Title: Lonely
Rated : PG
Synopsis: Diego is out of town and Victoria reminisces about their life.
Misc. Info: Mindless fluff. If you're looking for a deep, invigorating plot, you won't find it here. Based on the FAM Zorro. Set two years after the events in 'a Conspiracy of Blood' the series finale.
Disclaimer: This story was written solely for the enjoyment of other Zorro fans and is not intended to infringe on any copyrights held by Goodman/Rosen Productions, New World Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of Johnston McCulley or anyone else.
Lonely
Victoria felt oddly uncomfortable standing in the middle of her own kitchen. She watched seemingly disembodied as Pilar bustled around the tavern owner and gathered orders for waiting patrons.
It had only been three months since she'd turned over the day to day operations of the successful business. But in those three months, she'd hardly set foot into the establishment, her childhood home. Instead, she'd been waited on hand and foot at the lavish de la Vega hacienda. Her new home.
She'd relinquished such tight control of the tavern after her marriage to Diego, thinking it would please her new husband more to have his wife spend her days with him rather than slaving away serving those who now addressed her as Doña, befitting her new station as Diego's wife.
She'd finally dragged a confession out of him before he'd left seven days ago on a cattle drive to San Diego. He wanted her to be happy, and if it made her happy to keep the tavern and work there when it suited her, he would support that decision. But, she felt guilty about her desire to keep the tavern and had not entered it recently for any length of time. Admittedly, she was becoming quite used to her pampered life at the hacienda.
As Victoria struggled to fill her days with whatever would distract her from thinking of her husband, she often chuckled at the very thought. Never before had she had so much freedom, so much free time, and here she was wishing she had a task to occupy her every waking moment.
Alejandro was excellent company and often did they spend long hours talking about family, the weather, politics. A casual observer to their conversation would think that the old Don was discussing matters with a son, and not his new daughter in-law. They'd spoken often since he was injured; An injury which prevented him from riding to San Diego in his son's place. Even Felipe was entertaining enough when he wasn't off courting his new señorita.
But, neither man was her husband. Victoria missed Diego. She missed his laugh, the twinkle in his eyes, his excitement at a successful experiment, even down to the wordless evenings they spent in the fragrant de la Vega garden, simply enjoying one another's company.
"There's no need to fill every silent moment with words." He'd said one of their first evenings sitting out in the garden together. They'd simply sat together, his arms wrapped tightly around his wife, and enjoyed the peacefulness of the beautiful scent surrounding them.
Victoria wrapped her arms around her waist imagining they belonged to someone else. She missed her husband's strong embrace, his gentle touch and his soft, yet passionate kisses.
Suddenly, her stomach turned and she leaned against the nearby table. It most definitely was not her own recipe's simmering in the pots and for some reason the mere scent was causing the room to spin.
Victoria glanced around the kitchen and sighed, determined to rid herself of this uncomfortable feeling. She needed something to occupy her time until her husband returned. She pushed aside the curtain hung to keep the kitchen separated from the dining area, put on her sweetest smile, and went to greet her customers.
"Señorit- er Señora Victoria!" Mendoza corrected himself quickly as he glanced up from his plate. Pilar cooked just as well as Victoria judging by the near empty plate and how the good Sergeant had been digging at it when she arrived.
Victoria smiled, used to the quick corrections. It had taken a lot of people many months to remember the new change. Even Victoria herself couldn't believe it at times.
"Hello Sergeant Mendoza!" Victoria smiled sweetly at the man. "How are you today?"
"Very good! And you?" She glanced at his nearly empty plate. "It seems the food is to your liking today!"
"Oh, Sí, Victoria! Pilar is an excellent cook." He sheepishly glanced around the room before leaning toward Victoria and continuing, "But your chile verde is still the best in the territory!" He resumed his previous position and smiled as Pilar brushed passed them with another tray.
