A/N: I do not own nor will I ever own anything by Falling Skies, TNT or Steven Spielberg. I will try to keep most of the characters and important events the same but most of these chapters will be original.

Also as a warning I realize the grammar is poor at best, so if you can read it and enjoy it then that's all I am asking.

Chapter 14

Your Worth Fighting For

"It's about time you showed up,"said Ben with a smug look on his face,"I thought we might have to start this competition without you."

Smiling, Hal limped his way forward and quickly joined his father and younger brother Matt. "Just you wait Benjamin...I'm going make you eat those words."

"How's your ankle son?" Asked his father, trying to change the subject.

"It's getting better,"he added by shrugging his shoulders,"your girlfriend tells me I got another 2 more weeks before we remove the cast."

Chuckling at his comment, Matthew took his M1 carbine off his back. "Come on guys. Let's get this show on the road."

Currently, all four Mason's were gathered near the back of the shooting range with a group of alien targets hanging against two metal dumpsters. Tom had been saying for a while now that they hadn't done anything as a family in months. So it was Hal, who came up with the idea about a shooting competition. And within a week they made time to meet that Monday morning at the range.

"I'll start us off,"he said taking off his new SR-25 sniper rifle off his shoulder, loading a fresh twenty round .308 clip into the semi-automatic rifle.

Hal found the sniper rifle and grenade launcher inside a cave, near where he had landed after jumping off the ledge to escape the falling radio tower. Since they weren't able to recover his AK-101, the advance scout started practicing heavily with the weapon, trying to get use to the new rifle.

"Any day now bro,"replied Ben as he crossed his arms and pretended to be irritated at him.

To make it fair to Tom and Matt, both Ben and Hal were not allowed to use their scopes when firing. Taking aim the best he could without using his scope, Hal centered himself and pulled the trigger. Watching the bullet hit the inner most ring, he adjusted his aim and quickly fired 2 more .308 rounds into the target. The second shot and third shot each hit the bull's eye, causing him to smile before lowering his sniper rifle.

"2 out of 3...impressive son. I can see that Maggie has been teaching you a few things. But now it's time your old man show's you all how it's done,"said his father as he made his way over and took Hal's spot at the firing position.

Shouldering his SR-25, Hal made sure to stand beside Ben. With Matthew preoccupied with what their father was saying about always doing a weapon's check before firing, Hal wanted to take this chance to talk to him.

"Everything okay?"

"For the most part,"replied Ben as they both kept their gaze on their father and little brother,"but Red Eye thinks the Overlords are planning something."

Watching Tom load a fresh 30 round 7.62 mag into his AK, Hal turned to look at his brother. "That's kinda vague."

"I agree,"he said nodding his head,"but things right now are so fragile between our groups, I don't want to start pushing him and the rest of the Skitters for more information. It's hard enough trying to keep the rest of the deharrensed kids from attacking any alien we come across. Let alone, getting them to work together without exposing our alliance to the enemy."

"I hear you on that one bro."

Turning his gaze back on his father, Hal watched as Tom fired three rounds into his target. With none of his shots hitting the bull's eye, he couldn't help but chuckle at the frustrated look on his father's face.

"Hmm, I think my rifle's aim is slightly off,"he said looking down at his AK-47.

"Whatever you say dad. But the results speak for themselves,"added Hal with a grin on his face.

Shaking his head, Tom shouldering his rifle and let Matt step forward and take his turn. While their dad was busy giving his little brother a few pointers, Hal couldn't help but think about something else that was bother him. For a while now he worried that the rebel Skitters were simply going to use them for their own goals. That in the end, the rebel aliens would simply take the place of the Overlords and bring them back to square one again.

"Ben...I don't want you to take this the wrong way, your my brother and I trust you. But how can you be so sure that Red Eye and the rest of the rebel Skitters aren't simply using us for their own needs. What happens if they change their mind and decide to sell us out to the Overlords,"he said with a concerned look on his face.

