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 7

Family and Friends

Putting on her black leather jacket over her gray hoody, Maggie slowly zipped up each sleeve before zipping up the front. Pulling some of her still damp hair out of the back of her hoody, she spotted her boyfriend watching her every move.

"Can I help you Mason?"

"I certainly hope so,"he replied putting on his new army desert style jacket with a mischievous grin on his face.

Shaking her head at him she could help but smile back at him. Grabbing her twin 1911 pistols off the table Margret put them along her back holsters. Today, Hal was hopefully going to be returning back to active duty after being side lined for the last 10 days to recover from his injuries. But before he could, both captain Weaver and his father demanded he let Doctor Glass gave him one last check up.

"Hey, you need any more .556 ammo?" He asked waving the mag in his hand.

Patting her pockets to check her own ammo situation Maggie raised her hand."Sure, why not?"

Catching the mag, Maggie went to put it away when she felt slightly dizzy. Swaying a little, she was forced to reach out and grab a hold of the chair in order to stop herself from falling over.

"You alright?" Hal asked making his way over to her with concern written all over his face.

Taking a few deep breaths she nodded her head. "I am okay. I think I am still feeling the affects of that cold that spread around the 2nd Mass and 1st Continental Army a week ago."

"Your aren't still feeling nauseous are you?"

"Maybe a little this morning, but after my bath I am feeling a lot better."

Looking back up, Maggie could see that he was still staring down at her with a worried look. "Trust me Hal, I am okay...I promise."

"Okay,"he said grabbing there two assault rifles, "it's just...I know how stubborn you can be when it comes to your own safety. Although I don't have much room to talk, but I guess that's why we watch out for each other."

Chuckling, she grabbed her M4 from him and slung it over her shoulder."Yeah, something like that."

Exiting there train compartment the two scouts made there way around the now very active camp. The fact that colonel Porter and a small vanguard of the 1st Continental Army was still alive provided a huge lift for the 2nd Mass. Combined with there recent success in destroying all the remaining aliens in Charleston restored there hope in the cause once more.

Unfortunately, Porter's 100 person militia had been posted on the beached aircraft carried called USS Saratoga for 3 months before they arrive. As such, they had been cut off from the rest of the resistance in Charleston and didn't have any clues of why general Bressler and most of the population abandon the underground mall they had been stationed in. By the time they heard the first sounds of battle, the aliens had arrived in full forced. When the few scouts colonel Porter sent out didn't return, he made the decision for them to go into lock down until the time was right for them to strike once more.

Once both groups had made sure that all alien prescience in the city was gone, they finally managed to send a group over to the underground mall. Upon arriving, they found all entrances and exits blocks with the debris as it appeared that something caused the roof above the mall to collapse inwardly completely crushing the entire complex.

"It's nice to see everyone work together for change,"he said watching two men from the 1st Continental off loading some food supplies while a few people from the 2nd Mass put on some extra gas and oil on the truck.

"And all it took was alien invasion wiping out most of humanity."

"Well aren't you just a ray of sunshine today,"he added by opening the door for her,"see...first door of the day."

"Shut up Mason,"she said with a smile on her face as they entered the mess hall.

Looking around the mess hall, Maggie spotted Hal's dad and colonel Porter just finishing up their quick breakfast. Catching his eye, Tom picked up his AK-47 and made his way over with Porter closely behind him.

"Heading to Anne's for your checkup?"

"Yes dad. All this sitting and waiting has made me stir crazy. So the sooner I get back the better."

It was then the colonel stepped forward and offered his hand first to Hal and then to Maggie. "With everything that has been going on, I never got a chance to say I am damn proud of you two for what you did in taking out that airship station."

"Just doing our jobs sir."

Porter gave the pair of advance scouts a smile. "Indeed you were. Tom, I will see you in captain Weaver's office."

Watching the aged colonel head up the stairs, Maggie turned her attention back on her boyfriend. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck,"she said leaning up and giving him a quick kiss on the lips before Hal started down the hall towards doctor Glass's office.

Stopping right in front of the door, Hal turned and with a wide grin gave her a thumbs up opening the door and disappearing inside.

Shaking her head at his antics, Margret couldn't help but grin to herself. "You know something Maggie, I never got a chance to properly thank you."

"What for Mr. Mason?"

