Felipe burst through the door of the hacienda, racing to Mireya's bedroom. He had summoned the doctor immediately upon reaching the pueblo, and then hurried to the garrison to dispose of Villegas. He stopped in the doorway, clutching the wooden frame as he fought to catch his breath.

Dr. Hernandez stood by the young girl's bed. He held her wrist in his hand and placed his fingers to the side of her neck. His face was serious and solemn.

A chill ran down Felipe's spine as he watched the doctor work. Mireya was so pale, so still in the bed; he couldn't help thinking of those horrifying moments in the cave, when she hadn't been breathing…when he thought that he had lost her forever. His dark eyes searched the girl's room for Diego. Diego would know what was happening.

Suddenly, a strong hand squeezed his shoulder. He turned.

Diego smiled and gave the anxious teen another reassuring squeeze. "Her fever has broken." He explained. "The doctor said that she is very lucky. She should be fine in a day or two."

Felipe exhaled with relief. He leaned heavily on the door frame, resting his forehead on the wood, and said a silent prayer of thanks.

"Felipe?" Diego questioned, concerned.

Felipe turned to face Diego; his large chocolate eyes swam behind the tears that had started to spill over his lashes. "I'm fine." He wiped his face with the palm of his hand, but he couldn't contain the increasing flow down his cheeks. In a sudden burst, he threw himself into Diego's chest and sobbed. His whole body felt limp and drained; he felt his knees begin to buckle.

"I've got you." Diego tightened his strong embrace, in order to support the weight of the teen. They stood like that for what seemed like forever; Diego tightening his hold with each heaving sob from the young man. His own eyes moistened. He had never known Felipe to cry- not actual tears. Sweet, sensitive, kind and caring, the boy felt things deeply. His huge, chocolate eyes said everything that his voice couldn't, but he didn't cry. When the tears subsided, he felt Felipe straighten in his arms and take a deep cleansing breath.

There was the slightest flinch as Diego comforted the boy. Felipe noticed. He remembered the injury that he had seen to Zorro's shoulder. He took a step back, wiped his face with the palms of his hands, and pointed to Diego's shoulder.

"I'm fine." Diego nodded. He watched as the boy's face took on a serious tone, undoubtedly thinking about the events of that day. He felt the sudden need to try to explain his actions. "I thought that Villegas had killed you." Diego absent-mindedly fingered his injured shoulder; his voice softened and deepened. He stared at the ground, unable to make eye contact with his young charge. "The thought that he had hurt you… that I had lost you forever…" Diego shook his head trying to erase the thoughts and the images that plagued his mind. "I wanted to hurt him… the way that he had hurt you…" He covered his face with his hands, ashamed by his thoughts and actions. "God forgive me." He whispered through his fingers. "I wanted him dead."

Felipe had always known that the de la Vegas cared for him. Diego had brought him to the hacienda as a small child, frightened and traumatized after losing his parents, unable to hear or speak. They had been encouraged by many to take the boy to an institution, but adamantly refused. Instead, they had given him a home and an education. The de la Vegas were good people.

Felipe felt guilty. After all he had been given, sometimes in the quiet of the night, he had wondered. Was it all a matter of obligation…a sense of duty…out of pity? His mind replayed the events with Villegas; He remembered the look in Zorro's eyes and a lump formed in his throat. His eyes moistened. Zorro was ready to kill on his behalf, to go against everything that he believed in. The thought both terrified and comforted. It was not obligation. It was love.

He watched Diego struggle with what he had done. He knew that his mentor still believed that all life was sacred.

Doctor Hernandez placed a cool cloth across the young girl's forehead and joined the two onlookers in the doorway. "She is a very lucky young lady." He smiled at Felipe. "And has you to thank."

Felipe shook his head, uncomfortable with the compliment. He had just done what needed to be done.

"She has been calling for you." The doctor wiped his glasses with a cloth.

Felipe looked to Diego, who had collected himself when the doctor approached.

"Go." Diego nodded.

Felipe started into the room and then turned back to Diego. A smile lit up his face; his dark eyes sparkled. "I love you too!" He signed and then hurried to the girl's bedside.

