Fondest greetings to you all...and I am so sorry. I know that this is quite late. No good excuses, unfortunately. Lots of work...and a bout with a horrible cold...but that's all I got. Pathetic, I know. Sorry! Anyhoo, the chapter is a little longer to make up for the lateness.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, particularly those who are reviewing through the 'guest' feature, as it prevents me from replying personally. I still love your feedback!

Enough of my chatter...on with the story! Enjoy!

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Felipe's lips twitched in a smile as he saw Diego approach. Esperanza cantered around the stand of brush the young man had taken cover behind and allowed her master to reign her in. Dismounting, the tall caballero handed her reins to Felipe.

"Ride back to the garrison," Diego instructed, his words quick and concise. "Tell them to send a couple of wagons for the Alcalde and his men." A smile flickered to life, lighting fire behind the blue eyes. Diego delivered a comradely slap to Felipe's arm. "Zorro, the Fox, is going to hunt el Conejo. The Rabbit."

Felipe could not help but grin back. When foxes hunted rabbits, the rabbits very rarely won. Especially when this particular fox hunted. He could almost feel sorry for el Conejo. Obviously the man had no idea what he was getting himself into when he visited the pueblo de Los Angeles.

Mounting his pinto, the young man glanced back once to see his mentor already digging into Tornado's saddle bag's and pulling Zorro's costume out. Felipe laid a slap to Esperanza's rump and dug his heels into his own beast. Though nothing compared to Tornado, Esperanza was clever enough for a horse. She knew the way home and would have no trouble reaching it on her own. One of the ranch hands would find her patiently waiting to be allowed into the de la Vega corral, and remove her gear. Probably shaking their head and wondering all the while how Don Diego could not manage to keep his seat upon the sweetest mare God had seen fit to grace the earth with.

The pinto jumped forwards at Felipe's silent urging and soon the two were headed back towards the pueblo to fetch wagons for the lancers. A grimace of disgust twisted the young man's lip. He did not care for the garrison lancers. Undoubtedly they had been injured by the very one they hunted, and now it was up to the de la Vegas to help them.

His frown deepened with his thoughts. Diego had raised him to care for others; help them. Indeed, he saw daily the sacrifices his mentor made for the pueblo. It did, however, chafe him to give aid to the very men that would hang the caballero if they knew that it was his blue eyes flashing at them behind the mask of Zorro.

A great many things bothered the young man about the situation he and Diego lived in daily. Felipe knew that Diego had to keep his studious persona in play to avert suspicion, but he saw the toll it was taking. It pained Felipe to hear Victoria and Alejandro praise Zorro and deride Diego in one breath. Their words bothered Diego too. He pretended that he was untouched, but Felipe was not fooled. Something had happened between Don Alejandro and Diego recently. After Felipe had witnessed the murder of the Monterey coach driver. The relationship between the two de la Vegas had gone from patronizingly congenial to volatile and explosive. Over the past few weeks Don Alejandro in particular had been...moody...to say the very least.

Lost in thought, Felipe did not see the rope flung out before him before it was too late. Rough hemp caught the young man squarely across the shoulders and he felt himself jolted from his saddle; the reins torn from his hand.

Air left his lungs in a harsh explosive breath as he struck the hard earth. Felipe saw stars flash brightly for a second and gasped, trying to recover...

Too late. His vision was filled with the weave of a net. Before he could react, he felt himself being lifted; dragged into the air like a small animal in a hunter's snare. He was forced into a curled position, the net's small proportions not allowing room for much maneuvering. Brown eyes flickered over the ropes of his prison, searching for a way out...searching for a weak point...the young man swallowed hard; fighting down the panic that rose in the back of his throat. He was suspended from the branches of a tree, far above the ground.

And someone was chuckling softly. Meanly. Pleased by his pain and distress.

Felipe shifted his weight awkwardly, making the net spin so that he might face his antagonist, though he already had a good idea of who it might be...

"Well, well, well. The de la Vega servant boy." Don Emilio's voice rose to his ears before he could see the man. There was a nasty edge to it that had been missing during the man's stay at the hacienda. A sadistic pleasure he indulged at the expense of others.

