It had been several months now since the the man who adored his female companionship had taken himself off the active duty roster, or at least it seemed so to all the ladies working at the New York headquarters of U.N.C.L.E.

Napoleon found himself hard pressed at times, fending off the the advances of one lovely lady after other, once they heard the change in his dating status. He had let it be known that he had a regular girlfriend but that seemed to cause women to want him all the more. What made it entirely difficult was the fact that he has slept with a good many of them already.

But now, Napoleon Solo had become not only a one woman man, but a one woman, celibate man. Though that personal resolution was beginning to wear thin with him; yet he strenghtend his resolve to see it through for at least a bit longer.

His girlfriend, Bella...Josephina Isabella Maria Gabriella Graziani had stolen his heart. She was beautiful, bright, intelligent, funny and understanding...very understanding of his line of work. He admired her independence and she was nothing like any of the other women who had passed through his life like ships in the night.

Illya had called her a keeper, and this determintion coming from his friend who for many years had avoided the entanglements of the feminine persuasion nearly to the point of being phobic... until his stoic, melancholy Russian partner simply met the right woman, had a son with her and then got married. Not quite the traditional order things were done in but none the less the man once dubbed "the Ice Prince" was a happily married man. And now he and his wife Elliott were even trying to have a second child.

All the more proof to Solo that if his brooding partner could have this life of contentment in spite of their employment in the world of espionage; then why couldn't he?"

Napoleon had an extremely healthy libido, maybe too healthy. So he surprised even himself that other than some very serious kissing and the wandering of hands; he had resisted sleeping with Bella...even though she had hinted at her willingness to go to bed with him.

When he avoided the subject of sex one evening; she asked him point blank if there was something wrong with her? Wasn't she desireable?" His answer was that she was the most beautiful and desireable woman he had ever met but, 'there was a right time and place for everything."

She was so different from all those other women, and there had been plenty of them in his life. Needy women, sex-crazed, air-headed, women who just wanted to be wined and dined, clever calculating women and even one who was his adversary as an agent for Thrush.

He had never hesitated to sleep with a woman to facilitate the completion of a mission or simply enjoy being in bed with a woman just for the sheer joy of good sex, but all these women meant nothing to him and their company simply served to temporarily ease his loneliness.

To say the least, none of them had ever been someone that he'd want to take home to meet mom so to speak, not until he had met Bella. He supposed that was why he couldn't go to bed with her yet; she was special and being with her had to be as equally special.

She was his caretaker when he was brought to Mount Sinai Hospital near death and it was she who helped nurse him back to health. A lot of patients become fixated with their care givers, but with Bella it was different. Instead of him being the one doing the entertaining; it was Bella who was the one making him laugh. She could be funny, or a tough cookie, but then as soft and gentle as could be.

She was real...a normal woman, but a very capable and and self-sufficient one at that.

He wasn't sure what it was that drew him to her, though it was her beauty at first and those violet eyes of course. Perhaps it was her strength, self assurance...and the fact that she took his initial flirting in stride and actually laughed at some of his best "lines" that had worked well on so many other women.

Months had passed, endless evenings of going out to dinner and dancing, broadway shows, walks and picnics in Central Park, long romantic cruises up the Hudson, as the two got to know each other, speaking about their hopes, dreams, their diappointments and fears. Some time during all their time together, he had fallen in love with her, and she with him.

Napoleon took the first step, taking her home to the family compound to meet his disfuntional family in the West Hamptions of Long Island. She came through it with flying colors; not taking any of his big sister Stella's nonsense and taking dad's aloofness in stride. His other sisters, Millie and Therese were their ususal flighty selves but it was his niece Amelia and his mother that really took a shining to the first woman he had ever brought home to meet them.

And now it was his turn to meet Bella's family. La famiglia; Momma and Poppa Graziani, her seven brothers and of course La Signora Graziani, the grandmother. He was actually as nervous as a school boy; if Grandma Graziani took a dislike to him, she could forbid Bella from seeing him again.