"Please Maggie,"he replied shaking his head at her,"you can call me Tom. I think we have move past those formalities."

"Okay...Tom."

"Thanks for keeping on eye on Hal. I know sometimes he likes to think he's invincible, but he needs someone like you keep him in check, especially now that he's a man."

Maggie chuckled lightly at his statement. "It's not problem. I love Hal, and I wouldn't let anything happen to him."

Smiling, he nodded his head back at her. "That's all I have ever wanted for him. Now if you will excuse me, I need to spend the next few hours in meetings."

Just as Maggie got in line for some food, Tom called out to her. "Oh by the way, that pendant looks good on you!"

Blushing, she turned away from Hal's dad attempting to get all the stares off her. "Awe...I didn't even know you could blush,"said the voice of her friend and 2nd Mass's new chief mechanic Priya Dilawri.

Priya was a 23 American born Indian who was studying as an engineer at Virginia Tech when the aliens invaded. After her losing her family to raiders and aliens she fallowed the rumors about Charleston arriving there 6 months ago. Hearing that the 2nd Mass still didn't have a chief mechanic since Jamil died, she volunteered to join them.

Regaining her composure, Maggie glared at her. "I have no idea what your talking about."

"Really,"she added as a second Mass cook put a meatloaf and roasted chicken MRE on there separate plates,"whatever you say Maggie. But I know what I saw."

Despite the fact that she only met her 9 days ago, they had become fast friends. The first time Maggie took her out to shooting range she was impressed with her skill even though she said she had only fired a gun one time before. Armed with a Remington 870 tactical 12 gauge shotgun and a 1911AI pistol, Priya looked ready for action despite all the make up she had on.

"I am glad to see that you use the shampoo and conditioner I gave you,"said Priya looking at her blond hair before swinging her equal long black hair behind her tan brown coat.

Chuckling, she took a big bite out of her meatloaf. "Your the only person I know who is more worried about her looks than her own safety. I am amazed you even find time to fix anything."

Mockingly laughing back at her, Priya grinned back at her. "Well excuse me Margret. I may end up being covered in filth but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Besides...not all of us already have a boyfriend like you, so us single woman have to do our best to look good at all times."

"Oh, so that's why you do it. Here I just thought it was because your so vain."

Rolling her eyes at her, the mechanic ignored her comment."So when do we roll out?"

"Well Dai right now is getting the military hummer ready, so really were just waiting on Hal."

Grinning at her, Priya finished eating her roasted chicken meal. "What?"

"Nothing."

"No, I saw that grin. I don't let Hal get away with, so I am not going to let you."

Sighing, Priya brought her brown gaze to Maggie's eye level. "Every time you say Hal's name I see your eyes light up. I haven't seen love like that for a long time...it's refreshing to know that the aliens can't take everything from us."

For once, Margret didn't have a comeback ready. Instead, she simply smiled back at her friend causing Priya to chuckle lightly back at her.

"Anyways, I better go,"she said standing up and putting on her purple beanie,"I think I heard one of the turrets gears sticking. We don't want to lose our M240 machine gun in the middle of a fire fight."

"Tell Dai we should be ready to move out soon!" She yelled at her friend who with her back towards her gave her a small wave before exiting the mess hall.

Leaning back in her chair, Maggie watched all the people around her enjoying themselves. Closing her eyes, she felt content with her life for the first time in years. She had a place among the second Mass, and she would fight for them like they were her own family. She had friends, good people who actually cared about her. And more importantly, she had a loving boyfriend who always had her back, no matter how bad things could get. Maggie finally understood what made someone like Hal risk everything for the ones you cared for.

"You've got to be kidding me,"said a strangely familiar bitter voice,"your still alive?"

Opening her eyes, Maggie was greeted with the displeased look of her aunt Elizabeth Baker staring back at her. From the moment she met her, Margret couldn't stand her. Elizabeth blamed everyone else for her problems, and always had an excuse for everything. Even when her parents let her and her son James Andrew Baker stay with them, they didn't pay for anything. Only weeks before she found out about her cancer, Maggie told her off and convinced her parents to kick them out. Naturally, Elizabeth and her cousin didn't like that very much and have harbored a grudge towards her ever since.

"I could say the same thing about you, but quite frankly your not worth my time."

