I know a lot of you really want P/D stories and I've done my best to include that ship in my stories, but the truth is I really want to write about other ships and explore some of the other characters in Perry Mason. I'm happy to continue expanding on my P/D in my stories, but unless something changes or inspiration strikes, I'm not going to focus exclusively on them most of the time.

The barista took Hamilton Burger's order with an amused expression. This particular coffee shop was located on the ground floor of the courthouse the district attorney regularly worked in and so he was a regular familiar to all the employees. This morning saw the ginger haired prosecutor in an unusually energetic and buoyant mood as he approached the counter tall and confident.

"Just straight coffee for me this morning, please. Still smiling proudly, Hamilton tossed a five on the counter and gestured that he didn't need any change. The barista's eyes widened with surprise. Tips, particularly of that generosity, were rare, especially for a cup of straight black coffee that required virtually no effort to prepare. Whether Mr. Prosecutor won the lottery or finally a court case against Perry Mason, he appeared to have done well for himself recently.

He wasn't a looker and he was a bit older than her, but the barista thought she could go for a man as generous as the district attorney often was. But was there a Mrs. District Attorney already in the picture? Discreetly, the barista stole a glance at his left hand as he took the cup of piping hot coffee from her.

Go figure…, she sighed mentally as she spied the telltale shiny band of gold that marked him as taken. Finding a decent man had been a bigger challenge for her than for her friends unfortunately and it was really beginning to frustrate her.

Just barely catching the glance at his ring, Hamilton's own expression changed from enthusiastic to surprise and then finally flattered. He blushed slightly, unused to much female attention aside from that of his wife. The barista wasn't an unattractive girl, but she wasn't glamorous either. Her most striking feature was her thick, auburn hair pulled back into a ponytail appropriate for work. Had Hamilton not already been married, this young woman might have appealed to him. He had come into the coffee shop before during times when she'd be on break, sitting at a corner table and reading a book. His own wife, Alexandra had been similar at that age.

She wilted slightly in embarrassment as she realized she'd been caught, but she willed courage to look him in the eye.

"Your buddy, Mr. Mason came in a few minutes ago. He's over in the corner and looked pretty glum when he came in. Perhaps he'd like some company," she said.

Flashing a sincere smile, Hamilton nodded. "Thanks, Judy. I might just do that."

Coffee in hand, Hamilton weaved his way around the myriad tables over to his courtroom opponent's location in the grim, dimly lit corner. Perry's tie was uncharacteristically loosened in public. "You look like you could use someone to talk to, Perry. Mind if I sit down?"

Perry's head jerked up as if he'd been caught by surprise and Hamilton frowned. It was not like Perry at all to be so unaware of his surroundings. He was almost always the most observant person Hamilton had ever known.

"Oh, Hamilton! Yes, of course. Please sit down."

Pulling out the chair across the table from Perry, the prosecutor lowered himself into it.

"Yesterday's case?"

"Partly," Perry nodded, glancing up at Hamilton again before lowering his gaze back to the dark depths of his coffee cup. He kept rotating it back and forth as if willing it to produce the answers he sought. "But mostly, things of a personal nature this time actually."

Hamilton took a sip of his own coffee as he pondered whether or not to press Perry to talk about it. Perry could be rather private about his personal life, but sometimes Hamilton wondered if that was because he worked so much he had no personal life to talk about. Hamilton could almost relate to that given the number of late hours he put in at the office as well. His long suffering wife, Alexandra had long since accepted it and gotten used to it. On top of her own counseling practice, she saw to the needs of the house and their children, making Hamilton wonder how he'd ever come to deserve her.

"Personal nature as in romance, Perry? Meet someone?" Hamilton prodded gently.

The district attorney fought the urge to tease Perry about his lack of love life. With Perry appearing so grim and distraught over whatever was eating him up, now was the worst time to rib him about it. Hamilton could rub it in with the best of them with his small victories in court, but when deep feelings were involved, being an insufferable ass was just tasteless in Hamilton's eyes.

"I met her a long time ago, Hamilton. Hell, I've been in love with her a long time," the raven haired defense attorney said softly, and then his expression turned thoughtful. "Hamilton, how have you been able to balance your work and your family life? I'm concerned that if I pursue this, I won't be able to devote sufficient time to both to be successful at either."

Perry's thoughts drifted as they often did to his confidential secretary, Della Street. For years, she'd worked for him, taken care of him and his practice above and beyond the call of duty and he'd fallen in love with her for it. She was so close to him every day and yet so far away because the proper thing to do was to try and ignore his feelings for her because she worked for him. It was perfect pain and perfect pleasure and it was finally wearing down his weary resolve.

"It's Della, Hamilton. I can't deny the fact that I'm in love with her anymore. The problem is she works for me and I need her in that capacity. She's the best damn confidential secretary there is."

The prosecutor didn't even bother pretending to look shocked at Perry's confession. They'd all noticed the way Perry looked at Della. Him, Tragg, Drake… It had always been obvious even if Perry hadn't thought it was. But how to advise his courtroom nemesis…?

They sat in suffocating silence as Hamilton pondered that.

"Look, Perry. You and I both know that an office romance probably isn't the wisest course of action, but the truth is your feelings for Della have been plain as day to those of us who have worked with and around you for a long time. This is going to continue eating you up inside until you tell her. There are other confidential secretaries out there. You're only in love with one of them. You work like a dog, Perry. We both do. We deserve to have families to go home to. Don't waste any more time and tell her before someone else snatches her up, like Paul Drake. The rest will sort itself out."

Perry digested that. Hamilton's words made a lot of sense, but Perry didn't want to go about this selfishly. He wanted to make Della happy and make the time for her in order to do that. His sense of duty and obligation to his work was equally as strong.

Hamilton studied Perry's expression carefully as he took another sip of the bitter liquid.

"Perry, you don't want to go through life with a big "what if." If it's important to you, you'll make the time. It's tricky sometimes, but most weeks I'm able to set aside a night to take Alexandra out and then I spend time with the kids on the weekends. You'll find a way to do similar with Della if it's what you really want."

"Or I might lose a few more court cases distracted by a wife and children," Perry teased.

"Yeah, I suppose. But it's worth it, Perry. Trust me. I wouldn't trade Alexandra and my girls for winning all the court cases I've ever tried. And keep in mind, Della has worked with you for many years. No one is better prepared to accept the realities of your work schedule if it turns out she feels the same."

Perry nodded at that and took the final sip of his coffee before rising from the table.

"Thanks, Hamilton. I'll take it under advisement, but now I have to get back up to the office and prepare for this afternoon."

"Alright, good luck." Hamilton nodded, concern still written on his weathered features as he clapped Perry on the arm. He was a bit uncertain if he'd made an impact, but he reminded himself that just because he'd dispensed advice didn't mean that Perry had to take it. Whatever Perry decided, Hamilton hoped it worked out well for the man. He couldn't imagine winning all the court cases in the world if it meant having no one to celebrate with when he finally got home.

As the longtime prosecutor watched Perry's retreating back, he noted with some amusement that this was one case he hoped Perry would actually win.