I'm so sorry for the late update :| At least I think it's late... anyways enjoy the Hal X Lia in this chapter, I might upload the next chapter, cause I'm looking forward to you guys catching a glimpse into what the Skitters did to Lia and Jess :P

XX Ellie


Lia awoke the next morning with a dreaded feeling in her stomach, the skitter had come during the night, and Jimmy had almost been killed. She knew that a decision about whether or not to move the children was going to be made today, and she knew that if Jess had to go, she went too.

She walked out into the mess hall, when she spotted Hal, who waved her over, smiling slightly. "Jimmy alright?" she asked as she walked over, Hal nodded, "should be." he replied, "Dr Glass managed to snap him out of it, so he should be alright for now." Lia looked over to where Jess and Ben were standing, looking over the food for breakfast and smiling at each other, laughing when someone threw a joke or said something stupid. She then saw a man push Ben slightly and say a few words.

"I'm not standing in line with this razorback and his friend, ones like him are the reason the skitters are coming." he said, anger coarsed through Lia's system as she moved away from Hal, only to have him grab her. "Where are you going?" he asked, "to save your brothers neck before Jess squishes that moron into a pancake." she said, pushing her gun further up her back and walking over to the man, shoving him away slightly. "Take what you want and go." she whispered to Ben, who nodded sadly and took Jess' hand to hold her back.

A crowd had gathered as Lia shoved the guy again. "I'd suggest you move away from my sister and her friend. If you know whats good for you." she whispered menacingly, knowing she could squish this guy like a pancake. "Why? This razorback doesn't deserve to stand with us is all i'm saying." Lia shoved him again, harder this time so he fell back a few steps. "These 'razorbacks' as you so stupidly called them, are human too you wanker, Ben and my sister have suffered through something that your fat redneck ass can only dream about, so I'd suggest you get over your fear of a few spikes, and fuck off. Because when Dr. Glass gets the meds she needs, we're gonna be bringing them all back." the mans face screwed up in anger at her words, and made to step forward.

She pointed her gun at him, "anyone that messes with my family or the Masons should know by now that they're gonna get a few bullets to the behind. Got it?" she snapped, the guys face turned fearful and he turned away, muttering something about 'country bumpkin Australians'

More anger surged in Lia. "What was that about my country!" she screamed, the guy turned around eyes wide. "I may be from Australia mate, but that doesn't mean that I'm any less a part of the second mass. The same thing happened to me too. So I'd suggest that since America was a place filled with idiots and rednecks who were too stupid to realise what was going on around them, you take a trip to Australia when this is all over… might smarten you up a bit." the guy turned around again, shaking his head, but didn't say anything.

She felt a hand on her shoulder but shook it off, not wanting to punch Hal in the face, she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her anger. When she turned she saw Ben walking away and out the door to the gym. "I'm sorry." Lia whispered to Hal, who was grinning like a madman. "Just… say mate one more time?" he asked, a smile cracked on Lia's face at his joke but she shook her head, "you Rednecks are all the same." she said, winking. She didn't mean anything that she had said about America, she knew that the places she had seen were quite lovely, but sometimes you gotta hit a stereotype with a stereotype.

Lia shook her head and grabbed some food, sitting down next to Hal and talking about meaningless nonsense for hours, cleaning their guns and talking some more, until Tom walked in. Lia looked up, knowing that Ben had gone to Tom and told him that he wanted to go with Clayton. "Everybody?" he called, scratching his chin and looking around, they all stood and walked closer to him, and even though Lia knew what Tom was going to say, it still shocked her a little.

"I've decided to send Matt and Ben along with Clayton. Jess will be going too. It'll put our kids a few hours ahead of whatever coming and that'll be good for them." he said, looking at Lia. She smiled and nodded, knowing that it was for the best if Jess were to go, she would be with a friend she would be safe, and Lia wouldn't have to constantly worry about her. "The 3rd Mass should be here by tomorrow night, and if everything goes as planned, then we should be reuniting with our kids as soon as possible." Lia nodded again, feeling Hal's hand slide over hers and grip it tightly, the nervousness must have found it's way onto her face, but she welcomed Hal's hand, blushing slightly when she felt his calloused hand over hers.

Lia detached herself from the conversation as the man who had caused controversy over the kids last night stepped out again, conversing with Clayton. Lia really didn't care what he had to say, she knew that Jess would be safe as long as she was far away, but she still couldn't shake the feeling in her stomach that sending Jess with Clayton was a bad idea, she didn't know what… just something about him screamed untrustworthy, the same feeling she got around the skitters.