Even though Bella was head nurse at major metropolitan hospital and her own woman...her seven brothers would see to her protection from an unwanted suitor; unwanted by Grandma that is.

He was finally invited over for Saturday dinner with the family in Brooklyn. Bella having firmly warned him that there could be up to twenty people sitting at the table for a sausage soup with tortellini, antipasto, lasagna and cioppino; the food and vino that would eventually lead to the eruption of chaotic arguments, laughter, stories and songs. So she told him to be prepared for anything as her family was loud, very loud. And there'll be a lot of questions!"

"Hey I'm a spy remember? We're trained to resist interrogations and to expect the unexpected."

"Yeah, but my family will put you through your paces, trust me. she laughed.

Napoleon arrived exactly on time; he was notorious for being tardy but it wouldn't do for him to be late for this appointment; not this time. He brought with him gifts or maybe they were bribes; wine, flowers and chocolate fudge.

Bella let him in and he was greeted by dozens of pairs of eyes and smiles as the family waited in anticipation to meet "the boyfriend." Grandma eyed him warily as her grandaughter introduced him.

"Nonna? Questo è il mio fidanzato Napoleone. Napoleon Solo_ Grandma, this is my boyfriend Napoleon. Napoleon Solo.

"Che razza di nome è Napoleone per un uomo Italiano_what kind of name is Napoleon for an Italian man?" said Signora Graziani, eyeing his suit.

"Uno che mio padre si è degnato di onorarmi co la Signora Graziani_one that my father saw fit to honor me with," he flashed her his most charming smile as he bowed just a little; handing her the bouquet of pink and white long stem roses.

"Il rossore di questi fiori per complimentarmi con il rossore dellatua guancia_ the blush of these flowers to compliment the blush of your fair skin."

Grandma Graziani accepted the flowers; saying nothing, not even smiling.

Napoleon let out a little sigh, looking at Bella with raised eyebrows as she shrugged. Then he was introduced to Mamma. Napoleon presented her with a box of fudge from the Criterion at Asbury Park...Bella had told him it was her favorite.

To Pappa Graziani, he handed a fine bottle of chianti, which went over quite well. The parents were both very welcoming to him, and even though he was not brought up in Italian tradition, he felt very much at ease with these people.

These were ordinary everyday, hard working people; not the privileged and sometimes snobbish, well to do class that he was raised with out on the Island.

Her father Salvatore worked for the Sanitation Department and mama Maria stayed home, raising her babies and cooking a lot; helping to feed those in the neighborhood who were less fortunate.

Then there were Bella's seven brothers; half of them still living at home. The others married with quite a few of children of their own. Napoleon tried to remember the names, much less match the faces that went with them.

There was Georgio, Francesco, Dominic, Paolo, Furio, Vincenzo, and the baby who was fifteen, Bartolomeo, but then of course there were the nicknames to deal with Georgie, Frankie, Dom, Pauly, Vinnie, Barty...Furio was the only one without a nickname. Vinnie and Pauly worked with the Police Department, Frankie the Fire Department, Georgie at Sanitation, Furio with Con Edison, Dom was a chef at Delmonicos and Barty wanted to become a doctor.

Then came then endless parade of nieces, nephews, and cousins the names of whom would have even challenged the eidetic memory of Kuryakin.

The dinner was delizioso, as he told Mama as he nibbled on a piece of homemade focaccia dipped in olive oil, while the continuing discussions and curious questions varied. The anticipated arguments erupted then calmed as Solo enjoyed every moment of the interesting ebb and flow to the passions of this family.

He and Bella had told them he worked for an international insurance agency and did a lot of traveling. So the endless questions about the exotic places he had been took up a good bit of the converstaion.

Then out of the blue Signora Graziani spoke; asking him a most unexpected question. Bella warned him about being ready for the unexpected, but this one came strictly out of left field.

"Tu a letto con mia nipote?

"Mi scusi Signora_ excuse me ma'am?" he said quite flustered.

"Tu a letto con mia nipote?" she repeated.

"No Signora, io no sons a letto_ no Signora I am not sleeping with her," he anwered his face blushed with embarassment.

