Author: Freckled Writer

Rating: T

Pairing: Tom/Other Character

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own anything that is Falling Skies.

Summary: What if Tom hadn't fallen in love with Anne, but with another woman? Sarah Waters is a smart woman who is putting all that she has into keeping the children safe and in keeping humanity alive in the broken world of Falling Skies. She understands Pope and Weaver, but does she have feelings for them? Does she love Tom? (Set in season one.)

Note: I am shocked at the lack of love stories for Tom, so I'm going to create some. This fic is set in Season 1 after Ben is back and before Tom gets onto the Spaceship. This first chapter may seem a little slow but that is because I have to introduce you to a new character. Please leave a review!

The 2nd Mass had fallen into a routine in the weeks they had been sheltering in the JFK High School. They had made up shifts and took turns cooking, washing the clothing, and teaching the children. They had decided who was best at caring for the small children, and who was best at going out on recon missions with the soldiers. Occasionally they switched if someone was getting tired of watching the kids, then the civilians who had been going out to look for food would trade them for a while.

Tom Mason had just finished his debriefings for the day. It was late, already getting dark, and he was wondering where his youngest son was. Ben was probably already in his bed reading a book, while Hal was most definitely asleep as he would be waking up at 6am to walk the perimeter. Tom was not at all surprised to find his son Matt with Sarah Waters in the old English classroom. It was where she had made permanent beds for the small children she was so often in charge of. There were seven children with no parents or guardians, and Sarah did most of the looking after them. They had split up the orphan children when the split up the groups of resistance fighters in Boston. The children were their future and had to be taken care of.

He walked over to the circle of small children and touched Matt lightly on the back. When Matt looked backwards at his father, Tom wordlessly nodded his head to the left, signaling that it was time to go bed down. "Wait Dad! Sarah is just about to tell us a new story and I want to hear it!"

Sarah had taken to telling the seven orphan children stories at night before bed. She would find a spot for all of them to sleep, and then tell them a short story. She tucked them all in one by one, she always made sure they had blankets, and then she would bed down close by so that the ones who had nightmares or tummy troubles could find her easily when they needed comfort. Tom smiled and said "Alright." He looked up just in time to see a grin of relief come across Sarah's face. She quickly turned her face to the children and began.

"Okay. Now I told you all, that if you were good today, and if you behaved, that I would tell you a new story. Well, you all did really well today, so... who would like to hear a story about Snow-White and Rose-Red?"

One of the older children groaned, "Don't you mean Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?"

'No! This is a new story about two sisters. It is by the Brothers Grimm, not Walt Disney." The children seemed intrigued so Sarah told them all about this new Snow-White and her sister. "There was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely cottage. In front of the cottage was a garden where stood two rose bushes, one of which bore white roses and the other red roses. She had two children who were like the two rose bushes, and one was called Snow-white, and the other Rose-red. They were as good and happy..."

Tom listened to her soft southern voice. She had been visiting Boston with her husband, walking the Freedom Trail, when freedom was given a swift blow to the core. She and her son Conner had made it to safety, but her husband had been hit by flying debris when the Mechs opened up for the first time. She was originally from Arkansas and the twang hadn't faded in the few months she had been hiding in Boston with their resistance group. There was also a kindness that was ever present in her voice and he was sure the children could hear it.

His wife had also had that in her voice. She had been very good with their boys. He had taken his cue from her when they were small and hoped that he was kind enough now that she was gone. They asked so much of the children now. Sarah was constantly telling the men, like Tom and Dan Weaver, 'they're just children' while telling the kids 'you are ready for this, you can do this'.

She had pulled Tom aside on more than one occasion to ask him if he thought taking his 17 year old out on missions to retrieve food was a good idea. He had replied that Hal would go with or without him, and he preferred his son to be with him so that he could protect him. He had told her that he knew Matt would be safe in the compound with her, and he was thankful that she was there to watch over him while he was gone. She had relented and not bothered him again.

