Diego arrived at five just as promised, in fact he came a little early ready to help Victoria with any luggage.
Diego was being a true gentleman to the last, insisting upon carrying Victorias suitcase down the stairs and tie it to his own horse. Victoria was just about to saddle her old mare when Diego approached her clearly intending to take care of it for her.
"Diego… I do know how to saddle my own horse." Victoria commented lifting up the saddle.
"I know." Diego assured. "It's just…. With your fever. You shouldn't over exert yourself."
"I don't have a…" Victoria turned around but then halted as she remembered her cover story and blushed deeply looking down. She felt Diego standing right in front of her, and she could practically feel his body heat.
Desperately she tried to get her odd emotions under control again and she glanced up only to have to face Diego's worried eyes looking at her and ones again Victoria was stunned to realise how pronounced his blue eyes were, especially now when it began to become semi dark.
"You really do seem beside yourself." Diego commented and Victoria glanced away, then pulled a strain of hair behind her ear. For some time Diego stood right in front of her, Victoria was nearly convinced that he was going to reach for her, to touch her.
And then he reached his hands forwards… Was he going to touch her? Perhaps even hold her?
But then instead of going towards Victorias shoulders, Diego's hands went to the saddle in Victorias hands and took it from her, then Diego turned around and started to place the saddle on the horse while Victoria bit together trying to bury her disappointment in the deepest depths of her being.
It was a quite ride to the hacienda, nothing much was said. Often Victoria could feel Diego's gaze on her and each time she didn't really know what to do. Should she look back at him? Catch his eyes?
Somehow Victoria wished that Diego would break the silence and say something, but he didn't, they just rode in quiet.
Then as they reached the hacienda Alejandro happily met them at the entrance, he didn't even hesitate to go straight for Victoria and give her a familiar embrace. "Victoria! I hear Diego convinced you to stay here a couple of days! How marvelous!" he smiled stepping back.
Victoria smiled amused as she looked at the older man, their familiarity was nothing new. Victorias father had been taken away when Victoria was very little leaving her mother alone with three very ill tempered small children. Then Alejandro had been there with his lovely wife and son helping them every step of the way, supporting the Escalante family saying it was nothing. Merely the least he owed Victorias father whom had saved Alejandros life on the battle field ones long ago.
Then Dona Elena had sadly passed away while both Victoria and Diego were young, how-ever that only seemed to have made Alejandro even more dedicated in helping raising Victoria almost as if she was his own.
It was no secret that Alejandro had always wanted more than just one child, sadly though that didn't happen as his wife passed away before that became a reality, and for what-ever reason Alejandro had elected not to re-marry, one could only assume it was because no one could ever replace Elena in his heart. And people at the time had often amused talked about how Alejandro should just go ahead and adopt Victoria already, he already treated her like a daughter. Buying her the dolls her mother couldn't afford and lift Victora up on his shoulders to give her a ride, to Victorias great delight.
There was though no way Alejandro would remove Victoria from her mother, still it remained. Alejandro had always been there for Victoria, even if they weren't related he was a true father to her and she knew she could always count on him to support her and be there.
And now, it seemed Alejandro was overjoyed to just be able to spend a bit of time with her.
Victoria couldn't help but look defeated at the older man, back when Diego had left to study in Spain, it had been very apparent that Alejandro had become very lonely. Who could blame him? He had been all alone in a big Hacienda only with the servants around, it wasn't strange.
No, the strange thing was that even after Diego had returned home… Alejandro still seemed just as lonely and ones again Victoria turned to the young man beside her wondering.
"Father." Diego smiled warmly. "Please don't be to enthusiastic, Victoria is here to rest." he said.
"Yes of course, you said she has a fever. You have a fever Victoria?" Alejandro asked concerned.
"Well…" Victoria bit her lip and glanced down, hating lying to the older man.
"You work to hard my dear." Alejandro smiled defeated. "Listen, we had a guest room readied for you. If you want you can eat dinner there." he said.
"What in bed?!" Victoria asked horrified. "No that's… I'll rather join you at the table!" she said.
