Diego spent the rest of the day in a restless fidget in the newspaper office. The newspaper was the last thing on his mind, and his sense of focus was seriously lacking. Felipe hovered at his shoulder, curious about why he was acting so unlike himself. Diego spent most of his time waving the teenager to a more comfortable distance so he could breathe.

Finally the boy prodded him in the shoulder, and signed an irritated "Z", and Diego knew what he needed to do. He needed to see Victoria as the masked man as well. Just to gauge what she was thinking, even though Diego could guess. Her head was just as much in a mess as his own.

If this haze of focus was going to be the rule from now on, heaven help all of them, Diego thought as he changed his clothes, shedding one identity to take on the other.

Zzz

After checking on the antics of the Alcalde from the roof with its handy window, Zorro was satisfied that the man was acting as usual, nothing too drastic or dramatic in nature. He had to keep abreast of the man's thinking though as Zorro's life and safety depended on being one step ahead.

He waited until the shadows deepened before creeping back down and climbing the tavern's walls to the roof. The kitchen chimney was the best descent point, most direct and most sheltered. No one else needed to see him tonight, just Victoria.

He moved silently into the kitchen, and surprised Victoria into dropping her stirring spoon into a soup she was preparing. She let out a gasp as hot liquid splashed onto her hand.

"Allow me," he said, taking another long handled utensil from the wall. He quickly fished the other out of the soup. She was happy to see him, and yet she frowned.

"I am sorry that I startled you," he said. He stood back slightly, in case his embrace was refused.

"You didn't exactly," she said. "I was starting to daydream, that's all."

"I'm sure it has been a long and tiresome day," Zorro said, gently. "I am sure my unwise comment must have only added to your burdens. Please forgive me."

She slowly smiled a little. "Is that why you are acting like a frightened child? You think I am angry with you?"

He took a step forward, and smiled. "Aren't you? I made you splash hot soup all over you." And caused unnecessary distress, he thought to himself.

"All over me? A tiny drop on my hand," she answered, offering her hand. He took the invitation, and her hand, coming all the way towards her. He examined her elegant hand carefully, his silk gloves skimming over her skin softly and tenderly. He drew it up closer to his face to see any reddening of the skin, and his lips kissed it.

Victoria drew in a breath, half a sigh and half a gasp, and her eyes met blue eyes filled with something she couldn't place. Her heart beat frantically for a moment, as she held her breath. He kissed her hand again, and then embraced her, kissing her mouth fiercely with a sense of impatience that took her breath away again as she responded.

He released her, almost placing her a step away from himself.

"The other day," he said, pausing to compose himself. "The other day I was impatient, I wanted you to know me, the real me, and I know the time is not right. I was asking too much of you."

"You can solve the problem by removing the mask. Any day, at any time."

"You may still regret that you loved the legend and not the real man. That would destroy me."

"The bravest man in the district is still a coward?"

Zorro flushed a little, the colour noticeable around the edges of the mask. "Afraid so…" He whispered, turning a little self conscious of his reaction.

She reached for his shoulder.

"I will keep telling you that it is the man that I love, as long as you need me to. Even after you take the mask off, forever if I have to. Because it is the truth."

His eyes met hers again. He let himself be led to the table where they had sat the other night, but remained standing. Maybe the normalness of sitting down with her had brought on the careless words of the other night.

"I was thinking," she said. "Maybe I make the legend too big, too magical. Maybe it makes you afraid to disappoint me."

Zorro waited, expectantly.

"A friend once asked me about it. What would happen if I found out you were just an ordinary man, what would I think of Zorro then? I said at the time that I knew that Zorro was not an ordinary man."

Zorro looked down, remembering the conversation that Diego had had in the de la Vega hacienda the day de Soto had come to the pueblo.

"You might think that you are an ordinary man, Zorro, under the mask. I know you are not, the mask doesn't turn you into another person. It brings all the goodness out into the open, all the courage, all the things that I love about you into the open. Because there is no fear when no one knows who you are. All the fear lies in the discovery."

"Because it must. If the alcalde ever discovered my identity everything would be lost. Not just my life. My property, my family, my love and my life. Maybe the lives closest to me. Vengeance would be complete, I know that."

"You have a family."

"Everyone has a family. Victoria, you have family."

"Yes," she said, glancing down. Her brothers. She had jumped at the statement, thinking the worst.

"I would not have asked you to marry me under false pretences," Zorro said, irritated by her embarrassment. It was obvious she thought of another woman.

"I'm sorry." She bit her lip. "It is not just you who becomes impatient."

Zorro smiled at her, and moved towards her again. He held her against his chest, as he had as Diego only hours before, and felt her body melt in his arms with so much trust, it reminded him of how precious she was to him.

"We must forgive each other often, I can see," Zorro breathed into her raven hair. He paused for a moment, and knew that he couldn't ask about her arrangements with Diego. It was her place to tell him, not his to ask. He could forgive her for the little breach, there was no real harm in it. He could understand her jealousy a little more though.

She felt perfect next to him, in his arms. He gave her comfort, she gave him so much more. Courage, determination, endurance and hope. Comfort, patience and trust were not too much to ask for in return.