Author's Note: This chapter wasn't much. I should give you the next scene, but I'm being stingy. Thanks to Marla for the beta, and everyone else who helped with this story.

Zzz

Victoria stared at her hands where they rested on his chest, trying to remember to breathe. "You don't have to do this."

Diego stepped even closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I want to. You listen to me. You like my poetry. We play backgammon and chess. You help me with my paper. You're curious. You see the best in everyone." Diego put a hand to her cheek. "You bring out the best in me. I think you're the most beautiful woman in the world." Diego waited for her to speak, but she was mute as she stared at him with wide eyes. "You do like me, don't you? You said you'd miss me. You made me cookies."

"But Diego…"

"Don't think. Marry me. We can go to the coast. Get away from Ramone and my father and everything. Just the two of us. We never have time just the two of us. I'll show you how great it could be."

Victoria shook her head a little at the absurdity. "Today? Get married now? The stage leaves in an hour!"

Diego shook his head. "It's going to rain. I don't want to take the stage. We can go to Santa Monica tonight in my carriage. Then we could take our time traveling to Monterey."

"But your conference…you have to show them your invention."

Diego smiled. She liked him. She was the only one in town who understood him, who was interested in his experiments. "I can be a few days late." He hoped she still liked him when she found out there was no conference.

Had it only been a few hours since she'd told Zorro she wanted a family? She did, but this fast? She had hoped Zorro would reconsider, would come to her. But is that what she wanted? She didn't know Zorro. She knew Diego. She was starting to suspect she could easily fall in love with him. Yet, to be his wife? This wasn't just a sudden marriage ceremony. Her entire life would change in a way she'd never imagined.

And what if Zorro did come looking for her?

What if he didn't?

Her best friend was offering her a family and declaring his devotion. No danger. No mask or bounty standing in their way. If she said no, he might not ask her again. What if he fell in love with that teacher in Monterey?

"And in Santa Monica?"

Diego was fascinated by the blush which spread up her neck, but she wasn't smiling or meeting his eyes. He was pushing too hard. He took a step back and told himself to be patient as he took her hands in his. "Tonight you can have your own room. Every night unless you decide to let me in. I'd never hurt you."

He brought her hand up to his lips to kiss it. "Give me a chance to make you happy." He cupped her face. "I only want to make you happy. I'm patient. But I don't want to go to Monterey without you. We can go anywhere, I don't care."

Victoria jumped when the door beside her opened.

"Diego, Victoria…I didn't know anyone was here." Padre Benitez looked up at them curiously when Diego scowled. "Diego, aren't you going to miss your stage?"

Diego bit back his impatience. "I've changed my mind. It's going to rain anyway."

Benitez stepped out from the overhang and looked at the cloudless sky.

"Sometimes things surprise us, Father," Diego said, looking at Victoria and trying to keep his hopes up. Stick with the plan, and things would be good. He'd make them great. "I'm not going to Monterey."

"But your conference…" Benitez trailed off as he watched Diego and Victoria watch each other. "I thought it was important to you," Benitez added as he tried to smother a grin.

"Something more important has come up."

Victoria's mouth dropped open as Diego focused on her. She'd never seen him so determined. And the way he'd told her he loved her… he'd never ask her again. A man had to have some pride. Diego was offering her everything she had ever wanted, everything he had. Ramone was right this morning. Who would want her after what he'd said? Diego was a good man, sensitive and kind. She believed him when he promised he wouldn't hurt her.

"Yes."

Diego's eyes widened, but he didn't smile yet at her slight whisper. "What did you say?"

"I said yes. I'll marry you."

"Marriage?" Benitez realized he'd interrupted something important, though now he did smile as he remembered Diego's scowl when he'd first come outside.

Diego smiled, and she knew she'd never seen him so happy, so she smiled back. Diego stepped forward again, but Victoria tensed. "If you remember what you said."

Diego's hands smoothed up her arms to cradle her face, and he rubbed her shoulders to try to relax the tension he still felt in her. "I promise. I won't hurt you. I'll show you. You can trust me."

Benitez crossed his arms. "You can trust me, too, if you'd tell me what was going on."

Diego took her hands and swung them confidently between them. "Victoria's agreed to marry me." He moved to stand next to her.

She smiled as she looked down at their arms coiled together. A husband. A partner. Someone to stand next to her, every day.

"We want to get married." Victoria smiled at the priest.

"Now," Diego added.

Victoria's eyes widened and she turned to look up at him. He was big, wasn't he? "Now? But…"

Diego sobered. "Is that okay?" He squeezed the hand he still held as he focused on her. She'd broken it off with Zorro this morning. She said she didn't have someone else lined up to take his place, but what if she had? He wanted her as his wife, but it was important to him that she loved Diego. He'd tell her about Zorro when they got outside of the pueblo. He was pressuring her, but he still wanted her to be happy. "Is there someone else?"

Victoria was staring off toward her tavern and Diego followed her gaze, though all he saw was the garden wall. Who was she thinking of?

Victoria tried to imagine a man claiming to be Zorro coming for her. She couldn't. She had no idea if she'd even like such a man who courted her only in secret. An academic conference sounded fascinating. She'd get to see Diego in his element, and he'd show her wonderful things. He felt her squeeze his hand back as she visibly shook herself. "No, I'm sorry. You're right. There's no need to wait. I want to go to the conference with you."

