Better late than never! I love these two!

The sound of my cell phone ringing from the kitchen woke me from my slumber. Troy's fingertips were rubbing gently up and down my shoulder blade, his body spooned against mine as he kissed my shoulder. I groaned and stretched like a cat beside him not wanting to get up from the warmth of my bed with my mate but the ringing stopped only for a moment before starting back up again. Frustrated, I sighed and threw the sheet back and got out of bed, uncaring of my state of undress. I stretched my arms above my head as I yawned then picked up the vibrating nuisance, answering without looking at the caller ID.

"Bells! Just wanted to see how everything was going. Have you heard from the Council yet?" My dad asked, sounding way more jovial than was appropriate for...I looked to the digital clock on the stove...Ten o'clock in the morning? Why am I so tired?

Shaking my head from my inner musings, I answered my father. "Actually, I haven't heard back yet. We hope to hear something today." I said, suppressing another yawn.

"Did I wake you up? Jeez, Bella. It's what, ten there now? Why'd you sleep so long for? You're going to have to get some better rest if you're gonna make it as a cop, you know."

I rolled my eyes and leaned my hip against the counter as I set a pot of coffee to brew. I could hear the faucet turn on in the bathroom so I knew Troy was taking a shower and busied myself with making some egg, sausage, and potato breakfast burritos while my dad rambled on about the importance of a good night's sleep. Dad and I chatted for a while and once Troy made his way into the kitchen, we said our goodbyes with a promise I would call him once I heard the "good news". The burritos and coffee went down smoothly and I plated up the extras for Grams and her love doctor. After my own shower I dressed in a pair of light blue denims with lace patches on the thighs, a maroon v-neck tee shirt and threw my hair up into a messy bun at the top of my head. Minimal makeup was applied - mascara and thin black eyeliner - and I was ready for the day. Being off of work was only the icing on the cake. It has been exactly seven days since my meeting with the Tribal Council and I was getting anxious. I have convinced myself that something is going to go wrong. My mind played tricks on me from them finding out I turned foxy to my lineage papers burning up in a random house fire. I just couldn't let myself get my hopes up.

Expect the worst, hope for the best.

That's always been my self-motto. If I went by that phrase then my hopes wouldn't be completely crushed and I could simply say 'I knew it.' but if they went in my favor, I would be pleasantly surprised.

"Come on, we are here." Troy said, knocking me back into the present. We had just parked in Gram's driveway and I looked around, genuinely concerned as to why I completely missed the entire travel here. Was I really so lost in my own head? I got out of the car and shut the door quietly behind me, feeling a little silly for getting so wrapped up in myself. Troy sent me an understanding smile as he grabbed my hand and tugged me along beside him. His long hair was brushed back to silky perfection and held in place with a black elastic band. The black tee he wore hugged his broad back and displayed his yummy muscles for my eager eyes, much like his dark jeans.

Gram's eyes lit up when she saw us, then fell to the plate of burritos in my hand. She snatched it so fast, I was afraid she would drop it but her greedy little fingers held on tight as she smiled brightly.

"They smell wonderful kids. Come in, come in!" She turned and scampered down the small hall to the kitchen where we could hear her dishing herself a helping. Walking into the kitchen, I asked if I could help her.

"You just grab those mugs of tea and come to the table." She told me in her no nonsense voice. She seemed as eager for those burritos as my eyes were for her grandson. My cheeks flooded with heat and I smiled to myself as I followed Grams to the dining room. Her white hair was hanging straight. Not in her usual braids and she wore jeans, though I suspected they had an elastic waist. Her feet had Sketchers sneakers on them and I suppressed a giggle as I realized her shirt came from Abercrombie. Grams was dressing up. As we entered the dining room, I met Troy's eyes and then made a show with my eyes of looking Grams up and down before looking back at him. His expression was bemused at first until he found her feet. The odd choking noise that left his mouth almost had me in stitches. Grams looked up at my mate as she sat herself at the head of the table, her hand lingering over her fork a moment before she shrugged and dug into the food. She was as enthusiastic as I had been about Esme's many Emeril recipes this past week and I hid a smile behind my hand.

