Chapter 2

Diego walked slowly in the door. When the crowd noticed the familiar black clothing they parted like the Red Sea, giving him ample room to pass untouched. Eyes widened and murmurs erupted among the crowd but no one moved, no one seemed to dare to even breathe.

Pizzon continued to sing and Victoria's attention was now directed only toward him. She didn't see the eyes darting toward her and toward the black-clad man approaching her from behind.

Diego paused only once, and very briefly, before the padre, and nodded gratefully toward the man. The friar smiled knowingly as the black-clad form passed and Doctor Hernandez, who was standing next to the friar, leaned down to whisper, "You knew." The padre's eyes twinkled but he didn't answer.

Gasps continued to echo around the room but Diego ignored them. His heart thudded in his chest when he saw Victoria, standing so still and so beautiful at the base of the make-shift stage. He walked slowly towards her, oblivious to the wide-eyed stare of de Soto and the slack-jawed Mendoza as he passed. Alcalde Garcia watched with a slight smile touching his lips.

Victoria noticed Pizzon's line of vision change. Where he'd been looking at her, singing to only her, his eyes now fell on someone behind her. For a nervous moment, she hesitated, knowing that the moment had come. He was here. He was finally here!

She clutched the emerald ring in her hands and slowly turned around. As she turned, Victoria caught Alejandro's shocked gaze as his eyes focused on the man approaching from behind her.

Time seemed to slow as she caught first his eyes. Those eyes that had captured her the moment she'd first seen him. Her mouth fell open but no sound came out. Her breath caught and she struggled to breathe. She blinked, but her eyes blurred. She mouthed his name and he smiled uncertainly.

When Diego stopped in front of her, he took her hand and slowly placed the untied mask into it. He closed her fingers around the silk and brought that hand to his lips and kissed it, like he had done so many times in the past.

Diego mouthed the last line of the song as Pizzon sang it, causing a tear to slip unnoticed down Victoria's cheek.

mi querida, I wait for you.

Words failed her and she simply stared, unbelievingly, at the unmasked man who stood before her. Her hand tightened around the mask she held and in her other hand she tightly clutched the ring. The ring he'd given her on the day he'd asked her to be his wife.

"It was you," she whispered, finding her voice at last.

A slight nod was all she received in response. He knew if he spoke, his voice would shake with nervousness, so instead, he stared down at the woman he loved, waiting, hoping she would not reject him.

After many long moments of silence, Diego took the hand that held the ring, noticing that it was still trembling. He brushed his fingers over it, his eyes never leaving hers. "Now that you know the truth, can you still love the man behind the mask?" His voice was a mere whisper

Alejandro still gaped unbelievingly at the sight as Felipe slid next to him and dropped a hand on his shoulder. His mouth moved in mute silence as he heard the question his son had meant for Victoria's ears only.

It was so quiet in the tavern that one could have heard a pin drop.

The sching of the blade sliding from its scabbard echoed off the walls.

Diego closed his eyes for a moment before turning to see de Soto making his way onto the dance floor, blade drawn and at the ready.

De Soto glared icily at Diego. "You are under arrest."

Diego glanced apologetically down at Victoria and then arched his neck toward de Soto. Reaching into his sash, Diego procured his gold timepiece and tossed it to Mendoza.

"Sergeant, if you would kindly tell me the time."

Mendoza fumbled with the elegant clasp and flipped it open. He stared at it for a moment before saying, "It's – it's five after midnight, Zorr – er, Don Diego."

"Señor de Soto," Alcalde Garcia stepped between the two men, "May I remind you that you are no longer charged with upholding the law in this pueblo."

"Alcalde," Diego addressed Garcia in Zorro's typical flippant tone. "If Ignacio foolishly wishes to engage me, please allow him to do so, without repercussions."

Garcia raised a curious eyebrow and nodded, stepping back to allow the men their duel.

"Diego, no," Victoria clutched his arm, feeling the muscle tense in anticipation of the coming conflict.