Narrowing her eyes, Elizabeth folded her arms across her worn gray jacket. "Hey mom, who are you talking too?"

Looking to her right, Maggie spotted her older cousin wearing a military uniform stop right in front of her.

"You remember your cousin Margret, don't you?"

Shouldering his M-16 rifle, James gave her a closer look."Oh it's you,"he added with disgust in his voice,"I thought you dead."

Maggie chuckled lightly at his comment. "Only if that were easy. But alas, I am still here. Now if you will excuse me...I have more important things to do than trade insults with you."

Looking around a group of 2nd Mass children running around a nearby table, her aunt lean in close. "I bet these people wouldn't think much of you if they knew you were a junkie, a thief and jailbird mom."

Slamming her fist on the table, Maggie stood up and got right in her aunt's face. "You know what, I have made some mistakes in my life, but I owned up for them! You can't say that about anything in you pathetic life! All you are and will ever be is a good for nothing, free loading, fucking bitch!"

Out of the corner of her eye, Maggie spotted her cousin raise his fist getting ready to punch her from behind. Right when she was about to block his attack, Hal appeared and grabbed James's wrist stopping him from swinging his fist forward. Spinning him around he punched him in the right cheek sending him crumbling to the ground. Using the surprise attack by her boyfriend, Maggie kicked the legs out from under her aunt, sending her flat on her back.

"Leave now!" Hal said with the each of them pointing one of there pistols at there opponent.

"This isn't over Bitch!" Shouted Elizabeth before her and her son were escorted out by a few 2nd Mass fighters.

Putting away her pistol, Maggie was still shaking with anger when her boyfriend reached out and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Look Hal, don't take this the wrong way, but I don't want talk about it."

Sighing, he nodded his head. "Alright. Come on, since I have been cleared for active duty we better get moving if we want to make it back before midnight."

Gripping the steer wheeling his his new batting gloves, Hal turned right fallowing the curve in the snowy road. It had been 5 hours since he, Dai, Priya and Maggie left Charleston to scout out a large radio station that was up high on the Appalachian Mountains. It would be a 50 mile drive just to reach the mountain road, before it would take them another 10 miles to reach the 1970's radio tower. Their primary mission was to try and set up long range communication and make contact with other resistance groups again. Secondary, they were to salvage anything that they could use and if possible gather any Intel on the enemy.

"Man...it's really coming down,"added Dai looking up from his map for a moment before he pull his duster closer against his body.

Nodding his head in agreement, the advance scout was finding it a little difficult to see through the driving snow. When the road straighten out briefly, Hal turned around spotting Maggie's blue jean clad legs staring back at him. Currently, it was her turn to man the M240 machine gun, although in this snow storm it was doubtful anyone could hit anything unless it was directly in front of them.

"Are we making good time?" Asked Priya rewiring an old WWII field telephone and 1930's radio so that they could try and send out long range communications.

"Considering the elements, I say yeah, were making good time."

"And who would have thought the new year would be so full of snow.

"Welcome to 2012 Miss Dilawri,"added Dai with a sarcastic grin on his face before he started into a coughing fit.

"You alright Dai?"

Holding up his hand, the scout reached out and grabbed his once hot tea. Drinking from it deeply, Dai popped out a cough drop inside his mouth. "Sorry about that. I am still feeling slightly under the weather."

"Maybe you should have sit this one out then."

Hal and Dai exchanged looks before smiling. "What, did I miss something?"

"You would have to physicality drag me away before I would let anyone pull me off a mission from a simple cold or injury."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it. Geez...It must be a man thing,"added Priya with a smile, as she set down her work and moved around Maggie's legs to talk to them better.

As Dai and Priya continued to chat, his thoughts once again drifted back to his girlfriend. Hal knew being with Maggie wouldn't be easy with everything she had been though. She had spent so much time only relying on her wits and her guns, it made trusting anyone difficult. It was the reason Maggie kept trying to push him away, when Hal wanted to be more than friends. Ever since that fight with those two people Maggie had closed herself off, like she did when he first met her. But Hal loved her too much to ever let that stop him now. So whether she liked it or not, she need to know he wasn't going anywhere.

"Hey Hal,"said the Indian mechanic snapping him out of his daze,"can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"With Maggie, was it love at first sight for you?"

