Disclaimer: No copyright infringement meant with story. Characters owned by ZPI, not by me. I only wish to borrow them for a little while.

AN: Thank you so much for returning! So glad people are enjoying this story. And that you guys liked the last chapter. Here is yet another fluffy chapter for these two wonderful characters. Sorry it's taken way too long to get this out. My muse was more into writing adventure than romance the last few months. I think, as a distraction from real life. Thanks for understanding, and returning to read this new chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Previously:

Pulling back a little, leaning into his arms, Victoria said with a twinkle of her own, "Senor, I have yet to hear a proposal from you."

"Oh, is that so, Senorita?"

"I believe it is very much so, Senor."

Stepping out of her embrace, Diego grandly bowed in front of her. "If I may." He knelt on one knee in front of her, taking her left hand in his, asked, "My Corazon, my life, my love, Victoria Maria Escalante, will you make me the happiest of men by becoming my wife?"

Victoria batted her eyes several times at the man kneeling in front of her. Her face then lost her smile, which caused Diego's smile to fade as well. Suddenly he lost all confidence as to what her answer was going to be, and not understanding why.

Victoria continued, seemingly not aware of causing such a startled reaction in the man in front of her. "Diego, are we really able to do this? Becoming engaged? Getting married? I don't want you to be in more danger if we do. You always said we'd have to wait."

Diego smiled at her with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "No, what Zorro said was that you and he would have to wait. Diego and you?" The smile vanished from his face, the gleam dimming from his eyes. "The two of you can get married without much hullabaloo. He could never imagine, though, you'd agree to be his bride."

A small gasp escaped her as Victoria shook her head. "Oh, Diego. What a wonderful, but frustrating mixture of contradictions you are!"

Diego shrugged, a small blush beginning on his cheeks. "It's the truth. I never considered you would agree to Diego's courting you. That's why I had always assumed Zorro's mission would have to be completed first." His head lowered, he continued in a softer tone, "I thought you'd be convinced Diego was worth it then."

"Diego, no! You did not just say that, did you?" Grabbing his hand, Victoria held it to her cheek. "Oh, Diego, I'll have to make it my life's mission to make you realize how special you are, if that's what you actually thought."

Diego caressed her cheek with his other hand. "Thank you, Victoria. I don't know what I ever did to deserve you."

Victoria straightened. "Seriously, though, will us getting married endanger you at all? I wouldn't want that to happen."

Diego cupped her cheek with his hand. "We do have to realize it wouldn't be easy. Yes, there is danger. I appreciate you being worried about me, just like I worry about you, but I'm confident we can handle it in such a way which will prevent any increased danger."

"So…do you regret me knowing the truth now?"

Diego considered her question, looking into her bright brown eyes, his hand stroking her beautiful raven hair. He wiped a tear which escaped her eyes, and shook his head. "No, no, I don't. Part of me is petrified about this entire thing. But the rest of me…I only want to be married to you. Start the life I, in my selfishness, have denied you all these years."

"Selfishness, Diego? How can you say that, when you have saved our entire pueblo dozens of times? After you've saved me when I was in danger many times?"

Diego looked down at the floor. "I never should've started courting you behind the mask." Recapturing her gaze, he said, "I couldn't help myself. I should have, but I just couldn't. And then, when you responded to my flirting, I was…I was gone. Lost. I couldn't stop."

Victoria let out a heavy sigh. "What's done is done, Diego. All we can do is move forward." A huge smile broke across her face. "Which means, we can get married." Suddenly realizing where they had left the proposal, she shook herself and said, "Of course I'll marry you, mi amor."

Diego met her shining eyes with his brimming with a few tears. He claimed her lips in a searing kiss which revealed all of his love for her, under both identities. She responded with such fervor as well, he almost lost himself in the embrace. He somehow came to his senses and pulled away before he could lose all control and common sense.

"Victoria, my beloved, I love you so very much. Gracias for accepting my proposal. However, we…uh, we better not continue to kiss right now for I wouldn't be responsible for my actions."

Victoria blushed as she knew what he meant. She was torn, wanting to go ahead, but knowing how important it was to Diego to follow the regulations of the Church. Of course, it was also important to her. But it didn't make it any easier not to give into temptation, now that all her dreams were coming true, after waiting so very long.

"Besides, it is late, and we need to talk about how to proceed from here," Diego's voice interrupted her short reverie.

Victoria looked at him, her forehead crinkling in confusion. Diego kissed the spot between her eyes and smiled softly. "For you to switch your feelings from Zorro to Diego so dramatically, it could mean my death if the Alcalde figures out the two are the same."

Victoria huffed in disgust. "That's an example of what I was talking about earlier. Are you in more danger with me knowing?"

Diego shook his head sadly. "No, my Corazon. It simply means we have to be even more careful." Cocking his head towards the door, he listened. Victoria held her breath in alarm, wondering what he had heard. Turning back to her, Diego said, "No, I didn't hear anything, but I should go before there are soldiers out there. Let's sleep on it. Tomorrow, we need to act like nothing's changed. Until we come up with an idea on how to announce our engagement." He smiled at her downcast look of disappointment. "I too want to scream from the rooftops. We will be able to, soon, but…."

Leaning in, Victoria claimed his lips for one more kiss. "But for now, we have to wait. I can do that, willingly, Diego." Sneaking yet one final kiss, she then pulled away. "Please be careful, and I'll see you tomorrow at lunch, per usual then?"

