when a deafly loud, high pitched, ear bleeding sounds erupts from seemingly everywhere and nowhere. Brilliant blue lights appear in the sky everywhere, like Christmas lights on a tree, and then quickly descend.

Everyone is now in full panic mode, and screams are coming from every which direction behind us. The lights, it seems, were really a new type of alien ship. This one is metal-like made, as well, but in a mushroom shape, with the bright blue light seeping out in any and every crack available. Ben draws me behind his back, as Tom does with Anne and Hal with Maggie. Although, it does no use with neither Maggie nor I, as we just step back out from behind our 'protectors'. We all draw our guns and train them on the new light source as it drops to settle up right on the ground.

A loud, groaning mechanical sound is heard and a door shoots open. Everyone gasps cocks their weapons. Breathing shakily, I take on step closer to Ben, only to seek his warmth. I feel very wary of this whole situation, and need to know Ben is still here, with me. "Forever" is all he says to me, under his breath and so only my ears could hear it, as if he was reading my thoughts and emotions.

With deep, thumping steps, out comes a new alien. It looks as if it could be a warrior, as its body is covered from head to toe in armor, and it is holding what looks like a gun, but I can't be sure. It has a collar around its neck that is popped up, making it look like the evil queen in Sleeping Beauty.

It steps forward again, and we reposition our weapons to be pointing all over the creature. With another sharp popping sound, a face shield slides up into its helmet, revealing a puppy dog – like face. It has large, dark eyes that scan over us, but not in an evil sort of way, even though it makes not a sound and doesn't move its weapon.

One question was racing through all of our minds at this moment.

Friend, or foe?


Author's Note: Okay guys. That was an undeniably inexcusably long wait. But I've been super busy with school and soccer and everything, and I've had like no motivation at all...
But after like a month...or two...I FINALLY updated! I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, and if you didn't recognize the setting, it was during the season 2 finale. Ally was passed out when the 2nd Mass was taking down the gun-thing that was pointed at the sky. Where the fish head and the red eyed one died...btw. Haha.
My favoritest Mason boy would be...Ben. See now, this took me forever to decide. It was either going to be Ben or Matt, just because, personally, I kind of hate Hal with a burning passion. :/ But I chose Ben, because first of all, I have a huge crush on him, and on Connor... 3 3 3 And because sometimes, Matt can be an asshole. :P Like at 9 years old, he back talks A LOT. But he's still absolutely ADORABLE. 3 So NOW, I want to know your preferred Mason boy...so TELL MEEEEEE!

So umm, thanks for all the follows and favorites, and the reviews, guys. I really appreciate them. So let's see, what else could I say?
Review? Haha sounds right. Thanks, everyone!

-ALO