Chapter 26

The following morning Don Alejandro was looking for his son. It was already ten o'clock and Diego was usually up before this; even when he had been Zorro. He entered his son's room and found it empty, the bed made. He sighed and shook his head; perhaps Felipe knew where he was, he mused to himself. He was about to leave the room when he saw an envelope propped up against a book on his son's desk. He crossed over and saw that it was addressed to him and felt a strange surge of panic as he picked up the letter and opened it; praying that his son had not done anything foolish.

Father,

After what happened yesterday, with Senorita Quintero, I have concluded that there can be only one solution to this problem. By the time you read this, Victoria and I will be married and on our way to spend several days, perhaps a week away on our own.

I'm sorry father, to leave you like this but we both know that I can not and will not marry Senorita Quintero.

I know that you have always wanted to have a big wedding, with our family and all our friends but we simply could not wait until they all gathered, here in Los Angeles, for fear of the senorita doing something against Victoria and myself.

However, you are free to organise the biggest party in any way you like, to celebrate our marriage when we come back.

Your devoted son, Diego.

"Madre de Dios." was all that Don Alejandro could say as he read the letter , with a big silly grin on his face, he said to himself. "Good on you, son." and walked out of Diego's room with a spring in his step.

In a small but cosy tavern in Santa Paula, the newlyweds were entwined in each other's arms, sound asleep.

Victoria was the first to wake and she was startled to find herself wrapped around a warm, male body. Then she smiled as she remembered, she was married to Diego. She blushed, as she snuggled more closely against the warm bare chest of her husband. From the steady rise and fall of his chest, she knew that he was still asleep. As she listened to the steady heartbeat, she recalled the last twelve hours with happiness, love and bliss.

When she had woken the previous morning, she had no idea that later that night, she would be married. She remembered the horrible gossip in her tavern, of her ride to the de la Vega's hacienda and of Don Raul's visit. She had stayed for dinner and afterwards, Diego pulled her aside and had declared his love for her and although it was sooner then he planned, he had suggested that they marry straight away, that very night. She understood his reasons and although Don Raul had told them that he would not press for a marriage, she didn't know what else the woman was capable of; she did not want to lose him again.

She smiled at the memory of them riding into Los Angeles with Felipe as their witness. She watched in amazement as Diego climbed nimbly up to her bedroom window and he quickly grabbed the clothes she had told him to get, along with a small pouch that was in her jewel case. Then it was quick walk to the back of the mission, where the padre was in his study, preparing his next sermon. She remembered the quiet talk that Diego had with the padre, who agreed, with some reluctance, to the hasty joining. Diego then surprised her by giving her back the ruby and diamond ring; it was to be her wedding ring.

They said their goodbyes to Felipe and then it was onto their horses for the ride to Santa Paula; it was a full moon and it made for easy travel. They reached the pueblo just before eleven pm, in time to catch the owner before they closed for the night. They had been given their best room and with a smile of understanding, the owner told them they wouldn't be disturbed unless they requested it. Victoria felt another blush creep over her face at the memory of their lovemaking. Although there had been some pain, over all it was much more wonderful than she had ever expected. Diego was a gentle, considerate and passionate man and he took her to heights of pleasure she had not known about.

Diego slowly became aware of soft warm curves pressed against him and he didn't want to wake up, he wanted to stay in that layer between sleep and awareness forever. Then he realised that he could. He had finally married his Victoria. He became fully awake as he remembered with happiness at her acceptance of his decision to marry that night. He remembered the simple but solemn ceremony with his son as their witness, of their mad dash in the moonlight to Santa Paula, where he finally made sweet love to his bride. Their lovemaking was even more amazing than he had ever dreamt of; she was so beautiful, so passionate that she had taken his breath away.

When Victoria felt Diego's hand start to caress down her bare back, she shivered at the soft touch. She raised her head, and gazed into the most piercing blue eyes she had ever seen, "Hola." she whispered.

"Hola." he replied back.

They smiled shyly at each other.

"This is going some time to get some use to." she whispered.

"You mean, waking up with you." he grinned.