"Are you sure?" Alejandro asked.
"Very." Victoria nodded.
"All right then." Diego smiled amused. "Why don't I show you to your room?" he asked. "You can rest for a bit and a servant will inform you when dinner is served."
"Thank you." Victoria smiled defeated as she looked at Diego, her cheeks flushing red in embarrassment.
At dinner Victoria was placed right next to Diego and as a result she was squirming, she had to remind herself why she was here!
What was the connection between Diego and Zorro?! But then, these two men they just sat there and looked so honestly happy just having her there and Victoria felt the guilt overwhelming her. She was taking advantage of Alejandro good nature and his fondness of her, invading his home to spy on his son.
And Victoria felt her entire head turn bright red in sheer embarrassment over this situation.
"My dear, you do look quite feverish!" Alejandro commented astounded. "Perhaps you should go lay down."
"No.. I…" Victoria swallowed as she poked to her food with her fork, and then realized she had barely even eaten a bite while the other other men had almost finished their plates.
Concerned Diego looked at the plate then up at Victoria. "Perhaps you would like some fresh air?" he suggested. "Perhaps you would have a better appetite after a walk."
"Yes, I would like that." Victoria exhaled deeply and Diego stood up and walked towards Victoria offering a hand.
"Allow me to escort you to the garden then." Diego asked and wide-eyed Victoria looked up at him, her cheeks flushing red again.
Then slowly, Victoria reached out and accepted Diegos hand allowing him to pull her up.
If there was something Diego did not lack it was manners, he was a true gentleman to the last.
"Father, i'll just take Victoria for a walk in the garden. I hope you'll excuse us." Diego asked.
Alejandro glanced at them. "Should I be demanding that you should be accompanied by a chaperone?" he asked and both Diego's and Victorias eyes widened.
"FATHER!"
"DON ALEJANDRO!"
They both shouted un top of each other. Then their eyes widened as they both realized they were holding hands and immediately let go turning away from each other.
"Honestly, me and Diego?!" Victora asked. "Aren't people allowed to be just good friends anymore?" she asked not looking at Diego, to bad for her because that meant she completely missed the flash of hurt in Diegos eyes, but that was quickly covered up by a pout.
"Indeed, Victoria is a dear friend." Diego stated. "And beside you know how I feel about women, I just don't have such feelings towards them. Why would Victoria be the exception? She is though, one of the best friends I ever had."
And Victorias eyes widened by his words and somehow she felt her heart sinking all the way to her stomach over his rejection even if it wasn't intentional.
So Diego wasn't Zorro… Well that was good right? …. Right?
Alejandro though had seemingly missed the entire exchange as he chuckled lightly. "I was just joking, you two are like brother and sister to each other." he nodded standing up himself. "Un top of that, you are both very decent people. I know I can trust you." he blinked making Victoria feel even more ashamed and she looked away, ones again missing how Diegos ears were turning red. "Well, I have some numbers I would like to get over before bed. I'll be in my study if you need me." he commented.
"Father." Diego rolled his eyes. "I told you, I can take care of any accounting, you need to let go of some of the work load!"
"I would love to take it more easy, but I can't before my son steps up and take some real responsibility." Alejandro then lectured. "I appreciate you're doing the accounting ones in a while, but when you promise to do it and then for some reason forget it. I'm sorry but a head ache is not good enough of a excuse, until you become more reliable that's just how it has to be." he stated and Diego grimly bit together as Victoria a bit uncomfortable looked between them.
Then at last Diego exhaled. "You're right father." he said. "So here's the deal, i'll take that walk with Victoria and then I meet you at your study and we'll do it together. Does that sound al right?"
"It sounds wonderful Diego." Alejandro smiled softly and Diego nodded, finally turning around and guided Victoria towards the garden.
The De La Vega garden was lovely, especially here in the evening as the stars were shining above them reflecting in the water that collected in small streams.
A kind of watering system watering all the plants in the garden. All the flowers, and the rose bush where Victoria had shared her first kiss with Zorro.
Victoria blushed by the memory and felt her heart beat by the thought of her masked hero, then she was filled with worry.