"Felipe?" Mireya called, softly. She tried to sit up but Felipe eased her back down onto the pillow.

He pulled up a chair and took her hand in his own; he placed the palm of her hand against his cheek and nodded.

She let out a satisfied sigh and relaxed, falling into a deep, peaceful sleep.

ZZZ

Emilio closed his eyes and hung his head…just a little so as not to be noticed. He should have objected. But then again, there were many things that he should or shouldn't have been doing. He just couldn't. Mireya's life depended on it. He had to lose. His eyes darted into the audience.

Guillermo Villegas sat in the courtroom. He smiled a wicked smile at the lawyer, as he dangled the girl's locket above his knee. He twisted it in the sunlight that came in through the window, letting the rays bounce playfully off of the beautiful silver and dance on the walls of the room.

"No further questions." Emilio said, defeated, and there was a stunned gasp amongst the spectators.

The judge declared a recess in the proceedings. The courtroom cleared, leaving Emilio and Villegas alone in the tiny room.

Emilio poured a glass of water from a pitcher and drank greedily. His throat burned; on fire, he presumed, from the half-truths that he had been forced to spew. His hands shook as he sat the glass down and leaned wearily on the table.

"You are doing good." The man with the locket chuckled. "Well, good at losing." He was almost laughing at the thought.

Fire burned in Emilio's eyes. "I am doing what I have to." He growled through clenched teeth. "But if you hurt her…"

"I am afraid, Señor, win or lose, that is exactly what your friend, here, has intended." Zorro stepped out of the shadows, sword drawn.

"Zorro!" Emilio and the thug gasped in unison.

"At your service." The man in black touched the tip of his sword to his hat and smiled.

"What are you doing here? What do you mean?" Emilio's questioning eyes filled with a mixture of fear and fury. "What has happened?" His eyes widened as the reality of Zorro's words became clear. "Mireya?" He choked. "What have you done?" He screamed at the thug. "You said if I did as I was told, she wouldn't be hurt!"

"Mireya is fine." Zorro smiled. "She had a close call, but is safe and sound at the de la Vega hacienda."

Guillermo Villegas sat upright, startled by the news of the girl's safety.

"That is right, Señor. Your plan failed." He smiled. "Right about now, your accomplice is no doubt making a deal to save his own skin."

"Gustavo would not do that." The younger Villegas said defiantly. "I am his brother."

Zorro seemed to consider the statement for a moment. "It is true. Siblings do share a special bond." He smiled at Emilio. "But a man capable of killing an innocent, young, blind woman, is capable of doing anything, even betraying his own brother, to save his neck from being stretched on the gallows.

Villegas thought for a moment and then made a break for the door.

Before Zorro could make a move, Emilio leapt through the air, tackling Villegas to the ground. He threw two well-placed blows to the man's jaw, knocking the outlaw unconscious. As he drew back for another blow, Zorro caught his wrist.

"That's enough." Zorro shook his head.

Emilio looked at the unconscious man; his anger rose. "You don't understand." He growled, pulling free from Zorro's grip. "He deserves..."

"I understand more than you think." Zorro interrupted. "What he deserves, he will get; but not here and not at your hands." Zorro knelt beside Emilio. Eye to eye, he continued. "You are a man of integrity and justice, Senor. Don't let them take that from you."

Emilio bowed his head and nodded. "They could have taken so much more." He whispered.

"Ah, yes." Zorro agreed. "But they gave you something as well."

Emilio looked up confused.

"Most people do not realize what is important... what they have … until it is gone." Zorro explained. "You, Señor, have the rare opportunity to take this experience and learn, before it is too late." He whispered under his breath. "We both do."

A tear rolled down Emilio's face as he nodded.

Zorro smiled and stood. "I have a message from your sister."

"From Mireya?" Emilio stood as well.

"One simple word."

Emilio cocked his head.

"Win!"

Voices from outside of the courtroom could be heard.

Emilio looked toward the door and the sound of the approaching voices. "You had better leave…" He turned back to the masked man, but Zorro had already disappeared into the shadows. "Thank you." He whispered gratefully.

ZZZ

The de la Vegas and Emilio sat in the dining room, deep in conversation, as they waited for the arrival of the stage.