The net twisted enough to allow Felipe a glimpse of el Conejo. It was unnerving to observe the same man that had eaten and laughed with Don Alejandro and Diego. Sitting on Don Alejandro's prize stallion, he looked up at his victim; blue eyes glinting cheerfully. "You tried to hunt me!" Don Emilio cried, tapping himself on the chest and shaking his head in disbelief.

Felipe writhed and pulled at the net strands. His struggles only made the Rabbit chuckle harder.

"See, those who pursue me...become my prey." He was still smiling, but his blue eyes were cold. Cruel. "And once I have them trapped..." Don Emilio shrugged and waved a hand negligently in the air. "They die."

He almost sounded regretful, but Felipe could see a smile pulling back the corners of his lips; making teeth flash white against his reddish beard. Without another word, the Rabbit turned Alejandro's stallion and rode away; looking back only to revel in his victim's helplessness.

Brown eyes stared after him until he was sure that Don Emilio would not be returning, then flickered over the woven hemp that trapped him. There had to be a way to free himself. There had to be. The young man swallowed hard. He couldn't allow himself to believe that there wasn't. Couldn't allow himself to think of what would happen if he could not get loose...if no one happened to find him...

Still slightly winded from his fall, Felipe felt his breath starting to come in shorter, harsher gasps. The young man squeezed his eyes shut and forced himself to breath as deeply as he could. Hyperventilating would not help him escape.

Perhaps he could untwist some of the knots, or loose the rope that held him aloft. Felipe glanced upwards. The branch that held his weight was a ways above his head. Felipe struggled, pushing his arm through the fibers of the net and reaching...stretching...

Too far away. Don Emilio had not been so careless as to allow for an easy escape.

Felipe felt a wave of sick rage sweep through him. Rage, and helplessness. He was well and truly trapped, without even being able to call for help. This far from the pueblo it was unlikely that anyone would happen to simply stumble across him either.

The young man ground his teeth together in a ferocious grimace. He would not give up. El Conejo might have thought him likely to curl into a little ball and weep, but he would not give up. There had to be some way to free himself. He would find it.

Working his hands through the net Felipe seized the rope that was holding his weight aloft. Perhaps he could pull himself within reach of the branch. It was an incredibly awkward proposition; with his legs curled up and arms high above his head; the net bunching around his shoulders, prohibiting movement. One inch. Two.

Teeth bared in effort, Felipe winced at the burn in his shoulders, but shifted hand over hand a little further up the rope. Diego had shown him how to climb a rope a long time ago, but this was different. He could not use his legs to brace himself or push. All he had was the strength of his arms.

Another hand length.

Sweat broke out on his forehead, running into his eyes. He was almost there...the branch was almost within reach...but how could he grasp it without letting go of the rope?

He tried. Releasing his hold with one hand, he made a snatch for the rough bark of the tree's limb.

His left hand could not hold all his weight on its own. The rope tore through his fingers and Felipe fell back, the net bouncing with a sickening swing. Fire radiated from his palm. The young man glanced at it and winced. Rough hemp had removed most of his skin very efficiently. His palm was raw and bleeding.

Felipe swallowed hard. Well and truly trapped. Ah well. Nothing for it but to keep trying.

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How long he twisted in his mesh prison, Felipe did not know. Long enough for the sun to start sinking towards the horizon. Long enough for both hands to become bloody in his attempts to free himself.

The young man sank back against the yielding strands; exhausted. His legs were cramping with the tight enclosure and he longed to be able to stretch them out. His sash had been torn into bandages for his hands, and he could see blood spotting through the thin material. Felipe had tried to use the material as makeshift gloves, but the smooth, well-woven sash slipped easily. He could not get enough purchase.

Perhaps he was approaching the problem from the wrong angle. Brown eyes surveyed the tough net critically. The rope was strong...but perhaps he could chew through it? He might lose a couple teeth in the process, but on the other hand he might live. All of his teeth wouldn't make much of a difference in a corpse's head.

A soft sound brought his head up suddenly. Ears straining, the young man hardly dared to breath for fear that he was wrong...but no. Growing steadily louder were the heavy footfalls of a galloping horse. Someone was coming! A tangle of emotion knotted in Felipe's chest. Hope...another rider was near! Fear...perhaps it was el Conejo, returning to toy with his victim. Frustration...even if the rider were not the villain who had imprisoned him, how was he to attract their attention? Not for the first time in his life, Felipe cursed his inability to speak.

