"So Della…," Burger began as Perry Mason's trusted secretary slung her purse over her shoulder. Tragg, Drake, and Mason had just departed. It was uncharacteristically chilly out that winter day, for Los Angeles anyway and Mason had asked Della to wait until he'd brought the car around.

"Yes, Hamilton?" Della smiled in her characteristically warm way.

There really was no good way to phrase this, but the district attorney had noticed the chemistry and attraction between his opponent in court and Della and couldn't understand why they appeared to fight it so hard.

"This is none of my business obviously, but uh, you and Perry would be good together, you know that, right?" He shifted uncomfortably, virtually certain he was about to be told off and he'd have well deserved it if she did.

The young brunette chuckled, slightly enjoying the older man's discomfort. It was a personal question, but she didn't feel annoyed or angry or offended. Despite the gruff exterior, she knew that deep down Hamilton Burger was a caring, and probably sensitive, man.

"He and I have an excellent working relationship. A good friendship too. Why risk ruining it?" Della responded, sincerely. As much as she often wondered what being in a relationship with Mason would be like, the fact of the matter was she worked for the man and enjoyed it. She wasn't prepared to quit just to be with him. And if things didn't work out between them… ruining the friendship scared her.

"A good friendship is half the foundation. And let me tell you something I've learned the hard way… regret is the worst. I made mistakes when I was younger telling myself I was being mature by passing up opportunities to date girls I'd been friends with first. Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I'd given them a chance. I might have married and had a family much younger. Work shouldn't be everything, Della. I used to think it was, but now…"

Della's eyebrows lifted as she pondered his words. "But then you might not have Alexandra…," she pointed out.

"You're right about that. Still…give it some thought. Eventually retirement comes and I don't think anyone wants to be sitting in their house alone when that time comes."

She smiled again and shrugged into her coat. "Alright, Hamilton. I promise, though I can't promise I'll change my mind."

W^^^W^^^W

The drive back to the office was quiet and Perry Mason pensive. Hamilton Burger's newfound happiness had given Mason a lot to think about. Mason's own love life, and really any personal life at all, had been practically swallowed up whole thanks to his career that demanded long hours and personal sacrifice from him. The raven haired attorney knew that Burger had been in a similar boat, but had finally found it in himself to stop back from work a little more in the hopes of having a family one day.

For Mason, it wasn't that he wasn't interested in those things; it was that the woman he wanted, Della Street, had turned him down both times he'd asked before. Office romances were typically frowned upon, especially between boss and subordinate, but given the demanding hours his profession required of him and Della too, he felt a relationship with Della was reasonable. They were together most of the time, already functioned as a well oiled team, and the attraction was there on both ends. Courage to embrace it was the missing element.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Della asked softly.

Mason's eyebrows lifted as he glanced at his companion in the passenger seat.

"Oh. Just thinking about Hamilton and how he's managed to find time for a relationship. I'm also wondering why you and I can't do that," he said meaningfully. "A chance to make it work, Della. That's all I'm asking for."

She was silent for a long moment, gazing out the window at the buildings, shops, and little mom and pop shop restaurants they passed. It was true that she and Mason would likely do very well together, but it was so unprofessional to have a love affair with one's boss; and Della was nothing if not professional. Still, she knew Mason would keep it hush as he possibly could and would never do anything to intentionally hurt her. And the attraction between her and Mason had been noticed by even those who didn't work in Mason's office. Burger was right though. One's career shouldn't be one's whole life.

"Alright, Perry. You win," Della smiled.

She was rewarded with Mason's warmest, happiest smile. Very different from the smug one she often saw as he enjoyed little and big victories solving murder cases.

W^^^W^^^W

They had returned to the office for a short while to finish up some paperwork related to the Mullen case. It was Friday and neither Mason nor Della really wanted that looming still come Monday morning. They preferred to have such tedious little details wrapped up before winding down for the weekend.

It was getting late so Mason didn't worry much about being seen as he walked Della out to her car arm in arm. Actually he wasn't worried much about being seen at all, but he knew that until she was more comfortable with their new office romance, he needed to respect her desire to keep things discreet. Arriving at their destination, Mason opened the car door for her, but stopped her with an arm around her waist before she could lower herself into the driver's seat. The kiss was long and passionate with Mason making damned sure Della could never mistake how the defense attorney felt about her.

Coming up for air, Della found herself breathless as she and Mason gazed into each other's eyes. Words were hardly necessary at that point, but Della finally found her voice long enough to invite Mason over to her place for dinner the following evening. It would be Saturday and they'd have plenty of time together without the never ending onslaught of work pinning them down.

Mason could hardly wait and for the first time in a long time, he felt like he had something special to look forward to.