As the only girl in the household, Victoria had to mature quickly. From the time she started walking, she was already spending much of her day helping her mother with her daily chores, while her brothers ran away as often as they could, and spent the day playing with their friends.

The little girl often wanted to accompany them, but never dared, firstly because she was certain her mother wouldn't be able to do much without her help, and, secondly, because she was a proper señorita, and proper señoritas didn't spend their days with boys – or so she had heard a señora chiding her teenage daughter in the tavern one day.

Being so young, older children didn't grant her much attention at the time, considering there were very few subjects they could discuss with her and even then, they always believed to know better, just because they were older. Diego de la Vega was the only one who behaved well towards her but Diego was much older than she was and he and his parents came to the pueblo only once or twice a week when she was small and Francisco usually monopolized the young caballero's time and attention when they were at the tavern.

As for the Escalantes, they barely had any free time during the day, absorbed as they were with the management of the tavern and the care for their children, so the visits to the De la Vega Hacienda were rather rare, as well.

In fact, one of Victoria's first memories of the man to whom she would one day give her heart to was from the time when she was 4, going on 5, and he was already 9.

A gypsy woman had been staying at the tavern for about two weeks at the time, paying for her small room with the money she made by reading people's fortunes in cards, coffee, or in their hands. She would also offer love potions for sale, together with instructions on how to use them.

The woman was about the same age as Señora Francesca, had very long curly hair and she enjoyed entertaining children with stories about the big cities of New Spain, all of which she had already seen and found fascinating.

As she would tell anyone who'd ask – not that many did – she had left her people and chose to travel alone because her husband had died when she was 22 and she didn't want to marry another man as her family demanded she would. She, thus, chose to seek her own fortune and travel the world certain that anyone who raised even a hand on her was cursed and would die should they try to harm her. For what reason she harbored that certainty, however, she never shared with others.

Since the woman paid for everything she needed, never bothered anyone, and always made sure to only give good news to the people who came to see her or warn them about the bad things she saw during her readings, she was well-liked by most people, who were getting used to seeing her in the pueblo. That lasted until an Archbishop who was visiting the Saint Gabriel Mission for a few weeks told everyone who attended Sunday mass that divination is kindred to sorcery and those practicing it were following the teachings of the Devil. That particular affirmation was followed by a long speech about crops failing, the water becoming poisoned and animals dying because of the people practicing such dark arts.

Coincidentally, that particular year had been very dry and many people lost their crops because no irrigation system existed yet.

The de la Vega heir attended that mass with Señor Mateo, as had most of the people living in Los Angeles and who made the 9-miles trip every Sunday to prove they were good Christians. As they exited the chapel, after saying goodbye to the Escalantes, Diego overheard a few of the others discussing the Archbishop's words and reaching the conclusion that all their problems had started about the time the gypsy woman arrived in the pueblo.

"Do you think it's true, Señor Mateo?" He asked his tutor. "Did that gypsy woman caused all that trouble by guessing the future in some people's hands?"

"No, Diego! Of course, not! Those are just superstitions and it's a shame some people still believe them in this day and age. People have hopes and desires, and that woman uses them to earn a living. That is her only wrongdoing. But it is up to those seeking her if and how much to believe of what she tells them. I, personally, find that it's convictions that drive us on a path. If you believe something is going to happen, it just might, simply because you believe it and guide your actions in such a way that makes that future event, whether desirable or not, come true."

Diego nodded. "Then she couldn't have caused the draught." She concluded.

"Of course not. If you ask your father, I'm sure he knows of many other years which were just as dry. Even a couple of years back, shortly after I arrived, two months passed without a single drop of rain." His tutor answered. "Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment, I see a señorita I'd like to talk to." The man than uttered with a smile. "Just wait for me by the church."

The boy again nodded and went to lean against the chapel's adobe walls, near a corner, while waiting for Señor Mateo to return.

"Juan is right!" He heard one of his father's tenants say just a few feet away, behind the building's corner. "Let's do it during the siesta. I need to take my wife and children home, have lunch, and it will take me at least an hour after lunch to get to the pueblo. We should meet at the fountain at… shall we say 3 in the afternoon?"

"But what do we do with her after we catch her? What if she puts a curse on us or something." Another familiar voice replied to the first man and the boy recognized Señor Peralta.

Intrigued, Diego curiously crept to see who the men were, noticing that, besides his father's tenants, there were six more farmers in the group.

