AFTER THE BATTLE

Disclaimer – I don't own the rights, Zorro Productions Inc does - I just like to play with the characters.

Plot – This is an alternate ending to The Final Battle.

I wish to thank everyone who reviewed The Final Battle, it's very much appreciated. A number of you have asked me to post this alternative ending, so here it is but be aware that a couple of chapters are sad, especially the first one, but it does get better so please keep reading.

This is a story of Victoria and her life after Diego's death.

At first I didn't want to write a story where Diego had died, you're not meant to kill off the hero but I couldn't get it out of my mind. It maybe a little out of character in the way I have written Victoria, Alejandro, Felipe and others but I guess that's what fanfic is for :)

Chapter 1

It had been many weeks since the death of Diego de la Vega, for being the bandit Zorro and the whole pueblo was still in mourning, none more so than Don Alejandro and his grandson Don Felipe and especially Senorita Victoria Escalante, the beautiful tavern owner.

Victoria hadn't been her usual happy, outgoing self since his death. How could she? Not only had she lost her best friend but also her lover, the man who should have been her husband. The memory of that horrible day, was still fresh in her mind, she could still remember the moment that her beloved had died. At the instant the trapdoor opened, she had buried her head in Don Alejandro's shoulder and all but collapsed against him. She could not watch the moment of his death, she did not want her very last image of him, to be swinging from the hangman's noose.

Don Alejandro too had closed his eyes at that precise moment, unashamed tears ran down his face as he prayed for his son's soul, knowing that Diego would soon be joining his beloved Felicidad in heaven. His whole body shook in despair, one's children should not die first, it wasn't the natural order of things. If he had been given the chance, he would have offered himself in his son's place, to give Diego his chance of life. As Victoria fell against him, he staggered a little but soon held her tight in his arms.

Don Felipe had resolved to watch, to show his respect to his father right to the very end but his gentle soul would not allow him to do so. Death was a normal part of life and he had seen much as a young child, perhaps too much, for he could not bear to see the man he loved as a father, die in that way. He knew that death from hanging was not always instant but he prayed that it would be. He bowed his head and let his tears flow.

Afterwards Don Alejandro urged Victoria to come and stay with them and she gratefully took the offer. And in those first several days, she stayed in Diego's room, refusing to come out except when Don Alejandro had all but pulled her out of the room to eat. He was terribly worried about her, it was as though she had given up on life, she didn't eat much but then neither did he or Felipe for that matter. In those early days, Don Alejandro had to draw on that great strength that had kept him going through the dreadful time when his beloved wife had died. That time, he had his young son to give comfort to, but now he had another family to console. He held them together as a family while he grieved privately in his own rooms.

Dominic Sanchez arrived the day after the execution and was very distraught at not being able to save his cousin. He blamed himself because the delay in his return to Los Angeles was of his own making. He had visited a well respected wine producer and he had spent the day with the family, immersing himself in the process of wine making. When he heard that Diego had been arrested, he rode immediately to Los Angeles with his men but it was too late.

It was then that his own secret was revealed. He had been so full of anger, so full of guilt that he almost executed de Soto on the spot, he had the authority to do so. But Don Alejandro stopped him, urged him to reconsider his actions, not to act on his anger, that Diego would want justice to be served. After much heated words between the two men, Dominic finally agreed to not summarily execute de Soto but he would arrest him for the murder of a member of the Royal Family, amongst other charges and he would personally escort de Soto back to Madrid to stand trial.

It was only after Diego's funeral and burial in the small family cemetery, high on a hill overlooking the sweeping hacienda and the lands beyond, that Victoria began to pull herself together. She had not yet fully accepted his death but life had to go on, her tavern needed her attention and so with great reluctance she left the loving atmosphere of the hacienda, much to the disappointment of Don Alejandro and Felipe, who both urged her to stay longer but she promised them that she would visit often. She had become part of his family, just as she would have if Diego had lived.

At first it was hard for Victoria being on her own in the tavern, but each morning she forced herself to get out of bed, made herself dress and get the tavern ready for the coming day. She had to do this, otherwise it would have been too easy to give into her grief, to lose herself in her pain, to give up but she couldn't, she wouldn't. She owed it to Diego to live but it was hard, she missed him terribly.