Hal smiled at the thought but shook his head. "No, nothing like that. Not to mention...I was still dating Karen at the time."

"Awe that sucks. I was kinda hoping it was seeing how you two act around each other. Cause then maybe there was hope for me to find someone."

Sighing heavily, Hal gave her a determined look in the rear view mirror. "Sometimes, you got to believe fate will throw you a few favors once in a while."

Dai gave him a curious look. "Oh like when we first met Maggie."

Suddenly the two started laughing, leaving Priya to stare at them with a confused look."Okay, the new girl needs some clarification."

"When we first met Margret, she was part of Pope's gang that took us prisoner."

"You're kidding?"

"Nope, even when I tried to disarm her, she easily knocked me down and held a knife to my throat telling me if I did that again she would kill me right then and there."

Priya had a stunned look on her face. "Wow, she never told me anything like that before?"

Hal chuckled a bit. "Probably because you never asked. Trust me, my girlfriend has no problem in telling anyone she can kick my ass."

At that the trio laugh, when suddenly they hit something making Hal slam on the brakes. Above him, he could hear Maggie slamming into the side of the turret. Stepping out of the car, Hal could see they had hit a metal gate.

"You okay Maggie?" He asked looking up through the snow to see her glaring down at him.

"No thanks to your driving,"she added by shaking off the snow from her top of her hoody.

"Now that's the smart ass response I was hoping for,"he said offering her a warm smile only to have her turn away from him.

Climbing back into the hummer, Hal drove up the rest of the hill until they were finally spotted the100 foot radio tower looming over them. Behind the tower was a radio station that look mostly intact from the outside. Pulling up right beside the building, Hal turned off the hummer.

"Okay, you know the drill. Priya you stay here with the vehicle until we know the coast is clear, understood?"

"Yes sir,"she added as Maggie pulled her legs up from the turret and hopped off the side of the hummer.

Grabbing his AK-101 off the dash board, Hal put on his own black beanie and exit out of the vehicle. With Dai and Maggie already scanning the surrounding area for anything suspicious Hal took point and jogged forward reaching the front of the building. Most of the windows were either board up or had a metal shutters in front of them, making them a no go. Pressing his back against the cold wall, the advance scout beckon his friends to join him.

Checking the door, Dai found it locked. "Maggie, a little help please?"

Rolling her eyes at him, she knelt down in the snow and started locking picking the door. A minute later she easily pushed the door in and stood back up.

"Lets go, Dai...you take point,"he said as the Asian scout nod and moved in first with Hal right behind him leaving Maggie to bring up the rear.

With each of them pulling out there flash lights they could see the radio station had been abandon a long time ago. Ahead of them snow had started to seep in through the roof at certain points through the ventilation shaft. Taking a closer look at the electronics and wires they found most of them were no longer in working order. Going farther inside the small station, they found a radio booth in complete disarray but with most of the devices and wires not suffering from weathering.

"This might be a start,"said Hal looking down at a series of power cables that went into the nearby closet.

Walking over to the closet, he opened the door to find spare parts, batteries and even an old generator that still looked to be in working order.

"Okay, this looks good,"he said as he and Maggie pulled the old generator out of the closet,"Dai go and get Priya and have her set up in here. Grab the one of spare gas cans and see if this is generator works. Meanwhile, Me and Maggie will clear the rest of the building and see if there is anything we can use."

Leaving Dai to take care of there primary objective, Hal and Maggie started down the narrow hall. Coming up to a door, the two scouts took up positions on ether side. Nodding back at her, Maggie stepped out and kicked in the door. With his Ak-101 at the ready, Hal entered the room. Looking around he could see it was once some kind of office or lounge area with two couches set up on either side of the room. A large round table was set up in the middle of the room with a dry and erase board directly in front of it. Towards the back was a large desk with two over turned book cases with snow coming in from a blown out window.

"Clear,"said Maggie lowering her M4 carbine.

Walking over to the desk, Hal dusted the snow off a nearby book. "Hey look, computers for dummies,"he said holding up the moldy book,"I wasn't very good with computers. Now Ben could do amazing things with computers."

Ignoring his comment, Maggie looked around the room one more time before leaving. Sighing, Hal moved quickly to catch up with her spotting her opening the bathroom door. Going inside she came back with a few bars of soap and three rolls of toilet paper and thrust them into his hands. Looking around he found a small crate and dumped the supplies inside it along with a pack of pens, markers,4 pairs of double AA batteries and a coffee mug that said Number One Dad.

