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 13

Never Give Up Hope

"Mommy...what are you staring at?" Asked Maggie's 8 year old daughter who was sitting at the dinning room table with her school clothes on.

"Just an old photo on me and your father,"she said putting down her morning coffee on the counter so that she could bring the picture over for her to see.

The picture was an old one, taken shortly after they arrived inside Charleston all those years ago. In the picture Hal had sneaked behind her and scooped her off her feet, causing her to laugh as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck for support.

"Wow! Daddy looks so young!"

Chuckling, Maggie gave her daughter an amused look. "He was sweetie. I believe he was only 17 when that picture was taken."

Staring at the picture for a little bit longer, the young blonde haired girl suddenly looked up with her hazel colored eyes.

"What was daddy like back then?"

Smiling, Margret ran a hand through her blonde hair. "Your father was a remarkable man Rebecca. He was strong, brave, passionate, and more importantly determined. When he set his sights on something, Hal never let anything get in his way,"she said grinning down at the picture once more, before looking up to see her daughter giving her a curious look.

"What's so funny Mom?"

"When your father first tried to get with me, I kept turning him down. And despite my warnings that I wasn't right person for him, he kept chasing after me anyways. I can't help but smile when I think about it, because in the end...I really never stood a chance."she said looking Rebecca in the eyes, causing her daughter to give her a curious look.

"Do I have something on my face Mom?"

Chuckling, Maggie shook her head. "No sweetheart. It's just that...you have your father's eyes. Try as I might, I could never keep anything from him. All he had to do was look at me with that intense gaze of his, and the next thing I knew I was spilling my guts to him."

It was then her daughter stared up at her, using the same look Hal did. "Ha, ha, ha. Nice try kiddo,"she said walking over to her and handing her a book bag,"but you still have to go to school."

"That's not fair!" She said crossing her arms and giving her a pouting facial expression.

"Awe...come on, don't be mad,"she added by bending down on knee so that she was at her eye level,"you know your education is important sweetheart. Trust me...I learned that one the hard way."

Sighing, Rebecca nodded her head back. "Okay mommy."

"Now, can I get a hug before we go?"

Embracing her daughter, Maggie slowly pulled back with a smile on her face. "Now what's keeping your father?"

It was then young blonde gave her a confused look. "Mom you know dad died before I was born."

"What did you say?"

"And it was all your fault."

"Why would you say something like that Rebecca?" She asked her daughter, trying her best to keep her anger in check.

"If you hadn't gotten the hummer stuck, then my dad would still be alive!" She yelled back before running away from her and disappearing around the corner.

Blinking away a few tears that were beginning to form, Maggie shook her head and stood up. "Rebecca Bethany Mason! You get back here right now!"

When she didn't hear anything Margret sighed heavily, before walking forward and turned the corner. It was then she was greeted with the sight of Hal standing near the cliff with that somber look on his face. Sprinting forward, she managed to reach him before he jumped off the cliff.

"I got you Hal!" She yelled setting his body down on the snow.

When she got no response, Maggie pulled back to see his broken body was laying limp in her arms. "Come on Mason! You can't leave me yet!

Despite her desperate pleas, Hal's body remain lifeless in her arms. Embracing his body, Maggie started to sob deeply when suddenly she felt his shift in her arms. Looking down, she noticed his gaze looking above her head. Titling her head up, Maggie only had a moment before the radio tower collapsed on top of them.

Waking up, Maggie sat up abruptly. "Figures,"she said breathing hard,"my dream would turn into a nightmare."

Flopping back down on her bed, the advance scout brought her watch to her face. See it was only almost 12 in the afternoon, she lowered her arm and closed her eyes. It had almost been 24 hours since Hal had disappeared after jumping off the cliff to avoid being crushed to death.

While she had wanted to get right back out there the moment they arrived back in camp, captain Weaver had forbid them from leaving. Saying they need to excise caution, that rushing head long into a potential trap could get more people killed. Naturally she disagreed with his assessment, and was hell bent to look for love regardless of what he said. Unfortunately, Maggie didn't make it far before a group of fighters surrounded her with there weapons drawn.