The horse's feet slowed to a walk out of sight. Felipe could still hear the unknown rider, but he could not see. The copse of trees where his net hung was in a small dell, and the horseman was currently plodding about over the rise of the hill.

It wasn't el Conejo. Don Emilio knew where Felipe was. If he had returned with the intent of tormenting his young victim, he would not have slowed his mount. Frustration rose anew and Felipe tore at the net's rough fibers, heedless of the blood that soaked through his makeshift bandages. There was someone else there! Someone who could help!

The horse whinnied and Felipe froze, his face suddenly lighting up with relief. He knew that sound. Puckering his lips, the young man whistled as loudly as he could. He had not mastered the ear splitting call Zorro used to hail Tornado, but he had been practicing.

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Tornado noticed first. His head came up; black ears alert with interest.

Diego noted the tension in his mount immediately. "What is it, boy?" Cocking his head, the masked man listened intently.

There. Drifting on the breeze, the sound of someone whistling. Not the cheerful, happy tune of a passing farmer; a long, shrill, note.

The call of a young man who could not ask for help in any other way.

Zorro dug in his heels and Tornado responded eagerly. The pair leapt forwards, cresting a small hill and descending quickly into the dell. Zorro saw his charge immediately, hanging from the tree like some strange fruit. Reining Tornado back, he came to a halt almost directly under the trap. "Felipe!"

Bright brown eyes peered down at him through the net's weave. Felipe's expressive face broke into a smile.

Relief crashed through the masked hero. The young man was alright. He was alive. He would soon be safe. The terror he had experienced when Don Emilio mentioned 'the boy' he had trapped slowly faded. His wrath, however, did not. Diego drew a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He had never killed anyone in anger, and he did not intend to start now. Oh...but it was tempting. He knew where el Conejo was; knew that the man was helpless...

With an effort, the masked man forced himself to concentrate on the problem at hand. How was he to get Felipe down without breaking the young man's neck? The trap had pulled him quite high into the air. If he cut the rope bearing Felipe's weight the young man would fall, true enough, but there was no way he would be able to land correctly with his limbs bound so closely by the net.

However, they might...

Zorro pulled his dagger and lifted it upwards, hilt first. Felipe squirmed until he could reach down through the bottom of the net and seize the weapon.

Though he did not comment on it at the moment, Zorro's blue eyes did not miss the bloodstained cloth wrapped around his friend's lean, brown hand. Fire rose in his gaze, and his mouth tightened into a grim line. Swiftly, he dismounted and took Tornado's reins, holding him steadily beneath Felipe. The young man was already sawing through the ropes of his prison. With care, he emerged like a butterfly from a cocoon, gripped the net tightly and lowered himself onto Tornado's saddle.

Zorro's face had gone from stern and concerned to rigidly controlled as he watched his ward escape el Conejo's trap. He had seen Felipe wince as he gripped the net. Seen the blood that soaked through makeshift bandages wrapped around both hands.

Zorro's hands tightened in fists around Tornado's reins until the leather gloves creaked. He was enraged. Thank God the villain was not standing before him. If he were to look upon the pleasant, bearded face of Don Emilio again, he doubted he would be able to control himself. Even now, he was contemplating committing a mortal sin. He wished fervently to murder the man who had left Felipe to die.

Felipe swung himself down from Tornado's back and lunged forward, his arms enfolding Diego in a tight embrace. Surprised out of his dark musings, the Zorro released Tornado's reins and stumbled back a step, almost tripping.

The young man looked up quickly. One hand briefly lifted to his eye and then pointed at Diego before he buried his face into the bandit's shoulder once more. Relief flowed from his slender frame with almost tangible force.

"Yes," Diego said quietly as he wrapped strong arms around his ward's shoulders. "I'm glad to see you too." I'm so glad that you're safe, Felipe. I'm so glad that I was able to find you. Emotion knotted his throat together before he could say anything else, choking off words as he squeezed Felipe tightly.

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Felipe pulled back after a few moments, slightly embarrassed at the unguarded way he had thrown himself at his mentor. He grinned upwards, a little shyly, and was pleased to see Diego smiling under the mask he wore. A gloved hand squeezed the young man's shoulder in a comradely way. "Are you certain that you are all right?"

