Diego tossed and turned the night before his wedding. He had the urge to change into the Zorro persona and ride out to Victoria, but he thought that it would break so many rules that he resisted. It was hot in bed, so he left the room and went out to the terrace.

The air was cooler outside than it was in his room, and he found he could breathe. He was a bundle of nerves, and bent up energy. He stretched, flexing muscles, and paced a little. The sky was clear, and filled with stars, and the night was quiet and peaceful. He sighed, and breathed deeply, trying to calm his growing anxiety.

Was he doing the right thing? Would she truly be safer this way? Was he merely being selfish? He desired her more and more these days, longed for her, craved to be near her – more and more with every passing day. His dreams were becoming a little too personal, a little too intimate…. He had woken with her name on his lips more than once.

"Are you alright, Diego?"

He didn't need to turn to realise his father was standing close by the door. He nodded slowly, and wrapped his arms around himself. He stood there and glanced up at the stars again, marvelling at the vastness of the star scape.

"Can't sleep?"

"This time tomorrow….Victoria will be lying next to me…." Diego murmured, and felt the heat of the blush rise to his cheeks.

"Obviously," Alejandro said, with a deep chuckle. "Does that terrify you?"

Diego chuckled softly. "A little. She's fiery and she has a temper…"

"Mixed with your stubbornness and passion for trouble, you will make a fine pair."

Diego sighed. "That we will, Father. Am I doing the right thing?"

"Of course you are," Alejandro said softly. "You love her, she loves you. You will be happy together, and raise beautiful children."

"The dangers…."

"The dangers will be there regardless of whether you are married or not. I'd think she'd be much safer in your arms than outside the hacienda across the road from the alcalde."

"Yes," he said thoughtfully. His father smiled behind him and Diego sighed again. "How am I to relax? I'm never going to get to sleep tonight."

"Ride Dulcinea for a few miles, she'll wear anyone out, even Zorro. I'll wait up for you, and you can have a brandy." Diego turned and frowned. "Just one won't turn you into a monster, Diego."

"I know, I know. What if I need to think quickly and clearly? My life is one never ending tale of cheating death and disaster," Diego said. Alejandro rested a hand on Diego's tense shoulder.

"I am here. I can watch over you every now and then. Let me," Alejandro said softly. "Time for my guardian angel to have a holiday, and a honeymoon."

Alejandro gazed at his son thoughtfully. "That time with Cordova, that wasn't me and my men, was it? It was Zorro?"

Diego smiled a little, but didn't answer.

"Thank you, for letting us think that perhaps we were as good as we always were. In our hearts we all knew that something, or someone was helping us, but Zorro himself? We were privileged."

"No, Father. It was an honour, and a privilege for me to help. It was fun to be part of an elite team, even if it was unacknowledged."

"My mischievous son," Alejandro said, hugging his son to him. "So much like his father that I should have guessed a long time ago."

Diego smiled again. "You really trust me with Dulcinea?"

"I'd trust Jack or Zorro. Diego may be thrown after the first yard, but I'll be there to catch him if that happens," Alejandro said with a grin.

Alejandro watched as his son strode over to the stables, and after a few minutes, Dulcinea flew past him with her rider. Diego had pushed her to her full speed early, Alejandro noticed, and they were both going to be exhausted on their return if he kept that up. Alejandro smiled with pride, and sat on the chair to wait for his son.

Zzz

Diego thought about visiting Victoria, but turned Dulcinea to the opposite side of town and took her at a gallop down the quiet streets, disturbing the soldiers on guard. He turned and wheeled her back, noticing the sergeant's alarm.

"Don Diego," Mendoza said nervously. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Dulcinea seems a little headstrong for me," Diego said breathlessly. He made her dance under him with a light rein but pulled her in at the same time. "I think she may have bolted from the stables."

The alcalde had peered out of his doors, and approached the fiery mare, grasping the halter firmly.

"Is this a wise thing to do, on the eve of your wedding, Don Diego? We all know your abilities with horses may need some more coaching," Max Destara said. "Shall I get you a quieter steed for the return journey?"

"No, Alcalde. I seem to have gotten the hang of it now." Diego smirked at him, with a cheeky wink.

Victoria stood on her porch, wrapped in a shawl. She shook her head with a smile.

"Diego, what on earth are you doing?"

"I couldn't sleep, Victoria. All I could think about was you…"

"Quite romantic, Don Diego, but if you don't mind, decent people are trying to sleep," Destara interrupted, his sleep had obviously been disrupted. "The wedding itself is more than enough disruption for the day, allow us to have some respite tonight."

