Diego drew Victoria closer to his chest, and she could hear the thudding of his heart. He kissed the top of her hair, and rested his chin on her head gently.
"I have dreamt of holding you this close," Diego whispered. "As myself, not as Zorro."
She nodded, and listened to his heart. It was so strong, but so fast. "I'm sorry it took me so long to work it out. You must think I am a stupid little girl."
"Never," Diego murmured. "You saw what you wanted to see, Victoria. That's all anyone really sees anyway – sometimes someone like me can pull the wool over people's eyes but not everyone's eyes, and not forever."
"Diego!" Alejandro's voice shouted, but this time Diego flinched.
"Something's wrong, my father is alarmed," he murmured, as he moved. He placed Victoria on her feet, and half ran towards the sound of his father's voice.
"Father! I'm here. What's happened? What's wrong?"
"It's Isabella," Alejandro said, supporting the young widow.
"I…think it's time."
Diego glanced at the lady, and guided them both towards a guest room.
"Has someone gone for the doctor, or a midwife, or something?" Diego asked, his voice becoming a little strained. Victoria was at his side quickly, and gently took charge.
"I've helped with these things before, Diego. Let me help. She doesn't need all these panicking men around her. Come on, Isabella."
"It's not as if I haven't done this before," Isabella said softly, glancing thankfully at Victoria. "This is a little embarrassing. I am upstaging your wedding day."
"What a glorious reason to be," Victoria said encouragingly. "I'll let you know how she is, gentlemen, when we have a moment."
Alejandro went to protest, and then nodded, and smiled. Diego glanced at his father and shrugged.
"Now I am bereft," Diego said with a grin. "Maybe we should call the little one Zorro. He has snatched away my bride, after all."
Alejandro ignored his son's quip. Diego realised his father was anxious, and wondered how to encourage him.
"Would you like to see something? One of my secrets?"
"Finally…opening up to me after all these years?"
"Toronado himself," Diego said, lowering his voice to a whisper, and glancing around carefully.
"Up close?"
"As close as you like, Father."
Alejandro smiled a little. "Where on earth do you stable him? Here on the property?"
"Yes."
"But both alcaldes have searched the estate more than once."
"They both came remarkably close more than once to unmasking me during those searches," Diego said softly, moving towards the main fireplace in the library. "Like so," he said, gently leaning on a piece of masonry in the mantelpiece. Diego swept a hand down to indicate the door that swung open silently.
"They came that close?"
"I desperately began to describe the wonders of the clouds outside the window, while Felipe rectified the situation."
"You shouldn't have involved the boy."
"He involved me, it was a team effort," Diego said calmly. "After you, Senor."
Zzz
Alejandro went first to the mighty stallion, eating calmly in his stall.
"May I?"
"He's as gentle as a foal. Just don't make any sudden moves. Standard stallion cautions advised."
"What are you up to?" Alejandro asked, watching his son rifle through papers on a surprisingly messy desk.
"Nothing, nothing," Diego murmured.
"You are on holiday, a honeymoon. You're leaving for Spain in a few days…"
"What? I didn't decide that…"
"My present to you, Diego. I am allowed to give my son a present, aren't I?" Alejandro said gently. "I don't want Victoria to be left a widow this early in your marriage."
Diego frowned and then laughed. "I suppose Victoria and I have already packed."
"All the latest fashions…I wouldn't want Victoria to feel uncomfortable in her appearance when she meets your relatives in Madrid."
"I thought you would like some help with the baby."
"Nannies and nursery maids help with babies, Diego. Not recently married men."
"Hmm," Diego said softly, letting the papers fall to the desk. "No more Zorro?"
"He hasn't been seen for two months now, and the marriage went without a hitch," Alejandro said softly. "The new alcalde hasn't a wicked streak in him, despite what you think. He is tough but fair, a good man."
"I haven't been to Spain since University."
"Now is the time to do it, before the babies arrive."
Diego blushed a little, and his father laughed.
"I've seen the way you have been looking at each other. Babies won't be long in coming, Diego. Live life and enjoy your wife before you get too busy with family and ranch."
"I would have thought you would have your own fill of babies, once that little one is born."
Alejandro smiled. "I would have liked more children of my own, Diego. Perhaps I am not so old….perhaps you will have a brother or a sister…."
Diego chuckled a little. "Well, well. Marriage does bring children, after all. Something to get used to perhaps."
Zzz
Victoria welcomed the doctor into the birthing room and smiled tiredly at Alejandro.
"She's doing well, she's strong and determined, Alejandro."
"Good, good."
"It's not like Mother, Father. She'll be fine," Diego soothed gently. "Come back and sit down, and we'll have a game of chess. I'll let you beat me, if you like."
"Nonsense, my boy. I always beat you…." Alejandro stared into Diego's eyes. "How many times have I really beaten you?"
"Once or twice since University…" Diego admitted with a shrug.
"Play properly from now on," Alejandro complained. "You were a challenge, but had I known I was playing a competent player, I would have enjoyed it all the more. I would have played harder."
"At University there is a book…on chess matches between students. I worked hard to beat your record, but I managed it."
"Well, well. My son is persistent. A swordsman, a horseman, and a chess master."
"An acrobat, a scientist, a stargazer, a magician…"
"Boasting does you no favours, Diego," he murmured seriously. "Come, let me beat you honestly for a change."
"Challenge accepted. But to be fair, no wine for either of us. It dulls the senses, Father."
Zzz
The wail of a newborn greeted the dawn light, and the two dozing caballeros woke to it. Victoria eased herself out of the room, and gazed at her sleepy husband.
"Not quite the wedding night I had in mind," Diego said as he stretched his arms above his head.
"A very fine baby boy," Victoria murmured. "Francisco Azarola."
"Of course," Alejandro said softly. "When can I see her?"
"As soon as it's tidied up in there," Victoria said, glancing back. The doctor came out of the room, and smiled.
"Coffee, I think, Hernandez, let's leave these newly weds to catch up." Alejandro guided the doctor towards the kitchen area of the hacienda.
Victoria looked exhausted but happy, Diego thought, as he made his way over to her.
"Is it that trying?"
"You should have seen Isabella. So brave and so much pain, and now…nothing. She smiled and cradled the baby like nothing at all had hurt her."
"I heard some of the…" Diego broke off, and thought about how to term it. To put it simply, the screams they had both heard on the other side of the door had chilled them to the bone, and he'd had to restrain his father from going into the room more than once.
"It's all normal, Diego. Quite a normal birth," Victoria said with a tired smile. "You look shocked. Your horses have foals all the time."
"Mares don't seem to suffer as much as women do," Diego admitted softly.
"The baby is so sweet, so perfect. Isabella is so happy. She wanted a boy."
"Yes, I know."
"You look exhausted too."
"I suppose we could go to bed now," Diego said thoughtfully. "Although I think I need to sleep."
Victoria smiled. "As long as I can sleep by your side, I won't care too much, Diego."
"My father is sending us to Madrid, of all places," Diego said crossly, as he draped an arm around her as they walked to Diego's quarters.
"Isn't there some sort of rebellion taking place? A war?"
"According to all my letters from abroad, the King forces have recently quelled most rioting and rebellion, although how long for it's hard to say. It would be nice to travel and to show off my beautiful bride in the finest of fashions. I will take care of you querida. You will have nothing to fear, nothing at all to alarm you."
"I know. I am the safest woman in the world, because my husband is Zorro," she whispered daringly.