Up for a Change – Part 1

A/N: I took the time to go through the story again and update some mistakes that escaped me when I wrote it. I haven't found them all, but I tried. Since it was my first story ever, the wording was awkward at some points and I changed that as well, but the story is still the same.

Disclaimer: This story was written solely for the enjoyment of other Zorro fans and is not intended to infringe on any copyrights held by Goodman/Rosen Productions, New World Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of Johnston McCulley or anyone else.

Chapter 1 – A late night talk

Victoria had already gone to bed when she was woken by his presence. She was startled to see him sitting at her bedside.

"Sorry, I didn't want to wake you up,"Zorro said. "I just needed to see you."

He took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly.

"Is the alcalde up to something new?"

"No, not the alcalde. It was only a terrible day today."

"What happened? What about the truce Risendo offered you?"

"Obviously it was a trap. I thought I could outsmart him, but I was wrong. Risendo had an explosion prepared that caused a landslide. Without Toronado I wouldn't have made it from under the rocks. I have been close to death before but not twice a day."

"Twice?"Victoria was shocked. She had never seen him this shaken before. "I could have lost you today and would have known anything what had happened."She wrapped her arms around him holding him close.

He held her tight seeking comfort in their embrace and kissed her again. "Querida, forgive me. I didn't want to upset you. I shouldn't have said something. Better let you mock me for having fallen."The moment he said it he cursed himself for his slip of tongue.

"Mock you? I would never mock you for having escaped death." Her eyes became wide open with shock.

"Did I do this? Do I treat you so badly when I don't know you? Is this the reason you don't tell me your name? How can you love me if I treat you so bad? Forgive me if I treated you wrong."

Victoria was crying now.

"Victoria, please don't cry." He hugged and caressed her. "I have loved you from the start and I always will. There is nothing to forgive. I want you to forgive me for having lied to you all these years. I don't want to burden you with my troubles."

"Troubles? You nearly die and you call that troubles? Don't you think I have a right to know?" Victoria was angry now. "Do you know what it is like not to know what has happened to you? When you don't come to see me I never know if you are just occupied or already lying dead somewhere. I want you to trust me and tell me of your worries. I want to be there for you."

"You are there for me, I can't go on without you. All those years you have put your life on hold waiting for me. But I think we cannot go on like this. Not after today. I want to marry you soon but I need time to think about it. Just let me hold you now."

Without further talking they held each other close, their kisses desperate for nearly having lost each other. It was a long time until he finally let go of her.

"I have to go, before the lancer spot Toronado," he murmured with a hoarse voice. After a final kiss on her cheek he climbed through the window and was gone.

Victoria was tired, but Zorro's visit had left her shocked. For the first time he had let her share his troubles. She was scared that she had nearly lost him today and she couldn't forget what he told her unintentionally. Had she she really been laughing on him when he nearly escaped death? She didn't doubt his words. But who was he then? She tried to remember but couldn't pinpoint the occasion he was referring to. She must have hurt him then. Why didn't he tell her then? How could he love her still?

The thoughts kept swirling in her heard troubling her through the night, until she finally fell into a restless sleep.

The next day Victoria was still in deep thoughts. The missing sleep didn't improve her mood either.