"Are you sure you won't stay for breakfast?"

Alexandra fervently wished to do something nice for Perry and Della in return for the enormous favor they had just done for her and Burger. The more than generous pair had saved her and her boss's faces.

She had a feeling she was about to be disappointed, though she absolutely understood why. Things would already be awkward when Burger woke up. Perry and Della's presence would only add to the discomfort. At least for Burger

"I wish we could, Ms. Mullen, but Della and I must be getting into the office soon and you've got your hands full already," he explained with a nod of the head in the direction of Burger, still on the couch.

"But I promise I'll let you make it up to us later," he added with a warm smile.

Squeezing Alexandra's arm gently, Mason gently pulled the front door open.

"I see peanut butter fudge in your future," Della joked quietly as she went ahead of Perry.

"If I'm lucky," Mason responded with a toothy smile. "Or one of those fancy tie knots of hers."

Alexandra chuckled quietly and closed the door behind them. Sighing, she leaned against it, her thoughts now shifting to making breakfast.

It had been a while since she'd had to make breakfast for more than one person; and for a brief moment she entertained the fleeting daydream that she was a married woman with a husband to cook for and take care of.

It wasn't that she didn't enjoy her work. She liked that she was a competent, working woman with skills outside the home, but she also wanted a husband and children. And at age 27, she was skirting the lower threshold of being dubbed an "old maid."

As deeply in love as she was with the District Attorney, Alexandra, enthusiastically and without reservation, loved looking after Burger. She wondered if wives continued to feel that way after years of marriage? Would she, regardless of who she married? Though at the moment she couldn't imagine falling for another man.

"Miss Mullen?"

The sound of Burger's deep, gravelly voice made even rougher by sleep emanated from the couch. It caused her both pleasure and pain. Pleasure because she loved his voice. Pain because the formal address had shattered her happy daydream.

Alexandra was once again Burger's dutiful secretary.

"Yes, Mr. Burger," she replied, straightening.

Her own voice betrayed her nervousness and she laced her hands in front of her in an effort to refrain from wringing them.

"Was that Perry I heard?" He asked.

"Yes. He called in to work for you and blamed it on himself. I… felt it would give the wrong impression if I called both of us in so I asked Della for advice. Mr. Mason suggested he call you in."

She waited patiently as he sat up, praying that Burger would be satisfied with that. He rubbed his temples for a moment and then ran his hand through his now messy red hair with a deep exhale.

"You showed good judgment, Miss Mullen. Thank you."

"How do you feel?" She asked.

Burger chuckled at that. He rested his elbows on his knees and his hands hung limply between them. He didn't look at her, though he could see her slightly in his peripheral vision.

"Physically? Better than I have any right to. The rest of me is mortified at what I've put you through."

Alexandra shifted slightly and she smoothed out her skirt.

"Believe me, Mr. Burger, it was no trouble," she insisted.

"No trouble, huh?" He chuckled with self recrimination. "I showed up uninvited on your doorstep, late at night and drunk to the point of passing out on your couch, but I'm no trouble? You have the patience of a Saint, Miss Mullen. But then I guess any secretary of mine would have to."

Alexandra looked down at her hands and pursed her lips. She had no clue what else she could say to reassure him, but she felt she had to find something or else he could take her silence as agreement with his harsh opinion of his behavior.

"I'm glad you felt comfortable coming here if you felt you couldn't go home," she admitted softly.

Burger picked up the glass of water that Alexandra had left for him the night before and knocked back the two aspirin.

"I could have gone home, but I had to see you. Seeing you with Paul… I was crazy with jealousy. But then I already blurted that out last night if memory serves."

Alexandra slowly moved toward him and knelt next to him, touching his arm gently.

"Mr. Burger, I have been posing as Paul's girlfriend to help him blend into certain environments while he is working on a case. He and I aren't actually a couple," she admitted. "Though don't spread that around. Only Della and Mr. Mason know. I'm only telling you so you don't drink yourself into oblivion over it."

Burger turned his head to look at her, his large blue eyes wide with surprise. Setting the glass of water back down, he turned his body to more fully face her.

"You mean…?!"

Alexandra nodded with a radiant smile. Inside she was practically jumping up and down for joy at the newfound possibilities. Hope rose up in her like bubbles in a champagne glass.

