Hurry.

They had to hurry.

Napoleon Solo glanced at his partner.

Nervously.

Illya Kuryakin returned the look.

Cool as always.

At least, on the outside.

They could both hear the ticking of the clock on the car's dashboard - it seemed louder than usual. Traffic was bad. If they didn't get  there soon, it would be too late. They both knew that the countdown  had begun.

Just then, another car cut in front of them. "Blast!" That was the  first word that Napoleon uttered -and then followed it up with some  others. Really nasty others. Illya had once belonged to the Russian  Navy and even he had to wince.

One day, he would schedule time to teach Napoleon to swear in Thai or  Gaelic or perhaps Urdu -at least then, he would sound cosmopolitan.

Rather than vulgar.

But that was for later. For now-  "We'd better ditch the car -we'll  get there faster on foot!"

Illya regarded his watch with disbelief. Napoleon was right. Only  minutes remained before the end. They had to get there first -there  was no other option. They were U.N.C.L.E..

And Napoleon had promised.

Only several yards remained between them and their  destination...several yards and a several thousand (it looked more
like "million" -maybe it *was* million) people. More people than  Illya had ever imagined -and all of them between his and Solo's  objective.

Maybe it was a T.H.R.U.S.H. plot.

Seemed like one.

"Hurry!" Napoleon grabbed Illya by the hand and almost literally  pulled him through the human barrier. No time to waste.
Napoleon could be very determined when he wanted to be.

All at once, they were there...or as close as they were going to get.  The end was seconds away. Napoleon enfolded his partner in his  arms. "I told you I'd get you here before..."
 
Illya nodded, a smile on his wind-reddened face. "Yes. Before.  Napoleon-"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"Illya?"

"Yes?"

"I love you too."

The countdown continued: 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1-" The  crystalline apple of electric light dropped and the end came in an  explosion of sound. "*HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!*"

Among the jubilant crowd, under a snow of confetti and tinsel,  U.N.C.L.E. agents and lovers, Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin  embraced and kissed, celebrating the end of one millennium and the  beginning of another in their own way.
 

The End.