"It's so unfair to the rest of the pueblo for Don Diego to have the sole benefit of your cooking!" Mendoza muttered, half joking.
Victoria chuckled and managed a sad eyed grin at the mention of her husband. "Well, Mendoza, he doesn't expect me to cook for him all the time. They've employed Maria for such tasks for longer than I can remember. If I invaded her space in the kitchen, she'd toss me into my room and lock the door, I think!"
At that, Mendoza laughed. "Oh, Sí. I can see her doing just that, too!"
A few Don's stepped into the tavern and gave the lovely new Doña a courteous nod before stepping up the bar to place their orders. Victoria smiled politely before returning to her conversation with Mendoza.
"So how is the new alcalde working out? I confess, I haven't been in the pueblo much recently." Victoria blushed slightly, thinking of the far more pleasurable pursuits she and her husband had found to utilize their free time. "But I'm sure we would have heard if this alcalde were as corrupt as our previous two."
Mendoza shot her a knowing grin before responding. "I never thought I'd hear myself say this but, I'm glad we are no longer subjected to Spanish rule."
Victoria understood the comment to mean he liked the new Mexican alcalde and nodded. She'd heard nothing but good things herself since he'd taken office six months prior. News did reach the hacienda a few hours after she would have normally heard it and any bad news, of which there had been precious little, would spread like wild-fire through the territory.
"His ears must have been burning," Victoria whispered as the alcalde stepped into the tavern. He nodded to the two Don's waiting at the bar but stepped over to Victoria. He took her hand and bowed slightly over it. "Good day, Señora de la Vega." He was one of the few that had not known her long enough to have a difficult time remembering her married name.
Victoria smiled widely and released a soft sigh. It would take her a lifetime to get used to hearing that name associated with her own. "Good day, Señor."
"Not enough in that spacious hacienda to keep yourself occupied while your husband is away, hmm?" The alcalde's eyes twinkled and he winked, some would say, inappropriately, at her.
Mendoza nearly choked on his beans and Victoria chuckled, clearly unfazed by his improper comment.
"There are plenty of things to occupy my time other than my husband's presence. Though, I would much prefer it." Victoria agreed politely. "The de la Vega ranch does not run itself."
"Indeed." The alcalde grinned. "If you will excuse me, Doña, I have someone to see.
Victoria nodded and returned her attention to Mendoza and his now empty plate. "Let me get you some more, Sergeant." When she reached for his plate, he quickly picked it up and stood. "No need, Señora!"
Victoria frowned, crossed her arms and glared at the man. "Simply because I am now a cabballero's wife does not mean I have been excused from the day to day work this tavern requires." She glanced at Pilar, who was still bustling around the patrons, refilling drinks and depositing food-laden trays on occupied tables. "Pilar looks busy today and I am going to lend her a hand for the rest of the day."
Mendoza gulped and relinquished his plate with an understanding nod.
The uneasy feeling subsided briefly as Victoria lent her much needed assistance to the overworked Pilar. The pueblo had been growing by leaps and bounds, creating more and more work for the señorita who had taken over the day to day operation of the tavern after Victoria's wedding. Only late into the evening as the two women were prepping the food for the next morning, did Pilar admit that she was overwhelmed and grateful for the help. Two of the other ladies had sent messages early that morning indicating that they were unwell and unable to make it in to work.
As Victoria left for the evening, with Felipe as her escort, she made Pilar swear on her mother's grave that if she was ever that short handed again to send word and she would come at any time.
"Or, I will send my husband in my place," Victoria laughed softly, winking at Pilar. "He's become quite good at food service."
Pilar laughed and hugged Victoria tightly. "We miss you. Come visit more often." As an aside she added, "We'll sit and talk while your husband waits tables!"
The two ladies laughed and Victoria shot Felipe a warning look. "Nothing to Diego about this conversation, comprende?"
Felipe nodded slowly and Victoria surmised that Diego waiting tables was probably something even her adopted son wanted to see.