Disclaimer: I do not own Zorro, nor do I make any money from writing this story. Dialogue and situations used from the episode are property of ZPI, the rest of the story is my property and cannot be printed or used without my permission.

Author's Note: So for the fourth time I tried to use this reveal in a longer story. I give up. And I'm tired and stressed and don't feel like studying for the final I have in 10hrs.

This isn't tied to an episode. Diego's tired...just like me.

zzz

Diego stifled a groan and jolted awake when he heard the front door to the hacienda slam. He was so tired, his body ached all over. He'd spent all night dismantling a gang of thieves. He was starting to think the thieves in Los Angeles were getting smarter. In Madrid, everyone came to challenge him to a duel. Now Diego was worried Los Angeles was becoming a challenge to thieves who wanted to see if they could best Zorro.

He quickly turned his book right-side up when he heard footsteps.

"Buenos Tardes, Don Diego," Victoria said as she entered the library.

Diego sighed as he sat up straighter, happy to see her but still wishing he could crawl into bed. He smiled and greeted the love of his life, trying to remember the look of adoration and the blush which had come over her face when Zorro had kissed her hand an hour ago. Now, she didn't look especially happy to see him. Diego slouched back in the chair, stretching out his tired legs and letting the book fall back onto his stomach as his father followed her in.

He tried to pay attention as his father filled his lazy son in on the events of the day, really he did. Even Victoria's smile as she and Alejandro spoke of Zorro's latest adventure didn't seem to wake him up today. He started wondering how long he'd have to sit here before he could sneak away.

He jumped when Alejandro's voice turned harsh when Diego tried to start reading again. Diego never does anything. Diego is always sleeping. Yes, he'd heard all this before. He didn't need to hear the lecture again. All yesterday he'd been hard at work on an experiment, and then he and Toronado had spent the night crisscrossing the countryside. He looked sadly after his father when Alejandro left the library in a huff, wishing things could be different.

He sat back to find Victoria scowling at him. "What?"

"Don't you ever get tired of…" Victoria glanced around, at a loss for words.

"Tired of what?"

Victoria pounced. "Exactly!"

Diego closed his book and tossed it lazily on the table beside his chair. His eyes fell closed as he leaned his head back and stretched out further. "Am I supposed to know what that means?"

"Diego, your father is trying to help the people, to fight against the alcalde's schemes. Don't you want to help him?"

Diego peeked at her through one eye. "You said Zorro helped him. What was there for me to do?"

"Are you falling asleep?"

Diego lazily shook his head, rolling it against the back of the chair rather than lifting his head.

"It's barely after noon!"

"I'm tired." Diego smelled her perfume and smiled up at her when he realized she'd walked closer.

"Tired from what? What have you done today? Yet your father has been busy in the pueblo all morning after Zorro spent all night protecting our highway. Zorro brought everyone's money back. Your father and I could have used your help returning it to the victims."

"I bet Zorro's very tired, then."

Victoria had to grin as she shook her head at her friend. "If you were Zorro, you'd have an excuse to sleep in the afternoon. What's your excuse?"

Diego stretched his legs again and crossed his ankles out in front of him. Victoria almost kicked him when he didn't respond. "Diego?"

"What?" Diego complained as he glanced up at her, trying to get comfortable. "Aren't you tired? You said you've been helping my father all morning. Why aren't you tired, then?"

"I said Zorro had an excuse to sleep the afternoon away, not me."

"So I have an excuse. Let me sleep." Diego closed his eyes and stretched his toes as he settled his shoulders deeper into the chair.

"Diego, you're not making any sense."

"I said I'm Zorro." Diego opened his eyes after a long beat of silence, and now he did smile at her expression. He still wasn't in the mood to talk, however. "And Zorro wants to take a nap." He reached out a hand and snagged her arm, tipping her off balance and gathering her in his lap. She quickly started to protest, but he hushed her as he would a baby. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against his chest as he slouched again.

"Shhh, Querida. Talk later. Sleep now. Early siesta."

"But—"

"Querida, I spent all night riding. I kissed your hand this morning under the tree in the back of your tavern. If you aren't going to let me sleep, I'm going to kiss you again."

Victoria sat up straight and gaped at him. Diego grinned as he pushed her hair away from her face and caressed her cheek, finally running his fingers over her lips. "And this time I won't be a gentleman and kiss your hand."

Diego watched the indecision cloud her eyes for a moment before they turned curious at the promise in his voice. Diego smiled bigger and pressed a thumb against her lip. "Of course, if you're not tired I'm happy to—"

Victoria blushed furiously and curled back into his chest before he could finish.

"I don't understand."

"Talk later. Just let me hold you for a minute. Zorro needs his beauty rest."

Zzz

Author's Note 2: So…yeah. Nothing much. In the beginning of the semester, at least I was writing. Now I just feel like I've been hit by a mack truck and left on the side of the road. I already have one story with him tired, so I guess this doesn't even deserve a review if you read that one. But I'm sad and tired and don't feel like studying for finals and can't seem to write anything interesting.

If you like the idea of one chapter reveals, let me know. Or if you think it's stupid. I tend to think reveals are the most fun to write/read, so I hope this might be fun. Hopefully someone will enjoy a few of the chapters.

Also, I opened a thread for challenges in my forum, so check it out and post something if you have an idea. Moonlight…I have a plan for it, but… please be patient. We'll see if inspiration strikes after finals.