I was feeling kind and decided to post this chapter today. You'll have to wait a few days for the next one :)

Chapter 7

"Have you gone mad?" Alejandro finally said after a few moments of stunned silence.

"This is the best way." Diego said, taking momentary offense at his father's lack of faith in his abilities.

"To throw a fight just so this man will not reveal your identity? And do you think he will keep his promise after you have lost the duel?" Alejandro was agitated, and as such was moving around far too much, irritating his still healing wounds.

"If he turns on you, and tells the alcalde with you standing right there, it will be obvious!" Victoria's eyes were wide with fear. "Diego will be nowhere to be found and the alcalde will know." She clutched his hand in desperation, hoping to convince him of another way.

"Then I would be forced to defeat Thackery in front of the entire pueblo. A man like him, who has made his name and reputation by dueling and defeating his opponents, would not let his pride be wounded in such a way again."

"I'm not sure I'm willing to let you take that chance," Alejandro said, his eyes wide.

"There is no other way."

"There is always another way," Alejandro insisted. "You have lived with this burden alone for far too long. We are here for you now. And we will work it out together."

Diego smiled grimly, grateful that he could count on the support of his family. But with that grateful feeling came one of overwhelming dread. And that fear would stay with him until he could guarantee that his family would not be harmed were his secret to be revealed.

After three days of de Soto's ever so cheerful attitude, not even Diego's calm voice and gentle, teasing touch could calm Victoria's raging temper.

"If he doesn't remove himself from my tavern soon, I will throw him out a window with my bare hands!" Victoria fumed as Diego guided her down the stairs and into the kitchen amidst chuckles from the customers they passed.

"I am not his slave!" Victoria hissed, her fists clenched in frustration.

"Come to the hacienda for lunch. It will do you some good to get away from here for a few hours," Diego said, knowing her fury would not be diffused so easily this time. "And we will have some time alone." He needed to find a way to tell her about his conversation with Thackery, but he didn't want to worry her further.

Victoria stared at him as if trying to decide whether or not to allow him to calm her raging temper.

"I will send Maria to assist Pilar with lunch and dinner," Diego added as more of an incentive to get her to accept his invitation.

A small, calculating smile spread across Victoria's face as her eyes met his.

Diego hadn't expected her to capitulate so quickly and he steeled himself for another angry tirade.

Much to his surprise, it didn't come.

Instead, Diego's eyes searched Victoria's face for some clue as to what had changed. "What is it?" he asked slowly, suddenly afraid of the answer.

Victoria smiled smugly at Diego. "I would like that. I wanted to see how your father was doing today anyway. This will give me the perfect opportunity."

Diego didn't quite believe this sudden change. He knew her too well. She was up to something.

Victoria turned away and removed her apron, draping it across the table. Before she could turn around, Diego's arms snaked around her waist. "And?" he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.

Victoria trembled at his touch and a small, mischievous smile crept across her face. She turned within the circle of his arms and teasingly pressed her lips to his jaw.

"Pilar will take care of the alcalde for me," she whispered before turning out of his arms and favoring him with a wide, triumphant smile.

"God forbid the day I ever cross you." Diego shook his head knowing that Pilar wouldn't stand for the alcalde's demands the way Victoria had for the last few days.

Diego had put this discussion off long enough. It was time. He needed to do it and get it over with. His father would be none too happy when he learned what had transpired but hopefully, the event would be done and over with before the older man could do or say anything about it.

Diego arranged to see the well-guarded prisoner alone, conscious that de Soto would soon be back on his feet and regaining command of the garrison. With that in mind, he hurried to arrange a meeting with Thackery.

Mendoza set it up without question, even dismissing the lancers stationed within the jail.

When Diego walked into the jail, Thackery stood and sneered at the caballero. "What do you want?"

There was no need to beat around the bush. Diego came right to the point. "To make you an offer."

Thackery bit back a smile. "I'm listening."

"In exchange for your - discretion, where Zorro's identity is concerned, I will ensure that you meet him and - win your duel." Diego's voice was strong, confident. "You can take with you the knowledge, and proof if you so require, that you bested Zorro on the field of honor."

Thackery clenched his fists. "I would rather kill Zorro on a field of battle."