Little things would always set her off crying. A memory, a sound, a forgotten book and she would remember him. On a number of occasions, she heard a piece of juicy gossip and found herself saying, 'wait until I tell Diego' and then she would break down once more. She had never realised just how much he had been a part of her life. It was always hardest at night, when she was no longer busy and her thoughts would always turn to him. She didn't know how she did it but she managed to get through the first several weeks and was slowly coming to terms with his death.

But lately she had been feeling off colour, with the aroma of certain foods making her turn a decided shade of green and on several occasions she had to rush outside. She felt tired, her breasts were tender and along with other signs, she could no longer deny the obvious. She was carrying Diego's child. She had known the risk when she had visited him in his cell the night before his death. He too had known the possibility of her falling pregnant but it was a risk they gladly took, for the both knew what the next day would bring. She had no regrets about making love with the man who should have been her husband.

But now that she was with child, the enormity of the situation hit her. Society looked down at unwed mothers as being shameful but she didn't feel shame. She felt scared but also pleased and sad at the same time; sad that her child would never know his or her father. She wanted to have his child but she didn't know what to do. She knew she had to tell Don Alejandro but was afraid of his reaction. She knew that this was not the way he wanted grandchildren.

Victoria had been spending more and more time at the de la Vega's hacienda; she had dinner there at least three times a week. But as she knocked on the door of the grand hacienda, she had no idea just how Don Alejandro would take the news. She knew that Diego's strong sense of propriety came from his father and she hoped that he would not turn her away, not when she needed his support more than ever.

Don Alejandro opened the door himself, he gave her a warm friendly smile as he ushered into the library. He was happy to see her, he loved her like a daughter and that was how he had been treating her and he was pleased to see that Felipe was just as welcoming. There was an unspoken agreement between the two men, to take care of Victoria, just as they had promised Diego.

But tonight Victoria seemed anxious, nervous about something.

"Victoria, are you okay? Is everything alright?" Alejandro asked concernedy

"I need to speak with you and Felipe." her voice trembling.

"To both of us." he was surprised.

Victoria nodded. "Please Alejandro." he had asked her to drop the honorific title a couple of weeks ago. She still felt a little strange at calling him by his given name.

Alejandro was now very concerned. "Has anything happened at the tavern?" he knew that she had some overnight guests but they had seemed respectable enough.

"No, it's nothing like that. Please, get Felipe." she pleaded.

Alejandro gave her one last worried look and went to get his grandson.

Victoria was trembling and felt ill as she gently rubbed her still smooth stomach. 'Oh please let them understand' she prayed to herself.

Alejandro came back with Felipe behind him and they both noticed just how pale and nervous she was. Alejandro sat beside her on the lounge, while Felipe took the chair across from them.

"Victoria, please whatever is troubling you, you can rely on Felipe and me to help you in any way we can; you are part of our family."

Victoria nodded as she looked at Felipe and saw his worried frown.

"Vic...tor...help..." he tried to say. He practised all the time to speak. He too wanted to keep his promise to his father.

She felt tears rush down her face. "Oh Alejandro, I don't know what to do."

He squeezed her hand. "Tell us what's wrong, my dear."

"I...I..." She stuttered as she flushed a deep red, took a deep breath and continued, her voice trembled. "The night before...Diego died...I...we...um...made love." she finished as she kept her gaze on the carpet, she didn't dare look at Alejandro or Felipe.

There was silence in the room as both men absorbed the information.

"Madre de Dios." was all Alejandro could say. He was shocked at first, angry that his son had disgraced this lovely woman, but then as he thought about it, they could not have done anything else, on their last night together. He did not blame them at all, wanting to find some happiness in that terrible time. Then the realisation of her words hit him.

He gently lifted Victoria's tear stained face to his. "You're with child, aren't you?" he asked kindly.

Victoria nodded. "Si, I am carrying Diego's baby. Please, please don't be angry with us or disappointed. We both knew the risk but..." she clutched his arm.

"Oh Victoria, I'm not angry or disappointed. I understand everything, my dear. If it had been me, I probably would have done the same thing."

Victoria sobbed. "Would you?"

He nodded. "Of course." he pulled Victoria into his arms and held her as she cried. He didn't know what they would do now but he knew one thing, he would stand by her. He would accept her child as his grandchild, just as it should be.

