Author's Notes: Mea culpa. I have realized that I have no business writing author's notes at 5 o'clock in the morning when my brain is not fully functioning. It leads to really messed up sentences and implications I did not intend.

~Edited to shift notes to the end~

Chapter 3

Meetings and Departures

The weather seemed to be worsening, and Diego shifted uneasily in his seat. He really should have headed for home earlier, but he hadn't yet had a chance to talk to Victoria, and he was determined to at least try get a moment alone with her. He thought back to how much better his unexpected meeting with her had gone than he had thought it would, considering how unprepared for it he had been.

He remembered that he stared at her blankly for a long moment, until she had asked him with some concern. "Are you all right, Diego? Is this a bad time?"

He shook his head to try to clear it and put on a welcoming expression, as he opened the door wider to let her in. "No, it's not a bad time. Please, come in." He gestured toward the library. "I'm afraid I didn't get much sleep last night, and it seems to have affected my manners. Forgive me."

She walked a few steps in and turned to look at him. He had to stop himself from walking into her. It was hard to focus.

"You do seem tired," she said gently. "Was it your arm?"

"No, my arm isn't bothering me that much now," he replied, "unless I put too much strain on it."

Victoria walked over to the desk where all the newspaper articles were spread out. "I see you've been busy."

"Not very. I'd really just started looking them over." He stood there awkwardly, as she glanced at the papers. Try as he might, he couldn't seem to figure out what to say to her. Images from his nightmares kept popping into his head. He was having a hard time fighting the desire to draw her into his arms and not let go.

Victoria touched his arm. "You don't look very well, Diego," she said. "I think you should sit down."

"I'm fine," he said but sat down on the love seat at Victoria's continued insistence. She sat next to him, and it seemed to him that she was simultaneously too close and too far away. He wasn't sure what to say to her right now. He knew he should ask something about Zorro but didn't want to do anything that could add to any potential ire she might have when he told her the truth. He tried for a vague kind of diplomatic approach. "How are you?" he asked, hesitatingly. "I've heard rumors..." His words dried in his mouth as she looked up at him.

"I'm fine as well," Victoria said. He hoped her answer was more sincere than his was. "As for rumors, I don't know which ones you've heard, but I know Zorro isn't dead."

"Oh... good." What was wrong with him? He seemed to have lost all ability to think coherently. He clenched his hands tightly on his legs to keep from reaching out to her.

"Are you sure you're all right?" Victoria asked, looking searchingly at him. "You really don't seem yourself today."

He had to pull himself together. "Truly, I'm all right. Just tired," he insisted. He searched for another topic. "What brings you here today?"

She smiled at him, and he felt his insides melt a bit. "I came to see you, of course." So much for changing the subject. She continued without waiting for him to respond. "I haven't seen you in over a week. Your father and Felipe have been to town, but not you. I've been worried about you."

"Well, there's nothing to worry about really. I just haven't felt up to visiting the pueblo. My arm was really hurting for a few days, and, well..." He trailed off not sure what to say that wouldn't get him into trouble.

"Do you know you've been the talk of the pueblo?" Victoria asked lightly. "Every one's been talking about your bravery."

"Have they?" Diego asked nervously. He wasn't sure he liked that; he hoped that the explanation he he'd given Mendoza that day he'd been in Los Angeles would allay any suspicion. He'd insisted that he had been lucky that the Emissary had been tired from the fight with his father and the injuries he'd sustained falling from the roof of the cuartel, and hopefully that and the fact that he'd been apparently wounded in the fight would be enough to keep anyone from putting him together with Zorro, especially considering the rumors of Zorro's death. He'd been lucky that De Soto hadn't actually seen anything of the fight, and he was sure his father would have continued his story for him if anyone asked. "I wish they wouldn't. I don't think I did anything very notable."

"You've always been too modest," Victoria said.

"I wouldn't say that." Diego squirmed slightly in his chair.

Victoria laughed. "That's what makes you so modest. You never seem to think much of what you do, and I've seen you do some impressive things." She leaned forward. "Don't look so surprised. It wasn't that long ago that you took on a bull with a broomstick."

Diego still was embarrassed by that one. "I broke my leg."

"That didn't make it any less impressive," Victoria insisted. "And then there was your fight with Sir Miles Thackery."

"I twisted my ankle." Well, not really, but no one but he and Felipe knew that.