"I can assure you, that will never happen," said Diego with a confidence he knew he shouldn't feel.

"When I tell the alcalde what I know, I think it will."

"Why would the alcalde arrest a man who has saved his life countless times instead of the man who wanted to so quickly and coldly end it?" came the quick retort. This conversation was not going the way Diego wanted.

"Oh, I think he will be so angry at being duped by such an upstanding member of his own community that he will not be able to send you to the gallows quickly enough." Thackery stared at Diego triumphantly.

"And if the alcalde arrests and hangs me, you will forever be known as the man who was bested by some common bandit. How will you regain your honor? I will be dead. And you will have to live with your disgrace." Diego knew he was walking a thin line but he was counting on Thackery's pride not allowing him to turn down his offer.

"I would rather see the alcalde's reaction when I give him my news."

Diego casually shrugged. Outwardly he appeared calm, but inside, his stomach was turning restlessly. "You take the chance that de Soto will not believe you."

"If you were so certain that he will not believe me, you would not be here now."

Diego nodded slowly and moved toward the door. "We will see," he said as he walked out, his heart heavy.

"Something is bothering you," Victoria observed as they walked arm in arm in the garden.

They had stopped in to see Alejandro, who was recovering more and more every day, before taking advantage of the solitude and fragrant beauty of the de la Vega garden.

"Oh? Why do you say that?" Diego asked, not meeting her eyes.

They stopped in front of a climbing rose bush and Diego snapped off a solitary red rose.

Victoria watched him carefully as he removed the thorns and gently, lovingly, fastened it into her hair.

"I know you better than you think I do," Victoria slid her arm around his and squeezed gently. She could feel the tension in his body, and the air around them sizzled with it. Her heart was suddenly filled with an unidentifiable fear. "Please tell me. Whatever it is, we will deal with it together."

Diego suddenly pulled her into his arms and kissed her with a passion that surprised her. Victoria returned his kiss, her eyes fluttering closed. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him as tightly as she could. Hoping that in her arms he would feel comfortable enough to tell her what was bothering him.

When they parted, his eyes were sad and Victoria's heart sank into her stomach.

"Oh, Diego, please tell me." She reached a hand up and pushed it through his hair.

"These last few days with you have been a dream come true," Diego began and Victoria resisted the urge to remind him that they were going to have a conversation about his keeping secrets one of these days.

Victoria swallowed nervously. "But?"

There was no way to soften the news. "Thackery is going to tell de Soto."

Victoria's eyes widened. "I thought - Your plan - what happened?" She shook her head, annoyed that she could not push out a coherent sentence.

"He decided it would be better to see me hang alongside him than to regain his honor and pride by facing Zorro, knowing that he would win."

Victoria shook her head. "He can't tell the alcalde! Diego, you have to stop him!" Victoria's voice took on a slightly hysterical edge. "I can't lose you. Not now. I won't." Victoria was frustrated by his inaction. "Why won't you do something?"

Diego offered her a strained smile. "As Zorro I have not always obeyed the written law, feeling that to help the people, I needed to be free to work outside of it. I accepted long ago the consequences if I were caught. I cannot silence Thackery just to save myself."

"What about me, or your father, Felipe?" Victoria grasped at anything that might make him change his mind.

Diego pulled her into his arms and embraced her tenderly. "There is a chance Ignacio won't believe him."

"How much of one?" Victoria glanced up at him with a skeptical look.

Diego grinned wryly. "I've perfected the art of acting the indolent, dull caballero. There is a good chance that he will believe whatever we tell him." Diego chuckled. "If he believes that Zorro rescued us, he may even be grateful to the man for saving his life."

"That will be the day," Victoria frowned.

Diego lifted her chin with a long finger. "Don't think any more about it. I will deal with it when it comes. We have our stories straight. Let me take care of the rest." Diego bent and kissed her lightly. "Trust me."

"Are - are you sure you're well enough to go back to -" Mendoza stuttered.

"Yes! Mendoza!" de Soto winced as he shoved his arm into his shirt and buttoned the front of his coat. "I am eager to see that man hang! The gallows are prepared?"

"Sí, Alcalde!"

"Good. Now I have a few words to say to the Englishman before he hangs."