Diego thought for a moment. "Felipe and I should be here."

Her hand going to her chest, Victoria gasped. She pulled out the ring on a chain she had been wearing around her neck. Diego's eyes widened, for he hadn't known she had been wearing in such a way. "Oh my, I don't know why I forgot about this." Her hands went behind her neck to unhook the chain. However, Diego reached out to stop her action.

"Why don't we wait until we can let everyone know officially?"

Victoria looked into his eyes, with her own eyes shining brightly. She nodded silently. Diego reached for her left hand, kissed it, and quickly leaped out the window, after one last look at his lady love. She smiled in return, then listened tensely for Zorro's whistle and for Toronado's gallop out of town. She let out the breath she was holding when she didn't hear any soldiers giving chase.

With a smile on her face, Victoria got up and checked the doors and windows of her tavern. She climbed the stairs with a skip in her step as her mind imagined possible ways in which her life will now be changed. Now that she knew she had been in love, not with two men, but with the same man. The man she had loved most of her life.

Suddenly the thought of the Alcalde and the threat he represented to all those happy dreams came unbidden to her mind. Victoria pushed them away, determined, if only this night, she wasn't going to think such negative thoughts. Instead, she wanted to revel in the fact her dreams had come true. Even her unresolved anger toward Diego for keeping the secret away from her will need to be addressed tomorrow. For tonight, she was only going to have happy thoughts, she resolved as she entered her room for the night.

~~Z~~Z~~Z~~

Indeed, Victoria was lulled to sleep by sweet thoughts regarding her novio and the life she hoped they could soon begin together. Her last memory before sleep arrived was of the gangly six-year old she had been chasing an older Diego around the schoolyard. Upon awakening, Diego was her first thought as she stretched in bed before jumping out from beneath the covers.

She rushed through her morning toilette and began her morning chores with a smile on her face. The morning sped by as she kept busy, trying to keep herself occupied until her novio would visit her. Her employees whispered amongst themselves Zorro must have visited the previous night, for Victoria was in an unusually happy mood.

The day's lunch ended up being especially busy, for it was market day as well, bringing many farmers to the pueblo. Victoria bit back a curse, reminding herself she needed the business, but she wanted to spend as much time as possible with Diego. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, at least not until all her customers were taken care of.

At one point as she was hurrying back and forth helping Alicia wait on tables, Victoria caught Diego's smiling gaze. She startled, surprised they had managed to enter without her noticing them. He winked at her; she felt a blush warm her already pink cheeks. She quickly looked away, shaking her head at his cheekiness. It took another fifteen minutes for her to be able to look his way again. She quickly took in their empty dishes in front of them, and her heart fell. However, Maria called her over to the bar to handle a customer complaint before she could make her way over to them.

Sometime later as she entered the kitchen with a load of dishes, Victoria felt a presence behind her. Before she could turn around after putting the dishes in the sink, she felt two strong hands on her upper arms, gently turning her around. Looking up, she found Diego standing in front of her. Before she could react, she found Diego's lips on hers, greeting her in a most wonderful way.

Pulling away reluctantly, Victoria swatted his upper arm. She wondered in passing why she hadn't noticed before how well-developed Diego's upper arms were. She hurriedly whispered, "Diego! We shouldn't be doing this here!"

Giving her one of his cheeky grins which she especially loved, Diego said with another wink, "What should we be doing instead?"

"Oh, Diego! That's not what I meant. What if someone walks in and catches us?"

"They might simply say it's about time."

Victoria rolled her eyes at his silliness. "Diego, I didn't have time to think of anything yet. I don't…."

"Of course not, Victoria. There hasn't been enough time. That's why I think a supper at the de la Vega hacienda is in your future tonight."

Victoria sighed. "With such a busy day, and it being market day, I don't know if I can, Diego. The girls have been working especially hard as well, so I don't feel right in taking the evening off."

Diego pursed his lips together tightly, trying not to look disappointed. "I suppose so, Victoria. I guess we have the rest of our lives to prepare for our wedding. I was hoping we could tell Father, however. He will be so happy to hear what we have to tell him."

Victoria considered for a moment. "Let me check with Alissa and Maria, see what they say. Can you return after the siesta for my answer?"

A huge smile broke across Diego's face. Giving her a quick kiss, he said, "That sounds wonderful, Victoria." His eyes went to the curtain separating the kitchen from the dining room. "I suppose I should leave. Felipe is probably getting restless and I don't want the gossips talking any sooner than we're ready for."

Victoria nodded, and leaned against the cupboard watching Diego as he left. She bit her lower lip as she snuck a glance at his lower region as he left, appreciating the sight. Shaking her head as she realized what she was doing, Victoria felt her cheeks get warm again. Who could blame her? She now could look at Diego without shame, and no one would deny he wasn't a good-looking man. Grabbing a towel from the cupboard she waved it in front of her face attempting to cool herself down. Reprimanding herself for her foolishness, she turned her mind back to the chores she needed to finish before she could leave for supper with her novio.

AN: A little fluff at the end, or should I say my attempt at being naughty. Hope you enjoyed it. I finally got this chapter out. Whew. Sorry it took so long. Moving closer to another fluffy ending, or am I? We'll see where the Muse goes with this. Maybe she can throw in some more realistic angst, like Frapper does so well. Who knows? See you then, anyway.