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Mina Mason was almost asleep when her eyes popped open wide. Something was wrong... she'd heard a sound that was out of place. After the exhausting day she'd had, it was a miracle that she'd heard anything.

She'd been at Della's front door bright and early, ready and determined to decorate the entire nursery by sundown. She could tell that Della was tired even though the younger woman tried to hide it, and assumed that the fatigue was from a long night spent talking with Perry. Della held out until late afternoon before she finally told Mina the real reason for her sleepless night.

Della was almost emotionless as she relayed the short answer she'd received to the phone call, seemingly immune to Mina's immediate fury. That fury grew even stronger when Della once again began to make excuses for her husband. Luckily at some point before she allowed her anger to progress too far, Mina realized that Della's stony countenance was a façade. She'd ushered her daughter-in-law back to Perry's apartment and cooked the meal she had promised to, nagging Della to eat until the girl had stuffed herself. Worried about Della's exhaustion and state of mind, Mina had then convinced her to stay the night with her.

Remembering that Della was ensconced in Perry's bedroom, Mina relaxed for a moment thinking that she had made the noise. But it wasn't quite right.

Grabbing her robe, Mina jumped up and hurried down the hallway. Light shown from the living area... but she'd turned the light off herself. There wasn't a phone in her room to call for help so she forged on thinking if nothing else she could make enough noise to alert Della.

Nonetheless Mina managed to stifle her scream when she realized the large hulk moving toward the other bedroom was actually her child.

"Sorry Mom... I caught an earlier flight back."

The urge to verbally berate her son was almost overwhelming but as badly as the mother wanted to discipline her child Mina knew that she had interfered enough lately and she had to try and trust Della and Perry to work out their problems in their own way... even if they weren't doing it like she wanted. Glaring at her boy, she shrugged her shoulders, turned and went back to bed without speaking word.

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Perry stopped cold in the doorway, awed and overwhelmed at the site of Della rising from her bath. She stood in profile, skin delightfully pink from the warm water and hair curling wildly from the steam. He'd seen pregnant women before and thought that they looked like they were carrying a basketball beneath their clothing but Della… His eyes were riveted to her belly and the barely there gentle curve of her abdomen stretching from just beneath her plump breasts down to join her hips. The image enthralled him and he found himself unable to move or speak as he watched her run the towel over her damp skin.

Della jumped and squealed as she caught sight of Perry standing in the doorway staring at her bare body. She lost her footing in the slippery tub, arms flailing, but before she could fall she was wrapped in strong arms and pulled against a solid body.

"Th...Th...ank you," she stammered as she tried to find her towel.

"For what? I'm the reason you almost fell in the first place." Perry pulled the towel free from where it was trapped between his arms and her body and shook it out behind her. "Hold on," he told her as he wrapped the towel around the back of her body then wrapped his arms around her waist. She was shy again, he noted to himself, almost embarrassed at him seeing her without clothing.

"My center of balance is a little off… I haven't gotten used to it." Della lifted her arms to Perry's neck, her body still pressed tightly against his. Understanding his intent she bent her knees and pulled her feet up as he lifted her over the side of the tub and put her down on the soft rug on the floor. Without moving his eyes from her face he stepped back and pulled the ends of the towel together, tucking it in securely, trying to respect her feelings.

"I'm sorry I startled you. I didn't know you were in here…" Perry moved back to the door. "I'll give you some privacy…" He stuttered, his eyes moving back to her belly and staying there. His reluctance to leave was obvious, as was Della's discomfort at being stared at. After a few moments she could stand it no longer and forced herself to move a few feet so she could reach for her nightwear, one of Perry's pajama tops.

Her movement seemed to break Perry's trance and as she slipped her arms into the top he backed out into the bedroom. He was waiting patiently when Della emerged.

"I caught an earlier flight. I didn't know you were in here or I wouldn't have barged in... Mom should have told me..." Perry glanced back in the general direction of the den quizzically. "I woke her up; she probably didn't think of it."

Della nodded. "It got late and Mina insisted I stay... It won't take me a minute to get dressed and go."

"Nonsense. Stay here tonight... I'll sleep on the sofa if it makes you more comfortable. You look tired." He moved to the bed and pulled down the covers. "Come on, get in."

Della tried to smile, Perry saw that, but she looked so... weary. The fact that she followed his direction and didn't argue was testament to her fatigue. "Let me use the facilities and I'll get out of your hair. I won't be long."

