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 some said it was ok to post a story which is unfinished. I'd love to get feedback on this as it goes along, since Diego and Victoria will be going on a trip and you might have ideas for what they might do. I have about eight miserable weeks left in my semester, and I have about 30,000 words (continuous) written. It will go up slower, I posted Moonlight way too fast. I do want to get back to Moonlight, but right now this story has my muse and interest. I sent the end of Simple Question to my beta last night. If you don't read incomplete stories, I completely understand. If you do read it with me, please let me know how I do :)

I'm posting T right now, but the original story is Mature Adult. Quite a while down the road I will post the Mature version on LiveJournal and AFF dot net. I don't do plot, you know that, so this story is about Diego and Victoria finding their place as a couple, including learning the physical closeness and trust. The T version will probably have rather obvious fade to black parts, but that's just how it will be. I'm not going to risk this site's policies.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy Diego and Victoria's journey. This is mostly just a prologue. Thanks to everyone who helped with this story, and the always marvelous Marla who beta'd.

zzz

Zorro watched her in the morning sun. She was walking away from the empty Guardian offices. Looking for Diego? Zorro smiled, pleased with the possibilities. Diego had spent a lot of time with Victoria recently. He hoped she might be warming up to him. Zorro shouldn't be here right now, but he wanted a kiss-needed a kiss before he left. He was leaving today to see the governor in Monterey, and would be gone for a week at least. A week without seeing Victoria right now seemed a fate worse than death.

He took her hand as she walked past his hiding place and pulled her into her storage room. As soon as she recovered from her surprise—Zorro did tend to surprise her a lot—she smiled at him and all Zorro's worries melted away.

"What's happening?" Victoria asked.

Zorro wrapped his arms around her, intent on her lips. "I missed you, that's all." He pulled her closer and his lips covered hers. He wondered if she'd miss him. He couldn't tell her that he was going out of town the same time as Diego. Sometimes Victoria didn't see Zorro for more than a week. She wouldn't even know he was gone, but he would. He missed her already. He pulled her closer, and his entire body felt energized just at the feel of her. He tugged at her bottom lip and his tongue ventured out to taste her.

Too soon, he felt Victoria's hands pushing at his chest. He gave her some room when he saw her frown. "What's wrong?" Zorro asked, his hand came up to caress her cheek.

Victoria put her hand over his and took a deep breath. "Do you want to marry me?"

Zorro straightened a little, but left his arm around her. "I thought you understood why I couldn't marry you. Not yet. It's too dangerous."

Dread started in his chest when she reached down to remove his hand from her waist. She took his hand from her cheek and stared at it for a few long seconds before kissing his glove and letting him go.

"I won't put you in that position," Zorro insisted. "Marrying me would put your life at risk." He didn't need to deal with this right now, not when he was about to go out of town. Once again he bit back his frustration. She didn't know anything about him. It kept her safe, but also didn't allow him to explain. If she'd just wait for him for a few more months, things might change. Why now?

"And what about my reputation?" Zorro took a giant step back, as if that would solve everything should they be caught alone in a storage shed right now. "If you won't tell me who you are, you need to let me go."

"Has someone said something? Tell me who," Zorro said, directing his anger at someone else so he wouldn't feel the guilt.

"I'm saying something." Victoria met his eyes, sure in her decision. "You come to steal a kiss. You don't come to talk, or to share your life with me. That's not a relationship." She watched his reaction, wanted to see some indication that he would fight for her. "I need more. I deserve more. So do you."

Zorro rubbed at a spot on his chest where he was turning numb. "I can't offer you more right now. I'd rather you be alive without me than hanging next to me in a gallows."

Victoria smiled weakly. "I guess that means something. I'm a single, independent woman and a business owner. I have friends who care about me. I'm disappointing them and myself. I don't think I can do it anymore."

"We're not doing anything wrong." Victoria glanced around their hiding place and gave him a pointed look. Zorro's legs almost gave out and he leaned back against a shelf. "You sound like your mind is made up."

She nodded. "It is. Your fight might go on forever. Who knows when we'll get a new alcalde. Will it ever end? I want a home. A family. Someone to share my life."

"Almost sounds like you have someone in mind."

Victoria shook her head sadly and looked at the ground. "No. But who will want someone who consorts with an outlaw?"

"I never wanted to damage your reputation."

"I know. But you also never came to me without the mask."

"If you marry Zorro with or without the mask, you'll still be in danger."

Victoria looked up, her beautiful brown eyes filled with tears of frustration. "Life is dangerous. I don't care. I never did. You don't seem to love me enough to realize that. And I'm alone."

Zorro tried to memorize her face. She looked so sad. He'd done this to her. His father would be ashamed of him.

"I love you," Zorro insisted, even as he knew it would be the first and only time he could say it until Zorro hung up his sword for good. The silence echoed when she didn't reply, and Zorro rubbed at the back of his neck. He couldn't tell her yet.

His trip to Monterey suddenly became more important. A few months more, and he'd get rid of Ramone. Diego would be around to make sure no one came near her, even if men realized Victoria was once again free. She was already growing closer to Diego. He could win her over so the shock wouldn't be so great when he proposed. She would understand and they could start again, without the bounty on his head between them.

Victoria was sad, but Zorro's lack of reaction told her she was doing the right thing. "I don't know you. Come to me without the mask. In the daylight." Zorro glanced behind him where the sunlight shone through the wooden slats of the building.

Victoria shook her head. "In public. Hide the fact that you're Zorro from the world, but you can't expect me to love you when you hide everything you are from me."

Zzz

Author's Note 2: Feel free to post comments in the review box before you venture to chapter two.