Part Sixteen: More

"Tell me what happened!" Magdalena was frustrated. It was two whole days since she had seen Alenez lying dead. She had started, but the gentle pressure of Diego's hand had signaled her, and she hadn't said anything. She had tried to ask him, but the de la Vegas left immediately, and then her father had decided she was exhausted, and wouldn't let her get out of bed for a whole day.

Finally, Diego had come, but he wasn't saying anything. She just stared at him, pacing the floor, her movements remaindering her of Constancia. Diego sat in an armchair, drinking wine. Inez had been there, knitting, but had just then been called away by a servant.

"Tell me!"

"All right!" The wineglass was put down, and Diego stood.

"In the weeks after my return to Los Angeles, I kept hearing...not quite rumors, but mention of a newcomer who was...strange. No one could exactly say what caused the distrust though. I was naturally suspicious, especially since it seemed he'd given a different name to every man he met. Suspicions, yes, but I still connected nothing in my mind, until the night of your fiesta. I was planning to go, but I heard word of this mysterious newcomer and rode out where hearsay said he'd been spotted. Tornado was uneasy, as we were going over rocky and unstable ground. There was a small explosion in the distance and Tornado spooked. That is how I hurt my arm. I went on ahead though, and found the ashes of a fire, still burning, and something else besides. An Eagle feather.

It was then that I connected the events in Los Angeles with something Padre Ramon had said. The morning of the night we stayed at the mission, we spoke briefly and we passed an Indian wearing an eagle feather. I showed concern, and Padre Ramon picked up on it. He noticed that I was looking toward the feather, and knew the cause of my concern. He explained that he was most definitely not involved with the Eagle, not like that, but he did have trouble with him. He briefly took over the Mission there, it seems, and left a few feathers behind."

Diego paused, as if inviting questions. Magdalena just looked at him, and he continued.

"What Ramon had also said was that a man had stayed there just a few weeks ago, identifying himself as an Eagle follower. He mentioned Los Angeles, unintentionally it seems, and Padre Ramon told me this, because he knew I live in Los Angeles and could watch out for him. I didn't connect the man who Ramon had mentioned and the newcomer—I thought the difference in time too far—until I asked Padre Felipe if there had been any travelers recently who had matched the description Padre Ramon had given me. I hadn't expected his yes, and realized I needed to speak with Garcia, and check at the tavern, maybe even stay there a few days to better keep an eye out for him. Well, I came out, and remembered you were waiting, and I just had to speak with you before I went. For expediency's sake, I knew I should speak to Garcia that very day. I truly did not expect his yes, and I really did intend to return to you, but Tio solidly confirmed that Alenez had stayed at the tavern, just one night, and Garcia also remembered him, and promised to find him for me." Diego chuckled.

"I decided that Zorro should help him. The next days I spent making inquiries, and I stayed at the inn at night. I was in the process of ascertaining whether Alenez was still in the area, and couldn't spend time with you until I discovered where he was and what he wanted. You must realize, at this point, I did not know him as Alenez, and I had no idea what he hoped to gain by identifying himself as part of the Eagle's brotherhood. But I picked up a lead, and Zorro caught up to his henchman, only moments after he had attacked you, but I didn't realize that yet either. I didn't realize it was this agent's man, even, he was just a bandito fleeing. I knew he couldn't be up to any good, so I tied him up and went to get Tornado, but when I came back he was gone, escaped. I went back to the inn, and heard that you had been attacked near San Guadalupe Trail and it was then that I connected the two events. I still hadn't spoken to you, though. After I did, I had an identity for my Eagle agent, and motives besides."

Diego came nearer to her, and gazed down at her with a sigh, and walked back to sit down. "It was chance I saw them. I was riding back from fetching Doctor Avila to help with a birth."

"Whose?" Magdalena interrupted, and he looked surprised.

"Elena Torres—well, she is a Torres no longer. She married my head vaquero, Benito."

"Is she all right?"

"Si, all well. She had a girl," Diego then added, and Magdalena nodded for him to continue. "But this is not important. I was coming back after telling Alenez and saw two men entering the cuartel over the wall I usually use. I alerted Garcia. His men shot to wound, the men fell to deaths, actually. I still was not sure, but waited for your reaction, and that confirmed it. It was Alenez. And he was dead. And now I have you."

