SETUP: Old Flame, season 3. Victoria had helped Diego's ex-girlfriend escape, and she and Diego were talking in the tavern in the final scene of the episode. This story veered off from where I intended it to go, but I'm going to leave it as-is. It's probably too similar to a simple conversation…but…I hope you like it. I'm just happy to be writing anything again.

Author's Note: Don't worry about chapter one, I still do have an idea to expand that one…it's just not behaving. This story will remain one chapter reveals-expansions will be posted separately.

I don't have as much free time as I'd hoped this summer. My internet and laptop have been annoying me, and it took me awhile to get back into writing after school. I also am going to do an epilogue to Smoke. I recently sent off a ROUGH next part to Beginning. It's still fighting me, but maybe Marla can wrestle it into order. Time to get familiar with my Live Journal, cause eventually some ratings will change.

Thanks to Marla for looking this over. Once again I found myself copying lines straight from her edits and deleting mine, so she definitely deserves credit. Thanks always to my friends in the Facebook group.

zzz

Victoria watched impatiently as Mendoza left, eager to speak with Diego alone. Mendoza had said Zorro tied Diego up. Surely Zorro would not have harmed him?

"They got away safely?" Diego whispered.

Victoria nodded, feeling a little dizzy for a second when Diego leaned close. He didn't look hurt. Her hand clenched on her knife, unable to keep quiet. "Mendoza told me that Zorro tied you and Felipe up!"

"Zorro made a good alibi."

Diego grinned, and for some reason goose bumps popped up on her arms. He did have a nice smile.

Victoria looked down, blushing at the questions running through her mind. Why was she worried about Diego? No, she was only confused that Zorro had tied Diego up. Zorro was her love. Diego was her friend.

Of course, if he was her friend, he would not mind her questions.

She took a deep breath, tried to be casual. "So, who is she?" Why did it hurt to ask that question?

Diego was distracted by her blush. "I beg your pardon?"

Victoria couldn't meet his eyes now. "You told Zafira that there was someone else in your life." She gave up trying to dice cheese…the pieces were already too small. "Who is she?"

She would find out he was in love with some delicate flower in another town and move on. Diego would never love her. Zorro was her love, she had to remember that.

"It doesn't really matter. The fact is…uh…she's in love with another man."

He was cute when he got flustered. Victoria frowned and rearranged the bits and meat and cheese on her plate. "What a shame."

There was no reason for Diego to hide his love. He could be happy. It was her fault she chose to love someone who had to hide. Diego should not hide. "Perhaps you should tell her."

Diego sighed. If only. "I will. One day." Diego watched her fidget, wished she would look at him again. But she only had eyes for Zorro. "You were very brave to help Correna last night."

Victoria shrugged. Please don't be nice to me. She felt tears prick her eyes, suddenly very afraid she might have feelings for her best friend…for the most wanted bachelor in all of California. "I just hate to see a man of justice inside the alcalde's jail."

Diego frowned, and waved Mendoza away when the man whined that he was hungry. "That would include, I presume, a man like Zorro." Was he so terrible without the costume? Why couldn't she like Diego? Other women wanted to marry him. Was Zorro so much better?

Victoria remembered she was supposed to love Zorro, not Diego. She wanted to marry Zorro. Had no hope of marrying Diego, even if he wasn't in love with some other woman. "Oh, especially Zorro." Victoria looked up at Diego, reminding herself where her affections belonged. Reminding herself she had a man who returned those affections. "Not only would I help Zorro escape…I would do anything for him!"

Diego frowned at her wide eyes and her broad declaration. "Surely you don't mean that."

Victoria was taken aback. "Why wouldn't I? It's what you do when you're in love, isn't it?"

"Helping Zorro could land you in jail."

Victoria narrowed her eyes. "At least he knows I love him." She wished she knew that still. Did she love Zorro? Could she love Diego? What foolish thinking this was!

Diego was getting tired of her fawning over Zorro and ignoring Diego. "You love who? The legend? There's an ordinary man behind that mask. Has he even told you who he is?"

Victoria flushed. "Of course!" How foolish is it to love someone who didn't tell you his name? What would Diego think of her if she told the truth? How foolish was it to love someone who spent more money on books than she earned in a year? Victoria stared down at her hands, seeing the old beat-up knife she was using. Diego didn't have to work, but she didn't even know what Zorro did for a living.