Concern was evident in Diego's voice. Blue eyes flicked to the bandages wrapped around Felipe's hands.

Felipe nodded quickly. He was fine. The injuries would heal, he was sure. He crooked two fingers into rabbit ears and held up his hands questioningly, eyebrows raising in a plea for information.

"El Conejo?" Diego's blue eyes narrowed; glittering menacingly through his mask even as his mouth curled into a smile. "He's receiving a rather unique viewing of the arroyo a few miles to the West." White teeth flashed in a rather feral expression of grim pleasure. "Compliments of Tornado."

Felipe grinned widely in return.

Zorro cast a quick glance towards the sinking sun, eyes thoughtful. Felipe was familiar enough with his mentor to guess his thoughts. Diego was trying to decide what they should do next. Go back to the garrison for the wagons? Retrieve el Conejo and take him with them?

The masked man nodded abruptly, apparently having come to a decision. "Right. Let's get you home."

Brown eyes widened in surprise. That was not one of the choices Felipe had anticipated. His fingers stroked his cheeks like a beard, eyes questioning.

"What about the Alcalde and his men?" Zorro smiled. "None of them were injured as much as you, amigo. And my father is with them. If they become weary with waiting for me to 'find' my way back to the pueblo, I'm sure that he will be able to ride for help."

Felipe rolled his eyes at Diego's words. Undoubtedly there would be many snide comments concerning the older man's deplorable sense of direction. He did not like for people to denigrate his surrogate father, but at the same time, it was always amusing to watch. Diego could say the most outrageous things with a straight face, particularly concerning his alter ego.

Mounting Tornado, Zorro reached a gloved hand down and helped the young man climb up in front of him. With a gentle push of his knees, the masked man directed his horse towards home.

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It was twilight by the time Diego made his way into the pueblo. The sun had barely finished sinking behind the hills, but the evening's cooler colors were already rushing in to replace fiery daylight. Riding Esperanza (having ignored the despairing look the stable hand had given him) the caballero made his way towards the garrison with the intent of sending out wagons for the Alcalde. Try as he might, he could not keep a small smile from tugging at the corner of his mouth when he thought of how De Soto must have fretted and fumed throughout the long day.

Nearing the pueblo, Diego reined Esperanza back gently. There were wagons approaching Los Angeles. Wagons with moaning lancers as their cargo. Through the dim light, the younger de la Vega could see Dulcinea's pale coat as she pranced proudly beside the lumbering carts.

He could also see his father. Straight-backed, head held high, the old man was a soldier still. As he had expected, Alejandro had most likely come for the wagons himself.

Diego swiftly turned Esperanza about. He would come at the garrison from another direction. Although he no longer needed to acquire aid for the lancers, he did still have a message to deliver from Zorro. Fortunately, the wagons were moving slowly.

Sliding from Esperanza's back, Diego moved into the pueblo stealthily. He would have preferred to be clothed as Zorro, but if he was to send aid to the lancers he had to do so as Don Diego. How was he to guess that it was no longer necessary?

The streets were mostly deserted at this time, the people of Los Angeles going home, or making their way to the tavern for an evening of enjoyment. This both helped and hindered him. With no one about there were no called greetings or inquiries after his father, but there was also no crowd cover. If he were found...

Diego pushed those thoughts aside as he reached the Alcalde's office. Lock picks were out in a second, and the door was open nearly as fast. Slipping inside, the tall man quickly drew a dagger from his waistband and thrust it into De Soto's desk. Around the handle there was a letter from Zorro detailing exactly where el Conejo was to be found.

It was the work of a moment, and then he was gone. Slipping away into the shadows once more.

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Alejandro pulled Dulcinea up in front of the garrison gates, watching the moaning lancers dispassionately. He supposed that some empathy was in order, but he couldn't bother himself enough to muster it. He was worried about his son.

Diego had not returned. After the Alcalde's ignominious descent, Alejandro had come to fetch the wagons himself. Was Zorro still out hunting the Rabbit? Had he been hurt?

"Gracias, Don Alejandro, for all your help," Sergeant Mendoza smiled up at the don with gratitude, his friendly face still streaked with dirt. A flicker of concern made his brows knit together. "I hope Don Diego made it back to your hacienda."