"O'Brien, Fuller. You'll be going with them." Tom said, pointing to the two men. Lia knew that Tom meant to send them as a security measure, although it didn't make her feel any better, even when Clayton piped up and asked if Mike could come too. "We know that the skitters aren't after the youngest ones. The rest will go with them because our kids are our future and their safety has got to come first. So pack 'em up, they leave in an hour." Tom turned and walked out of the hall as it burst into noise, conversations piping up everywhere.

"Hey." Hal whispered, standing up and coming to stand in-between her legs, she shifted slightly on the table but didn't look up at him as a terrible feeling began gnawing at her chest. "Lia… look at me." he said softly, using his free hand to pull her chin up to meet his eyes, instantly butterflies attacked her stomach and fire spread through her veins at his touch on her soft skin, a traitorous crimson spread across her cheeks but she forced herself to hold his dark gaze. "Are you…" he paused, leaning a little closer, "are you sure you're okay?" he whispered, she bit her lip and shook her head, her eyes never leaving his.

"I've got this terrible feeling Hal. Like something bad's going to happen to Jess if she goes with Clayton, but my minds telling me that what Tom said is true… if a skitter attack was to come, then she would be in serious danger… she can fight, much better than all the fighters in the second mass, so can I. It's just that I don't want her to put herself into a position where she has to fight, because the only reason she's even standing today is because of the skitters… and god do they want their experiments back."

She took a deep breath and fought back the tears that pooled in her eyes and pressed her head into Hal's shoulder. His body jumped in shock, but he wound one arm around her waist, stepping closer and hugging her tightly, while the other remained tightly joined with her own hand, squeezing it gently against the tears that were slowly slipping out of her eyes. "I'm going with them." she said suddenly, thinking back to the promise that she had made Jess when they had made it out of the hospital.

Hal pulled back and stared her in the eyes, his levelled and serious gaze boring into her very soul, before he spoke very quietly. "If you're going, I'm going too." he whispered, her heart leapt in her chest and a huge grin spread across her face. She couldn't believe that this boy, the only boy who had ever truly seen her for what she was, was willing to follow her away from his Father and friends in the second mass, all to support her and comfort her. In that moment she vowed she would do everything in her power to make sure that Ben was protected, and that Matt would never ever come to an ounce of harm.

"Thank you." she whispered, kissing his cheek and letting him lead her out of the gym, hands still entwined as they went on a hunt for a change of clothes and supplied needed for the journey ahead of them.

They arrived out the front of the school an hour later, Hal quickly rushing over to Ben, Lia watched as Ben handed him a photo before Hal smirked and handed him the photo back, before punching his shoulder lightly and walking off, Ben smiling brilliantly at his brothers back, before Hal took her hand and pulled her away, leading her out the front to find Jess, who was kneeling down next to Matt and speaking soft words as the smaller boy nodded, wiping his tears and giggling as Jess tickled him.

Lia noticed the smile on Hals face, and the admiration as well as something else that was etched into Ben's face, who had come to stand next to them to watch Jess. Matt turned and saw his father walking across the yard, throwing himself into his arms. Lia turned back around to see Jess standing in front of her, sadness in her eyes. "You know I could stay and help right?" Jess whispered, watching as Hal and Ben took their leave, walking away to their father. Lia turned back, nodding slightly. "I know you can Jess, but I'm gonna do anything and everything in my power to keep you from using any more of that stuff than you have to, I don't want them to find you either, thats a chance I can't take." she said, brushing a strand of golden hair away from Jess' eyes, watching as her blue orbs slipped from her own and dropped to the floor, kicking absentmindedly at a small rock embedded the grass.

"Which is why I'm coming with you." Lia said cheekily. Jess' eyes shot up and a huge grin spread across her face, and before Lia knew what was going on, Jess had thrown herself into Lia's arms, her blonde hair brushing her mouth as she hugged the life out of her sister. "Calm down squirt." Lia said, smiling and hugging her back tightly. "I'm not letting you out of my sight, you're not getting rid of me that easily." Jess burst out laughing but didn't say anything, just hugged the life out of her sister before dropping back to the ground and walking off to take Ben's hand as the kids were told they were rolling out.

"She took that well." Hal said, appearing beside her. Lia jumped, but nodded and turned her head to look at the taller boy. "Yeah… I'm glad she did. I can't have anything happen to her, she's the only family I've got left." she whispered, taking Hal's hand and leading them to the back of the convoy, waving goodbye to Doctor Glass, who was waving frantically at the two of them, before they waved to Tom, who smiled and waved back, giving Hal a pointed glance before looking at their joined hands. Lia blushed but didn't say anything, just turned and faced the front as Hal chuckled and leaned down to kiss her cheek, her face heating up instantly.

She knew that when they arrived she was bound to spill her secrets.