Slamming her fork onto the flowered tablecloth, Grams gave us both a harsh look. "Okay you two I've had it. What is with all those noises you're making? It sounds like I'm eating in a zoo!" Her weathered Grandmother Willow voice was stern but I could see she held amusement in her eyes.

"I was only noticing your choice of clothing." Troy blurted and I looked at him sharply. Really!?

"What he means is, we like your shoes." I tried to cover but the uplift of my lips gave me away. Grams grumbled before slowly taking another bite of the quickly disappearing breakfast.

"Mind your P's and Q's. Turns out I'm a cool granny." She said with a tilt to her head and flicked a strand of thin hair off her shoulder. Her wrist crackled when she did that and Troy covered a laugh with a very unconvincing cough. The elderly woman glared at her grandson while I sipped my tea to keep my giggles to myself but I could resist taunting her some more. That gray henley shirt with the fluffy white vest over it and dangling silver chain holding it together was just too much for me to take. Even I wouldn't wear something like that.

"Cool was for the kids in the seventies, Grams. You wouldn't be very lit now." I snickered. She looked down at the vest and smoothed the fur with a frail hand, her bottom lip puffing out slightly before she looked back up at me.

"I don't need to be lit to be cool. Is that all you kids care about is drugs and alcohol?" She asked us both.

I stared at her a moment before her phrasing made sense in my head. I could remember hearing my dad tell Billy how lit he was after a few too many beers when I was growing up. A soft giggle escaped my lips, a smile playing on Troy's. The giggle erupted into a snort-turned-laugh and before I knew it, Troy and I were gasping for breath while Grams finished her plate and grumbled the whole way into the kitchen, petting her furry vest. The house phone interrupted the giggles and Gram's grabbed it up with a brusque 'hello'.

Peeking her head around the corner, she held the white receiver in her hand and thrust it in my direction with a severe brow lifted. "For you child. Hurry up, my arthritis is flaring up." She smiled at me. I rushed for the phone as I fumbled with my own cell phone, taking it from my pocket as I lifted the landline to my ear.

"Hello, this is Bella Swan speaking." I said politely as I powered on my phone, silently cursing myself that it was off in the first place. I knew I hadn't done that so it must have done so in my pocket. I kept forgetting the change the settings. It always did funky crap when I left it in my pockets.

"Miss Swan, you are summoned to the Omaha Tribal Council Hall this evening at four o'clock. Please be punctual." Thomas' thick angry voice echoed loudly in my ear.

"Yes sir, than…" My gratitude was cut off with his rude hang up. I had a sinking feeling in my gut.

Grams took the phone from my hand as Troy came up behind me and massaged my shoulders gently with his large warm hands. Just that simple action was enough to melt the tension from my small frame and I sagged against him. Hanging up the phone finally, Grams turned to me with sparkling eyes before she clasped my hands in hers.

"It's time, child. You will be our sister, our family, and someday…" She paused as she looked at Troy meaningfully before meeting my eyes again. "Our Chieftess." Her eyes glittered with emotion as mine filled with tears of happiness. She had always cheered for Troy and me, always helping us along even before she had met me. Her unwavering support and love filled my heart and soul with a contented joy that would never sour.

I nodded and swallowed thickly. "I hope you're right."

Grams waved me off with a hand before turning and ambling slowly back toward the living room. "No hope about it. Stop being such a pessimist. You're killing my buzz." She griped. Grabbing a warm looking afghan off of the back of her large chair, she settled down into it. "Get out of here. My man will be here soon and no one wants to hear what we are gonna get up to!"

She snickered as Troy gagged in the kitchen, the sound echoing off of the cupboards. I giggled with her before kissing her forehead.

"Don't play too rough now." I warned her to which she scoffed.

"He's a doctor. He can cure all that ails me!" At that witty reply, I gagged as she cackled away under her blanket, switching on the television set. Troy said a sweet goodbye to his grandmother and we made our way back home.

