A/N: That's the last chapter. Thank to everybody who kept reading this story and for all these kind reviews. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting so long between updates.

And many, many thanks to lbindner who checked the whole story.

Chapter ten

Eyes red from crying, bad humor and general appearance of a person who hadn't slept much last night worked well. When Diego came to the tavern, he immediately noticed bad spirits of his friend. Isabel, who followed him, glanced curiously at the tavern owner, but didn't say a word. That was exactly what Victoria was counting on.

"What happened, Victoria?" asked the young de la Vega, standing by the bar, where the señorita was preparing a breakfast for someone. "What troubles you?"

"Buenos dias, Diego," murmured the woman absently, keeping her eyes down. "Nothing..." she added unconvincingly. Like she predicted, Diego didn't give up.

"Victoria, you know you can always talk with me." Diego leaned against the bar to be closer to her. "We are friends."

"It's not something we can talk here in my tavern," replied Victoria and leaned, seemingly to take something from the floor, but in fact to hide her smile. Yeah, 'friends'. "Diego, I have a lot of work, I can't waste my time..."

"So maybe you would like to come for a dinner today?" offered Diego. "So we can talk freely."

"Come!" added Isabel enthusiastically. "It's been long since you visited us," she insisted. Victoria hesitated for a moment.

"It won't be any trouble?" she asked.

"Certainly not," Diego reassured her with a smile. "On the contrary. You know you are always welcome."

"Alright, so I will close for siesta and come," Victoria decided finally. "Gracias."

"At your service," replied Diego gallantly and Victoria almost betrayed herself. It was Zorro who usually behaved like that towards her, not Diego. "We will see each other at the hacienda. I will send a carriage for you," offered Diego. Victoria nodded her thanks. "Come, Isabel, we have to tell Maria."

Diego left with his daughter and Victoria rushed to the kitchen. Then, when she was alone, she leaned against the wall and started laughing. Her friend hadn't yet known what he had gotten himself into.

ZZZ

"Papa, papa, help me!" Isabel's calling cut Diego's reading. He had just found a moment to sit down and finish the chapter, but his daughter had visibly different plans.

"What is it, Isabel?" asked the young de la Vega, putting away the book with a sigh. He stood up and wanted to go to his daughter's room, but the girl was already on the corridor.

"I'm entangled," she said complainingly. Her father was speechless for a moment. He had never thought he would find himself in situation when he would have to help his daughter dress up. Isabel was standing in the middle of the corridor in her most elegant dress he had bought her in Monterey. He himself felt a bit lost when he saw all the bindings and buckles. He wasn't surprised that the girl couldn't deal with them all. And the fact that Isabel, trying to free herself, had taken on of her hands from the sleeve to have more freedom.

"Isabel, dress up," moaned Diego. "Don't wander around house like that."

"But I can't," the girl replied resolutely. "Free me," she asked.

Diego, a bit panicked, came closer and took his daughter to her room. Then he tried to work out all the bindings Isabel had accidentally tightened. Then, in Monterey, he felt it wasn't a dress suitable for such a little girl, but well, he had told the seamstresses to dress Isabel like they wanted so he couldn't complain now.

"Why are you so overdressed?" asked Diego suspiciously, when he realized what was wrong. "It's a dress for a party."

"Why, Victoria is coming, isn't she?" said the girl. "Don't tighten so much, you will simmer me!" she protested whe4n Diego tightened the ribbon to loosen the knot.

"Yes, but it's just a dinner," replied Diego, ignoring the remark about clasping. "With no special occasion, so I ask you not to dress like that – he repeated. With some difficulties he untied the last ribbons. "Go, get changed," he ordered and left.

ZZZ

The morning passed more quickly than Victoria thought. Maybe because she had been busy all the time, she thought while washing the dishes. She barely managed to finish everything on time before closing the tavern for siesta. She was afraid she would leave some of that to Pilar, but she had finished and now she could go to the de la Vegas for a dinner. She was very curious if Isabel managed to keep her mouth shut and hadn't said Diego anything. She hoped not, she really wanted to control that conversation.

Before going out, Victoria went upstairs to her room. After a moment of hesitation she changed into a blue dress and fastened her hair with a buckle. Diego had invited her with no special reason, just to cheer her up, but nevertheless Victoria thought she would go dressed in something else than a skirt she had all day in the kitchen. And... Well, she knew the reason of her visit. Only Diego didn't know yet that it was going to be a very memorable afternoon.

