Author's Note: Wow. Thanks everyone for enjoying my story. I hope I manage to keep your interest. Be patient with Diego, I think it will be worth it in the end.

Once again thanks to my beta Marla. The Zorro fanfiction section now has 455 stories! So much more than when I first stumbled upon it and was welcomed into this great community of people. Does anyone post on adult fanfiction dot net? I can't seem to post my story there for some reason. (No adult stuff yet, don't fret.)

Zzz

Victoria woke suddenly, but she didn't jump out of bed. She had no chores to do. She rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling. Would she start sleeping late like Diego now? That thought made her leap from the bed. She might not have her tavern to manage, but she wouldn't sleep all morning.

From hearing Rebecca talk, she could influence her husband in small ways. She'd find something to do. She was never one to waste the day. Maybe they'd find something they enjoyed doing together. She glanced back at the bed, at the second pillow which lay untouched, then rushed to straighten the covers.

Maybe she could learn to enjoy making love. Some women did. In the tavern, men were rude. Things they talked about with their friends didn't sound enjoyable for a woman, didn't sound decent. They also didn't seem to care.

Diego cared, though. But what if he lost control?

As the tavern owner, women expected her to know things, came to her for help because she would keep a secret. Cuts, tears, bruises, blood… Alicia told her that wasn't like having relations with a man you love, with a man who loves you. But she'd seen Alicia with a bruise before. Her wrists had finger marks on them, her lip had been swollen. Diego was bigger than Alicia's husband. Alicia was bigger than Victoria. Diego thought it was perfectly normal to lose control…

Victoria splashed cold water on her face and got ready to face the day, putting her back to the bed and wanting out of the bedroom. Diego said she could cook whenever she wanted. Rebecca said she could use the kitchen. She'd make breakfast for her husband, like she always imagined she would. She didn't know how to be a gentlewoman. She'd pictured marriage as a partnership, working together—probably at her tavern. Diego spent a lot of time at her tavern doing nothing. That didn't mean she had to. She shook her head, determined to stop thinking poorly of her husband. He spent time there because of her. He had a large ranch, tenants. Surely he must do something. Hopefully, he would show her.

She played with her ring as she crept down the stairs. She had a lot to learn. Diego said they'd spend the day together, so she would pay attention, learn what he expected from a wife. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, seeing legs hanging over the side of the couch where she'd sat with Diego last night. This wasn't a tavern, but maybe one of Rebecca's guests had passed out down here after she and Diego had gone to bed? She relaxed when she heard Rebecca say something from the kitchen, knowing she wasn't alone downstairs. She wouldn't miss having to deal with drunken guests. She walked over to pick up the quilt which had fallen onto the floor, and gasped when she saw the man was Diego.

Diego didn't drink, she told herself. Maybe he only drank at night? Was that why he slept all the time? She tilted her head as she tried to imagine another reason he was down here sleeping at that awkward angle instead of in his room. She bit her lip and covered him anyway, jumping when he stirred. She took a step back, but he'd felt the blanket and opened his eyes.

He grinned at her and she tried to smile back. "Victoria, good morning." Diego groaned when he moved, but settled into a seated position before smiling up at her again. Not exactly the most restful night he'd ever spent. "Sleep well?"

Victoria glanced up the stairs, then at the empty spot next to him when he invited her to sit. He didn't look like he'd gotten drunk last night, but he hadn't had much of a wedding celebration. He was more relaxed here, his good friend Luis was a trouble maker. What if she was wrong?

"Did you sleep here last night?"

Diego slouched down in his seat, stretching out his legs and leaning his head back with a sigh. He'd planned to wake up before Victoria. He also hadn't considered how hard it would be to sleep with her so close, knowing his ring was on her finger.

"There was only one room," Luis said from behind her, shaking his head as he answered her question from the kitchen. "He told us he was bringing his wife. I didn't know he needed two rooms."

"Luis…" Diego warned, but Luis didn't stop on his way up the stairs.

Victoria followed Luis with her eyes, then glanced back at Diego who was staring after him as well. Luis obviously disapproved of her. Diego had given her his room last night, but she as his wife should have invited him in. Why didn't he tell her?

Diego shrugged. "Not a big deal."

"Not a big deal?"

Diego stood and folded the blanket, straightened the cushions on his make-shift bed. "I told you I'd give you time."

"You told me you had a room!"

Diego's movements froze, turning to face her. "Victoria, I'm trying to be a good man. I didn't want you letting me share your bed because I needed a place to sleep."

"Just to sleep," Victoria crossed her arms in front of herself and looked at her toes.

Diego's mouth dropped open in surprise. Yesterday, Victoria might have thought of him as her friend. Last night, he thought he'd shown her he was a man, and that there was more chemistry between them than he could ever create in his lab. Were they back to being friends this morning? Or did she honestly not realize how much he wanted her, how much she wanted him if she would stop being afraid. "Querida—"

He forced a smile as Rebecca walked up behind Victoria and put an arm around her. Diego wasn't sure if he was relieved or annoyed at the interruption. After last night, maybe he didn't care. She could plan to just sleep. He could convince her otherwise. He was not going back to being friends. He'd already warned her he was going to try to seduce her. Luis was right, she was his wife. If she felt guilty and let him share her bed, so be it. He didn't have to promise not to make love to her.

"Good morning, Victoria," Rebecca greeted.

Victoria forced herself to relax, loosening her arms as she looked up at her husband. He'd been thinking of her, trying to do the right thing, to make her comfortable. In return he'd had a rough night on a couch half his size. Rebecca didn't trust her completely yet, either. She thought Victoria loved another man. What must she think now? And Victoria deserved it. She was not being a good wife. "Good morning, Rebecca."

