Author's Note: So I hope everyone had a nice week! Sure, I made you wait 6 days. But it's also over 3000 words so I hope you forgive me. Was going to be 4500, but I really don't want to overwhelm you. Glad some people are still enjoying my story. If you are, please review...they make me happy! A happy writer writes faster! And don't we all want to see who is the 100th reviewer? :-)

Thanks to Klingonkitten for checking this over.

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Felipe crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall in Diego's room, bored and impatient. He watched the curtains floating in the breeze from the window. The breeze fluttered the petals of some flowers in a vase on the windowsill. Another scarf flew across the room to float gracefully down to the floor. He looked back over to Diego, who just stood staring into his closet after discarding the offensive scarf. Felipe kicked his leg loudly against the wall as he pushed off and walked over to Diego. He gently pushed the man out of the way, picked a dark red scarf off the pile of discarded scarves on the ground, positioned Diego where he wanted, and started to tie it around Diego's neck.

"Maybe the green would…" Diego started as he turned back to his wardrobe. Felipe wasn't hearing it, and pulled Diego's shoulders back to center. Felipe gave him a look, and Diego stood still. "This is important, Felipe."

Felipe shook his head, and patted Diego's chest a little too hard when he finished with the scarf. He straightened Diego's jacket, and pointed a finger at the taller man. She loves you already. She doesn't care what you wear, Felipe signed.

Diego pulled at his collar and grinned at Felipe. He shrugged helplessly, and took Felipe's shoulder to limp out of the room. Felipe helped him into the cart, but didn't climb in after him.

"What are you waiting for," Diego asked.

I thought you wanted to see her alone, Felipe signed.

"Get up here. I won't be seeing her alone. The tavern will be full of annoying guests intent on keeping us apart like my father," Diego sighed and Felipe happily jumped into the cart. Diego eyed the agile teenager in frustration and envy. "Can't do anything till I learn to walk again anyway," Diego added grumpily. His leg didn't hurt as much today, but he still felt vulnerable and feeble. This would be his first visit to the tavern since he'd broken his leg. His first visit to show the pueblo that he might be interested in the señorita now that Zorro had broken things off, though his father warned him to not be obvious and rush things.

He had no idea what he was supposed to do. He wanted to march in, sweep her off her feet, carry her to the church and come back to the hacienda. He looked at his fancy suit and sword-free belt. Would anyone really suspect he was Zorro? Victoria could pretend to marry him for his money. She could get tired of working in the tavern and tell everyone she was ready for a life of leisure. They could go away…move back to Spain or go north. They could do that today.

Diego frowned and urged the horses into motion. It seemed all his patience had disappeared into smoke now that he was crippled. He knew Victoria liked living in Alta California. Both of them would worry about leaving the people without their protector. He told himself to do the right thing. His father's comment about his future son was most disturbing though, and he knew he would be patient and go with the plan. Maybe by the end of next week he would be able to ride well enough for Zorro to come plead for Victoria to take him back. Victoria could have her fun tossing him out of the tavern, then Diego could really pursue her. Another month hopefully would see Alejandro's emissary friend on his way to California. Then they could marry and live happily ever after.

Diego told himself to cheer up when they reached the tavern. With Felipe and his cane, he managed to get to a table by the kitchen without too much pain. Many people greeted him, clapped him on the back in thanks for his act of heroism with the bull. So much had happened since, he'd almost forgotten that day. He saw another benefit to being patient. If they could get DeSoto sent back to Spain, he could be himself all the time again. He wouldn't have to play the fool and could be one of the caballeros instead of being pitied. And once he and Victoria were married, he would have better things to do with his nights than sneak around the pueblo in a black cape and mask.

He hoped Victoria would be happy to see him. It bothered him that he hadn't been to the tavern lately. He was used to talking to her every day, and that calmed him and made him feel better. This was a lot harder than he'd imagined not having the freedom to see her when he wanted, and he wasn't having much fun. He sat impatiently in the corner and waited for Victoria to appear.

Felipe shoved at his shoulder with a smile to ask him what he was frowning about. Diego waved him off and waited for his beloved to appear and make his day brighter. A few moments later, he got his wish. The curtains parted, and Victoria swept out of the kitchen along with the fragrant smells of all the food she was creating. He thought he smelled apple pie, thought that would definitely make his day better. Sitting in the corner as he was, she didn't see him and went to see other diners. He shrugged. He could be patient. Now he could see her surprise when she saw him, since she wasn't expecting him.