"Si." she said, before she kissed him lovingly, "But I can't think of any better way to wake up, can you?" she whispered, as she began to press hot kisses to the base of his throat.

Diego moaned softly, "No, I can't." the heat of her kisses went straight to his groin and he pulled her tight against him.

Victoria yelped and pushed away from him.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked worriedly, as he shifted his body away.

She shook her head and raised her stump of her right arm, which had been trapped between their bodies.

"It is all right Diego; this was being pressed between us at an odd angle."

Diego was afraid that he had hurt her. He knew that she was still a little sensitive about her arm; she had flinched away from his touch when he undressed her last night and he didn't push it. The scientific part of him was curious about her wound, he wanted to see how it had healed but he didn't.

Victoria saw his concern in his eyes, "Really Diego, it's all right. You didn't hurt me." she kissed his lips softly to reassure him. She knew what he wanted, so she took his hand and placed it on the end of her stump, "Touch me here Diego." she whispered.

His eyes widened in surprise and gazed into her soft brown ones, trying to see any hesitation, "Are you sure?"

To his surprise, she chuckled lightly, "Of course. I bet you are rather curious about this."

He chuckled, "I can't deny it." He used his fingertips to trace around the puckered skin; it wasn't as bad as he had thought, the doctor had been very skilled with his trade, "Does it hurt?" he asked softly.

She shook her head, "No it doesn't."

He continued with his soft touch, "Do you still have those strange feelings? The ones where you thought you could still feel your entire arm?" he asked curiously.

She shrugged, "I often get a tingling feeling at the end of it and I sometimes feel that I can reach out for something and actually grab it." she shook her head and smiled softly. "It's really a strange feeling and I wish I could explain it better but I can't."

He smiled understandingly at her, "I probably wouldn't be able to explain it to you either. As long as you're in no pain."

She shook her head, "No pain...Ohh." she moaned softly as he pressed his lips against the scars.

Diego looked up with a gleam in his eyes, "Did that hurt?"

"No. Just the opposite." she smiled.

"Good." He lowered his lips once more and began to plant soft kisses all over her healed wound. He wanted to show her that he loved her regardless of her missing arm. He felt he needed to make it better and if he could simply kiss her arm to make it whole again, he would do it.

Victoria closed her eyes at the love that poured out of Diego's heartfelt kisses. She felt hot tears well in her eyes at his love, his tenderness, his compassion. She shivered at the sensations of his warm lips on her skin was creating in her; she felt that burning desire flare up inside her at his attentiveness. When she felt something wet on her arm, she opened her eyes and to her amazement she saw a tear drop from his face to her arm, "Diego...Diego?"

He lifted his tear stained face, "This was the second time I had seen you get shot, and I almost lost you both times."

"You saw it happen?" her voice reflected her shock.

He nodded, he couldn't speak, his throated constricted.

"Madre de Dios, I didn't know." she awkwardly pulled Diego into her embrace and held him close.

"I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you." he said, as he gave himself over to his grief and let himself embrace the love that poured from her.

Victoria cried at Diego's distress, she had never known that he had seen the shooting. She couldn't imagine what he must have felt when he had seen her shot for the second time. And then, on top of that, she had pushed him away. No wonder he felt the need to get away for several months, he had been shattered, like she had been drained, in what they called her madness days. She held him tight; they would heal each other together.

Much later, after they had grieved together, Victoria pulled back from his enticingly firm body, "Diego, I have a gift for you." she said with a shy smile.

"Oh querida, you don't need to give me a gift." he gently kissed her nose, "Your love is enough."

"I want to." she slipped out of bed, grabbed her wrap, and tossed it awkwardly around her shoulders.

"You don't need to cover up." Diego said with a grin.

She chuckled as she crossed the room to their bags, "It's cold."

"Come back to bed and I'll warm you up." he said suggestively.

She blushed, "Diego, really. Now where did you put it?"

He sat up, pulled the sheet up to his lap, "What are you looking for?"

She sighed, "You did get that pouch from my jewel case, didn't you?"

He nodded, "Si, I put it in the other bag." he relied, as he heard her rummage around in their bags.

