Epilogue

The Headline was appalling. Della hadn't even been able to read it the article.

GABRIEL VS MASON - Whens the Sequel?

Famous Actor Phone Call Saves The Cities Favorite Criminal Attorney from Murder!

"Mr Gabriel tells how his phone call to the police may have saved LA's most famous Lawyer from being shot by the very movie producer holding Gabriel's own Contract. "Paul read it out loud to them both, they were in Perry's apartment eating lunch. He read through the rest of the article but not seeing anything of interest he folded it up and put it down. "Well Della no word about your heroics. Looks like Gabriel grabbed all your limelight," he commented, Faulkner had given him a complete run down, once Paul had stopped telling him off for having let Della give him the slip. She grinned but didn't say anything. He raised his eyebrow at the lack of reaction from either of them, he jabbed his finger at her, "Lucky you gave him the flick Della, it'd be hard hanging around a fella who loved the limelight this much, suck all the sun out of the sky I reckon."

"Your the one hanging around with the movie star." she retorted, Perry ignored them both, and continued to read his own paper.

"Only a starlet though, doesn't cast a lot of shade." he teased her, failing to get the slightest rise from Perry he changed tack, "So are you two enjoying your break?" Paul asked innocently, his eyes going from Della to Perry, she took a sip of her water, not the slightest reaction at his jibe. Perry smiled at him. "Fine, just fine."

"Is there something you want to tell me?" Paul asked them both.

"You're the detective you tell me," Perry replied with his best court room face.

"You two are not going to be any fun, I can see that." he murmured, winding himself out of the chair and grabbing another sandwich.

"Bye Beautiful." he said,"Later Perry."

"Bye Paul." Perry said,

"Do you want me to wrap some of those for you to take with you?" she asked him as he eyed the sandwiches covetously.

"Nahh, Claire's promised to cook dinner for me, I promised to be hungry."

"Home cook meal must be serious." Della teased him.

"Yes well she takes her home cooking a little more seriously than you Della, sandwiches, a boy can't live on bread alone you know."

"I can make a salad," Della protested insincerely.

"I like salad." Perry added, "And I make great steak and potatoes."

"Yes, yes, the perfect team." he waved at them then left.

"We will have to take him out to dinner you know."

"I know," he held out his hand for her and she took it sliding onto his lap. "I like your sandwiches." he said.

"Me to, they are very quick to make."

"I noticed that." he murmured nibbling at her collarbone.

"Have you thought about us?" she asked him, trying to ignore the sensations he was once again triggering off in her.

"You have pretty much been the only thing on my mind for the last 96 hours." he admitted, running his finger up her leg.

"And?" she placed her hand over his when he started pushing the hem of her skirt upwards.

"And I still think you should marry me."

"Perry be serious."

"I am." he said, "I know, I know. But I have thought about it, we could go to Mexico get married there, no one here would know, you can keep your apartment, nothing has to change, except," he looked straight into her eyes "except we can be together." His hand kept moving up her leg and she didn't stop him this time. "That way if your Aunt Mae ever catches us I can look her straight in the eye when I tell her that I love and honour you and I am legally allowed to worship you with my body." His boyish grin drove her nuts and she could not hold a straight face. She kissed him possessively.

After they had worn each other out physically for the first couple of days after the trial, they had talked, talked about their fears and hopes and dreams, as if no barriers existed between them. This they had not resolved though.

He took her hands "I have something for both of us," he said, not forcing an answer from her. He disappeared into his bedroom. When he came back he was carrying a box.

"Della," he turned her to face him, "I know you won't marry me, but I want you to know, that is what I desire and I can't pretend otherwise, but" he touched her lips to stall her "this is so you know I am forever yours. Open it."

It was a long velvet box, she drew a breath when she saw the jewelers mark, but when she lifted her eyes to say something he cut her off with, "Open it."

It was a gold pendant with the initials DS, it was beautiful, she looked at him, a little bit relieved it was not diamonds, but genuinely touched. His face was crinkled in a smile as if he knew what she was thinking. This was not something that he had had made in the last few days.

"Just so you know, that I know you are the most independent, stubborn, beautiful wonderful woman in the world." he said his cheeky dimple appearing."Lift the bottom, I brought myself a present, you know how I don't like to miss out on attention." She couldn't speak, but at his teasing voice she lifted the bottom, it contained a mans pinky ring with a massive diamond, she still couldn't speak and lifted her eyebrow.

He picked it up, It was an extravagant diamond, he looked at her face, she was keeping it neutral, stunned by the beautiful pendant, confused by this massive diamond, trying to interpret his intention. He held it up so she could see it. "This is the diamond that will go into your engagement ring when you decide to marry me." he told her,"I'll wear it until then."

"Its not very subtle Perry," she murmured, she couldn't even calculate the worth of that diamond.

"I know, it must be my male chauvinistic side, I want the world to know you love me and when you are ready, the world will know that you are my world."

"How does that fit with a quiet wedding in Mexico?" she asked, knowing he was not going to force the issue today.

"You can wear it around your neck." he told her, then pointed at the pendant, "The DS stands for Don't Stop of course, as in Don't Stop loving me." She laughed, at his cheeky grin. "They are both engraved,"

She turned her gold pendant initials over, "Anytime, anywhere, yours PM" and on the ring around the inside of the band, "The wearer and the ring are the property of Della Street."

Tears were streaming down her face, at the same time as laughter bubbled up from her chest. She put the ring on his finger. "I'm not sure even you would wear this Perry." she said trying to make light of it, her laughter bubbling up but at the same time tears streaming down her face.

'I didn't give them to you to make you cry." he said, wiping her tears away with his thumb then kissing them away."They are to remind us we have to tell each other how we feel, even if its hard to say it." His voice was no longer teasing, it was serious,"I want us to be honest with each other," he continued, "even if it hurts."

She nodded then took his face in her hands, looking at him as if it was for the first time she had ever seen him, his blue intense eyes, his strong nose, his kissable lips, an errant curl escaping onto his brow, she pushed it back and pulled his face down to hers, kissing him with a hunger that made him tremble.

"I love you Miss Della Street." he said his voice cracking with emotion."Anytime, anywhere any way you want."

"I love you Mr Perry Mason." He pulled her into his arms and the rest of the world faded leaving only them.

THE END

Thank you for reading and especially reviewing it was very motivating, thank you to all the other PM ff writers I love your stuff it inspired me to write this. I didn't realise how encouraging it was to read the reviews thanks hope you enjoyed it and I hope you didn't think I was going to let Miss Street escape with a movie star however handsome and charming he may have been. RR