"That didn't matter so much as the way you stood up to him. You do so much and act like you haven't really done anything." Victoria reached out for his hand. "Oh, you feel warm." She lifted her hand to his face, and he had to work not to flinch, as he suddenly flashed back to his dream and the feeling of her fingers around his throat. "I guess you don't have a fever even if you do feel a little warm." She curled her fingers around his hand and looked into his eyes. "I hope you don't plan to hide away here much longer. I miss seeing you in my tavern."

Diego swallowed nervously and dropped his gaze to her hand on his. It was taking all his self control to not try to kiss her. He wanted to tell her everything, but he was determined to wait until the alcalde left for Monterey. It would be safer for everybody. He hoped. At least, it would be better to wait until he was more coherent. Right now, his mind seemed to have the consistency of mush. Trying to pull himself together, he said, "I'll be coming into town when Father and Felipe leave for Monterey. I expect a shipment of paper for the Guardian to arrive then."

"Oh, I see, you'll come to town for paper, but not for your friends," Victoria said teasingly.

It was a sign of how tired he was that it took him a moment to be sure she was teasing and to respond in kind. "Well, the paper can't come out to see me. Besides it needs to be near the press to be at all useful."

She laughed at that. "Speaking of the paper, I seem to be keeping you from your work."

Diego spoke sincerely. "I don't mind; I seem to be having a hard time focusing today."

"Would you like some help? I don't have your editorial skills, but I'm willing to do what I can."

"That would be very kind of you," Diego said, delighted with the thought of spending time with her on something that had nothing to do with Zorro. "Actually, I had hesitated to ask since I wasn't sure if you felt up to it, but I did spot a couple of letters for Doña Corazón. If you would be so kind..."

"I don't mind at all," Victoria said getting up to fetch the papers from the desk.

They spent some time working quietly side by side. Victoria finished her advice column, and Diego edited several articles. He looked over her column when she was done.

"Thank you. I'm sure everyone would have missed your good advice. I was glad to see Mendoza wasn't too upset to write his Señor Estómago column as well."

"Oh, he seems to have gotten over his near death experience, but I'm still surprised he had the time. The alcalde has been keeping him very busy lately," Victoria said.

"And how is our esteemed alcalde?" Diego asked dryly.

Victoria shrugged. "I really couldn't say. No one outside of the lancers has seen much of him lately. He's still keeping to his office. Mendoza's even been taking him meals. I think he may be worried about the outcome of his meeting with the governor."

Diego lowered his head slightly. "I can't say I blame him. Shooting a King's Emissary no matter how good the reason isn't going to look good on his record."

"Well, for once, I'm grateful to him," Victoria said.

"I am as well," Diego said, his head dropping a bit more. He found it easier to stare at the carpet than Victoria at the moment. "I just wish there'd been another way."

"I know. You have a very compassionate spirit, Diego," Victoria said softly. Then she looked around. "I suppose I should be heading back to the tavern now. The lunch crowds will be starting in soon." She stood up.

"Oh... yes," Diego said unhappily as he also stood. He'd gone from being reluctant to see her to wanting her to stay longer. "I'm very glad you came."

"I'm glad I came, as well," Victoria said, starting towards the door. "I expect to see you at the tavern once you get your paper."

"I'll be there," he promised, as they reached the door. As he stood looking at her, on impulse, he lifted her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back before releasing it.

If Victoria was surprised at his uncharacteristic courtesy, she hid it very well. "I'll count on it," she said.

Diego watched her go, a small seed of hope growing inside him.

~Z~Z~Z~

The two days between Victoria's visit and the departure of his father, Felipe, and De Soto for Monterey had been relatively uneventful. His nightmares seemed to have ended; he couldn't even remember dreaming. As promised, he rode into Los Angeles where he saw his father and Felipe off on their journey. He did not envy them sharing the coach with De Soto on the way to Monterey, but hopefully, there would be a number of other passengers along the way to make the journey less stressful for them.

It seemed as if most of the residents of Los Angeles were in the plaza that day. Diego wasn't sure if it was because it was a sign of respect for his father or because of a desire to see the alcalde leave. He was glad that he'd said his good-byes to his father and Felipe at the hacienda as he was hard-pressed to get more than a moment with them before they entered the coach with all the last-minute well-wishers approaching them. Felipe seemed a bit overwhelmed by all the attention; he'd spent too much of his life trying to blend into the background to appreciate so much at once. He tried staying behind Alejandro until it was time to board the coach. Finally, everything was loaded and ready and the coach pulled away. Diego watched until it was out of sight. He was going to miss his father and Felipe; the hacienda was going to feel very empty without them there.