"I'm still free as a bird," she admitted with a shy shrug.

"Well I'll be damned…," Burger muttered with a warm smile.

The pair looked into each other's eyes for a long moment and Alexandra felt Burger take her hand in his. She gave it a gentle squeeze, never wanting him to let go. How long she'd waited just to have a glimmer of hope that she could have a chance with him. The moment seemed surreal now that it was here.

"Paul is crazy not dating you for real, he knows that right?" Burger said teasingly.

His voice was uncharacteristically soft and even deeper than usual.

Alexandra smiled shyly and looked away, tucking a lock of blonde hair behind her ear.

"He knows my heart is taken already," she admitted softly. He's being respectful of that. Besides, I think he has his eyes on his own secretary."

Burger's smile widened. "Smart man."

Alexandra nodded and stood. "He's a gentleman for sure. I should start breakfast… How hungry are you?"

Burger stood and pondered that as he took in his unbuttoned shirt.

Alexandra pretended not to notice his relative state of undress.

"To be honest, I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," he admitted. He put a hand on the small of her back as he guided her around the couch. "I don't suppose I could get cleaned up while you're in the kitchen?"

Alexandra thrilled at the unexpected touch. Gentle and protective as she imagined he could be.

Nodding, she altered her trajectory for her linen closet. She grabbed a pale yellow towel and set it on the bathroom counter.

"Shower if you want. You'd probably feel better. Use whatever. Anything you'd like ironed just leave outside the bathroom door and I'll do that before I start breakfast," she said and ducked into her own room to set up the ironing board just in case.

He mumbled some sort of acknowledgment.

Alexandra wasn't sure if he'd go straight home after he left. Probably. But there was the off chance he'd feel well enough to run an errand and sending him out looking like he'd slept in his clothes was sure to get the D.A. noticed in ways he didn't want.

She chuckled to herself as she heard the bathroom door click open and closed a few times. Her morning had been much more hectic than usual and she was just looking after one other person. She could only imagine her married older sister's life with four kids.

WMWMWNWMWN

Burger joined Alexandra in the kitchen some time later. He'd been in the shower a while as the hot water felt soothing and it had given him a chance to clear his head. He also didn't want Alexandra to feel rushed in the kitchen if he was ready so quickly.

The amazing aromas of pancakes and eggs and Alexandra's singing Dream a Little Dream of Me, it hadn't been difficult to locate.

He watched her for a few minutes with a contented smile as she efficiently bustled about the kitchen like a seasoned veteran, unaware of his presence. Mentally, he chastised himself for not announcing himself, but he found himself so grateful for and enchanted by her devotion to him that all he wanted was to savor the moment.

How did he not notice her as a woman before? Pretty, caring, selfless, and with the voice of an angel… somehow he had only seen his capable secretary until recently.

She made him feel at home even though he had imposed on her rather rudely the night before.

It had been nearly 25 years since he'd last had a woman care for him like this and he wondered if he could allow himself to be vulnerable once more so he could experience it again on a daily basis. To wake up every day next to a woman who loved and supported him and to come home to the same was something he missed.

Now that he was sober, he could really take in the place; learn more about this woman that somehow, God only knew why, loved him. Cheerful hues like that pale yellow towel from earlier accented the place. A vase with carnations in it sat on the dining room table that was already set for two. Burger was curious if carnations were her favorite or if she had them more because they were inexpensive and easy to get. Della would probably know.

Finally, Alexandra turned around to grab one of the plates when she spotted Burger. She blushed furiously at having been caught singing for as long as she probably had been.

"Breakfast and a show," she quipped, attempting to play it off.

She wasn't sure why it unnerved her so since Burger had obviously heard her sing at the restaurant the night before. She supposed it was because it had caught her off guard this time.

"It was beautiful," he smiled warmly.

She loaded up his plate, her face still beet red, and set it down. She motioned for him to have a seat.

"You said you were hungry enough to eat a horse so have at it," she chuckled. "Hope you like buckwheat pancakes. They're my favorite."

She poured coffee for both of them and then settled herself to his left with her own plate.

They smiled at each other. Her shyly. Him warmly and confidently. Both hopeful that his drunken taxi ride to her apartment had brought them closer together in all the ways that mattered.