The ride back to the city was an uncomfortable one. Luci and Poly took a while to settle down and they couldn't understand why they were suddenly taken away from their Nana. Somehow in the hasty and dramatic exit, Luci had left her piggy bank and was quite miffed about it. Poly being unusually polite offered hers for her sister to play with, but it was refused.

Hannibal finally spoke up. "You know we're going to have to talk to dad. We can't leave mom at his mercy."

"Honestly I don't know how your mother has put up with him all these years." Bella interjected. "She's such a sweet and intelligent woman and seems so stifled by him."

"I do not know your family well enough, but perhaps she is afraid of him, after all he raised a hand to me." Anastasiya added."Napoleon, do you think that your father ever raised a hand to your mother?"

Napoleon and his brother screwed up their faces at that question as the thought of their father touching their mother in a violent way was a disturbing thought.

"Napoleon, have you ever noticed that your mother always wears clothing with long sleeves, even when the weather was warm?" Bella pointed out.

"That's true, but I never thought anything about it." he answered, "I have a feeling I'll have to have a talk with mom about that." The thought of his father abusing his mother physically added more tension to the knot that was already in the pit of his stomach. He knew his father dealt a heavy hand emotionally on his mother, and had tried to talk her about it, but mom would always go to dad's defense, he supposed to maintain the peace.

"Make that we'll have to have a talk with her, and dad too." Hannibal added. "Do you think we should get the girls involved."

"I'm sorry, but I think your sisters are just too wrapped up in their own lives to want to bother...I mean look at how Amelia was virtually abandoned." Bella warned.

"I think I'll call them anyway." Napoleon said, "She's their mother too."

That ended the conversation, and once they arrived back in Manhattan, good byes were said. Hannibal and Tasiya went off together, where they didn't say. Napoleon and Bella took the girls home and settled in for the evening.

A phone call came at ten in the evening, waking Napoleon as he dozed on the sofa. "Hello?" He mumbled drowsily.

"Napoleon dear, it's mom. I'm afraid I have bad news..."

Those words brought him fully awake and alert "Mom what's wrong?"

"It's your father, he's been taken ill. The ambulance just took him to Southampton Hospital."

He could hear trembling in her voice. "Mom what happened?"

"We were having an argument about his behavior this afternoon, he started to act strangely and his speech became slurred. Napoleon, the ambulance team said it looked like a stroke... oh God, what if he dies? What will I do without him?"

"Where are you now?"

"I'm at the hospital."

"Mom, hang in there, I'm on my way." He hung up the receiver, and placed a call to his brother, but there was no answer at his apartment."Damn."

At that moment his communicator chirped and he picked it up from the coffee table. "Solo here."

"So how was your Father's Day?" Illya asked.

"Not good. I can't chat, my mother just called to tell me my father was taken to the hospital with a possible stroke."

"I will go with you." Illya said without hesitation.

For a second Napoleon was going to say no, but a little support wasn't a bad idea. "Alright, thanks. I'll pick you up in fifteen minutes."

Napoleon Solo drove like a man possessed, getting to the Kuryakin home in Greenwich Village in record time. It was late and traffic to Long Island was much lighter than during the day. Once arriving at the hospital they were directed to ICU.

Napoleon's mother was sitting in the waiting room looking lost and tired.

"Mom?"

"Oh Napoleon, I'm so glad you're here. He's not doing well." She slipped into her son's strong arms, letting him hold her for a moment. Illya stood silently until Mrs. Solo acknowledged him with a weak smile, as she reached out touching her hand gently to his cheek. "Illya thank you for coming. You've shown more kindness to me than some of my own children."

"No, it is just the opposite...it was you who were kind and welcoming to me all these years." He reached out, giving her a hug as well. "Napoleon go see your father, I will keep your mother company."

He kissed his mother on the cheek then disappeared through the double doors leading to the intensive care unit.

Illya walked Napoleon's mother to the bench in the waiting room, helping her to sit. She had always struck him a strong woman but now she looked small and frail.

"Might I get you something, water perhaps or tea?"

"No Illya dear thank you, your company is enough."

"Were you able to get in touch with your other children?"

"All except Hannibal, the girls are on their way from England, France and Spain. I must say your cousin Anastasiya is a lovely young woman."

"You have met her?" Illya asked, just slightly confused.

"Yes Hannibal brought her to the house to meet us today. They do make a lovely couple." She tried mustering a smile.

"Really? I did not know she was in the area." His face remained placid, but inside he was bristling. He did not like Hannibal Solo and the thought that he was continuing to see Tasiya did not sit well with him at all. The idea that she had been brought to meet the Solos was a whole other concern, one that he did not want to think about at the moment.

.