She hadn't seen him for days… Then she glanced at Diego whom wasn't looking at her but towards some of the flowers.
Could they even possible be the same? Victoria didn't even know any longer.
"Victoria." Diego then spoke and Victoria looked towards him, meeting his blue eyes. "look, i'm sorry you had to see that between father and I, You're here to relax and we nearly had another fight."
Sadly Victoria looked at Diego. "You two really do fight a lot don't you?" she asked.
"Yes." Diego nodded a little sadly.
"You do know he only does it because he loves you right?" Victoria asked. "He wants you to be strong and independent, so you can take care of yourself. So you'll be safe. He's only to well aware he can't protect you all the time, that's the thing that scares him."
"I know." Diego nodded her solemn glance aimed at the ground.
Victoria frowned as she looked at Diego, studied his face. There was so many things she wanted to ask him.
What happens Diego? Sometimes you seem so strong, but then you run away. Why?
We all know you're capable of so much, Alejandro knows you're capable of incredible things, but then you turn away and disappear. Where do you go Diego?
And then Victorias mind turned to their talk in the dining room… About them being merely friends and Victoria swallowed.
"Did you really mean that Diego?" Victoria asked.
"What?" Diego asked.
"Don't you have any romantic feelings towards women?" Victoria asked. "You said you loved someone!" she said looking up at him meeting his eyes again. "But she's in love with another. So you must have romantic feelings right?"
And Diego looked at Victoria then glanced down.
"Oh no don't tell me." Victoria gasped. "Is it because… It's not a woman. Are you in love with a man?" she asked and Diego spurted.
"Wha WHAT?!" Diego shouted.
"I heard of such a thing." Victoria gaped. "Men only capable of being in love with other men, oh no Diego it's not true is it?"
"NO!" Diego shouted. "Listen, I only claim to father that I don't have romantic feelings towards women so he wont arrange any marriages for me! I want to choose my own bride!"
"Oh." Victoria blinked and Diego exhaled deeply. "So you do have feelings towards women?"
And Diego blushed as he glanced up. "Yes." he admitted. "I'm not blind to the beauty of women. Nor their alluring charm. And one day I would like to be married and raise a family of my own." he said his eyes looking at Victorias face, Victoria felt her heart banging her cheeks blushing deep.
They stood pretty close to each other, if Victoria took a step forward it would be easy to kiss him… But did she even want to? Did she?
Victora was debating this for what seemed eternity, but then Diego turned away and the moment was gone. Victoria exhaled deeply glancing down and took a few steps following Diego, the rest of their walk was in silence.
As Victoria came back to the guest room she plummeted down on the bed and covered her face with her hands.
Oh god what was she doing?! Was she really so desperate that in her yearning to be with Zorro she had mixed Diego and Zorro up?!
Was she developing feelings for her best friend?! Or was she just projecting unto him because she wanted Zorro so bad!?
And if she did have feelings for Diego then what? Clearly he only saw her as a friend, a sister even. She could not force herself upon Diego or do such a thing to her best friend!
That realization that the only thing Diego would ever see her as was a sister made Victorias heart sink and she had to close her eyes fighting her tears.
What was wrong with her?! She had promised that she would wait for Zorro! She could not break this promise! What would that do to Zorro? He needed her! Their promise of one day living a normal life, that was going to be his well deserved price after all he had done, a thing to keep him going now when current events was taking their toll on him. She needed to be there for him, further more she wanted to be there for him! She wanted to be the thing he could honestly trust and rely on.
She could not betray Zorro over Diego!
The last thing Victoria wanted to do was to hurt him. Oh god, Victoria still loved Zorro, she could feel it with every inch of her body.
That had to be it, she had projected her feelings for Zorro unto Diego, she had been stupid. So damn stupid!
And with that in mind Victoria made herself ready for bed and hoped she would get a good long nights sleep.
How-ever as it turned out it was not that easy. Doubt still filled Victorias mind.
Both Diego and Zorro were still mysteries… And with a dreadful feeling, Victoria realized this wasn't over yet.