Note:

This was the original chapter 2 of this story until my beta reader gave me other ideas, which turned into the longer version of Chapter 2 already posted.

So, I figured I'd share it with everyone. I love to read multiple endings to stories, so I hope the readers enjoy this one as well.

It's far less action packed and ends much differently.

Chapter 2

Diego walked slowly in the door and 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 man 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 on with a slight smile touching his lips.

Victoria noticed Pizzon's eye line 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 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 sung 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 clutched tightly at 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. "Can you still love the man behind the mask." His voice was a mere whisper, said for her ears only.

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 his son's question.

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

Which made the sching of the blade sliding from its scabbard echo 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, "Its – its five after midnight, Zorr – err, Don Diego."

"Señor de Soto," alcalde Garcia stepped forward, "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 on the field of honor, 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 – err, Zorro, to loose to Ignacio de Soto?"

Victoria blinked, unused to seeing her friend exude this confidence, this strength. "I –"

"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, drawing slowly, 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.

"As much as I enjoy our traditional one-sided swordplay," Diego locked his blade with de Soto's, placed his hand on his opponent's shoulder, and shoved him against the nearest wall, "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, and he was hers.

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 evenings events as she.

"Enough, Ignacio." For the first time since their duel began, Diego took the offensive. 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 traditional when struck by the legendary masked man.

Diego sheathed his sword and shook his head at the unconscious man. "Not surprising." Diego saluted de Soto with a playful smirk. "Yet again, you lose," 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 appreciatively. "My thanks. I would appreciate no retribution taken on those I love. They had no knowledge of my . . . deception."

Garcia stared at Diego 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. 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.

"I have to see," 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. With his heart pounding loudly in his ears, Diego dropped to his knees and lifted his eyes toward the woman he loved.

Victoria trailed a small hand down his cheek and along the edges of the mask, holding her breath as certainly as was everyone else watching, with unparalleled curiosity, the decision that was hers alone to make.

Diego closed his eyes when she lifted her hands to the knot and slowly pulled the mask away from his face. Again, Victoria trailed her hand down his cheek, but this time there was no mask to inhibit her hands as they slid into his hair. She tugged gently, letting the dark locks slip through her fingers, before she abruptly broke the contact and took his hand.

She pressed the ring into his palm and closed his hand around it. The smile she bestowed upon him reached her eyes.

Diego released a tense breath he didn't realize he had been holding and immediately clutched her hands. "What is your answer?"

Tears dripped down her cheeks as she whispered. "I think I have always loved the man behind the mask, Diego. I just didn't realize it."

Relief flooded his face and he held up the ring, which sparkled when light touched it. "Will you marry me? Here, now?"

"Yes, Diego." Victoria held out her hand and he slid the ring onto her finger. "Yes. I will." She fell into his arms, sliding her arms around his neck and hugging him close.

Diego's arms wrapped around her waist, embracing her tightly, as his mouth found hers in a very improper public kiss. He stood and twirled her in his arms, allowing relief and joy to flood his arms for the first time since the evening began.

When he set her onto the floor again, Alejandro was next to them, reaching for his son with a trembling hand. Diego pulled his father into a tight embrace and the older man's arms came weakly around his son.

"I don't believe it. How could you –"

"All in good time, Father," Diego grinned at the man who was still clearly shocked at his son's revelation. "Right now," Diego searched the crowd for the padre, "you're all invited to a wedding!"

Benitez stepped from within the crowd and moved slowly toward them, eyes twinkling. "If you would please follow me to the church."

Diego hugged Victoria to him and kissed her forehead when her eyes widened. "Do you have an objection, querida?"

Victoria turned wide disbelieving eyes on the man she loved. "No, no, not at all. It's all such a –"

Diego turned and took her hands, gently caressing her fingers. "If you want to delay, you have only to say the word. I admit to a bit of selfishness in asking the padre to perform the ceremony tonight." Diego lowered his simmering eyes to the floor before looking up at her again. "We've waited so long. I just want to make you my wife."

A smile passed across Victoria's face, lighting her eyes. "I want nothing more at this very moment, Diego." She tugged his head down and showed him just how much she truly wanted to marry him.

Alejandro loudly cleared his throat to part the couple. "You are not married quite yet."

Diego chuckled and Victoria blushed furiously.

Alejandro turned to Felipe. "Take Diego to the church. Victoria and I will follow in a moment."

Diego raised a curious eyebrow but Felipe slid his hand around Diego's arm and pulled him toward the door where the padre waited.

The crowd filed out behind the masked man, leaving Victoria and Alejandro standing alone in the middle of the tavern. Lancers dragged the unconscious former alcalde out of the room behind Garcia and the still stunned speechless Mendoza.

"I didn't know," Victoria began, suddenly feeling that she needed to justify her actions to the man who had been like a father to her for so long.

Alejandro shook his head and chuckled. "That makes two of us, my dear."

Victoria lowered her eyes, fear suddenly gripping her heart and crushing her mood. After silent moment, she steeled herself to ask, "Do you – do you object to our marriage?"

Alejandro smiled widely. "Quite the opposite, Victoria." The man pulled her into his arms and embraced her tightly. "You are the wife I've wanted for my son for so long."

Victoria's eyes brightened instantly.

"You are so like my Elena. Honest. Beautiful. Caring. Even your fiery temper rivals hers!" Alejandro chuckled in remembrance. "You are just the woman Diego needs to keep his mind focused on the more practical things."

"Oh yes," Victoria laced her hand through his offered arm. "There will be no more riding as Zorro. No more dangerous conflicts, no taking such chances with his life, no more –" She dissolved into fits of laughter and Alejandro chuckled right along with her.

"Oh, how upset he would be to hear us planning his future."

Victoria smiled warmly at the man who she'd thought of as a father for so long.

Alejandro guided her out of the tavern saying, "who would have known that tonight would so change the lives of the people I love most in this world."

END