Victoria entered Diego's room one morning, and flung the curtains wide open. Diego groaned, and covered his head.

"Don't be a baby, Diego. The doctor wants you out of bed this morning. No excuses," she said, hands on hips. She expected him to laugh or to groan comically at her. There was a silence from the bed for a few moments.

"What's the point?" He said, as she moved the blanket down to peek at him. "My arm hurts. I can't write, hold a paintbrush or even a book."

Well, she thought, at least you are alive. Act like it. She smiled grimly. He had been miserable since regaining strength enough to stay awake for most of the day. He seemed to be retreating into the facade of Diego again. The pretend man she and everyone else had taken as the real man. It wasn't acceptable...she sighed. He was still weak and easily exhausted, and his arm did hurt.

"I need you to come outside with me," Victoria said gently. You catch more flies with honey, after all. "I mean to plant some geraniums, and they say you are the expert."

"Too late in the season for geraniums," he mumbled. "What you want to plant are… I have just the idea." His eyes grew interested, even though he stayed snuggled in the covers.

"It will be too hot later in the day," she urged. Her eyes had lit up at the tiny spark of interest in his voice.

"Can't we do it tomorrow?"

"No, Hernandez wants you to get up and you must be bored staying inside all day."

"Well," he said, flinging back the covers he had just been hiding under. He gazed at her for a moment, before pulling the covers back over himself. "Victoria, I am in my nightshirt…"

"What do you want to wear? Brown or green suit?"

"I do have a blue suit too."

"That's my favourite," she admitted. "It won't do to get it dirty."

It got a reluctant smile from her hero. "I suppose I have a choice of sorts," he said slowly.

"Brown or green?" Victoria opened the door to the wardrobe and considered the selection. "There is a rather ugly greyish one too, although I have never seen you wear it."

"Greyish one?" He asked, eyebrows raised. Their eyes met for a moment. "If that is a ploy to get me out of bed so that you can see me standing in my nightclothes, it almost worked."

"Oh," she said with a shrug. She drew the suit into the light. "It's silver. I think it would wash you out."

Diego chuckled a little.

"Green one," he said after a moment. "And leave me some privacy to change, if you please, Senorita."

"If you aren't finished in five minutes, I will see if you require assistance," Victoria said with a smile.

"A gentleman needs ten minutes to be presentable."

"Who said anything about being presentable? Just be dressed."

Diego rubbed the stubble on his chin thoughtfully.

"No one is visiting today. It's just me and your father," Victoria said, her eyes twinkling.

"I like to look good for you, Victoria."

"You always do," Victoria assured him. Her mind flashed back to a week and a half before when he had needed constant care, and his appearance had been the last thing on her mind. Diego's face had seemed drained of life at times. She had loved him even more, his appearance had nothing to do with her love for him.

"Ten minutes then, for the sake of manly vanity," she added, and smiled to see the relief on her friend's face.

Zzz

She peeked into the room after five minutes, and gasped as she slowly and silently closed the door again. He was shirtless, in the green trousers, carefully shaving what had grown on his chin over the past few days. He raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled at himself in the mirror, hyper aware of her movements.

He grabbed the shirt and swung it around his hurt shoulder. He slipped his left arm into the sleeve, and adjusted the sling carefully. It did hurt, but not as badly as it had before. The vest followed swiftly afterwards.

A man was not fully dressed until the vest was on, he remembered. He felt the blush that had crept up his body at Victoria's curious glances diminish as he felt more dressed. The slight warmth discouraged him from completing the ensemble, and he left the jacket draped over a chair.

He opened the door, and smiled at Victoria who was studying the landscape out of a nearby window at the end of the hall.

"Ready?"

She nodded, speechless. He noticed the pinkness of her face, and decided not to comment on it.

"I believe I have some poppy seeds in my shed," he added. "If you could…"

He gestured with his left arm, and she took it gladly. He was still a little unstable on his feet from the week and a half in bed, although the main aim was to be close to her. He was still thinking of the pretty blush and the reason for it.

They made their way outside, to the lean to shed and then to where Diego tended to his geraniums. They were in full flower, and his eyes brushed over them. Someone had kept them watered. He should thank his father for that, he reasoned.

"I watered them for you," Victoria said softly. "They were starting to look tired in the heat."

"Thank you, Victoria."

Her eyes grew troubled for a moment, and she shook her head. She led him to a wicker seat and made him sit down. He was grateful for her care, aware that he would not have chosen to sit down just then, but also aware that his legs were exhausted.

"It is I who should be thanking you. For everything you have done for the pueblo…" She said, breaking off as their eyes met.

"It wasn't for the pueblo, Victoria," he breathed. "Thank you for being the inspiration."

"I…" Victoria broke eye contact, the pink blush coming to her cheeks again.

"Well," Diego said, taking a deep breath to steady the sudden racing of his heart. "These seeds…"

"Yes, poppies," she murmured. "Are they red ones?"

"I don't think they come in any other colours, although with some work…," he said, breaking off with a chuckle at himself. "They would look lovely around your tavern."

Diego filled up a few pots with rich potting soil.

"I have tried growing them before, and sometimes they like cooler conditions. But we can give it a try," Diego said. "They are bright and colourful, and they like the summer heat when in flower."

"I am looking forward to seeing them," Victoria said.

Diego took her hand, and helped her sprinkle a handful of tiny seeds into the pots. He felt a tingle of sensation run through his body, and drew in a breath.

"Diego?"

"My heart skipped a beat…"

"Maybe we should get you back to bed?" She said worriedly.

"No," he murmured. "Might not be a good idea…"

His eyes met hers and then lowered to her lips. She sucked her bottom lip, suddenly very self conscious. His good hand moved to her cheek, and he slowly leaned forward.

His lips briefly brushed hers, tenderly, savouring the softness and sweetness of her lips. Pausing, he glanced at Victoria's face, and smiled at her closed eyes. He kissed her properly, gently but passionately. As they broke apart, he rested his hand on her cheek again, steadying himself. He smiled at her as she slowly opened her eyes.

"I love you," he murmured. "This time, there is no hurry to leave."

"You remember that evening?" She asked, with a sigh.

"After almost losing you to that insane woman, Senora Sinestra? At least there was one thing that was worth remembering."

"I was so jealous…"

"And I was so foolish."

"She was an evil woman. So much more beautiful than me."

"Nonsense," Diego said firmly. "Interesting, no doubt about that. Pretty enough to inspire some chivalry…"

His eyes twinkled, as he noticed her bristle. "My heart belongs to you, and no one else."

"Really," she said. "If you were not ill, I would be so angry with you."

"I am teasing," Diego admitted.

"I know...but still…"

"Forgive me," he murmured. His eyes met hers again, and he knew she could feel the sincerity in his voice. "I must at times be very infuriating."

"No, never infuriating."

He considered her lips again, and drew his breath.

"Diego!" Alejandro's voice preceded him, and Diego eased away from Victoria. As his father approached, the pair of them were a decent distance apart.

"Diego was showing me how to grow poppies," Victoria said, glancing up at the older man.

Zzz

Alejandro had been impressed that Victoria had convinced his son to spend some time in the fresh air. Walking out to the garden on the patio, he noticed a faint flush on the younger people's faces. Considering the positioning of the pair, he was well aware that he had probably interrupted some sort of tete-a-tete.