Title: Just You and Me

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Perry Mason. ESG has all the rights to them. I just had some fun with them as this is a fanfic story. I will not claim any copyrights.

Rating: Mature

Description: The ending of the Murdered Madame brings back memories for both Perry Mason and Della Street. This is a novel and how Perry Mason met Della Street, how they became a married, and follows through the era in sections of the series of the movie Lost Love. This is a Perry and Della romance from beginning to end. Read on and enjoy!

Author's Notes: I worked on this for about a year or so just right after my GSD passed away. She meant the world to me, and this is in honor of her. If you don't mind a novel then read on because this was a honor of love for her and kept me going. I want to thank my beta Tamarra Green Lee for helping me to complete work and I've made a friend in doing this and actually met in person. I'm grateful for your friendship.

Present Day 1980 time frame

The judge's ruling had ended in a victory as Perry Mason defended his client, Tony Domenico. From hearing all the testimony, and reviewing the prosecution, and gathering evidence against Tony, it was almost a cinch that he was innocent.

After the mob of reporters and media dispersed, finally Perry and Della were alone. Perry was in awe, even after all these years, Della was still beautiful. Age didn't matter to either one of them. It was being with her, surrounded by her presence, and hearing her voice, her laughter, and making him who he is today. As they slowly walked down to the curb, he grasped her hand in his and stilled her for a moment.

"What's wrong Perry? Your knee…." Della paused with concern observed him and then took his briefcase from his hand as he steadied himself with his crutches.

"Perry since you had your skiing accident. I thought it would be best to get a chauffeur tonight. I figured Paul Jr. would be going out so I reserved a driver to take us out to dinner," Della squeezed his arm lightly and he smiled at her.

"You are always full of surprises," he patted her arm and she beamed up at him.

The chauffeur shut their door and walked behind the limo opening his door and starting the engine. Checking the traffic, he exited the curbside. The privacy glass in the limo muted the words as Della and Perry talked. The driver glanced back a few times checking on his passengers. Della placed his briefcase on the floorboard settling up closer to him, careful as to not to disturb his knee that was recovering from surgery.

"Excuse me, Sir and Madame. Any particular place you fancy today?" the young man peered back in his rear-view mirror as he lowered the privacy glass to speak to them.

"14th street. The new Italian restaurant downtown, we'd like to go there," Della spoke to the driver.

"Sure thing," the driver replied.

"Well, Tony did mention that there was a nice, very elegant, and romantic Italian restaurant on 14th street," Della's cheeks flushed pink and didn't go unnoticed by Perry.

"Speaking of Tony, he was a nice-looking young man. He must have good genes, to think his uncle proposed marriage to you, my dear," he squeezed her hand.

"Yes, he was attractive. I will give him that, but Michael was not the most generous or gentlemen I thought he was. You saw part of it the day you came into my life, you do recall, don't you Perry?"

"Della, I remember it and the day I met you, for that, I am forever grateful," he took his finger and traced the wrinkle lines on her cheek, giving her a quick kiss as she squeezed his thigh.

Perry glanced at the cars then back at his lady, God she was an angel, perfect in every way to him. One day he thought he was going to lose her forever with an engagement to Michael Domenico and then when the one time he messed up with another woman.

In 1968, Perry had a long-distance conference that Della wasn't sure she could make, so he eventually had to go alone without his confidential secretary and wife. He couldn't believe he was such a sucker for that impending woman Laura. She was only being there for a conference with her then-boyfriend, David and all was not well with her relationship. They did have a bit of a power struggle, and that's when the downfall came into play with her and Perry.

Remembering that evening and the talks that went on between her and Perry led to one thing and then another but, Perry never let it go as far as to sleep with that woman almost close but abruptly was interrupted. Perry thought back to the courthouse when Della was on the stand as a witness for Tony, whom she spoke highly of and reminisced her younger years of playing with her brother, Joe and his friend Tony. This Michael, the uncle, had a hold on his Della even to the point of being engaged for Perry knew about.

