I always thought a great scene would have Della telling Perry that right now she needed her lover more than her attorney.

A/N This prompt came from Melissa Kozisek. Special thanks to Sonia Hill, Sallye Williams, and Suzanne Hooper for your help with this story. These characters are the creation of ESG, and I am borrowing them for our enjoyment. I hope you all enjoy.

They rode in complete silence on the way back to their house. Each thought about the events that happened the day before and what impact it may have on their relationship both work and personal. Perry looked at his wife with so much hurt in his eyes. He couldn't believe she would do something like this since they worked in the field of law. How was he going to get her out of this mess unscathed? Della's knowledge of the law was as great as his since she had been his confidential secretary for years before she became his head of office and his wife.

Della understood what the penalty was for being an accessory to a crime as Perry reinforced earlier that night to her embarrassment in front of Janet and Paul. Her knowledge of case law was very high and rivaled his. Perry's mind was already thinking of the ways to get her off this charge although it meant he would have to defend Janet, whom he didn't like. Because of his love for Della, he would take on Janet's case because he wanted to make sure Della had a great defense, and the only way he could ensure that was by arguing the case himself.

Lost in their thoughts, both of them didn't realize they had pulled up to the driveway of their house. Perry walked around and opened the door for Della, who was livid with her husband and walked in front of him. Any other time, Perry would have enjoyed the view that the outfit afforded him, but tonight no benefits would be reaped by him from his wife. They walked into the house in silence without a touch or glance at each other. On any other normal day, they would kiss their way into the bedroom since they were away from prying eyes. However, tonight was a no. Perry followed Della into the living room after Perry opened the door for her to pass through. After she placed her purse on the chair and her coat in the closet, she walked straight into the bedroom and slammed the door hard before she removed her clothes and took a much-needed shower. She wanted to wash off by herself without the assistance of her husband. As she walked into the bathroom, she saw that he was seated on the couch watching television.

As she stood under the water, she thought about everything that had happened over the past couple of days. She thought about Perry and their marriage. She knew he was upset with her. As his secretary, she knew the law, and what trouble she was in as an accessory to murder. While he was thinking with his legal mind, she was nursing her hurting heart, and all she wanted was for her man to be her lover for once and not her attorney. Dressed in her pajamas, she walked into the bedroom and went to bed. Since she was exhausted, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Meanwhile Perry stayed in the living room and watched TV. He knew Della was mad at him, but he just couldn't believe she got herself in this mess especially with Janet Brent, whom he wanted to strangle. The more Perry thought about it, the angrier he got. He knew he was mad at both of them, but was he really mad at his wife for helping Janet or at Janet for involving his wife in her endeavors. How was he going to clear her when the circumstantial evidence was stacked against her and by extension Della? Tempted to throw his glass against the wall, Perry knew that if he did that it would put him in his wife's wrath. Sensing he would start an argument if he went into the bedroom , Perry chose to sleep on the couch for the night. He knew he would eventually come to head with Della about her actions sooner or later.

As he tried to sleep, Perry tossed and turned relentlessly as he murmured what was on his mind. 'How could she be so stupid because this wasn't the Della I know.' 'I can't stand Janet Brent.' 'Why does Della have to be friends with her of all people.' ' I want to choke Janet for endangering my wife's reputation.'

Since it was late when they arrived home, Perry closed the office for the rest of the week because he needed time to think about all the aspects of the case and figure out a defense that would keep his wife out of jail. He walked into the bedroom and saw his wife sleeping peacefully. He showered and left the room without waking her up since he knew she needed her rest. An hour after Perry left the bedroom, Della woke up in a flurry because she knew she was late for work although she felt refreshed. As she turned over, she realized Perry's side of the bed hadn't been slept in. She knew he was mad at her as she thought about his actions before Janet was arrested. She showered and dressed in something comfortable before she walked into the kitchen to make breakfast. As she entered the kitchen, she saw Perry brewed coffee in the percolator. After she drank a cup, she fixed breakfast, which consisted of pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Once the food was done, she called Perry into the kitchen and served him his breakfast. As they ate, Della noticed how unusually quiet Perry was at the table. She spoke to break the silence in the room. "Perry, why did you let me sleep so late?"

After he finished chewing, he answered. "Since we had an eventful evening past midnight, I closed the office for a few days so I can figure out a defense for this case that has suddenly fallen into my lap. Maybe my wife can explain that to me. "

"Explain what"

"The reason I have to defend my wife's best friend. A woman that I hate with everything that is in me. The same woman who now has you being labeled as an accessory to murder because of the stunt you two pulled last night. You even borrowed money from our account to help her with this blackmailer. Della, what pissed me off was that you didn't come to me for advice. Had you come to me, we wouldn't be where we are now."

"Perry, I told her to talk to you. She felt that she couldn't come to you. She was really scared and agitated. I have never seen her like this."

