Summary: A rewriting of the episode "Like Father, Like Son", making it, in my opinion, more realistic. What if, instead of being fooled by the fake Zorro, Victoria realizes right away that it really isn't Zorro, and she starts putting the pieces together. An almost total AU of the episode, and a reveal story.

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement meant with story. Characters owned by ZPI, not by me. I only wish to borrow them for a little while. Certain scenes taken from the episode "Like Father, Like Son" by Tim Minear. Also, thanks to PamZ. and her invaluable website of transcripts.

AN: Uh-oh, it appears I'm on a 'reveal' kick, ha. I think I am a few years late coming to the party, but I haven't really explored all my ideas how Zorro's identity can be revealed. I'm actually on a kick of writing AU's to episodes, and most of them ending up to be reveals. Oh well, go figure. So….here's another one which popped into my mind. Sure hope you enjoy it!

In the library, Don Alejandro de la Vega leaned back into the comfortably stuffed arm chair with a sigh. He placed the glass of red wine on the table beside him, turned to the book in his lap with a sense of anticipation and began to read his most favorite book for only the estimated tenth time in his life. Or more. Over the years he had lost count. At times he couldn't understand his lollygagging son's fascination with books and art instead of the more active pursuits of life, except when he considered Don Quixote. Whenever he thought of that book, Alejandro immediately could sympathize with his son's fascination with the written word. Cervantes' book was indeed one of life's masterpieces. And one of life's greatest joys.

As he sipped his favorite vintage and enjoyed the adventures of Don Quixote, Alejandro lost all sense of time. He finished the glass of wine and distractedly placed it on the end table next to him, knocking off a paperweight, which rolled into the unlit fireplace. Alejandro looked up, not knowing what had made the noise and saw the paperweight in the fireplace. I better pick it up before I forget.

Not wanting to lose his place in the book, Alejandro continued to read the book as he got up from his chair and headed towards the fireplace. Without observing his surroundings, after he picked up the paperweight, he stood up without clearing the fireplace and hit his head on the brick. As he stumbled backwards, dropping his book, Alejandro's hand reached out for the nearest object, which was the fireplace mantle, not realizing his fingers hit a secret button, revealing a concealed passageway. Dizzy from the hit on the head, he lost his balance and stumbled down several stairs and ended up in a heap on the floor of a room he hadn't seen or thought of in years.

~~Z~~Z~~Z~~Z~~Z~~

Felipe entered the cave, through the outdoor entrance, intent only to do his afternoon chores. He had been busy with finishing his chores outside and had lost track of time. Instead of being able to focus on Toronado, he found Don Alejandro lying on his side at the bottom of the short flight of stairs. Felipe rushed to the elder man's side, checked his pulse, and for any other injuries. He was relieved to feel a steady pulse and to only find a small bump on the side of Alejandro's head with only a small amount of dried blood covering it.

Felipe considered his options. He didn't want to leave Alejandro alone in the cave in case he woke up, but he also wasn't able to carry him out on his own. He shook his head, despairing there was no way to get Diego's attention from there, got up and rushed out of the cave to find Diego.

Luckily Diego was in the larger salon, reading a book. Felipe rushed to Diego, and signed what had happened. They rushed to the cave, only to find it empty.

"Felipe, you're certain he fell right here? You did say that?" Diego asked, not hiding the concern in his voice.

Felipe nodded, then looked up at Toronado's stall, only to find it empty. He grabbed Diego's arm and pointed at it. Diego closed his eyes and sighed, then looked at the coat rack where he kept Zorro's outfit only to find his father's slacks and shirt instead. "Oh no, Felipe. I think we need to hurry to the pueblo as soon as possible. I will take Esperanza and you follow with the wagon."

Felipe also was able to deduce what might have happened. He rushed out at fast as he could to keep up with Diego as he hurried to the stables. Hopefully we're not too late.

~~Z~~Z~~Z~~Z~~Z~~

Diego pushed Esperanza to her limits and got to the pueblo quickly. He had no idea what he was going to find when he arrived, but hopefully the day wouldn't end with any of them at the end of the Alcalde's noose. If anyone drew any conclusions between Zorro's costume, his father, and himself and Felipe, and perhaps even Victoria…would all be in danger.

Upon reaching the pueblo, his eyes quickly scanned for Toronado. Riding in between the pueblo's livery and an empty storefront, Diego decided to take a chance. Making sure no one was watching, he whistled his special whistle for Zorro's mount and was soon rewarded with the appearance of Toronado at his side.

"Good boy. Go home now, I'll see you there." He whispered, "I hope," as he gave the horse a pat on the rear flank and watched him gallop away towards their hacienda.

Not knowing where else to go, Diego made his way to Victoria's tavern. Upon reaching the door, he heard his father say, ""That is no way to treat a lady, Senor."

Peering around the corner, he observed his father, wearing Zorro's costume, knock out a man in front of Victoria, then take off through the kitchen. Diego quickly looked around, especially at the Alcalde's office, and breathed a sigh of relief. No sign of him or the lancers. He headed around the back of the tavern, and was happy to see Felipe there with the wagon.

~~Z~~Z~~Z~~Z~~Z~~

Victoria wiped a tired hand across her brow. It had been a busy lunch hour, and the heat was particularly oppressive. Luckily siesta was almost at hand, and most of her customers had left. She grabbed a pile of dirty dishes on the nearest table and was about to bring them to the kitchen when she observed a new customer approach the bar. She rushed to the bar, placing the dirty dishes at the end, wiped her hands on a towel and turned to her last customer. "What may I help you with, Senor?"