Taking a deep breath, Ben slowly turned to look at him. "I understand your concerns Hal. Your not asking the same thing I haven't asked myself a dozen times over. While I believe everything the leader has told me...but if your asking me if I can guarantee you that the rebels won't manipulate us for their own needs. I can't."

"Far enough. I guess you could same the same thing about the the 2nd Mass and 1st Continental too."

Watching Matt turn off the safety on his M1 carbine, Hal sighed heavily. "Sorry about that. I guess I have a lot on my mind right now."

Nodding his head, Ben offered him a warm smile. "I understand my brother. It's funny,"he said while chuckling lightly,"I still can't believe your going to be a dad. How far along is Margret anyways?"

"Almost 3 months.

"Wow...it's hard to believe how much things have changed since the invasion. To be honest, I have a hard time remembering what it was like before they arrived."

Nodding his head, Hal ran a hand through his short brown hair. "Tell me about it. Sometimes it's hard even for me to remember when life wasn't about fighting and surviving for the next day. Not to mention I am getting married soon. You know I hate everything that has happen since the aliens invaded, but Maggie has been the only good thing to come out of it for me. "

Bringing his attention back on his little brother, they watched as he fired his three shots and managed to hit the bull's eye once.

"Hey I got one!" He shouted in excitement before moving off to join Hal and Tom.

Taking off his Heckler & Koch G36K, Ben stepped forward and raised his rifle. A few seconds later he fired three shots in rapid succession, showing each of them hitting the bull's eye with ease.

"And that, my fellow Mason's...is how it's done."

Gently rocking the baby in her arms, Maggie smiled down at the little girl as she yawned back at her. "Your baby is adorable Sarah,"added Jeanie Weaver who was looking down at the little girl that was in Maggie's arms.

"Thanks,"she said while cleaning her Heckler & Koch MP5A3 sub machine gun.

Bringing her attention back down Charlotte, Margret gently touching the baby's left arm. Going farther down, she was surprised when the little girl grasped her thumb in it's small hands.

"Awe! Charlotte grabbed Maggie's thumb,"replied Jeanie before moving around and sitting on the couch next to her.

Turning her head around, Sarah offered her a warm smile. "Looks like my little Charlotte likes you Maggie."

"I guess,"she said looking down at the baby once more,"although she probably does that for everyone."

Sarah shook her head. "Nope. In fact I don't think she has ever done that with me."

Smiling, Margret looked down again to see that she had fallen asleep. Giving her one last look, she pasted the baby onto Jeanie. Watching Captain Weaver's daughter hold Charlotte, Maggie started thinking about her first child. Those big blue eyes staring back at her, before a nurse ushered him away from her sight. The pain it caused her, was part of the reason she never let anyone get close to her for so long. But now, she felt different. While the guilt and regret was still there, it didn't hurt as much anymore.

Taking her eyes off Jeanie and Charlotte, Maggie placed her left hand on her tummy. It was then she understood the baby that was growing inside of her was helping to heal the pain of losing her first child. Spotting the engagement ring on her hand, the advance scout new the other reason was Hal.

"Let me guess,"said Sarah standing up and walking over to Jeanie,"your thinking about your baby."

Looking up, Margret realized that both Jeanie and Sarah were staring at her. "What makes you think that?" She asked quickly removing her hand away from her tummy.

Chuckling, Sarah carried the sleeping girl over to the small crib and placed her inside it. "Because you haven't taken your eyes off your belly ever since you stop holding Charlotte."

Blushing, Maggie turned away from her friends gaze. "Awe your actually blushing,"replied Jeanie with a surprised tone,"Hal told me you almost never get embarrassed."

"Is that all he said about me?"

"Among other things,"she added with a smile on her face,"But their was one thing I do remember more than any other he told me about you."

"What's that?" She asked trying her best to hide her anxiety about what her fiance was telling others about her.

"That you are the best thing to ever happen to him."

Taking her brown eyes off Jeanie, Maggie couldn't help but start grinning from ear to ear. Only Hal Mason could ever make her feel that loved and needed.