Diego turned to Victoria, his eyes soft, "When have you ever known me – er, Zorro, to lose to Ignacio de Soto?"

Victoria blinked, unused to seeing her friend exude this confidence, this strength, this – arrogance. "I –" She shook her head, dread filling her heart. "Don't do this."

"I will not lose." He pressed a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth. "I still haven't heard your answer." He briefly touched the ring she held in her hand, a smile touching his lips.

Diego placed both hands on her shoulders and led her to where his father stood, still gaping silently at his son.

Then he slowly turned to face his old schoolmate, slowly drawing the famous sword sheathed at his waist.

De Soto wasted no time and lunged quickly, his blade aimed toward Diego's chest.

With an amused grin, Diego sidestepped the lunge with ease. He held out his hands and mocked with a typical Zorro grin. "Oh, come now, Ignacio, I know you can do better than that."

"I'll show you better!" De Soto advanced using precise, predictable moves, which Diego parried with little effort. "You've made a fool out of me for the last time."

"You needed no help in that endeavor, Ignacio."

Diego locked his blade with de Soto's, placed his hand on his opponent's shoulder, and shoved him against the nearest wall, "As much as I enjoy our traditional one-sided swordplay, I have more important plans for this evening." Diego brought his fingers to his lips and blew Victoria a kiss before settling his gaze on the former alcalde.

De Soto pushed himself to his feet and laughed, "Judging by the shock evident on the señorita's lovely face, you may be in for a disappointing evening." De Soto didn't give Diego a chance to respond as he swung his blade in a wide arc toward his head.

Diego leapt back, avoiding the blow and was encouraged by the shocked gasp that came from Victoria's lips as de Soto's blade sailed toward Diego's head.

Peasants and caballeros alike flattened themselves against the wall, eyes wide as they watched the ensuing battle.

Victoria squeezed Alejandro's hands as she watched. She knew better than to be afraid for him. She had seen Zorro defeat dozens of men in the past. But she couldn't shake that feeling of dread that washed over her. Now Zorro had a very real and very familiar face and a life that could be swiftly ended by one tiny mistake.

Victoria trembled as her initial shock at Diego's revelation turned to fear. She didn't want something to happen to him. She didn't want him injured or killed. He was Zorro, he was hers and – she loved him.

She watched, as did everyone, as the man they had all come to know as indolent and uninterested in the more dangerous pursuits easily parried every move de Soto threw at him. Victoria clutched the mask and ring tightly, and for a split second glanced at Alejandro who was clearly as shocked by the evening's events as she.

"Enough, Ignacio." For the first time since their duel began, Diego took the offensive. "You've proved quite adequately your inept ability with a blade." De Soto barely blocked one well-executed move before another took its place.

People scrambled out of the way as Diego pushed de Soto back against the wall with a move no one would have believed the indolent caballero capable of executing. Diego braced the tip of his blade against de Soto's and pushed it away with practiced ease. Faster than the eye could see, Diego's blade came down and snapped de Soto's at the cross guard, sending the steel blade crashing to the floor with a loud clang.

De Soto's eyes widened but he was given not time to speak before his cheek so perfectly stopped Diego's fist. The former alcalde slumped to the floor, as was usual when struck by the legendary masked man.

Diego sheathed his sword and shook his head at the unconscious man. Diego saluted de Soto with a playful smirk. "I don't know why you bother, Ignacio," he said before turning to Alcalde Garcia. "You plan to escort him to his ship tomorrow, yes?"

Garcia's eyes darted toward Alejandro and Victoria before settling on Diego. "As your revelation appears to have caused a bit of . . . excitement, I do believe señor de Soto will require an escort."

Diego nodded thankfully. "My thanks. I would appreciate no retribution taken on those I love. They had no knowledge of my . . . activities."

Garcia watched Diego carefully as the man turned toward Victoria, who was watching him with a disturbingly unreadable expression.

