DAY FIVE

Diego woke up feeling stronger. With the help of Felipe, they looked at the arm, and noticed it was healing well. The bruises from Diablo Canyon were also fading, turning from purple and blue to green and yellow. Diego was up and about, fully dressed, sitting at the writing desk in the drawing room, practicing his signature left-handed. There are a few scattered pieces of crumpled paper on the floor, showing he wasn't getting it quite right.

As he crumpled up yet one more piece of paper, there was a knock on the front door. Felipe was engrossed in reading a book, looked relaxed and didn't move.

Diego threw the crumpled paper at Felipe to get his attention. "Felipe, would you get that?"

Felipe picked up the paper which landed on the floor beside him, and threw it back in a joking manner. He went to the door and let Victoria in. He took the book he was reading, and waited to see where Diego and Victoria would end up – in order to give them some privacy. They remained in the entryway. Felipe signed "Wait here." When he is behind her, he gave Diego a look of feigned sympathy, because he knew there could be fireworks.

As Victoria waited in the entryway, she tapped her foot impatiently on the floor. Her irritation had been growing for several days. She was like a teapot about to boil over. She quickly and consciously relaxed her hands, just now realizing she had them balled tightly into a fist. No, it would not do to punch him, although that's exactly what she felt like doing the last several days. No, she would try to be calm, at least to start, until she heard it from his own lips.

"Diego! Diego, where are you?"

Diego came to the edge of the drawing room. He smiled a nervous smile, but his voice was smooth and easy. "In here, Victoria. Do come in. Let's go to the Library where we can be more comfortable."

Victoria with almost forced cheerfulness, asked Diego, "How are you today?"

Diego saw this and tried his best to make her feel comfortable and at ease. He motioned for her to sit down. He also forced cheerfulness, to try to exceed hers. He wasn't sure he succeeded.

"Better every day! And how are you?"

"I'm fine, Diego, but I've been confused and I have some questions. Your father said only you could answer them. I just want you to know what I have been feeling – very frustrated and angry. I've waited three days for answers. And I need an explanation."

Diego paused a moment and took a deep breath before answering. "I'm sorry you've had to wait so long. Please sit down, Victoria, and relax. Would you like some tea or some lemonade perhaps? I promise to answer all your questions. I'll explain everything I can. What do you want to know?"

Victoria didn't sit, but instead paced around the Library, as she began her rant. Diego braced himself, and tried his best to remain calm. His eyes followed her every move, first this way, then she spun on her heel, and paced back the other way, walking in front of Diego. Finally, she stopped, facing him directly.

She asked him point blank. "I believe I already know, but I need to – and – want to – hear it from you. Do you have something you want to tell me?"

Diego paused a moment. "Yes."

"Well?"

Diego cleared his throat, fidgeted a moment, looked down a second, then he looked up. And he looked her straight in the eye.

"It is as you think…I – I am – I – am – the man behind the mask. I am Zorro."

Diego put his head down a bit, and looked up at her with a pained look of love in his eyes, but physically and emotionally braced himself. He sees the torrent coming. Victoria's face turned red as her forced cheerfulness was replaced by a torrent of frustrated emotion. All her passion, irritation, anger, and frustration came out – worse because it had been held inside for too long. So, she let him have it!

"I knew it! And yet I didn't!" She growled in frustration. During her tirade, she paced back and forth, put her hands to her face, put them in balled fists to her side, grabbed her ears, and motioned wildly.

"OOOOOhhh! Diego de la Vega! Why didn't you tell me before? In the cave? Why have you been living a lie? Oh! I am so upset, so confused! I don't know what to do! All this time…years! I should have guessed it was you…and I think on some level I knew it was you, but I didn't want to believe it. The way you presented yourself! I couldn't love you as that man! I was so frustrated with you! Didn't you know that? And yet, didn't you also see I was attracted to you? From the time we met in the tavern when you had first returned from Spain. But you were so spineless! I could never love a gutless man of inaction."

"Several times I tried to get you to reveal yourself to me! Several times I tried to get you to stand up and be the man I sensed you were on the inside! That night in the windmill, in the cave, and the other day in the plaza, I thought sure… But each time, you did the opposite I thought you would do!"

She growled again in frustration.

"Oohhh! Diego de la Vega! How could you do this to me? I love you! I told you I would love the man behind the mask! I love both of you, but I'm having trouble reconciling the both of you into one man!

The tirade stopped, but the emotions didn't. Her nose turned red, and tears formed in her eyes. She started to cry. Once the anger was out, the tears came. Diego got up from his chair and put an arm around her. As he did, she allowed him to draw her into an embrace, as she wept.