Removing her weapons, they escorted her back to train compartment and effectively putting her under house arrest. Two armed guards would always be stationed outside her compartment at all times, with her meals being served to her twice a day until the 2nd Mass leader felt she was fit for duty.

The only other two people who seem to think that Hal might be still alive was his father and little brother Matthew. Ben on the other hand remain emotionless, like he didn't care that his older brother might be dead. Maggie wanted to be mad at him for not speaking up. But after everything the aliens had done to him, it was understandable he might be numb about death. She remembered what is was like to not care if you lived or died anymore. How you tried to find anything that could take away the pain just for a moment. Cause passing the reality of your life was so much more worse.

Pulling the cover off her body, Margret swung her feet on the side of the bed and stared out into the blind covered window. It was then a small glint out of the corner of her eye that caught her attention. Looking down, Maggie spotted the same picture from her dream staring back up at her from her night stand.

"Oh Hal,"she said running hand over the framed photo of her fiance,"you can't leave me yet. I know we both understood there was a high probability that we both could end up dying. But damn it Mason...I need you. Our child needs you. Without you I am right back where I started...alone."

While Maggie might have friends and people she considered to be new family, Hal was the only person who truly understood her and made her feel safe in this fucked up world they lived in. Suddenly a loud knock on the door made her jump, and almost caused her to drop the frame.

Setting the picture back down, Margret made her way over to the door. "Yeah, what now?"

"It's Tom. Can I come in?"

"Sure."

Stepping back, Maggie made her way over to the dinnering room table and sat down. A few seconds later Tom entered her room, making sure to close the door behind himself before taking a seat in front of her.

Taking off his AK-47, Tom placed the weapon on the table and offered her a hard look. "I am not going to beat around the bush by asking how you are doing. I know what it felt like when I lost Rebecca."

"Not to be rude Tom, but I don't need a pep-talk. What I need is my fiance back."

Sighing heavily, Mr. Mason ran a hand through his beard. "I understand Maggie. The real reason I am here is because I managed to convince Weaver to let me lead a search and rescue operation in order to try and recover Hal."

Immediately Maggie stood up, and started putting on leather jacket. "What are we waiting for?"

Grabbing her back gun hostlers, she was about to put them on when Hal's dad reached out and put his hand on her forearm.

"We don't leave until night time I am afraid,"he said softly before letting go of her forearm with a somber look on her face.

Grow more and more angry, Maggie tossed her leather hostlers against the wall. "God damn it! The longer we sit around her with our thumbs up our asses, the worse Hal's chances are!"

Letting her rant, Tom remain silent as she repeatedly kicked the side of the wall. Breathing hard, Maggie weakly pounded the wall one more time before turning around to face him.

"Feel better?"

"No,"she replied weakly and slowly slid down the wall until she reached the floor,"Tom...I miss him so much."

"I miss him too Maggie. And it's killing me not to be out there looking for him right now."

Lifting her head up slowly, Margret could see a pained expression on Hal's fathers face. Quickly turning away from the elder Mason's gaze, the advance scout could feel overwhelming urge to cry taking over.

"I am complete wreck."

"No your not Margret. You just miss the person you love."

"I mean look at me,"she said sniffling and wiping a couple of tears away from her cheeks,"I can barely keep it together right now, what good would I be in field. Captain Weaver was right to bench me."

Giving her a sympathetic look, Tom simply shook his head in disagreement. "That's not true Maggie. The reason your an emotionally wreck is because you love him. Love can make us do strange things, and at times it can blind you to the truth. But all of that doesn't compare to the feeling of happiness and joy you get by being with them. Right now you are at a crossroads in your relationship, and when things are at there worse do you truly see what your made of. I have no doubt you will be ready to go when I come back here at 5:00."