When Perry exited the bathroom, hair damp and wavy from a hasty shower and clad only in pajama bottoms, Della had settled into the pillows and closed her eyes. Perry wasn't fooled into thinking she was sleeping, however. She was attempting to avoid him. What had happened this time, he wondered? He walked to the side of the bed and brushed her curls away from her forehead.

Green eyes popped open.

"You are so beautiful, Della." That wasn't what he intended to say but the words flowed out. "Seeing you... our baby... He's really in there isn't he?" His eyes fell to her blanket covered bump. "What does it feel like?"

Della's surprise was obvious. This was the first time Perry had actually shown any real interest in their child. "It's... hard to describe. I felt the baby kick for the first time last night and it was amazing. Suddenly this concept of a baby became a real little person growing inside of me."

His hand moved involuntarily toward her belly before he checked its course, his eyes hungry.

"I tried to call you after." Gaze glued to her abdomen he missed the searching look in her eyes.

"You did?" Perry was surprised at his elation that Della wanted to share that moment with him. "I should have let you know I was checking out. I had contributed all that I could and during dinner the walls began closing in so I decided to skip out and pay Stefan a quick visit then hurry home. I would have been here earlier but for some mechanical trouble with the plane."

He heard the expulsion of the breath she'd been holding and watched her diaphragm release. "I know I should have told you. The chance to see Stefan was really why I went to the damn meeting in the first place. I just wasn't sure whether I could get away or not and then I just got fed up and... Ran."

Della captured his hand, relief that he didn't understand evident on her face. "It's okay... I know that you don't get to see Stefan very often."

"We had a good visit; stayed up most of the night talking. I destroyed him at Gin. Are you okay?" Perry questioned the sudden change in Della's expression.

"The baby is moving again. Would you like to try and feel?"

Perry's eager expression was almost comical. Della flipped back the covers. When she tilted her head Perry dove into the bed and stretched out beside her. Della took his outstretched hand in her own and laid it over her belly, moving it to the area where she felt fluttering.

"Don't press too hard or it will stop." She cautioned.

Perry's breath caught as his fingers detected a gentle rolling in the skin beneath them. "There?"

"There." Della confirmed.

His smile broke a few moments later when Della lifted his hand away. Taking the hint he started to shift up to leave the bed but stopped at her whispered "stay". Della rolled to her side and slipped two buttons of the top loose. Perry held his breath as she reached for his hand and slid it between the now open folds to rest on bare skin. The baby's movements were even more pronounced without the cloth barrier and Perry was enthralled at the reality of his child kicking and moving beneath his hand.

"Wow... He's really in there..." He whispered, afraid to break the spell. "Does it hurt?"

"No. It doesn't hurt at all. It feels... miraculous." Perry knew that if he lived to be a thousand years old he would never forget the serene beauty of Della's smile at that moment. "But when he kicks my bladder..." Della chuckled. She tried to hide it but Perry caught the tiny yawn muffled in her laughter. Staring her face he noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes. She hadn't been sleeping.

He pushed up on his elbow, that hand reaching for her face, fingers threading through her riotous curls. "Baby..."

Lifting her palm to Perry's cheek, Della gently drew his face down to hers, lips meeting his in a kiss that left little doubt about her intentions. "I want you." She breathed into his ear. "Perry..."

The evidence that her husband reciprocated was long and hard and pressed heavily against her thigh but Perry Mason... hesitated. The struggle had been lengthy but, finally knowing exactly what he wanted, he had little desire to screw things up again. But how could he resist a willing and eager Della kissing him so passionately? How he had dreamed of this...

In the end the decision wasn't his to make. Della's next yawn was loud and prolonged, heavy with exhaustion. She tried to continue, to minimize her weariness but it seemed to Perry that the circles were growing darker by the second. He wrapped her tightly in his arms. "Sleep now, Baby. We have time."

She tried to protest, already half asleep. He wondered how long it had been since she had slept through the night.

"Della... will you go away with me this weekend? Someplace private... the cabin maybe... where we can talk? Where we can be alone? Just you and me with no interruptions?"

He thought that she mumbled her agreement in the final second before she fell asleep. Perry pulled her closer against him and joined her.

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To Perry's dismay the space beside him was empty when he woke the next morning. His hand gripped the sheets, lingering warmth telling him that she hadn't been gone long. Jumping up and grabbing his robe he went in search of her.

Mina was in the kitchen reading the newspaper, a steaming cup of coffee on the table in front of her. She glanced up as her son approached then flicked the paper back up, covering her face.

"Where is Della?" He asked as he poured his own cup of coffee.

Mina ignored him.

"Mom? What's wrong? Where did Della go?"

This time Mina acknowledged his words with an angry glare before she returned to the paper again.

