Author's Notes: And now the last chapter before the epilogue, and it's a longer one. Today, this finishes. I hope you enjoy it, and I'd love for you to review.
70 reviews. Wow. That was a bit surprising. Thank you to my regular reviewers and the guest or guests who reviewed yesterday.
Chapter 20
A New Day
Diego wasn't sure what was happening. Everything around him seemed very hazy. Somehow he seemed to be standing in the garden at home. His grandfather was pruning the rose bushes. For some reason, he thought it should be strange to see him but couldn't remember why.
"Grandfather?" he asked.
The old man turned to look at him. "You did well, Diego," he said. "Now you can let the book go. It will be needed elsewhere in the future. Solomon will know who to take it to. This isn't your fight anymore." He turned back to the roses.
The world was getting hazier again. Diego tried to say something, to ask his grandfather a question, but he felt leaden and tired. The garden disappeared.
"Diego?" The voice was very soft and very pleading. "Diego, please..."
He opened his eyes slowly and saw Victoria leaning over him. His head hurt, and his body ached, but none of that seemed to matter much when she started kissing him.
"Don't do that again," she said fiercely, between kisses.
"What happened?" he finally managed to ask.
"I don't know exactly, but the moment you were out the door, there was an explosion and the door hit you. The house just fell in on top of itself. I thought you'd been killed." Tear tracks stained her cheeks.
Cautiously, Diego lifted one hand to wipe away some of the tears. "Would I let that happen?" he asked with a trace of Zorro's cocky grin.
She managed to return the smile, though the worry hadn't really left her eyes. "Of course not, I don't know what I was thinking," she said in a slightly teasing tone.
Diego struggled to sit up. He was facing the hacienda, or rather the remains of the hacienda. He wasn't sure quite how that had happened. It had collapsed rather than been blown out. It would be a challenge to dig anything out of there. Somehow he was near the garden gate. He didn't think he could have been thrown that far, and he was too heavy for Victoria to move very much, but it seemed even improbable that Solomon could have done anything. He was also almost surprised to see his sword belt next to him, his saber returned to its sheath as if it had never left. He was grateful that the collapse of the house didn't seem to have damaged it.
"Where's Solomon?" he asked, looking around. He slid back to rest against the wall, everything he'd just done seemed very distant as if it had happened to someone else. He wished it had.
"Getting a wagon from the stable," Victoria said. "We weren't sure how badly you'd been hurt. And well, while he can move around, he's not really in any shape to ride. I didn't want to leave you." She sniffed a little and said so quietly that Diego could barely understand her, "He wouldn't let me go in after you."
Thinking of what might have happened if she had, he had to fight the shudder. "I'm glad of it," Diego said, reaching out to take her hand and looking over her carefully. She had some scratches that he hadn't noticed earlier. "Are you all right, querida?"
"Now, I am," she said, coming to sit next to him.
Diego let go of her hand to wrap an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer, kissing her gently before leaning back against the wall. They sat there together in silence until they heard the sound of the wagon coming to the front of the gate. Diego pushed himself to his feet. Victoria followed him up, picking up his sword belt and handing it to him. Diego felt a strange reluctance to put it back on but rebuckled it anyway. Victoria wrapped an arm around him, unwilling to let him go for long.
Solomon was sitting in the wagon, looking a little ashen but otherwise as usual. "Ah, good. I was afraid we'd have to try to lift you. Do you think you'll be able to ride?"
"With care," Diego said. He ached all over and was cut and bruised, but he didn't think anything was broken.
"Then I'll give you a lift to where we left the horses, and once we finish there, I'll be on my way."
"Just like that?" Victoria asked.
"Yes, my job here is done. I need to move on. I definitely prefer not to answer questions. People rarely believe the answers," Solomon replied.
Diego and Victoria moved around to the back of the wagon. Diego gave Victoria a hand up, and then carefully managed to climb up himself. Once they were settled, Solomon started the wagon and they drove in silence until they reached Esperanza and Solomon's horse.
Helping Victoria down, Diego moved around to where they'd hidden the book, thankful he'd never really had to turn it over. He carried it over to Solomon.
A little hesitantly, he said, "I think I'm supposed to give this to you now. For someone else, I think."
Solomon didn't seem at all confused. "I understand. There's another family dedicated to this fight. The name's Van Helsing. I know one of the sons makes a deep study of these things. Now that my work here is done, I'm returning to Europe. I'll see that he and no other gets it."
"Thank you," Diego said, still not sure what prompted him, but he knew the book could not be in safer hands.
"And you can keep this horse. I bought him once I reached these shores and won't be needing him once I reach San Pedro," he said. "He's a very gentle beast. Not really suited to me at all, except that he has great endurance and stays where he's left. His name's Galeno."
