Man from U.N.C.L.E. Section VII

Napoleon walked into the office he shared with his partner. Illya was writing up a report, oddly by hand as he usually typed them.

“Machine not working tovarisch?”

“I need to replace the ribbon but in the meantime I am handwriting and will ask one of the secretaries to type it up for me.”

“Were you planning to celebrate sometime tonight?”

“Celebrate?”

“You know...la la laaaa la la la... it's September 19th," Napoleon lilted the melody to ‘happy birthday.’

“Oh that. I forgot the date, though it really does not matter.”

“Well I didn’t,” Solo grinned. He produced a small wrapped bundle from behind his back.  “Many happy returns birthday boy.”

Kuryakin accepted the oddly wrapped gift; it looked like a towel, but something was inside it.

He folded it back and out popped the head of a dark tabby kitten. Its fur was medium length with a tuft of white on its chest and the tips of its paws were white as well.

“Not exactly what I had planned as your birthday gift, but it presented itself to me this morning and I thought you’d like it.”

“I do Napoleon,” Illya was busy stroking and scratching the feline’s small head which elicited a loud purr from it.

“So what are you going to name it?”

“I think I will call it Nickie.”

“Good name. Now tonight however, you will be celebrating as I have plans to take you out to dinner at the 21 Club.  April and Mark will be joining us...I think they have a little something for you as well,”Napoleon winked.

“Thank you my friend for the kitten and for tonight as well as for reminding me it was my birthday. Until recently it was something that had little meaning, so you must forgive me when I forget the date...too many unpleasant memories associated with it.”

“Illya, that was in the past, let it go.”

“I will, I promise this,” Illya winked back at him.

“Good, now finish that report; I’m hungry and want to eat dinner."

“Hey, that’s my line!”