He was so busy admiring the sway of her hips under the blue skirt she was wearing that he didn't notice anything out of the ordinary at first. So used to trying to be invisible, he wasn't surprised she didn't notice him right away. She delivered several plates of food and swept around the room refilling coffee and taking new orders. She wasn't talking to anyone, though. And she wasn't smiling. She looked tired, and the smiles she did give away looked strained, and her face pale.

Though she was quiet, she was also the unspoken center of attention. Diego narrowed his eyes and sat up straighter in his chair as he observed her more closely. Then she did the unthinkable. She walked right past his table back into the kitchen without noticing him. He looked at Felipe in surprise, then glanced around the tavern again.

Felipe grabbed his arm when Diego started to get up from the table and go after her. He shook his head at Felipe's urgent signs. "This wasn't the plan. I don't care about the plan." Diego shook Felipe off and made a move to stand, once again forgetting that he was lame at the moment.

Diego fell back as the pain sliced up his leg and into his brain. Felipe watched Diego's face turn ashen with pain, then held his cane away when it looked like Diego was still going to go after her. What are you going to do? Felipe signed.

"I don't know, but did you see her face? I'm not going to put her through this anymore," Diego whispered frantically, swamped with guilt. All this time he'd been feeling sorry for himself, wanting Victoria to come fuss over him and cheer him up. He was the most selfish man in California and he was going to make up for it right now. He waited a moment for Felipe to hand him his cane, then stole it when Felipe still held it away from him.

"Diego!" Diego closed his eyes regretfully and sat back in his chair when he heard Don Esteban call his name from the door to the tavern. He heard a crash in the kitchen, and guessed Victoria knew he was here now. He heard voices behind the curtain that assured him the crash wasn't something bad. Felipe pulled at his arm when he kept staring at the curtain instead of greeting Don Esteban. "It's so good to see you up and around," Esteban continued when he reached the table. Diego grudgingly gestured for Esteban to join him, when it was the last thing he wanted.

"I wanted to thank you again for your help with the bull," Don Esteban beamed at him.

Diego tried to shrug off his annoyance with everyone in the place and smiled at his father's friend. "You already thanked me. It could have happened to anyone," Diego lied. He was still angry that the man hadn't taken proper precautions bringing a dangerous animal into the market. His father had been lecturing him about social responsibility since he'd found out about Diego's alter-ego, so Diego tried to be a proper son and make nice with the man. If Victoria wasn't out here in two minutes, though, he was going after her.

"So your leg is feeling better? I guess now you are happy you have lots of time to read," Esteban smiled and Diego wanted to kick him. What did he owe these people? He glanced around and knew everyone in here owed Zorro for something. And Victoria, since she liked to be outspoken herself and defended them. None of these people ever lifted a finger to help themselves. His father was right, people were obviously talking about Victoria and Zorro. He had thought since Zorro and Victoria were so liked by the people, no one would be overly harsh. But Zorro wasn't there to share the blame. Apparently acting the social outcast had made him oblivious to the petty and vicious gossip he hated in Madrid but thought was absent here. If these people cared so little, he would take Victoria far away.

Felipe pulled him back into the chair and signed that he'd go check on Victoria when Diego moved to rise again. The lady in question returned from the kitchen just at that moment. She walked past them and delivered a few plates and drinks before 'noticing' them on her way back to the kitchen. She'd washed her face and she smiled at them, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Don Diego, Don Esteban, I'm sorry I didn't know you were here," Victoria eyed Diego harshly for a second at that. "What can I get for you gentlemen?"

"Oh, I only just arrived, Señorita. I'll take some paella if it's fresh," Don Esteban said and Diego once again considered kicking the man.

"Don Diego?" Victoria prompted, and he realized he'd been glaring too long at his companion. He looked up at Victoria and was glad to see the grateful smile she gave him was genuine.

Felipe nudged him, and he must have muttered something edible because she nodded. A look heavy with support and encouragement passed between them, and Diego tried to relax. Felipe remembered the smell of apple pie and Diego added a slice to his own order when he translated. Diego wanted to ask her to sit down. He wanted to take her away from here. But he sat back in his chair, pulled over another chair to set his leg on, and wondered what he'd just ordered for lunch.