Walking over to the Guardian office, Diego was pleased to see that the paper had arrived; he'd been almost sure that it wouldn't. After dropping the finished articles on the desk, he wrote a message to send to Jorge and Domingo, his usual typesetters. Giving the message to the vaquero who had driven his father and Felipe with their bags into town, Diego headed for the tavern. Victoria stood behind the bar. A little hesitantly, he walked over to her.

"Buenas días, Diego," Victoria said cheerfully. "It's good to see you."

"Buenas días, Victoria," he replied. "As promised, I'm back in town, though I wasn't sure I'd make it considering all the last minute things that came up this morning."

Victoria smiled at him. "That's always the way with long trips, it seems. Isn't this Felipe's first trip to Monterey?"

"It is. I almost wish I was going with them."

"I'm glad you're staying. It's going to be quiet enough around here without you being gone as well," Victoria said brightly.

Smiling back at her, he said, "I will be happy to add to the noise levels here, even if I'm generally a quiet fellow."

"I appreciate your sacrifice."

"It's not much of a sacrifice; I think it's going to be too quiet at home as well," he said, sincerely. Before he could say anything more, they were interrupted by the entrance of Sergeant Mendoza into the tavern. "Hola, Sergeant," he said as Mendoza approached them. "You seem to be in a good mood today."

"Buenas dias, Don Diego," Mendoza replied. "Sí, it is looking to be a good day. All the men have been doing well with their drills; the alcalde left no paperwork for me to do; and everything has been so peaceful lately. It's like we've been given a holiday from trouble."

"So it seems, Sergeant," Diego said, agreeably, though to him it felt more like the calm before the storm. "And in light of that, won't you join me for lunch?"

A big smile broke out on Mendoza's face. "It would be my pleasure, Don Diego," he said and then added, "You know it really hasn't been the same without you here. I've missed our lunches. I hope your arm is doing better now."

"Sí, it is, gracias," Diego said, moving to a table, resigned to the fact that he wasn't going to get any more time with Victoria and determined to at least appear as much like his old self as possible.

He was relieved that most of the people who approached him while he ate mostly asked about his father and Felipe, rather than making any comment about the events of two weeks before, and no one seemed to think he was behaving out of character. He ate quickly, since he wanted to get to work preparing the Guardian for publication, since the next day was market day and the best time to distribute the newspaper, and once he had this responsibility out of the way he could concentrate on trying to tell Victoria the truth.

By the time he made his way back to the office, Jorge and Domingo had arrived and the three of them worked on getting the Guardian prepared for publication the next day. Once that was done, he reluctantly returned home for the rest of the day, as he had several things to see to if he wanted his next day to be mostly free.

He had been right. The house was too quiet, and the cave even more so. He was fully struck by the irony considering Felipe's inability to speak. As he finished cleaning up from his last experiment, Diego hoped that Señor Montez would be able to help Felipe, since he clearly had the capacity to speak just the inability to consciously control it. A part of him still wished he'd gone with them to Monterey, but he knew that was in large part because he wanted to avoid doing what he really had no justification in delaying any longer. He sighed. He had always thought himself brave, but somehow telling the woman he loved who he really was filled him with more fear than any of the times he'd faced death as Zorro.

As he headed to bed that night, he knew that tomorrow he needed to do something. He was not going to wait until his father came home. He lay awake for some time trying to figure out what he should do and fell asleep not having decided.

~Z~Z~Z~

Diego sighed as he continued to watch Victoria from his corner of the tavern. He hadn't yet really had a moment to talk with Victoria all day. In the morning, he'd been occupied overseeing the printing and initial distribution of the Guardian, and when he had a chance to visit the tavern, he'd found Victoria far too busy to give him more than passing notice, so he'd decided to return in the evening, hoping it would be less busy.

It wasn't, and he hadn't been able to do much more than watch Victoria at work, reflect over the events of the past two weeks, and wonder if the threatening storm would actually break. He was glad he'd taken Esperanza to the livery stable rather than left her standing outside in uncertain conditions. Looking around, Diego noticed that the tavern had started to empty while he'd been daydreaming. Only a few soldiers remained, probably because they had only a short distance to go once they left. The feelings of foreboding that had been plaguing him for most of the evening seemed to be growing stronger, yet there was nothing particularly out of sorts in the tavern. He knew every one of the patrons, and Victoria had no overnight guests.