Once standing before her, Diego watched her carefully, trying to decide how to proceed. Things had not gone according to his plans and he could see her hesitation. He could feel the unmistakable crush of tension surrounding them. He took one of her hands and then the other, his eyes pleading, searching hers for understanding, for acceptance.

She tilted her hand and dropped the mask across his palm. She didn't meet his eyes as she closed her fingers around his hand. Clutching the ring, as if to a lifeline she took a deep breath and lifted her eyes to his.

"Put it on," she whispered as he stared at her, his eyes full of fear.

He swallowed nervously and raised trembling hands to tie the black silk around his face. It was as he had feared for so long. She didn't want him. She only wanted Zorro – or the man she thought he was. With his heart pounding loudly in his ears, Diego obeyed her request.

"I understand," he murmured sadly, then turned from her and prepared to walk away, making no effort to hide the pain in his eyes. How would he ever face her again, knowing she didn't want him?

Victoria reached for him, wondering if he had misunderstood, and opened her mouth to speak when an all too familiar sound made her blood freeze.

The unmistakable sound of a pistol being cocked.

"Diego! No!" She cried, launching herself between the man she loved and the man who held the pistol aimed at his back.

Diego had turned at the sound as well, his eyes widening, then cried out as the bullet caught his beloved in the back. She fell forward into his arms, her eyes wide with shock and pain.

"No – Victoria!"

Ignacio de Soto stared at the couple in shock, still pointing the pistol.

"Sergeant!" barked Alcalde Garcia. "Arrest that man immediately!"

A stunned Sergeant Mendoza moved slowly to place his former alcalde under arrest. De Soto made no attempt to resist, other than to stare in horrified silence as Diego sank to his knees, Victoria cradled in his arms.

Doctor Hernandez and Alejandro had rushed forward and were now kneeling by the fallen woman.

"Is she –" Alejandro's voice was barely a whisper as he asked the question he wasn't certain he wanted to hear the answer to.

"She's alive," the doctor declared, quickly checking for a pulse. "Get her to a bed; I'll need to operate immediately if she's to be saved."

"I didn't mean for this to happen," whispered de Soto as Mendoza led him out the tavern door toward the jail.

Diego didn't look up or even respond; his attention was focused solely on the unconscious woman in his arms. He lifted her as carefully as possible and carried her quickly to the nearest bedroom. He knelt at the bedside, clutching her hand, smoothing her sweat-soaked hair, as Hernandez began to work.

"Diego," said his father quietly, "Come away, son. Let the doctor work."

"I won't leave her," Diego declared without looking up.

"I may need his help," Hernandez added, knowing just how knowledgeable Diego was with medicine. After all, he'd managed to treat a great many of his own injuries without help.

Alejandro nodded and slowly stumbled from the room.

Felipe waited just outside the door, a worried frown etched permanently into his young features. He led his adopted father to a bench and brought him a glass of wine.

The tavern was strangely empty and quiet but Alejandro didn't take the time to contemplate how it had come to be this way. "You knew – about Diego," The older man said, his eyes full of shock and sorrow.

Felipe nodded solemnly.

Alejandro knew how passionate the love between Zorro and Victoria was. If she died, he had no doubt it would destroy his son.

Padre Benitez placed a hand on Alejandro's trembling shoulder. "I'll be at the jail if I'm needed," he said quietly.

"That man doesn't deserve absolution," he growled angrily.

"None of us does," Benitez replied, then shuffled off toward the door, his heart full of sorrow. He had been prepared to perform a wedding tonight, not last rites for the woman lying near death in the next room, or to hear a confession from a man who might very well face execution in the morning.

Diego sat vigil by her bedside day and night. He didn't care about his appearance. All that mattered was the woman who lay dying after taking another shot meant for him.

"Why did you do it, Victoria?" he asked, his voice rough from lack of sleep. He clutched her hand in his, kissed her unmoving fingers. "My life is not worth so much."

"Who are you to judge what a life is worth?"

Diego's eyes shot toward the door to see Padre Benitez standing within the frame.

"The young lady obviously thought your life important."