"Well, here we are, my dear," Perry spoke up glancing over at her and patted her left hand. The driver parked the car at the front entrance. Perry reached for his crutches, an attendant hurriedly opened the car door as she exited and took Perry's arm, slowly made their way towards the entrance.

"Perry, this place is just stunning," she stood in awe. Waterfalls and statues garnered the property it was a place of an exotic atmosphere along with strategically placed planters and secluded booths for absolute privacy. A bar was located near the middle of the restaurant with a line of bar stools accommodating the guest's every need; wines, beers, champagne, vodka, and spirits.

"Yes, very beautiful and elegant." Perry touched her arm holding onto her looking down at her. "I'll be right with you sir," the concierge spoke up as he attended to another guest that was waiting to be seated.

Finally, Perry and Della were seated at their secluded table away from all the chatter and settled in for some quiet time and small talk. After a few moments of silence just enjoying watching her sip her champagne out of her flute, Perry finally spoke up.

"What's wrong Perry, you have something on your mind?" Della touched his hand, and he grasped hers and brushed her knuckles with his thumb.

"Our future could have changed if we hadn't met that day in the law library. Do you remember? I was thinking about it when you were on the witness stand defending Tony's behalf today. What we would have missed out on and all the adventures and traveling together.

"Well, if you must know Counselor it was a long time ago. Do you want me to refresh your memory?" Della gave a sly grin and squeezed his hand.

1952

XXPMDSXX

Los Angeles, CA

Centennial Law Library Building

The final session of the day ended for the young students. Some went to lunch with friends while others stayed behind to study in the library. Three young men with their girlfriends chatted with each other at the canteen and got their lunch. The older man of the two picked a picnic bench out on the library's front lawn. Hamilton Burger was an intelligent young man studying for an advanced law degree. Paul Drake was a handsome young man and a lady killer. He was studying detective work not wanting to join the court system like his best friend, Perry Mason. Perry studied law and was interested in detective work, but his love for law won out. Defending people for whatever situation that arose was what compelled him to pursue the field.

Perry was tall, broad shoulder, dark-haired, and blue-eyed young fellow. His girlfriend of a couple of months, Laura was studying law. They were friends throughout his law school; however, she was the one to encourage him to start dating. Laura's family loved him and knew he was intelligent and bright. They spoke of marriage right in front of them. Consequently, Perry didn't want a committed relationship. He was young and thought he was in love, but his feelings had weaned over several weeks. In the beginning, Perry had observed Laura's attitude and would change towards other people. He noticed when she talked to other people of her socio-economic affluence, you were in her circle. If you were scraping to get a foothold in the world, then you were not of importance. One night while he was out with Paul and Hamilton, the men agreed with each other telling Perry at one point in time that this dame was going places and Perry should follow in example.

For the past six years, he studied for his law degree. Perry Mason would be finishing his master's degree soon. He had seen a lot of students transfer in to get their credits and move on. He passed many faces in the hallway dorms, as well as in the library. Fresh new faces adorned the campus as they continued with their careers. It seemed like life was passing him by. He was in a relationship, but nothing that held precedence. Laura was for herself what she wanted in life she would take. It was the power that she wanted and the more she had it the better off.

It had been this year that Perry noticed a new face in the office of the administration building. He saw her in the law library but she was with her friends. He never got the nerve to talk to her. He would observe her and study her day after day. She was an attractive green-eyed brunette with a long, lean figure. A lot of men noticed her but would reframe when she spoke as she acknowledged them. The suitors would walk away as if she had a beau and was already dating. There were other things he noticed about her too, the way she laughed. She was special, and he couldn't understand why he was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame.