Diego stood straighter. "You know who Zorro is?"

Victoria deflated, sorry she ever started this conversation. She shook her head, afraid she'd start crying if she tried to speak. Diego must think her a fool. She was starting to think he might be right.

Diego put a finger under her chin to lift her eyes back to his. "What's wrong? You were smiling a second ago."

Victoria leaned away, unable to bear his touch. He was her friend, though, right? "You must think me foolish."

"Not foolish."

Diego set both elbows on the counter…and he seemed so close. She forced herself to stand her ground, but couldn't speak.

"Victoria, why do you love this man?"

Victoria shrugged. She didn't have a clue. "He's brave. He fights when no one else can."

"That's not a reason to fall in love."

Victoria had come to some startling revelations in the past few minutes…and she was afraid she agreed. "You cannot help who you love."

Diego let himself look at her, since she was avoiding his eyes again. "I'm sure he's trying to protect you. It would be dangerous for you to be together."

Victoria shrugged again. "Don Diego, I want a family." She wiped her hands on her apron and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I have to…"

Diego reached over and grabbed her arm when she tried to escape, but it took a long time for her to look back at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Diego said.

Victoria shook her head. "It wasn't you. It was all me. It is all a foolish dream." She glanced towards Mendoza. "Mendoza is hungry," she said before she disappeared into the kitchen.

Diego looked over, and did see Mendoza gesturing. He didn't mind the sergeant. Right now he regretted not pursuing Victoria as himself. Would it have been so bad? Even now she was in danger. As his wife she'd have some protection. Victoria was the most beautiful woman he'd ever known – inside and out. His father already loved her as a daughter, he wouldn't object to the marriage.

He didn't know these things three years ago. He found himself in the kitchen before he realized it.

"Don Diego, please go sit with Mendoza."

Diego walked up behind her and took her upper arms, loving the feel of her skin before he turned her around. His hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb wiping at a tear. "I never meant to make you cry."

Victoria shook her head and tried to back up, but there was no room. "I would do anything for him," Victoria insisted. "He saves people. He's a wonderful man." She lost some of her breath. So was Diego.

"What would you do for him? Other than breaking him out of prison?"

Diego stroked her cheek and stepped closer, scrambling her brain. Victoria blinked, trying to center her thoughts again. "What?"

Diego smiled. "You said you would do anything for him. I was asking for details."

Victoria pushed at him to try to get away, but Diego caged her in with his hands on the table on either side of her. "Are you brave enough to love the man?"

"What?" Victoria wondered what happened to her voice. Diego didn't leave her much room, so her hands rested lightly on his shoulders as he leaned against the table behind her. "Yes, I'm brave enough to love the man. If you're in love you shouldn't hide it, even if the woman is in love with another man."

"Are you brave enough to love him when he does nothing?"

Victoria pushed gently at his shoulders, but Diego didn't budge. She needed Zorro right now to remind her she loved Zorro and not Diego. "Zorro would never do nothing. He will always fight for us."

"Zorro will always fight. Listen!" Diego urged. Now Victoria could not look away from Diego's pleading eyes. "Zorro must fight, the man must do nothing. His wife would have to do nothing as well, even when Zorro is fighting, even when the man plays a fool."

Something trembled deep inside Victoria, then went very still. Then the entire world turned upside down as the table behind her shifted under Diego's weight. Diego stepped into her as he caught them both, wrapping his arms around her.

"Zorro might try to keep you safe, might hide himself so you do not have to pretend as he does." Diego's fingers tightened around her soft body. "Do you know how hard it is to pretend it doesn't matter when the woman you love thinks you're a fool? When the woman you love nearly dies because of you? When the woman you love every day only notices you when you wear a mask? When she thinks you are not unattractive, yet every second I'm around you I-"

"Don Diego, is everything—" Mendoza stopped when he saw Diego and Victoria wrapped around each other.

Diego rounded on the poor sergeant. "Get out!"

"Madre de dios!" Mendoza whined before he backed quickly into the other room.

When he turned back to Victoria, she jumped into his arms. Her fingers threaded into his hair as she brought him close for a kiss. "It is not so hard to do these things when you are together."

Zzz

Author's Note 2: So the LAST line isn't the funny one, but I enjoyed Mendoza's breaking in on them. I do have some different ideas, but these are easier to write while those simmer. Hope you enjoyed, hope you review.