Diego shook his head and buried his face in their joined hands. "Not as important as hers. Never as important."

The padre stepped around the bed and placed a hand on Diego's shoulder. "You must trust that God holds all life in his hands. It is He, and only He, who decides when it is time to join him."

A shudder of emotion rushed through Diego before he looked up at the padre with red-rimmed eyes. "Then pray with me and ask Him to take mine in exchange for Victoria's."

"I would pray only for the lady's swift recovery, Diego." Benitez regarded the distraught man with kind eyes before allowing a small smile to spread across his face. "I'm eager to perform a wedding, you know."

Diego groaned and closed his eyes. "She doesn't want my love. It was painfully clear when she gave the mask back to me just before she was shot."

Benitez shook his head. "If she didn't love you, she would not have risked her life for you."

Diego laughed, a self-disparaging sound that echoed in the small room. "She risked her life for Zorro. I was wearing the mask at the time, replaced at her request. I suppose she didn't want to see the true man behind the mask as much as she thought she did."

"I would have done the same, Diego," Benitez countered.

Diego regarded the padre with a confused stare. "I don't understand."

Benitez squeezed Diego's shoulder before sinking his old bones into a nearby chair. "This secret came as a complete and utter shock to Victoria. Seeing you in the black costume of the man she loved was perhaps not quite enough to make her believe what she was seeing. By asking you to replace the mask, she was confirming what her eyes, and heart, already knew."

Diego averted his eyes. Could he have misjudged her intent? Could what the padre said be true? He clung to the hope as tightly as he did her motionless hand.

"Dios," his voice was barely a whisper. "Please don't take her from me. Not now. Not after all of this. Give us a chance." His voice shook and a tear slid down his cheek. "Give me a chance."

The padre knelt beside Diego and took his hands, offering his own prayer. "Give her back to the pueblo she loves so much. Let me set her hand into the one of the man she loves. Give them the chance to say the vows they've longed to speak to one another for so long."

The men fell silent and remained so for the rest of the padre's visit.

After a day, the doctor pronounced Victoria was well enough to be moved. As was expected, Diego and Alejandro insisted she be taken to the de la Vega hacienda. She would be more comfortable there and it would be more conducive to healing.

Diego continued to sit by her bedside, leaving only when threatened by his father. Doctor Hernandez could sense that Diego was grateful for the conversation when he arrived each day to check on his patient.

"No change," Diego said quietly as Hernandez checked for fever.

"Her body needs time to recover from the trauma. It may take a few more days."

"She may never wake," Diego added with a shake of his head. "Or if she does, she may be permanently disabled."

"Diego," Hernandez sat beside the distraught caballero. "You know as well as I that this type of wound can be very difficult to predict."

"I know."

Felipe arrived with some juice and Diego thanked him, his voice devoid of any emotion. The mute glanced sadly at the doctor as he left the room.

"Don't give up on her yet, Diego," Hernandez implored. "She's a fighter. She will pull through this."

"If only she would wake." Diego brushed his hand across her forehead, just barely touching her soft hair.

"She will. Give her time."

A few days later, Felipe arrived with a message for Diego.

After staring at it for a few silent moments, Diego nodded to Felipe. "Please saddle Esperanza. I'm going into town."

Felipe stared at Diego for a long moment before making the familiar sign for Toronado.

"Would I like to ride Toronado instead?" Diego sighed. He knew he'd neglected the stallion, but he also knew that Felipe would take care of the loyal horse. "I –," Diego stopped and regarded his brother with a curious stare. "I think maybe I will. Good idea, Felipe."

Work stopped and heads turned as Diego rode the famous stallion into the pueblo. Those he'd passed on the road into town gaped at the man and turned to follow him disregarding their previous plans.

Diego had not been into the pueblo since Victoria had been taken to the hacienda and neither had his father.

No one dared approach the caballero, for the steely look in his eyes made him quite unapproachable. He didn't bother to tie Toronado to the hitching post. He simply dismounted and made straight for the alcalde's office.