"You okay Mags?" Asked Sarah as she shouldered her sub-machine gun.

Standing up, she gave her friend a broad grin. "Yeah...just remind me I need to thank my fiance later tonight."

Spotting the Marion city exit up ahead, Maggie switched lanes and drove down the off ramp. Coming off the ramp, she drove straight for about another minute before pulling over at a ruined fast food restaurant.

Recently, a large influx of survivors had started pouring into the Charleston area. While most of them joined the 1st Continental regiment, about 40 of them transferred into the 2nd Mass, bringing there effective strength somewhere around 200 again. While this was good news, it also meant they need to expand their search for more food, medicine, clothes, and really anything of use. Normally Hal and Maggie would be the ones leading a scouting party and making sure the area was clear. But with Hal's injuries still not healed, they were stuck with retrieving drop caches of supplies there fellow scouts had hidden to be picked up later.

"So how many drops do we have to pick up?" She asked him while taking a drink of water from Hal's canteen.

"Not sure, lets find out,"he added by unfolding the map between them.

Scanning the map, the advance scout counted at least 7 drop sights they need to retrieve. Each one had small details and information describing how far it was away from certain land marks and what to look for.

"It looks like this one next to that M&T Bank is the closest."

Nodding her head, Maggie turned the truck back on. "Sounds like a plan my love."

Turning back onto the road once more, she slowly made her way around the ruined vehicles and debris which was piled all along the streets.

Spotting the destroyed bank coming into view, Margret drove until they directly across from it. "You ready Mason?"

Grabbing his SR-25 off the dash board, Hal leaned over and gave her a kiss. "Just watch my back."

"Always."

Exiting the old pickup truck, Maggie watched as Hal limped his way forward, before stopping in front of an over turned 18 wheeler. Looking around, she watched him turn right and make his way over to old mail box. Going behind the blue collection box, he found a series of crates that were covered with a blue tarp.

Giving her a thumbs up, Maggie nodded back and drove right beside the post box. Watching her fiance put the crates of supplies into the bed of the truck, she could tell his injuries were still bothering him. But despite this, he refused to complain about it. While Hal was stubborn like that, she always knew it had something to do with the fact she was almost 3 months pregnant. Maggie could have tried arguing with him about it, but she knew it was a losing battle. And to be honest, she didn't mind letting him take care of her.

"About time,"she replied as he entered the truck again,"I thought I might have to get out and help you if you took any longer."

Chuckling, Hal turned and gave her an amused look. "Please Margret. You and me both know you enjoy watching me limping around."

"Why's that?"

"Cause it gives you something to tease me about?"

Smiling, she shook her head. "Trust me sweetheart...I don't have to try hard for that one."

"Well I can't argue with you on that one, but your no saint either Miss Walker."

Driving around the small bend, Maggie turned to right to see Hal was still smiling at her. "You know that won't work on me?"

Nodding his head, Hal scouted next to her before placing his hand on the back of her neck. "I beg to differ Mags."

Right when she was about to say something back, she felt his left hand start gently massing the back of her neck. Instantly relaxing, she almost closed her eyes, but managed to stop herself before her lids closed.

"Damn you Mason,"she said shuddering lightly from his massage he was giving her.

Laughing, Hal continued to rub her neck. "You know you love it."

Stopping in front of house with no roof, Maggie sighed heavily. "Next pick up."

Taking his hand away from her neck, she instantly missed his touch the moment he removed his hand. Stepping out of the passenger side, Hal walked around the truck before climbing over the small wooden fence of the building's front yard. Picking up the supplies of food and clothes, Maggie watched over her partner and future husband.

Smiling, the advance scout knew some people like her aunt and that bitch Karen didn't think she deserved to be happy. And maybe a year in half ago she might have agreed with them. But now, Maggie understood one thing more than anything since she joined the 2nd Mass. That it's never to late to change and become a better person than you were before.

"You alright sweetheart?" He asked noticing that she still hadn't started driving again.