Perry yanked the paper away. "Is Della okay? Is something wrong? Where is she?"

"She left! She went home. Why would she want to stay with you here? After what you..." Again the paper reappeared.

"We talked last night. She wasn't angry. I was asleep for Chr... Pete's sake! What did I do?"

This drew another reaction from Mina. "She wasn't angry? Of course she was. How could she help but be? How could you, Perry? I've been trying to understand your feelings... be supportive of you... but how could you go back to that horrible woman again? If you don't want to be married to Della then at least respect her enough to divorce her before you cheat!"

Perry was dumbfounded. He had no clue what his mother was talking about. "Mom! I haven't... You need to tell me what you think I have done for you to be so mad at me?"

"Don't lie to me, Perry. You met that woman... Laura!" Mina spat with venom. "Is that why you went in the first place?"

"I haven't seen Laura since the night of the Bar dance."

"She answered the phone in your hotel room at two a.m.! Della tried to call you about the baby moving and Laura answered. How do you think that made your WIFE feel?"

"I swear to you, Mother. I did NOT see Laura on this trip. I wasn't even at the hotel that night. After dinner I left and drove to see Stefan! I explained all of that to Della last night. She didn't say a word about Laura."

This admission stopped Mina short. She knew her son and didn't believe he would lie to her... an obvious lie that she could easily check. "Stefan... really?"

"Really. I... I needed a sounding board. I took advantage of the trip to call Stefan. I left the hotel right after dinner that night and drove there. I left Stefan's about noon yesterday and drove straight back to the airport to fly home. I didn't want to wait another day."

Mina eyed her son suspiciously. Something was different. "Why?"

Perry shook his head. "Stefan really helped me figure some things out, Mom. But Della and I should talk about all that first. She's agreed to go to the cabin with me this weekend so we can spend some time together without... well..."

"Without interfering in-laws? You're right. But Perry... please don't hurt that poor girl."

"I don't plan to."

"And what are you going to do about Laura? Make another excuse for her?"

Perry sighed. "I can't figure it out, Mom. Laura had to know that I would find out what she had done. How did she get in my room in the first place? How did she know that I was gone?"

"Maybe she didn't know that you were gone. Maybe you being there was why she broke in... She will continue to make trouble if you let her."

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"Good morning, Miss Street." Della couldn't help but laugh at the huge goofy grin plastered to Perry's face as he greeted her.

"Good morning, Mr. Mason. The mail is all ready for your perusal." She returned his smile.

"Really? It's a holiday, Della."

"Tomorrow is a holiday. Today is New Year's Eve and with Christmas and your trip you've been out of the office a week. Mail!"

Wanting to keep Della in a good mood, Perry moved to the desk and sat, staring at the neatly organized piles in front of him. He was grimacing as Della emerged from the small kitchen with the coffee tray. Her chuckle drew his gaze to her and his smile returned as he watched her cross the room. He continued to watch her as she prepared his coffee and sat the cup in front of him. Arm snaking out, he hooked her around the waist as she moved to her chair and swiveled to face her.

"It's amazing..." His hands slid over waist. "Last night when you were naked..."

"PERRY!" Della hissed, her eyes darting all around the office even though they were the only two people present. "Do you know how long it took me to calm Gertie down the last time?"

"I could see your baby bump clearly. But now... you don't notice anything. How do you do that?"

"Nothing that I wear is formfitting. Sweaters and blazers hide the... expansion... for the moment at least. Our secret will probably be out, or at least fodder for gossip and speculation, within the next week or two."

Perry's hands caught hers. "Will you go out with me tonight, Della? It is New Year's Eve and I'd like to spend it with you."

Della shook her head, but reluctantly Perry thought. "You should take your mother out. She came down to spend the holidays with you and you've been gone..."

"Mother isn't one for nightclubs. She'd prefer a quiet evening at home. Come over. We'll spend the evening together, all three of us. I'll have dinner delivered. We can play cards, watch fireworks from my balcony and ring in the New Year together."

"Ok... I'll come."

"And you'll go to the cabin with me this weekend? Just the two of us?"

Della nodded, her smile shy but her eyes twinkling.

Perry leapt up and spun her against the desk, his mouth capturing hers as he trapped her between his arms. He flattened his palms on the smooth surface to hold her there, knowing that if he dared touch her at this moment they would soon find themselves back on the office sofa and once again in danger of losing the office receptionist. Della's palms came down next to his as she arched back, aligning her body with his.

'We'll leave tomorrow morning." Perry managed to stammer between kisses.

"Your mother..."