Della Street had transferred out to Los Angeles to finish her credits for her Secretarial career. She only had one more term to complete and would be free of any obligation. She hoped to work in a law firm whether it be in Los Angles or back in Chicago. While studying here in Los Angeles she had met two friends- Janet and Valerie. They became very close, studying together, going out to the movies when they could. Della would often babysit for a couple down the street that was off-campus. She loved children and hoped that if by a miracle, she would have one of hers someday. However, on her father's side, his sister Lynn, never could have children even though she was happily married. Throughout the years, she and her husband tried to conceive but kept having false alarms. When Lynn had gone to the doctor to find out the reason why she couldn't conceive her physician gave the unexpected news. He told her that her ovaries had not been functioning properly, but she was otherwise healthy. Upon hearing the devasting news, they decided to adopt a little boy into their home and planned on adding another addition in the near future. Della always kept that in the back of her mind, just maybe, one day by chance a miracle would happen.

Perry was in the administration building for only a short time when he spotted Della again. She was typing on her typewriter finishing up her assignment. When she took it off the reel and she looked up and spotted him. As he stood across the room, he was transfixed on the beauty before him and another young man bumped into him on purpose. Della quickly gave a sly smirk toward Perry who wasn't affected as he continued gazing at her. She busied herself at her desk when Perry finally turned to see a young Hamilton Burger standing beside him.

"Perry Mason, can I help you? What honor is it that you just happen to stroll in here? You can't come in here ogling the young ladies. They are working on their assignments and trying to finish their paperwork. Unless you have a major issue with your term or want to be transferred out, I suggest you leave." Burger instructed him.

"So, when did you become a Professor of Law School, Hamilton?" Perry jokingly asked. Hamilton was a strict man but he liked Perry and respected him.

"I wanted to check on my credits to make sure this is going to be my last term," he said while he looked over Hamilton's shoulder seeing Della at her desk, then looked back at Hamilton, who was not having any of his nonsense but obliged him and stepped aside.

"Alright, Mason. Follow me," Burger insisted.

Perry followed Hamilton toward the record room passing Della. He smelled her perfume as he walked past her. Della noticed that the handsome, dark-haired man took interest in her right of way as he gazed at her. As he passed her desk walking with Hamilton, she could have sworn her body temperature jumped another ten degrees. Perry just made an excuse to enter the room just to see Della and to find out where she was spending her time. He hardly saw her on campus, wondering to himself, where she'd been and why he only caught glimpse of her from time to time, but it was never in his favor to approach her, until now.

However, today Perry knew something special was going to happen today but he wasn't sure what it would be, changing his world for the better. Even if Laura didn't approve, it was destined and fate that allowed a young woman named Della Street had appeared into Perry's life. A group of young ladies came from the east of the campus building chatting and full of life. It was Paul who jabbed Perry in the elbow getting his attention as he slowly took a drag from his cigarette.

"Perry, look at that beautiful blonde with that brunette. She is a vixen; you think she got a boyfriend?" Paul said exhaling a puff of smoke away from Perry's direction.

"Well, Paul… if you really want her then I suggest…." Perry trailed off lighting his own cigarette. He was awestruck by the beauty of the young brunette animatedly chatting up a conversation with her friend. Seeing her smile and laughing, just enjoying the moment, and not having a care in the world, he thought she was knock out compared to Laura. Perry watched her from the picnic table as the conversation was muted by the beauty before him. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Della glanced over to the table, gave a quick smile, continued on her conversation with her friend, and disappeared into the law library building. Perry felt a hard smack on his left arm and turned quickly to that of Laura who was fuming.

"Perry, what on earth has gotten into you? You know that those girls are not going anywhere in life," Laura said as she sipped her cola.

"Why do you say that, Laura? Do you even know them at all?" he questioned her waiting on her response.

"The blonde's name is Valerie. The brunette's name is Della Street. Her family is not wealthy by any means. They came from Chicago and she's going to business school to be a secretary. Just how far do you get being just an ordinary office typist? I mean come on, there is no future for her."