"Thank you," Diego said, a little astonished at the generosity.
Solomon stared at him. "I wish you and your lady well. Good-bye," he said and started the wagon.
"Adios," Diego said as it passed by.
Suddenly, the wagon came to a stop. Solomon half looked back. "Well done, de la Vega," he said flatly and without another word, he was once again on his way.
Victoria walked to Diego's side and took his hand. They watched until the wagon vanished from sight. The sun was just starting to rise.
Without turning his head toward her, Diego said, "Marry me, Victoria. Today."
"Today?" she asked.
At the question, he suddenly felt guilty. "No, I'm sorry. We've both been through a lot the past week. That was selfish of me."
She turned to him. "If it was, I'm selfish too."
"What?" Diego was surprised.
Looking into his eyes, she said, "I was just surprised you wanted to as well. It's not as if it's sudden. I love you, and I've been wanting to marry you for a very long time. And after all that's happened," she shivered a little, "I want to be able to hold you in the night and for you to hold me. I don't want to be alone anymore."
"I love you, and I don't want to be alone either," he whispered, reaching up to caress one cheek. He leaned down to kiss her, softly, gently, full of love. Then not so gently and for much longer. Eventually, breathlessly, he said, "So today? As soon as I can talk to the padre?"
"Yes, today is definitely a very good idea" she said, equally breathless, but then glancing down at their clothes, which were blood- and dirt-spattered, added, "But first we need to stop by your hacienda so you can get a change of clothes. Much as I want to marry you, I have no intention of getting married in what we're wearing now."
Diego stepped away from Victoria, though he still held one of her hands in his. He looked at the state of his clothes and said, "Yes, you are quite right. Any particular suit?" he asked..
She thought a moment.. "The green one. I've always liked it, and you hardly ever wear it," she finally said.
"Easy enough," he said.
"Any preferences of your own?" she asked, as they walked over to the horses.
"You're beautiful in anything," he said, but after a moment, "just not..."
She knew what he meant. "No, not that." Victoria, in a sudden concerned tone, asked, "What about your father?"
Diego looked over at her. "He won't mind. In fact, it was his idea."
"Why am I not surprised?" Victoria said with a laugh. She looked towards the east. The sun was just visible over the horizon. "I was so afraid we might not see the sun again."
"It's a new day," Diego added. "And one that promises to be much better than the last."
They started riding in the direction of the de la Vega hacienda. As they rode, they spotted two black horses running wild in the distance. Diego idly wondered if one or both had been Dracula's. He'd probably never know.
What bothered him more was the memory of the damage Dracula had done and what he himself had been driven to do. He could only hope he'd never find himself in such a position again. He still felt shaken by it.
As they followed the trail back to the hacienda, Victoria asked, "What are we going to tell everyone about what happened?"
Diego furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before answering. "We'll tell them the truth... at least enough of the truth. No one has to know what Dracula was or exactly how he met his end." Well, almost no one, Diego thought as he remembered he would soon be talking to Padre Benites.
When they reached the cave, Diego returned his weapons and checked on Toronado who seemed to finally be himself again. Victoria insisted he take another sword, since he'd been riding to the rescue. He didn't like it, but there was so much he hadn't liked since Dracula had arrived.
Once that was done, they rode back around to the de la Vega stables. Miguel and several of the men were there, armed and suspicious. When they came rushing up, staring at the two of them, Diego realized he had forgotten how he and Victoria must look after what happened. Diego helped Victoria down from her horse, not caring that he was holding her too closely or not letting her go. They were getting married today, and he wasn't going to hide how he felt about her, especially at home. Victoria didn't seem to care either as she clung to him. Briefly as possible he told Miguel the short version of the story he and Victoria agreed on including the fact that they were about to get married, and asked him to have someone get the carriage ready, while they went inside to wash off the worst of the fight.
He was surprised to see Maria in the kitchen, since he had told her not to come back until noon at least, but she had her own ideas. For once, he was grateful that she hadn't listened as she fussed over him and Victoria, shocked to hear the trouble they'd been in and excited to hear they were planning to marry. Maria insisted on finding something for Victoria to wear, so she could get decently cleaned up before going back into town, while insisting Diego go get properly ready himself.
Diego had always suspected that Maria had known how he'd felt about Victoria; she'd never seemed too enthusiastic about Zorro and Victoria's relationship. It was a relief to see her so enthused over Victoria becoming the new mistress of the household, since it would make things easier.