"Gooda...I lika you," grandma spoke in broken English, " I know you tella the truth. I see in you eyes. You nice boy for mia Bella. Vedo l'amore per lei nei tuoi occhi, non la lussuria di una bestia_I see the love in your eyes, not the lust of a beast." Grandma smiled, lifting her wine glass.

"Ad amare l'uomo giovane. È bene per la mia Bella_ to love young man. You be good to my Bella."

"Cin cin! Per amore! A Salute!"_ to health and love!" they all shouted.

Napoleon and Bella were both shocked at Grandma's question, but very pleased with her pronouncement.

At one point during the noisy evening Bella watched as Napoleon sat, talking briefly to her father. Salvatore smiling and nodding, then suddenly grabbing Solo by the shoulders; kissing him on either cheek, then the two men shook hands.

It was finally late as Napoleon was readying to leave; taking Bella home to her apartment, one by one the brothers came over to him to shake his hand and give him their words of warning..."you hurt her and you're a dead man, si capisce?"

Vinnie, the policeman heard the threats, "don't worry I won't let them kill you; but I will figure out a way to haul your ass in jail if you break my sister's heart."

"Capisce_ I understand? Solo smiled...thinking a bit nervously that there was no turning back now.

He and Bella walked down the steps to Napoleon's convertible to take her home; opening the door for her,as he was ever the gentleman yet aware that prying eyes were peeking out from behind the curtains watching them.

"That went well," she smiled as he leaned over, taking her hand; giving it a kiss. Glancing up at the windows, watching the girls covering their mouths as they smiled.

"I wasn't so sure for a bit. Nonna è una donna formidabile_grandma is a formidable woman," he laughed.

"Ah but once she likes you; you're in like Flynn!"

"Hey that's not an Italian saying," Napoleon said. "you been talking to Elliott again?"

"As a matter of fact I have been...I know you're aware they're trying to have another baby? Well, I suppose I shouldn't say this, but Elliott is concerned. She hasn't been able to conceive again."

"I know, Illya already told me...he thinks there's a problem with him. He's afraid it might be the after affects of one of our more recent missions."

She knew better than to ask him the details; a fact she had learned early in the relationship.

"Napoleon...do you want children some day?" she suddenly asked him.

"Bella, to be honest I haven't thought that far ahead, I'm still getting used to you being a part of my life. I suppose it would be nice to have a couple of little Solos running around some day," he smiled at the thought.

"So what were you and pappa talking about?"

"Just reassuring him that I am an honorable man that's all and he asked me about what kind of insurance I sold?"

"Really? Pappa has insurance through the city?"

"I think he was asking on behalf of one of your brothers." he smiled, "I told him I wasn't involved in that kind of insurance, that I specialized in corporate policies."

"Good bluff," she smiled.

"Just part of the job ma'am."

"Lying you mean?"

"Bella that's part of the business I'm in and there are times I will not be able to tell you the truth about some things. Do you understand that?"

"I do. It's just something I have to remind myself of once in a while." she sighed.

"Baby, unless it's protect you; I will really try not lie to you."

"Why do I doubt that?" Bella laughed.

Napoleon smiled. She was right, he would probably lie to her...he already had done so this evening about his conversation with her father. She had him pegged and he knew it. He was amazed that she still hadn't retreated from him inspite of his tenuous existence in the spy game and took his comings and goings in stride.

He pulled the car up to the curb in front of her apartment building, then walked Bella to the door to kiss her goodnight.

"Oh no," she said grabbing him by his jacket collar, "not this time! You are coming upstairs with me. Fare l'amore con me il mio uomo adorato_make love to me my darling man?" she whispered to him, as she nibbled his ear lobe.

That did it. Napoleon kissed Bella, pinning her up against the door to her apartment, rubbing his pelvis against her, fondling her breasts with his hand.

"Alright," he whispered to her hoarsely. "I surrender."

"Inside lover boy, before the neighbors see." Bella unlocked her door, pulling Napoleon by his necktie, leading him directly to her darkened bedroom.