Alejandro's heart twisted, but he forced himself to smile. "I'm sure he will be fine." I pray he will be safe. "He always is." Always. In all the years that he has ridden out as Zorro. While he was lying to me.

"Don Alejandro? Is something wrong?"

The elder de la Vega swiftly readjusted his features, wiping away the scowl that had formed. "No, Sergeant. Nothing is wrong. I am just...frustrated."

To his surprise, Mendoza's face fell a little. The sergeant stepped forward, closer to Dulcinea's side. Looking up, Mendoza met Alejandro's eyes and held them steadily. "Don Diego is a good man," the portly soldier said quietly. "He may not be a Zorro, but he is a good man."

"Mendoza!" De Soto's bellow made the sergeant scamper to the Alcalde's side and assist him down from the wagon, leaving the elderly don to stare after him, jaw slightly agape. Had he just been given a talking to by Jaime Mendoza? Was there no end to the pleasures of this day? Alejandro gently nudged Dulcinea's sides and tugged at her reins, turning about. Fooled like an idiot by the smooth talking of el Conejo...Finest stallion bred in years stolen...left with the Alcalde and his men for hours, and enduring De Soto's condescending remarks about Diego, all the while worried out of his mind...and now rebuked, albeit gently, by Sergeant Jaime Mendoza. The beloved buffoon of Los Angeles.

No, this day would not make his list of 'most enjoyable'. Alejandro grimaced as he turned his mare's head towards home. Where he would sit and wait for his son to show himself. Because he would. Because he was safe. Alejandro could not allow himself to believe otherwise.

Dulcinea was just starting to pick up her feet when the Alcalde's bellow shattered the peace of the plaza. Startled, Alejandro jerked the reins back around, almost causing his temperamental mount to rear. As it was, the look she gave him as she rolled her eye back was far from congenial.

De Soto appeared in the doorway of his office, leaning upon Sergeant Mendoza and howling orders to the able-bodied men. Orders to retrieve el Conejo. Alejandro caught sight of the note De Soto clutched in his hand and heard the name 'Zorro'.

Relief flooded through him. If Zorro had been here...

With a grin, the don touched his heels to Dulcinea's flanks. She responded with a leap, snorting in bad temper as she decided to race the wind towards home. For once, Alejandro did not even try to rein her in. He was almost as eager to reach the hacienda as she.

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By the time he had seen Dulcinea safely into her stall and rubbed her down, night had truly fallen. Alejandro strode towards the hacienda with quick, impatient steps.

The door crashed back on it's hinges as he entered his home. "Diego!" He had seen Esperanza already stabled. One of the stable hands had shook his head in despair at his patron, and explained that the pretty, roan mare had come back without her master.

Ordinarily, this would have caused Alejandro to groan with frustration and dismay. His son had been thrown by Esperanza? Again?

Now he knew the real reason the mare so often returned riderless. On the positive side, however, the elderly don was thrilled to discover his prize stallion had also returned to his stall.

Where was Diego? Had he already gone to bed? Turning the corner into the sitting room, Alejandro came upon Felipe. The boy was settled into a chair before the fireplace, reading; dark head bowed over the book in concentration.

His hands...

The elder de la Vega approached the young man and touched his shoulder gently, trying not to startle him. Felipe looked up, brown eyes wide. A smile quickly flickered across his mobile face. Eagerly, he turned two fingers into rabbit ears and made a snatching motion, eyebrows raised in question.

Alejandro had never been as good as Diego at deciphering Felipe's hand motions, especially when he was distracted by the bandages winding around both of the boy's palms. "I'm sorry Felipe, what was that?"

The young man repeated his motions, setting his book down on his lap as he did so.

"Did we catch el Conejo?" Alejandro felt a flicker of temper stirring once more, growing. Felipe knew full well that Zorro had caught the Rabbit and left him for the lancers to discover. Yet here he was, continuing the deception...the don forced himself to smile. "Zorro did." Watching Felipe's face carefully, he saw the quick, secretive smile that swiftly hid itself in an expression of interest. The smile of someone who is part of a confidence.

"I," Alejandro continued, "was stuck with the lancers throughout most of the day, waiting for Diego. He went to get help, and then he never returned. His horse apparently came back without him though! He's probably lost. Of all the ridiculous..." Alejandro threw his hands into the air in frustration. "Lost! Lost! How does he lose his way home?"