"Ahh found it," She came back and sat on the bed, "Here. I hope you like it." she said a little shyly. She had never given him a gift like this before, either as Diego or as Zorro.

He pulled the strings on the small leather pouch and emptied out onto his hand. He gasped at the sight of a gold band, large enough to fit on a man's hand, "Dios." was all that he could say as he stared into her soft brown eyes shining with love.

"I should have given it to you last night and had Father Benitez bless it as your wedding ring but we were in a hurry."

"Oh querida, it's beautiful. But how did you... I mean a ring like this would cost -"

She placed her fingers against his lips, "It's all right Diego, it didn't cost much at all."

Diego frowned, "But this is real gold and a ring this size..." he stopped when she smiled a little guiltily.

"When you gave me your mother's ring, I wanted to give you something in return. I didn't know what but as I put your ring away in the jewel box, I saw my mother's and grandmothers wedding bands and decided to have them melted down and created into a man's ring, this ring."

Diego's eyes flew wide open in surprise, "This...this is your mother's and grandmother's rings?"

She nodded, "I thought it was appropriate considering that you gave me your mother's."

"Madre de Dios." he was stunned by her generosity, never in a thousand years would he have thought of this.

"Would you wear it for me?" she asked hopefully.

"I would be honoured to wear this ring querida. It's just a big surprise, a truly wonderful surprise." he was about to place it on his finger but he paused and looked at her with love shining in his eyes, "Would you like to place it on?"

Victoria gave him the largest, warmest smile he had ever seen and fell even more in love with her, "I would love too." she took the ring from his palm and with a little help from Diego, they tried to place it on his third finger but it was a little too tight.

"Ah...I had to guess the size. I'll get it altered for you." she said offered.

He shook his head as he removed the ring and then slipped it onto his little finger, "See, fits perfectly."

"You're sure Diego? I won't cost much to expand it."

"It's perfect as it is." he said as he pulled her into his arms, "I've never had such a wonderful gift querida and I'll treasure it always." he whispered, as he began nuzzling her neck, while his fingers parted the edge of her wrap and found their way to her soft warm curves.

She moaned softly as he pulled back and gazed deeply into her eyes, "I love you Victoria."

"And I love you Diego."

They kissed tenderly, lovingly at first, but then their desire for each other burst through and the kiss deepened into a hunger that could only be satisfied in one way.

They stayed in Santa Paula for a week and took their time to explore the lovely township, they even visited the hall where Diego had spoken to the Kings Emissary and where he had surprised her with his passion, which she had never seen in him before. Over those days, they talked, laughed, and loved and both forgave the other for hurt done.

They reached the sprawling de le Vega hacienda just before lunch. Diego helped Victoria down from her horse, but with a sudden movement, picked her up in his arms and carried her to the front door.

"Diego, what are you doing? Put me down." she giggled in delight.

He chuckled, "Its tradition querida." he whispered in her ear, his warmth breath making her shiver.

As they reached the door, it was opened by a smiling Manuel, "Welcome home Doña Victoria, Don Diego."

Diego smiled warmly, "Gracias Manuel. Is my father and Felipe here?" he asked as he carried his bride across the threshold.

"Don Alejandro is here but Don Felipe is out with Jose, rounding up the last of the strays for branding."

Diego nodded, "Of course, thank you Manuel." he said, as he carried Victoria to the library.

"Diego, you can put me down now." she giggled again, she loved being in his strong arms but there was a time and place for everything and being in the middle of the library wasn't one of them.

"I don't know querida, I like you in my arms." he teased but put her on her feet anyway. But he didn't let her go entirely as he leant down and kissed her sweet lips.

Victoria sighed in pleasure, melted into his embrace, and deepened the kiss hungrily.

"Ahem." Don Alejandro's amused voice came from behind them. He chuckled as they pulled back a little guiltily even though they have every right to kiss.

Diego smiled sheepishly and then he found himself drawn into his father's warm embrace, "Welcome back son."

"Gracias father."

Don Alejandro turned to Victoria and held out his arms. "My daughter." he said warmly.