Victoria reached for her jewelry box and took the ring Zorro had given to her when he had proposed. She watched it for a moment, and then put on her finger. If Diego would notice it too soon, maybe he would worry a bit, thought Victoria happily. She had to be careful not to show the ring to don Alejandro, but she doubted the elder de la Vega would pay attention to her jewelry.

Victoria looked through the window and saw Felipe stopping the carriage in front of the tavern porch. What was more interesting, Isabel came too. When the carriage stopped, the girl jumped on the ground and ran to the tavern. Hearing her knocking to the doors, Victoria smiled to herself and went downstairs. If she was excited, she imagined Isabel was barely able to sit still.

"Papa is anxious," said Isabel. "Or worried."

"Have you told him?" asked Victoria, trying to hide her disappointment. She was only a girl...

"No, of course not," replied Isabel, offended. "I promised you I won't," she reminded her. "But Papa is worried because you were sad in the morning," she added, when they went to the carriage.

Felipe nodded his greeting to Victoria and rushed the horses when his companions sat comfortably. He was grateful Isabel hadn't insisted on sitting with him. Felipe understood that driving was an attraction for her, but he didn't want Diego to have another reason to argue with his father. Don Alejandro had already disapproved of some things his granddaughter was doing. Felipe at first wasn't paying attention to what Isabel started telling Victoria, but when she lowered her voice, he subconsciously started listening.

"When are you going to tell him?" asked Isabel quietly. "Now?"

"No, after dinner," replied Victoria. "It will take long once we start."

Felipe barely forced himself not to turn and ask what they were talking about. He wasn't supposed to hear that conversation. Nevertheless, he was curious what Victoria wanted to talk with Diego about.

"Oh, I can't wait!" exclaimed Isabel and Felipe could easily imagine her excited smile. It seemed that whatever Victoria was up to, Isabel knew about it. Felipe was used to the fact that among people he knew it was Diego who kept secrets. And Felipe happened to know about everything, so now he felt strange being a witness of someone else's conspiracy. He tried to listen, but Victoria didn't continue the subject. The boy couldn't help the feeling that Diego won't be glad.

ZZZ

"So what troubles you, Victoria?" asked Diego finally, when the dishes after dinner were taken and Marie served tea and cookies. During the meal Victoria was calm, but now she lowered her head and kept in her fingers something he couldn't see. Diego glanced at his daughter who couldn't sit still.

"Isabel, you're free to go," he said, but the girl shook her head and didn't move. Diego winced. If he wanted to talk with Victoria and find out what was troubling her, the little one might disturb them. The señorita though only smiled, letting him know that she didn't mind.

"It's about Zorro," said Victoria after a while. She still played with the rind and she knew Diego couldn't see that and was probably curious. She raised her head and glanced at the young de la Vega. She had to admit that he hadn't reveal himself with anything. For the time being...

"What happened to Zorro?" asked don Alejandro carefully. He took the cup of tea and thanked Felipe. The boy filled also Victoria's cup and sat next to Isabel.

"To him? Nothing serious, he's quite well from what I know," replied Victoria and couldn't resist looking at Diego. She noticed with satisfaction that her friend was already a bit nervous by now. "Diego, when I had twisted ankle, you asked me why I looked so happy," she said, turning to the young de la Vega.

"Si, I remember," nodded Diego. He reached for his cup, but must have changed his mind, because he put his hand on the table. "You didn't want to tell me then," he reminded her.

"Zorro proposed to me then," explained Victoria. "That's why I was so happy."

"You're engaged with Zorro?" She had to admit, Diego still held on, still played. Victoria put her hands on the table, but kept the ring hidden.

"That's the problem," said Victoria. She purposely didn't look at Isabel, because she would certainly start laughing, seeing her excitement. She managed to keep serious expression and stopped watching the tablecloth. Diego was confused now and don Alejandro followed their conversation with interest.

"Zorro wanted recently to break our engagement," continued Victoria. "He said something about other obligations that prevent him from keeping his promise."

The right moment had come. Victoria uncovered the ring, knowing that don Alejandro was watching her closely. Judging by his reaction, she hit the mark. Now all she had to do was to make a frontal attack.

"We didn't finish that conversation," Victoria kept talking and watched as the blood quickly ran from her friend's face. "Will you tell me what you meant? Is Isabel this obligation you told me about?"