Giving her one last look, Hal's dad calmly picked up his rifle and walked out of the room, leaving Maggie to think about everything he had told her. She didn't know how long she sat on the floor just staring at the front door, but she did know what Tom said was true. Relationships are never easy, especially in the world they lived in. And if there was any chance of Hal being alive, then she owed to him and there child to keep on believing.

Standing up, Margret made her way over to the table to see that Tom had dropped off her weapons inside a duffel bag.

"I still believe Hal,"she said pulling out one of her 45's and loaded a fresh clip into the pistol,"and I won't let anything stand in my way of finding you. That's a promise."

Five hours later, Maggie was once again driving up that familiar mountain road, but this time the circumstances were different. Driving at night in a middle of a snow storm might help cover there tracks from any alien patrols who were hanging around, it also made trying to find Hal just that even harder.

If Hal was alive, he was more than likely in bad shape from the fall. Not to mention he had been shot in the arm before he jumped, which made his chances of surviving even lower. What Maggie didn't expect was numerous amount of people who volunteered to help look for Hal Mason, despite the fact the chances of finding him alive were slim at best.

"Are we getting close to the top, now?" Asked Doctor Glass from the back seat.

"I believe so,"added Priya from the passenger side,"although it's hard to tell since everything looks different in the dark."

Turning the steering wheel slightly to the right, Maggie had to agree with her friend. Despite having made this trip now three times, it looked totally alien to her now. Thankfully, the hummer's head lights didn't receive any damage from the fire fight they had yesterday, or else they would have been forced to take a different vehicle.

"At least the snow makes fallow Dai and Tector's bike trails easier,"added the Indian mechanic as she leaned forward to get a better view through the windshield.

About 100 feet in front of them, Dai and Tector were scouting the path ahead making sure they didn't run head long into an ambush. Looking into the rear view mirror, Margret could see Tom lean his head down from the turret.

"Hey Maggie, you might want to slow down? I think I spotted Dai signaling to us,"he replied before resuming his position on the machine gun.

Easing of the gas, she completed coming around the bend to see the two scouts standing next to their bikes. Stopping right behind them, she turned off the hummer's engine but left the lights on for the moment.

Hopping out of the hummer, Maggie grabbed her Mossberg 500 she had brought with her instead of her normal M4 carbine. Closing the door behind her, the advance scout put up her hood and made her way over to join the others.

"What did you find Dai?" Asked Tom taking his AK-47 off his shoulder.

"Near the front of the gate we spotted a Mech, along with a pair of Skitters patrolling the grounds."

Running a hand through his beard, Hal's dad nodded back to him. "Well...we expected this might happen. If Hal is alive, he knows to stay as close as possible where he was last seen."

"So how do you want to approach this then boss?" Asked Tector with a anxious look on his face.

"The same way we usually do when were in hostile territory...very carefully. Dai, I want you and Priya to scout the sides of the road heading north. Maggie, stick along the cliffs here to the east and see if you can find any evidence of recent activity. Me and Tector will explore west side of cliffs and surrounding forest,"he replied before turning to look at Anne.

"And I will stay here and protect our vehicles,"she said giving her boyfriend an confident look.

Smiling back at her, Tom turned around to face them again. "I want everyone to report back here in 30 minutes, no excuses. Be safe and good luck."

With everyone going in different directions, Margret fallowed Doctor Glass back to the hummer. "Here,"she said handing her one of her 1911's along with a spare clip,"just encase."

"Thanks,"was all she said before hopping back into the military vehicle and turned off the lights.

Pulling out a small flash light she had inside her leather jacket, Maggie made her way to the east in search of her fiance. Walking along a small trail that wove it's self along the mountain edge, she kept watched for any sign of human activity. Moving around a large boulder that blocked the path, Maggie knelt down thinking she spotted something in the snow.

Shining the light, she realized it was bear tracks. "Great,"she said standing back up and giving the trail a hard look.

Not only did she have to worry about aliens and raiders, now she had to keep an eye out for bears. Moving farther along the trail the advance scout spotted an old park ranger outpost tucked away along the side cliff face. Turning off her flash light, Maggie approached the outpost cautiously not wanting to assuming anything.

