<em>~Mila at dinner~</em><br/><br/>Mila felt Marcus squeeze her hand and looked away from Vince at the man seated next to her.  Relief flowed through her.  He understood that she just needed to feel quiet strength and support in that moment, and it was what he gave her, no more and no less.  Was this what this family would be about someday, holding one another's hands as they fought to overcome struggles and defeat demons?  Or was it going to fall apart because three men who were dominant could not find a way to make things work between them?<br/><br/>She did not yet know Mari and Nicci, and wondered if they would form the bond that Mila so desired, or would they be sabotaged by jealousies and inability to openly communicate.  She hoped and prayed that they would form a sisterhood of sorts, but she wasn't so sure anymore, her faith in this experiment faltering.  She had researched this lifestyle extensively, but only a few minutes before, she had realized that perhaps research was an inadequate learning tool in a situation such as this.<br/><br/>Nicci raised her glass in a toast.<em>To honesty.</em>And then Marcus added to it.<em>To widsom, strength, and beauty.</em>She looked at him as he spoke, blushing when he glanced in her direction and squeezed her hand again.  And although Camila tended to be shy, with her left hand she picked up the glass of champagne she'd brought in from the Great Hall, holding it up.  And then, looking at Bo for the first time since he had spoken and then at Vince, she added her own toast to the others'.  "To respect."