Nodding her head, Margret pulled the pick up back on the road. "I am fine Hal...I promise."

15 minutes later the two scouts had picked up every cache of supplies and were on there way back home once more. Getting back on the highway, Maggie was forced to turn the head lights on with night fall upon them.

"That reminds me...we still haven't picked out names for our baby yet."

Opening his eyes, Hal gave her a surprise look. "Your right, we haven't. So...any ideas?"

Thinking about boy and girl names, she immediately remembered the name she used during her dream. While it didn't end the way she liked, Maggie still felt like bringing it up.

"Well I have girl's name."

"I am all ears sweetie."

"How about Rebecca Bethany Mason."

Giving her a curious look at first, Hal gradually smiled back at her. "I like it. It has a nice ring to it."

"Me too,"she added with a grin on her face,"so any thoughts for a boy name."

Crossing his arms, Hal leaned back in his seat. "How about Michael Thomas Mason."

"How did you know my father's name was Michael? I don't remember telling you that little bit of info?"

Chuckling, he gave her a wink. "Nope, I actually ran into your aunt."

Immediately her mood soured. "Why on Earth would you ask that horrible woman anything?"

Sensing her anger level raising, Hal raised his hand to silence her. "Relax my love. I was simply dropping a few supplies off when she came out with a group of fighters from the 1st Continental army. Looking me dead in the face, she walked over and shoved something in my hand before leaving once more."

Reaching inside his pocket, Maggie saw him pull out three pictures. Two of them she recognized as the one was of him and his family before the invasion, while the second was one of them sharing a close moment. Past those two, the advance scout spotted a much older photo with some writing on the back.

Passing the picture to her, she suddenly hit the breaks, making the both of them lurch forward at the sudden stopping of the truck.

"Damn! That hurts!"He yelled out in pain while holding onto his sore ribs.

"I am so sorry Hal. Are you alright?" She asked giving him a concerned look.

Taking several deep breaths, he slowly nodded his head. "Yeah...I'll be alright."

Once she was positive that her fiance was okay, Maggie brought her attention back on the photo was more. The picture was a Christmas photo taken back in 2001, of her and her parents standing behind a Christmas tree. On the back she read the note written in her mothers hand writing.

(Christmas 2001, I hope you and your James are doing well. With love from Michael, Bethany, and Margret Walker.)

Taking her eyes off the old photo, Maggie spotted her fiance staring back at her. "You going to be okay?"

Clearing her throat, she blinked a few times, trying to hold back the tears. "Yeah...it's just the seeing my family again, it took me by surprise."

"I understand Mags. If you want we can frame it and put it next to the one of us on our night stand."

Maggie shook her head. "Nah. I want to keep this with me."

"Sounds like a good idea to me."

Putting the picture inside her leather jacket, Maggie started driving again. After a few moments of silence, she tuck a quick glance over to see Hal was staring out the passenger side window, watching the scenery past them by. They hadn't said anything for a miles as she suspected he was giving her some space after seeing the picture of her family.

"Hal, I just wanted you to know...your my family now. I know sometimes I have a hard way of showing it, but I know we can build a future together. We might have to fight for it, but I think that's something we both prepared to do."

Reaching out, Hal took a hold of her right hand in his left. "I couldn't have said it any better darling. I love you."

"I love you too Hal."

"Oh, I almost forgot!" She said practically shouting, causing him to give her a strange look.

"Forgot what?"

"Jeanine told me what you said about me?"

Raising his eyebrows, he grinned back at her. "It's not hard for me to say, when it's true."

Tightening her grip on his hand, Maggie raised it up and kissed the back of his hand. "And encase you didn't know by now. Hal Mason, you have been the best thing to ever happen to me in my entire life. Whose knows what would have happen to me if you hadn't made that offer to me a year in a half ago."

"But you did, and that's what important. Never forget that, okay?"

"Okay, I promise."

A/n: These chapters won't be long and I am not sure how long I will make this story but then again I guess that's the fun. Feel free to leave any questions or comments!