Looking down, she could see the faint red marks of blood in the snow. Dropping to one knee, the advance scout could tell the blood was about 12 hours old. Standing back up, Maggie took her shotgun off her shoulder and slowly made her way the series of steps that led up the into the ranger outpost.

Reaching the landing, the advance scout was about to open the the boarded up door when suddenly it swung open. Catching her off guard, the door hit her in the side of the head and sent her tumbling down the flight of stairs before landing on the snow covered ground.

"Don't move bitch! Or I will blow your fucking head away!" Yelled a man jumping on her back and pressed his hand gun against the back of her head.

With her head still throbbing from being hit by the door, Maggie could barely hear the man's threats. Taking several deep breaths, she calmed herself and tried to ignore the discomfort she was feeling on her back thanks to the raider sitting on her. Out of the corner of her eye, Margret could see at least two more people coming down the steps.

"Get her up! I want to see what we've got here."

Grabbing her by her hair, the man slowly forced her back on her feet, all the while making sure to leave his pistol firmly pressed to the side of her head. A second man walked over and picked up Maggie's Mossberg 500, giving the shotgun a close look he nodded his approval.

"Hold her still Jeff,"said the man wielding her shotgun, as the raider behind her wrapping his arm around her throat while still pressing his pistol even more firmly against the side of her head.

Being forced to look at the man in front of her, she watched as he leered over her body before returning back to her face.

"My, my my. You are a pretty one,"he said reaching out and slowly unzipping her leather jacket,"and a decent body too,"he added by giving her right breast a squeeze through her hoodie and shirt.

Pretending to be scared, Maggie slowly started reaching for her other pistol, (which the raiders had failed to remove from her). Watching the man holding her shotgun turned to his buddy on the right, she couldn't help but feel her blood boil. Having already lived through the horrors of being a prisoner when she was apart of Pope's gang, she wasn't about to let that happen twice.

"See my friends...I told you they would be back. And now we are going to make you pay for every one of my men you killed. And after were done raping you...I think we going to offer you up to the aliens as a little going away present."

It was then Maggie started laughing. "What are you laughing at bitch,"added the man behind her by tightening his grasp around her throat.

"You guys don't have a fucking clue. I came out here to find someone I care about. I will be damned if I will let anyone stop me. Let alone pieces of shit like you."

Seeing the rage flash in the his eyes, Maggie knew the time was now. Rearing her back, she headbutted the man behind her, causing him to loose his grip on her body. Pulling out her colt 45, she fired once at the man wielding her shotgun hitting him in the chest. Aiming her pistol at the second man, she fired twice more hitting him once in the chest and again in the eye.

Instincts told her to move, as she dove behind a large rock that was only a few feet in front of her. Hearing the shots hit all around her, Maggie waited for her time to strike when suddenly the sound of rifle echoed out across the mountain side. Not sure where the shot came from, Margret slowly leaned around the rock to see the last raider laying on his back with a with his brains splattered all over the nearby snow.

Not knowing if the person who fired the shot was friendly or foe, Maggie moved around the large rock facing the side mountain trail she used to get here. Leaning around the rock, the advance scouted heard the sounds of a Mech suddenly coming her way.

"Damn it!" She said cursing silently to herself knowing she didn't stand a chance against a Mech with only her 45.

With the Mech getting closer and closer Maggie knew she didn't have much of a choice. Darting out from behind the rock she raced forward and managed to reach the dead raider who took her shotgun. Looking up, she could see the Mech jump down and land on a small ledge which suddenly gave way from the weight of the machine. Sliding down the mountain for a few moments, the machine impacted a series of boulders only ten feet away from.

Not wanting to waist her lucky break , Margret raced back up the series of steps and entered the ruined park ranger outpost.

In the distance, she could hear the Mech struggling to get back up when the sound of a something landing the roof drew her attention instead. Aiming her shotgun at the roof, Maggie could hear that something was a Skitter. A second later the sound of another Skitter jumping on the roof made her aim her shotgun at the second target.

