Chapter 3

When she awoke the following morning, she was much more clearheaded. Yawning, she stretched her aching limbs and groaned.

"Victoria?"

Victoria blinked and once again noticed Diego sliding off the chair near the bed and onto his knees. "Good morning, how do you feel?"

"Like a house collapsed on top of me," Victoria muttered. But as soon as the words left her lips, her eyes widened, remembering that's exactly what had happened.

"Malinda! The baby!"

"They're fine, don't worry. We got them out." Diego took her hand and squeezed it gently. "If it weren't for you pulling Malinda toward the window, I would probably not have found her in time. You saved her life, Victoria." Diego was absently stroking the inside of her wrist with his thumb as he spoke, sending familiar, yet unusual sensations rippling through her battered body.

Relief swept through her at his assurance the family was safe. "But what happened?"

"We were hoping you could tell us," Diego answered, still caressing her wrist. "When José and I noticed the smoke and returned to the house, it was already engulfed in flames."

"Well," Victoria searched her jumbled thoughts. She couldn't remember how the fire started. The fire in the pit had been doused long before they had even arrived so that couldn't have been the cause. "All I remember is waking up and breathing smoke." She lowered her head shamefully. "I fell asleep after Malinda went to take a nap. I'd put the baby in her bassinet and sat in the rocking chair."

"Comfortable, hmm?" Diego asked with a gentle smile.

But Victoria could not meet his eyes. She felt somehow responsible.

"We've already spoken with the alcalde and he promised to send men out there to investigate, but -" Diego hesitated for a moment and Victoria's eyes shifted to catch him.

"But?"

"I don't even want to think that the alcalde could be involved in this. He may be greedy and power hungry, but I don't think he would resort to murder just to get what he wants."

"He'd have no problem killing Zorro," Victoria offered with a frown.

A small grin tugged at the corners of Diego's well-cut mouth. "Well, Zorro is an exception to the rule in most cases."

"That's true enough," Victoria smiled dreamily and completely missed the downcast look in Diego's eyes at the mention of the masked man who had stolen her heart.

"Well, Señorita," Diego stood and smiled down at her, "why don't I call for the maid to fill the tub for you so that you can soak those bruised muscles."

"Oh, Oh!" Victoria drew the sheet to her neck, suddenly realizing just how improper it was to have Diego standing over her as she lay in bed. She flushed at his amused grin and muttered a quick 'thank you' before he slipped out into the sitting room and out the door.

The Perez family were now guests at the de la Vega hacienda and so was Señorita Escalante – her legs were incredibly bruised due to the beam falling on them, so she was not quite steady on her feet yet. Diego and Alejandro had insisted she remain for a few days until she regained all her strength.

Alejandro fussed over Malinda and the baby, excited to have a little one in the hacienda again.

Diego steadfastly avoided his father when the baby was in the room, but he found it increasingly difficult, as the man doted over the child. Diego knew he wasn't going to be able to avoid his father forever, but he also knew that as soon as he had a chance, Alejandro would make many pointed comments about wanting grandchildren of his own. The aging caballero made no bones about his desire for little ones which his son was not currently providing.

With the extra people in the hacienda, Diego found it difficult to slip into the cave. Zorro needed to ride out to the scene of the fire and do some investigating of his own, but until there was no one in the library, he couldn't be free to do so. And he wasn't sure he wanted to, with Victoria sitting in the library, her legs curled beneath her, rocking the baby to sleep.

Malinda was taking a well-deserved siesta and Victoria had obviously offered to watch the little one.

José was outside with his father, discussing work the de la Vegas would be giving him so that he could get his family back on their feet again.

So absorbed was Diego with the image of Victoria rocking the babe and humming a sweet lullaby, he didn't even notice when his father walked in from the garden.

Alejandro's eyebrows rose curiously as he watched his son staring at Victoria and the babe. He's keeping something from me. He glanced at Victoria and had to admit, she looked perfectly natural and beautiful holding the newborn. With a sly grin, Alejandro stepped behind his son and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Diego nearly leapt out of his boots and Alejandro could barely suppress a surge of laughter.

Diego pulled his father into the other room as Victoria glanced up at the sound.

Diego adopted his most bland expression and his father frowned.

"Oh, no, don't give me that look," Alejandro began, staring accusingly at his son. "You were as entranced by the sight of Victoria holding that baby as I was."

Diego struggled to deny the words but they just would not come quick enough, and he didn't think his father would believe him anyway. He simply said nothing as his father took his arm and led him down the hall and out of Victoria's earshot.

"I didn't have the heart to disturb Victoria," Diego began, but Alejandro raised his hand to silence his son.

"Diego, I don't need an excuse, I know what I saw."

Diego looked away but Alejandro's gentle hand on his arm drew his gaze back to his concerned father. Again, he tried to deny it, "Father –"

"What I haven't figured out, yet, is whether it was the baby you were staring at or Victoria."

"Father, I think you're –"

"Mistaken?" again Alejandro interrupted his son. "I saw your concern for Victoria when you carried her into the hacienda, Diego. I think your feelings for her go a bit deeper than friendship, hmm?"

Diego shook his head and looked out the window. "You're imagining things."

"Am I?" Alejandro asked, staring at his son. "I may be old. But I am not blind."