Mendoza swallowed nervously and followed the alcalde out of his room and down to the jail.

"Ah, I was wondering when I would have the pleasure of seeing your cheerful face again," Thackery mocked as he stood and smiled at de Soto. "I've heard the frantic hammering all day. You must mean to hang me soon."

"How observant."

"The best typically are." Thackery said haughtily.

De Soto wrapped gloved hands around the bars and leaned close. "I will relish stretching your neck until it snaps."

Thackery picked at what was left of his meal. "Oh, I'm sure you won't do that when I tell you that I can give you the name of that masked brigand you've been incapable of catching."

De Soto's eyes narrowed. Mendoza's report claimed that Zorro had been the one to rescue them and his story had been corroborated by Don Alejandro and Don Diego, as well as Señorita Escalante. De Soto cocked his head and regarded Thackery with an amused smirk. "And I suppose you just happened to rip off his mask as he held his blade to your throat, hmm?"

"Oh, there was no mask."

De Soto snorted. "Ah, he swung down from the chandelier unmasked." De Soto shrugged his shoulders with a loud chuckle. "Of course."

"No doubt you remember Diego de la Vega's claim before -" Thackery stared pointedly at de Soto, clearly indicating the wound that had rendered him unconscious. "Oh, that's right. You were already lying motionless on the floor when he revealed to me that he was Zorro."

Ignacio de Soto's laugh echoed off the walls and out into the courtyard. "You couldn't pick a more believable man to accuse of being Zorro? Diego de la Vega is nothing like that masked fiend." He leaned against the bars, wincing at the pain that rushed across his chest. He was tiring already and he knew he needed to rest. "Nice try." As he turned to walk away, Thackery called out to him, halting his steps.

"Of course he's nothing like Zorro. That's why he has been able to fool you for so long. Even you can't be so blind to the truth standing right in front of you."

De Soto's eyes narrowed and he leveled an intense, hate-filled gaze at Thackery. His mind struggled to comprehend the truth of the words. It just wasn't possible. He snorted. "If he were Zorro, which he is not, I would end your life before I gave you the pleasure of seeing what I would do to him."

He gave a short little laugh. "You hang at dawn."

De Soto's strength was fading rapidly, but he was determined to speak with Mendoza and Victoria. Stepping outside of his office, he noticed Esperanza tied at the hitching post outside the tavern – indicating Diego was in town. He motioned to a nearby lancer and asked him to escort the three to his office.

The alcalde moved to his chair and sank into it with a loud sigh. He was exhausted, but he needed to see the reactions on their faces when he told them what Thackery had revealed. Mendoza, especially, would not be able to hide the truth.

And if de la Vega is Zorro? De Soto shook his head. It just wasn't possible. Was it?

In the few moments he had alone, the alcalde tried to remember a time when Zorro and Diego were in the same place together. Try as he might, he could not place one single instance. De Soto inhaled sharply. It couldn't be true. Weak-willed, indolent Diego de la Vega could not have fooled him for so long. No, there had to be another reason.

And if there isn't?

De Soto growled at that unseen little voice.

What will you do?

His wounded pride would not permit him to let the man beneath Zorro's mask to go free - whoever he was. Even if that man had saved his life - on multiple occasions.

A brief flash blinded him for a moment and he was suddenly in a different place, a different time. He looked up from where he lay on the floor, staring at the scene unfolding before him. He was unable to move as he heard Diego's voice say, with a surety that was instantly believed, that he was Zorro. Then the vision went dark as consciousness left him. When he forced open his eyes once again, Diego was holding a blade to Thackery's throat.

De Soto gasped as the memory faded. In the few moments of consciousness while he lay on the tavern floor, he had seen everything he needed to hang the real man behind Zorro's mask.

TBC

Jkl88 – Oh, he doesn't win – exactly. . . Zorro's reputation, well….it should be Diego's life you're worried about…..especially when de Soto finds out…..

Trollie – Is this ending better? Heh, I hope not. Re- the series. Ask someone to get it for you for the holiday :)

CW – laugh. Oh no, he gets something far worse…. Well, from my pov anyway

Beverly –. Yes, I wanted to throw in a twist and I think it works quite well.