Taking aim at where she heard the footsteps, Maggie fired her shotgun. Blasting a hole in the roof, she heard the alien screech in pain. Firing again, the second shot missed as the skitter had jumped back to avoid the shell. But in doing so it caused the weaken roof to shake violently, before sending the alien and large amount of snow crashing inside the out post.

Diving to the ground, Maggie put her hands over head in order to protect herself from any potential falling debris. Lifting her head, she could see the Skitter had been injured from the fall. Leaning from side to side the alien ran into a couch before bouncing off and slamming into a desk.

"Get up,"she told herself, for a wounded Skitter was just as dangerous as normal one.

Standing on one knee, Maggie took aim and fired once, hitting the Skitter on the right side of it's legs. Pumping the shotgun, she expelled the empty 12 gauge shell and fired again. This time hitting the alien on the left side of the legs, making it fall face first on the wooden floor.

Standing up, the advance scout took a few steps forward and lowered her shotgun at the bleeding alien's head and fired. Blowing away a large chunk of Skitter's head, Maggie turned her attention on the second Skitter which was still moving around above her. Again the sound of a high powered rifle shot echoed across the mountain side. From inside the outpost she could hear the second Skitter scream in pain before a series of shots quickly fallowed the first shot a few seconds later.

Hearing the alien's body slide off the roof she got to see it's corpse fall past her window and land on the right side of the building. Maggie guessed the person who killed the raider earlier was also responsible for taking out the second Skitter. Taking a deep breath, she raced forward and looked out the broken window wanting to make sure the alien was dead. To her horror, the advance scout spotted the Mech had finally righted its self and was now aiming at the outpost.

"Shit!" She yelled and hit the deck right when it's laser targeting system turned orange and fired.

Putting her hands over her head, she could hear the ranger outpost being peppered by numerous bullets, all the while hoping she didn't get hit by any ricochets. A few seconds later, Maggie finally heard the shots die down. Opening her eyes, Margret knew she was a sitting duck for the Mech's rocket if she stayed inside the outpost any longer. Standing back up, she didn't heisted and bolted for the door. As soon as she started racing down the snow covered steps Margret spotted a blue rocket whiz by her and hit the building.

The explosion shook the ruined building, causing the left wall to collapsed. This collapsed opened the entire building to the Mech, who fired a second blue rocket, this time exploding it in the heart of the outpost. This second blast finally brought down the worn building's walls upon itself, causing the outpost to completely collapse.

Backing away slowly from damaged Mech, Maggie hoped that it would think she died inside the destroyed outpost. Edging closer and closer to the trail, she suddenly stumbled over one of the dead raider's body causing her to reach out and grab a hold of a tree.

Instantly the damaged Mech turned to look right at her with it's blue lasers finding there way on her body. Knowing there was no escape, her only hope was that she could some how reach the large rocks that were 10 feet away from her. Right when she was about to start sprinting a large explosion hit the Mech on it's left side, causing the robot to list to the right from the impact.

"What the hell?" She asked when suddenly a second blast struck the Mech again.

This time the second grenade blew a huge chunk out of the Mech, causing it to fall forward and slide down the small hill and stop right in front of her. Looking down at the destroyed robot, Maggie ready her shotgun once again.

"Okay...enough games! If your hear to fight, then bring it!" She yelled hoping to goad whoever was out there into the open.

"Awe come Mags...is that anyway to talk to your fiance,"said Hal limping his way down a small hill with a M-79 grenade launcher in his hand.

Maggie was afraid to move, thinking that maybe in her mind was playing tricks on her. "Aren't you happy to see?" He asked stopping right in front of her.

Without thinking, she pulled him into a tight embrace. "I am real my love, I promise."

"Just shut up,"she said holding on to him even tighter as fresh tears began to fall down her face.

Maggie didn't know how long she stood there holding onto him, but finally pulled away when she heard him grunt in pain.

"Sorry about that sweetheart,"he said with a sarcastic grin on his face,"I think I might have some bruised ribs to go along with messed up ankle. Don't worry...I didn't damage anything too important.''