"Paul can run her down to Mae's... give them time to hatch their next plot to mold us to their will." Kisses punctuated every word.

"Perry... Per... Perry! The intercom!"

The strong male hand that had inched dangerously close to Della's bottom fell back to the desktop with a loud smack as Mason reluctantly gave up his hold on his wife's mouth. He fell back into his chair and stared, in awe of Della's ability to bring him to the brink with just a few kisses.

"Yes, Gertie?" Della flipped the intercom switch and asked, her naturally sexy voice made even huskier with passion.

"The uhm... District Attorney's office is calling for Mr. Mason."

"Tell them that Mr. Mason will be with them momentarily, Gertie."

Della flipped the switch to off and slid from her perch on the desk, Perry's hungry eyes still following her every move.

"Stay at my place tonight?"

That Della wanted to say yes was obvious but she reluctantly shook her head. "Your mother..."

"Will stand outside the bedroom door and cheer."

"My point exactly. But you can take me home after midnight."

"Of course. I always escort you home."

Della leaned over, her lips close to his ear, his eyes glued to the wide expanse of bare chest her position afforded him. "Nothing says you have to leave."

She danced from his grasping hands deftly as she reminded him of the waiting phone call and blew him a saucy kiss as she closed her office door behind her.

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"Mr. Mason?" Gertie's high pitched voice drifted nervously through the intercom. "I'm so sorry to bother you but...You have a call, a lady who won't give me her name. She's very insistent and Miss Street has gone to the bank... "

Perry sighed deeply; just another half hour and he would have this brief completed. Oh well... "Put the call through, Gertie."

Still distracted, he grabbed the ringing phone and barked. "Mason."

"Hello, lover."

"Laura?" He couldn't believe that she had called him after what she'd done. "Where are you?"

I'm here! In California... I have to tell you the funniest story, darling. I just hope I haven't caused any... problems for you."

Perry leaned back in his chair, his attention caught. "Do tell..." He couldn't wait to hear this one.

"Have you heard that I took the position in Denver? The firm has made me second chair on a very important appeals case. I working with Tom Robertson himself! It really is such a mark of confidence in me."

Somehow Perry wasn't surprised that Laura was involved in Forseith's case. He should have already made the connection but perhaps this was why Robertson had seemed so interested in quizzing him. "So what's funny about that?"

"I didn't get to the conference until last night. I had already checked into the hotel when I found out that you'd checked out and they'd given me your room. I knew that Glen would be calling me so I decided to play a joke on him. When the phone rang I answered like I was in your room. But it wasn't Glen and whoever it was hung up without saying anything! I just didn't dream that anyone would call so late except Glen. Isn't that funny, darling?"

"Hilarious. Laura... we need to talk."

"Of course, lover, but not now. I'm late for my appointment at my favorite hair salon. Let's get together this evening, go out on the town. Remember last New Year's Eve, how much fun we had?"

"I have plans..."

"But I'm only in Los Angeles until early tomorrow morning! I'm dying to see you, Perry."

Perry's mind was working overtime. He didn't want to lose the opportunity to speak with Laura in person but he didn't want to upset Della either. "I'll meet you at seven at Lorenzo's Bar."

"So early? And Lorenzo's? It will be dead at that time of the evening. We need excitement, lover!"

"We need a quiet place to talk."

"Ohhh... so serious. I'll see you at seven."

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Mina hung up the phone with a sigh of exasperation. Every time she thought her son might be heading in the right direction he seemed to careen off the path. She'd been so delighted when Perry had called and told her about the evening's plans. But then his second phone call had come.

"Something's come up, Mom. I'll be there but I'm going to be a little late. Please tell Della that I'm sorry... that I'll be home as soon as I possibly can."

"Is this about a case, Perry?"

"No... It's... it's important, Mom. Something I have to do. Something I have to take care of tonight. I'll explain later..."

Mina was in the hallway headed toward her bedroom when she heard the key in the lock of the door. Glancing down at her watch she realized how late it was. The scraping continued. 'Della has her hands full,' she thought and turned around.

"I'm coming, dear. Just a moment."

The noise stopped. Mina's hand was on the knob when she heard the scream and knew instinctively who it was. She yanked the door open and ran down the hall. The elevator doors were sliding closed but Mina saw a flash of red lace and a red and silver shoe disappear between them.

"Wait!" She yelled but was too late. The lift was gone. Pausing at an open door Mina heard a moan. Her gaze was drawn through the door and down the stairwell.

"Call an ambulance!" She screeched at the neighbors who had also heard the scream as she ran down the stairs to the landing where her daughter-in-law lay in a spreading red pool.

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