T/A: Those three words by MEG

RATED: G

AN: Thank Katinka and Sandy for correction and help.

AN2: Sandy still has this last version. If there will be more errors I will post it again.

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"I love you, Victoria."

How dare he! How dare he say those words... after so many good and bad years!

He is my best friend. He is the only one with enough courage to handle my anger. The only one who is ever at my side when I become upset. The only one who has time to hear my complaints, has time to comfort me. The only one for whom my heart seem to trying to escape from my chest.

And now? How dare he!

He knows that I promised myself to Zorro, the legend of the pueblo, the mystery man, the man I wait for. The only man everyone expects me to wait for.

Why didn't he tell me this words immediately after he returned from Spain? The first day I saw him again, my heart began to beat faster. I couldn't take my eyes away from him. He was so exciting...so brave...so handsome. There was this spark of light in his eyes when he threw out this rude soldier from my tavern.

I fell completely in love with him.

I hoped he would fall in love with me. I saw the interest and admiration when he looked at me. Then he has lost interest in me. What could I do?

Then Zorro became the hero of our pueblo. He showed interest in me.

How could I resist him? I admire him, I have respect for the things he has done for the pueblo and the people. From all of these people...he fell in love with me.

I couldn't resist Zorro's words, his lips and his eyes. When I saw them, I always remember my best friend. I wished that he would look at me with the same passion and love the way Zorro does.

I remember seeing that look, once. We were stuck in an old windmill, and it was stormy. I saw him looking at me with that love that I always wanted from him. He was so close! I hoped so much that he would bend over, and kiss me...but he didn't. He looked away. I was so disappointed that I didn't even hear what he said.

And now, after so many years, so many empty years without him, he tells me that he loves me!

I look at him.

Is it true? Is he really in love with me?

I see his face change from one of the lover to one of the friend. But his eyes...

"Victoria, I'm sorry..."

I place my finger on his lips. I know what he wants to say. He wants to apologize for making me uncomfortable, he wants to apologize for his... love.

This time however, I don't allow him. I was waiting for him all of these years. I can live without Zorro...but not without him No more, because now, I know...

He does love me.

I drew his head to mine, and placed my lips upon his. I try to show him what me means to me, how very important he is to me. I want to make up for all of those lost years.

"I love you too, Diego."