Felipe shook his head, pointing towards Diego's chambers. The boy's face was suddenly very still, brown eyes troubled. Obviously he did not like Alejandro putting Diego down.

Alejandro planted gloved hands on hips, dark eyes boring into Felipe's. "You had to go and find him, didn't you, Felipe?"

The young man broke eye contact and stared down at his lap, his fingers clenching and unclenching on the spine of his book.

Alejandro scowled. He did not like being lied to. He wanted the truth! Reaching out, the don gently tilted Felipe's chin up; making sure that his ward could read his lips. "What happened to your hands?"

He felt the boy flinch. A slight, instinctive shudder Something had happened. Something Felipe did not want him to know about. Had el Conejo had something to do with this? The former soldier felt his jaw tighten with anger. Someone had harmed the young man sitting before him. He instinctively felt that this had something to do with the villain he had pursued, even as he was sure that he would never be told the truth of the day's events.

"Felipe..." Alejandro's voice growled with frustration.

"Felipe," A much more tempered voice interrupted; causing Alejandro to turn abruptly.

Diego stood in the doorway, a small bowl of medicinal smelling mixture cupped in his palm. "I have that ointment ready for your hands."

Alejandro did not miss his ward's breath of relief, but kept his eyes trained on his son, scrutinizing Diego intently. No injuries that he could see...no stiffness in his movements suggesting bruising...

The younger de la Vega returned the almost hostile stare readily. Features blank save for that simple, disarming smile.

He had raised a true thespian, Alejandro thought darkly. Who else but an actor born would have the patience to play this innocent faced fool day in and day out for...dear God, how many years had it been now? He wondered how Diego would explain Felipe's injuries. Wondered if his son even considered the things he said to be lies anymore, or just lines of the drama he was playing out.

The tall man stepped forwards and, drawing a chair up, seated himself next to Felipe. For all appearances, he seemed to be ignoring his father's presence as he began unwinding the bandages around the boy's hands.

"What happened, Diego?" Alejandro crossed his arms over his chest, dark eyes boring into the back of his son's bowed head. "You didn't return." I was worried.

Diego looked up briefly, and Alejandro ground his teeth together at the sight of that self-deprecating smile.

"I'm terribly sorry, father...I'm afraid that I was thrown..."

"From Esperanza?" Alejandro asked drily.

Only the barest twitch of muscle in Diego's cheek acknowledged his father's derogatory tone. The tall man shrugged shamefacedly and turned blue eyes back to his task as he continued. "...and got lost. Felipe," he nodded to the youth, "found Esperanza, but when he went to catch her reins she was spooked by a snake. He lost a fair amount of skin..."

"And because Felipe found Esperanza he knew you were lost and came to find you," Alejandro interrupted, unwilling to listen to any more deceit. The elder don glared at his son with hot, frustrated eyes.

Diego looked up again, obviously surprised.

The former soldier did not care. He was tired of being lied to. Would that he had never realized the truth of his son's identity! Remembering the disdain of the Alcalde as they waited for Diego's return made Alejandro even more furious...because he had been able to say nothing! Nothing to countermand De Soto's verbal attacks because anything he said; anything that hinted at Diego's true talents and skill could jeopardize his son's secret. He wanted his son to be respected for his abilities...and he was overwhelmingly tired of facing the bumbling fool that Diego projected.

"I'm tired," Alejandro snapped, breaking the awkwardness of the silence. "I'm going to bed."

He sounded, much to his chagrin, like a petulant child. With a brusque slash of his hand he turned to leave.

Perhaps it was because of the new, closer attention he paid Diego, but as he started to stride away, he heard something he knew that he would not have noticed before.

A soft, sad sigh. Of regret? Of despair?

The don's conscience smote him sharply. Why must his temper always turn him into such an ogre? He was angry at being lied to...but only a few hours ago he had been sick with worry for his son.

"Diego," he called over his shoulder as he stopped in the doorway. He could not turn. Could not face that smile.

"Father?"

Oh Lord, he could tell Diego was wearing it just by the tone of his voice! Polite...languid...just barely interested enough to avoid giving offense...Calm. Calm, Alejandro. Remember, you were worried.

Alejandro drew a deep breath and forced himself to speak in a tone other than the growl of an angry bear. "I'm glad you made it back safely, son."