She rushed into the older man's arms and they hugged tight.

"Welcome to our family, my dear."

Victoria felt tears well in her eyes at the warmth in his tone, "Gracias."

"Father, I must apologise for running -" he started to say but his father stopped him.

"It's all right Diego, I understand. If it had been me, I would have done the same thing." he confirmed and then chuckled again at the astonished looks on their faces.

Manuel came in and announced a light lunch was served.

As they sat down at the dining table, Don Alejandro watched them, saw their deep love for each other, saw their happiness, their contentment in each other, "I see that I don't need to ask how the two of you are." he teased and he was rewarded by the slight embarrassed tinge that crept over their faces.

"So father, how was the news of our marriage taken by everyone?" Diego asked, wanting to change the subject.

Don Alejandro sighed, "As you can imagine everyone was very surprised by the news and it has kept the gossips in enough chatter to last for weeks. Your marriage has been wholeheartedly accepted." he paused then grinned at his daughter-in-law, "You do have some explaining to do to Ramon, he was somewhat annoyed that you didn't tell him."

Victoria smiled back. "I guess I have some explaining to do with both my brothers. But what about Don Raul and his daughter?" She had brought up the subject that neither of the men wanted to.

Don Alejandro shook his head, "We were in the pueblo telling the news to our friends when Don Raul, his daughter and their guests arrived in town; the stage to San Diego had just arrived and the Olveras were leaving on it. When she heard the news, she let a small scream and then just collapsed. Efrain was standing nearby and he managed to catch her before she hit the ground."

Diego and Victoria looked at each other.

"Is she all right?" Victoria asked.

Don Alejandro shrugged, "She is all right now, but we haven't seen much of her this week, except for last Sunday Mass and she never left her father's side. She was looking very pale and subdued, perhaps she was starting to realise what she had done. Perhaps when her grandmother arrives, it might be different."

"You don't think she will try anything, do you?" Diego wanted to know.

Don Alejandro shrugged again, "I don't think so. I mean, her aim was to marry you but now that's impossible. But I think that Raul will be keeping a very close eye on his daughter from now on."

They ate in silence for a while, each with their own thoughts.

Diego saw how upset his father was about his friend's family and wanted to lift his spirits without making it too obvious, "Father, I know it's only been a week but we were wondering if you've decided on a date for the party yet."

Victoria smiled warmly as she saw her father-in-law become excited by the prospect.

"Well of course I have, it's not everyday that my son gets married. We'll have to invite almost everyone in the district, we'll invite both your brothers and Francisco's wife, your cousin Rafael and his wife and children..."

Diego exchanged a glance with Victoria and grinned, pleased that they had decided to let his father organise the party in whatever way he wanted. They didn't really care, they had each other and that was all that mattered to them.

After Don Alejandro finished telling them the plans, Victoria pushed back her chair and stood up, "Well, if you will excuse me, I'm feeling a little tired from the journey." she said with a gleam in her eye.

Don Alejandro shook his head in amusement at the heated look the two of the shared as she walked out of the room, "Diego, is everything alright between the two of you now? I know that you wanted time to get to know each other before you married." he asked concerned.

He nodded and smiled, "Si, everything is all right now father, we've worked it out this last week and now we're getting on with our lives."

Don Alejandro smiled warmly, "I'm glad son. You were meant to be together."

"I believe that too."

Don Alejandro stood up, "Well, I think I'll go and rest for awhile." he paused, then grinned slyly at his son. "Diego, try to get some rest, won't you."

He laughed aloud, "I shall try but I'm sure how much I will get."

Don Alejandro laughed as he slapped his son on his shoulder, "I'm glad you're back son."

"So am I father." They hugged once more before Don Alejandro pushed his son in the direction of his rooms.

Diego walked down the hall, entered his bedroom and closed the door behind him.

"Well it's about time Diego. What kept you." His wife whispered as she wrapped herself around him.

"Father wanted a few wor -" whatever he was going to say, was drowned out by her passionate kiss and all thought of his father or anything else for that matter, went out the window as he was swept away by her kisses.