Alejandro heard laughter in the library and he smiled as he entered the hacienda. He tried to be as quiet as possible. It had been a long time since he had heard Diego's genuine laugh.

"Not again, Victoria. That is hardly fair!" He said after a moment. "How many times is that now?"

"Three, not that I'm counting…" There was a soft silence, and Alejandro peeked around the corner at them.

He really should reprimand his son, but he seemed so content, so at ease. That kiss was surely a little out of line. They were not married yet. They slid a little closer, and he had to make some sort of diversion.

"Ahem," he said softly. Diego's sharp ears picked up the sound, and he startled back into his chair, as if trying to pretend there had been no indiscretion. Alejandro bit back a smile, watching as Victoria flushed, trying to smooth a crumpled skirt.

"Teaching Victoria how to play chess a little better, are we, Diego?"

"Ah, yes, Father. She has just beaten me three times. I really can't understand it."

Alejandro nodded thoughtfully. He could understand it perfectly, but that was his son's problem, not his.

"I am announcing my engagement in a week's time, Diego."

The statement made Diego glance at his father thoughtfully. Victoria rose and went to the door that led to the rose garden.

"I'm going to pick a bunch of flowers," she said softly. She knew that the father and son needed their space. She had no idea what would help them, but they seemed so stiff around each other lately.

The men rose to their feet, and watched Victoria leave, closing the door behind her softly.

"She'll come back smelling like a rose," Diego said softly.

"Do you have concerns with my impending marriage?"

"Impending marriage? I thought you were announcing an engagement?"

"Diego. That unborn child of hers needs a father. Her confinement will start soon. What are your concerns?"

Diego shrugged a little. "She is very young, Father. Isabella is a very needy lady."

"I am well aware of that, Diego."

"Not like mother was. Completely different. Will you be happy with her? You'll have a house full of children, and well, you aren't as young as you were," Diego said softly. "There is a lot to consider, and you seem to be rushing into this."

Alejandro breathed deeply, and sighed. He nodded. "They are valid concerns, my son. I am not angry that you have voiced them, but I have already thought of those issues very carefully. I will hire extra servants – our finances are recovering steadily from Resendo's thievery."

"Well then, that's dealt with…"

"Is it, Diego?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you going to leave the room as you usually do? Do I get to talk to you properly now, or are you running like a cowardly fox?"

Diego heard the firmness in his father's voice increase, and felt irritation build in his own body.

"What is it? I can't help that you know….I never wanted you to know…"

"Really, Diego?"

Diego sighed, and frowned. "No, I would have told you, right at the beginning, but the Alcalde reacted so strongly, and I felt I was endangering you too much if I spoke."

"That dream I had when I was shot….that was no dream, was it, Diego?"

"I told you everything, absolutely everything. I thought I was going to lose you, and that I should have told you…I was so thankful that you dismissed it so easily."

"I should have watched you more closely. You are a strong, and determined man. You don't always hide very well. It's all reputation, isn't it?"

"If you want me to stop, I won't listen to any debate on that subject. There is no other plan of action, Father. Zorro is still needed, he will not back down until there is peace in California."

"I understand," Alejandro said. He felt like he was facing Zorro himself, and it chilled him to hear his son talking like that. "And what of marriage? The pueblo almost expects it now."

"Not their business, Father."

"No…You want to marry, don't you? Victoria wants to marry you?"

"You know we do….It's just not possible," Diego said.

"This is new, Diego. When did you decide that?"

"Zorro's life is just too dangerous. Victoria could be at risk."

"She is already, Diego. As her husband you can protect her. As a dona she would have certain privileges and rights that she doesn't have now. She wants children, Diego. If you leave it too long, she will not have them."

Diego sighed. "I don't know, Father."

"You need to stop courting her if you are not considering marriage. It's hardly fair to the lady."

"I can't not see her, Father. I love her so much. I can't stop seeing her…."

"Marry her then. Quickly. Have my grandchildren…"

"Then we will need two haciendas. Children will overrun the space."

"Will you play chess with me? You may have better luck…"

Victoria reentered the hacienda with a basket of red roses, and a smile on her face. The two men were much more relaxed, and deeply involved in a game of chess. For the first time in a long time, she felt completely ignored by Diego, and she left the room with a chuckle.

Zzz

Diego lay on his own bed for siesta. He had taken to resting properly since all of his injuries had weakened him. It built his strength, and settled his mind.

People were beginning to say that Zorro had left Los Angeles, due to a broken heart. The whole pueblo assumed that an engagement was going to be announced very soon between Diego and Victoria. He smiled a little. It could be so simple to abandon his life as Zorro and concentrate on the ranch and a new bride. It wasn't going to be so simple, it never was.

The alcalde was becoming a little too arrogant in the absence of Zorro. Destara had kept him in check a little, but the man getting distracted with his own courtship of Patrice.

Diego shook his head thoughtfully. He would never have imagined Patrice becoming involved with Destara. Diego tried to remember what the man was really like. He had been angry with Max Destara for many years. Surely he had matured? Surely he was a caballero of note? Patrice was watched over by a few caballero friends of her father that were still in their right minds. One of them would have voiced concerns if she was stumbling into danger.

He would have to stand up and voice his own concerns. He was escorting Victoria back home for the evening shift of the tavern, and he could speak to the Capitan then. Hopefully they wouldn't come to blows.

Zzz

Victoria sat in the spare room that was gradually becoming her space. She put down the novel she was trying to read, and sighed. Diego was becoming a little more distant than he had been. She loved to be in his arms, his kiss was like wine – it made her head spin and her heart pound. Lately he had a faraway look in his eyes, and she knew he was thinking about Zorro.

She tried to think of other things. The chess game had been fun. He was too busy staring at her to concentrate, but she was determined to beat him, so she concentrated hard. Three times in a row she beat him. He finished the tournament with kisses, to hide his hurt pride. She was a novice, and he had played to win for years. She would have to dress a little more modestly, she supposed, to give him a chance next time. A shawl across her shoulders, something like that would do.

She hoped he was not going to be stupid and stop courting her. It had been fun, and she loved him dearly. They needed each other so badly, it hurt when she wasn't in the same room as him. They needed to be married – as soon as possible.