DINNER GUEST

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

Plot – Decisions are made when Victoria has a late night dinner guest.

Set a month after the end of the series.

I wrote this story over 2 years ago and I thought it was time to get it posted :) This was partially inspired by a story by Linda Binda called Letters.

Chapter 1

Victoria pushed the heavy bolt across the main wooden doors of her tavern and let out a small sigh. It had been a busy day for her and the girls and for once she was glad that she had no overnight guests; all she wanted to do was to soak her aching feet in a bucket of water and then go to bed and sleep for a week. She was tired and lonely; she hadn't seen Zorro in weeks and even her closest friend Diego de la Vega hadn't been in the pueblo for almost a week. It had been four weeks since the death of Emissary Gilberto Risendo; four weeks since everyone had come to learn that the Emissary was the unknown son of Don Alejandro and twin brother to Don Diego.

She sighed again as she picked up the last of the dirty glasses from the bar and walked slowly through the curtain that separated the main taproom from the kitchen. She placed them in the basin and decided that these last several dirty items could wait until the morning. She was about remove the pot of beef stew that was gently simmering over the low fire when she suddenly felt a presence behind her.

She whirled around, brandishing a glass high, "Who's there?" she demanded.

"It's only me, Victoria." Zorro said with some amusement in his voice, as he stepped out of the shadows.

She let out a sigh of relief, "You should stop doing that or one of these days I'll end up hitting you." she said sternly as she placed the glass back in the basin.

He nodded as he took a step forward, "I know, please forgive me." he pleaded as he opened his arms.

She tried to resist his charm but the pleading look in his blue eyes, melted her and she rushed into his embrace, "I'll forgive you, just this once." she said as she laid her head against his broad chest.

He chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her, "I've missed you." he whispered as he placed a gentle kiss on top of her head and held her tight.

"I've missed you too." she replied as she snuggled into his warmth.

For several quiet moments they just held each, enjoying the simple feeling of being in each other's arms.

Then Zorro's stomach made a grumbling noise, which caused Victoria to giggle.

"My apologies Senorita." he said, somewhat embarrassed.

"It's alright Senor. Would you like something to eat, I have some stew..."

He shook his head, "There's no need to go to any trouble, I'm fine."

"It wouldn't be any trouble Zorro. In fact I would love to cook for - " She was interrupted by another grumbling sound, louder this time, "You are hungry. When was the last time you had something to eat?"

Zorro grinned sheepishly, he was indeed hungry, "Well, not since lunch." he admitted.

She pulled out of his embrace, "No wonder your stomach is making noises. Let me heat up some stew for you." she crossed over to the fireplace and built up the fire once more before she swung the pot of stew over the flames.

"But Victoria, you don't have to - " he started to say, he didn't want her to go to any trouble, just for him.

"Nonsense, let me do this for you. Besides I have no guests tonight, if that's what is worrying you." She said firmly as she began stirring the pot of stew.

He inhaled deeply as the sweet aroma of the stew made him realised just how hungry was, "Very well but only if you join me." he said.

Victoria turned around and blushed at the look of love shining from his eyes, "I would love to, we haven't had a meal together since..." she paused.

"Since I proposed to you." he finished, remembering that bittersweet afternoon six months ago.

She beamed, "I know, let's make it another special meal. I have received a new order of wine just today and would like your opinion of it." she said excitedly as she disappeared into the store room. She came back shortly, carrying a bottle of wine, to find that Zorro had removed his hat and gloves and he was slowly stirring the pot of stew.

"You don't have to do that." she said as she tried to take the spoon from him but he gently pushed her away, "But I want to." he replied as he continued stirring.

She shook her head but let him have his way as she opened the bottle of wine and poured them both a glass, "Here, try this." she handed him his glass.

Zorro took the glass from her and took a sip, "Mmm, that's good, sweet." he commented as he watched Victoria take a sip herself, wondering what was missing.

She nodded, "Yes, it's nice. I think it will sell well." she replied as she placed her glass on the table and found Zorro staring at her, "I must be a mess." she said self consciously as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"You have never looked more beautiful. I..." he paused as he realised what was missing. He left the spoon in the pot and took her hands in his, "Since this is to be a special meal, I would be honoured if you wore your ring."

Her eyes widened in surprise, "You would like me to wear it now!"

He nodded. "Si, just for tonight. I would like for us to sit down to a meal as a normal engaged couple." he said.

"I'll be right back." and she was gone.

Zorro chuckled as he returned to the fire and started stirring once again.

Victoria all but ran up the stairs to her room; she was no longer tired but overjoyed to spend some time with the man she loved. She reached her room, crossed over to her dresser, opened the second drawer and pulled out the small wooden box that held the exquisite diamond and emerald ring that Zorro had given her and with her heart pounding, she slipped it onto her third finger.