"Don Diego." Alcalde Garcia stood and offered his hand to the other man.

Diego took it with a slow nod. "What does he want to speak to me about?"

"He wouldn't say."

Diego's eyes narrowed. "I have nothing to say to that man."

"I imagine you don't. But I wanted to pass on the message." Garcia noted the black circles under the caballero's eyes. "How does the señorita fare?"

"As well as can be expected, I suppose." Diego turned away and closed his eyes. "She's alive. That's the best I can hope for at this point in her recovery."

"I plan to deport de Soto back to Spain as soon as the young lady is out of danger."

"And if she dies?" Diego turned and regarded the alcalde with a stern stare.

"He will be hanged for murder."

De Soto looked up as Diego entered the cell block, a rare look of contrition in his normally haughty eyes.

"You wanted to see me, Ignacio?" Diego said quietly.

"Yes." Ignacio had gone over this meeting in his head dozens of times, but seeing Diego standing before him now gave him momentary pause. "I – wanted to know how the señorita is faring."

"Anyone could have told you that, Ignacio." The annoyance in Diego's voice was evident. He'd been summoned from Victoria's side for this?

De Soto glanced down at the dust-covered ground and sighed sadly. "I know. I needed to hear it from you." To see your reaction.

"She is recovering, but may be permanently disabled. We won't know until she wakes." Diego stared at his old schoolmate with an emotionless expression, waiting silently for him to speak. "If she wakes."

"I never meant her harm, Diego; you must know that."

"Revenge rarely affects only the person we want to hurt," Diego said coldly, his eyes hard as they stared at de Soto.

Ignacio nodded. "I don't expect you to forgive me; I just wanted you to know – I wanted you to hear from my own lips that I – am – sorry."

Diego recognized the effort it took the other man to say those words. As much as he wanted to hate de Soto, compassion gripped his heart. He took a breath, then sat down on the guard's bench.

"Ignacio. You are not solely to blame," Diego finally admitted with a heavy sigh. "I enjoyed humiliating you. Perhaps I drove you to this with my own arrogance."

Diego had been chastising himself with the thought for the past week. Zorro was the reason the woman he loved lay close to death.

"You didn't make me aim a pistol with murderous intent, Diego," De Soto admitted with a sigh of his own. Hurting innocents was not something he could be proud of.

The two men looked at one another through the bars of the cell, some silent understanding taking place between them.

"Diego," whispered a soft, hoarse voice. As her eyes cleared, she could see him sound asleep in a chair beside the bed.

Diego opened his eyes and they instantly filled with joy. "Victoria!" he was kneeling at her side instantly, holding her hand, bringing it to his lips.

"You – are safe . . ." she whispered with a relieved sigh.

"You saved my life, querida . . .again. This is becoming a very unsettling habit." He reached up to brush his hand across her forehead and twirled a stray dark strand of hair around his finger.

"You are worth it," she said with a weak smile, lifting her hand to touch his face.

Diego's eyes dropped sadly to hers. "I don't know about that. Zorro –"

She instantly remembered the fear and the rejection in his eyes when she handed him back the mask just before she had been shot. Her hand slid to his lips to silence him. "No, Diego. I would die not for Zorro, but for the man behind his mask. You have suffered so much because of him, because of the sacrifice you made to become him."

Diego couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. Did she just say, in so many words, that she loved him? Her heartfelt admission made his hands tremble. His eyes lit with hope for the first time in a week.

She looked around the room. "How long have I been here?" She dropped her hand and laced her fingers through his.

"Nearly a week." He said softly.

"I dreamed about you. About how I would feel if it was you who took that shot." She trembled and he lifted his eyes to hers. "Diego, I was so scared. I relived the events of that night, but everything twisted and I watched as you were hit, as you died in my arms." A tear slipped down her cheek and he reached up to brush it away, his eyes tender.

"There isn't any other place I would rather be," he admitted quietly.