Napoleon saw his father through the glass walls of his room. He looked peaceful enough, but was on oxygen and was hooked up to several IV's, the steady beep of a heart monitor added to the cacophony of other hospital equipment that he was accustomed to hearing.

He stopped at the duty station to get an update on his father's condition.

"My name is Solo, Napoleon Solo. Darius is my father. Could you tell me please what his status is?"

The nurse smiled at him, then pulled the senior Solo's chart.

"He's stable at the moment, but has suffered a massive stroke. His right side is paralyzed, his speech is a bit impaired. It's too soon to know about his cognitive abilities, but at the moment he does seem to be getting some words mixed up."

"May I see him?"

"Yes, but keep it brief and he must remain calm at all cost."

Napoleon nodded, turning away from the desk and walking carefully into his fathers room.

He stood next to the bed filled with mixed emotions. The recent altercation with his father and the discussion about him possibly abusing mom was a difficult pill to swallow. As much as Napoleon resented him, he was still his father. He realized his feelings for the man were a confusing mix of love, hate and fear.

Darius' eyes opened slowly and as the focused he tried to speak."That you son?"

"Yes Dad, it's Napoleon."

"'s mother alright?"

"She's pretty scared Dad." Napoleon found himself reaching out, taking his father's hand. "She'll be alright, Illya's with her..." He suddenly thought that was a mistake, but surprisingly his father didn't react with his usual negative attitude.

"Thas gooood. Don't want mother..." He was searching for the word, but couldn't find the right one, and that began to upset him. His heart rate began to rise just a little.

"Dad it's okay, she's tired but you know how strong mom is. She's just worried about you."

"No no worrrrrry. I don't deserve that. She...saint for putting up..." He stopped talking for a minute.

"Dad it's alright." Napoleon reassured him," Stella, Millie and Theresa are on their way. I couldn't track down Hannibal yet, but I'll find him."

"Listen boy...about today."

"Forget about it Dad, just stay calm and focus on getting better."

"No, I was wrong, I always been wrong. I nooooot good father to my kids. You were right, treated you like grunts. I'm sorry Napoleon, want you to know I am proud of you, proud of you ybrother. Can you forgive an old bastard for being blind all these years...so sorry boy."

"Yes Dad I can." Napoleon wasn't sure that was truthful, but he knew it was something his father needed to hear at the moment. It suddenly hit him that his father could die. That reality made him shiver.

Hannibal Solo closed his eyes and Napoleon waited a few minutes to make sure he was asleep, then bent down, giving his father a kiss on the forehead. "This was one hell of a Father's Day," he thought to himself. "I love you Dad," he whispered into Darius' ear before leaving.

Napoleon returned to the waiting room, escorting his mother back to his father, then left her there with him.

"Just give me a few minutes dear," she whispered to him.

He held her hand, kissing it before he released her to sit beside her husband.

He joined Illya out in the waiting room, slumping down beside him on the cushioned bench.

"How is he?"

"Tough as always, but not out of the woods." Napoleon sighed.

Illya let a few minutes of silence pass, then finally asked the question that was gnawing at him. "Why did you not tell me my cousin was still seeing your brother? Your mother told me that Hannibal brought her to meet your family."

"Not my business. It's up to your cousin to tell you what she wants, or not."

"Napoleon, are your brother's intentions toward her honorable?"

"You know the subject just didn't come up as we had a rather unpleasant visit because of my father," he spoke sarcastically, then adjusted his tone. "He wasn't exactly pleased that his younger son is now consorting with the enemy so to speak."

"Still hates me huh?"

"Yes and now he has double the reason, given Tasiya is your cousin."

Illya ran his fingers through his hair."Napoleon I am sorry that we have been a burden to your family, we cannot help our nationality."

"Don't you dare say that. You're my best friend, your cousin is special too. And it's not my family, just my father...I guess old habits die hard. It's something he's just going to have to get over and if he doesn't, then the hell with him. Right now that's going to be the least of his worries given that he's partially paralyzed along with a few other problems."

Illya reached out, putting his hand on his partner's shoulder in a gesture of comfort. "You know if there is anything I can do for you, I am here."

Napoleon reached up, placing his hand on Illya's and giving it a little pat.

"I know tovarisch, thanks."

He knew it was going to be a long road to recovery for his father and in spite of all that had happened, Napoleon Solo would be there to help and honor his father. He hoped that his dad's words were indeed sincere, but only time would , his mother's well being was preeminent in his mind.

"Hey," he smiled at his Russian friend."I never got to wish you a Happy Father's Day."

"And I you." Illya reached out offering his hand to his partner, and together they shook in friendship.

They nodded and remained together in silence, sitting vigil for a man they both felt mixed emotions for...