"With both Gustavo and Guillermo Villegas testifying, Ibarra will be spending time with his son in the Devil's Fortress." Emilio smiled.

"It serves him right." Don Alejandro slapped the edge of the table with his gloves. "A man of his standing in the community… It is an outrage!" He shook his head.

"From what I've been told, you did a magnificent job in court." Diego smiled at his friend.

Emilio shook his head. "I don't know about magnificent." He stared at the table. "I would not have been able to do it without Zorro's appearance." He sighed. I only wish I had been able to thank him."

"Oh, I am sure that Zorro knows how you feel." Diego's blue eyes twinkled.

Felipe led Mireya into the room. The men at the table stood and joined them. Emilio stood at his sister's side, but her hands remained wrapped around Felipe's arm.

"Señorita," Diego came forward. "I have something for you."

"For me?" Mireya looked puzzled. Diego took her hands and placed something large in her palms. She felt the squared edges, leather cover, and crisp pages.

"Frankenstein?" Emilio questioned.

"Señor de la Vega?" Mireya shook her head. "I couldn't possibly. I know how difficult it was to get it."

"Nonsense." Diego gently took Mireya's hand and kissed the top. "It is my pleasure. I assure you."

"Milio?" Mireya questioned cautiously. She knew Emilio would be the one who would have to read it to her.

"Well, it looks like we have some reading to do when we get home." He leaned down and kissed his sister's cheek. His eyes glistened. "If you think that I can still remember how we used to do it."

"I have no doubts" She beamed. "No doubt at all."

"Thank you." Emilio mouthed and Diego nodded in return. He, then, turned his attention to Felipe. "And you…" He pointed at the teen. "You are a very brave and resourceful young man."

Felipe blushed and stared at the ground.

Emilio placed a hand on the boy's upper arm to get his attention. "I will, forever, be in your debt."

The color in Felipe's cheeks darkened; he waved the notion away.

Emilio stuck out his hand.

Felipe reached out his hand; from the corner of his eye he could see Diego, smiling proudly. It came as quite a shock when the lawyer finished shaking his hand and pulled him into a brief, yet tight, embrace. "Thank you." His voice cracked.

The teen nodded.

"Diego told me that you want to become a lawyer." Emilio tried to regain his composure. "Whenever you are ready, you come see me. I could use someone as resourceful as you in my practice."

Felipe made a few gestures with his hands and everyone looked to Diego to interpret.

"Felipe says that it is a very generous offer, and he would be honored to learn from you."

"Oh, I think we could learn from each other." Emilio watched as his sister snuggled closer to the teen at her side, bouncing excitedly on her toes.

ZZZ

Felipe and Mireya stood in the garden, enjoying a few last moments alone before the stage came. Picking a rose from one of the bushes, Felipe stripped the thorns from the stem and placed it under Mireya's nose.

"A rose."

Felipe nodded into her palm.

She smiled, but tears started to flow from her emerald eyes. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

Felipe wiped a tear from her cheek.

"I hated coming here." She sniffled. "I begged Milio not to leave me." She confessed, bowing her head, and the tears flowed faster. "Now, I would give anything to stay."

Felipe took a step closer.

Mireya let her hand drop from his face to his chest; she could feel the beat of his heart through his shirt.

Felipe tilted her chin with his index finger.

Instinctively, she rose onto her toes. She could feel her body tremble beneath his touch.

Felipe closed his eyes, lost in the soft feel of her lips against his.

Mireya let her lips linger for a moment and then whispered. "YOU will always be MY hero."

Felipe studied the beauty in his arms. He brushed a fiery ringlet from her face and pulled her close. He had felt sorry for her when they had first met. Not being able to talk was not easy, but being blind seemed so much more difficult. He had been wrong. Mireya had turned out to be the strongest, most courageous person that he had ever known. As they stood together, lost in the tender embrace, Felipe understood.

The best things in life are unseen…that is why we close our eyes when we kiss…cry…pray…and dream!

Thank you all for your patience. This has been a valuable lesson for me. I am definitely not a chapter writer. :) It is back to the old way of writing for me! I only hope that the story did not suffer too badly. I do appreciate all of your encouragement and kindness.