The elder de la Vega strode away quickly, leaving Diego and Felipe to stare at one another in bemusement at his chaotic moods.

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Diego found himself bemused by his father's mood throughout the next day. Although the relentless hurricane of bad temper appeared to have lifted, there were moments when the brown eyes flashed, and harsh words flew through the air like arrows. He seemed, however, to be attempting to resume a cordial manner.

With a shrug, the tall man ran a hand over Esperanza's neck, patting the mare affectionately. Blue eyes glanced back towards the tavern doors, where Alejandro was in the middle of charming Señorita Escualante. The elder don had even joined Diego for lunch; something he had not done for weeks.

The younger de la Vega could not help but let the corner of his mouth curl as he watched his father converse with Victoria. He really could be quite the pleasing gentleman when he chose to be. Victoria adored him, and Alejandro treated her with all the protective loving care of a father. Some day...perhaps when he could remove Zorro's mask for good...perhaps Alejandro would be her father. Another smile. Some day. In the meantime, he was happy for his father's return to a state of at least semi-good nature. He had missed the older man's company.

"Ready to go, Diego?" Alejandro swung himself up onto Dulcinea and waved to Victoria as he waited for his son to do the same.

The tall caballero mounted quickly and settled himself into his saddle. Glancing up, he was surprised to see a grin of truly wicked enjoyment crease his father's face. Alejandro looked back and met his son's eyes gesturing for Diego to follow his line of sight.

The blue eyes traveled across the plaza to see De Soto hobbling across the plaza in a very ungainly fashion, followed closely by Sergeant Mendoza. The Alcalde looked very much the worse for wear from yesterday's adventure. His normally impeccable attire was replaced with an untucked shirt and unbuttoned vest. The intricately knotted cravat that was his pride and joy was missing altogether and with every wincing step Ignacio took, Alejandro's grin widened just a little more.

Diego felt his own mouth twitching in response. Surely it was unholy to take such glee in anyone's discomfort? How had the Alcalde become injured anyway? When he had left the group yesterday the man had been unharmed. Judging by his father's expression, the elder de la Vega had something to do with it.

Alejandro touched his heels to Dulcinea's flanks, trotting her across the plaza to intercept De Soto's belabored path. He was still smiling, but at least he had assembled his features into an expression that could be termed 'pleasant', rather than 'maliciously amused'.

Grinning himself, Diego followed. 'Unholy', such amusement might be, but he would gladly take whatever penance the priest ordered.

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"Splendid day, isn't it Alcalde?" Alejandro called out, pulling Dulcinea up and smiling sweetly at the discomposed leader of Los Angeles. "Conejo Alonzo is in your jail, the pueblo's tax money has been properly paid to Señor Salia and my stallion is safely in the de la Vega corral." His brown eyes twinkled a little too gleefully as De Soto scowled up at him. Pouring insult on injury, Alejandro leaned on his saddle horn and added: "All thanks to Zorro." All thanks to my son. The man you termed supremely useless. Who was useless yesterday, oh great and wonderful Alcalde? The Fox who caught the Rabbit, or the man who could not keep his seat upon a horse?

"Zorro." The Alcalde spat with a growl. "Where was he when we were stranded in that cave?"

It took everything in Alejandro not to glance at his son.

"Where was he when I was seriously injured by that...that beast that you so generously call a horse?" De Soto glared at Dulcinea as Alejandro stroked her mane.

"He was probably following el Conejo," Sergeant Mendoza interjected helpfully, oblivious to the look the Alcalde shot him. A look which, to Alejandro, spoke most eloquently of death and daggers.

"Speaking of which," De Soto suddenly turned his baleful eye to Diego. "What happened to you?" A sneer of disdain curled the Alcalde's lip beneath his pale goatee. "My ninety-eight year old grandmother could have ridden for help faster than that!"

Alejandro did look at his son then, knowing what was coming. Just as he suspected, Diego was smiling that smile. "Well, my sense of direction isn't what it should be," the younger de la Vega's bland smile and innocent shrug would have fooled anyone. "I got lost."

"Oh Diego..." Alejandro shook his head in disbelief. "What am I gonna do with you?" The words slipped from his mouth before he could stop them. He thought he saw a small stiffening of Diego's spine, but otherwise his son remained the consummate actor.

