It was the Saturday before the 4th of July, which happened to fall on a Tuesday that year. THRUSH seemed to have taken some needed time off from attempting world domination, so Napoleon and Illya were working out of HQ for a few days. They had accepted Rosie and Lamont's invitation to an early 4th cookout.

The two agents had been driven out to Springfield Gardens by a Section III agent who assured them he would be visiting family five miles away and would return to retrieve them when they were ready to leave. Leona had gone home with her Uncle Lamont the day before to have a sleepover with Paige.

"Your timing is perfect," Rosie said to the men as she let them through the front door. "I just finished putting the finishing touches on my deviled eggs. Illya, please take them outside. You two keep Lamont and the girls company while I finish my salads."

Illya, whose mouth was already watering at the sight of the eggs topped off with various goodies, asked, "What kinds of salad are you making?"

"Macaroni, potato and tossed. Oh, and don't worry, Illya; those are not all of the deviled eggs. I don't like all of them sitting out in the heat."

Illya smiled his true smile. "Oh, good! Napoleon will be able to have some, then!" He easily sidestepped Napoleon's attempt to shove him. "Careful, we would not want to waste food by spilling it."

His partner grimaced at him before turning his attention back to his hostess. Raising her hand to his lips, he kissed it and said, "Rosie, in case I go into a food coma later, I want to thank you now for inviting us. You are truly brave to allow a bottomless pit like this Russian to attend an all one can eat cookout. Illya considers 'all you can eat' to be a challenge. Is there something I can do to help you in here?"

Rosie cracked up as she patted him on his arm. "No, thanks, Baby. I'm a Southern girl; we believe that women cook inside while men cook outside, so if you help anyone, it'll be Lamont. And why on earth wouldn't I allow someone who loves my food to be here? Okay guys, get out of my kitchen so I can get to work!"

The Greers' backyard patio was very well-shaded by a large oak about ten feet away from the back of the house that provided shade over the picnic table and the grill and an even larger weeping willow located by the back fence whose branches extended down to the ground not only in their yard, but the neighbors' as well. The girls were currently racing in and out its shade chasing Hildy* who was loving every minute of it.

When Daddy and Papa came into view, Leona raced over to hug and kiss them both, followed by Paige. Napoleon stopped to pet Hildy while Illya continued walking to the picnic table.

"Hey, fellas!" Lamont said as he poured charcoal into the bottom of an imposing barbeque pit. "There's beer and water in that cooler there."

"Hi!" Napoleon said and patted him on the back. "Thanks for having us."

"Hello, Lamont," Illya said. He put the eggs on the table and immediately popped one into his mouth. "Delicious!" He swung one leg over the picnic table bench and sat. "I was expecting a portable grill."

Lamont sprinkled lighter fluid on the pieces of balled up newspaper that stuck out from underneath the briquets. He tossed a match in, moved back and smiled as the fire began to grow. "Oh, this is my masterpiece! I built it in May when we had that run of nice weather. It's called a 'Gaucho Grill.' Six feet long and four feet high. Worked on it from dawn to dusk one weekend. The grill is cast-iron and four feet by three feet. And see this here? It's a crank I use to raise and lower the grill so I can control the heat. I can cook an entire pig if I want to!"

Both men looked suitably impressed. Napoleon sat opposite Illya so he was facing his host. "It's amazing! We're not having a whole pig today, are we?"

"No," he laughed. "I'm grilling for the next few days' meals, so there's chicken, ribs, burgers, grilled asparagus, plus there's baked beans with onions and pineapple, the salads Rosie's making now, homemade lemonade and iced tea and grilled poundcake with chocolate sauce for dessert."

"I am glad I wore loose – fitting pants!" Illya exclaimed. "Daughter! Paige!"

Leona and Paige ran to him with Hildy following behind. "Yes, Papa?"

"Would you young ladies like to have a deviled egg?" He looked at the Harlequin Great Dane. "I did not call you, Hildy." At the mention of her name, she began to wag her tail. Illya would never admit it, but he had learned to tolerate her; he even liked her a little because she was very protective of the children.

"Yes!" the girls chorused.

Lamont looked at them. "Yes what?"

"Yes, thank you!" Giggling now, each girl was gifted with a plain deviled egg on a napkin after which Illya chose an egg topped with a smoked oyster and one topped with chopped pickle.

He was about to grab another one when Napoleon slid the platter away from him. "I know Rosie said there's more, but I'd like some now, too!" he said as he took a small paper plate and picked eggs topped with caviar, smoked oyster and pickle respectively.

Just then, Rosie called from the kitchen window. "Paige! Leona! It's time for your naps!"

But Aunt Rosie, Papa and Daddy just got here!"

"And they'll be here when you wake up! You two have been ripping and racing all morning! You only stopped long enough to eat lunch and now, I want you to rest!"

When no one came to their rescue, the girls sighed and headed inside.

Lamont told them, "Take Hildy with you; the way you all ran her ragged, she needs a nap, too."

About fifteen minutes later, Rosie came into the backyard carrying a large tray on which sat bowls of potato and corn chips plus a slightly smaller bowl of dip. She set everything down and then sat next to Napoleon. "For all that complaining I heard after they came inside, both of them are knocked out now. So's the dog. Lamont, I could sure use a beer right about now."

"Your wish is my command. These coals will probably be ready in about twenty minutes, so I think I'll join you. Napoleon, Illya, beer?" At their nods, he tossed them each a can, handed one to his wife, took one for himself and sat next to Illya. "Cheers, everybody!" he said as they tapped their cans together then drank.

Napoleon sighed in satisfaction as the cold liquid hit his tongue. "I'm so happy right now." Taking another deep swig, he looked at the couple he and Illya had chosen as Leona's guardians and smiled. "May I ask you something, Lamont?"

"Sure."

"How did you know Rosie was The One?"

"Do you not think that is too personal a question to be asking, Napoleon?"

Rosie laughed. "It's fine, Illya! I'm actually surprised you two don't know the story already; it's one of his favorites!"

Her husband smiled at her fondly. "Yours, too."

"True, Sweetie. Tell them!"

"Well, Rosie and I had been dating about three months and we would see each other once or twice a week. I was fresh out of college and broke as hell. I liked her, but trying to date someone when you're broke is hard.'

"Tell me about it," Illya mumbled.

"Anyway, I wanted to see her one day, but I really didn't have a lot of money to spend. We both lived in Brooklyn at the time, so I suggested that we meet at the beach at Coney Island. It was a grey day, so I figured there wouldn't be a lot of people there since the skies looked like they could open up any minute."

"I asked her if she wanted to share a large order of fries from Nathan's because that was all I could afford at the time. She said sure. We sat on a bench on the boardwalk eating French fries and talking for a long time and I remember thinking that if she was willing and happy to go out with broke, struggling me, she would probably be willing to build a life with me from scratch as opposed to me giving it to her." He reached out and took her hand. "We've been through it all together; ups, downs, sickness, apartments and we never faltered. Now, we have a beautiful home, a beautiful, healthy child, two!" actually and I couldn't be happier. Doesn't hurt that she can cook, too!" They all laughed at that.

"Speaking of cooking, you need to get started; I'll go get the meat from the kitchen."

The three men watched her go. Illya said, "Lamont, if I survive the field and decide that I want a wife, I can only hope to find someone as perfect for me as Rosie is to you. You are a lucky man."

*Hildy was introduced in my tale "Hildy."

Napoleon said, "I second that thought."

Lamont clapped his hands together and stood. "Thank you, gents. Now, let's get this barbeque started!"