Part II – A Mask in Hand

Victoria mounted the stairs of her tavern slowly, exhaustion overtaking her. She wanted nothing more than to lie down in her bed and fall into a deep, blissful sleep. She knew she would dream of Zorro, just as she did almost every night, but for once, she hoped the dreams would not come. It was taking too much out of her, the constant longing she was feeling. She wanted a family, children, and a home that was not connected to the place where she worked every single day. She wanted…Zorro.

She opened the door to her room to a soft breeze coming in through the window. It felt wonderful after spending the last hour over a bucket of hot, soapy water and dirty dishes. She didn't recall leaving the window open that morning, but was glad now that it was. Her back was tired, her feet felt like two heavy bricks, and her shoulders were tight with stress. She wearily pulled her apron off and let it fall to the floor, then she dropped like a rock onto her bed, not even bothering to change her clothes. Her eyes instantly drifted closed.

"Victoria," came a whisper, so soft that she thought she had imagined it. Her eyes popped back open, but she didn't move or look around. She was sure her tired mind was playing tricks on her.

"Victoria," came the voice once again.

This time she sat up, eyes straining to see in the dark, and cursing herself for not bothering to bring a candle up the stairs with her.

"Zorro?" she questioned softly.

There was a rustling of clothing next to the window and in the single shaft of moonlight streaming through the window, she saw the focus of all her spare thoughts, Zorro, shifting nervously from foot to foot.

"You came," she said dumbly. "I didn't think you would. It's been so long."

Zorro merely nodded. He took a step forward, so that he was more directly in the light streaming in the window. She saw his throat constrict as he swallowed.

"What is it, are you alright?" she asked, worry suddenly overpowering her. She rose from the bed and moved toward him.

He held up a hand which stopped her from reaching him. "I'm fine. I came to…"

She waited for him to finish, but after a few moments of silence where their eyes were locked, she asked, "What?"

"I needed to see you tonight. To talk to you."

Relief flooded through her. Once again she was amazed that his thoughts ran so parallel to her own. "I've been wanting to see you, too."

"I know," he whispered.

She was puzzled by that. How did he know how much she had been thinking of him, wanting him to hold her in his arms?

His arms opened slightly and without thinking she launched herself into his arms. He held her tightly and she felt tears forming behind her tightly shut eyes. She didn't want to cry, but she was so happy he was here that she didn't think she could ever let him go.

Zorro pressed soft kisses to her hair, and his hands rubbed her back gently. It felt so good, so secure when she was in his arms. "Please don't go," she pleaded into his chest.

She felt his sigh and his hands came to her arms, pushing her back from his chest gently but firmly. "Victoria, I hope you know how much I want this, want to be with you forever."

She nodded but didn't trust her voice to speak. She looked up into his eyes and knew the sincerity was genuine.

"To know my identity-"

"Is very dangerous, I know," she said, slightly exasperated. She was tired of the argument, having heard it just about every time they were together. She felt a single tear fall and reached up to hastily wipe it away.

"Yes," he said softly. He took a small step backwards, his body once again disappearing into the shadows, but his masked face still plain in the moonlight. He no longer touched her, but kept his eyes locked on hers.

"But if you are sure, Victoria, that you want to know the secret I have kept hidden from you…" he said, watching as her eyes widened. He took another step back so that his entire body was hidden once again in shadows.

Victoria was stunned. She opened her mouth to speak, but he interrupted her.

"If you are sure, that you can love the man beneath the mask, that you can keep the secret of Zorro, no matter what, then I will give you what you want, Victoria."

She couldn't speak. Her whole body was suddenly trembling and she felt like she might faint. After swallowing several times, she brought a nervous hand to her lips and mumbled, "Yes…"

She could hear the rustle of cloth but could not see him, no matter how hard her eyes strained into the darkness. She wanted to go to him, but found her body frozen in place.

"I will remind you, Victoria, once more, that it is very dangerous for you to know this secret. If I am ever caught, I would most assuredly be hung and my family could be right next to me on the gallows." As he spoke, she noticed the timber of his voice changing, becoming a little less Zorro like and a little more….

"I promise you this much, though, I will do everything, everything, in my power to not let anything happen to you."

He held out one un-gloved hand into the moonlight and she put her own trembling hand in it. He turned her hand until it was palm up and with his other hand he gave her his hat, the black gloves tucked neatly inside. She held onto it, but found that she needed both hands to keep from dropping it, she was so nervous. She heard more rustling of cloth and again strained to see into the darkness, her heart pounding.

"I love you Victoria," he said.

His voice was definitely different now and she suddenly realized just how familiar it was becoming. She licked dry lips and fought the wave of dizziness that threatened to overcome her.

"I have loved you since the day I first put this mask on…perhaps even longer," he added. "You have my heart, and now you will have my very life."

She gasped as the mask came out of the darkness and was placed in the hat with the gloves. Tears streaked down her cheeks and her trembling became more pronounced. The hat, gloves and mask bounced in her hands.

"Do you still want to know the secret of Zorro, Victoria? Do you still think you can love the man beneath the mask?"

"Oh," escaped from her lips, no more than a squeak. "Yes, yes…Diego." She whispered.

He stepped forward once again, and his face came into the soft moonlight from the window. His eyes at first were looking down, but they quickly came up to meet her own. His dark hair, the kind eyes, the unruly lock of hair that fell into his eyes, were all those of her best friend, Diego. She dropped the hat, and took a step back, momentarily stunned by who stood before her. She had guessed at it a few times, but had always found a reason why Diego couldn't be Zorro. But now here was proof, standing right in front of her. Could this possibly be a dream?

She saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes at her hesitation, and that was all it took. She fell into his arms, her lips finding his own as her arms locked behind his head. She never wanted it to end, the kiss that finally sealed their love. But the need for air finally brought them apart. He rested his forehead against her own.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "for causing you so much pain."

"No, Diego, not pain. Never that."

"No?"

"Frustration, maybe," she half-laughed. "Longing…definitely! But never pain."

He kissed her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks, and finally her lips once more. "I love you, Victoria."

"I love you, Diego." It sounded foreign to her, to say his name instead of Zorro's, but she knew in her heart that it also felt right. "I love you, Diego," she repeated.

With his body, Diego backed her up until she was forced to sit on the bed. Then he kneeled in front of her and took her hands in his own. "I want to ask you again, Victoria, this time without the mask, will you marry me?"

She smiled at him, her heart leaping into her throat. "Yes, I will marry you, Diego."

"All of me, Diego and Zorro, man and legend, whatever may come?"

"Si, I will marry all of you."

He rose and pulled her back up to him to plant another kiss on her waiting lips. When he drew apart, his eyes held hers. "You have made me very happy tonight, Victoria. This is not going to be easy and there is a lot we have to talk about."

She sighed, knowing what was coming. "I know."

He opened his mouth to speak again, but she placed her fingers over his lips to stop him.

"But not tonight. Tonight, for right now, just let me hold you, and be held by you, and not think about what tomorrow may bring."

She saw him swallow hard and his jaw clench in a familiar gesture. He nodded and drew her to him, holding her in his arms and she knew it would be for as long as she needed him to.