Leaving Victoria to Maria's care, Diego went to his room and stripped off his clothes before washing the worst of the blood and soot off in the wash basin. The water stung the cuts on his face and hands, but none of them were serious; though looking into the mirror, he saw that he was starting to sport some truly impressive bruises on the side of his face. There wasn't going to be any doubt that he'd been in a fight.
He had washed his hands several times before realizing what he was doing. For a while he simply stared at them. They were clean. They looked clean, but they didn't feel that way. Of all the enemies he had faced, he never thought it would ever come to this. He didn't think he would ever see his hands the same way again.
Quickly changing into his green suit, he was back in the library before Victoria. Practice had its advantages, but it wasn't long before Victoria and Maria returned. Victoria looked much better, but she too showed definite signs of having been in a fight. Diego thanked Maria for her help and told her that they should be back by afternoon, as long as Padre Benites agreed to marry them. At that Maria said that she'd make sure the household staff were back and getting things ready for them and hurried from the room.
"I don't think I've ever seen Maria so happy," Diego said, as they went out to the carriage which was standing outside.
"And I know I've never been so happy," Victoria said, as he helped her into the carriage. "I love you."
"And I love you, but I'm glad that we will apparently have some peace at home. This is probably going to be tough, but that's not enough to make me change my mind." He started the carriage for Los Angeles.
"Good, because since the legend's gone, I have no intention of waiting another day to marry the man of flesh and blood," Victoria said with a flirtatious smile. "Whatever we face from here on, it will be better if we're together."
~Z~Z~Z~
It was still early when they arrived in Los Angeles, and Diego stopped the carriage in front of the alcalde's office. Early as it was, Mendoza was already up and shocked to see them looking so cut and bruised. They went inside the office, where Diego told Mendoza the very sanitized version of all that had happened: that Dracula and his man Boris were responsible for all the deaths and the impersonation of Zorro; that they'd kidnaped Victoria in order to force him to give them a book he didn't have; that he and an old family friend had gone there; and somehow Dracula had destroyed the house with himself inside. When Mendoza told him about the strange attack in town, Diego had added that Dracula was also a magician, one more skilled than the one who'd caused them so much trouble a few years before. That seemed to satisfy Mendoza who'd rather believe in a natural rather than supernatural foe.
It was harder telling him about the four missing girls and Joaquin Modesto, saddling him with the responsibility of informing the families. This one time, Diego couldn't do it. He couldn't face them with the lie, and he wouldn't tell them the truth. Mendoza would handle it better with the version Diego had given him.
What really surprised him was that Mendoza didn't seem all that surprised when he heard that Victoria and Diego were planning on getting married. He didn't even seem to suspect that Diego was Zorro, but apparently, he'd had a good idea that Diego had been in love with Victoria (Diego was starting to wonder who he'd ever fooled about his feelings) and, with Zorro gone, couldn't see any reason why Victoria wouldn't want to marry him. Diego actually got a little confused following Mendoza's reasoning, but it didn't matter. Mendoza was willing to act as best man, despite everything that had happened and everything he still had to do.
After they finished talking to Mendoza, Diego walked Victoria back over to the tavern before going to talk to Padre Benites. The good father took one look at him and took him back where they could talk in privacy. Once they were alone, Diego told the priest everything that had happened without dissembling and asked if he'd be willing to marry Victoria and him that day.
Padre Benites asked him, "Have you given any thought to Zorro?"
Diego sighed. "Zorro is dead, and I've loved Victoria for years," he said, phrasing it as he would to someone who didn't know the truth. "I know this seems sudden, but after all that's happened, neither of wants to wait another day."
"Normally, I'd counsel patience, but I think you two have waited long enough. Also, while there's always going to be gossip surrounding sudden weddings, I have an idea that the stories people will be telling won't be ones that endanger either of you, and I think that's the only thing you're worried about."
"You're right," Diego replied. "So will you marry us?"
"Yes, as soon as I can speak with Victoria," the priest said.
Diego rose to go but Padre Benites stopped him. "My son, are you going to be all right?" he asked very soberly.
"Of course," Diego started to answer but he quickly realized exactly what the padre was really asking. He looked at his hands. He thought of Victoria and the life stretching out before them. "Yes. I'm all right."
Diego went to the front of the church, but before he could cross to the tavern, he saw Victoria walking towards him, wearing her other long sleeved white blouse and red skirt with her black shawl thrown over her shoulders. For some reason, she'd never seemed so beautiful as at that moment, and he just stood there watching her until she reached him.
"You are beautiful," he whispered, lifting her hand for a kiss. "Padre Benites wants to talk to you, and I'll go get Mendoza."
"Hurry back," she said, squeezing his hand before he walked away.
