<em>~Mila, at dinner with everyone~</em><br/><br/>Mila listened to everyone's stories with tears stinging her eyes.  In her heart, she knew she had found them.  She had just met them, but they felt<em>right.</em>No matter how much or how little of themselves they shared, each person at the table had one thing in common.  They all wanted this.  It was evident in their words, in the tone of their voices.  It was evident in the intense looks in their faces, and even by the very fact that they had made the commitment to be here.  Already, the respect they had for one another was shining through in the looks that were being shared, the encouragement that was silent but palpable.  She looked across the table and saw Bo looking at her, his eyes filled with heat.  It wasn't the kind of heat that made her insides curl with desire.  Rather, it was the kind of heat that made her think<em>home</em>.  Her greatest desire over the last years had been to find connection, and the look in Bo's eyes made her believe she may have found it.  She'd been waiting so long for her family.<br/><br/>She was finishing the rich, delicious soup when Cathy returned, clearing the bowls and then laying out plates with bacon wrapped around chicken.  The aroma made her mouth water, and wryly, she wondered if this would be their last good meal, or if Mari and Nicci could cook well.  As she cut into the chicken, she found that it was stuffed with mushrooms.  Delicious!  It was served with her favorite, roasted potatoes.  Mila certainly couldn't cook like this, and she rarely had the opportunity to eat at restaurants, so this was easily the best meal that she'd had in years.  She ate slowly, savoring every bite of the green peas and cauliflower, and in heaven when she tasted the potatoes.<br/><br/>Her constant reminder to herself to be bold with her new family was getting to be a mantra, she realized as she admonished herself again.  She took a breath and looked at Mari, smiling.  "I hope you girls cook well.  I can handle desserts, but Vince and Marcus will not be happy if I am to do the cooking.  Bo's a military man, he may not care much," she said playfully.  She looked to her right at Marcus, and Nicci beyond him.  And she realized with contentment that she was happy.