This story stars a minor character from the series and a major Kaos figure. This is sort of a pre-quel of the season four episode Snoopy Smart Vs. The Red Baron where we are first introduced to 99's mom. 99 never said that her last name wasn't Hilton. She only said her first name wasn't Susan. So that's where I got 99's mother's last name. I really enjoyed how 99's Mom took almost everything in stride. So you might say this is the odd pairing of Siegfried and Mrs. Hilton. It's not to be taken seriously. Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

The morning sun wasn’t quite up but the knocking at her front door was insistent that she answer the door. She pulled on her housecoat and glanced at the time. It was 6:20 a.m., she knew it was A.M. due to the lighting grey sky outside. She slipped on her slippers and walked up to the door and pulled it open. She only hoped it wasn’t some salesman trying to sell her something. Instead she found herself facing a different kind of stranger. His clothing was strange for these parts. Strange in that his clothes were tidy and that his boots that stopped just below his knees had a high shine to them. His thinning hair was grey and there was a long scar on his right cheek…at least her right.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“I have come to borrow a cup of sugar.” The man asked in a heavy accent. She hadn’t heard such a heavy accent since that time her and her late husband had visited New Orleans.

She found herself pulling her housecoat closer to herself. What a fright she must look to him. Why the look on his face was mostly likely shock. “Borrow? Oh, I don’t lend sugar.” She said forcing a smile.

“And why not?” It was more of a demand of an answer than a true question.

“I rather hard to give back the sugar after someone uses it, you see.” She explained sincerely. It was just a litttle joke. Something to break the ice between strangers. She found herself smiling at the strange man in the strange clothes.

“Oh.” He contemplated. “Well, that is a good point.” He said as he turned around as if he was some sort of soldier and he started at what she could only describe as marching away.

“Wait!” She shouted trying to stop the stranger who was headed across the street. She had seen the moving trucks come in and out the week before but never had met her new neighbor. “I won’t lend you any but I’ll give you some.” She amended as he stopped in his tracks.

“And what’s the difference?” He asked after he had marched back towards her door. What a strange man, she thought. But her husband had been strange also, but he had a reason to be strange.

She smiled at the stranger. “If I give you the sugar you won’t have to return it.”

“Very ingenious of you…uh…” He stammered. “Forgive me, Madame, but I have failed to introduce myself. I am Conrad Smith. I just moved into the farm across the way.”

She smiled at the proper introduction. “And I’m Missus Hilton.”

She offered her hand but instead he kissed her knuckle. “It is very nice to meet you, Frau Hilton.”

“Same here.” She smiled, feeling a blush spread across her face. He had turned and left again. “Wait! What about your sugar?”

He smugly laughed. “Oh, forgive me, Missus Hilton, I was so taken by your—your—beauty that I completely forgot about the sugar.” It was an empty complement, she knew that much but at her stage in life that’s all she was going to get. She was sure of it.

She opened her screen door just a bit wider. “Would you like to come in and have a cup of coffee with me or maybe some eggs, or breakfast?” It was in her upbringing to offer such treatment to people, even complete strangers. But she wasn’t so weak minded that she wouldn’t be able to defend herself if she needed to be.

He smiled. “You are too kind but—”

“Oh, you’re too busy.” She finished for him. “I understand, let me go grab your sugar. Please come in, Mister Smith.” Of course he was busy. He had a farm to run and she was a bored old woman who on occasion got to talk to someone other than her friends she’d known for years and her daughter who worked for a greeting card firm in D.C. Surely, her daughter, thought she was pulling a fast one over on her. She knew better than to believe that hogwash about what she did. One day her daughter would tell her she was a spy, and she would take it in stride just like when Herbert had told her that he was a spy in his own time. However, for now she would play her daughter’s little game of ‘greeting card’ salesperson.

She finished pouring the sugar in the cup he had brought with him, which was really a pity because then he wouldn’t have a reason to return to her house. “This is a really nice place you have here, Frau Hilton.” He said from the other room.

“Thank you, Mister Smith. I’m sorry it’s such a mess, but I wasn’t feeling well yesterday, so only spent five hours cleaning yesterday.” She said as she entered the living room where he had made himself comfortable on the couch.

“I’m lucky to clean for ten minutes.” He admitted quickly.

“What did you say?” She asked smiling at her guest as he stood up and looked around.

“Nothing of importance.” He shrugged.

“Here’s your sugar, Mister Smith.” She said as she handed him his cup of sugar.

“Danke.” Mister Smith said strikeing his foot against the floor and bowed towards quickly and sharply. “I suppose I will get to meet Mister Hilton at a later time?”

“Oh I doubt that.” She tried not to talk about him. It was just easier to pretend that he never existed, except for a brief moment.

“And why not?” He sounded perplexed.

“He passed away several years ago.” She shrugged. He had died exactly two weeks after his retirement from the government.

“Well, I suppose that would be a good reason for me to not to be able to meet Herr Hilton.” “You have my condolences then, Frau Hilton.”

“Thank you.” Mister Smith was being polite but he was also showing signs that he had to leave.

“Until we meet again.” Mister Smith said again stomping his foot again and bowing sharply towards her. “Auf Wiedersehen, Frau Hilton.”

She smiled and waved as Mister Smith left her home. “Goodbye, Mister Smith.”

The man she had just met might act and dress strangely but he was a man none the less. A handsome and distinguished man. She looked down at the couch and smiled instantly. Her new neighbor would be back for a visit as he had forgotten his riding crop. How nice. How very nice, she thought as she rushed back into her room to get dressed for her upcoming visit.