Rebecca watched Diego, concerned for both of them, but not sure how she could help. "I hope you slept well."

Victoria stared at the couch, and Rebecca felt foolish when Diego scowled at her. She shrugged helplessly. "Are you hungry?" She tried again.

Victoria glanced at Diego then Rebecca, used to having time alone to herself in the mornings. She thought she'd cook breakfast for the two of them, maybe bring it to his room. Maybe they could sit and talk some more before touring the city.

"I thought I'd make breakfast. I didn't realize I slept so late."

Rebecca squeezed the smaller woman's shoulder before moving to straighten up the room. "Feel free. There are some pancakes, or I'll make you whatever you like, but I don't mind if you want to cook."

Victoria glanced up at Diego again who was staring at the couch, deep in thought. It seemed they really needed to work on the talking thing. She wanted to know where she stood. She wanted him to be honest with her in a way Zorro never was. "You told me you had a room." Diego blinked at her, confused. "You said you had a room. You told me people could be different. Men could be honest."

She saw Rebecca turn to face them from the other side of the room, but Victoria felt more confident when Rebecca nodded and smiled in approval.

Diego ran a hand through his hair, feeling silent censure from Rebecca as well. If Rebecca knew the whole story, she would probably toss him off a cliff. Looking at the wounded pride in Victoria's eyes as she held her ground, he started to feel real fear. What had he done? She was mad about him lying about a place to sleep? She wasn't mad. She was hurt, which was worse. He'd only been trying to protect her. Didn't that matter?

How would she react if he admitted he was Zorro right now? He could just tell her she broke up with him yesterday, that her tears and worry last night were over nothing. That yesterday she'd begged him to come to her without the mask, to alleviate a tiny bit of the guilt she was feeling, but he'd refused. That it was all his fault she'd had to deal with nasty rumors. That she'd confessed all, but he still kept the biggest secret in California.

A chill went up his spine and he turned to Rebecca, who was now watching him closely, as if she could read his mind. Rebecca knew him too well, and he approached his wife, the safer of the two women.

"I'm sorry. I didn't expect you to find out."

Victoria's eyes narrowed and Rebecca barked out a laugh behind him. He put his hands on his hips and glared at her, but Rebecca came to stand beside Victoria, a unified offense.

"It's still a lie, you just didn't want to get caught."

Diego scowled at Rebecca. "You're not helping."

Rebecca's anger and confusion seemed to lessen Victoria's. She unfolded her arms, glancing again at the ring on her finger. "We're married now. I know you're my husband." She sighed, disappointed as she stared down at her feet. "Can't we share some of the decisions?"

Diego deflated even more, his guilt seizing in his chest. Victoria was a confident, passionate, independent woman. What had he done? Zorro had apparently ruined what reputation she had, and he hadn't even known it. Zorro didn't return her love when she asked, and now she acted as if she'd lose Diego's love if she made the smallest mistake. Or had she accepted him as a last resort? Would she ever love Diego? Did she think she had no choice in her life at all?

She didn't resist when he pulled her into his arms, at least that was something. "I'm sorry. You have to remember this is new to me, too. I'm going to make mistakes."

Diego closed his eyes when her arms wrapped around his waist, determined to hold on to her. He'd accelerate his plan. He wouldn't take no for an answer in Monterey, and he'd return with an army if he had to. She wouldn't find out he was Zorro, because Zorro didn't have to exist anymore. If she saw Zorro again, everything would be over. He'd talk to his father. He'd go to the viceroy if the governor didn't listen. He had money, he'd bribe the man if he had to.

He opened his eyes and found himself the center of Rebecca's attention again. He shook his head slightly, praying she'd keep silent about whatever suspicions she had. He knew Rebecca didn't like secrets, knew she was confused at his behavior. Why did he come here? Rebecca and Luis could ruin it all.

Diego pulled away from Victoria. It wasn't their fault. It was his, and he had to fix it. He had to get her to fall in love with Diego, to forget all that happened before.

"You mentioned breakfast. Why don't I help you?"

"Help?"

Diego put a finger under her chin and lifted her eyes to his. "Help." Victoria looked over at Rebecca as if asking what the right answer was, but Rebecca had disappeared. "Stop worrying if you're going to make a mistake, Querida."

Victoria's eyes lifted to his in surprise. "I love you." Diego's hand came up to cradle her cheek. "If you wanted time to yourself, wanted to cook breakfast alone, tell me. If you don't mind me joining you, I'll try not to get in the way too much."

For some reason, Victoria didn't trust his innocent smile this time. Wanting to get back to the playful Diego she'd seen yesterday, though, she took his hand and pulled him after her into the kitchen.

Zzz

Author's Note 2: So yes, some trouble brewing. Don't get excited about his plan, it's not the focus of the story. Or Alicia…I wanted to give Victoria a reason for her nerves, not give Victoria an abused friend. Poor Diego still isn't doing the right thing. Funtime in the kitchen coming up ;-) Imagine the possibilities…just kidding. It's perfectly tame, I assure you. You believe me, right?

So if I wanted to use "vale" instead of "okay"…any Spanish speakers out there? In chapter three, could Victoria had said vale instead of okay to his proposal? Originally I had okay. The yes implies a more confident response. I tend to use okay when she's not sure about something, and yes and alright don't convey the same tone as okay. Like "Do you want to do this?", and she shrugs and says "Vale." That work?

Once again, I'd love to hear your feedback on the story. Anonymous, you kill me that I can't respond, but your comments make me oh so happy. And all my regulars, you know I love you all and look forward to your reviews. Thanks for keeping me writing.