She often annoyed Weaver with her questions about why things were done the way they were, but it was refreshing to Tom. Sarah was a smart woman who did not hesitate to question and to sometimes give answers. Weaver would never admit that he was grateful for Sarah's intrusions during their meetings, but Tom was. Her suggestions had saved them time and resources on multiple occasions.

She was a small woman at 5'2 and she barely weighed anything, as the weeks of marching had taken a toll on her body. She was covered in freckles and often wore a green shirt that enhanced her Irish looks. Her red hair shined like fire in the sun, even with baths being in short supply. It entranced several of the men in their resistance group. But she seemed to be caught up in mourning her husband and had kept to herself.

Tom tried to quiet his mind as he laid down in his cot. He would need his rest for tomorrow. They were running low on supplies again and Ben had begun to like going out on scouting missions. He was hoping to get Weaver to pick someone other than his kids this time.

Weaver had decided to send Anthony, Dai, Tector and John out to a small town to see if anything more could be found at a Dollar General Store. He was not sure that he wanted to send Ben along. Tom was trying to convince Ben that he did not need to go, that a smaller group made for a quiet group, which would help the group make it back. Also Ben needed to practice some more and become an expert shot with a rifle before he went out on such a long mission. Right now he was only a 'good shot.' Tom's patronizing speech was interrupted by a soft voice that made Captain Weaver groan in annoyance.

"What if someone who was an expert shot with a rifle went with them and Ben just carried her pack?" The men all looked toward the classroom door to see Sarah smiling a 'aren't I cute' smile.

"Are you seriously, going to try to convince me, that you're an expert shot, with a rifle?" Weaver's slow cadence said that he was losing patience, but Sarah had just begun. "My Grandpa was labeled as an expert shot in the Army and he taught his sons to shoot, and one of them taught me." Weaver stared at her blankly. "My Dad. My Dad taught me. I'm a good shot."

"Sarah, I don't care if you taught snipers how to shoot. You are not going." Weaver stood up from behind his desk and was going to continue but Sarah interjected again. "Because I'm a woman? Cuz you never send women out on scouting missions, and then the men never come back with the right tampons or shirts or underwear or baby bottles or - "

"Stop." Weaver held up his hand and closed his eyes. "Now I know, that sometimes the boys get confused, when you ladies ask for... specific things. But you just have to be reasonable. There is only going to be so much left inside of these stores. Others have passed through, and they've been picked over."

Sarah was frowning and showing no sign of backing down. "We're tired of it! They always managed to search long enough to find ammo and pain meds and boots. But they never bring back the right sippy cups or any toys. The kids would be calmer and happier if they had toys to distract them. I want to go one time. They can take me one time."

All of the men including Tom were staring at the floor or fiddling with their guns. No one was looking at Captain Weaver and only Ben dared to look Sarah's way. Weaver took a deep breath. Tom was afraid he was going to yell or say something awful when Anthony suddenly spoke up.

"She does have a point. Some of the women actually yelled at us last time we came back with pajamas instead of regular shirts. And I have no idea what kind of toys to get for a seven year old, or a ten year old, and we can only get a couple. Maybe... She should go with us one time."

Weaver was staring at Anthony with an open mouth. He couldn't believe the former cop, and reserve guard, had just agreed to take a tiny spitfire of a woman on an overnight mission. Then Ben spoke.

"If she can go then I should get to go. I'm way stronger now and I have great eyesight, and I can run further than most of the guys here without getting tired." Tom shook his head no. He was getting more uncomfortable by the minute. Then Dai spoke which surprised everyone.

"Actually, he did help us last time. He heard that Mech before we did. And he didn't get tired or whine. He kept up with us. I don't mind Ben coming."

"Okay. So a child with no training can go, but a grown woman who grew up on a farm with guns...?" Sarah raised her eyebrows as she spoke and looked back and forth between Dai and Weaver. Weaver threw up his arms as he rounded the desk.

"You know what? I don't care. It's you guys sticking out your necks and dragging them along. You want to take a woman and a kid with you, go ahead! Just don't drag any Mechs or Skitters back with you."

Weaver stomped out of the room. He had barely made it to the door when Sarah smiled at Ben.