Victoria could see he was still afraid of her rejection and she reached weakly up and slid her hand down his cheek. "Diego –" She tried to pull him to her but he stopped within inches of her lips.

"You never answered my question." Diego said with a small smile. "Can you love the man behind the mask of your hero?"

Her hand slid into his dark hair, letting the dark locks slip through her fingers. She left him waiting for her answer for a long, painful minute before whispering, "I have always loved the man behind the mask, Diego. I just never realized it."

Relief flooded his face and he leaned forward to kiss her gently. "Then you'll marry me?"

Victoria almost laughed at the shocked look on his face. "Yes, Diego. I will marry you."

Diego took her hands, gently caressing her fingers. "If you want to delay, you have only to say the word. I'll admit to a bit of selfishness in wanting the wedding to be performed as soon as you can stand." Diego lowered simmering eyes to the floor before looking up at her again. "We've waited so long. I just want to make you my wife."

"As soon as I can walk down that aisle, Diego." She leaned against him as he sat on the edge of the bed and gathered her gently into his arms. "I don't want to wait any longer than you do."

He pressed a kiss to her head. "Can you – feel your legs?"

She moved one and then the other, wincing at the pain that shot through her back. "Yes." She said through gritted teeth.

"We were so worried. The pistol ball, it was so close to vital organs. You could have had permanent damage."

"I'm fine, Diego." She leaned heavily against him, her strength fading. "I'm just tired."

He arranged the pillows for the best comfort and laid her back against them. "Then rest, querida. I will be here when you wake."

Diego bent to press his lips gently to hers and Victoria smiled at the familiar feeling, returning the kiss weakly before closing her eyes and drifting off into a peaceful sleep.

Epilogue

It was nearly a month before Doctor Hernandez pronounced Victoria strong enough to take that walk down the aisle. Nearly the entire pueblo turned out to see their hero and his lady joined in marriage.

Peace had come to Los Angeles at last, but the sacrifice these two had made to ensure justice prevailed in the pueblo would not soon be forgotten.

Diego was careful as he lifted his new bride from the carriage and carried her over the threshold into the hacienda.

When Diego set her on her feet, she leaned against his solid chest and looked around the hacienda with a new perspective. She'd been a guest in this home more times than she could count, but now, she was the lady of this grand house. The knowledge made her tremble with a nervous anticipation.

Servants lined up to greet their new mistress and Victoria blushed, accepting their well wishes graciously. They didn't linger, knowing that their master would want to be alone with his new wife.

"Are you hungry?" Diego wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned down to kiss her gently.

Victoria thought for a moment. She hadn't really eaten much. It was her wedding day. She'd been too nervous about stumbling down the aisle, misquoting her vows, embarrassing her new family.

"I think I am."

"I'll have Maria deliver dinner to our sitting room then." Diego smiled down at her, his voice tender, filled with love. "Unless you'd rather eat in the dining room with father and Felipe?"

Victoria blushed prettily, fighting the shame rising in her heart at voicing her desire to be alone with her husband. "You decide."

Diego shot her an amused grin and cupped her cheeks in his large hands. "Given the choice, I want you all to myself tonight."

Victoria giggled. "I want that too."

"It's settled then." He bent to brush his lips softly against hers. "Wait here while I tell Maria."

Victoria waited in the library, smiling at the multitude of volumes that lined the walls. She brushed her fingers over one and pulled it from the shelf as Diego returned.

He glanced over her shoulder and chuckled. "Shakespeare, hmm?"

Victoria closed the book and returned it to the shelf as he gathered her into his arms and kissed her gently.

"A subject I know well."

Victoria nodded, wrapping her arms around his waist and embracing him tightly. "If only I'd made the connection sooner, we could have been together years ago."

"We're together now, señora de la Vega," Diego swept her into his arms and carried her down the hallway to their bedroom. "That's all that matters."

"You were worth the wait, Diego," she murmured against his lips as he pushed open the bedroom door and closed it behind him.

"So were you, Victoria."

END

An additional scene will be added to this story at a later date but will only appear on my web site