Diego knew wasn't going to be able to talk his way out of this one. Well, perhaps it was time that someone else knew of his feelings for Victoria. It wasn't as if he were giving up all of his secrets. Maybe his father would have some ideas about how to win Victoria's heart as himself.

When Diego looked back at his father, Alejandro bit back a gasp at the raw emotion he saw reflected in his passive son's gaze.

"What do you expect me to do about it?" Diego asked softly.

"Do?" Alejandro gaped incredulously at his son. Surely he knew what to do! "Court her!"

Diego laughed a self-deprecating laugh that turned Alejandro's blood to ice and forced the father to realize just how deeply his son's emotions must run. "Move in on Zorro's lady?" The name fell from his lips like it was a curse. "People would think I'd lost my mind. And I would lose Victoria's friendship."

Alejandro wrapped his hand around his son's surprisingly muscular arm and implored, "If you love her, you owe it to yourself to try."

"It's not worth the risk." Diego said simply.

"Love is always worth the risk, Diego," Alejandro said softly. "Always."

Diego swallowed uncomfortably at his father's obvious elation at this unexpected news.

"She's going to be here for a few days while she recovers from the fire; why don't you spend some more time with her?" Alejandro suggested gently.

Diego shook his head as if he were about to offer an excuse as to why that would be a bad idea, but yet again, Alejandro interrupted him.

"Ask her about the baby, if you're wondering what to talk to her about," Alejandro said with a wink and Diego rolled his eyes.

"Father, don't get any ideas –"

Alejandro feigned an incredulous look at his son as he turned to walk back toward the parlor, "What? I haven't mentioned a thing to you about grandchildren since they arrived."

Diego turned and followed his father, determined to get in the last word. "Yes, let's just keep it that way, hmm?" Diego found himself grinning despite his melancholy mood.

"Well, I can't promise that, son." Alejandro admitted and Diego scowled at his father's back.

"Can't promise what?" Victoria looked up from the cooing baby as the two men walked into the library.

"Nothing," Diego said quickly and Alejandro laughed.

"I've just been mentioning, yet again, my desire for my son to marry and have children of his own."

Diego shot his father a betrayed look and pursed his lips in annoyance.

"Judging by how enamored he is of that little one, I'm beginning to think he would be an excellent father."

Diego silenced him with a stern look. "Father please."

"All right, all right," Alejandro laughed and clasped his son on the back. "Now that I've made him uncomfortable, I will go back to my accounting."

"Thank you, father," Diego said stiffly and Victoria couldn't help but giggle.

Diego whirled on her, "Yes, yes. Laugh at my expense."

This only caused Victoria to laugh harder. "Oh, Diego, I'm sorry. It's just that – "

"It's fine," Diego grinned and walked over to sit next to her on the settee. "He's right. I do feel drawn to the little one." He reached over and brushed her plump cheek with the tip of his finger. "How could anyone with a heart not be drawn to such magnetic innocence?"

Victoria's smile vanished and she found herself regarding her friend in a new light. So, he had been thinking about childrenWhy did that thought make her so uncomfortable? She shook her head. It was none of her business. "Would you like to hold her again?"

"Oh," Diego shook his head. "No, I'd better not. She looks quite comfortable where she is."

"Oh, nonsense, Diego, here," Victoria shuffled closer to him and carefully placed the baby in his arms. She cooed in response but continued to chew mindlessly on her fingers.

"See, she's harmless."

"Yes, I see." Diego's attention was soon consumed entirely by the little miracle in his arms and Victoria found herself lost in watching his reaction. Emotions she never thought the docile caballero ever possessed flitted across his face as he let the little baby squeeze his finger and pull it into her mouth.

After a few moments, Diego scowled down at the little one as she widened bright, inquisitive eyes at him. "You couldn't hold it until I gave you back to Victoria, hmm?"

Victoria giggled and stepped away as Diego tried to give the child back. "Oh, no. He who is holding her must change her."

"Oh, no. Victoria, I don't think –"

"Let's go, I'll show you how to change her wrappings." Victoria led Diego down the hallway and into the sitting room. She went over to the adjoining guestroom and pulled the door closed, careful to not wake the sleeping Malinda.

"Victoria," Diego stammered nervously, "This is not a good –"

"You have to learn sometime," Victoria smiled as she laid the changing materials on the bed, "this will be good practice."

He glared at her and she giggled. But he took her instruction well and soon they were chuckling over the baby and talking over her as if they did this every day.

Alejandro paused at the doorway and watched the interplay between the two friends with a critical eye. A small smile spread across his face as his gaze shifted from his son to Victoria and back again. Their ease with one another, and even with the baby, one could easily mistake them for the little ones own parents.

A familiar longing struck his heart, but this time it was different. He wanted Diego to be a father for his own sake—so his son would know the joy of watching his child grow.

He recalled Diego's reluctant admission of hopeless love for Victoria. Watching them now, Alejandro didn't believe it was as hopeless as his son might think. They were such good friends . . . And friendship was an excellent foundation for marriage.

TBC

Thethirdtroll – Heh, Muahaha. You expected something I didn't deliver. Ahh, yes. I'm very satisfied now. And, you should be happy…another chapter so quick….don't expect this chapter to end any better than the last :) There are 6 chapters, just in case you wanted to know….Happy reading!