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 2

Off Trail

Yawning, Hal shook his head trying to stay awake while driving down the highway. Taking one hand off the steering wheel, he reached for some of the once hot coffee now turned cold and drank deeply from it.

"God that was a bad decision,"he said to himself throwing the rest of it out the window.

Currently they were about 100 miles ahead of the main convey heading towards Charleston. It was his, Maggie's and Dai's job as advance scouts to help pave the way for the entire 2nd Mass so that they didn't run head long into a ambush. Dai was manning the .50 caliber machine that was mounted to the back of the truck leaving Hal and Maggie taking turns driving.

Taking a quick peak at Maggie who was currently fast asleep with her head against the passenger side window Hal couldn't help but smile. He knew that she might have a stiff neck later, but still he couldn't pull himself to wake her. So much had happen to them in the past 4 months it was hard to believe how far there relationship had changed. He didn't know if it was right, or if they were making a mistake but for the first time since Karen, he felt truly happy.

Getting over Karen was a lot harder than he ever thought possible. For the longest time he coped by absorbing himself complete in being a scout for the 2nd Mass, knowing that people depended on him. And for a while, that was all he need.

It was during this difficult time he found himself partnered with hard nosed formed gang member Margaret who only earlier had threaten his life. But despite this rocky to there partnership, he soon began to trust her and realized that he had fallen for her. Through her he was able to regain his confidence once again and found something he never thought was possible again, love. Hal the knew the moment they first kissed on top of those hospital steps that she also felt something too, albeit she did shoot him down afterwords. Not one to given up easily he kept trying to purse her even though she told him nothing could happen between them. Then inside that sewer tunnel she grabbed and passionately kissed him giving Hal Mason everything he ever wanted from her.

Grinning like an idiot he could still feel pressure of her lips on his. It was then Hal noticed the engine was starting to smoke, as the truck was starting to lose speed.

A small knock on the back window panel by Dai suddenly woke up Maggie. "Hal, what's going on?"

"The engine is overheating,"he said looking at the gauge on the dash board.

"There's old rest stop just ahead, why don't' we pull over there and take a look."

"Sounds like a plan,"he added sliding the glass panel shut.

Moving her neck around she groaned. "How long was I out for?"

Pulling off to the side of the road, Hal shifted the truck into park before turning off the ignition. "Not sure, it wasn't long. Maybe thirty minutes or so."

Hopping out of the truck, Dai was already lifting up the hood. "Watch out!" He shouted as a large cloud of hot steam poured out of the engine.

Taking a few steps back they waited for the steam to dissipate away."See what the problem is?" Asked Maggie who was still was not fully awake yet but stood guard just encase.

Looking inside the engine he could see their water tank was bone dry. "We must be losing water some where,"added Hal shinning the flashlight towards the bottom of the water tank.

Taking his hand along the hose that connected to the engine block, he felt something catch. "Well the hose seems to have a small hole in it. But more importantly we are going to need to find some more water first or else this repair job won't mean anything."

Walking around the back, Dai opened the passenger side door pulling out the map Hal was using and placed it on the ground.

"I saw a sign back they about 5 minutes ago saying now entering Sumter County,"stated Dai with Hal and Maggie were looking down at the map of South Carolina.

Looking more intently at the map they all scanned it trying to find a quick water source. "Lake Marion is our best choice. Considering it's the largest lake in South Carolina. I think were about 15 minutes away from the lake by foot,"replied Maggie pulling her eyes away from the map.

Folding up the map, Hal went around to the back of the pick up, and grabbed one of the empty gas cans.

"Dai can you handle the repair part?"

Looking down at the hose, he nodded his head. "Yeah shouldn't be too much of a problem. And if things get hot, at least I got 50 to back me up."

Giving Dai one last look, Hal jogged forward to meet up with Maggie. "By all means Maggie, lead the way,"he added by passing her the flashlight he had been using to check on the truck.

Taking her M4 off her shoulder, Maggie turned off the safety on her carbine. "Stay close, I would hate to tell your father that we lost you the woods,"she said turning her head around with a smile on her face.

"Trust me Margret, I have no intention of taking my eyes off you."

Ten minutes later they were still fallowing the small bike dirt trail that was behind the rest stop. Eventually the path connected to a larger trail leading into one of the many parks that surrounded the large lake.

"So, why Lacrosse anyways?" Asked Maggie as the pair started up a slight incline in the trail.

Hal shrugged his shoulders. "Well when I was ten I wanted to play football like most kids my age. But Mom thought it was too dangerous. So when a friend of hers told her about her son trying out for the lacrosse team, she thought it was a safer idea for me. I will admit at first, I didn't even want to go. But the moment I picked that lacrosse stick, it was like something click. Been playing it ever since."

Reaching the top of the incline they could finally got a chance to see how far away they were from the lake.

"Water break?" He asked lowering his AK-101 and grabbing his canteen that was on his gun belt.

Breathing slightly hard from the incline, Maggie eagerly took the canteen from him downing a little more than half of it before passing back to him.

"Jeez you could have at least save me half of it."

"Does this mean your going to be complaining more now that were dating?"

"You know it,"he said giving her his best boyish grin,"but come on Margret. I like to think my complaining has always been there, just now you care about it."