Perhaps, it was just the weather that was making him so nervous. Walking over to the window to take a closer look at the sky, Diego could see flashes of lightning in the distance and hear the distant rumble of thunder. It looked like the worst of the storm was heading directly for Los Angeles. As he stood there, he was startled by the sound of Victoria's voice beside him.

"I hope you're not planning on leaving yet," she said. "It looks like it might start pouring any minute."

"I'm afraid you're right," he said. He glanced at her nervously. "It looks like you're stuck with me for a while longer."

She smiled. "I don't mind." Casting a quick look around the nearly empty tavern, she said, "I could use some pleasant conversation now. I've spent all day running in and out of the kitchen."

"Well, I suppose it's the price you pay for being the best cook in the territory," he said. "But there's no reason why you can't sit down for a bit now, is there?"

"No," she said. "Go sit back down. I'll be there in a moment." She went back into the kitchen and came out with a pitcher of lemonade and another glass and sat next to him at his table. "This is much better."

Diego glanced at her, then took a sip from his glass, trying to gather his courage. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the soldiers hurrying out the door, presumably wanting to get back to the cuartel before it rained.

He worked hard to keep his tone light when he finally spoke. "You've had a busy time of it today." He was getting more nervous every moment, and he felt sure that it wasn't just because of Victoria. There was something more, an almost electrical current that seemed to be coming ahead of the storm, which was growing louder by the moment.

"It's been busy all this week," Victoria said. He noticed how tired she looked, but otherwise, she seemed unaffected by whatever undercurrents that were making him so anxious. "The only real break I had was my visit with you."

Diego suddenly cheered up a bit. She'd given him the perfect opening to make the invitation he'd wanted to extend to her all day. Trying to make his suggestion as casually as possible, Diego said, "You need to take some time off. The weather may make it impractical, but if it clears up, perhaps you'd like to go riding with me tomorrow. It would get you out in the fresh air, and I would enjoy the company." He couldn't quite look at her while he was asking, instead staring at the cover of his book which still lay on the table, running his fingers over the lettering of the cover.

"Hmm," Victoria said, "I think I'd like that."

"Mid-morning tomorrow, then?" Diego asked, finally looking at her, almost unable to believe that she'd agreed. The sound of thunder was becoming quite loud, so he added, "Weather permitting, that is."

"That sounds good to me," she replied. She jumped a little at a particularly loud crack of thunder. "It does seem to be getting nastier outside, doesn't it?"

"Yes, though perhaps it will blow over soon," Diego said, starting to worry that lightning might strike the tavern itself. The wind seemed to be picking up as well. "It seems to be moving quite swiftly."

He hoped it would pass quickly. If it didn't get any better, he might have to spend the night at the tavern, and while he would love to spend a little more time with Victoria, he just didn't think it would be a good idea to tell her while they were trapped by the weather. Somehow he knew he'd end up telling her if he did, and while he knew he had to, this just seemed the wrong time as he couldn't help but feel that something dangerous was on its way.

Victoria leaned forward a bit, resting her hand on his. "What's the matter, Diego?"

"What?" Diego asked. He hadn't thought his discomfort obvious.

"You look as if you expected the roof to fall in any moment."

Diego pulled himself together. "At the moment, I'm more concerned with what lightning might do."

Thunder rumbled loudly. The wind had picked up as well, and Diego thought he could hear something else under the sound of the storm, but he wasn't sure exactly what.

"Victoria..." he started to say before a particularly loud crack of thunder startled them.

A moment later, the wind blew the door of the tavern open. Diego leapt up to close it, but before he reached it, a tall cloaked figure entered the tavern, shutting the door behind him.

~TBC~

Tomorrow: Chapter 4 - Dracula.

~Moved from top of the chapter~

I'm trying to reedit to remove spoiler stuff from the top while still leaving what I already had written so my reviews still make sense.

While this story gets dark, it's not there yet. I just have this weird compulsion to warn about things that may or may not be darker than expected. I've really been pushing myself on this one, and as I don't usually do dark, I'm a little concerned, probably overly concerned, about how far I'm going, so I'm going to tend to overwarn.

This chapter, however, is reasonably light. This is also the last chapter to cover events that occurred before the prologue. By the last part of the chapter, everything is synced up timewise, and there are no more flashbacks. It's also the longest chapter thus far, since I didn't want to spend more than three chapters catching up to the prologue.