A/N: Quint Munroe and Beth Scott were characters in the David McCallum movie 'Mosquito Patrol.'
Illya stared miserably out the window of his apartment at the snow lying on the ground. Napoleon is probably over at his sister's making a snowman with his nephew Jeremy right about now, he reflected. Illya himself was currently recovering from yet another disastrous run-in with THRUSH. After spending several days in the hospital, he'd been sent home to finish recuperating there. Although able to get around on his own, with difficulty, and care for his basic needs, he still wasn't up to returning to a normal range of activities.
About to resign himself to yet another quiet day of reading and watching television, the Russian was surprised to hear the doorbell ring. Grabbing his cane, he hobbled to the door to find that his visitors were Napoleon, a pretty young blonde whom he remembered from the previous summer, and an older couple. He noticed that, although he was at least ten or fifteen years older, the man bore a stunning resemblance to himself.
"Hi there, partner!" Napoleon said cheerfully. "You remember Valerie Munroe, don't you?" The two UNCLE agents had met up with Valerie during a visit to a World War II museum the previous summer and had established a friendship with her.
"Of course. How do you do?" Illya managed a small smile as he shook Valerie's hand.
"These are my parents, Quint and Beth," Valerie told Illya.
Quint laughed, startled. "You look like you could be my kid brother," he told Illya as he shook the younger man's hand.
"You do remind me an awful lot of my husband when he was younger," Beth added.
"I thought you were in university in England," Illya said to Valerie.
"I am," she replied. "I enjoyed New York so much the last time I was here that I wanted to come back during winter break. My parents wanted to come along this time as well."
"It's so lovely to finally meet you," Beth said warmly. "Valerie has told us so much about you both."
"I was so sorry to hear of your unfortunate accident," Valerie said to Illya.
"It is part of the hazards of my occupation," Illya told her. "I have grown accustomed to it."
"I brought a little taste of home to share with you," Beth said. "Do you like Yorkshire tea?"
"I drank it occasionally while stationed in London," Illya replied. "I have never had it in New York."
"I also brought McVities," Beth added.
"They are quite tasty," Illya replied. "I have missed them." He enjoyed the taste of the small, crunchy cookies with chocolate coating one side very much.
Just then Napoleon's communicator buzzed.
"Hate to do this to you, pal," he said to Illya. "But Mr. Waverly needs me right away." He knew how uncomfortable his shy partner felt around people he didn't know very well.
"It is all right," said Illya. "I will manage."
The Munroes seemed so warm and friendly that he knew he would soon feel comfortable around them, plus the couple of weeks of friendship he and Napoleon had shared with Valerie in the summer made him feel more at ease with her.