Moving around the corner, he could see his girlfriend was busy checking the last room which turned out to be a janitors closet. Pulling out a few cleaning supplies like bleach, disinfect, and towels Maggie calmly walked over to him and dumped them inside his crate.

"Let's head back,"she said getting ready to turn away from him once more.

By now Hal had enough, as he set down the crate and blocked her exit."Not yet Miss Walker. Damn it woman, why won't you talk to me!"

Immediately Maggie's eyes flashed dangerously back at him. "I said I don't want to talk about it. Now drop it!"

It was then she tried to start moving again, but Hal side stepped in front of her. "No."

"Damn it Hal Mason, move or I will make you!"

But he refused to move and stood his ground. "No...you owe me better than that Maggie. I knew what I was getting into when I said I wanted to be with you. Your problems become my problems and vice verse. So your going to have to try harder if you think you can drive me away to protect me. I love you and won't let you suffer alone."

Sighing heavily, Maggie slumped her shoulders in defeat."What do you want from me Hal?"

"Nothing, just talk to me. I hate seeing you like this, it tears me up on the inside."

Looking down at his feet for a while, Maggie finally lifted her head to meet his gaze. "Okay,"she said taking him by the hand and leading him back into the office once more.

Taking a seat on the couch, Hal turned his attention completely on her. Looking for the right words, Maggie took a few deep breaths before she started.

"That woman is my aunt Elizabeth baker and my cousin James baker. She and I never got along and that goes the same with my cousin. She was jealous at the fact of my mother who graduated from college and married a good man and made something of her life. It was always someone else fault for everything bad that happen to her. Finally, things reached a head when they were staying with us for a while and I got sick and tired of her complaining and her smug attitude. I made my mom see that she was using us and the longer this went on the more painful it would be for everyone,"she said trailing off and letting Hal absorb all the information she told him.

Thinking for a moment, he took off his black beanie. "I understand Maggie. I know you have made some mistakes in your life. But you always owned up for it. It's something I have always respected about you."

"Really,"she replied with a surprise look on her face,"I didn't expect you to say that. But...thank you, it means a lot to me coming from you."

Reaching out, Hal took his hand in hers. "Well it's true my love. I get that people can change, trust me I do. But that change is only possible if they want to make it. I mean look at me. I am a former dumb jock turned career solder. So much has happen since then, it feels like I am a completely different person."

Smiling at him, Maggie shook her head. "Maybe your priorities have changed, but who you are on the inside is still the same. Your passion, determination, leadership, and fighting spirit is something that you always had. Things like those can't be taught, it's something you have to believe in."

Pulling his hand out from hers, Hal instead put his arm around her and drew her close to him. "What a pair we make?"

"What do you mean?"

Chuckling he lean down and kissed her softly. "We fighting one moment, then the next we complementing each other."

Grinning back at him, Maggie playfully smacked his knee. "Okay, it's kinda funny, I will give that."

"See, don't you feel better now."

Sighing, Maggie nodded her head. "Yes, actually I do feel better. Thank you for being there when I need you."

"Don't worry about it Mags. I love you and I would do anything for you."

I love you too Hal. Now...I think you've earn a little reward,"she added with a seductive voice.

"Oh really,"he said raising his eyebrows before slowly climbing on top of her,"what did you have in mind?"

"Why don't you kiss me and found out."

Just when Hal was about to start kissing her, Dai came into the office. "Hey guys Priya' done with setting up the communications. So we better head back,"but he stopped once he spotted Hal laying on top of her with there faces only a few inches away from each other.

"Yo Dai what's the hold up?" Asked Priya coming into the office right behind him only to stop and stare at the couple.

"Okay, why don't we give them a moment,"added Dai gently pushed Priya out of the office and closed the door behind them.

Watching them leave, Hal finally got off her. Holding out his hand to her, he helped her back on to her feet.

"Don't ever forget Maggie, I've got your back, I promise."

"I won't, I promise Hal."

Shouldering his rifle, he reached out took her gloved hand in his. "Good, now lets head back to camp and finish what we started."

"It's a deal,"she added grinning up at him.

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!