I would not be going to a Tribal Meeting in jeans and a tee, no matter how informal they dressed. I felt I would need all the help I could get and a pretty pale green sundress with a dark ivy leaf pattern on the skirting had me smiling to myself a short while later. I slipped on a pair of cork colored wedge sandals and brushed my hair from it's messy knot, braiding it straight down my back. Reapplying the thin liner and adding a beige shimmery eye shadow, I deemed myself presentable. When I got back to the kitchen, Troy kissed my cheek as he passed me to get dressed himself for the meeting. He emerged only a few moments later having added a dark red and black flannel over his black tee and brushed his hair loose around his shoulders. His dark jeans still hugged his muscular thighs and his black steel toe boots covered his gigantic feet. His gaze wandered appreciatively over my form as he joined me at the counter on his Pahoja stool. He took a long sip of ice water before wrapping his arms around my waist. I laid my head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat as I hooked my thumbs into his belt loops.

"You really have nothing to fear, vixen. By this weekend we will be packing you up to come live in our new home." His deep voice rumbled both above my head from his lips and against my ear from his chest.

We had spoken at length about this. We would pack if the verdict worked in my favor but I would give Chief Walker a two week notice before I moved onto the reservation. Meanwhile, I would turn in my application with the Omaha Reservation Police Force and hope for the best. Troy was confident, as was Grams, that I would be a shoe in there as well. I wish I had their optimism but I had always been a tad pessimistic.

"And if they say no, I will stay here and you'll…" Troy made a hissing shush noise before covering my lips with his in a fierce kiss. His tongue plunged into my mouth as he pulled me closer to his body. This was his famous way to get me to shut up and I was not complaining in the least. I clung to him, desperate for more but aware that we had to get going. It was an hour drive from here to Omaha and it was nearing two thirty. I hated to be late, so I always left with enough time to counteract any traffic or accidents on the way. Breaking from the kiss with a gasp, I smiled beautifully at my handsome mate.

"You can shut me up any time." I said coyly. He laughed as he snatched the keys off of the counter and held my hand out to the car after locking up the cottage.

The whole drive to the Council Hall, I was on edge. I wish I had shifted to Nidawi today as that would have really helped with my nervous energy. As if reading my mind, Troy twined his fingers with mine.

"We will go for a celebratory run after dinner." He promised.

"I like that idea." I agreed. I wanted to say something else but kept my mouth shut, determined to see the positive. I could end up running to release frustration, not to celebrate.

We pulled into the parking lot at three thirty and I dragged in a deep breath before puffing my cheeks and releasing the breath in a long whoosh. Troy chuckled as we watched Elders Foy and Gorham help Elder Osier into the building. Elder Cermane held the large door open for the men as they trudged inside.

This is it. My fate has already been decided, I just need to hear the verdict.

My stomach was in knots and my palms were sweaty. I jumped when Troy opened my door, not realizing he had even left the driver's seat. I needed to get it together. What's the worst that could happen? I could get turned down. Not be apart of my own tribe. Never live with my mate on his lands. My children, if we ever had any, would never be born on tribal land getting the benefits of the tribe family life. A firm hand landed on my shoulder and I jerked back to life abruptly aware that I had been staring off into space. When I turned and met the dark eyes of Thomas Sauk, I almost lost my lunch. He nodded once before lifting his hand and striding quickly toward the entrance of the hall. Risking a glance at Troy, I saw his lips set in a firm thin line, his heavy brows knitted together above his nose. I laid my small white hand on his large dark one and squeezed his fingers. His gaze softened as he looked down at me and a smile grazed his lips.

It didn't matter the outcome. I would be fine no matter what because this man is my mate and we would get through anything together.

Troy saw my determination kick in with my straightened spine and broadened shoulders and we walked with our heads held high into the Council Hall. The typical introductions were made and once we were sat in the same places we had been a week before, Elder Osier stood on shaky legs. Thomas held his hand out for aide but the old man waved him off with a scoff.

