<em>~ All together, raising a glass in the Great Hall, “To friends…and family…and what might be” ~</em><br/><br/>Nicci smiled and raised her glass, it was a lovely toast, the man obviously had a way with words and had put it all so simply..... no grandiose statements or platitudes.  Her lips moved as she repeated in her head, 'What might be' feeling herself lift a little with the hope she came with, before taking a sip and holding the bubbles in her mouth for a moment and then swallowing.  She was glad she had refused a top up from Vince, she hoped there would be a soft drink available at dinner, no matter how delicious the golden cool liquid was, she wasn't about to get any more lightheaded than she was already.<br/><br/>She knew a lot of it was because of excitement, the adrenaline bubbling up because of the worries; the endless possibilities; the feeling that she was about to jump, the sensation of the pummeling air against her cheeks and weight of the pack on her back.  It was scarier, this wasn't a simple jump out of a plane, it was her future, and her dreams of belonging somewhere at last.  It she could make this work with these wonderful people she could go out into the world with the knowledge that her dreams could come true.<br/><br/>But she liked it, she always had, excitement, the tremor of fear in her stomach and this was no different she thought.  It wasn't about whether she was good enough, it was the thrill of finding out, the testing and pushing her own limits. Whatever else happened she was sure she would learn more about herself in the process.  Her eyes moving slowly over the three men she enjoyed the picture they made, God she was going to enjoy the process too, she should lighten up...... less thinking and more feeling.  Turning slightly and moving back a little, her eyes lingered on Bo, their dance has opened up the first door, her body was acutely aware of his, but already she hoped for a lot more, the brief glimpse of some inner pain and anger had released in her the drawbridge to her heart, and she met his eyes, raising her glass again slightly to him, a tiny gesture, the look on her face an invitation to take the first steps to cross her defences. And then her eyes sparkled with the frisson of fear that induced in her gut..... yes...... this is what she had to do, let go and open up........ bit by bit she would, she'd work at it, she had the chance to climb up to the summit and breathe the clear air, if she was left dangling over space a few times it would only make the climb more exciting and the goal the sweeter.