"We will lynch her! All her courses are sure to be broken when she's dead." The man called Juan suggested.

"And if not? No, we should give her to the Archbishop. He'll know what to do with her." The first man, whom Diego didn't know by name replied.

"Do you think he'll have her burnt at the stake?" Señor Peralta wondered somewhat worried.

Diego's spying was interrupted by his tutor who called for him to go home.

Since his father was away with Dona Elena to Santa Barbara that week, Diego's tutor was the only one to whom he could share what he had heard. After recounting for him the conversation, he saw his concerns dismissed as the older man didn't believe the Los Angelinos capable of harming a woman like that and explained to him that the burning of witches at stake was a practice already abandoned by the Inquisition at the time.

Señor Mateo's words, however, did not manage to convince Diego who, seeing how he couldn't count on the man's help, took matters into his own hands. Thus, after lunch, as soon as he was left alone to play and explore by himself, he mounted his horse and made his way towards the pueblo.

Since the tavern was close until late afternoon on Sundays and its patrons had already retired to their room after lunch, the gypsy woman had just decided to have some fun with little Victoria who reminded her of the daughter she had been forced to give to her former in-laws to raise. When he arrived, thus, Diego found the two in the taproom, the woman reading Victoria's future in her hand.

"Señora, are you the woman who can tell people's future?" He asked as he neared their table, having entered through the kitchen.

"She is!" Victoria replied in her stead. "But she is busy now! She is about to tell me who I shall marry!"

"She doesn't have time for that!" He contradicted. "You need to leave the pueblo, Señora! It is urgent! The Archbishop told everyone today that divination is sorcery and people now believe you are a witch. They say you are evil and are coming for you! They are meeting next to the fountain half an hour from now. You must leave as soon as possible!"

The gypsy woman looked him right in the eyes, as if trying to see into his very soul, then, letting go of Victoria's hand, stood up and headed for her room, hurriedly gathering the few possessions she had with her.

"But, Señora, you haven't told me anything about my future husband!" Victoria protested just as Diego and the woman were heading towards the back entrance to the tavern, the little girl following them.

"There's no time! She's in danger!" The young caballero told her.

"No. Wait!" The woman said as she turned around and headed towards the girl, taking back her hand and looking into her palm. "Your husband will be black-haired, blue-eyed, very brave, and you will love him very much." She told her, more as a joke since she was clearly referring to the boy next to her.

"Does it say so in my hand?" Victoria asked.

"Of course it does! Right here!" The gypsy answered, indicating the love line, then remained pensive for a few moments. "It also says that you will have to wait a long time for him, but you'll be very happy together." She continued, actually reading her palm.

The young girl nodded, then remained looking at her palm as the gypsy turned around to leave.

"They're already coming!" Diego stopped her at the stables, as he saw some of the men Señor Peralta had been talking to at the Mission coming for her already. "They will see us if we try to leave now." He noted. "We need to go back."

"Why?" She wondered.

"You'll need a disguise." He replied as he dragged the woman behind him. "Señorita Victoria!" He called and the girl came running. "Can you get one of your father's pair of pants, a shirt and a hat?" He asked. "I promise to bring them back later."

She nodded and headed for her parents' room, sneaking inside and gathering the requested items while they were both sleeping, making sure not to disturb them.

The woman, understanding fast what the boy was up to, put on the clothes in the kitchen while Diego waited behind the curtains, in the taproom. After she hid her long, black hair under the hat, the young caballero instructed Victoria to tell everyone who'd ask that the gypsy woman had left some hours earlier, saying that she was going north. Then they again returned to the stables and left just as the men were heading towards the tavern, riding just past them.

About seven miles south, when he was certain nobody was following them and the gypsy woman was out of danger, Diego let her change behind some bushes and gathered the clothes and the hat, putting them in his saddlebags.

"I would accompany you further, but I believe people might start searching for me if I return too late." The young caballero told her. "It's easy from here. Just keep this road and you should arrive at Capistrano before nightfall if you hurry. The padres there will let you stay the night if you tell them you're just passing through."

She nodded.

"Adios, Señora!" He wished as he was about to mount his horse and head back to the pueblo.

"Wait! Why did you help me? Don't you also believe I am a witch?" She asked before he mounted.

"No, Señora. My tutor says there are no such things as witches. And I don't believe anyone should harm you for guessing people's future." He replied and again turned to mount.

"I owe you my life… and I don't like owing anything to anyone." She stopped him putting a hand on his shoulder. "Let me read your palm!"