"I'm not that old." He muttered under his breath so only Thomas would have been able to hear him had there not been two shifters in his presence. His pale blue eyes met mine and he winked before shooting the Elder Sauk a petulant scowl. I wondered if it was a game to Elder Osier or if he really didn't like his councilman. Once again raising a thin brown finger and pointing it directly at me, he curled it upward and beckoned me forward. I quietly pushed my chair back and made my way up front, standing tall and confident in front of the Council Elders. In his quiet, delicate voice he went through the reasons for the previous trial and described in great, slow detail why they had to deliberate on my status. He took many breaks from speaking for being winded and needing a sip of cool liquid. I stood stoic and proud the entire time, keeping my polite eyes on his as he described my lineage starting with me and working his way backward to my great grandfather and the story of the angry Sauk who banned him all those years ago.

Thomas cleared his throat an hour into Elder Osier's speech and I saw Elders Johnson and Cermane both smile indulgently at the eldest Elder as he rolled his eyes and playfully smacked his comrade's arm.

"Alright, alright, I'm finished here. I need to sit a spell anyway. My old bones are too weak for this crap." He eased himself slowly into his chair and patted Thomas on the arm for helping him. "You go see Elder Foy. He has your verdict." He pointed down the table then smiled at me as I bowed my head and walked down the front of the small dias.

Elder Foy's voice rang loud and strong. "Miss Swan. You've heard our reasons, we have seen your proof and heard your plight. Please let us apologize, as an entire tribe, on behalf of Chief Joseph Sauk and Chief Thomas Sauk for the sufferings your family has endured by not having a Tribal family for so many generations. On behalf of the Omaha Council of Elders, we would like you to reclaim your status as a tribeswoman. This status gives you rights to rent or own on our lands and forever gives you Tribal family support. If you choose not to accept this claim, your children and your children's children for all generations to come, will be welcomed onto our lands regardless. What say you, young lady?"

My eyes pricked with tears and I felt the small tremor in my fingers as my emotions threatened to pull me down but I planted my feet and stood tall, holding Elder Foy's gaze. I did not hesitate even a second before answering in a strong, clear voice.

"I would be honored to accept claim to the Omaha Tribe. Thank you for this. Thank you so much." My strong, clear voice wavered and cracked as I spoke my last sentence and received many smiles for my overly emotional state. I kept my gaze steady however and subtly cleared my throat before continuing. "I will do my very best to always honor my Tribal family."

"Here, here." Troy whispered in my ear as he pressed himself into my side where I stood. Startled, I looked up at him with wide eyes and he smiled down at me. In a much louder voice, he addressed the Council. "Thank you, Elders for your time. I have a lady to pack up. She will be moving in with me as soon as she fulfills her notice with the LSPD."

With the mention of the police department, Elder Johnson's eyes lit up. "Will you be applying to the ORPF?" She asked, eagerly.

I nodded my head as Troy weaved his hand with mine. Apparently the meeting was at an end and things were much more relaxed. The Elders sat more relaxed in their chairs or moved about, filling cups with coffee or water and snacking on scones and donuts. "Yes ma'am, I have it all filled out and planned to turn it in if the verdict went in my favor." I blushed with that admittance.

"Oh dear, there's no need to be embarrassed. We knew you would get approved. We just like to make people sweat it out a bit. Leave your application with me and I'll make sure the Chief of Police gets it right away." She told me as she gathered her purse and stood. Troy had already went to the car and returned a moment later with my application which he handed to me. I looked it over once more, making sure I filled everything out correctly and handed it to Elder Johnson with a smile.

"Thank you so much again, for everything ma'am." I said.

The light brown eyes of the Elder in front of me danced with happiness. "Don't call me ma'am, doll. I'm too young for that. Here. This belongs to you." Elder Johnson then stuck a small envelope in my hands and grabbed the application from me while my brain was stuck on her calling me 'doll' and memories of my first trip to the reservation slammed into my head. She winked at me as she sauntered away with a familiar sway of hips. My hand wrapped around the envelope as I held it tighter and Troy rubbed a hand down my back.

"Are you okay, vixen?" He asked. His warm breath fanned across the side of my face and I inhaled the sweet scent, letting it ground and calm me.

I turned to face him and smiled. "Let's go for a run." I whispered excitedly. I would think on Elder Johnson and Sandy later. For now, I had a celebration to get to with my mate.