Don Alejandro was pleased and relieved to see his son, and even more pleased to see him with Victoria. Felipe had reluctantly reported Toronado's return without his master, and they had been deliberating what to do when the young don and the señorita rode up to the hacienda. While Victoria cleaned the wounds of two sword cuts, one a shallow gash across his back and one on his shoulder, Diego told his story. Don Alejandro listened in silence, then apologized profusely to his son. He was quick to offer his deep pride in and admiration of his son, as well as his profound thankfulness that Diego had suffered no great hurts. Then, after exacting a promise from his son to mind his manners, he excused himself and Felipe for the night so Diego and Victoria could be alone. They sat in the darkness of the library, in each other's arms, enjoying the silence and each other.

Finally the clock on the mantel chimed midnight, and Victoria sighed tiredly. "I should go home, my love," she said quietly. "Especially if we are going to be married today."

She got no answer, and with a smile she realized he was asleep. Slowly she eased herself out of his embrace, then she left him to rest and went outside. To her surprise, she found Don Alejandro sitting on a bench, staring pensively at the clear night sky.

"Buenas noches, my dear," he said with a smile. His tone was sad, though, so Victoria sat down beside him.

"Is something wrong?" she asked hesitantly, worried that perhaps the elder don was having second thoughts about her marrying his son.

For a few moments he did not answer, until he glanced at her and saw her worried expression. "Oh, no, Victoria," he chuckled softly. "There is nothing wrong. Least of all with you and Diego... I am so proud of him, and I am so very happy that he and you are to be married." He sighed and shook his head. "But I have been so hard on him- not just the other day, but ever since he returned from the university..."

"I know," Victoria said in a soft tone, laying a hand on his arm. "Diego needed it that way. He did everything on purpose. You and I knew that he could not possibly be Zorro- that it was absurd to even think it! - and that was exactly what he needed to be Zorro. Don't trouble yourself about it now..."

"But you have no idea, Victoria! I have made no secret of the fact that I was ashamed of him- at times, at least- and I have called him a coward in public. My own son! Zorro, for God's sake!" He clenched his hands together. "I've hounded him about marriage, being more like a real De la Vega..."

"Don Alejandro, please. He does not blame you."

"I blame myself. Why couldn't I see it?"

"Because he did not want you to see it. He did not want me to see it, either, and I didn't. The man I love- I never stopped loving him, I swear to you. The man I love was with me nearly every single day and I never knew it. Only a few days ago I would have laughed if anyone would have told me I was to marry Diego de la Vega, that I wanted desperately to marry him! After all, he is not my type. How many times have I said that? How often did I tease him about not being more like Zorro, or of finding a wife?" Victoria smiled and patted Alejandro's arm. "Zorro is no more, Don Alejandro. Let us both find out what Diego is really like. He needs no reminders about the past- right now he still feels the pain of what I did to him too strongly. Let us both help him find the life he sacrificed for us for so long. He needs the chance to get used to life without Zorro."

"He needs you." The don smiled wearily. "He has chosen a jewel among women, Victoria. I thank God in Heaven that he will have you. Even though my son is Zorro, I would not entrust him to just any other woman."

"Gracias, Don Alejandro," Victoria said, blushing.

"It will be good to have you with us, my dear," he continued. "The hacienda needs a woman's touch. My Felicidad has been gone far too long..." He sighed longingly, and Victoria realized that the don still grieved for his wife. Her wedding to his son was only reawakening long dormant wounds, reminding him of his own loneliness.

"I'm sorry," she softly said.

"Sorry! Don't be, my dear! I couldn't be happier to know that Diego and you are in love and are to be married! I have prayed for such a thing for him for so long... I know the wait must have been hard, but... neither of you have any idea what you have been missing. I am pleased that at last you will both find that joy. You both deserve it so much. Zorro deserves it. He fought so bravely for us. It is time he retires with all the gratitude and honor we can give him." For a moment he was silent, then suddenly he pushed himself to his feet. "Let me take you home, Victoria. You need to get some sleep! We all have a big day ahead of us."

"I will be fine, gracias..."

"I insist. I am not tired yet, anyway."

With a smile, Victoria accepted his offer, so Don Alejandro shared a few more minutes with his son's fiancée before they reached the tavern and she was seen safely inside. He returned to the hacienda, thoughtful but no longer so melancholy, and gently woke his son up. Then they both went to bed, too tired to be anxious about the upcoming wedding.