"Of course, Alcalde. Goodnight Victoria," Diego said.

"Goodnight, Diego," she said with a small giggle. "Go to bed," she added, shaking her head and going back inside.

Diego sighed, and Max glared at him, before releasing Dulcinea's bridle. Diego was careful to trot the restless mare until out of sight, before opening her up into a gallop again.

"Good ride, Diego?"

"Great ride, Father," Diego said as he dismounted. He strolled over to the stables with his father, and made sure the mare was settled before moving back to the hacienda.

"Here," Alejandro said, passing him the brandy. "It's a small one, just to placate any worries."

"Thank you," Diego said softly.

"Did I ever tell you how proud I was that you were my son?"

"A few times," Diego admitted.

"I meant it every time, and I mean it now," Alejandro said. "Zorro is just the icing on the cake. You will make a good husband and a fine father, Diego. You are a good man."

Zzz

Diego stood at the altar and waited for his bride. It seemed to take forever, and he half imagined that Zorro would come and snatch her at the last moment, as several of the soldiers were already murmuring. It was impossible, completely impossible.

He was momentarily distracted by the thought of his father doing this himself in a few months, and smiled to himself. At least Alejandro would share in his nerves, if only a little. He hoped Miguel and Raquel would behave during their ceremony. It was a blessing that the children had been kept at home with their mother. At their own mother's wedding, their attendance would be expected.

There was a slight disturbance, and Diego stiffened a little, standing straighter. His heart beat a little too fast, and he took deep breaths to settle himself. He resisted the impulse to readjust his neck tie, and looked expectantly towards where Alejandro must be helping Victoria into the church.

Victoria walked down the short aisle, aware that the eyes of the whole town were watching her, and noting the quality of her gown and the heirloom veil that had been Elena de la Vega's on her wedding day. The pretty emerald engagement ring sat on her right hand, leaving the left hand free to receive the wedding band. She had her eyes lowered nervously, and she clutched at Alejandro's arm. He patted her hand reassuringly, and she smiled.

As they approached the altar, Victoria had the courage to glance up and she immediately saw Diego's gentle blue eyes gaze into hers with such devotion, that her knees felt weak and she was glad that Alejandro seemed to realise she needed support for a few more moments to catch her breath.

He was magnificent, resplendent in the finest of suits. Dark blue with silver embroidery embellishments – she had never seen him wear such an outfit. A matching neck tie and a fine white silk shirt completed the outfit.

"You are beautiful," he whispered. She was covered by the old veil, but their eyes met through the gauze.

"So are you," she responded, before they had to behave and listen to Padre Benitez and the wedding ceremony properly.

Afterwards, neither of them were sure what the ceremony had covered, or what they had promised, only that they were married, and together for the rest of their lives. The party was a blur of activity and they were exhausted by the conversations they seemed to have to have with everyone from everywhere.

Miguel and Raquel ran rings around everyone, delighting in exasperating their nursery maid that Alejandro had hired for them. Isabella had been staying as a guest in the de la Vega household for a few weeks, and already seemed part of the family, and Alejandro had delegated the care of the children so as to safeguard her health. The baby was due any day.

The hustle and bustle of guests, punctuated with laughter and the clinking of glasses, hardly disturbed the newlyweds after Diego decided to bring his bride inside the hacienda. Once behind closed doors, all outside noises disappeared, and they were greeted with the soft ticking of clocks and the silence of an abandoned house.

"I love you, Victoria," Diego whispered, drawing her to a quiet nook in the hallway, hidden from prying eyes.

"What did I do to deserve you, Diego?"

His kiss was like fire and ice at the same time, a degree which they had never experienced before. She responded slowly and gently, but her passion blossomed into a wild fire that threatened to overwhelm his self-control.

"Diego? Diego! Where are those two now?" Alejandro said, moving closer to them. Diego drew her closer to himself, and hid in the shadows, and they watched Alejandro walk past.

"Trust them to disappear at a time like this," he grumbled good-naturedly. "Diego! Victoria!"

Diego kept a finger on her lips until Alejandro was out of earshot. He removed it, and she giggled.

"You! You haven't changed at all."

"It's too easy to hide from him. He bellows like a bull."

"We are not children, Diego. Perhaps it's important?"

"He'll announce its importance the next time he searches for us. We can judge for ourselves the true importance…"

"We may have to cut the cake, or make speeches or something," Victoria said.

"They can wait…We can't," Diego said determinedly, as he started kissing her again. She melted back into his arms, and sighed. She couldn't resist him, no matter what responsibilities awaited them at the reception. They could wait.