Don Alejandro was doubtful whether to attend Victoria's wedding, considering he still remembered how the first one had ended. However, what were the chances Victoria would change her mind twice about marrying the same man?

There was no more Zorro to intervene this time, so, the more he thought about it, the more he realized it would have been wrong not to go, seeing how the young woman had always treated him like a second father, and he had come to love her like she was his own.

His real problem, though, was that his son had barely recovered after over two months spent fighting for his life, and had only started leaving his room a few days earlier. Should he decide to attend the wedding, he'd have to go to Monterey, a journey that was not only dangerous but, most importantly, exhausting for a man who had been bedridden for more than two months. On such a trip, the pneumonia that had almost claimed his son's life could return at any moment, and at any moment he'd again be in danger of losing his heir.

The agony of seeing him like that, wondering if he'd be alive in the morning, calling the padre several times to give him the last rites when his end seemed near, that was not something the elderly caballero ever wanted to go through again. No parent should bury a child, and he had already buried one. One he had not even known existed until it was too late to save him. He didn't not suffer much for Gilberto for he had never truly known him. Burying the son he had raised, though, would have been the end of him, for he couldn't imagine surviving without Diego.

During those weeks when he had been at his worst, Victoria had stayed by his side and her mere presence seemed to be all that was keeping his son alive, a thin thread keeping him bound to the world of the living.

Then, however, at some point, she decided to leave the hacienda and return to the tavern, her visits to see her friend further and further apart, until she had stopped coming altogether, and the don found out that she had left the pueblo without telling anyone where she was going.

"Diego," the don uttered after making up his mind, as he entered his son's room, where the young man was resting in his bed under Felipe's supervision, "we've just received this. It's from Victoria. But before you decide to attend, I'd like to suggest that I go instead. I'm sure she'll understand, considering she knew very well how ill you were before she left the pueblo."

"Attend what?" Diego asked suspiciously as he took the envelope his father offered him.

He became livid as he started reading the text, then, as he finished, he asked with a trembling voice what date it was. Felipe, realizing something was very wrong with the tall caballero, hurried near to him to see what had caused that reaction in his adoptive father.

"She's getting married. To Juan." Diego explained to him. "I have to stop her!" As he said that, he threw away his blanket and tried to stand up, but his legs gave way and he fell back on the bed. The second time, though, he succeeded. "I have to stop this madness!" He stated.

"What are you talking about, Diego? It's her choice. Why would you prevent her marriage?" Don Alejandro asked, alerted by his son's reaction.

"Because I love her, Father, and I am certain she loves me. I need to prevent her from ruining both our lives by marrying Juan!" He answered, rummaging through his closet and hurriedly getting dressed.

"I don't understand… Has she ever given you reason to believe she was in love with you? Because, Son, I am quite certain that's just wishful thinking. The woman loves and has always loved only Zorro."

The tall caballero paused for a moment, wondering if the taverness did love the true man, as well, or just the legend. She had never given him, as Diego, reason to hope, but he had faith in their love, and was certain she'd realize the truth in her heart as soon as he'd confess what was in his.

"Father, do you have any objections to having Victoria as a daughter-in-law?" Diego, thus, questioned, ignoring the older don's words.

"Of course not! She's always been like a daughter to me." Don Alejandro replied indignant. "I just fear you might find yourself both broken-hearted and humiliated, or having to face Juan in a duel if you go to Monterey in the hope to prevent the wedding. I find neither prospect particularly appealing."

"It will be fine, Father! Trust me!" Diego replied as he left Felipe to pack the last of his things and asked one of the stable hands to saddle Esperanza and Emilio, which he intended to use alternatively in order to cover as much distance as possible with only few breaks.

The teenager came bringing a pair of saddlebags containing clothes and food, as well as a couple of blankets, a loaded pistol, bullets and gunpowder – as Diego needed a weapon he could use to defend himself in case of need without arousing any suspicion – and a sheathed knife the caballero placed in his boot with rehearsed dexterity.

"I should come with you! If you wait until tomorrow to leave –" His father muttered as he turned to say goodbye.

"I can't wait, Father. Take the next ship out of San Pedro if you so wish, but I need to leave right away for I will never forgive myself if I arrive too late to prevent this wedding." Diego replied sternly, then climbed Esperanza. "Goodbye, Father! Wish me luck!"

"Son, the trip is dangerous and you are still recovering! Please, wait just one more day…" The old don's words were lost in the wind as his son had already put too much distance between them to hear his renewed plea.

ZZZ

"Juan," the Governor uttered after kissing Victoria's hand, "I must confess I was a skeptic when you informed me of your approaching nuptials, but I fully understand now. In your place, I would also make sure to prevent such a beauty from slipping through my fingers."

"My thoughts exactly, Your Excellency." His Lieutenant answered, smiling proudly towards the young woman at his arm.

"You are most kind, Senor!" She confirmed.

"I will also be honored to give you away, Senorita. Lieutenant Ortiz informed me that your father is, most regrettably dead, and you have no other close relatives." The high-ranking official told her.

Victoria smiled and nodded, inwardly considering the irony of the situation, since the Governor had been pressuring De Soto for a while already to end Zorro, yet now was due to give away the very woman the outlaw loved, the same who was carrying his child.

"In the meanwhile, I fear I shall deprive you of your husband to be for a few days," the official continued. "He'll be back in time for the wedding, don't worry, Senorita. But, you see, information has reached us about the hiding place of some of those despicable rebels threatening the peace in Alta California. With the Commander gone, it's up to Lieutenant Ortiz to lead the troops due to eliminate that hive of rebelliousness. Rumors are their numbers have been increasing recently and, as I am sure you'll agree, such people cannot be allowed to act with impunity."

"Perhaps if the taxes were lower and the officials appointed would lead the people instead of oppressing them, they wouldn't join the rebel forces." She answered defiantly, to the Governor's consternation.

"Women… They don't really understand much about politics…" Juan uttered, squeezing Victoria's hand in an attempt to make her see it wasn't either the time or the place for her to express such an opinion.

Knowing how much depended on their marriage taking place, she just smiled politely, accepting the correction.

During the rest of the evening, she only interacted with others for long enough to avoid having them think something was wrong, while her brain brought forth similar incidents when she expressed her opinion and it had been up to either Zorro or Diego to save her from the possible repercussions of her words. Neither one had dismissed her opinions on the basis of her gender. One had supported them loudly, sword in hand. The other had been more tactful, even going so far as getting himself thrown in jail in his efforts to make sure she'd not need to suffer because she had spoken the truth in her heart.