War of the Worlds Fanfic

A/N: Hey guys! I'm soooo sooo sooo sorry for leaving you for so long! I feel awful, but I can't spend anymore time apologizing. Here is the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy. Thanks for all the recent reviews, and I hope you guys like this chapter! I wrote it in a day just because I wanted to get it out already.

Since school started, I've been drowning in homework and have little time anymore (and energy) to write, so please forgive me for taking so long to update. I still don't have the DVD so my dialogue may still be off in later chapters and such, but oh well. Thanks again for all the reviews, they do keep me going. And please review again! Mkay, bye!

- Modesty

Chapter Eight: The Little Things

Robbie fingered the blade of the knife, running his hands down the side of his pocket. He could feel its sharp edges through his thick pants. The knife's blade was sheathed in a small leather casing. He glanced placidly out the window, staring out at the rolling fields around them.

They hadn't been driving for very long, just long enough to reach the outskirts of the city. They were almost in the country now; it was eerie, for Robbie, to not see any other people, houses, or cars for so long. If he looked behind him, squinting his eyes, he could see the distant tops of houses near the mouth of the horizon, but elsewhere, there was no other sign of human life, or any life for that matter.

There were no birds in the sky, no rodents scurrying up thin trees as they passed in their van. In the back seat, Robbie could hear his sister grabbing at a box of cereal he had packed in the grocery bag. Once opened, she began digging her hand further and further into the bag, dishing out handfuls of fruity flavored flakes and cupping them to her mouth.

Rachel ate as if she had been starved, and after she had had several handfuls, Alex reached into the box as well. Her empty stomach was soon filled with the dry flakes, but it felt so good to Alex. A slight smile broke upon her lips. It's these little things, she said to herself. That will keep us alive, for now.

"Does anyone want any cereal?" she asked, calmly.

"Yeah, sure," Ray answered; his eyes stiff and sore from watching the road so intently. He was waiting, expecting any minute for something to happen, for some evil to occur…for them to come into view over the horizon.

Robbie let go of his pants pocket and glanced over his shoulder as Alex passed the cereal box into the front seat. "Here," she said as she handed the box toward Robbie who then reached out a hand to grab hold of it.

Alex gave him a soft smile and then he turned around again. He dipped his hand eagerly into the box and when it emerged again, he was clutching as much of the dry flakes as he could, stuffing them irresistibly into his mouth.

Casually, he tipped the box towards his dad.

"Hey, thanks," Ray commented as he took a swift look at the box, and reaching down into its pleasuring depths. "You know," Ray continued, still holding a handful of cereal in one hand and driving with the other. "I'm glad you're…" his voice broke off as he searched for the words. "You're okay." Robbie glanced at his father, sheepishly and with a slightly withheld look of disgust. "I mean, Jesus, Robbie. That man back there was a…a psycho…What I'm saying is…that I'm just glad you're okay. We're all okay," he added with emphasis. "That's what's…what's important right now."

"Are we gonna be in Boston soon?" Rachel asked suddenly. "I want to make sure Mom and Tim are al okay too."

Ray frowned. Why does everything in these kids' lives have to revolve around their mother? I'm here too. Well, I guess I really haven't been…

"Dad?"

"We'll be there soon, Rachel," he told her, though he wasn't sure what else to say. He knew that they were still at least a few more days away from Boston, and in those days, he knew not what would await them. He didn't want to dwell on it either.

Alex frowned as well, remembering her own missing parent. Was her father okay? Was he well? Hurt? Alive? Thinking of her? Missing her too? If he was dead, how did he die? When? Was he alone?

Tiny warm droplets formed in the corners of her eyes and slid down her warm cheeks. She shut her eyes tightly to withhold them, but it was no use. Her tears paid no heed to her closed eyelids and came tumbling down anyhow. She turned her head away so Rachel could not see them, and let out a muffled sob.

Robbie was chewing quietly on more cereal when he turned around to face his sister. "You still doing okay back there?" he asked, after swallowing.

"Yeah. How's your lip?" Rachel asked.

Robbie touched it softly. It still hurt, but not that much. "It's fine," he told her. "Alex?"

Surprised, Alex began wiping away her tears. "Yeah?"

Robbie had to only look at her for a moment when she turned to him to see she'd been crying. Her eyes were slightly red and glossy with tears. "How're you doing?" he asked, with sympathy.

"I'm fine," Alex answered quietly. "Thanks for asking."

"Here's the cereal," Robbie handed the box over to her. Alex smiled a little as she took the box and placed it carefully on her lap. To avoid Robbie's eyes, she stared down into the box which was already nearly empty. "You can finish it off for us if you want," he added kindly. "I'm not hungry anymore."

"I'm not either," Rachel said, trying to be helpful.

Alex smiled again. "Okay, thanks," she said. "Maybe we should save some for later."

"We have more food," Rachel suggested, pointing at the brown paper grocery bag that lay at her brother's feet.

"Yeah," Robbie agreed. "We have some poptarts, top ramen, bottled water…"

"Top Ramen?" Alex smiled again.

She should smile more; Robbie was surprised to find himself thinking. She's so much prettier when she smiles. Well, she's already pretty, he thought again, correcting himself. Then he shook his head slightly to keep the thoughts away.

"How are we supposed to make top ramen?" Alex asked, her tears drying.

Robbie couldn't think of an answer. He hadn't even considered that. He just saw it in the aisle and grabbed the closest box.

"We can make it when we get to Grandma's," Rachel suggested with hope in her smile.

"Exactly," agreed Robbie, glancing at his sister. "We'll make some when we get to Boston."

"I miss Mommy," Rachel added.

"I know, Rae," Robbie patted her knee gently. "But we'll be in Boston soon."

"Yeah, Rachel," Alex found herself helping. "We'll be there in no time." Rachel looked warm and snug in her bright purple jacket, its furry hood warming the back of her neck.

"Robbie?" Rachel's small voice sounded even smaller when she was scared. "Do you think Mommy is okay?"

Alex could see the light slowly seeping from Robbie's eyes. All in one moment, he looked older to her; more tired, and perhaps even more scared himself than he had ever been before. It was always on his mind, always on everyone's mind. How fare the ones closest to us? Are they alive?

"She's fine," Robbie said, sounding more exhausted than he allowed himself to look. He just wished she would stop bringing their mother into the conversation. He didn't want to dwell on her fortunes, though he only wished for the best, and he greatly missed Mary Ann.

The muffled voice of the television seemed all too natural for Mary Ann by this point. The news reporter's face was grave.

"Reports say," the woman continued. "That towns north and south of the border have also been subject to these otherworldly attacks…"

The woman's long blonde hair was unkempt and her eyes were puffy with fresh tears. She placed a trembling hand on her swollen belly. She was sitting on a long, red sofa in the living room of her parents' town home in Boston.

"It's all right honey," though Tim was standing right behind her, his hands on her shoulders, Mary Ann could hardly hear him, and his grip wasn't as comforting.

"I want them back," she replied, distantly. "I want my children."

A/N: for all of you who have a myspace, my name is Lil Kitten! So find me if you want to! Ok, bye!

-Modesty