"You don't need to." He said as he turned towards her. "You don't owe me anything, Señora."

The woman stared into his eyes, her hand extended before him, so he just gave her his hand.

"You have a long lifeline, meaning you will live a long life. And you will marry for love even if, just like that little girl, you will also have to wait a long time to do so. But… you like adventure, and will take risks which might change all that… The future is not fixed, only the past cannot be changed." As she said that, she glanced at him, then returned to reading his palm. "You have a good head and do all you can to help others. But I see that you will also make enemies. There will be times when your life might easily be forfeited, and so will the future with the woman meant for you," she indicated as she looked at some smaller lines intersecting his lifeline. Staring at him again, she then put a hand on his forehead, closing her eyes and saying something in her language. "That is an ancient blessing of my people." She explained when she finished. "Whenever you'll be in danger, it will make sure you'll always find help and that your enemies will never succeed against you. Now we're even!"

After she said that, the woman turned and headed for her horse, leaving the boy to glance pensively at her diminishing form as she was making her way towards Capistrano.

As he had promised, Diego returned to the tavern with Señor Escalante's clothes about four hours after he and the woman had left.

"Don Diego? What are you doing here at this hour?" Señora Escalante asked as she caught him giving the clothes to her daughter. "Are those my husband's?"

"I just borrowed them, Señora." He answered. "They are not broken. I promise!"

"Why did you borrow them?" Señora Escalante wondered.

"It was so that he could help the gypsy woman, Mama." Victoria answered instead.

"So it was you who warned her?" She asked.

"They were trying to harm her!" Diego replied. "I told my tutor, but he didn't believe me."

Señora Escalante nodded, smiling both at him and at her daughter. "Did you also help him?" She asked Victoria.

"I did, Mama! I took Papa's clothes and told the men who came looking for her that she was heading north, even though she is heading south!" She admitted proudly.

"So you lied…" The Señora said pensively.

"But I did it to help her!" Victoria defended herself.

"It was I who asked her to do that, Senora Escalante. It's not her fault!" Diego defended her.

"I see… In that case, I think we should keep this between us. And I also think you two deserve a piece of pie, since helping others should always be rewarded. But you will eat it here because lying and borrowing things without permission deserve a punishment. Are we understood?" She asked them.

The two children glanced at each other before eagerly nodding their agreement and, for the first time, Victoria noticed that her brother's older friend had blue eyes and dark hair.

From that day forward something changed for Diego as he insisted on going more often to the pueblo, sometimes riding there in the morning to spend a few hours with the Escalante children, even offering to help the parents serve the patrons in exchange for an hour or two of playing with the youngsters, and Victoria started coming up with all sorts of excuses for her and her brothers to visit the De la Vegas as often as possible.

So, as they were growing closer, Diego became an informal Escalante, just as the Escalante children all became informal De la Vegas. They even had a ceremony to legalize that, vowing to always be there for each other, never to play with children the others disliked, and always take each other's side.

Also during that time, Diego became more and more protective of the young señorita, and, as a result, she became more and more convinced that he was her own 'Prince Charming', in her mind already planning their wedding before her ninth birthday. He didn't know that, of course, even if he was, himself, quite certain that, one way or another, she'd always be part of his life.

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AN: The next chapter will also be published today since they were initially just one but I decided to split them up.

I hope you are still enjoying the story... but I am not sure since only two or three readers are kind enough to also review.

Below are some explanations about this chapter.

The gypsy woman they believe a witch – the show mentions that there had been a witch in LA which escaped in 1797 (a rather insignificant remark by Senor Peralta in the episode The Newcomers), so I had to wonder who and why would be considered a witch in those days, and went for the easy answer: a gypsy fortune teller.

Spain, has had a gypsy (or Romani as they are called these days) minority since about the late 1400s, when they migrated in many European countries, sometimes in independent groups (in Spain it's mainly assumed they crossed from northern Africa, which would explain the term 'Gitano' used for this minority), but many of them brought as slaves by the Ottomans (Turks) in the lands under their occupation at the time (in Europe – Greece, the Balkans and north up to and including Hungary). From Spain they have started settling also in the New World not long after the conquistadores went there, even if in rather small numbers before the end of the 19th Century.

The blessing the woman gives to Diego - many fans and ff writers note rather often that Zorro was barely ever hurt in the show, so I thought I might provide you with a reason for that. Perhaps the gypsy does have some magic after all. ;D