Nicci reached out across the table and took Vince's hand in hers, drawing it towards her slightly.  She could tell from both his interjections that he had everyone's best interests in heart and really cared about their future.  “You are right, if together we are going to create a family we will need to talk honestly about our desires and our fears, just as Bo did.   And by tomorrow we will have got to know each other a little better, and be refreshed by our first night's sleep in our wonderful new home.  It will give us all time too to think about anything we might want to ask to be taken under consideration.  Together we can find a path that protects us and guides us.”<br/><br/>She paused for a moment taking her hand away and looking round at the others, “I think we shouldn't set our expectations too high, there is bound to be misunderstandings, especially while we get used to the way we all think and speak. As long as we respect each others opinion and really enjoy our differences we can all feel able to speak and to be heard.<br/><br/>She smiled, “And when it comes to Mila's witty flirting; Vince's poetic turn of phrase, Bo's thoughtfulness or Marcus and Mari's special brand of humour and judicial input I know I am already very much enjoying what each of you has to say.”<br/><br/>Nicci's eyes grew more serious as she added, “Sometimes it's the thoughts behind the words which matter most.  We all want what's best so perhaps we are all a little wound up too, I know I have been more nervous and worried about what I should do and say here tonight than I have been about anything for years.  I guess because it means so much to me. If we spend tonight finding out as much as we can about each other, and having fun, with no expectations, tomorrow we can begin to build on the honest foundation we start here.<br/><br/>I'd like to propose a toast,” she said, taking the bottle of red wine and pouring a little in her now empty glass, “Here's to honesty and truthfulness, softened by the care we need to take of each other.”<br/><br/>She raised her glass to them all, “To Honesty........” and then feeling as though she might have gone on to long and it might seem she was being too forward to the men round the table she took a sip of her wine with a faint blush to her cheeks and looked down at her dessert.