She noticed the man appeared to have three days' growth of beard and his clothes were dusty. Before she could react, he had grabbed her by the wrist. "Why don't you and I go upstairs, pretty senorita? You look like you need a rest."

As she was about to snatch her arm away and to give the man a piece of her mind, Victoria found herself facing empty space. Zorro indeed was present, a sword at the newcomer's throat, away from her at the end of the bar after pulling the stranger there. "That is no way to treat a lady, Senor."

"Show me a lady and I will act accordingly," the stranger sneered.

Zorro then took his fist and struck the man, knocking him out. "You must learn some manners, Senor." As the man crumbled to the ground, Zorro stepped over him and reached for Victoria's hand. Raising it to his lips, Zorro placed a gentle kiss on the back of it and said, "I trust you are not hurt, senorita?"

Victoria was able to take her first good look at 'Zorro'. "No, I'm fine, Zorro. Thank you for coming to my assistance." She smiled at him, but was startled to see gray in the unusually thin mustache. Her eyes roamed over his face, noting his eyes were brown, not blue, and there was gray hair sticking out below the mask. Speaking of the mask, it didn't fit as well as it usually did; the eyeholes didn't match up. In fact, the entire outfit didn't fit as well as it usually did, appearing to be too long for the man wearing it.

I don't know who this is but it isn't Zorro. Whoever it is, he better leave before the Alcalde arrives, however.

Deciding to play along with him, Victoria told the imposter, "I wish you could stay, Zorro, but you should leave. Hurry out the back before the Alcalde and the lancers arrive."

'Zorro' nodded, and Victoria's eyes followed his progress out through the curtains and out her kitchen. She rushed to follow him, and made it to the back door, looking out to see Diego and Felipe rush up to 'Zorro', each grabbing an arm, and leading him off to their buggy, which was parked nearby. She hid behind her door to continue observing them putting the man in the back of the buggy, and cover him up with a blanket, while the man protested. She observed Diego grab the man by the shoulder, followed by the man becoming unconscious. Felipe then leaped up and grabbed the reins while Diego sat beside the unconscious man. Victoria looked in amazement as the buggy took off.

What just happened? Why did Diego take the masked man? How did the man get Zorro's outfit? And how was Diego able to make the man unconscious?

Victoria stepped outside and looked around. She breathed another sigh of relief to observe no one was present. Luckily, siesta had started and the streets were deserted. Everyone was resting. Like I should be. It's been a very exhausting morning. And now all this happens, puzzling as it is.

She made her way back to the tavern, walking through the kitchen with the piles of dishes and sighed. Knowing she wasn't going to get any rest with her brain all in an uproar, she decided to begin washing the dishes. Actually, she decided to wash up the pots which had been soaking because she suddenly felt an overwhelming need to take her frustrations out on something.

As she began to scrub the pots furiously, Victoria stopped, wondering what exactly had gotten her upset. It must have been the whole incident with the fake Zorro. But why? She reviewed what had happened, as she scrubbed the pots. When she got to the part of remembering Diego leading the fake Zorro away, the suds were flying out of the sink as she scrubbed the pots harder.

Stopping what she was doing, Victoria grabbed a nearby towel and wiped her hands. What she needed to do was to write down her scattered thoughts, to make sense of all this. To see if she really did have something to get angry about.

Grabbing pen and paper, she began a list:

1. Who is the fake Zorro? Gray mustache and hair. Brown eyes. Medium height.

2. Why would Diego and Felipe take the fake Zorro away?

3. Where would he get Zorro's outfit? Was it actually the real Zorro's outfit?

Victoria considered her list. She was about to begin making a list of all the men who would fit the description, but her hand stopped in mid-write. What did all three questions have in common? Who did Diego know who had gray in his mustache and hair? Brown eyes even when Diego's was blue?

Was it Don Alejandro under the mask? He did have brown eyes, his hair and mustache a mixture of gray in them. And the fake Zorro was about Don Alejandro's height. But how did he get Zorro's outfit, and how did Diego know to arrive in time to take him away?

All of a sudden it was as if shutters were removed from windows, letting in the sunshine. Victoria shook her head; she couldn't believe it. First she couldn't believe it was true. Then she couldn't believe she'd never seen it all along. Especially when Zorro first appeared, at the same time Diego had returned from Spain. And never actually seeing Diego be in the same room with Zorro, the real Zorro, that is.

Diego was Zorro. Zorro was Diego de la Vega…the coward of the pueblo. Her best friend. Her confidante. The scum.

All along, her best friend was keeping a secret away from her. Here she was, always worrying about Zorro being dead in a cavern somewhere, and there he was, the next day, sitting in her tavern, eating her food, smiling at her, watching her work, as if nothing was wrong. Did he actually laugh at her behind her back? Did he ever mean anything he said, about loving her, about marrying her?

Suddenly everything she thought she knew about either of the two most important men in her life was under doubt. Did she ever really know Diego de la Vega?

AN: Uh-oh, will Victoria forgive Diego? What is she going to do? Did you enjoy the chapter? Make a poor author happy and let me know if you found it entertaining. Always appreciated! And thanks again for reading and enjoying it. And don't forget to come back and see what happens next.