"She was too scared to talk to me, but she had no problem taking our money. Did she know that the money came from us?"

"Yes, I told her the money came from us. I didn't know she used the money for blackmail."

"Why didn't she get the money from her husband? His business has been successful over the years and is turning a profit."

"I don't know why she didn't ask him for the money nor tell him that Franklin was blackmailing her. I truly don't haven't any explanation for her actions. I was only being a friend to her since she doesn't have anyone else."

"Apparently her friendship is landing you in a great deal of trouble, and I don't like it at all. I have nothing else to say." Perry placed his dishes in the dishwasher before he went to their home office. Della looked at him in shock, but she didn't back down. She thought about earlier when Perry had treated her like a child in the law library.

"Perry, that way you treated me in the law library in front of Janet and Paul was very condescending towards me. You didn't treat me as your wife-your equal, but as if I was your child, and you were my daddy. You need to apologize to me."

"I am not apologizing to you because you acted like you had no knowledge of the law as you normally do under any other circumstances, but it seems as if Janet issue made you forget your knowledge of the law. I won't be needing you on this case because of conflict of interest. You can spend the time working on the other cases we have, or you enjoy your time off while I try to keep you out of prison. Maybe you can have a couple of tea parties with your friend Janet." Perry turned away from her and walked into their office.

Perry sat at his desk for a few minutes before he placed a call to Paul about any new leads on the case. Once he hung up the phone, he sat there thinking about the words they had exchanged earlier. He knew his words were hurtful to her, but he was hurting too. Meanwhile Della wiped her fallen tears off of her cheeks. She was pissed at Perry to the point she wanted to throw his law books at him. She felt so lost and needed her husband, her lover, who also was her lawyer. He was also the nan she was angry with and so in love with at the same time. She got up and went to give him a piece of her mind. She opened the door to the office and walked over to Perry and slammed the law book shut in front of him.

He looked up at her and asked "What are you doing here, Della?"

"I am getting some things off my chest. You don't get to say things and walk away from me. First, the spiteful things you just spewed out of your mouth, you will take back and never repeat again. Second, this is my office too, and I can be here if I want. Third and final, I need my husband and lover at this time and not my lawyer."

With that, she turned around and walked out of his office and went upstairs to their bedroom as Perry sat there in shock. Perry processed what Della said to him as well as her slamming the book shut. He realized that Della was hurting and felt alone. Although he was hurt, he realized she was hurting more than him with her reputation and their marriage on the line. He loved her unconditionally and this would fall under the for better for worse part of their vows that they recited to each other before their friends and family. Perry knew he loved her with everything in him. Although he would fight her case, he was going to show his wife that he was the lover she needed at this time.

Perry walked into the closet where Della was hanging up their dry cleaning for the following week. Perry silently watched her and knew that their love for each other would get them through this ordeal. Her words still hung at the front of his mind. ' I need my lover now and not my lawyer.' Perry walked up to her and embraced her from behind and pulled her to him. Della stiffened in his arms before she spoke.

"Why are you here, and what do you think you're doing?"

"I am here because you said you needed your lover and not your lawyer. I am your lover right now, and I am going to show you how much I love and support you. I don't want you to doubt my love for you. We took vows declaring our love for each other and love conquers all."

Perry walked to the chaise lounge and pulled Della towards him. He unbuttoned her shirtwaist dress and removed it from her body before he unclasped her bra and pulled it down her arms. As she stood naked in front of him, Della watched as Perry removed his clothes and stood naked in front of her. Perry sat down on the chaise and pulled Della down on his lap where she straddled him. He held her tight against him as he kissed her. His erection caused Della to open her legs wider so he could enter her warmth. Perry let her adjust to his girth before he started to move. She got as physically close to Perry as she could, and she met his every stroke. She moaned his name repeatedly as he went in and out of her warmth. Perry felt her all over him, and he went at a faster pace until they came together as they screamed each other's name. Della felt his love and knew he loved her. As they caught their breath, Della got up from Perry's lap and pulled him up before they walked into the bathroom and showered together. Perry carried her to their bedroom and laid her in the middle of their bed. He removed her towel from around her body while Della removed his. He climbed between her legs and worshiped her body with his hands and tongue. Della was witless under his ministrations. She climaxed before he entered her again and made passionate love to her.

"Della, I apologize to you for the way I treated you at the office. I know that you know the law as well as me, and you are not a child. You are my wife, and I should have treated you as such. I was in shock that you were in serious trouble. I automatically went into lawyer mode instead of being your husband because I was scared. Burger is gunning for me through you. The lawyer in me promise to put up a good defense, and the husband in me promises to be your support. I love you."

"Perry, I accept your apology, and I know I put you well us in a tricky situation, and I apologize. Your words were very hurting, and I felt so alone. I love you, Perry. You are my life, my all."

Perry held his wife as they succumbed to sleep.