Chapter 3: Dinner

Zorro woke up and quickly looked around. "Victoria, Victoria." Zorro fell on the floor next her, and shook her shoulder gently. "Wake up please." Panic was now taking over his emotions. He checked her pulse and breathing, both were strong, and that was a good sign. He carefully picked her up and carried back to the cot and laid her down gently. The smelling salts he held under her nose woke her up slowly. Victoria looked up at him with surprise and confusion. "What happened and why am I laying down again?" She asked with a hint of pain in her tone.

"I could ask you that same question." He said with raised eye brows and worried eyes.

Victoria looked so tired, he felt it was wrong to question her while she was not feeling well. It would stress her out more than she needed to be.

"You need to rest, we can talk about this later. I also need to figure out how we are going to deal with the next few days." Zorro held the bowl of cactus tea carefully as she took a few more sips.

Zorro sat down on the stool next to the cot and watched Victoria drift off into a deep and relaxed sleep. After she was asleep, he wanted to make sure she was not going to get up and wonder around without him knowing. He put the second cot he kept just in case he needed it, next to the cot Victoria was resting on. He was still tired, but needed to figure out what he was going to do about Victoria, and what he was going to tell his father. He laid down next to Victoria and rolled over to face her. He thought of a few plans, but soon feel asleep again.

Felipe want back to the cave to check on Zorro and Victoria. His feelings were hurt a little when his father like figure raised his voice at him. He knew he had been slipping up on his responsibilities, and felt bad for the mess he got himself into earlier in the morning. He wanted to apologize for his wrong doings. When he didn't see Zorro or Victoria in the main part of the cave, he went to see if Zorro was tending to Toronado or Victoria. He went around the corner and stopped when he saw both Zorro and Victoria sleeping peacefully. They were so tired and needed their rest, he didn't want to disturb them. He quietly covered Zorro up with a blanket and left the cave.

Zorro woke up when he felt Victoria roll onto her side so she was facing him. He reached over to brush a stray strand of hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. Victoria slowly opened her eyes and smiled when her gaze rested on her masked love. "I am hungry and thirsty." Victoria whispered. Her throat was dry and sore, and her voice was weak.

"I will get you something to drink and prepare a soup that will help you gain your strength back." Zorro slowly sat up and stretched his long arms and legs. He felt Victoria's hand brush the material on his back, he turned around to see what she needed. "Do you need something else mi amor?" He smiled at her slyly.

"Yes, a kiss might just help me feel better also." She smiled back at him and tried to pull him over to her.

The smile on Zorro's face became softer as he leaned over to place a gentle kiss on her waiting lips. "Are you feeling better now?" He asked with a touch of laughter in his tone. He wanted to keep kissing her, but he knew if he took the kiss deeper, it would be hard to control his emotions and desire for her. "I will be right back with a tray of food and fresh juice. Please relax and try to rest until I return." Zorro slowly stood up and gazed down at her with a soft but stern look.

"I promise to stay right here until you get back." She replied with a small smile, and relaxed against the pillows behind her. "I feel much better now, thank you."

She watched him leave slowly, and smiled when he turned around to make sure she was following his request to relax and stay put. Victoria's eyes followed him until he was out of sight. She drifted off in thought until she fell asleep.

Zorro made sure Victoria was resting before he changed clothes. He discovered she had fallen asleep again and was on his way out of the cave a few minutes later.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Thirty minutes later, Diego returned to the cave, and quickly changed back into Zorro's black silk outfit. He was relieved to see that Victoria was still asleep and quietly set the tray of fruit, soup, and fresh juice down on the desk. He quickly and quietly set up a small table for two, and lite the candle he put in the center of the table. He went to wake Victoria, "wake up mi amor. I have dinner ready." Zorro carefully sat down and leaned over to brush his lips over her forehead.

Victoria slowly opened her eyes and smiled tiredly at him, "what smells so good?" She asked while trying to sit up.

"I have soup, fresh fruit, and juice at the table. Do you feel well enough to sit at the table, or do you want me to bring a tray over to you?" Zorro helped her sit up more and could hardly hold his smile back when she pushed his hand lower down on her waist as she stood up.

"The table sounds much more comfortable than this stiff cot." Victoria let Zorro lead her to a small table next to the large wooden desk. Zorro helped her sit down and carefully pushed her chair closer to the table. He was about to sit down across from her, when he noticed she was gripping the edge of the table tightly, "do you feel well enough to sit in a chair, or do you want to go back to the cot?" He quickly moved back over to stand beside her.

"I'm fine, just a slight dizzy spell." She replied slowly and sat up straighter.

Zorro moved his chair next to hers and allowed Victoria to lean on his shoulder while she ate. She picked at her fruit, and ate a few spoonfuls of soup. They talked about the fight that started in her tavern, and other events going on in the Pueblo. After about twenty minutes, Victoria was ready to lay back down again. Zorro helped her over to the cot and helped her relax. "I have a headache again." She told Zorro as she reached up to put her hand on her forehead in an attempt to massage the pain away.

"You should rest, and I will get the doctor as soon as he gets back in town." He handed her the bowl of cactus tea and made sure she drank the last few sips.

"This stuff tastes terrible." Victoria frowned at Zorro after the bowl was empty.

"I will try to find something to improve the taste, but for now please rest." He grinned at her and covered her up with the warm blankets.

"Thank you for dinner. Will you please hold me until I go to sleep?" She watched him with begging eyes.

"Of course I will." He replied and laid down on the cot next to hers. He pulled her close and she snuggled closer to him. He found it hard to keep control of himself with her so close, so he thought of other things to keep his mind busy.

Victoria drifted off to sleep and relaxed into a deeper sleep when Zorro rubbed her back and shoulders.

Several minutes later, he carefully and slowly sat up. Victoria would sleep for at least a few hours, and he had several things to do before he put his plan into action. He also needed to find Felipe, he felt bad about yelling at the young man, and they really needed to talk about the earlier disagreement.

.