"Luckily, Felipe found me," Diego grinned down at the Alcalde and suddenly Alejandro recognized a wicked glint in his son's eye, hiding behind the meek persona. He was enjoying the Alcalde's discomfort. Almost as much as Alejandro himself.

"Oh by the way Alcalde," the elder de la Vega said, as though he had just remembered something important. Stroking Dulcinea's mane again, the don felt his face creasing into a smile of unholy glee. "Anytime you want to ride another one of my horses, you just let me know, sir."

Nodding cordially, (and delighting openly in the glare he was receiving from the Alcalde) Alejandro nudged Dulcinea forwards after Esperanza and his son.

"What was all that about?" Diego called, glancing back over his shoulder at his father.

"De Soto tried to ride Dulcinea," the elder don answered, still grinning evilly. Oh, it was so sweet to remember the Alcalde's face falling from the back of the pale mare. Particularly after he had insulted Diego, and Dulcinea, and boasted of graduating with equestrian honors. Alejandro shook his head at his son's broad back. He had been unable to defend Diego with words, but Dulcinea had extracted vengeance for them both.

Putting his heels into her flanks, the caballero urged Dulcinea into a gallop, passing Esperanza. "He calls you evil and you defend him," he muttered to his steed, glancing back over his shoulder briefly before turning eyes forward once more. "Women. I will never understand you."

The thudding of horse hooves behind him told him that Esperanza had also been pushed into lengthening her stride. "You allowed him onto Dulcinea? Without warning?" Diego's tone was aghast, reproachful. "Father, your horse is as vile tempered as..." an abrupt silence made Alejandro absolutely certain that his son intended to say something else, but stopped his words at the last moment. "As the Alcalde himself!"

Well covered, my son. "I did not allow him! He demanded!" Diego pulled into place beside him and Alejandro cast him a glance out of the corner of his eye. There was a smile twitching at the corners of Diego's mouth. A smile that longed to break free. The carefree, taunting, flaunting smile of Zorro. "And I did warn him." By insinuating that anyone who could not ride her was a poor horseman. That counts as a warning, right?

Diego shot him a look of disbelief and leaned forward over Esperanza's neck. The roan pulled forward slightly.

A mistake, Diego. Seeing her stablemate pull ahead, Dulcinea snorted in indignation. The mare could not stand to run behind another. It was as though someone had set a burning brand to her hindquarters. Dulcinea stretched out her neck, whickered evilly, and immediately doubled her pace. Within seconds she had left Esperanza far behind, but even that did not stop her. By the time the horse reached the de la Vega corral her flanks were wet with sweat, but she pranced cheerfully into her stable, unbeaten.

Alejandro was grinning himself. The speed and strength of his mount was always thrilling. He was still smiling as he strode into the hacienda. Still smiling until he passed a small mirror hanging upon the wall on the way to his chambers.

The don froze and whipped around. He thought for an instant...

Peering intently into the mirror, Alejandro frowned. He could have sworn he saw Zorro's face, grinning daringly at him from the silver glass. Just a fleeting impression, as he was passing. The former soldier took a couple steps back and gasped. From where he stood, a shadow fell across his eyes and nose. Alejandro glanced back over his shoulder to make sure that Diego was not approaching. Looking back at the mirror, he smiled broadly. The smile of adventure...of danger...thrills...

And the face of Zorro smiled back at him. Not quite Zorro's. A few more lines, a narrower jaw...but definitely Zorro's smile.

Alejandro stepped forward from the shadows and up to the mirror. How had he never seen that in all the years? Never! Not even once! And it had been right in front of his face.

Heavens above it had been on his own face!

Anger at his own inability to perceive the obvious lit the lamentably short fuse upon his temper.

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By the end of the day, Diego de la Vega was eyeing his father with no small amount of concern, while contemplating leasing permanent quarters in the tavern.

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There you go. :) Now, I do have some bad news...my workplace has me working a lot recently, so I will have to abandon the every other day posting schedule and settle on something a bit more realistic. Therefore, the next chapter will be up next Sunday. If I get it done sooner, I promise it will be up earlier. :)

Oh, and I know that I was late, but I still really really REALLY love reviews. So please? Pretty please? *smiles sweetly while getting down on knees. *