Felipe was stunned at this news. He knew how much his father had loved Victoria and that she loved him. He wondered whether he would have done the same if he had been in that situation and he found that he would. But he would have been very concerned about Victoria raising a child on her own. He moved and sat down next to Victoria, who should have been his mother and held her other hand in support. He knew his father would expect both Alejandro and himself to care for her, no matter what the circumstances. Then it hit him, he was going to have a baby brother or sister.

Victoria raised her head from Alejandro's shoulder and looked into Felipe's kind eyes, saw his understanding and compassion. She squeezed his hand in return, grateful for his support. This young man would have been her son, if she had married Diego. "What am I going to do Alejandro?" She asked a little calmer, she was relieved now that she had told them and it had been accepted better than she had thought.

"I'm not sure. Are you certain that you are with child?" he asked gently.

She nodded. "Si, I'm sure."

"You know what happens to unwed mothers." he said kindly.

Again Victoria nodded. "Si, I do. Alejandro. I remembered what happened to an old school friend. She had been sent to a relative in Santa Barbara and came back many months later, but we all knew why and wondered who the father had been." she paused then continued. "I always believed that she was treated terribly when she came back and that in the end her family had to move away."

She sat up straight. "Alejandro, I want this baby, his baby. I will not give it up and I will not deny that Diego was the father." She stated firmly.

Alejandro patted her hand, soothing her. Although the situation was grave, he had to hide a smile at her spirit; she would have been a perfect match for his son. "You are carrying my grandchild, I would never ask that of you Victoria."

Felipe signed 'and it's my brother or sister too'

Alejandro nodded. "That's right. We are family, and families stay together through good times and bad."

Victoria felt tears burning her eyes at the love and support that was coming from these two men. "I...I thank you both but what am I going to do?" she asked again.

There was silence in the room again.

Felipe signed 'what if we say you secretly married father'

Victoria thought about it. "Perhaps but everyone knows that I wasn't aware that he was...Zorro...until...until." she couldn't finish her words.

Felipe signed again 'well we could say you married Zorro then'

Alejandro shook his head. "I don't think that would work either Felipe. Diego would have had to sign his real name on the register."

"And besides, there have been to many secrets, too many lies." Victoria said softly.

Again, there was silence in the room, everyone deep in their own thoughts.

Alejandro was struck by an idea so radical, that he didn't want to think further on it but once the idea began, he couldn't stop thinking about it. He stood up, as he thought about all the possibilities, both good and bad. He didn't know how Victoria would react. He didn't know how the citizens of Los Angles would react. He couldn't believe that he was considering this idea but he had promised Diego that he would take care of her, just not in the way Diego would have envisioned.

Victoria and Felipe watched as Alejandro walked to the fireplace, deep in thought. They exchanged curious looks.

"Alejandro, what is it?" Victoria asked.

Alejandro made his decision, sat back down beside Victoria and held her hand. "You agree that our society doesn't accept unwed mothers. That you probably would have to leave here but the rumours would follow you and your reputation would be ruined." he said.

Victoria nodded sadly. "Si that is true."

"I have a suggestion and you don't have to answer me now, but just to think on it."

She looked at him curiously. "Alright Alejandro."

Alejandro took a deep breath. "Victoria, we've discounted the idea of a secret marriage with Diego or Zorro and but it would take a marriage for you to keep your good reputation, so I would like to offer marriage to you myself." he paused as he saw the shock on both Victoria's and Felipe's faces. "It would be a marriage of convenience, to give my grandchild, his rightful name. We can tell everyone the truth that you are carrying Diego's child or we can tell them nothing."

Victoria was dumbfounded, never in a hundred years, would she have dreamt of this, that the man she considered like a second father, propose marriage to her in order to save her reputation. "I..I...I don't know what to say." her voice trembled with shock.

"I know, don't answer me now. I am an old man, with only a few years left in me..."

Felipe came out of his shock 'you are not old grandfather' he signed.

Alejandro chuckled. "I am fifty-five, Felipe, that's not young." he paused and turned his attention back to Victoria. "My dear, I know it is a big shock, but think about the advantages you would have in marrying me. You would have the protection and the respect of the de la Vega name, you would become mistress of this hacienda just as you would have if you had married my son."

