Disclaimer: No copyright infringement meant with story. Characters owned by ZPI
Diego entered the tavern, followed by Felipe. All Diego expected to do today was to eat lunch and enjoy catching the occasional glimpse of his secret beloved. He hadn't expected the tavern to be so busy with other patrons. Because of the unusual crowd, Diego's favorite table was taken. Felipe led Diego to a table in the corner after giving Diego a sympathetic smile. Felipe knew Diego preferred a certain table because it gave the best view of the tavern owner as she went on with her work.
Alicia rushed over to the de la Vegas and informed them of the specials. Both men ordered the chicken and rice. Alicia smiled, knowing this dish was one of Don Diego's favorites. She also knew Don Diego also favored the young taverness, despite her longing for one masked hero.
The two young men passed the time watching the other patrons, often giving and returning greetings with the other diners. Felipe smiled when he caught Diego again attempting to catch a glimpse of Victoria, who was mainly staying in the kitchen cooking.
"What?" Diego asked Felipe, catching his smile. Rolling his eyes, Diego admitted, "Yes, I know I am doing it again. I can't wait to tease you when you are in love."
Alicia brought their meals, and gave a sigh as she placed them in front of the men. "I can't believe how busy we are today. Victoria hasn't had a moment to leave the kitchen."
"Tell Victoria we say hello, in case she doesn't get the time to come out to visit us today."
Alicia gave Diego a smile. "Yes, Don Diego, I will make sure she knows that." She winked at Diego before bouncing off towards the kitchen.
Felipe again smiled at Diego, and then raised an eyebrow at his adopted father. "Oh, you too? Yes, I know I haven't been as careful lately in hiding my attraction to her, but I just can't help it."
When they were done with their lunch, Diego then nodded towards the exit. As they were about to leave, Alicia hurried up to them.
"Wait, Don Diego. Victoria apologizes she wasn't able to talk to you at this time. She requests you return to the tavern during siesta, if you are able to."
Diego raised his eyebrows in puzzlement at the uncharacteristic request. "Did she give a reason for this?"
Alicia smiled, "She just said she hasn't had the opportunity to visit with you lately. So will you be able to return?"
"Yes, I can do that." Diego considered all factors for a minute, then continued. "On second thought, I do need to work on some articles for the next issue of The Guardian, so if she would rather come to the office when she can."
Alicia stated she will give Victoria the message, and the men left the tavern. Felipe stated he would go visit a friend while Diego was working and said good-bye.
After several hours of successful editing, Diego looked up in appreciation when Victoria entered the Guardian office. After taking the chair next to the desk Diego indicated, Victoria looked down at her grasped hands in her lap and gave a big sigh. She then looked up at Diego, who was waiting expectantly for her to state the reason for her visit.
"I just want to let you know I made sure the Alcalde is with his men in the barracks, and no one else is around in the pueblo right now."
"Oh? Why did you do that?"
Victoria swallowed and continued. "I want to let you know there's no one to overhear our conversation." She exhaled deeply and continued, "I want to ask you something, Diego. And I want you to tell me the truth."
Diego's heart dropped to his stomach. This could be it. This could be where Victoria confronts him about Zorro. He was aware of his increasing inability to hide his attraction to the beautiful raven-haired senorita sitting next to him. Diego wondered what clue he had inadvertently let slip which led Victoria to her discovery.
Victoria noticed Diego's slight shudder. She shook her head, still not wanting to believe what she had realized over the past few days. Diego's behavior, and his sudden slight change in complexion, added credence to her belief.
"You and I have been friends since childhood. I don't think there's anything we haven't told each other. At least, I used to think that. Until recently. When I caught you looking at me in the tavern when you think I wasn't watching. You have done that before, but this week, I noticed a different look. A look I only have seen in another man's eyes. Behind a mask."
Diego shuffled in his chair. He then stood up, went to Victoria's side, and knelt down beside her. Taking her hand in his, Diego stated, "I have wanted to tell you for such a long time. I wanted to be the one to tell you."
Victoria said in a whisper, "Tell me what, Diego? I need to hear you say it."
"I am Zorro."
Victoria looked into the deep blue eyes of her close friend, and wondered why she never noticed they were also the eyes of the man she loved. Supposedly loved. And who supposedly loved her. If so, why did he lie to her all these years?
Anger rose within her despite her best efforts. "I don't know Diego. I don't know what to say. I don't know if I'm angrier that my best friend has indeed lied to me all these years, or that the man I supposedly loved has been under my nose all this time?"
"I know you're angry. I expected you to be. I just hope, after you think about it, you realize I only did it for your safety, and for the sake of the pueblo." As a feeble defense, he added, "My father doesn't even know."
"What? Don Alejandro doesn't know? How can that be?" Victoria was momentarily distracted.
Diego rose, and began to pace in front of his desk. "You see, I came up with the idea of Zorro to get you and my father out of prison. Ramon threatened me, as my father's son, not to do anything to help you both. He threatened my family, our lands, and our legacy. I thought up Zorro to hide my identity to protect everything and everyone I loved. I had only thought to do it the one time, but it was so successful, I had to keep doing it."
"But why keep it a secret from your family? From me? Or was the idea of marrying me only part of the act as well?"
Rushing to her side, taking her hands in his, Diego implored her to believe him. "No, not at all, Victoria. I've loved you since our childhood. When I left for Spain, I was so worried you would be married before I returned. Instead, I returned to find you all grown-up, running the tavern so successfully, and even more beautiful."
Victoria sighed. She thought of how her feelings for Diego had indeed been more than a friend for so long as well. However, she still was hurt by his inability to trust her with this secret. For not including her in his mission. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
"Diego, I need to have some time to think about this. I….I am just so angry with you at this time." Victoria stormed out, slamming the door of his office behind her in a flurry of skirts and petticoats.