His kiss was sudden, and Magdalena returned it wholeheartedly, until a pointed ahem sounded from the doorway, and they pulled apart. Inez stood there, an eyebrow raised. "I don't suppose you have a question to ask my brother?"

"I do," Diego said, just a bit breathless. "Do you know where he is?"

She smiled and, gesturing for him to follow, left the room. "Through here."

Diego leaned to kiss Magdalena again, and then dashed after Inez.

Magdalena sat down smiled. Alenez was gone and Diego's was hers. And judging by Diego's exit with Inez to find her father…could it be that marriage was something she should start preparing for?

Diego wasn't nervous when he spoke with Francisco, or when he told his father that he had gotten Francisco's consent. And he wasn't nervous when he went, a few golden weeks later, to see Magdalena and actually ask her. He knew that she would be expecting him, and he had worn his best suit, dark blue with gold braid and a red sash.

Magdalena was on the patio, in a spot of sunshine, wearing a full skirted lace dress, and her hair was down. She smiled brightly at seeing him and stood up, holding her hands out to him. "I've been watching that eagle," she whispered, tilting her head. "Oh, no, he just flew away." Turning back to him, her smile returned. "What brings you here so early?"

"Questions that need answers."

With a laugh, Magdalena tugged him over to the table, and made him sit down, just as Inez entered through the gate.

"Buenos dias, Dona Inez," Diego said, darting back up to bow to the woman.

An impish smile was on Inez's lips. "Buenos dias, Don Diego. Don't let me disturb you, I am simply going to the sala."

"Wait a moment, Inez," Magdalena called. "I need to fetch something. You stay here with Diego, por favor."

Inez walked over to sit at the table as Magdalena darted up the stairs. "I suppose I can guess what brings you here."

"Certainly you can. If you couldn't," Diego shrugged.

Inez smiled again, looking down at her lap for a moment, and her face held a wistful expression.

"How are things going between you and Sergeant Garcia?" Diego asked amiably, when the lady didn't respond to his statement.

Her face fell. "I realized something," was her short answer, and she stood up again, brushing her skirt off. "If Magdalena shows hesitancy—never mind, she won't." Inez then surprised him, by briefly clasping his hand. "Vaya con Dios. Now I need to see Francisco," and the lady disappeared into the sala. Diego looked after her for a moment, considering.

Magdalena finally returned, but he didn't see anything different, and couldn't guess why she'd left. "Did you have a question for me?"

"I did. No, I do," he said, and took her hands in his. "I love you deeply, Magdalena, and I can think of no one else I'd rather have by my side throughout the rest of my life. Will you marry me?"

"Si," was her short answer. "But you are not the only one who must ask."

"Yes, well, he can come later," Diego returned. "Much later."

A ring was slipped onto her finger, a ruby surrounded by orange topazes. "Did it belong to your mother?"

"No, she was buried in hers. This is my grandmother's." Diego's voice was soft, and he held her hand up between them, gazing at it. "You have no idea how it affects me to see that ring worn." His voice was husky, and his grip tightened. "Since I became Zorro, I almost never expected this time to come. Zorro has consumed me. I never thought…never hoped…I feel so happy that you prefer me to that outlaw and that you always have."

She smiled and laid her other hand over his. "He never attracted me. Si, from what I heard, he was handsome, noble and his cause was one of justice, not thievery. But he was too high above me, too much a fox or an angel to my woman. But Diego is a man. I prefer men to angels, solid hearts to halos. Even if I didn't know, my answer would be the same."

She paused a moment, then said softly, as her hand tightened on his, "I could not love a shadow."

A/N: Diego definitely left out a few details when telling Magdalena all that happened concerning Alenez. Maybe the altercation in the cuartel was just that—an altercation. But, alas, I have no talent at writing fight scenes, or having someone talk about them, so those are all the details I can give you.

It honestly never entered my mind to have Magdalena be actually involved in those events though. It just seems very unlikely that the show would permit it.

A story that started with a bit of a bang seems to be going out rather simply, something which doesn't bother me. There are two more installments. :-)