When she checked her appearance in the mirror she was dismayed at her clothes; she felt drab compared with the beautiful ring on her finger. Then she smiled as she remembered the new dress she had bought the last time she was in Santa Paula, a dress that she hadn't worn yet, having had no occasion to wear it. Well this is an occasion, she thought as she quickly changed.

Zorro thought about Victoria as he slowly stirred the stew. He knew the time was coming to unmask to her; he no longer wanted to live without her, even his father kept telling him to do so. He had felt a strange weight lift from his shoulders when he finally admitted to his father that he was Zorro, after the older man had confronted him four weeks ago. His father had been shocked and hurt but he understood the need for the secrecy and now, they were rebuilding their relationship to what it should have been. He let out a long sigh as he thought about the twin brother he never knew he had and wondered what it would have been like if Gilberto had been raised within their loving family and not stolen by a mad woman.

Victoria came through the curtain and was surprised to hear Zorro sigh, "Is anything wrong?" she asked softly.

He shook his head as he turned around, "No, Victoria, noth..." he couldn't finish as he stared at the vision in front of him, "Dios." he whispered. He couldn't help it, he gaped like a schoolboy.

She was wearing a dress that he had never seen before. It was deep blue, with a pattern of silver swirls throughout; it was off the shoulder, revealing her honey smooth skin, with a low vee cut neckline which gave him a tantalising view of her curves without being indecent and as his eyes slowly ran the length of her body, he noticed that the dress hugged her in all the right places. Perhaps this late dinner wasn't a good idea after all, he mused to himself.

Victoria felt a very feminine satisfaction at Zorro's look of admiration as his eyes trailed over her; she was very pleased that she had changed clothes.

Zorro came to his senses and his manners as he reached for her hand and gazed deeply into her eyes, "All the stars in the heavens could not compare with your beauty tonight." his voice husky as he kissed her hand, pleased by the slight flush that rose over her cheeks.

They were interrupted by Zorro's grumbling stomach once more and this time they both chuckled at the sound.

She shook her head, "Zorro, please go and sit down, the stew should be ready by now."

As he watched Victoria turned back to the fireplace to dish out their meal, his gaze travelled down her back to her hips and stayed there. "Dios" he muttered to himself, how he was going to survive the night without disgracing himself? It was that damn dress, he reflected as he shook his head, if he wasn't careful, it would be the death of him. He picked up their glasses and moved through the curtain to the tables in the main taproom.

Victoria soon followed him and placed their plates and cutlery on the table before she sat down across from him. She raised her glass of wine, "Here's to us." she smiled warmly at Zorro.

Zorro raised his glass, matching her smile with his own and gazed lovingly into her eyes, "May we have many more meals together." he replied.

She blushed again at the love shining from his eyes, "Many more," she replied before they took a sip of their wine, "I hope you like the stew."

"I'm sure I will." he replied as he picked up his fork.

Then came the rumbling sound again and to Victoria's horror, it was her stomach that made the noise.

"Oh no," she giggled, "That was me."

He chuckled, "I'm not the only one who is hungry, hmm." he teased with a twinkle in his blue eyes.

"I guess not." she laughed back.

Over the next several minutes, the only sound in the tavern was of the cutlery clanging against plates as they ate with relish.

"Mmm, that's delicious Victoria, thank you." he said as he smiled warmly.

She blushed at his compliment, "Would you like some more, there's still plenty left."

"Well, perhaps a little more, if you don't mind."

She beamed with happiness, "Of course not Zorro, it's my pleasure." she took his plate and returned to the kitchen where she dished out more of the stew before she headed back outside and placed the plate in front of him, "Would you like more wine?" she held the bottle up as she sat down.

He shook his head; he already had a half a glass of wine and he couldn't afford to dull his reflexes with any more, "As much as I would like to, I mustn't. If I come across any lancers or bandits on the way back..."

She nodded, "I understand." she smiled as she watched him eat. She felt a rush of pride at his obvious enjoyment of her cooking, she had always wanted to cook for him. She would like to cook for him every day but that would be impossible unless he removed his mask. She gave a sad little sigh.

Zorro had finished his second helping and looked up at her sigh, he reached out and touched her hand, "Is anything wrong?" he asked concerned.

She shook her head, "No, it's nothing."

"Victoria, what is it." he said softly as he clasped her hand.

"Oh Zorro, I wish we could be together." she felt tears welling in her eyes.

He moved from his seat and knelt beside her, took both her hands in his and gazed into her eyes, "I wish the same. I long for the day that you can wear your ring in public, for us to marry." his voice unsteady with his emotions.

"But when Zorro, I feel that time is moving too fast, the years pass with no end in sight for us." she whispered as she fought back tears.