Diego sighed. "I'm so sorry, Victoria. I wish I could have told you sooner. I'm sorry you had to find out this way. Oh, if only I had not gotten that fever, Zorro could have told you in the most romantic way he could think of – and at just the right time. I've been waiting to see how everything will play out with the Alcade."

Victoria started to control her tears. He handed her his handkerchief. She looked up at him. He was contrite, with almost a tear in his own eye.

Diego looked down with great love and patience. "Let's sit down. "

He led her to the couch, where they sat on the edge, facing each other. Diego took Victoria's hands in his.

"I know I have a lot of explaining to do…over time. But for now, suffice it to say, I never wanted to deceive you. I would never do anything to hurt you. I love you. I have loved you also – since I first saw you, in the tavern when I had just returned from Spain."

He stopped a moment and looked at her. Then he got a playful look on his face. He wanted to lighten the mood if at all possible.

"So – it was the cactus tea that gave me away, huh?"

Victoria laughed and cried at the same time. She picked up the mood, and teased back. "I'm surprised you didn't try to say Zorro concocted it and then gave it to you!"

"Am I forgiven then?"

She gave him a look of playful 'disgust.' "Oh you! If you were a little boy, I'd put you over my knee and spank you!"

He teased back. "If I were a little boy, you'd have to be my mother, and not mi amor, mi querida!"

She growled again, teasing, yet serious. "Oh, all right. I forgive you for the deceit, and for all the years you've made me wait for you."

Diego visibly relaxed now, knowing the anger was over. He leaned in, put his arms around her and kissed her. It was long and passionate, but sweet. This was the first kiss shared without the mask. She ran her hands through his hair, thinking, I've been wanting to do this for such a long time. Victoria knew this was her Zorro. She looked at him and shook her head.

He thought, the coolness of air on my forehead and the feel of her nose against mine – without the silk mask – and how it feels when she runs her fingers through my hair is tantalizing, yet tranquilizing. I could stay like this all day.

Victoria asked, "But what do we do now?"

Diego's expression turned serious now. "Well…we have to wait and see what the Alcade will do. How will he govern? And Victoria…"

"Yes, Diego?"

"Until I can proclaim my love for you openly and in public…as I have promised…"

She placed her hand on his neck, carefully, for she felt a bump, and drew him down for a kiss. It was tender, yet passionate, warm and inviting…asking for more, yet realizing this was not the time or the place for more.

Victoria looked at him with a teasing smug expression. "Oh, so now you're asking me to be in on your little secret?" She pulled back a moment to look at him.

"Can you do it? Can you pretend I'm still the same 'spineless' Don Diego in public that you say 'isn't your type?"

"You heard me say that?" Victoria's face and shoulders scrunched in regret. "I'm sorry."

Diego 'pretended' to look wounded. "Well, not directly. I heard it later. I don't remember who you were talking to, but I remember finding out that you said that. I remember hearing you say several things about Don Diego, even to Zorro."

"Then, I really am sorry. Did that wound your pride?" Victoria laid one of her hands on one of his.

Diego took her hand in his. "Well, let's just say, if I hadn't had 'my little secret' and knew that I wasn't who you thought I was, but who I knew I was…"

"…and who are you?" She teased.

"I am Diego de la Vega, at your service." He said it just like Zorro, with a tip of the head. "My life is yours, Victoria. I have played two parts. I have been two men. I will need your help to become wholly one person, with attributes of both."

Victoria gulped at seeing Diego do something so Zorro-like, and her eyes widened. She wasn't used to it. "Diego, it may take me a little time to get used to this." Then, wanting to recover the teasing mood, she said, "But, if I look at you fondly in the tavern, will I give it away?"

He snickered. "Just don't call me Zorro, unless you see me in black. And don't call me Diego when you do see me in black."

They chuckled at that. Diego drew Victoria to him and they kissed again, another long, passionate kiss. When they came up for air, they both took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It had the desired calming effect on both of them. But they continued to hold hands. Victoria held Diego's left hand in her right. He still held his right arm in a bent fashion.

"Seriously, Victoria, until we know what De Soto is going to do…"

"Well, I've heard that he may be doing some soul searching. He's been to see Father Benites every day this week."

"Soul searching?" Diego questioned.

"He's not saying much, but Sergeant Mendoza said he thought he saw the Alcade actually put a coin in the poor box the other day."

Diego blinked and his eyes opened wide as he processed what she said. "The poor box? Really? I'm stunned. I've always known Ignacio to be a tough nut to crack, but maybe his brush with death and his taking of two lives will help him to change. I think maybe I should pay him a visit. And maybe I'll pay Father Benites a visit myself."

Victoria looked at him teasingly. "And what have you got to confess – Diego de la Vega!" She said the name as if she was saying 'Zorro' but says 'Diego' instead.

Diego took her in his arms again. They kissed again, long, deep, and sweet.

ZZZZZ