Chuckling, she wiped the tears off her cheeks. "You always know how to make me smile."

"It's a gift my love."

Smiling back at him, Maggie took his hand in hers. "Come on Mason. Let's get you back home."

"I am already home,"he said looking down into her brown eyes, causing Margret to lean up and give him a kiss.

6 hours later, Hal Mason was sitting in Doctor Glass's medical office, letting the 2nd Mass's doctor finish patching him up.

"Okay, I believe that should do it,"she said applying the last part of his fiberglass cast wrap around his right ankle,"just let that set for about 5 minutes before you leave."

"Yes ma'am,"he said while trying to put back on his long sleeve blue T-shirt over his bruised ribs"here, let me help,"added Maggie who had not left his side for a second ever since she found him.

Smiling, he held out his left arm and allowed her to guide his arm through the sleeve and past his gun shot wound on his left forearm. While Hal felt sore all over, he was just happy to back with the 2nd Mass again. More importantly, he just wanted to be reunited with his Maggie again.

"Now I guess you want my help putting on your jacket?" She asked while putting her hands on her hips and giving him an amused look.

"I guess...I mean if it's too much trouble I think I can manage on my own accord."

"Just hold out your arms Mason."

Doing as he was told, Hal let her put on his desert army jacket for him. While he expect his father and Maggie to go look for him, he never expect the others to come along. But seeing how everyone reacted the moment they arrived back home, Hal couldn't help but feel proud to be apart of the 2nd Mass. Even Ben stuck around long enough to offer him a hug and tell him how happy he was to have him back.

"Hey where's Matt?" He asked noticing that his other little brother wasn't in the chair beside Maggie any more.

"Your father took him to bed,"added his fiance with a smile,"did you forget it's 4 in the morning."

Chuckling, Hal nodded his head. "Actually I did. I haven't slept in 36 hours, so I guess I am a little disoriented."

Nodded her head in agreement, Maggie pulled herself up on his bed. Scouting next to him, she reached out and took his hand in hers.

"I love you."

"I love you too Mags,"he replied before lowering his head to her tummy,"and I love you too."

Bringing his head back up, Hal gave her a wink causing Maggie to start laughing. Watching her laugh, Hal couldn't help but smile back at her. While he never gave hope that she would come back for him, it was nice to have her beside him again.

"Hal, not that I am complaining or anything...but how did you survive that fall?"

Sighing, he stared hard at the wall. "Honestly...I don't know how. I was only free falling for about 3 seconds when out of suddenly a large snow covered tree came into my view. Turning my body, I hoped the branches would slow down my descent. While I did hit the tree feet first, unfortunately my right foot got caught going down the branches. Swinging me upside down, I felt my ankle finally free itself before tumbling down the rest of the tree. When I came to, I thought I might be dead. But the moment I stood up, I realized how bad everything hurt."

Nodding her head, Maggie gave him a sympathetic look. "Well I am glad that fate has decided throw me another favor. Hal...honestly I don't know what I would have done without you. I think we both know that were only a heart beat away from death sometimes. But when I thought I lost you...I broke down. I don't think I have ever cried that much in my entire life. Not even when they told me I had cancer the first time."

Tightening his grip on her hand, Hal turned and looked her straight in her brown eyes. "I am sorry my love. I never wanted you to have to feel that way. I knew that whole time you would be blaming yourself for what happen. But I also knew you would never give up hope and so I didn't. I couldn't leave you and our child like that. And I wasn't about to let a few injuries and aliens stop me from seeing you again."

"Damn right you wouldn't,"she said holding back the tears that were forming in the corner of her eyes,"now I don't know about you, but I am tired."

Putting his sock over his now dry thin cast, Hal gingerly tied his shoe and slowly got off the bed. "Sleep does sound good."

"Do you need any help walking?"

Hal shook his head. "Nah, I gotta get use to it anyways,"he said testing it out and limping his way up and down the office.

"You ready."

"For you...always,"he added with a smile on his face.

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!