Diego went outside and watched her cross the pueblo and enter the tavern without a backward glance. He sighed, and then returned to his office.
After attempting to focus on his work, Diego gave up after an hour. He cleared off his desk and left his office, determined to at least check on Victoria. Siesta had ended, so she would be back at work.
He walked over to the tavern, but he noticed a small crowd had gathered on the porch.
"Don Diego, the tavern remains closed," Don Carlos informed Diego as he walked past Diego while leaving the porch.
Diego went around to the back of the tavern. Senses alert, he didn't observe anything out of place. He wondered if Victoria could've been so upset she would keep the tavern closed, but he doubted that would be the case. Her loyalty to her employees, much less to the pueblo, wouldn't allow her to not be open if she could help it.
He knocked on the door, and called out to Victoria. Receiving no answer, he tried the door. It was unlocked, so he cautiously stuck his head into the tavern. Seeing no one in the kitchen, he approached the entryway to the dining room, and lifted the curtain.
"You tell us where your money is, and you tell us now!" was accompanied with a slap.
Diego watched in horror as a man slapped Victoria, resulting in her falling to the ground. Before he could stop himself, Diego entered the dining room with only one thing on his mind. However, before he could reach the man who had struck his beloved, the man's accomplice had approached Diego from behind and knocked him on the head with his gun. Victoria cried out as she watched Diego fall to the ground.
Consciousness returned with a headache for Diego. He attempted to lift his hand to his head, but it was restrained. Remembering what had occurred, Diego opened his eyes and frantically looked for Victoria. He found her, standing, tied to a post at the other end of the bar. He himself was sitting on the floor, hands tied above his head. Taking in the rest of the surroundings, he found three men he didn't recognize, guns drawn, looking at him.
"Ah, the hero is awake. So, what does he think of us now?"
"Why haven't you taken the money and left already?" Diego asked, afraid of the answer.
"Because there is now a crowd in front of the tavern, probably thanks to you, Senor. What do you recommend us to do?" the apparent leader asked, walking to Victoria and brushing her hair back from her face. Victoria couldn't resist pulling away from his touch.
"If you leave the Senorita alone, I will guarantee safe passage for you and the money out of the pueblo."
"No, don't Diego!" Victoria exclaimed.
"Diego? As in Diego de la Vega?" Victoria was afraid of saying anything. "Boys, I think we have been looking at this the wrong way. We can certainly get more money with lover boy here."
All Diego could think about was getting the bandits away from Victoria. Her safety was more important than anything else in the world. He closed his eyes and prayed his idea would do that, as well as keep everyone else safe as well.
"Like I said, if you leave the senorita alone, I will accompany you out of the pueblo. On the way, we can stop at my father's hacienda and he will give you whatever you want."
Victoria was scared. They didn't know these men, or what they were capable of. She now knew what Diego was capable of, but he was tied up and outnumbered, without his Zorro equipment. She may still be angry with him, but she didn't want anything to happen to him.
"Diego, I think…." Victoria started, despite herself.
"I think we have a deal, Don de la Vega." The leader nodded at his men. One man held a gun at Victoria's head while another untied Diego from the bar and retied his hands behind his back. He and his men led Diego to the door of the tavern.
"All of you out there! Step away from the door unless you want to be responsible for Diego's death."
They stepped out. Diego noted the crowd, with his father in front of it. He sighed. He should have known his father was also in town. Don Alejandro put out a hand and stopped Felipe, who had taken a step forwards towards the men.
"What do you men want? What can we do to get you to release my son?" Don Alejandro shouted.
"We are going to head out of town, with a stop at the de la Vega hacienda. We will then get our money promised to us by your son. We will then leave, with Diego, until we're sure we're not being followed. We will then release him at that time and go on our way."
"What are our reassurances you'll release Diego unharmed?" Don Alejandro asked.
The leader grabbed Diego by the back of his head. "Who says anything about being unharmed?"
"If you do harm him, you won't get away. You will be hunted down until you're caught and killed!" Don Alejandro yelled, displaying the famous de la Vega temper.
"Just so we understand each other. Leave us alone and we won't harm Diego, then. As long as he also cooperates."
They led Diego to some horses. "We will commandeer these horses."
The crowd watched as they rode out of town. Alejandro rushed into the tavern, followed by Felipe, and went over to Victoria, who was still tied to the bar.
"Oh, Don Alejandro, I didn't know what to do. Diego came in here and tried to help me, and they knocked him out…." She told him as he was untying her.
"Diego came rushing in here to help you against armed robbers? My Diego?" Don Alejandro was shocked at his son's uncharacteristic behavior. He wouldn't have thought his mild-mannered son had such courage in him.
Victoria was at a loss for words. Suddenly she realized how difficult Diego's life had been over the past four years. All of the deceptions Diego had to carry out. How did he ever keep it all straight?
"Um, I guess he was so worried about me that he…." Suddenly, it was all too much. Victoria burst into tears. Only part of it was an act to distract Don Alejandro.
Don Alejandro was taken aback by the uncharacteristic display of emotions. Victoria was normally the strongest woman he knew, not falling into "women vapors".
"Come Victoria, let's sit down before you fall over." Don Alejandro led her to a table and pulled out a chair for her. He then looked up at Felipe and motioned him to sit down beside them.
"Don't worry, Victoria, we will figure this out."
AN: Sorry for the abrupt ending. I have had this in my computer for a long while now, and I want to post it. So I will be adding to this soon, but wanted to share what I had with you wonderful readers. Hope you enjoyed it, and let me know what you think, if you like. Thanks!