All Maggie could do was chuckling light while shaking her head at him before they both started walking down the hill. With Hal busy telling her some of his lacrosse stories, she allowed her mind to wander. All kidding aside Hal really ever did complain. Surviving an alien invasion might do that to you, she knew it was something deeper inside that gave him his drive.

Maybe he was trying to prove his worth for the 2nd Mass, but whatever it was, in a short period of time he went from a teenager just trying to survive to become a strong and capable man. Giving him a small nod she pretended to be paying attention to his story about scoring the game winning goal. It was then she felt that apprehension creep up inside her once more. Whenever she felt this, Maggie usually did what she was best at, running away. It was easier to start over and began again, then stand around and leave yourself that vulnerable. Despite all of this, she still found herself wanting to tell him about her troubled past.

It was then they came out of the thick forest showing them the calm waters of lake Marion with the moon perfectly reflecting off the water. Turning off her flashlight they both dropped to one knee scanning the beach head making sure the coast was clear.

Signaling to her to go right, Hal broke off towards the left. Not wanting to take any chances they both reached the water's edge. Shoulder her M4, Maggie reached down splashed some water across her face, attempting to cool herself down. The mere thought about telling him was causing the butterflies in her stomach to get even worse. So much so she thought she was starting to get sick to her stomach.

Stepping away from the lake, Maggie took a seat on the sand waiting for Hal. "You okay?" He asked setting aside the gas tank and taking the seat next to her.

"I guess."

"You guess, since when does the tough Maggie guess on anything?"

Turning her head to finally look at him, she offered him a small smile. "Point. But Hal I have something important to tell, and I ask that you don't irrupt me, okay?"

Sensing her seriousness he nodded his head. "Of course."

Looking at the water, Maggie took a deep breath. "After I managed to survive the last cancer treatment,I got fed up with people pretending to care about me. I knew I was cancer free, but people still acted like I was something that should be pity, and I hate it. So I left, took off not knowing what I was going to do or where I was going to stay. All I knew was I had to get out of there. So at the age of 18 I found myself living with this guy, pumping whatever drugs we could get our hands on in our veins. It wasn't for long before we started stealing and robbing to afford our habit. Finally the our crimes caught up with us one night, and I was sent to Framingham Correctional Facility for Women."

Taking several deep breaths, she knew the last part was going to be the hardest. "It was there I found out I was three months pregnant. I had my baby right there inside that prison. They told me it was boy and my lasting image of my son before they took him away from me, was seeing his bright blue eyes staring back at me."

Despite having finally gotten this off her chest, Margret still didn't feel better. "So that's it. That's who I was. I understand if you need some time to come to terms with everything I said. But it's important to me that you know everything. You at least deserve that much."

Still staring out into the water, Maggie was scared to look at him, fearing the look of rejection on his face. Finally her willpower caved and she turned to see him deep in thought. Almost sensing her gaze on him, Hal turned to look at her when they heard sounds of a Mech approaching from behind a boat house that was 50 feet to the right of them.

Standing up, they both looked around for a place to hid.

"Over here,"she whispered taking him by the hand and leading them under the dock.

With water around their mid section, they watched two mechs slowly leading a skitter and a group of four harnessed kids towards the boat house. It was a helpless feeling knowing they couldn't do anything to help the kids, not to mention if they were discovered right now they could put the entire 2nd Mass in danger.

While the kids and skitter had disappeared inside the boat house, the two mechs started scanning the nearby area with there bright search lights for any signs of movement. Turning around to face her, Hal pulled her up against him and lead them farther inside the framework of the wooden structure. Suddenly Margret remembered the first time they were this close inside that old beat up Honda Civic, and secretly hoped it wouldn't be the last time.

"Listen,"he said whispering into her ear,"I get what you told me wasn't easy. I also understand you didn't have to tell me any of this either. The mere fact that you did, speaks volumes about who you are and not who were. Your past is as much part of you as your present and future. I honestly don't know what fate has in storied for us, but I do know I want to do it together. If there was any doubt about whether your the right person for me, I hope tonight squashes that notion forever."

It was like someone had lifted the weight off her shoulders as she collapsed into his arms. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me Maggie. Your everything I have ever wanted in a girlfriend. More than Rita, and even more than Karen."

Pulling away from his chest, she could feel a few tears beginning to fall down her cheeks as he leaned down and kissed her. Kissing him back, they slowly pulled away with each of their foreheads resting against each other.

Off in the distance they could hear the mechs beginning to move away from. "I think were safe to move now,"he whispered to her but neither of them moved yet.

Sighing reluctantly she pulled away from him as they both moved out from under the docks. Making sure that the skitters and mechs were indeed heading in the opposite direction, they finally emerged out of the water.

"We need to head back or else Dai might leave us behind,"she added with a grin on her face.

"On an overheated engine,"he added making the both of smile,"he wouldn't get no more than a few hundred feet before the truck would catch fire."

Laughing, Hal switched the gas tank to his right hand so that he could take Maggie's hand in his left one. Instinctively she tighten her grip on his hand causing him to give her a warm smile. Returning the smile she knew she was acting like a silly love stricken teenager, but quite frankly Maggie didn't care anymore. She had Hal and that was all that mattered.

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!