The question hung in the air. The silence was disturbed only by don Alejandro who choked on his tea. Isabel glanced from Victoria to her father and back, not knowing who she should observe. At Felipe's face, after a moment of shock, appeared an understanding. And Diego... Diego visibly wanted to vanish. He moved away as far as possible, but he made it too quickly and his chair wavered. Diego caught the table just in time to prevent hard landing on the floor.

He hadn't expected that. Balancing on the chair, which maliciously didn't want to stand still on four legs, or at least he had such feeling, Diego tried to understand what had happened. If he wasn't wrong, and now he wouldn't be sure of anything, Victoria thought he was Zorro. Not that she was wrong, but... Diego finally stabilized the chair and hid his face in his hands. Inhale, exhale, inhale... Victoria knew. Dios, she knew! And not only she knew, but she also decided to tell him in the presence of his father and daughter. Just wonderful! Diego realized that he really feared glancing at Victoria to see how she was taking the news that he was Zorro.

"Diego?" Victoria leaned over the table. She had heard the hiss the young de la Vega let escape. "And don't tell me everything is alright, I saw soldiers shooting at you," she warned before Diego had a chance to reply. Next to her don Alejandro put his tea back on the table and watched his son with anxiety. He was the only one who was surprised, except from Diego that is. One glance at Felipe made Victoria sure that the boy must have known about everything.

"How... how did you find out?" asked Diego finally, when he regained his voice and found courage to look at her. He visibly ignored the question and tried not to see his father's stare. Suddenly Victoria and Isabel looked at each other and began to laugh.

"You have a smart daughter, Diego," replied the señorita merrily. "And is she is this obligation of yours I can reassure you I don't mind," she said. Diego was still shocked and looked as if he didn't know what to expect. Seeing his expression, Victoria couldn't help but smiled. What Zorro must have imagined when he thought about that moment... What was it, that he never dared to tell her the truth? Right now Diego must have been waiting for her to start shouting at him and he was visibly surprised that nothing like that happened.

"Oh Dios..." Diego again hid his face in his hands. Victoria recalled the day when she brought Isabel to the hacienda. Diego had reacted similar then. "Dios mio, are you trying to tell me that a nine-year old unmasked me?" he asked in astonishment. "I managed to play for more than five years, and my Isabel had discovered that in... less than two months?"

Isabel glanced unsurely at Victoria, but the señorita only smiled that she would not betray their secrets. Diego must have seen that.

"No, I don't think I want to know that," said the young de la Vega and sat more comfortably. "I guess I have to be more careful."

"I think so," admitted Victoria joyfully. She thought it would be better not to tell Diego that Isabel had discovered his secret in less time. "How is your arm?"

"Better," answered the young de la Vega subconsciously. He leaned against the chair and crossed his arms. "Do you really not mind that..."

"No and I won't repeat myself," Victoria cut him off. "I thought it was obvious, but I can see it wasn't. And I hope you won't be trying again to break our engagement," she added warningly. Diego smiled happily.

"I won't," he replied. "But you will have to give me back the ring so I can propose on you again. If you want it, of course."

"Papa, Victoria will want," interrupted Isabel. "She has already told you," she pointed out with childish firmness. Diego laughed helplessly in surrender.

Don Alejandro stared at his son and slowly accustomed to the news. His Diego had already changed when it showed that he was a father, but what Alejandro had just learned was the biggest revelation. His son, his Diego was hiding more than some love affairs from his student times. The elder de la Vega couldn't tell what shocked him more – the fact that he was living under the same roof with Zorro and didn't know about it, the awareness that he was so blind or maybe the fact that his son, asked so many times about wife, had in fact a fiancée. Don Alejandro looked at Diego, then at Victoria. They were looking at each other, Diego with hope over his surprise, Victoria with joy. Señorita Escalante had just said that she would not agree to any engagement breaking. Diego was so happy because of that, but he could not yet believe it. The elder de la Vega wanted to ask his son a few questions, but he didn't know what to start with.

"I guess the governess won't be needed," he murmured only, but Diego didn't hear him.

The end

A/N: I had an epilogue for this story, but I started writing a sequel, so this epilogue makes no sense. I'm afraid it will take long before I finish that second story and I'm afraid it won't be so cheerful like this one. I can't write such sweet stories for too long, I prefere more dramatic events. Like Gilberto Risendo perhaps...