It was Christmas Day in the pueblo, and to Ignacio's satisfaction all was quiet in the streets as the Ghost lead him around the town. The Ghost shook his head at him, making his touselled hair dance. The frown on the giant's face was a little daunting, but Ignacio couldn't hide a little smirk.

"Funny, is it?"

"Christmas is altogether over celebrated anyway," Ignacio said. "People should be at church. Do you know the Puritans in America banned it altogether. It was too disorganised and got in the way of honest work. Taxation keeps the people in line, and without work, how can they pay taxes?"

"How indeed? You always manage to get them to pay," the Ghost muttered. "You're so ill spirited you managed to lock up Father Christmas himself the other year."

"That man was a fraud and a fake. It's not my fault the gullible of the pueblo were fooled."

"You're a hard man to deal with Alcalde."

"Where are we going? There has to be some sort of point to this," Ignacio reasoned.

"The tavern."

"It's closed."

"Yes, but we are still going." The Ghost led him straight through a wall, and into the kitchen.

Victoria had decorated as much as she could in the room, and a fire was burning in the hearth. He had expected her to at least be a little downcast, but she was pottering around with her cooking utensils, and mixing things in bowls.

"What's she doing? She has no customers until the new year. That's how long the ban is."

"She seems grateful for your present. The poor girl hasn't had a holiday in years."

Ignacio stared at the Ghost and then at the cheerful woman. "That's….that's not what I meant."

"Nevertheless, some have the happy ability to transform evil into good. I wonder what she is making?" The Ghost floated over to inspect her busyness from over her shoulder.

"Oh, yes," he murmured. "Simple Christmas cookies. Well, well, what a feast she has made. She must have been up all night…"

Cold ham, bread rolls, steaming soup were just some of the treats in the kitchen.

"Cooking ahead of time?"

"Planning for a special someone, I believe. This is only enough for two people."

"A special someone? Zorro?"

"I suppose so. Although there might be another she would invite if you'd only increase the guest limit."

"The guest limit is two." Ignacio glanced around with interest. "Where is he?"

"I suppose three is a crowd in these matters," the Ghost was mumbling to himself.

"I have soldiers waiting to capture him, it will be the best Christmas ever."

"Ignacio?"

"What?"

"Did you see any soldiers?"

"No….the damn fools! Where are they?"

"I wouldn't be too harsh with them. Zorro does have a way of getting what he wants when he chooses."

"Zorro?"

"A simple matter of drugging the soldiers."

Ignacio huffed a little, and subsequently missed the dramatic entrance of the man in black.

"Would you just look at them?" The Ghost sighed. "One of these Christmases…oh well…"

Ignacio stared in disbelief at the couple. Where had he sprung from? Victoria was in his arms, and they were passionately kissing.

"What a pity my men are so stupid! He is a sitting duck," Ignacio fumed.

"Querida," Zorro breathed, breaking off the kiss with a heavy sigh. "You've been cooking?"

"Stay with me, stay for lunch…"

"I…I can't, querida. I…have other….commitments."

"Oh."

"My father expects me."

"Oh, I see." Her face brightened a little. "Stay for some ham and eggs. At least, every man needs a hearty breakfast."

"Of course. Coffee would be nice." He sat on one of the chairs at the table.

"Coffee? Oh yes, of course." She hurried to pour him a mug.

"I went to midnight mass. You looked quite lovely, I thought," Zorro said, and took a careful sip of the steaming drink.

She blushed. "That's not what midnight mass is for, Zorro."

"It's an added incentive, I find."

"You sat with your father," she said softly. "Where were you sitting?"

Zorro took another careful sip, and Ignacio noticed his eyes sparkle with playfulness. A similar playfulness came over him while fencing. He knew Zorro would give her a riddle to keep her guessing.

"Somewhere I could see you to an advantage," he murmured.

She laughed a little, and patted his shoulder.

"I suppose you should hurry. The alcalde and his men will be here any moment, I'm sure."

"Not this morning. The barracks are full of heavily sleeping soldiers, and the doors are firmly locked. I wanted some time with you, Querida. We never seem to have time."

"No, we never do," she sighed. "What about your parents? Won't they worry?"

"I lie in regularly."

"In more ways than one, I suppose. Do they know who you are?"

"No one does," Zorro said with a frown. "I thought we promised to not talk about my identity."

"I never promised, not exactly."

"Well, for Christmas, can we just relax about it?"

"Yes, of course," she said with a slight nod. "I have a present for you."

"A hearty breakfast and a present? Victoria, there's no need…"

"And you haven't brought me one?"

Ignacio watched as the man grew slightly uncomfortable and he smirked at him. Silly fool, bewitched by a mere tavern keeper.

She handed him a wrapped gift and waited for him to unwrap it.

"It's very soft," he murmured. He held the black scarf up to examine it. "It would have taken a long time to make."

"Wear it when you ride at night," she said. "I worry."

He smiled gently. "It's beautiful," he said, and leaned over to kiss her softly. He reached into a bag Ignacio hadn't noticed before.

"This is a tonic I made for you. It will help you not get sick."

"Thank you."

"This is a rose water that I made with the roses that you love…. And this is something I found in Monterey," he said with a grin. She took the red shawl and put it to her cheek. "I must confess, I didn't make it."

"I suppose you can't do everything," she said reluctantly.

"No, I am just a man after all."

She paused a little, and Zorro flinched, turning his attention back to his coffee. Ignacio was sure he missed some sort of clue because Zorro seemed very agitated and Victoria seemed a little lost.

"What's going on?"

"It's a little game he plays," the Ghost said with a grin. "Come now, let's leave them in peace."

"I want to stay," Ignacio said with interest. Perhaps he could learn something incriminating about the man, and then he could arrest the man without the mask on his face. That would be something.

"It's not about you, Ignacio," the Ghost said with a slight growl. "You see, they can have their love and their celebration with or without your stupid laws. Nothing stops love and friendship. The harshest treatment merely encourages it more. Not even the most powerful tyrant can stop love."