The Claim

It's My Life

Driving up to Dallas, Eloise kept thinking how the day would end. The meeting with the Dons was just an hour away and she had been feeling anxious about it for the past two days. Would they be okay with what happened or would there be retribution for Jensen killing Elijah?

Arriving at the warehouse where the meeting was going to be held, Eloise looked back at Jensen and saw the same look she had seen the night her life would be forever changed. He was in "Boss Mode", as she called it, and she would be lying if she said that it wasn't a bit intimidating.

They walked inside the warehouse, Jensen's arm tightly wrapped around her waist, and were greeted by two men who led them to their seats. Around the table were the other Dons and their consiglieres, and behind them their bodyguards. If it hadn't been for the fact that they were in a warehouse, Eloise would say that this was just a bunch of CEO's getting together to discuss some business deal.

- "Welcome. Once again, I would like to thank Don Pileggi for allowing us to meet in one of his warehouses and everyone for being here. Hopefully by the end of this meeting, we will all have the answers we are looking for and we can all be on our way. I'll give the word now to Don Pileggi." - Don Morgan said.

- "Thank you, Don Morgan. And thank you all for your presence. Don Ackles, I assume the young lady sitting next to you is the young lady that you placed a Claim on?"

- "Yes, Don Pileggi. She is. This is Miss Eloise Anderson."

- "Welcome Miss Anderson. Let me start by thanking you for being here. I understand that you're still recovering and it is very appreciated by everyone present that you are here today, so thank you. Now, with that said, could you tell us how exactly Don Martinez was able to take you prisoner?"

Eloise thanked them for being there and went on to tell them how it all happened, starting from when they left the bookstore to her rescue by Jensen and his men. Remembering everything that Elijah put her through almost made her throw up but she kept it together. She knew she couldn't show any weakness, not to them.

- "So what you're saying is that you sacrificed yourself, knowing full well what Don Martinez would do to you, in order to save the men assigned to protect you, is that correct?" - Don Morgan questioned, surprised.

- "Yes, that's correct. You have to understand something. To me, these men, they aren't just some men who work for Jensen. They have become family to me and I know for a fact that that's what I am to them as well, and there's nothing I won't do for my family."

"From the moment the Claim was placed on me, they have treated me with nothing but respect and care, making sure that I was not only safe and protected, but that I was treated fairly by all of them. I know them, I know their wives, their children; I have helped them with birthday and anniversary gifts and plans, and for those who are single, I've helped with dates and small gifts."

"I've helped their children with homework and school projects; I've helped their wives with dinner preparations and getting ready for the arrival of their new babies; and when we lose someone, I've helped with funeral arrangements and making sure that the family is taken care of. And I've cried and mourned for every single one of them."

"So, yes, the same way that these men would put themselves in harm's way to keep me safe, so would I without doubt or hesitation. They are family and that's what they'll always be."

- "I understand. And I apologize if I have offended you, Miss Anderson, since that was not my intention. I was just surprised because that is not something that we would hear someone who has been Claimed say." - Don Morgan said.

- "It's fine. I can understand that it might be unusual for someone in my position to say something like this, but one thing those who know me can all agree on is that I'm not your usual woman." - Eloise answered, making Jensen, Jared, Misha and David chuckle in agreement.

- "Don Ackles, this is all very nice and all, but there's something else. Something that was brought to our attention and that I believe needs to be discussed." - Don Pellegrino interrupted, clearly annoyed.

- "And what might that be?"

- "It was brought to our attention that your Claim on Miss Anderson is actually fake. That you only placed a Claim on her to prevent Don Martinez from punishing Miss Anderson for her disrespect. Is this true?"

Eloise could feel her heart race at the question. How the hell did they find out about that? No one knew, just the people standing behind them and none of them would betray Jensen, and her for that matter. She slipped her hand in his and felt him squeeze it in support. Looking back at him, she saw him smile at her and take a breath before talking.

- "Yes, it is true. But if I may, I would like to explain." - Jensen started, seeing Don Morgan nodding at him to continue. - "I had met Miss Anderson a few months before the whole Elijah situation. And during those months, I had come to know her fairly well and slowly but surely, I began falling for her."

"When Don Martinez threatened Miss Anderson, I tried de-escalating things, but when that proved impossible, I did the one thing I knew would keep her safe, so I placed a Claim on her. Now, the truth is that I had been thinking about doing it for a while, I just never found the right time to talk it out with Miss Anderson."

"Don Martinez's threat only speeded something that was, hopefully, going to happen either way, provided that Miss Anderson felt the same way as I did."

- "And if she didn't?"

- "I would still place a Claim on her to protect her from Don Martinez. Look, was it right? Probably not, but we all know what Don Martinez was capable of, and you just heard what he did to Miss Anderson once he had her as his hostage directly from her. Do you really believe that I would allow him to do it, either way?"

- "Miss Anderson, given what Don Ackles just said, it is only fair that you're given a choice." - Don Morgan said.

- "A choice?"

- "Yes, a choice. Do you wish to stay Claimed by Don Ackles, or do you wish to be unClaimed and return to your normal life?"

- "With all due respect, Don Morgan, but there is no choice here. There is no way I would agree to be unClaimed unless it was something that both Jen.. I mean, Don Ackles and I had agreed to. Yes, it may have started as being for just my protection, but the truth is that now it is so much more than that. We fell in love with each other and I am very happy with the life I have now by his side. So, if it's all the same to you gentlemen, I would rather stay as I am. But thank you for the choice."

- "Very well then. Miss Anderson will remain Claimed and all of Don Martinez's territories will now belong to Don Ackles. Everyone in agreement?" - Don Morgan asked, receiving nods from everyone around the large table. - "Then, if there is nothing else to discuss, this meeting is adjourned. Thank you all for your presence."

Jensen stood up with Eloise following suit, and walked out of the building together, both letting out breaths they didn't realize they were holding. Once outside, Jensen looked at Eloise and smiled, pulling her close to his side, as they walked to their car and got in, ready to go home.

Eloise never felt as relieved and as light as she felt when she walked out of that warehouse. She knew that this would be a hard conversation and she also knew that this could've gone wrong in so many different ways, but all in all it actually went pretty well.

She still didn't know how they found out that the Claim had been a lie in the beginning, but she wasn't going to worry about that right now. All she wanted now was to go home and start this new life she had just been granted alongside Jensen.

Eloise never thought that, when she moved to Austin, that her life would become what it is but she couldn't wait to see what else was in the cards for her and Jensen, now that there was no longer a threat on her life. Life had so much to offer them and she knew they would take the world together head-on. Claim or no Claim.