La Leyenda de un amor perdido y encontrado - A love lost and found

by katie1999

What happens when Diego asks Victoria to marry him as himself? A view from the future will tell the consequences of her answer. Warning: May contain disturbing description. Please check the categories before reading and don't stop after chapter 2. The story is complete. Assurance: It ends well.

1. Los Angeles, 1823

La Leyenda de un amor perdido y encontrado

Chapter 1 – Los Angeles, 1823

It was four weeks after Risendo had been killed and nobody had seen Zorro since then. There were rumors that Zorro had died in Diablo canyon in a trap of Risendo since his cape had been found there but Victoria had denied the possibility claiming it couldn't be true.

"Diego, you're up early. No late reading last night?," Victoria greeted him when he entered the tavern though it was already mid-morning. "Did you already have breakfast?"

"Yes, I did, but I take a coffee." He sighed inside about her presumption of him as always rising late. It served him well while he was riding at night as Zorro but in the past four weeks his injured arm had prevented him from changing into Zorro. The doctor had warned him against straining his arm while it was healing if he wanted to regain full use of it.

As Victoria went to the kitchen to fetch his coffee, Diego followed her. "Victoria, I need to talk to you."

"What is it?" she looked at him expectantly. "Anything I can help?"

"There is something I need to tell you. You remember when I told you I was in love with a woman?"

Victoria nodded. "That woman is you, Victoria. I came here today to tell you that I have always loved you and ask you if you want to be my wife."

He knelt down in front of her. "Will you marry me?"

"Diego, this can't be." Victoria looked at him shocked. "You cannot love me, please. You know that I'm in love with Zorro. I'm promised to him."

"Zorro may never be able to marry you even if he had survived the explosion in Diablo canyon. Do you think you could love me too?" Still on his knee he looked at her expectantly.

"I'm sorry, Diego, but I can't," Victoria said with a trembling voice. "I promised Zorro that I'll wait for him."

"I understand." Diego rose back on his feet, unable to hide his hurt. "I had hoped you had feeling for me too and not only for the legend no real man can compete with." With a bent head he turned around, placing a few coins on the kitchen table. "For the coffee." Without looking back he left the tavern.