Diego smiled weakly. He'd have to distract her for a few days. His smile grew more confident. He could do that. They'd 'miss' the conference. She might not mind the … Well, he hadn't outright lied to her. He'd prefer to keep his dealings with the governor a secret. He knew she'd be happy to help Zorro when he told her later in the carriage. He'd have to be delicate, try to keep her safe without her knowing he was trying to keep her safe. Victoria wouldn't like that. One thing for sure, life would never be dull again.

"Okay." Diego took a deep breath and concentrated on keeping his feet on the ground. Laughter still bubbled up, though, and he wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around. "Father, let's get married."

"Not yet!"

"Why not?"

Victoria stuttered. She didn't want to make Diego late for his conference. "Alright, but…are you sure about this?"

Diego's arms tightened around her and he pressed his lips to her forehead. "You said you were through with Zorro."

Victoria couldn't meet his eyes. Would he change his mind if he knew it had only been this morning? That she'd kissed him? She nodded her head, unable to find her voice.

That didn't worry Diego. Why would he care if she had lingering feelings for Zorro? He'd make her fall in love with Diego, then any lingering feelings would smooth over his secret when he told her. The threat of another man getting ideas, however, was something he couldn't allow.

"Victoria, I love you. I don't have a single doubt. And this is perfect, because we can get away and spend time together."

"Padre Benitez might not agree. Isn't there a waiting period?" She turned to the priest.

Benitez shook his head. "Diego's loved you for years, and I think you could love him, too. I'm sure Diego will make a nice contribution to the church to get a special license issued."

Diego raised an eyebrow at his friend, and rubbed Victoria's back when she looked a little shaky.

She didn't know how to be a caballero's wife. She'd always imagined a husband working her tavern with her. Raising her family where she was raised. But Diego hated politics, didn't he? He wasn't like the other landowners in the area. He spent more time with the poor farmers than he did with the rich caballeros. He was her best friend, and she knew him. He knew her, too, and he was confident they could make it work. The sun was shining. Diego was holding nothing back. Benitez was willing to waive the waiting period. She'd always wanted to go to Santa Monica.

She glanced down at her dress. She was still wearing her apron, and it was nowhere near clean. "I need to change clothes."

Diego smiled confidently. "I don't care what you wear, but whatever you want. I want you to be comfortable, Victoria. I'll go tell my father, and Felipe's not here yet. Talk to Alicia, make sure your tavern is taken care of. Don't worry about packing much. Travel light. We'll go shopping tomorrow, okay?"

Shopping. Victoria took a deep breath. She was strong. She could do this. Her children would want for nothing. She didn't think Diego would try to change her, and it was natural to shop for a wedding. "Alright." She smiled, even if it was still a bit shaky. "I guess we're getting married."

They held hands again as they walked back toward her tavern, only this time their arms were wrapped together as well, and their shoulders bumped as they walked. Well, her shoulder bumped his arm. Was Diego always this tall? And handsome? He was walking differently now. Because of her? She liked this new, confident Diego. She might not be able to change him, but he said she brought out the best in him. He would bring out the best in her as well. She'd be the best wife, better than anyone Alejandro could have set him up with.

They stepped through the front door of her tavern together. It seemed even more crowded now. Where did all these people come from? Diego wrapped an arm around her shoulders when the entire tavern went silent after their entry. Did people have nothing better to talk about? She glanced around her home, her business...

It was about to become Diego's business.

…They hadn't talked about anything! She turned to interrupt him, but she wasn't fast enough.

"We're getting married!" Diego announced to the town.

The tavern erupted into applause, and lingering doubts were pushed aside. Lives changed. People adapted. She scanned the crowd, but she wouldn't even know if Zorro was here. No one leapt forward to challenge Diego. She told herself she had nothing to regret, and she was able to smile when Alejandro embraced her and kissed her cheek.

Diego pushed people out of the door rather than accepting congratulations, in a hurry. It looked like their spur of the moment wedding would have quite the crowd.

Zzz

Author's Note: So, I'm posting cause I promised I'd post today. I noticed a few things when I started to think of 'posting chapters', and the story needs some work. I don't write in chapters, I probably should start. I should post the next chapter next week (one of my favorites), if all goes well. I need to work on my "okay's", which didn't come about till later in the century (thanks Lone Wolf!). I use that word a lot! Today I have a million things to do and don't have time to focus on it. I removed a few this chapter, but not all of them.

Also, I missed my anniversary. I've been posting Zorro fic for over a year now. Isn't that awesome? I love you all. Note with this story everything might not be historically accurate. Yes, they marry quickly. A few other things will pop up—seems 1830 is a hard time to research. If anyone has good sites, let me know. I've found some, but I'm gonna bend the rules a few times just like they did in the show. Hope you'll forgive. Feel free to point things out, though, because it might not be intentional and you can teach me. I'm also messing with Victoria's character a bit, and inventing my own back-story for Diego.

And if you sense trouble brewing with Diego's plan...well...good ;-) I hope it's still a fresh idea.

If you enjoyed, please review.