"Why are you making assumptions about her future? She might not be born into wealth but she does have a bright future," Perry defended Della while he flicked his cigarette butt on the ground snuffing it out. He got up from the table leaving Hamilton, Paul and the three girls still shocked by what had transpired between Laura and her boyfriend.

"You going after him Laura?" her friend Nancy poked her in her elbow.

"No, he'll be back. He'll see what a lost cause she is. I warned him. I've got nothing to worry about," Laura responded taking a bite out of her sandwich.

"Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to investigate this young blonde beauty, Valerie." Paul excused himself while Hamilton and his girl finished their lunches.

Perry walked into the building looking for the young brunette but she had disappeared just like an optical illusion that was right in front of him. Paul came up from behind Perry found him looking down the aisle in the rear of the library flipping ominously through book pages.

"Perry, I found my blonde vixen. I'm going to be a great private eye you know," he whispered. "So, I take it, you didn't get your catch the brunette, huh? Too bad she's talking and getting all chummy with a young man in aisle "S". You better make a move and fast if you want to have a word with her. She's drop-dead gorgeous but I like my blondes better," he quickly turned on his heel to make quick conversation with his new gal that was waiting on him.

Meanwhile, Della had been having a conversation with Valerie, who was quickly escorted away by a handsome blonde young man. Recently engaged, Della harbored no jealously because she had just been recently proposed to before coming out to Los Angles. She couldn't be happier in her life at the moment and the secretary school that her mother got her interested in was just fine. She liked what she did and hoped she could excel, she was not someone who gave up easily, life was all about ups and downs.

Her family had been through so much, with her father losing his job and making the decision to move the family out to Los Angeles for work and give his children a better future. The young man that she had been chatting with had strayed off into another aisle looking for a particular book leaving her alone momentarily. Reaching for a book that had been out of her reach she thought she could grasp on her tiptoes with her outstretched arms, she pulled it only for it to fall onto the floor.

"Drop something?" A deep voice came up from behind her startling her. Della quickly turned to see who it was and was shocked to see it was the handsome dark-haired man that was seated on the picnic bench from across campus she had spied early on. He had knelt in front of her picking up the book in his hand, looking at her with his piercing blue eyes. 'Can a man get any more handsome than that?' she thought. He flipped the book over, closed it, and slowly rose to his feet trying to make the moment last taking in her long legs and her beautiful figure.

"Oh, thank you. Nice to meet you, what are you studying?" she inquired looking at him smiling and he handed her the book that fell.

"I'm in law school studying to be an attorney. I have my final exam coming up so I can practice law and eventually become a criminal lawyer." He gave her a small smile.

"I'm Perry Mason and what's yours?" he extended his hand and took hers gently into his much larger hand. Their touch was electric, and she felt the energy flow through her being and she blushed. He loved the soft feel of her smooth hand and the sensation he felt just holding it in his grasp, was not anything he felt with Laura. It was purely angelic, he lingered more than he should have holding onto her hand. Realizing he was still holding it, he reluctantly let her hand go, staring into her green eyes, studying her face for a brief moment.

"Della Street. I am studying business right now, finishing up my secretarial course this week then we have a break then next week we have exams."

"Same time my exam is. I wish you the best of luck on your finals. Do you have plans for a study group or would you rather not?" Perry asked her as she stepped back when he advanced towards her.

"Um.. well.. I guess it wouldn't hurt. Just as long as you keep your hands to yourself. I'm not that kind of girl you know. I'm engaged and we have plans to marry when I finish school," she gave him an apologetic look.

That was a blow to Perry's heart when she told him that she was already spoken for and engaged. He was unhappily dating, and what he wanted was right in front of him. The emotions and feelings that this woman gave him were far beyond what he felt with any other woman. If it meant breaking the engagement off, it had to be on her. He wouldn't push her to do so but first, he had to see if Della felt the same way.