She shook her head. "But...But I think of you...as a father not as a...husband."

He nodded. "I understand Victoria, I see you as the daughter that my beloved wife and I never had. As I said, it would be a marriage of convenience."

Victoria stood up on trembling legs. "I...I don't know Alejandro."

"Think about it Victoria, that's all I ask."

She couldn't think, it was too much to take in. "I...I must go. I'm sorry." she was almost in tears once more.

Alejandro and Felipe stood and escorted her to the door. "I understand Victoria, take your time to decide."

Victoria nodded as she went out the door.

Once the door closed, Felipe immediately started signing. 'What are you doing, that's father lady and you want to marry her. I don't believe i.t"

It was Alejandro's turn to be shocked at the anger in his signs. "Felipe, I though it was obvious, she is an unwed mother and this is the only way to protect her. I promised your father that I would take care of her."

Felipe signed again. "But not by marrying her!"

Alejandro looked shrewdly at his grandson. "It's not that YOU could marry her, you're not yet of age."

He got his answer when Felipe blushed. "Do you like her Felipe?" he asked more kindly.

Felipe hesitated but tonight was for the truth and signed. "I do but..." he paused and then continued. "Are you sure there is no other way" he asked.

Alejandro shook his head. "No, I don't believe so, but it is up to Victoria to decide."

As Victoria rode home, she was in deep shock, her heart raced and her hands shook. She couldn't believe what Alejandro had offered her. How could she even consider marriage to him? He was Diego's father, a man twice her age. She didn't love him, at least not in that way, what kind of marriage would it be? She couldn't think, all she had was questions, but no answers. She made it back just in time to reach the outhouse before she was ill

Afterwards she felt a little better as she laid down on her bed and fell into a restless sleep. She dreamt of Diego, of his warm strong arms around her, of his scorching kisses and of their passionate but gentle lovemaking. She woke up calling out his name. It wasn't the first time she had cried out for the man she loved. She turned over and sobbed into her pillow, her heart ached for him. She didn't know what to do.

Over the next two days, Victoria went about her job in the tavern. It was a busy time and they were rushed off their feet with endless orders for food and drinks. It kept her mind off her situation, off the decision that she had to make. She didn't see either Alejandro or Felipe and she was grateful that they were giving her time and space to decide her future but she could no longer put off her decision, as once again she had to rush outside. She sent her girls home and closed the tavern early, there were no overnight guests and she slowly walked through her tavern and thought about Alejandro's offer of marriage.

If she didn't marry Alejandro, could she marry someone else? Who would even marry her? Perhaps a fortune hunter who just wanted to get his hands on her profitable business and had no qualms about the child not being his. What kind of marriage would that be? What future would she have if she didn't marry? She would be an outcast, she would be snubbed, shunned. She would be treated like the fallen woman that she was. She knew her business would suffer, her patrons would no longer come. Alejandro was right, she would have to leave Los Angeles. She would have to sell the tavern and start afresh but where would she go?

She couldn't just move to Santa Paula or even Santa Barbara, she was quite well known in those areas because of her business. She had contacts in most pueblos and larger towns in the area, and everyone knew about Zorro and herself. They would know that she wasn't married. She would have to go further south, even as far as Mexico City, where she knew no-one but she couldn't do that to Alejandro, it was his grandchild after all.

What about her brothers? Could they help her? Would they be able to conceal the truth from their friends? She shook her head, she knew that they would protect her no matter what but the rumours would still follow her and then they would be drawn into the scandal as well. She didn't want her brothers to suffer because of what had happened. And besides Francisco was still in the military and wouldn't be able to care for her and her child. And Ramon was newly married and they were expecting their first child next month and she didn't think they would welcome her at this moment and besides their house was small, barely enough room for Ramon and his wife.

She sighed again as she entered her room and gazed into her mirror. Her gaze dropped to her middle and she gently rubbed her stomach. "I must do right by you, little one. I must give you a future." she said aloud. "And that future is not having the shame of an unwed mother." She made her decision with a heavy heart. She would accept Alejandro's offer of marriage. What other choice did she have? At least it would be a marriage of respect and friendship. She couldn't bear the thought of marrying a stranger, without knowing what kind of man he was.

"Please forgive me Diego, but I must do what I think is best for our child."