~Z~Z~Z~
The wedding went off quietly, though they'd ended up with a few more witnesses than they'd expected as the available lancers and patrons of the tavern heard about it and made a point of attending these rushed nuptials. He was a little taken aback by the congratulations and the speed at which the story they'd told had gotten around. Victoria was far less flustered, praising her new husband's heroism to anyone who'd listen, but in such a way as it seemed distinctly different from Zorro's.
Nervous and embarrassed by the attention, Diego was every bit the reluctant hero, more concerned with Victoria than any praise. After the ceremony, all he wanted to do was take her home— to their home. Victoria had packed a small bag as she'd changed, and Diego managed to slip up to her room and get it, before facing yet more people.
Exhaustion was starting to catch up with Diego by the time they made it to the carriage for the drive home. Once they were outside Los Angeles, he noticed Victoria watching him rather intently.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked a little nervously.
"Finally being married to you," she said with a slight smile and a blush started spreading across her cheeks.
He reached over to caress her cheek. "Not disappointed, I hope."
She placed her hand over his and turned to kiss his hand before bringing it down to her lap. "Of course not. I was just thinking what a difference being married makes," she said almost shyly, but after a moment looked up at him with a sly grin and continued more boldly, "It means all those wicked, sinful thoughts I've had about you aren't wicked at all anymore."
Diego reddened a little, though he had been thinking similar thoughts himself, relieved that being a gentleman had suddenly taken on a completely different definition now that they were married. "Wicked thoughts?" he asked with a smile of his own.
"You have no idea, dear husband," Victoria replied, still blushing but not so shy. "And I will confess they weren't all of Zorro either."
Diego was a bit startled. He somehow thought she'd barely noticed him when he wasn't wearing a mask.
"Don't look so surprised," Victoria said. "You were— are— my best friend and a very handsome man. I always thought so. I can't tell you how many times I got jealous about you, though I pretended it was only concern. And while Zorro was dashing and romantic, we spent so much more time together. I think— I hope— somewhere inside I suspected all along because some of those thoughts and dreams... well, usually they were strongest right after you'd done something really brave," Victoria became more animated, "like challenging Sir Miles Thackery or defending your father against Ricardo Quintana or what you did when those bandits held me hostage... Then I'd get embarrassed and pretend it was because you reminded me of Zorro, not that you were Zorro, and usually say something stupidly hurtful because I was embarrassed. I don't think you can know how relieved I was when you told me the truth; it meant that I wasn't so wanton as to feel that way about two different men. I'm sorry, Diego, for being so blind."
"No, I have more reason to be sorry, querida. I was an idiot for years," Diego replied, thinking that if he'd had any idea of how she'd felt, he would have courted her properly long ago no matter how dangerous it would have been. "It was never easy pretending to just be your friend and then snatching a few moments wearing a mask, when I wanted more than anything to be able to hold you and never let you go. And," he added with a smile, "you weren't the only with sinful thoughts."
Victoria's smile widened. "I think we were both foolish for a very long time," she said. "Now however, we can finally be ourselves, and we don't have to let each other go."
She leaned against him tiredly, and he put his arm around her shoulder, kissing the top of her head. It was amazing what one simple ceremony could change, and nervous as he was about the immediate future, especially considering how bruised and tired they must both be feeling, he was more than happy that he and Victoria were starting a new life together.
~TBC~
Later today: Epilogue
End Notes: This chapter was originally much shorter and ended just after they were riding off to get married; I was feeling very burnt out when I first wrote it. However, last week I wasn't really happy with that so added the rest up to their getting married , and I really wanted something a little lighter to end the chapter, hence their conversation heading home afterwards, especially since I could tie it back to thoughts both of them had had earlier in the story. I don't think I entirely smoothed out the joins between the original and revised chapters, even with some assistance from Ghetto Outlaw, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway.
I also know that technically they should have to wait for banns to be read, but since in "A New Lease on Love" there is apparently nothing to keep Victoria from marrying Juan immediately except the fact that it was ridiculous and completely wrong, I went with there being no reason to delay Diego and Victoria either since it's long past time they were married. But since I have little interest in wedding scenes (all that matters to me is that the characters are married at the end), the ceremony itself got skipped.
Finally, Solomon was originally due to die either at the end of his fight with Boris or by Dracula's hand, but then I realized that I needed the book to be taken from California, and I wasn't going to create an entirely new character for that purpose. Also, I liked Solomon even if he was far more fanatical and casual about killing than Diego would ever be comfortable with. To be more honest, most of his appeal for me was that he was on the side of good but had a completely different attitude than Diego. However, he was going to have to be put out of action so that he wouldn't interfere with Diego and Dracula's fight because I wasn't going to let anyone usurp the hero's job of dealing with the primary villain, since that really was what the story was always building to.
