A/N: s, Shelby, the horse tack was from the 1975 Alain Delon Zorro movie. I think the Family Channel producers must have been quite proud to have secured the tack set, because they almost seemed to 'feature' it quite a bit, so you could actually see what it looked like. I recently watched the 1975 Zorro movie again – you could see it was the same set, but they certainly didn't 'feature' it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN – Celebrations and Understandings

After supper the evening Diego's splints came off; he limped with the cane into the drawing room where his father was doing paperwork. "Father, can I speak to you a moment?"

Alejandro looked up and saw a rather contrite expression on Diego's face – as if he'd done something wrong and wanted to apologize.

"Certainly, son. What can I do for you?" Alejandro tried to gauge Diego's attitude.

Diego sighed and sat in the chair on the other side of the writing desk and stretched his leg out. "Father, earlier this week, you asked me a question and you demanded an answer…and I didn't – I couldn't – give you one. I want to apologize for disappointing you, for not being able to answer you, and for possibly offending you."

Alejandro waited. Diego paused a moment, then continued.

"I know that you love me. And I believe you know that I love you. You are my father. You are my 'hero.' I look up to you…" Diego swallowed. This was harder than he thought, but he wanted to be sincere in what he said. He wasn't going to lie unless he had to – to protect the secret.

"Father, I want you to know that I am a de la Vega, I am your son, but I am also the son of Dona Felicidad Elena. Before I went to Spain, I was a carefree child. I was physically active; daring and eager to show bravado. I could afford to be, then. I was a child who had nothing to fear. I was protected by both you and mother. When you wrote for me to come home, I knew it was only because you were desperate and that in your mind, desperate times called for desperate actions. I saw immediately why you asked me to come home. Alcalde Ramone was a dangerous, ruthless tyrant who was terrorizing the whole pueblo…

Diego swallowed before continuing. Alejandro sat watching his son.

"It didn't take me long to realize that overt action would not help. You and Victoria were already in jail for treason. Ramone threatened me as well, if I led an insurrection with the caballeros. I've never told you any of this before, Father, because our lives seem to be one emergency after another ever since I got home. I know I've disappointed you – and for that – I am sorry.

"When you were in jail the first time, and when you were returned there after Zorro broke you out – I was beside myself with worry and fear for your safety. What could I do? I was also under threat of imprisonment."

Diego ran his hands through his hair. "And I hate feeling helpless, Father, just as you do. What could I do? It seemed there was no course of 'action' open to me…so I waited. And someone, an anonymous hero, came to the rescue – Zorro. I'm grateful for that, as I know you are, too. He can get things done without retribution, because he is not known. Because no one knows his true identity, he is a man of action that I am not.

"…If it seems I'm 'half a man' to you since I came home from Spain…if it seems I've split myself into two people – I've had to – I have. I acknowledge that. I've also had to do and say many things I'm not particularly proud of. I've had to lie…not tell the whole truth about certain things. I hope you'll forgive me for that as well…"

Alejandro sat listening. He still didn't quite understand the point Diego was trying to make. This long speech was more than he'd heard Diego say since he came home from Spain. Alejandro continued to wait for Diego to resume. He didn't want to interrupt at this point. He felt that Diego had been working on this in his mind for several days, ever since their earlier conversation. Alejandro wanted to make it as easy as possible for Diego to share.

At that point, Diego got up and started a slow pacing, limping back and forth the length of the desk with the help of the too-short cane. Alejandro's eyes followed his son's every move.

"…as I said, I've had to lie about some things…not tell the whole truth. I haven't begun to tell you why I'm two people. I can't. Try as I might, I simply can't tell you everything now, Father – you'll have to trust me to be an adult – a de la Vega – not the carefree child who has no fears – but the 'man' who has a clear grasp of present realities.

"I do 'fight' in my way, through The Guardian, Father. At first, I wasn't thrilled when you and Victoria 'volunteered' me for that position. But now I'm glad you did. I really am. Even though I've been put in jail for what I've said, at least I can be a de la Vega, and speak out in that way. I'm sorry if this disappoints you, but this is what I feel I can do – for now. And there are many situations that I am simply not free to fully explain.

"And Father, I will only say this. When you sent me to Spain, it was the best thing for me. It changed my life in so many ways. It has changed all our lives. I cannot say more right now. But I got the full benefit of my training there…in every way you can imagine. If I don't reveal everything I learned there – I want you to know – there is a reason for it…and you'll have to trust me to be the man you sent me there to become…because I am…in ways you cannot even fathom right now. That's – that's all I have to say. Thank you for listening, Father."