"Soon Victoria," he said as he caressed her face, "Perhaps sooner than you think." he whispered.

She was startled by this admission, "What do you mean?" she asked.

He moved and sat beside her, "Have you noticed that the Alcalde hasn't been his usual self lately, that he's changed somehow?"

She thought about it, "Well, yes now that you have mentioned it, he has been acting differently. He seems more concerned about the people and he hasn't raised any new taxes either. Perhaps he is thinking up a new way to capture you."

He nodded, "At first, I thought that too but now I don't think so. I've noticed a change in him after he shot the Emissary."

She frowned, "So do you really think he has changed?"

"I hope so." he said softly. It was time to get on with his life, to leave the mask behind for good, "Victoria, if I am to unmask, I need to make sure that de Soto has changed and that this isn't some strange ruse to capture me. For if I am captured, you would surely hang beside me and that is something I don't want to happen."

She shivered as she realised, once again, just how dangerous it was to be involved with Zorro; a bandit who had a price on his head.

He felt her shiver and wrapped his arm around her waist, "I'm sorry to be so blunt but I need you to know the consequences of revealing myself to you, that it could mean your own death." He planted a soft kiss to her hair.

Victoria's heart pounded as she realised that he was thinking of unmasking to her, "I made that choice long ago. How long do you think it will be before you can?" her voice unsteady.

He sighed, "I don't know." he slowly ran his fingers through her soft hair. He thought hard, he was tired of all the deception and he just wanted to make Victoria his wife, "Let's say in one month's time, if the alcalde is still behaving as he has been, I'll come back here."

She gasped, in one month, she would finally know Zorro's identity, "You will unmask in one month's time!"

He shook his head, "I'm sorry, I meant that I will wait a month and then we both decide on a plan." When he saw her disappointed look, he gently caressed her face with his hand, "We are that much closer to our dreams than the day I proposed to you."

She nodded, "I know but I just want - " she didn't finish as Zorro gently pressed his warm lips against hers.

"I promise you, Victoria, our time is coming." he whispered against her lips before he kissed her again with growing intensity.

She melted against his broad chest; she loved the feel of his warm lips on hers, of his moustache tickling her upper lip as she slowly wrapped her arms him and returned his heated kisses with her own.

Zorro tore his lips away from hers and left a trail of hot kisses along her neck; he just couldn't get enough of her soft, silky skin and wanted to sample all that she had to offer. He felt a rush of male pride at her intake of breath and by the small shiver that his actions caused her. She shivered again at the flood of warmth that was spreading through her body from his caresses and wanted more, much more; she needed to touch him. Her fingers seemed to have a life of their own as they popped the top two buttons of his shirt and spread the fabric open before she placed her hands on his bare chest and felt his hard muscles ripple under her wandering fingers.

He groaned at the feel of her warm fingers caressing his bare skin; never before he wanted her so much as he reclaimed her soft, sweet lips in a deep and hungry kiss. She was overwhelmed by all the sensations he was creating within her and as his teased her lips apart and darted his tongue against hers, she felt a strange throbbing ache in her lower regions. Never before had they kissed like this, with such passion, with such longing that she returned his passion with growing abandon.

They finally had to come up for air and Zorro knew that he had to stop, otherwise he would make her his wife in all but name. He moved down the bench, away temptation, "I...we...can't." he said breathlessly.

"I know but..." she replied, equally out of breath. She would willingly give herself to him tonight, even if it wasn't sanctioned by the church.

Zorro saw the unspoken invitation in her eyes and he knew how easy it would be to take her up on the sweet offer but he shook his head, "I'm sorry Victoria. I must go." he said as he stood up and gazed down at the woman he loved, "Soon Victoria, and then we will never be apart again." with that he rushed through the curtains to grab his hat and gloves and then he was gone.

Victoria stayed where she was, stunned by the level of desire that had swept through her body. It was nothing like she had felt before; a burning ache, a yearning for something more. She knew a little of what occurs between men and women; after all she ran a tavern which was patronised mostly by men and some of the conversations that she had overheard, had made her blush. It made her wish that she had a close female friend to discuss such matters.

As Zorro rode home, he too was shocked by their strong desire for each other. Occasionally he had become aroused but never like he had been tonight. For tonight had been different. Tonight, he had felt Victoria's increasing desire for him, which in turn escalated his and it had almost spiralled out of control. He simply could not let it get so out of control like that again. He knew that no matter how breathtaking their lovemaking would be, he had to think of the consequences and one those consequences could be a child. He hated to think what the Alcalde would do if Victoria had a child, his child.

A/N - I'm taking liberties with Zorro drinking some wine but from memory, he did have a sip of wine in "Love Potion Number 9"