Alejandro was stunned. He still didn't know what Diego was trying to tell him. All he managed was to say, "Diego. Thank you for sharing your heart. You are a true de la Vega. You spoke out. I will think much on what you have shared my son, and I will trust you to know what you are doing."

Diego nodded, turned on his heel, and left. Alejandro went back to his paperwork, but his mind wasn't on it. It was reeling from everything Diego said…and what he didn't say. He's lied? About what? He got the 'full benefit' of his training? Did that include swordsmanship? He did say Sir Edmund taught him to use whatever was available as a weapon…hmmmm. What's he really trying to tell me, Alejandro thought.

Z

Alejandro and Diego started practicing a piano duet to play during the party, set for two days later. We seem to be getting along very well, now, Alejandro thought. I know he still doesn't tell me everything, but I will trust him to tell me what I need to know in order to help him. And this plaza incident shows me he's willing to take action when necessary…and hopefully he's not deriding himself about that anymore. I haven't heard him say anything about it for quite some time. Maybe he's reconciled himself to it. Alejandro smiled to himself. My son is truly becoming the man I want him to be…a true de la Vega, and I have told him so.

After dinner, Alejandro and Diego played the piano duet they'd practiced. It was a lively and catchy tune that resolved itself with a flourish at the end. Alejandro shook hands with his guests. Diego limped over with his cane towards where Victoria and Mendoza were sitting. It took him a minute to get there, as he greeted other guests along the way.

Sergeant Mendoza leaned over to Victoria and whispered, "I thought you said Don Diego was a good piano player."

Victoria replied, "He is."

Mendoza whispered again, "Well, he had his father helping him."

Victoria whispers back, "It's a melody for four hands."

"I knew that." Mendoza looked a bit embarrassed.

Diego limped over, balancing himself with the cane. It's better than the homemade crutches, he thought. At least I don't look too much like a cripple. "So Sergeant, what did you think?"

Mendoza rose from his chair. "It didn't go for me, Don Diego. I prefer music you can sing along with – perhaps even whistle."

Diego took the criticism with a grain of salt. "I'll keep that in mind."

Mendoza looked down, then asked, "Thank you. Say, how is your leg?" It had been a couple of weeks since Mendoza's visit.

"Improving daily, thank you. The splints and bandages are off, and I almost feel normal again."

Victoria joined the conversation from her seated position. "You were very brave, Diego. That bull would have wrecked the entire plaza if you hadn't distracted it! Remember I said, I would always say how brave you were."

With a placating smile, Diego replied, "Well, facing a bull with a broomstick may be more like stupidity than bravery." He chuckled at himself. He'd listened to a lot of compliments to his bravery in the last four weeks. He was finally reconciling it in his mind. Father Benites' prayer helped heal his soul. And Benites was right. He was beginning to see the sense of humor in it, and he felt he could actually joke about it…after the limp was gone.

Everyone heard the loud horse whinnies. Miguel, their most trusted vaquero came running out of breath. He fell against Don Alejandro, who took him in the house. The others followed.

Diego looked out into the dark and murmured in frustration. "Of all things, just when Zorro is needed the most." He thought to himself. I'm better, but I'm not ready to ride yet, or fight or run, or climb…or just about anything physical Zorro might be required to do. I can barely walk!

Alejandro rode into town to join the posse. Four horses from de la Vega ranch and several horses from the cuartel were missing. Alcalde De Soto's peaceful return to the pueblo didn't last long.

Z

Victoria rode after Jose Macias, who had been accused of stealing the horses again after they'd been found in his corral. Diego was sitting with Felipe outside with his leg propped up on the underneath shelf of a wicker type garden table. They were talking about Victoria's drive to help Jose, when they saw her riding by at a gallop. Diego called out, but she didn't hear. They watched as she rode past the hacienda.

Felipe signed "Victoria" and "fear." Diego interpreted as "No, I don't suppose Victoria is afraid of Jose, but there is something…" Their attention is drawn outside the wall.

He jumped out of his chair and quickly hop-limped to the wall. "Victoria!" To Felipe, he said, "Victoria may not be afraid of Jose, but there is something she's overlooked. If Jose is innocent as we all believe, what if she runs into the real thief?"

Felipe pointed to the leg. Diego replied, "A stolen horse or two is one thing, but for the woman I love, Zorro rides, broken leg or not." He handed his cane to Felipe, and limped inside.

In the cave, Zorro prepared to mount Toronado. "My leg shouldn't be a problem as long as I stay in the saddle. Victoria's life may be in danger, that's all that matters." Diego had been out on Toronado for a short ride two days earlier and the leg had done fine. He couldn't wait any longer. He mounted Toronado the day after the splints were taken off. He suffered for it too. His leg hurt for a couple of hours after that.

TBC